Miles of Smiles

My sweet grandson...nothing can melt my heart like this beautiful smile...my daughter told me they spent Saturday "baking" cookies with a "buddy"...two Moms and two four-year-olds...I can only imagine...what a treat! I have a feeling this young man will be quite accomplished when he is all grown up...especially with the wonderful diverse activities my daughter continues to involve him in. When it comes to playtime though, he is your typical boy...helicopters, boats, trucks, motorcylces, flying kites, running, showing you his "muscles", tossing footballs(actually any kind of ball), Spiderman, Batman, tickling Mom and Dad...but there are learning time activities...LeapPad, coloring, reading...and what makes "Mema" or "Poppa Dan" smile, listening to him tell you a tale about his day...Grandchildren are "grand".

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16

Making Progress

Today was a day of answered prayer...since the drive to work is 35 minutes in and 35 minutes out...my day begins with a prayer for safe travel.
This morning, an unexpected dilemma occurred...it happened about seven cars ahead of me...a portion of a central heating unit fell out of a truck bed into the oncoming traffic. All you could see were swerving cars and brake lights...once the traffic slowed to a stop the lead car made it's way around the debris by traveling the shoulder of our lane. Our group made it around safely...those that came later were not so observant...and a wreck eventually occurred.

On a good note, my friend is out of the hospital and is steadily improving. Lord willing, on Thursday she and I will buy her some groceries. With a generous gift of monetary assistance from the brothers and sisters of our congregation, we should be able to re-stock her household pantry. Although, we are unable to help with the larger health problems they deal with...as my Dad used to say "Everybody's got to eat"...so we're starting there.

Safe travel to all...

No Worries...

Now that the snow has melted, the cats are free to play. Sylvester is lord of the lawn around our house...and he loves "attention"...from the moment I arrive home from work...I am met by a scurry of black and white..."meowing" for that scratch behind the ear. Sox, the fluffy one, resorts to laying down...usually just as my next step is about to be planted. It's a daily routine...in this case, routine doesn't equal monotonous...it has its reward value...for me, a welcome home after a long day at work.

After spending a few days in prayful requests...first due to snow...then about my friend, still in the hospital, while her husband tries to heal at home...being saddened about an untimely death of a friend...concerned when my "best bud" fell and re-broke his ribs...feeling anxious from the unspoken silence of stress heard in my daughters voice...some days, life can seem overwhelming.

The world may be in constant "change", our lives may continue to face "change", people "change", sometimes, disappointing us, but I take comfort in the wonderful "routine" areas of my life, the places of "same-ness" I can depend on...especially, in the "consistency" of Christ.

Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever."

Call For Comfort

The phone rang at work yesterday, (Tuesday), I answered and to my surprise, it was the voice of a new acquaintance of mine...but the voice was distressed...in need of a "friend". After learning of her dilemma, I finished up at work and made my way to the hospital. Hugs and words of comfort came first, then gathering the necessary information, a second hug for good measure, and I was ready to fulfill the requests made of me: call her husband, make sure her valuables are taken home, bring her some clothes and personal items, get her car moved to their house...so a few short hours later...all is accomplished. Not exactly the norm for a Tuesday night and I found that as I was in the "moment" of attending to the "needs of a friend"...there was no "time" to be distracted by my "other" friend problem...no time to dwell on the heartache of betrayal...just "total" focus on taking care of a request for help.

God will always have the best "fix" for every problem we encounter...even when the answer doesn't quite look like an answer to us.

Isa 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Please keep this family in your prayers for physical and spiritual healing...

Bundle Up...

There is finally a "wintery" feel outside...lower temps, frozen precip and chilly winds...definitely time to bundle up.
Despite the snowy skies, our weekend was so enjoyable...we spent time visiting with some friends from the old homeplace just over the mountain...catching up on "news" of grandchildren and children...sharing pictures and stories...laughing to the point of tears. True friendship is a wonderful gift indeed.

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

There is great comfort in knowing I am connected by friendship to so many wonderful people...in so many places...that I can freely share my up times and my down times. Coupled with much prayer, it makes dealing with the struggle to overcome a betrayal by a "friend" a little more bearable.

Look Up...

Today held a blessing of beauty for me...a beautiful day to lift the spirits...the skies were cloudless and blue...with a golden morning sunrise. Jet tracks lined the empty blue sky like a journal page ready for God to write the days message. No wind, just cool and crisp with a hint of sunshine to warm you on your walk into the office. The day stayed calm and mellow...a few clouds wandered across the sky as it became evening...the slow setting sun changing the clouds from blue to purple. As I drove home, a hawk had perched itself on the outstretched limb of a roadside evergreen...perfectly still...waiting patiently...alert...noting each movement. What a beautiful creature...formed by the hand of God...