Saturday, July 17, 2021

July This And That




1.) Now, how many books have I released during The Great Book Purge of 2021? 196. So far, that is. And only while holding, oh, maybe 7 books has my heart felt a sharp pain of good-bye. 

Yet I survived, again, so far.  シ

2.) If you're wondering which books I'm currently planning on keeping until the day before I leave for Heaven, here's a sampling (and of course my Bible is included. Goes without saying). :



The hard to read titles? The Stillmeadow Road, Star-Spangled Summer and Paintbox Summer.


3.) Sometimes you just need Christmas in July, especially these chaotic, evil days. So this dark, rainy morning I re-watched Home Alone. (And ok, that house is a bit dated now, but oh my, still it inspires me.)

Home Alone. Just right.


4.) Speaking of houses, here's one of the nicest, most practical tiny houses I've ever seen (and that's saying lots).


5.) Want to instantly feel wealthy? Stroll around your house with paper and pen (or yeah, some type of note app on your phone) and list every item/person/pet for which you are grateful. 

Keep the list. Recite it aloud, especially during times of stress or discomfort.



6.) Okay, now this was too cool. The Somers family in Alaska gave away their van. All their videos are special, but this one  is a list-topper.


7.) A special day of rest every week is a gift from God and I hope you have one, also. Tom and I have chosen Saturdays for ours and you know? All week we anticipate our 'Saturdates' (as Naomi calls them).

We guard them, let nothing interfere (unless it can't be helped). But mostly? Separately we do what we want during the morning hours, then close the curtains upon that crazy world out there before ordering out for lunch around noon. 

Then we watch favorite tv shows and movies while simply enjoying being together. I highly recommend arranging your life (I prepare on Thursdays and Fridays) so you, also, can take one day off each week. 

Highly. Recommend. It. Sunday arrives and we feel recharged!


8.) You know how some folks say, "I was born the wrong decade"? Well, although I truly believe God made no mistakes in sending us specifically here when He did--in Heaven--I'm thinking whole towns will exist which reflect the eras we'd have enjoyed.

Like, if you believe you'd have loved the 1940's, there'll be towns/houses/people resembling that era, only, of course, a million times lovelier. City-structures, houses, hairstyles, clothing, music, cars, everything resembling the 1940's, filled with folks just like you who either lived in that era or wish they had.

Of course, I don't know all this for certain, but the idea just seems to make much sense. And hey, who says we can't dream about Heaven?




9.) Oh and here was a special blessing--for me, anyway. Far back upon moving to New York in 1993, I discovered the Junior Authors books at our local library. In encyclopedia style, they contained photos and autobiographical stories of many of my favorite authors' lives. 

Being reference books, they couldn't be taken from the library (darn), so guess who, probably every couple years, sat there for hours with those books? Yep, me.

The blessing: some of these Junior Author books are available at OpenLibrary.org and can you imagine my excitement at this discovery?

Now, this fact may not make your heart skip a beat, yet I'm mentioning it so to encourage you to never give up in your search for what you love best. 

Who knows what we'll find if we never cease our search?


10.) Which reminds me: during these difficult days in which we're living, I'm determining to accept challenges as inspiration to excel rather than let them flatten me all pancake-like.

Anyone can become a sad pancake. But God created us and enabled us for much, much more!



"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."   --- Philippians 4:13


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Oh, and here's something extra, especially for those of you who, like me, love Ralph Moody's Little Britches series of books.

What is it? After reading my blog post about Uncle Levi, Ralph Moody's cousin's son contacted me! Wow, color me happy.

In a second email, he even sent an essay he'd written about his early family members.

Always remember that Life can --still in 2021-- be sprinkled with sweet surprises.





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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

4 comments:

Betsy said...

Hi Debra:
Just to begin, I'm so sorry I missed your last post. I did read it but couldn't comment due to no internet. I can read on my phone, but blogger won't let me comment for some reason. But here I am back to bather on again!
You know, during those days without the constant news bombardent on TV I was actually able to forget about a LOT of the "stuff" going on in the world. I know I can't bury my head forever, but a fews days without the news? A bit of Heaven right here on earth. :-)
I'm trying to enjoy a bit of every day in the here and now, always remembering to try to be KIND to everyone I meet. It's amazing how attitudes change when you're nice first.
Take care my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy

Pam said...

I always enjoy your posts, Debra, but this one came when I needed it. Your link to the video of the family living in 399 sq ft, really encouraged me. As we prepare to move to a 1330 sq ft home, there are times I wonder how we'll manage. (I know we've been very spoiled with space over the years we've been on the family farm). When I saw how well a family of four can thrive in such a small space, I thought, "of course we can make it work!" I appreciated the Condoleezza Rice quote, too. I have to remind myself, often, to enjoy the journey every day, rather than trying to figure out the future. Debra, I am so happy for your commitment to sharing your books with others. It would be so much fun to know where every single one ends up! xoxo

Diana said...

I've been absent for a while, lots going on. // My husband and I have always said we would have made pretty darn good pioneers (we used to tent camp as much as we could and hiked for miles in the country). I so love Laura Ingalls Wilder's books and reeeeally wish I could have lived in the mid- to late-1800s. I'm happiest on country roads, walking in the country, visiting my cousin's country farm. *sigh* Oh to be a pioneer! Blessings to you, dear Debra!

Leah said...

Oh, we love the Gone Away books! We read them several years ago to our older children and now that the younger ones can appreciate them, we just read through them again. And the Stillmeadow books...ahhh, you truly are my soul sister. :)