Inching my way back to blogging

I have a friend who is really crafty. She sews, crochets and makes the most beautiful hand painted decorations as well. She's a family type person. I don't know how else to say it but that, she lives a simple life as much as any of us can in these times at least. There are photos of children and grandchildren that also decorate her walls. It's a great thing to keep before our eyes reminders of what we hold dear. Deuteronomy 11:19-20 continues on in the chapter about love and obedience to God by saying, "Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." In my friends house there were also scripture verses in decorative wall hangings. One of my hobbies is rubber stamping, drawing, colored pencils , markers , making cards by hand although I have also just recently inched my way back into it as well as writing. I like to buy blank index cards large and small ones and decorate them and put verses on them. It's good to change them out every so often so they don't end up being there so long I don't notice them very long. One I had over my kitchen sink for awhile was from Psalm 121 A song of ascents. 1I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 8the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. I would often read it and was able to quote it so one evening when the tornado sirens were going off and my family gathered in our bathroom (no basement in my house) waiting and praying for the storm to pass I was able to speak these verses. I'll never forget it. We remained safe but we lost 6 trees. Our huge blue spruce was gone a 20 year old oak also uprooted, a bradford pair snapped off and blew into the neighbors yard. There were other trees broken and down as well but the next morning as I walked out in the sunlight I looked to my right and the big maple my children climbed in was still standing unharmed. I smiled at the thought that the Lord is the shade upon my right hand. This is a reminder often when I see the tree and watch my grandchildren playing in it. We were showered with love from neighbors and friends and church family who helped us clean up and brought food over. Most importantly though we were safe . I am old enough to realise it's not always that way and sometimes bad things happen that are hard to understand. What I do understand though it is often in the hardest times that love shines the brightest when people gather together in compassion and service. My husband went to Henrysville Indiana this last year when the tornado devastated that town about an hour from us. For him and those working with him with the Samaritan's Purse outreach it was a humbling experience. To speak good things and encourage each other in life is one of the greatest things to do. “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa It is the small things that build upon each other and the words that spur us on to have faith and inspire us to use the God given talents that help us when those unexpected times of turbulence happen in life . In times of loss we can remember the words we hold in our hearts as precious and know that love never dies and God is ever near and it's in that God given strength we can go on perhaps not the same but more equipped than ever to minister to others with compassion because we know, we have lived through it. There is another decoration my friend had on her kitchen wall. It's not a Bible verse , just a simple saying. It is a big yard stick and it states "Yard by yard life is hard, inch by inch life's a cinch" So here I am inching my way back into the blogging world. Sometimes it may be just a photo or saying when life is busy but photos can talk can't they?

Smile!

May your day be filled with good things!

Heaven's Way

Life has it's way of surprising me especially when I find out "that will never happen" happens. People have a way of letting other people down for whatever reason it doesn't matter. Even in the best of circumstances along the road of friendship and love everyone gets hurt at sometime and has most likely hurt someone at sometime. It may be a family member, friend, or misunderstanding or disagreement with coworkers or in a church family but we have all felt the sting. Grief happens with the loss of loved ones as well. Sorrow grips the heart when we see our children suffer. Some things cannot be fixed and as a mother I know how hard it is to let go and allow God to speak to hearts of those I love in ways I never could. The very struggles and pain of our children may be something that is needed so they can learn and grow stronger. Sometimes the comfort of what is home as we have grown to love is subject to a "New Normal" and it feels as if the rug has been swept from under our feet and we are grasping for something to hold on to. Change can be so hard. Personally I need to accept that there are some things that will never be the same. I remember when my parent's were still able to travel here from Michigan. I loved having them spend a week or so with us and the smell of coffee and toast often reminds me of them. There's something about morning and starting the new day with loved ones. Days were full when they visited and when they left to go home it was always hard. We would say our prayers and farewells, hug and kiss each other on the cheek then they would drive off and the tears came. When I would walk back inside the house was quiet, a different kind of quiet, an empty feeling but when I walked in the bathroom the smell of my Dad's aftershave would linger. That is why I always walked in there . I also smelled the oil of olay Mom used. That is sort of how it is now since Dad passed away and my Grandma passed away last year. There's an empty spot without them that cannot ever be replaced but the memories can be so real at times I can almost smell, feel or touch. Grandma the last time I saw her last summer kept taking my hand and kissing it and smiling. That always will live on in my memories. Her eyes were so big and expressive and in tender times so soft with love. There are so many memories . A life time of memories and no one is ever prepared to say goodbye but in the times of deepest sorrow I am thankful for the memories that come to life. I know my Dad and my Grandma are with me,it's just in a different way. The lingering scent or sense of touch is Heaven's way of letting me know that love never dies.

