A Word on Love:

I was sitting listening to my Father's heart when these words came into my spirit~

For Love to flourish

 we need to allow God

 not only to fill us,

 but also to empty us.

It can be so easy for us to pray for God to show us a revelation of His love for us. It is often harder to take what is revealed to us and apply it to where we currently stand. 

 I do want to flourish in His Love.   I think there is wisdom in asking God what that looks like, it avoids us walking out in our strength or wisdom into areas He never really asked us to 'put our hand to.' It is in our willingness to be poured out that we are filled with the Love of God.

 It means the Love is not containable, but seeps out into who He brings us to brush up against.  Today will look different than yesterday's "empty", a constant flow of Love being poured in, so it can be lavishly given out. Love is not just meant to be known or received, but to be displayed for all to see.  I just thought about that saying, "Seeing is believing."  Well, if plugged into this concept of Love, it becomes a billboard for His Glory.

Thanking God for time with Him and for hearing His heart for me today. 

 Hope it speaks to your heart too!

Monday Musings - Pellet Stove Fuel

The snow still lingers in our woodland oasis.  

How I want it to melt away and allow spring to begin to show its evidence of arriving. 

 This morning I heard a bird that I am unfamiliar with singing with the rise of the sun.  I tried to peep out the ever lightening front yard to glimpse which bird it would be that would sing such an early herald to a cold day, but she remained hidden to me, even as song sprang forth from her heart.

We have again spotted bluebirds, weeks ago, but still this blanket of white clings to our yard.  Patches of brown grass are peeping out, giving us a renewed hope that spring may indeed arrive soon.  However, I did hear that Tuesday night may bring more s.n.o.w. to our New England home.  

A new problem is arising at an increase rate, our pellets for our pellet stove are nearly out.  There are no more to be had in our state, and our source (my dear David) has run his warehouse supply to its end.  We are dropping the running temperature down to one, to make the best using of the decreasing supply.  The other problem lies that I seem to have an addiction to plopping down in front of said pellet stove ('Hey~she makes me think I am laying in the Bahamas!')

If only my accidental run in with caffeine had happened sooner.  A few nights ago I lay awake, mind running to and fro, as my tired body tried to find the sleepy land of dreams.  As I lay there finding new ways to save the world, it dawned on me that we could burn other things in our ancient stove that we came upon through the favor of God this winter. Pellet stove thoughts and other non-typical fuels for her belly raced through my mind.

 It occurred to me that the rabbit pellets (food) looked like the wood pellets we were using.  Which sent me on a google search.  I found a frugal soul with the same pellet stove as us, who since 1990 has been burning hazelnut shells in his stove.  He said other things could be used as well. (which got me to thinking about pistachio shells, peanut shells, dried: pomegranate peels, grapefruit peels, orange peels...)

 And the fact that we had a hazelnut tree right behind our barn! And to think I had been leaving them for the squirrels to run away with all these years we have lived here.

On our ride home from church I asked my ever-so-smart and frugal children to think of other things we might be overlooking to help us feed the belly of our hungry girl (ancient pellet stove).  We will continue to brainstorm.  The wise old man from the Internet said that we might have to clean her more often with the addition to non-wood pellet things.  Cleaning is not a problem, as we are basically homebodies and love our girl enough to give her the attention she requires (like demand feeding of a wee precious baby).

We will keep you posted.  It occurred to me as well, that praying might help stretch our wood pellets further.  Hey, it worked for the oil in the menorahs!  Not sure if we can make it to cool summer evenings, but with all of this new knowledge (and perhaps the help of family and friends saving pistachio shells or such for us...wanna help?), we will have a stash for next season to stretch and cut our heating bill.

The sweet man, who I may never meet in this life time (that helped me to think my 'save the earth' sleepless night wasn't sheer madness), said that he heats his home with our Whitfield stove, for a mere $100 dollars with his "nutty" ways. Bless his warm heart and home!

Okay, off to warm my cold toes by the beloved pellet stove (which by the way is Whitfield Pellet Stove- Advantage is the model.)  Pictures of her will have to come in another posting, as the morning has arrived.  The children are up and running into another Monday.  I need to keep pace with them, as you can imagine what might happen if I don't.

Have a toasty day friends. 

  Leave me a love note, it encourages me to keep up these posts!

A Thought on Heaven

Ignore this random picture of my bad-boy cat Tobin and my favorite little recycled Christmas tree. The tree was a summer find.  It was thrown out to the road in a gigantic box.  I jumped out of my car, stuffed it in my tank (i.e. giant car that fits 10) and raced home with it.  Sad to say, it was meant for the trash and not for some other loving home, as it used to be white and had now yellowed with age. 

