Our Job is to Obey

by Charles R Swindoll

Let all who take refuge in You be glad,
let them ever sing for joy.
Psalm 5:11

As you walk the path of trust, you will experience situations that simply defy explanation. When you look back, after the fact, you could never have figured out a better plan. At the time it seemed strange, mysterious . . . even illogical. 

Let me assure you, that’s God working. Things will happen that seem to be totally contradictory, but these are God’s arrangements. 

It was a wonderful day when I finally realized I don’t have to explain or defend the will of God. My job is simply to obey it.

It is a waste of time trying to unscrew the inscrutable workings of God. You’ll never be able to do it. That’s simply the way God works.

He honors faith and obedience. He will honor your faith if you will trust Him in a walk of obedience.

And when you trust Him completely, you will enjoy inner quietness and security. You will have a secure confidence that you are walking in His will.

You will be surrounded by His peace.

Welcoming 2013 with Joy

It has been 8 months since I have posted anything to my blog. And 8 months ago we had a joyful happening in our family and that was the birth of our 10th grandchild….our precious granddaughter, Keira!  What a joy she has been! I hadn’t remembered how much a baby can add to a person’s life …but then I’m thinking  it is our 10 grandchildren that add that joy….but as I think more about it, it definitely is family, my three daughters and their families,  that adds joy!! We don’t have the joy having all of our children and grandchildren around us, but when we do see them, our joy is ignited again! Family cannot be replaced with anything or anyone else. There is nothing like having family loving you just the way you are. And my children and grandchildren fit the bill for handing out unconditional love. God has certainly blessed us in 2o12 and will again in 2013 as we look forward to another year to share His love and demonstrate our trust in Him. After all, none of us know what this year holds for us, but we can know that God has us in His Hands….and that…… I am so thankful for!

Our little Keira is here!

Keira was born April 10th at 11am in the morning, weighed 7lb and 7oz and as you can see has lots of dark hair and is just adorable! Everyone is doing fine and we are all just thrilled! We thank God for His grace and mercy! Ezra is a happy big brother!!

My prayer as I age…..

A Prayer ~ Anonymous

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old.

Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to try to straighten out everybody’s affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details – give me wings to get to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others’ pains. Help me to endure them with patience.

But seal my lips on my own aches and pains – they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by!

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonally sweet: I do not want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with – but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil!

Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all – but Thous knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end!

Miscellaneous Collections

I used to be a huge collector of stuff….ducks, bowls, doilys, baskets (still do some)….but since getting older, if I do collect,  it isn’t all over the house…but in little areas…click the picture to see better.

This shadow box is actually a printers drawer...there were such tiny spaces to fill and whenever I found a little something I would buy it. They are mostly filled with people and there is barely any empty spaces, but I really enjoy looking at my collection.

This is not a printers drawer but just a regular shadow box. Many of these little things I have had a long time.....it's hanging in my bedroom.

Now some would say this isn't a collection, but I disagree...it's a collection of sedums and succulents that I just love. I just planted these so we'll see how they do.

These are an egg basket collection. The one in the lower right row is one that I made years ago.

My Fiesta Ware collection that we use every day. I am basically finished collecting but if they come out with a new color, like lavender, that would be awesome!

Wool Felt Baby Projects…for Keira, of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the little wool felt shoes I’ve made for our soon to be born granddaughter, Keira. I could make her 10 more….. they were so fun to make. I got this tutorial from here   http://www.purlbee.com/felt-baby-shoes/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this evening I made this wool felt ball for her. It was fun to do. Here is the tutorial  http://www.duofiberworks.com/journal/2009/11/9/felt-rainbow-ball-tutorial.html

The felt ball in her tutorial is a lot better than mine…but next one will be better. I really love working with wool felt!

 

 

Raise the Bar | WNC Magazine

Raise the Bar | WNC Magazine.

Look at this! We are one of the featured soapmakers in this month’s Western North Carolina WNC Magazine! Our Tomato Soap is in the middle!!