Westwoods

  I learned that a month goes by very slowly when one is challenging herself to write everyday. Also, I learned that a month goes by very quickly when you are noticing moments and thinking about what you will write next. I found that I didn't always know what was going to come out of my pen. And I was surprised by what did somedays. The uncovering of ones soul is refreshing and embarrassing at the same time. I realized I have a very good life and that I like it very much. I am deeply grateful for ordinary and boring moments. God's grace is abundant in my weakness. That makes living so very good. My dog teaches me lessons about my relationship with God. I'm not a dog person naturally but am morphing into one. For sure. I promise you however, I am not one of those people that tolerates dogs better than babies on an airplane. I will never forget flying with babies and being given the dirty eyeball, whilst the dog owner was doted on. I digress. I saw more what I value and also ...

  Sunday morning stillness... I stagger through the coffee making and water drinking, throw on a few dim lights, round up the lighter, my Bible, journal, and pens. In the living room, I light the tapers that came in the mail yesterday. They are beautiful in the dark morning, dripless as advertised. The deer arrived a couple days ago. One arrived without antlers. I'm too lazy to send it back or re-glue it, so maybe I will paint over the nubs where the antlers broke off. The coffee is good, warm, satisfying as I go over the Sunday School lesson and write down a few thoughts. I face a few difficult thoughts and bring praise to it, whisper the Lord's prayer over it. Thy kingdom Lord, in this... I can't change anything but God can and does...and for this I give Him praise. Coffee is gone. I get up and wake up the house, put the casserole in the oven, ready for church. It's a relaxed morning, there is time for a little jaunt in the woods for a few more twigs of greenery I pla...

  The giving of thanks. Can you imagine if it was the taking of thanks instead? Although, after the turkey dinner and pumpkin pie some might feel they have taken more than they should have. Not to take away from your cozy traditional thanksgiving bloom. Not at all. But rather, an inspiration to be a thanks giver to God Almighty for all He brings and allows as your daily bread. Or turkey. Or pumpkin pie. You can be a thanks taker too, but the attitude is more like this: I deserve this good thing of which I am thankful...I had this coming to me...I worked hard for this so now I am thankful. Thankful to who? Yourself? Anyway, around your thanksgiving table today, be humble, be kind, and listen to others. Let that be your giving of thanks. Taking is the habits of interrupting, speaking loudest and longest. Also eating too much pie and mashed potatoes. There will be more next year. Whereas next year, you never know what loved one may or may not be with us.

  I had a busy week, doing what? I don't even remember all of it. It flew. But one highlight that sticks out, is the randomness of my children's appearances. Now that they are all mostly gone out into the big, big world; it feels like a celebration when they are home. Shaunti works here locally, at The Animal Doctor. She is preparing for Bible School and dating a very nice young man. She still lives at home with us but our dwelling is more a bed and breakfast than a place where she lives. She is that busy. Toria moved out ages ago. I should be used to it, having her gone. But it still feels funny. Sometimes I feel like I can't fully breathe till she walks in the door. It's as if I have been holding my breath since the last time she was home. This is all subconscious thinking of course. Anyway. She pops in every now and then for the evening and stays the night. I am filled with great comfort.  One day this week, Laife resurfaced after much time passing (I don't remem...

  I do love Mondays. Something about a fresh week, makes it feel like a "Do Over" in school days. It was admitting defeat to get a do over in school, but it was also a second chance to learn the material. And hope for a better grade. I don't get graded for what I do these days, at least by other people. But Mondays are kinda like grace. I get to try again. Try again to figure out a schedule/routine that works for our new season of living...Try again to remember to take my vitamins and drink my water and eat more healthily... less on the run. Try again to love my people better. To be more patient and go to another room when someone chews chips or other foods loudly, like my good friend Luci, mentioned on her blog over at  three green doors .  Try again to praise better, more quickly, both people and God. To set my mind on things above not on things of the earth...to leave the scene of drama and the corners of secretive whispering...don't care to know insinuations or di...

