tidbit

I like the Barrymores.  John, Lionel, and Drew.  I never saw Ethel act, I might have liked her, too.

thursday thirteen

Here are a few of my favorite things.  Thirteen, actually.

I remember this suitcase from forever.  I don't have any specific memories of it, but when we found it in storage, it was familiar and full of nostalgia.  It has my sister's name in it.  But it's mine now.

Peace and Forget Me Not were both given to me by ladies I taught Bible Study.  I bought my own Happiness.

This dresser has always been in my life.  It was my mom and dad's and somewhere along the line they gave it to me.  It has a matching mirror and a full size headboard.  I love the color of the wood and the bowed front.  I probably should have dusted it before I took the picture. 

I don't love this picture because it is so expertly executed, but because of the memory of painting it.  My mom, her sister, and I went to a lady's house and took an oil painting class.  We all painted the same thing and they all looked just about the same.  But it was a very fun time.  My aunt is gone now, so it is extra special.

This belonged to my mom's grumpy aunt.  I like it because it is worn and old, yet so ornate.

My mom gave me this buffet.  I have a vague memory of when she got it and antiqued it.

The bottom case is just the case for my husband's coronet.  But the middle one is a cool old typewriter that an old Colonel gave me when I was heading for college.  He didn't even know me, but my mom worked for him.  I never actually used it.  I payed my room-mate to type all my papers.

The Brownie is just cool and the attache belonged to my grandpa.

This is a table my dad gave me.  I used it for my desk until I got a real one.  Now it sits in my little foyer.

This was my aunt's table.  We sat around this table for Thanksgiving for many years.  After she died my cousin had it, but a few years ago she passed it on to me.  Now we gather around it for Thanksgiving again every year.  There are a few people missing, but we've also added a few here and there.  You can see the spots on it from heat and water.  I think they are just a part of the history.  Perhaps the dish that left that mark was placed by my grandmother?

My other grandmother had a mantle clock and I have wanted to find one just like it, since we can't locate the original.  This one isn't just like it, but my daddy got it for me because he knew I wanted one.  It plays the same chimes as my grandma's.  It also has an interesting personality.  It seldom chimes the actual number of times that it should.  

My husband's coronet.  I like it because I like things that show their wear.  Things that are used well and have been through stuff yet still function.

My sister made these guys for me.  So cheery.  Always smiling, no matter what.

My friend Melanie gave this to me.  It was brown and I painted it.  She still has some pieces like it as far as I know.  So when I look at it I think of her.

I'm sorry I didn't dust for you all.  I feel embarrassed as I look at these pictures.  But somehow, I feel like it would have been phony of me to do that.  It all would look better with a bit of shine added.  But this is genuine.  I try to live the same way.  

celebration

Wow!  I haven't posted since Sunday!  Sorry, man.

Sunday night our church celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacles.  It is an annual event for this church. 

The Feast of the Tabernacles is the last in a row of feasts.  The first feast is a time of repentance, the second is atonement and the third is celebration.  It coincides with the harvest and is a celebration of the bountiful blessings from God.  The tabernacles, or booths represent being in the presence of God.  And the celebration is a precursor for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation.

That's why this church celebrates it.  We are practicing for our wedding day!  After having some dinner together, they blew some shofars.  Wow.  Nothing moves my spirit like that sound.  That is the sound we will hear when the groom comes for His bride!  Then the troupe danced a couple of dances before inviting the rest of us to join in.  I have always thought that style of dancing looked like so much fun!  So I joined right in.  Holding hands, skipping in circles, clapping and tripping over one another!  It was great fun!  I had a blast!  

You know, when a woman is engaged, she can't wait for her wedding day.  Yet I know so many Christians who just aren't quite ready for Jesus to come get them yet.  If a bride felt that way about her groom, I would be suspicious of her feelings for him.  When I was younger, I was very much hoping that He wouldn't come soon.  I wanted to have a boyfriend, get married, grow up.  I thought there were too many wonderful things here to experience yet.  I also felt some trepidation over the whole thing.  The fear of the unknown.  But now, I just think about "tabernacling" with God permanently.  Being in His presence -- and I can't wait!  I am eagerly expecting His return and when things around the world get shaky and uncertain, I get excited!  Maybe it will be soon!!  Even so, Lord Jesus, come.  The Spirit and the Bride say "come."

solid ground

Does the current global financial crisis have you feeling a little shaky?  Does it seem that the ground beneath your feet is shifting?  Do you feel unstable?  Anxious?  Are you afraid of going under?

