Fox News Not Spoken Here

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. "  ... Deuteronomy 11:18,19

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So last week a friend came to Hobbit Cottage who we'd not seen in a few years and from almost Minute One he wanted to talk about Fox News. He said if he didn't have that station, he would never watch any other news. Period.

Oh dear. Well, I managed to take the conversation someplace else that time for, alas, Fox News is not spoken here. Yeah, it's spoken at Facebook, but I can't afford to go to the places where I've seen it drive some of my dearest friends. Frankly, I just don't want to go, though if you have fun there, more power to you.

Anyway, we all shared pleasantly what's new with our families and how God brought Tom and myself through 20 months of unemployment. Eventually though, our friend and Tom veered over to Israel (and some of its 20th century history) and then ISIS, which then veered over to (negative things said by our friend about) President Obama, but Tom steered it back to a better place.

I love my husband. He's the best guy around.  :)

I refuse to live my few short years on Earth in an angry political huff. I also shun treating political analysts' opinions like the Bible nor do I spread hatred for our President or rely upon any group to repair our broken land as only God and His ways can.

Basically, I refuse to let any news program rent space inside my head, giving it free reign to paint the walls black, hang thick shades at the windows and leave the whole place in shambles. 

I know my goals--and they are not those. 

What are they? Simply put: I want to lead people to the One who can change the way they see and experience everything, starting now, today, and lasting forever.

So there you go.

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"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” -1 Timothy 2:1-3


"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night"   ... Psalm 1:2

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."   ... John 10:10


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A man at Tom's job cleared out his office (I can't recall why) and offered some items to everyone. Tom brought home two spiffy lamps which I labeled 'just right' and as always, it amazes me the way God gives us presents:

...and...

And the little side table? With the new living room arrangement, Tom now needs my much-loved yellow iron table beside his recliner. So I ordered this table for me:

I especially appreciated the stained-glass look with this morning's sunshine upon it!

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Have a Vision?

                                                 (Yeah, I've got lighting issues. I know.)

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..."   ... Proverbs 29:18


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From the opening of the box of (un-assembled) shelves to placing the final chotchkie on the last shelf above our sink, it took me 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Good grief. And you should have seen me hobbling as I tossed the box clutter away--all those contortions over and inside a kitchen sink will do that to a pathetically-out-of-shape person.

But I am absolutely thrilled with my new shelves.

I've found that most great changes in our lives won't happen until we get a vision for them beforehand. No vision usually equals the same ol,' same ol' thing forever.

But when we picture what we'd like to have--be it shelves above our sink or a change in a relationship or our health or the color of our house--then suddenly! We know exactly what to look for, we're somehow led to it and our eyes recognize what we'd envisioned when they see it.

If we don't envision what we want then, generally, things remain the same (or worsen) and we find nothing good.

And who wants nothing good?  :)

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"... for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."   ... James 1:6,7

Vagueness is an enemy of success.

Not all dreamers are winners, but all winners are dreamers. Your dream is the key to your future. The Bible says that, "without a vision (dream), a people perish." You need a dream, if you're going to succeed in anything you do.” 
― Mark Gorman

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Do you ever watch Bear Grylls' Running Wild? Tom and I have enjoyed them all. Truly. 

The only thing? It often frustrates me that Bear makes these celebrities do stunts so outrageous, that even professional outdoors-men would quiver in their hiking boots. 

Like, if I'd been Tamron Hall, I'd have stomped my foot and refused to rappel down that final cliff. I mean, really! But then, I'd not have experienced the exhilarating sense of accomplishment which she did, either.

But still...

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Doing. It's Better Than Wishing.

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."   ... Proverbs 13:4


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Still here! The living over my holiday weekend just felt too fine to take the time out to write about it. If that makes sense.

But I'm back and oh! Did you see this post  about a 534 sq. ft. house over at Cozy Little House? The entire thing inspired me, but especially this:

Having shelves on the brain lately, I so want these! Yet when I searched the photo source page, I couldn't find where they'd bought it (did the owners make it?), but after much looking, I discovered one by way of Wayfair that's close:

I'll need to buy two (and they'll not be for spices), they'll go on the end of our bottom kitchen cabinets, and already Tom and I bought the dark stain for them when we picked up the tiny shelves yesterday for above our kitchen sink. 

Like I said--shelves, shelves, shelves on the brain.

For me, this has been The Summer I Fixed What Annoyed Me. It's been three months of creativity and pro-activity instead of (my usual) complaining about what's wrong, wishing things were better and letting that complain-y attitude paralyze me, breed discontentment and make me want to buy a whole other house.

It's been a gorgeous summer here, filled with gratitude and contentment as I've watched lots of annoyances walk out the red door and disappear into the mist.




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Oh! Nearly forgot that three years ago today we moved into Hobbit Cottage. Can you believe that? What adventures we've had while living here and how fun to bring life back to a little house that sat vacant and lonely for years. God is good!

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"Do all things without grumbling or questioning..."   ... Philippians 2:14


If there's a single lesson that life teaches us, it's that wishing doesn't make it so. ” 
― Lev Grossman, The Magicians


I've wished for things and never really had the chance...It's time to stop dreaming and do something about it. You've got to know what you want, then...go.” 
― Deb Caletti, The Six Rules of Maybe


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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn`t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour,catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore... Dream.. Discover."     --- Mark Twain