Shilah Writes

Spring break started on Thursday and we are having a lovely time.  On Thursday the kids and I went to April's house for the day and in the evening, April and I left our kiddies at home with there daddies while we went to Sandpoint. Friday, the kids and I did a bunch of cleaning and then took a bike ride out of town.  The sun was shining gloriously but was still cold. Late afternoon, we walked to the library, and then over to the ambulance barn, where Bruce was finishing up working. From there, we drove in his pretty Jeep half a block to the Panhandle Restaurant for supper out.   Today, Shaunti is having a tea party with Anika, a friend from school.  They decorated these wonderful little cupcakes that turned out so cute.  Their tea looked disgusting, which they said was delicious from adding a secret ingredient.  We found out later it was smarties. The taste buds of the young... gross...  This is where Shaunti says...

     The other morning while I was working at the Post Office, Sherry Beck, a sweet lady whom we have the privilege of working beside, when asked how she was today, answered with a chirpy "good!" she continued with "might as well be!"  It reminded me of my Grandpa Skrivseth.  He would often say, "Praise the Lord, anyway" on hearing something negative. I remembered being embarrassed beyond words when he would answer the phone with "Good Morning, Praise the Lord!"  How foolish to be embarrassed by something so full of God's way.  I was pretty young.  I'll use that for my excuse.      I'm learning that this is the attitude to have.  Psalm 90:14-17 caught my attention this week.  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  It's pretty much saying praise the Lord anyway.  Some mornings I don't feel joy about my present circumstances but t...

Might as well write while the sun shines… Glorious fact, my computer light is on. Now that I have the time and internet to boot; I’ve been fighting with the technology to actually work. I prayed for the time to write and now that I have it, my inspiration has floated away. It’s Feb and cold and gray. What started out as a good year has taken a turn for even better, I’m sure. Just can’t feel it right now. It seems bad, but I’m sure its doing something good for our character. And then I wonder what is so bad about my character that its constantly getting a kick to be brighter, be bolder, be happier. Wasn’t I already thankful, grateful, and obedient? When can I have a break from the constant work and grime of life? Never? Oh, this is true… Not till I am in heaven; safe in the arms of my Maker. I KNOW all this momentarily and then I do my everyday mundane chores and forget. I forget so fast. That’s why the constant work and grime. To help me remember that God has a wa...

Earlier this week, I was quite discouraged with the progress of this move/project.  I spent Monday, defeated and blue. Until I read a book about an incredible deception that took place after 911. And then, beautiful anniversary flowers and a husband who puts up with my moments of defeat by doing exactly the right thing really helps discouraging days too.   The book... The reason it helped was because it got my mind off myself and it was truly mind boggling to read.  I realized that my piddly moments of discouragement are nothing compared to how so many people live their lives surrounded by lies and how much freedom there is in the truth. So today, in an attempt to further the cause of doing for others, I invited those especially nice ladies, who helped me paint, clean, or move; to my house for coffee/brunch. And I gave them a house tour of what we DO have started here.  Nevertheless, my discouragement over the progress of things, vaporize...

Today is the day of love and romance.  Toria wished this morning that every day could be Valentines Day.  I think it may have had something to do with the pretty cupcakes we made and the strawberry, flavored ,heart-shaped marshmallows she was passing out to her class.  I was thankful for Jesus' words this morning.  Jesus simplifies life if you do what He said to do. We read if anyone ask you to go a mile, to go with him two.  If anyone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other one also. That really does take away what I think I deserve when 'my rights' are violated.  It takes care of the battle of wanting my way and the threat of every day meanness that happens if you live and are a human being.  People ARE gonna be mean some days.  We won't always be treated lovely.  We should expect this.  Real love is doing my part in spite of the common meanness. It means, everyday me doing my part of acting how Jesus said to ...

The last two Sundays, the message was about wading out a little deeper into the level God would like to take you spiritually. Both messages were based on Luke 5.  We have been blessed beyond measure both times.  Last Sunday we were blessed because we had just moved to an old house in town the day before, heading into the unknown of what our life will be like now.  This Sunday, we were blessed again because we found out during our first week in town that our beautiful house in the country indeed did not sell.     Now we feel we are plunged into even deeper water.  The question I battled last week was, "Why do we feel God's goodness so much more when things are going how we think they should?"  God is still good even when things don't work out according to plan I know this, but it is a lot harder to believe.  This is what grows our faith in God; Faith that God provides exactly what is needed at the right time; Faith enough to say thank...

I was asked to arrange flowers at Jevon & Priscilla's wedding.  This was her bouquet.  She had Christmas colors which were very pretty. This is what is taking up all our time.  We bought this house in town.  It was foreclosed on and now that she is ours we know why. First, we had this big tree in our back yard that needed to come down so we can put in a storage shed and have room for a garden. Bruce hired a North Bench Fire Department buddy to climb and cut as he went.  He limbed his way to the top and then started lopping off the big stuff from the top down three foot pieces at a time. Scared the stuffing right out of us watching...  That is not a moon on this photo.  I think its a water spot on the camera lens. Wish I could claim the moon theory. A nice surprise.  Hardwood floors. We might uncover the kitchen eventually, but for now we just have to paint and get moved in. Laife turned 14 in the midst... ...