A fun day

Love is patient, love is kind those are only 2 attributes of many but they are the ones in my thoughts right now. I thank God for all those He has placed in my life who have shown me kindness and patience. Today has been rather fun because it began with heavy white fluffy snow, the kind that rests on the branches of the trees and makes it look like a winter wonderland and because the sun came out and the temperature warmed up considerably melting the snow. This is a picture I found that has 1 Corinthians chapter 13 on it. It's one of my favorites and so fitting a reminder of true love as it is almost Valentine's Day. I hope you all have a sweet day! This is what the world looked outside of my window this morning before the sun melted most of it this afternoon. Have a good afternoon

Holding on and looking up

I was just goofing off on a photo site and come up with the above. Yesterday I was at the lake with my dog Nanook. It was fairly warm for February but incredibly windy. The sky was a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds. I haven't been able to take Nanook for car rides for awhile but now that her puppies are in new homes we got out for awhile. She loves it!

I'm thankful for the times in the midst of all that happens in life that there can be these peaceful times. Today I walked up to the farms and prayed along the way. There is no one around to hear me and I spoke aloud even reciting the 23rd Psalm and other scriptures I could think of. My oldest son injured his finger badly at work Friday and the tip is gone and the bones are shattered. He has no feeling from the middle of his finger up. He went to a hand specialist yesterday. He is to keep it wrapped for another week and they will evaluate it again. At this point he doesn't know. It may heal more but there is a possibility he could lose it. At least it is on his left hand and he is right handed but we are praying for the best possible outcome. Who knows what a day holds. My nephew Zach is now deployed overseas in the army and he has a wife and child at home and she is expecting another while he is on deployment. He will be gone a year. Tough times but they are a couple with strong faith. I know God is near through all the changes and situations . I just have to hold on by faith and catch every bit of sunshine along the way.

Monday

Today has been productive but not without it's gloom. The temp has been about 38 degrees with drizzle and gray sky but it is Monday and because I am able to be a homemaker again I really do not dislike the day. As much as weekends are full of family and activity I am also wiped out before they get over and because of some present situations I have had little ones staying at my house every weekend since the first of December. Quiet is very nice. My daughter and her boyfriend visited also and brought Zorro along, one of Nanook's puppies. Nanook was so excited and playful it was a delight watching her with her son. She is moping around today even though I took her for her walk. She misses Zorro. She was like that after Leo left too. I don't have a lot to say although my life is filled to the rim with all sorts of situations and changes , some probably for the best and some just have me hanging not knowing what to expect . My faith is very real to me though, it isn't a crutch it is within me and through it I live and move and even find joy somewhere in the midst of the craziness that sometimes happens. Someday I will write more but I am sure we all have challenges of some sort or other so you can understand what I am trying to say. I don't know what got into me today but I actually found time to have breakfast, goof off on facebook, get dressed, take Nanook for a walk, clean up most of the house to at least passing, have lunch with my husband, shop a little at a thrift store , come back and do laundry and a little more cleaning. Maybe it is all a dream! Whatever it is I think I shall get up on the couch and maybe take a nap! I hope I don't wake up and find I only dreamed I cleaned the house! Have a great week!

Nanook and her puppy Zorro

Good afternoon. The sunshine coming through my window is kind of deceptive in regards to the temperature outside. I believe the high is only suppose to be around 20. Earlier this morning it was 8 degrees with a minus 4 windchill. Watching the weather on TV it sounded good when they said "Abundant Sunshine" Nanook convinced me to brave the elements outside and take a walk. She was sad yesterday when I watched the two 3 year old grand daughters and 1 year old grandson. She would go to the door waiting for her walk and looking at me like , "It's time!" There was no way to do it yesterday.

The grandkids and I certainly have our fun times but a quiet day is nice too. I'm resting now and it feels fine!

This is what precious looks like asleep!

Here's Noah!

And Nanook exploring today in the snow!

Have a great weekend folks! I'm not too creative on blogging these days but life is full & God is good!