Sunday night

Clean house, cook dinner, sweep floor, read restful books, have breakfast tea in bed, sit outside, meditate on quiet things, drink more tea, sit with chickens, vacuum rugs, replant some chocolate mint, take a nap, remember Who's in control, love my family, pray, focus on good things, write in journal.

Take a break from reading/listening to the news.  Taking it way too personally.  Hard not to.

Remember life is settled in two columns:  Those things you can control, those you can't control.

But I can pray.

Exhale and don't take on more than I can personally handle.  I'm not handling the news well at all.  Must find a quiet place in my heart.  

Saturday's thoughts

Dizzy and a bit breathless today.  Thinking I caught a bit of the cold the kids have shared between themselves.  Not a worry.  I was able to write to the church email list saying the least one couldn't acolyte tomorrow.  We'll just lay low.  Frankly feel a bit worn after the Supremes let us down yesterday.  Have to trust God on that one.

Got a couple of Dee Hardie's books that'd been on hold for me at the library.  If you ever read House Beautiful magazine years ago you might have read her regular pieces called View from Thornhill Farm.  Very, very comforting.  Worth a look-see if your library has them.  The ones I got are called Views from Thornhill and Hollyhocks, Lambs and other Passions.  I'm thinking the eighties, when these were written, was like no other decade. :)  That's when I got married and had three of our eight children.  Sweet times.  I miss that.

Cooler air blowing through today and tonight.  We'll be able to sleep in Sunday morning, which will be a nice treat.  Just coddle ourselves.  Really, the news is so emotionally exhausting to me just now, to huddle in our house, garden a bit and be quiet sounds very healing.  And necessary.

If you look for the moon tonight, you can see (and have been able to see in the western sky) Venus and Jupiter side-by-side, and Saturn will be tucked near the Moon.  Haven't been out to see, but will in a minute.  Time to quit.

Take care.  

Books and stuff

Love William Faulkner.  Love his writing.  Funny thing too---when I want to read something that sets well, I pick up one of his books.  Happily I've been able to buy several of the wonderfully worn Vintage International copies at the library bookstore ($2 or less), some with writing in them.  Some not.  All with broken spines which make reading them a joy.  I feel like I'm repeating myself.

***

In Michele Cushatt's email list 7-Day Challenge I've been subscribed to the past week (I'm done now, but you go ahead), she suggests writing a list consisting of two columns.  One list of things you can control, one of things you can't.  I didn't realize how much I waste time worrying about things I have no control of whatsoever.  That's where the majority of my energy goes.  When I focus on what I have jurisdiction over, the calm feelings appear.  Takes work, but it's do-able.

What I can do is finish deep-cleaning the kitchen, cook dinner, feed dogs and chickens, take out the garbage, love my family, etc.  I can't make money, bring customers into my husband's shop or make an impact (at least one I'm aware of) that will bring my sons back to the Lord.  

Once you get over the notion that you're that necessary, the lines are clear.  Hard to NOT wander over into the column of what I can't control, though.  As we've told our kids in terms of their jobs---'they are expendable.'  Same in my life, I reckon.

And I'm reminded of how we're supposed to do today and only today.  I absolutely adore knowing the bills will be paid on time.  It's not in my life to always experience that, but it's true that He's more interested in my spirit than my comfort.  Personally speaking, I'm partial to a sure thing.  Debt isn't very encouraging, but the lifestyle we have of depending on the Lord for every cent is faith-building to say the least.  I just wish I'd learn the lesson so we'd not have to keep repeating the same exercise.

I could probably admit to making money an idol and our children as well.  Too much emotional energy expended on both topics.  Too often I've put them both ahead of the importance of God in my life.  But I'm working on it.

Take heart.

'Anything' by Jennie Allen

In reading Jennie Allen's re-release of Anything, I'm thinking I would have benefited from reading it about twenty years ago.  Her focus is the equipping of the generation coming up now in making them enthusiastic for Christ.  To be willing to do anything for the cause of Christ.  Anything.  That reminds me of my mom sharing the plan of salvation with me when I was about 11 or 12 years old.  My fear was that He'd send me to Africa, and isn't that a common misconception?  Well, at 13 I was saved at a Billy Graham film called Time to Run, and Africa has never been on my radar.

Jennie shares stories of friends who are dissatisfied with the 2-car garage, beautiful home, perfect marriage sort of lives. She has conversations with women and men who want more.  I can honestly say I never had that sort of talk with anyone of my generation.  We seemed content to play house, have what bells and whistles we could afford, but there never seemed to be time to fit in anything else, including offering God anything.

While I can't really identify with her goal, I respect her beautiful way of sharing the Gospel.  Her joy is contagious, and she's written a Bible Study (included in the book) and has online resources as well.

For a young couple or single individual who are looking for a richer Christian life, this book might be a wonderful resource to get them started.

