Angel’s Play Date



Angel and "Little" Lab puppy.



Recently two houses in our neighborhood went up for sale. As you would expect, we prayed for them to sell promptly and to good folks. Both houses sold within the month to two great young families.



Not only were we pleased, Angel dog has happily acquired new play mates. The neighbor next door has a black lab puppy. Add a German shepherd and white Husky to the mix equals hours of fun and frolic. Yesterday they had a great time tugging and chasing a sock. (We are hoping the owner of said sock enjoyed it too.)



In a few short years Angel has gone from being the youngster in the neighborhood to the elder. Even though she has a great time playing with the younger neighbors, she does more sitting than running. Having contact with other animals is great exercise for the body and her spirit.

After a hard day of play, she was ravenous. She loves vegetable lasagna as much as we do. When we placed the tray of leftovers on the deck, she attacked holding it down with her paws inside. It would be a shame to miss a single morsel.



The need for relationship with others is innate. We are blessed to have wonderful friends and church family in our community. Like Angel, we seem to have shifted to the older side in our friendships. We love sharing a meal and play with our “younger” friends. Also, like Angel, we find the need to take some time outs. We look forward to our coveted Sunday afternoon naps.

Sunday is a time of worship, fellowship, sharing the newspaper, and afternoon walks or bike riding. That is our version of sock tugging. Now for the cherry on top of our Sunday – nap time!



Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Psalm 133:1 (KJV)

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Dial Up vs. High Speed

           A friend once made an observation about my memory. She said to me, “Mrs. Linda, some folks are on high speed connection, you still may be set on dial up.” We had a good laugh but as the years pass I find myself in good company.


           This weekend my husband gathered with his high school friends for their 45th reunion. Most of us there were on dial up mode. It was so wonderful to see folks still delighted to see each other; some for the first time since graduation. That is, once they figured out who each other were!

           Name tags were a great help the first night they gathered together. Under the cloak of darkness, they had excuses when incorrect names were called or completely forgotten; repeatedly. A mild panic arose Saturday when the name tag crutch was removed in the light of day. A sigh of relief filled the room when name tags were put back into action at the dinner meal.


           There may have been a pecking order back in the youth of high school. At this reunion of dear friends, all were on an equal playing field. Everyone, for the most part, was on dial up. The years have made them more appreciative of life and friendship. They took time to remember and honor their classmates who had passed.





          Memories may have faltered at names and faces but happy memories shared from youth, made them one. There were four friends in attendance who had been school mates of Dan's from first grade through twelfth. What a wonderful thing to cherish. Is there any wonder that the word “friend” is found ninety times in the Bible?


Friends since the 1st grade!


          There is something to be said about dial up. The slowing down of our hectic lives and taking a leisure weekend walking down memory lane with beloved friends is a priceless gift. I would say that trumps high speed any day of the week.


            Genuine friends must be cherished and not forsaken (Prov. 27: 10).

It's My Birthday!

I woke up this morning to find these beautiful flowers from my husband.  What a lovely way to start my BIRTH DAY! 

I was walking down the hallway and I hear this hysterical laughter from him. Apparently a toilet tissue streamer had mysteriously attached itself to my shorts!  Oh well. Welcome to 60!

Now, on to an afternoon concert! Rock on!

"God bless you and keep you,  God smile on you and gift you. God look you full in the face and make you prosper"

(Numbers 6:24-26, MSG)

                                                     
        

Salt and Light

        Wednesday night we came home to find an invasion on our back deck. It and the outside door were covered with snails. Apparently the rain and darkness had drawn them out of hiding. Of course, I totally freaked out. I mean really! Gross! Yuck, etc, etc.



        Dan assured me when the sun came out they would retreat. I was not about to attempt to sleep with those slugs lurking about outside my door. I remembered that contact with salt destroys them. I emptied an entire box of salt over the deck, back door and side of the house. It did do the trick. The salt destroyed the disgusting critters, however, there was a slimy mess left behind to be dealt with.



