This Life is Real…and so are the Answers
Author of Women's Christian Fiction – This Is the Day!
I pray your Sunday is as peaceful as a stroll through this garden. The fragrant aroma of blossoms in the air as they drift lazily over the trickling falls. Take a moment to listen and reflect…because He does walk with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=virUKkgqTeE
Friday is the end of the work week, unless you are in a profession like nursing, retail, police, etc. So many of us still think of Friday as the day to look forward to the weekend, a time to relax and be with family and friends. So, let’s kick off this Friday with a little quiz. No groaning allowed! Just something fun to see how familiar you are with your computer. I was shocked when I missed only one question…and that was me not thinking it through. So it really can’t be that complicated. You don’t need to download it, just hit the little blue start button. You get to see if you are wrong or correct before you answer the next question. I like that!
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=basic-computer-skills-assessment&user_name=I
So how did you do? I’m thinking fairly well considering you blog and have a website! Just figuring out WordPress has my head spinning most days! Have a great weekend!
It seems as though everyone is on the band wagon about not eating gluten, wheat, dairy, or basically anything that tastes great! I must admit, bread has always been a favorite of mine. Not just any bread, but high-in-gluten bread like Italian bread, cinnamon rolls, etc. Adding cheese to it is even better. But I also know that as I get older, wheat just doesn’t sit so well with me. When I don’t eat it, I feel really good, and I lose weight. Sigh!
So, I wanted to share this recipe. It looks easy to do…my kind of recipe! It is a bit late for fresh cucumbers in our area, but this is still doable. The salmon one…not so good in my opinion! But these would be a great snack, or even a light lunch. I love the Tasty videos! They are fun to watch, and usually have upbeat music to get you into that cooking mood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrfXGtMWNXU
Let me know what you think. I’m sure the options are endless for other ingredients to add. Maybe some chicken, shredded cheese, a slice of bread on each side? Just kidding about that last one! Enjoy!
Wednesday, that day of the week that you look toward on Monday. That day you reach, starting to drag a bit, and wondering how you’re going to make it through two more days of school, work, or parenting until you have help on the weekend.
For all those reasons I stated above, I believe that mid-week church services were held to help encourage Believers to forge ahead. I haven’t researched this, and I don’t really know when mid-week services became popular, or the proper thing to do. Paul speaks of having services every day. That probably wouldn’t fit into many of our schedules. So, daily devotions are another option.
I would like to share a verse each Wednesday. One that God has led me to, or seems appropriate for the day. Just a bit of encouragement to get through the rest of the week.
When our children memorized this one, it was like a blank check to them. And rightly so. Children take things literally, and accept with an innocence that we lose as we grow older. But this verse doesn’t give you super powers, or a new house, car, better-paying job, or make you popular on social media.
It is saying, that with Christ, you are strong. You can face those battles of financial struggles, raising children, cancer, loss of a job, etc. He gives you the ability to do what you need to do…and I’ve witnessed this in my own life over and over. To be with Christ, you need to be in His Word, praying without ceasing, having Him the center of your world. Rather like learning the words to a new song you heard on the radio, and you love it. Your mind keeps straying to it. Or a new boyfriend/girlfriend. Your thoughts are filled with that person. And you feel as though you can move mountains.
It’s Wednesday, and you can do it!
I am almost finished writing the sequel to When Hope Blooms! That book was to be a stand alone…but characters spoke to me that needed to have their story told. So, being the compassionate author that I am…I listened, and I wrote.
No, this is not the cover of When Love Grows. I have to keep a few surprises up my sleeve! But the cover is finished, and I love it! This is just a little meme to share a tid-bit of the book, and to introduce you to Sandy. And no, she’s not the main character either.
I’ll keep you updated, so stay tuned!
When I first learned to play the piano, I had visions of playing for hours, any song that I wished. Most of what I wanted to play was the popular music of the 1970’s. I took one year of piano lessons, with almost no music theory involved. Of course I played by ear as much as I possibly could…not something a piano teacher advises, or even tolerates. What I ended up playing much of the time was classical music, and that was what I usually listened to when I wasn’t finding my way around so many other options. My great grandmother on my maternal side was a classical pianist, my grandfather played violin in the Phoenix symphony, and my mother was classically trained on the piano. There wasn’t much room in our house for the popular music of the day!
Many years later, I was asked to play piano for our church services. I had never played a hymn, even though my mother was usually the pianist or organist at whatever church we attended. I was not great with chords, and the older hymns are full of them! I learned to play those hymns, with much practice every day. Not an easy thing to do with three small children.
When we moved to Kansas, I played for the little church we attended. They also had a small choir, and a singspiration time. I was pretty excited about those two activities…from the singing point of view. Not the playing-the-piano point of view. Again…I adapted quickly.
What came from that period of time, was a love for hymn playing, and some of the old country hymns. One night, a dear woman requested Remind Me, Dear Lord. I had never heard of it before, and it had three flats, if I remember correctly. Not my favorite to maneuver through. But I learned that song, and it became one I loved. Each time I hear it, I am reminded of that dear lady, that has now gone on to be with the Lord.
I chose this version, and video of the song because I loved the old pictures in it. They reminded me of my grandparents, and a more simple time, when life was hard, but good. This is for you, Vicki…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdT5BK-eqVY
I would imagine that the state fair was once an anticipated event for many. If you were a farmer, the culmination of your summer’s work would be celebrated and displayed for the state to see.