  However, the tippity-top of this said enormous tree still lit without is counterparts. It looked at me with its sparkly white lights and still pristine white branches and said, "Keep me, Love me, Enjoy me, don't toss me aside!"

 So I plunked her into this old copper bucket and it has been adorning our living room since then
 (yes, I love Christmas and lights!)

 This post has nothing to do with either though, really.  But today as I was wrestling with the pile of Tupperware and ghetto Tupperware that we have, I have decided firmly that there will be none of either types in heaven.  I am certain that stained, lid missing containers, that refuse to stack or actually fit properly would NEVER be allowed in heaven.  No Tupperware needed at the feasting we will do in heaven, yippee!

The Word says there will be no tears, so guess Tupperware is out.  Sick of fighting with my too small cupboard space and the endless lids and bottoms.  As often as my Knight tries to reduce our reusable containers, or rushes out to find stacking varieties, still the same saga continues and I am no friend of it.

Oh heaven, another reason I love you and long for the day we will meet.

Not sure why the plug to my glorious little tree is sticking straight out in this picture, mind you we are normally careful about such matters. So, I will make sure the next time I shoot to share, that it is properly prepared for your eyes. (snicker-snicker).

Oh happy day!

What to Do About Worry...

And I am not speaking just to the choir here,

 I am speaking out loud to 

myself!
*feel free to listen in and join me;
Where two or three are gathered (joined in hearts)
 there I AM
 (God comes)
 in their midst.

Encouragement from the Word:

James 1: 5-8

 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father.
 He loves to help.
 You’ll get his help, 
and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.
 Ask boldly,
without fear or doubt, 
without a second thought. 
People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves. 
Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way,
 adrift at sea,
 keeping all your options open.

Deuteronomy  31:6

“Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid or terrified (can you say worried?) because of them,

 for the LORD your God goes with you;

 He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Relishing Some Thinking Time

Thinking on a few of these things...for this blessed New Year!

* wellness (we've had the flu)

* speaking with a mama who has dealt with a beloved child leaving the nest

(finding an ache in my heart that won't go away)

* ways I can stretch myself this year with more socialization (for me)

This is my best friend and sister-in-love Rachael ...time with her this year would be more than lovely.

*managing time to sew weekly with my girls

*wanting to do some embroidery projects-little lovelies for this castle

*find time to spend with my baby brother (see above man-who happened to marry my best friend Rachael)

*making time early each morning to be alone with my Father

*wanting to read more and keep a list of all the books I venture through this year

*looking to God on how to spice up this ole blog..

.feeling like it needs a revitalization to keep it of the boring side of blogs.

 How about you anything rumbling around in your head for some much needed change?

The Election Among Friends

Today is a new day... Election Day has come and gone.

Wondering what you think about the outcome of the Presidential election.

If you are not too sure on the Electoral College there is a video here that will help you...

 

Are you happy about our country's future, about how the election turned out, about your vote?  I'd love to hear your heart!

When Life is Art and Other Randomness

Sometimes life is simple.  Sometimes it is not so much.

*****

Some days thoughts flow freely and blog posts practically write themselves.

Not feeling that today.

Think I need a creative jump start, as I am coming up with nothing today.

Wondering what will get my creative juices flowing again.  

Feeling stuck. Feeling quiet.  Feeling like looking back and spending some time just remembering.

*****

I do love summer.  It is gone now.  

Today I changed out all the sheets on all the beds.  Now all are wrapped in flannels.  Soft cozy, plain old comfortable to be around flannel sheets.  If someone described me like this, I think I would think it was a very sweet compliment. 

*****

The temperature has dropped in my part of the world.  Leaves are changing colors, many are dropping to the ground on the early side with very little color applied to their little leafy selves.

I am feeling that way today too. 

 Dropping, but not offering very much.

Let's Chat!

You know what makes me sad?  

The blog friends I have lost over the past year or so.  I got to know them as we awaited our adoption (s) and they were such sweet support to me.  I felt like they were face to face friends and that we held each others hearts.  But as time will, other things have come up in their lives, perhaps Facebook, maybe they just lost interest in this blogging world.

I miss them though.  I don't like change, especially when it means losing relationships.  I don't know how to keep it from happening, as we all know life is just plain busy.  I do wish that I could just catch up with them over a coffee chat and find out what is really going on in their days now.