(i received this book free to review from booklookbloggers)

'The Little Paris Bookshop' by Nina George

I have to admit choosing The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George because of the beautiful cover.  So far, so good.  And I like the idea of the book---Parisian bookstore on a barge on the Seine, specializing in selling books based on the impression the customers give, and refusing to sell when the books don't match them.  Sounds engaging.  But the truth is that the owner, Monsieur Perdu, is the one who needs help.  He experiences a crisis regarding his former lover, who's been gone for 21 years.  He packs up the bookshop and goes to hunt her down (can't give details---would ruin it), or at least settle a mystery in his heart.  The story is full of characters he either carries with him, or who he meets on his journey.

I got frustrated when after believing the book would be filled with more book suggestions.  Thinking that story would be more centered on his helping other readers.  Okay, I'm always wanting to know what others are reading, and felt a bit misled.  Gratefully the book has a list of book titles at the end of the book, including as well recipes mentioned.

Honestly, I'm two ways about the book.  I enjoyed parts of it, was a bit confused at others.  All in all, a good summer read.  Light, not wearing on a tired mind.  One catch is the author used a crude term to describe a male body part numerous times, which turned me off a bit.  It does matter.

(i received this book free to review from crown publishing through bloggingforbooks)

Rebel

Okay, so I'm about to get a tad controversial for a minute.  I'm hacked that there's all this furor about the Confederate Flag.  For many of us, born and bred Southerners, this is offensive to say the least.  I realize everyone won't agree with me, but down here, the issue of whether the Confederate Flag should be flown is old as the hills. I live in Tennessee. Give me a break.  Everyone's got an opinion.  And for corporations, such as W*lmart and eB*y, to have a knee-jerk reaction and remove all Confederate merchandise is, to me, asinine.  I know.  We won't all agree.

If the murderer in Charleston had been holding up a BigMac, would McDonalds take that food off of their menu?  Yeah, I know.  BigMacs aren't too contoversial, except in calories.  But you get my point.

The problem isn't the flag, but how folks perceive it.  To me it's my history.  And oddly enough, one of my great-great grandfathers, who lived in Tennessee, fought for the Union along with some of his brothers.  Think on how he was welcomed back home.  The neighbors might have not been too happy to see him, yes?  Still, I'm proud of the history of the South.  And me, married to a Yankee.  We do have some conversations regarding such.

And while I can admit to having several ancestors who owned slaves---surprisingly found through census records, it is part of who I am.  Erase the flag if you will, but it doesn't change anything. Take it down from Southern courthouses, remove it from state flags, but the pride (or arrogance and ignorance) will stay the same.  It'll never be enough.  Southerners won't ever be able to remove the stain of slavery, but let's rise above, can we?

I have a childhood friend who's a huge fan and protector of the Confederate Flag.  He's in groups that defend the rights of folks to fly it.  And he was even fired from a job, which went to court, because he had a Rebel flag sticker on the back of his car.  Seriously?

We can express ourselves using the flag if we want to.  It's not illegal, and it's just one in a tremendous pile of things that folks won't let alone.  The world can't be so disinfected as to protect everyone from offence.  If things tick a person off instantly, maybe it's time to look at the reason.  I'm thinking 'get over yourself' might be a place to start.

Not much grace in this post, but a necessary rant for me.

Tuesday afternoon

Cleaning more in the house, this time the shelves that hold the cookbooks and overflow of small appliances.  Tossing mismatched saucers and plastic cups with missing parts.  Also a small coffee maker missing the pot.  And a Pyrex dish that won't come clean even by using the ever-faithful ammonia trick.  Out it goes.  I have trouble with this, but hold the things in my hands asking the question as to whether they're necessary to my joy.  Well, no.

Purging is good for the soul, either physical or spiritual.

Lots on my mind---friends are sharing problems.  Cancer, abuse, marital discord.  I've heard the evil one is stepping up his techniques realizing his days are numbered.  I like that.  The numbered days bit.  Seems praying for things requires much more spiritual footwork.  Things I used to pray about and expect and see quick answers are now having to be buried in prayer.  Buried.

While I don't believe the numbers of angels and demons changes, their work is more intense.  And I even suggested to Gary that he pray a continual hedge around his shop.  The dark powers won't like us getting involved in a church family's new situation.  One of their sons (a five year old) has been abused by a friend's son.  I won't go into detail, but the father of the abuser is a cop.  The ramifications could be interesting, to say the least.  Oldest daughter will be helping the mom (who is a good friend of hers) to care for the kids this week.

Staying prayed up.  Do NOT let your guard down.

Can't see ahead of me.  Need work in the shop.  Bills overdue.  God be praised in all things.

Listening to David Dunn's new CD on Spotify called Crystal Clear.  Sweet Christian young man, who oldest daughter has a crush on. :)  I get that.