I haven't abandoned you...

I've just had a huge freelancing project due. I've been working much more than sleeping. I will post a nice long update in the very near future. Probably tomorrow - possibly tonight. Until then:

"In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again so that where I am, there you may be also."

A favorite scripture for all times.

God and the Geese

Well, here I sit - all misty-eyed as I knew I would. I told you I'd be crying by Tuesday. I didn't even make it until Monday afternoon. The youngster is at camp for the first time ever, probably having the time of his life and I'm glad. Oh yes, I am. Glad. For him. But this morning I've indulged in a bit of a pity party with a self-imposed sniffle-limit of lunchtime today. After that, I'm no longer allow to sniffle. Miss him yes, sniffle no!

In the meantime, I received this in the e-mail and loved it. Hope you will too...

There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments. One snowy Eve, his wife was taking their children to service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus' birth. She asked him to come, but he refused. "That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left, and he stayed home. A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of Wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.
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The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them To stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside.
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But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them, and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. "Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn -- and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety.
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He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!" Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese--blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed! his first prayer: "Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"

I will update when I can actually see what I'm typing. Have a wonderful, blessed morning. I'll see you this afternoon!

Potpourri

What a day! Up and off to work an hour early to make Friday easier for the full-timers. All in all, it didn't look to be too busy when I left so I hope their afternoon was comfortable.

The kiddo leaves for church camp on Monday. Whatever will I do? How will the house tolerate such silence? I'll be crying in my dishrag by Tuesday noon - you just watch and see. In talking about his upcoming trip, I asked him if he wanted me to cut his hair or take him somewhere. He's not used to having a say-so and looked at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and said, "Take me somewhere. I'd like to go to a professional." I must've grinned for he looked me in the eye, leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, " 'Cause you're a N-O-V-S-I-E....a novice." *chuckle* Yes, folks, we homeschool. Hey, the vocabulary is there! I haven't emphasized spelling too much, but we'll be working on it a lot this year. And I had planned to do so before being declared a NOVSIE. So there. lol

Speaking of the boychild, he wants his room to look like a laboratory! So here's what I came up with for his closet door. The brown squares are cork.

The pup-a-lup has discovered that there is very little in life that equals a (clean) old shop rag tied into a knot. She tosses it, chews on it, teases the boy with it, and will most certainly sleep with it tonight. She is quite the character. See?!

Thrifty Thursday!

Okay, so I didn't get to go thrifting today like I wanted...nappy time was calling, calling and I was lulled by its siren song.

I did, however, make it out Saturday and had a glorious morning! Fueled by a Starbucks Rasberry Mocha Frappuccino (I know - but - it was Starbucks! And I only go there about every three months! And it was only a tall! And, and...I have no excuse. *bowing head in shame* ) Anyway, fueled by that lovely caffiene, I found some yummilicious stuff! Here's my take:

1. Hand Crank Radio/Flashlight - pretty much new in box. The headphones were still wrapped in plastic. Now, I'd priced one for PapaDew (hubby) for Christmas at $29 from LL Bean. My cost? $5.00

2. "I Spy" software - computer game for hyperkid - new in box for $3.00

3. Pirate pop-up/punch-out book for hyperkid - brand new - $2.00

4. 3 stacking storage bins (large, with hinged lids) for doggie treats and such - $1 for the set

5. Large vintage anatomy book with really neat pull-out poster of the different systems labeled and in color for homeschooling - 50 cents

6. Paperback, unabridged copy of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution (the only way of eating on which I can lose any weight) - 25 cents

7. Paperback Star Wars Book for hyperkid - 25 cents

8. A stack of 12 Birds & Blooms magazine - most never taken out of the wrapper - $1!!! I love this mag but don't subscribe!

and last, but so not least:

9. A stack of 12 Good Old Days magazines - $1! I love this mag too!!!

So, all that for $14. Not bad, huh?!

What treasures have you found lately?

Work of Her Hands Wednesday

What fun to make a one-of-a-kind giftie for a dear friend! I would love to sell these somewhere like Etsy. What do you think? Should I try?

Rebecca's artist has been busy as well!

A Fresh, New Blog...

Welcome! I'm so excited to have this new venue, and hope that you and I, dear reader, will become fast friends. Kindred spirits if you will.

Perhaps you're curious as to the name of this particular journal. It comes from one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors - Grace Livingston Hill. Mrs. Hill was a true innovator when it came to "romance" fiction in that her characters and plots were created to show true love. Not necessarily that between a man and a woman, but that of our living, loving Heavenly Father. In this day and age they are truly a breath of fresh air and serve as inspiration for me on so many levels. The particular book is entitled "A Daily Rate" and draws its name from II Kings...

25: But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.

26: And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

27: And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

28: And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

29: And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

30: And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

The emphasis, of course, is my own. Don't you just love the thought that the very King of Kings does the same for us? That each and every need of ours is on His mind! Some scoff at such an idea, "the King of the Universe - GOD - cares about whether or not you have a headache?" He sure does. "But He's so BIG - surely He has better things to do." Exactly. He's that big. And yet he cares for me. "Daily, only, He says to thee, 'Take up thy cross and follow me.'" Daily only. That's pretty specific. It has to be for a world-class worrier like myself. Even I can't argue with that one!

Here's one thing I plan to do daily. Perhaps more...hopefully not less. I want to share with you. Some days we may laugh together; other days we may weep together. But the point is - whether its in 'real life' or here in the blogosphere - we are all in this together. The title "A Daily Rate" means so much more to me even than trusting in our Father (which is the most important thing of all) it means being content with my allowances...be it time, talent, money, child(ren), spouse, family, whatever! Thus, we'll cover it all here. Many days my thoughts are like potpourri scattered on the floor...disjointed, broken perhaps - but hopefully still capable of creating a pleasing aroma to The Great Big God we just happen to call Father.