As a child, living in a home with a father that had grown up on a farm in his early years, fairs were something that we always did. Looking at the animals was a prerequisite for the day…and something I didn’t find too interesting. I mean, you’ve seen one cow…how many more do you want to see? The horse barn was a favorite for my father, and it seemed like we spent hours staring at horse behinds. Remember, I was a child, so that was about eye-level for me. In later years, when my family had several horses, and showed them at all the local fairs, I understood why the horses stood with their backs to everyone. They were just plain sick and tired of people, no pasture and having to look nice every day. When they arrived home, backed off the trailer and were led to their pasture…the first thing they did was roll. Kicking up their feet, and covering themselves with dirt was the highlight of their week! I’ve included these pictures before, but they seemed appropriate here. This one below is my brother showing for halter class with my parent’s Percheron, Bonnie.
This one is of my father, also with Bonnie. She was a beautiful horse! I’ve posted before that my brother restored that market wagon, taking everything apart, sanding and painting to match the colors my family used while showing. He did a great job.
Yesterday, my husband and our youngest attended the Kansas State Fair. Here is a link if you would like to read up on it yourself. http://www.kansasstatefair.com/ Every year the fair has ‘dollar days’ so you can pay just a dollar to get in. If you have a Dillon’s card, you get in for free! I think that’s a great deal! We usually walk around, look at all the animals, the displays, and a quick trip through the midway. Normally we don’t do rides. Long lines, hot sun, and chaos usually bloom here…not something us older folks find enjoyable. Since our daughter was the only younger one, and she didn’t want to ride alone, she didn’t go on any rides. She and my husband did ride the little train together while I had a blessed sit-down in a pretty gazebo. The breeze and the shade were the favorite part of my day!
At the end of the day, when we were eating someplace other than the fair…my husband said he had tracked how far we had walked. Almost four miles! I was happy to hear that…and believe me, my body was feeling it. My sunburned neck showed it last night. I did have a good time. It was lovely to spend the day with my husband and daughter, and I’m actually looking forward to next year…on dollar days, of course! There was another great find yesterday. Brewed, iced-tea, one dollar for 32 ounces! That’s a great fair deal! Thank you Kansas State Fair for a great day! Thank you to all the exhibitors that are willing to put up with less-than-wonderful accommodations for the week. Animals of all shapes, sizes and ages…I pray a quick return to your pastures where you can roll to your heart’s content.
I love this movie about a state fair. It gives you classic memories. Enjoy this little clip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsqyCVBog8c
I am missing our children this morning. Missing the days when we all attended church together on a Sunday morning. Missing the days when we sung together, lifting our voices…usually in song! 😉
This song was one our children sung the day my husband was ordained at our church. They did a beautiful job, our son on the guitar, daughters harmonizing with him. The words were fitting for that service.
I made a copy of the song from the hymnal, and used a setting to make the paper look ‘old’. I then enlarged the words,
They are printed over the top of the music. This was hung in my husband’s office at the church, and now is where I can see it everyday, in my office at home. Seasons of our lives. I pray He is still my wisdom, my true word, my vision and Ruler of all.
This particular arrangement is also special because the woman in it is playing a Chickering piano. You don’t see very many of those. My upright is a Chickering and around 100 years old. My mother learned to play the piano on it, and she became an excellent pianist.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs
Watching the news has always been a rather depressing way to spend time, in my opinion. I think we do need to be informed, and not completely naive about what is going on in the world around us. But to watch endless reports of the devastation in Texas, Montana, Oregon, California and now Irma bearing down on Florida is more than I can handle. Hearing the child abuse, animal abuse, and murders that are occurring relentlessly saddens me greatly. I feel as though I cannot do anything…other than pray. And we are told to pray without ceasing. So whenever those news reports enter my head, I do pray. I also pray that if there is another way for me to help, God will point me in that direction, and I will be willing to go without question.
So, today, as I was checking my Facebook, someone had posted a video of Tim Hawkins. For those of you that are not familiar with him, he is a comedian, that also writes songs, sings and plays the guitar…very well. He is also a Christian. I appreciate his comedy because it is clean, and not filled with the language and the inappropriate content that so much comedy is today. Something does not need to be filthy to be funny.
Our first introduction to Tim Hawkins was about ten years ago when our children were at Word of Life in Schroon Lake, New York. I believe our oldest three children were there for the summer program, and they met up with another family there with three children as well. Long story, short…our two oldest girls ended up marrying the two sons. How does this apply to Tim Hawkins you ask? David and Jonathan are a bit on the funny side as well. They did some wonderful parodies of Tim Hawkins’ songs…and we spent a couple hours laughing until our sides hurt.
Times are difficult, and they will be. God has given us a heads-up in the Bible. But we are also told to have hope as Believers, and to focus on the good in every situation. So, here’s a bit of comic relief. I do not own the rights to this, and I’m sharing from YouTube. My goal is to laugh with you, in appreciate of what Tim Hawkins does. After all, laughter is the best medicine! Enjoy, and have a great Wednesday!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5UWfGf-TxE
I love this poem! Very true…and just fun. Enjoy!
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana
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