  Around four in the afternoon, I get restless and NEED to go outside and walk around. Usually, I meander out to the mailbox and then on my way back, get distracted looking at moss, sticks, rocks, and whatever captures my attention in the woods. Funny how at my age those are the things that I notice just as I did when I was five or six. I get the same satisfied, completed feeling from examining them. Now I add on a little more worship to our Creator God for making the earth and all that grows. Probably because I need that grounding more than I did as an innocent child. Going out and walking in the woods keeps my soul steady. Those big trees, that boulder that doesn't budge, the plush green mosses like carpet...How can you not forget life's worrisome cares after being in the presence of that Abundant Life?

  I do enjoy watching You-Tubers do their day in the life vlogs. I also sorta snicker at them. Because sometimes the shooting of an ordinary day trying to look perfect for the shot or thumbnail must surely be too much pressure. Takes the fun right out of watching when things are too idealistic. I mean, does your bread turn out every time?  Would writing it be any better? My life is in a transitional period at the moment, with the build of the house being accomplished and my husband going back to work after fourteen months off. His new job is local, which is great for us in many ways, but it is another thing to navigate. He still prefers the night shifts, which he did before, but as a travel nurse. That was different because when he was gone on his shifts, he was gone for the entirety. Now he is home sleeping in-be-tween shifts and the house needs to be quiet. This is the new challenge. Because life is noisy and tip-toeing around all day gets rather restrictive. So I am glad wh...

  I wanted to write a light hearted story today. Even I get tired of being serious and "deep" as I am often accused. However, I awoke with this quote in my head which I can apply in a lot of different ways. Do you ever find yourself gobsmacked with a memory or a difficult thing you went through, rearing it's ugly-already-been-forgiven head, worming its way in to disrupt your peace and confidence in Jesus? And for a minute you feel fresh pain and suffering because this thing is ongoing and ever present in your life...aka: your cross to bear. (Because the enemy will hit you in your weakest spot, I will just name those things that are my besetting sin...self-pity and self-righteousness.) You know yours.  Then you remember and say out loud if possible..."No Satan, I have forgiven that. Don't throw this fresh pain at me. Jesus has healed my broken heart for this thing and you have no power over God Almighty and the blood of Jesus! You can't make me feel sorry for ...

  Nothing makes me feel my worth more that when I am broken and bleeding at the foot of the cross, clinging to Jesus for direction. I realize how meaningless that might sound to many people. It does sound trite and pious without explanation... so here goes my explanation. When I am in that position, it means that God is Almighty and at work on my behalf. It means my complete trust is in Him, at least for the next little bit, till I need more grace and fly back to the throne. It means that I see my un-done-ness as a time to worship and thank God for His care of me. I truly believe that, especially when I can't feel it. And that is when I feel peace from the Father, embraced by His love and protection. That is a worth that has no measure. That is confidence that you are worthy. I've heard people talk about how much someone is worth. I know they are talking about monetary things, but that is one of the lowest places to go in my mind. It completely disregards how God views the worl...

  Luke 12: 16-21     Retold... Once upon a time there was a man who owned a piece of property. It seemed everything he did on that property, flourished. Seeds grew well in the good soil and made plants and fruit of great production. He had so much bounty that he decided he needed bigger and better storage wherewith he could contain it all. He attained everything he ever wanted by hard work and doing many great things for himself. Thinking he had done pretty well and that he maybe deserved a rest, he decided to kick back and relax. He began to eat exotic foods, drink expensive wine, and have loads of fun. All by himself. He didn't have companionship because he had been too busy building better barns and such. Then he realized it was all a big fat waste. Because what happens to all his stuff when he dies? He had gotten rich  for himself and knew nothing about being rich toward God. Be rich toward God and His kingdom. If you are, you will know what to do with your ...

  I am at the age where, for optimal health, I am told to eat things like flax seeds, chia seeds, spinach, walnuts, and blueberries. How tricky these foods are. I truly enjoy them and their healthful benefits, but they do not coincide well with my receding gum lines and pearly whites. Which are not that pearly because of my consistent coffee drinking habit. Which I also enjoy in combination with the aforementioned foods. I think this is a conspiracy to make middle aged people look older that they are. And more feeble minded than they deserve. Because by the middle aged years we are not feeble of mind. Experiences surely have made us wiser, kinder, and stronger.  Have you ever been made aware of a spinach flecked, toothy smile after your lunch break? It's uncomfortable for everyone. Slimy chia seeds are not any more pleasant to see than berry residue peering out between the teeth. Never mind all the wonderful things happening to your body and brain after ingesting these super f...