Do you ever feel like the blogging days are over?  Do you think that as other ways pop up that blogging will just fall to a back burner, or perhaps just totally burn its way out?

I think the reason I started this was to share our lives, not really to make friends.  But friendship has been such a pleasant surprise in this land of blogs.  

So how are you feeling about blogs (and me sharing)?  I'd love to hear from more of you.  Honestly, I miss you.  I am sorry if life has gotten so busy, my life included.  I value you, I think of you, I pray for you, I hope you will drop by and fill me in!

Heart Matters

A quietness has settled on my heart today. 

 I found it as I took a moment to sit and watch my children playing in a brook in the forest.  I sat on a little heaping hill of moss, reaching around me I found a myriad of little ships for the children to float on the babbling water.  As the ships found their way from the dirt, to my hand, to dirty little boy and girls fists; this quietness fell on my heart.  

I wondered if the ships remembered where they came from.  If they remember the days when they grew in the mighty oak that looked down over the tiny brook in the forest.  When they separated from what they protected all of their early lives, though they were but tiny caps atop the acorn, still they were so important. Did they ever understand their true value and purpose?  Did they have a sense of destiny?

  I wonder if they saw their other portion and had any sadness at their separation.  Perhaps they saw one of my raccoons come and gobble up the little shiny brown part they had been so carefully fastened to. Maybe a squirrel had taken away the acorny goodness to save for such a day as today?  Perhaps they watched and waited from the earth's surface for the acorn that had managed to wriggle it's way into ground, to begin life anew.

As they were pressed into the soil did they hope to be discovered?  Did they feel like they had another purpose?  Did they know they would bring a little brown 4 year old joy unspeakable as she discovered that they floated?  Were they happy to be of use once again.  

Sometimes as mothers I think we wonder such things of our own lives?  My first baby is soon to be married and out of my protection.  Her life is finding it's purpose, after so many years of growing and anticipating such a day.  

My heart is quiet as I tuck memories that rise from the 21 years of mothering her into hidden pockets, to take and chew on later.  Life is so wonderful and full as we mother.  Sometimes our job is hard, challenging, frustrating and maddening, but mostly it is just a joy to be put in such a position.

Style Question for You

As a mother of 8, I was thinking the other day
(actually I was multitasking and doing two things at once)
...when it came to me that maybe one day~

 that a cat hair covered sofa might just be the rage.

Do you think? 

 Cuz if you do, maybe I won't feel so guilty that our red couches

 are looking a rather cattish shade of grey.

sigh. 

 Wish there was more time in the day...seems I am falling behind in so many areas 

(we won't mention blogging too...)

 but it seems crazier than normal in my parts.

Something to hold...Prayer

The very act of prayer is a blessing.  To pray is, as it were, to bathe in a cool, swirling stream and so to escape from the heat of earth's summer sun.  To pray is to mount on eagles' wings above the cloud and get into the clear heaven where God dwells.  To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse.  To pray is to grasp heaven in one's arms, to embrace the Deity within one's soul, and to feel one's body made a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Apart from the answer, prayer in itself is a blessing.  To pray, my friends, is to cat off your burdens.  it is to tear away your rags; it is to shake off your diseases; it is to be filled with spiritual vigor;  it is to reach the highest point of Christian health.  God grant us to be much in the holy art of arguing with Him in prayer.

a selection from:

The Power in Prayer 

Charles Spurgeon

 

chapter 3

Order and Argument in Prayer

Your Best Quality/Characteristic?

I am reading The True Measure of a Woman by Lisa Bevere, which a friend kindly passed on to me yesterday.  As I lay in front of my fireplace long after all children disappeared into their beds, I came across these questions that left me wondering.

1. What do you consider the most valuable quality about you?

2.  What is your most unique characteristic?

I suddenly froze up mentally and couldn't come up with anything.  My Knight sat in a chair a few feet away, busy in his own reading, so I decided to not interrupt this precious quiet time he was enjoying.  However, I sat before the Lord asking Him what the answers could be.  I haven't heard anything yet, but wonder if answering these questions come easily to you?

Do I Need a Rice Cooker?

Do any of you have a rice cooker? 

Do you use it? 

I am pondering getting one- any suggestions as to yeah or nay?

A confession:  I am not the best rice cook.

Behind the Fence of Trouble

"We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched.  We should never enjoy the juice of the grape if it were never trodden in the wine press.  We should never discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten.  And we should never know the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. 