Where are your feet planted?  As the old hymn says, "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."  If you feel your feet giving way, perhaps somewhere along the line your foundation has shifted.  Maybe subtly your security has changed from Christ alone, to the things of this world?  I realize that these are uncertain times and I am certainly not condemning anyone.  You may stand firm in your faith and still feel anxious.  I am just encouraging you to search your heart on the matter.  Go to the Father and talk to Him about it.

Today in church as we were singing a song about freedom, it occurred to me that this may be what all of this is about.  Maybe God is breaking some chains.  Maybe He is setting us free from some bondage.

Remember the kings in the Old Testament?  An evil king would come along and set up high places, alters, and asherah poles.  And he would put phallic symbols and male prostitutes in the Temple of God.  Then a godly king would come on the scene. He would destroy the asharah poles, tear down the high places and cleanse the Temple.  

It occurred to me, that perhaps that is what is happening now.  First, let me say that money is not evil and it is not sinful to be wealthy.  But, "The love of money is the root of all evil."  And " you cannot serve God and money."

I think, generally speaking, our world worships money.  I think, specifically speaking, I love money more than I want to.  I think God's people may have divided loyalties and that is called being double minded.  David prayed for God to give him and undivided heart.  That is my prayer, too.  And if I have been serving money, or loving it in a sinful way, I want God to purge that from me.

If he is cleansing us, if He is tearing down the high places, then we should be rejoicing!  He is doing a mighty thing!  We should not tremble or fear.  We should plant our feet firmly on The Rock and watch and see that the Lord is good!

Psalm 46: 1-3

     God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble. 
    Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
         And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 
    Though its waters roar and foam,
         Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 

where i'm from

Lauri had this on her blog and I loved it.  You can look at her post to see where to get the form to do your own poem and read other poems by other people.  They are all cool.  I will probably work on mine some more, but this is what I have so far.

Where I'm From

I am from cigarette scented pickups.  From black and white TV and

Pyrex bowls – yellow for the popcorn and red for the Jell-o.

I am from the squeaky, the dusty, and paneled. 

From three bedrooms, green carpet, and doors that open

by themselves. 

From room to roam and dirt and trees. 

 

I am from swinging in a tire,

playing Wonder Woman

and Barbies.

Reading in the sun, drawing and

listening to John Denver.

Cowboys and Indians and

hide-and-seek in the dark.

From piano lessons,

libraries,

and Christian school.

 

I am from cherry trees, grapes vines and rhubarb. 

From pony hair, cat hair and chicken feed. 

Gardens and worms and wild asparagas.

I am from reunions, Rosehips, and

big feet. 

From Vera and Delmas and Beryl.  Two girls and four girls and one boy. 

The end of the line.

 

I am from the teasing and the stoic.  I am from praying and bickering

and loving. 

From I’ll give you something to cry about and

if your friends wanted to jump off a cliff… 

I am from Jesus saves and lots of rules. 

From Sunday morning,

 Sunday night,

Wednesday night. 

From loving the least of these and everlasting life.

 

I’m from Pueblo and the Arkansas Valley,

 from the dust bowl and a soddy. 

From ranches, farms, and railroads. 

From Macaroni and cheese and Chicken and dumplings,

bread without salt and canned apples.

Frozen Kool-aid, Banquet chicken and Cheerios.

From the illegitimate son of a sailor, The War of 1812,

and an orphan raised by natives. 

A bronc - bustin', homesteading grandma.  

A migrant worker grandpa.  A WWI vet who just missed hitting the frontlines

 and survived the epidemic.

 

I am from heart attacks, brain cancer, and aneurisms.

From strokes and ninety-five years.

I am from old scrapbooks, grandma’s stored-away boxes,

from funeral receipts, birth bills and marriage licenses stuffed

in a bag.  And

memories that need to be mined before it’s too late.

 

If we are truly people of faith, we must be willing to fail more often. If we fail infrequently, it means we are not acting boldly enough or lovingly enough, enough of the time. It means we are hiding behind walls of past successes and shrinking from present-day risks which will determine what is possible. Unless we fail on a regular basis, God will have insufficient raw material with which to work. It is from our haphazard efforts that the Holy One can sculpt works of art. So be unafraid. Dare to fail more often! 
— Hope Douglas J. Harle-Mould

some warm fuzzies - at least in my opinion