        Some of us struggle with our secret sins that hide away in the dark tormenting our souls. The Light is what drives them away and destroys them when we apply the salt of genuine faith. Still there may remain the consequences of our choices. There is often the slimy mess of regret and sorry.



        Millions of people like me have bought the lie that terminating/aborting a pregnancy is acceptable in certain circumstances. Regardless of the reason, abortion leaves a horrific scar on the soul. Yes, when we truly repent, God freely forgives. He desires to comfort and heal us. We, however, can never recover the loss. We will forever grieve for our children.



        I recently had the opportunity to share my restoration story with two women in different places in their lives. One was heart broken from her abortion seeking help through Post Abortion Ministry. The other too cried bitterly as she remained adamant she must abort the child she was carrying. She believed it was the only choice she could make.



        I confided in a friend that I sometimes felt like throwing myself at their feet and begging them not to do this horrible thing to themselves and their child. We cannot make or force that decision upon anyone. We can only inform of the inevitable, pray and be available to extend the same Mercy, Grace and Love God has given us regardless of choices made.

        It is my belief that until post abortive women stand together in bringing their secret pain of abortion out of the darkness into the Light, the true devastation of abortion will remain unrestrained. In the United Sates alone, more than 1.5 million abortions are performed each year, making abortion one of the most common surgical procedures performed on women today. + 


        Should you find yourself in the situation where you feel there is no other choice to be made, I beg you to reconsider. There is a way for you and your child. You will never go anywhere in your life that He has not gone before you to make a way! If you have already made this choice, please seek out a Post Abortion Restoration and Recovery group in your area. There are many resources available to you. Call me, your local Crisis Pregnancy Center or find a group at www.surrenderingthesecret.com.



They dress the wound of my people as though it is not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is not peace. Jeremiah 6:14 NIV


+ “Abortion Data from Reports of the Alan Guttmacher Institute”: www.religoustolerance.org/abo-fact3.htm, accessed 11/15/06

Special Needs

A precious few from our church has formed what they call “The Barnabas Group.” Their mission is to minister to families with special needs adults. They are hosting a concert to benefit these families. They have given many complimentary tickets just to bless and encourage them. We have many friends and family that include these special gifts from God.

I felt compelled to ask my friends and family to make a donation toward this event in lieu of birthday cards. Since my 60th birthday falls on the day of the concert, I am sure I will receive one or two tacky cards. I would like to say they are underserved but will have to admit to sending one or two in my day. Well, maybe a few more.

I thanked God for being so blessed with healthy children. Immediately the words came back, “Families without healthy children are blessed too!” I began to realize the times the words I speak innocently but carelessly can offend or wound. I asked God to place a watch over my mouth so that I may speak only encouraging words.

In honor of our special occasions where presents are usually exchanged, we will be making donations as God directs us. I can think of no better gift to give or receive.


“Guard My Mouth, Keep Watch Over The Door My Lip
Psalm 141: 1-10

That’s Our Ruthie!

        I was ten years old when my brother Norman married Ruth. Next year they will celebrate their 50th anniversary! 

        Ruthie, as she is affectionately called, has been a part of our family for most of my life. I hardly remember a time when she wasn’t around.  I vividly recall the pink lacy dress she wore her wedding day. Although she was obviously nervous, she was still perfectly coiffured.

 

         Like many, she has experienced much loss and tragedy in her life. It has not made her bitter but a better person. She receives much teasing over her hyper vigilant personality. On our last visit we noted she had a dust pan in the dog kennel and hanging plant on her satellite dish. Things must be neat and tidy in Ruthie’s world.

        Ruthie invited us to drop by for a biscuit for breakfast before we returned home from our visit. To her it was just a biscuit; to us it was a banquet. She not only frets that we haven’t had enough to eat but sends home food for our freezer.

        Anytime there is a need within her family or community, she is generally first on the scene and the last to leave. She is not perfect. Hello! She married us! She is a very loving, nurturing, kind hearted and caring person.

        Not only is she approaching her Golden anniversary, she has a heart of gold. I don't know if her parents named her after the Biblical Ruth, but it certainly suits her. Yep! That’s our Ruthie!

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Ruth 1:16