The excellence of the Christian is brought out by the fire of trouble."
Charles H. Spurgeon

I find myself in a time of trouble.  My heart feels rather heavy from the load that I am carrying.  I have lifted it to him, this parenting stuff, but still the daily tasks remain on me to carry.  I find myself feeling separated out, with friends and church not the support I had thought.  As if God is removing things so that I can lean on Him alone.

  Some days we can only see where we stand, God does not allow us to see into the next month or the final outcome.  I continue to press in, to fight the good fight of faith.  Perhaps in this time of trouble God is growing me from faith to faith and from glory to glory.

Certainly my soul (my mind, will and emotions) are being transformed.  Though trouble and the times it brings are not fun, they are times of learning in my walk with Christ.  Praying for wisdom and strength as I walk this part of the path alone with Him.

A Little Wednesday Cheer

 

 Need an encouraging word today

...try this on for size...

 (and remember if you are His...you are in His family: you belong to Royalty!  As you go through your day remind yourself that you are a princess or a prince from the Kingdom of God! You are not of this world, but are here to do His purposes.)

 

Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
   and your lips with shouts of joy. 

 

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation 

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 

Favorite Photography Shot

One of my favorite things is capturing life in pictures.  

There never seems like I have enough time with my camera in hand,
truly most days the two of us never actually meet.  

I am hoping to etch out some time with the camera in tow. 

I love driving along and catching something out of the corner of my eye that needs

to be snapped and held for just a little longer.

Maybe I will find some time to sneak away

(maybe it will be with a suburban full of kids)

to capture life as it sits waiting to be seen,

perhaps
in ways
that normally
in the rush 

of life 

that you don't get to see. 

It certainly makes you look at things differently, 

constantly asking yourself
if it is something worthy of capture.

What do you like to capture these days?

 For now I play at home...
amazing the opportunities 
that lie right beneath the place God sets us.

A Note From my Childhood

 Once upon a time

I was a wee lass

and my mum read to me daily.

 One of my very favorites was when she read from

A Child's Garden of Verses

by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I loved the poems that became pictures 

in my wee little brain.

How I held that book close 

and studied the illustrations, 

even before I could read the words myself.

The book reminds me of childhood,

of spring,

of times in my mother's lap,

of wood swing sets, 

of hours spent in my room paging carefully, 

ever so carefully through the wonderful illustrations. 

Somewhere I have the book tucked away,

perhaps today is the day I need to go down to the cellar bookshelf

and pull it out for my children to enjoy.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Some Thoughts to Ponder for Today

 

Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him,
and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.
George Mueller 

"You can tell the size of your God by looking at the size of your worry list.

The longer your list, the smaller your God."

Unknown

I believe in the sun even if it isn't shining. 

I believe in love even when I am alone.

I believe in God even when He is silent.

Unknown  

Pondering with you... 

Kimmie

What About Church?

Wondering what you hope for (expect) in a church?  Is anyone brave enough to tell us?

I know there is no perfect church, as churches become imperfect as soon as people get involved, 

but what would you hope for in a church.  

Or what can you share about what makes yours perfect for you?

Reminding Myself of a Few Things

This picture speaks to my heart in many ways:

It reminds me of my love for bunnies...

during some of my darkest days with infertility, God sent me a tiny baby rabbit to dropper feed.  That little bunny helped me to not lose hope.  As I dropper fed it through the wee hours of the night, I remember God answered my prayers to have something small and baby-like to nurture.  God even had my chocolate labrador bring me this answer to prayer- Poppy found the bunny nest, as I gardened near it she carefully mouthed the baby and dropped it at my feet. Sometimes God answers your prayers in ways that are not expected, but bring joy and peace to you in the midst of the battle.

It reminds me to take a good look around.  

Sometimes I just need to sit back and gather my thoughts.  So many things go on in the hours of my day, sometimes I just need to find a good leaning post to rest and ponder at. This has been a hard year, I could use a bit more refreshing from His hand. (I am sure we all could, right?)

It reminds me of the fact that winter is coming. 

BRRRRrrr...I am no lover of the white stuff.

It reminds me that I am pondering this Bible verse...

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? 

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.”  (Hosea 14:8)

  It is one that I never read before, or that didn't speak to my heart back then like it is now.

It reminds me to listen more than I speak.  

(LOOK at that bunnies big ears and quiet spirit!)

It reminds me for my love for God's creation and my love of the woods.

It reminds me that there is so much all around us that we miss,

because we are too busy, or may I be bold enough to say too *self absorbed* to notice.  

Oh Lord, give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that understands.