Happier Things. Well, Except For----

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"   ... Genesis 18:14

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Totally, Tom and I have jumped back into the weekend yard sale thing.

Oh, we're not hauling home tons of stuff (not yet. heh.), but it's the getting out, the chatting with WNY people (some of them, delightful characters), the wandering through houses not redecorated since the 1950's--that's what we love best. (Although I allowed one house on Saturday to make me nuts for two days. It was perfect. And sold in April. Grrr.)

Anyway.

Some of my latest tiny treasures:

I think the (so-quirky) lady gave these to me for a total of .25 cents. I'd recently regretted letting go of similar plates during our oh-just-get-rid-of-it moves, so these felt like such a gift.

The sweet yellow bird at the top of this post came from there, also.

And although I've nothing else like this polar bear, I couldn't resist him and his vintage patina.

Loved these tiny birds and this saucer, below:

Oh, and this homemaking book from 1948! Be still my heart. Here's a sampling of its chapters:

It's called The Household Manual. The woman charged me just .10 cents, but I scoffed and gave her a handful of change, instead. :)

And a rare (cheap) purchase from Ebay, another lady head vase for my collection:

One can never have too many lady head vases, right?   :)

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Okay, that was fun, but this last part is not. Sigh.

Yesterday while watering my snow-in-summer, Sally crossed the street and told me that Buddy, the sweetest dog on planet earth, is partially paralyzed.

Oh my goodness! I felt so awful while she said he'd injured (ruptured?) one of his discs, a rather common thing to happen to dacshunds, and can't/won't move his back legs. The vet has him on steroids, etc. (You can read more about this dacshund problem here.)

I was sure to tell her we'd pray for Buddy (we're big believers in prayer for animals!), then I asked her to wait while I ran inside to snatch a small silver dacshund we'd found at a yard sale for Sue (Sally's daughter who is my age), Buddy's official 'mom.'

Sally was so tickled by it and hours later, Sue knocked on our door, with much emotion upon her face, and hugged us both, saying the little silver dog had made her day.

Please keep them in prayer, ok? It's taking lots of extra energy to care for Buddy right now and we're all choosing to believe he will get better.

Thanks so much!

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Oh yes! While reading our old hometown newspaper online from Chester, CA, this story totally blessed me. It reminded me that people still do good, heroic things in today's sad world.

I think you'll be blessed by it, also. Check it out here.

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Shocking News

                     "I, the Lord, do not change."   ...Malachi 3:6


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So on Tuesday, Tom discovered via Facebook that two of our Christian friends from the 90's had divorced. Wow. Back then they'd seemed perfect for each other, but after being married nearly 30 years, the Fun and Happy Parents Couple is no more.

Two days later Tom was still, at odd moments, muttering, "Sophie," the new wife's name (but not really since I'm keeping this vague). Of us both, this break-up shocked him most.

Then on Thursday, ol' Debra read (yes, also via Facebook) that my Christian friends from high school who'd been married at least 35 years had divorced. 

*&%$#@!. 

Oh for goodness' sake. This one threw me for the proverbial loop, awakening me that night, even. If you'd polled me about which couples I'd believed would always be together, I'd have written their names near the top. Razzlefrats.

Also, a dear friend of ours from NV passed away, then on Saturday I read about the Christina Grimmie tragedy, then the Orlando one and the temptation becomes to throw up ones hands, roll ones eyes and groan, "What next?" while dreading, waiting for the newest big ax to come crashing down.

And though it's harder, I don't want to wait for the ax, but rather, for God who'd rather I not waste this precious life moping around in doubt, dread and pessimism. 

Instead, may I be like Mary (Jesus' mom) who, "pondered all these things in her heart." She didn't understand her 'turn in events', but in quietness and trust she found her strength and the answers God wished to give her.

This weekend tempted me to race around in busyness so not to think about these tragedies, yet God kept slowing me down, for in silence He can heal my mind, my heart. He desires that I get back up in wholeness so to help others rise, and live with anticipation of the miracles and joy ahead, just around this current bend in the road.

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."   ... Matthew 24:12


"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."   ...Isaiah 41:10








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I found an old, dusty copy of Helen Girvan's, Blue Treasure, at Salvation Army, loved it, and ordered three of her other books. 

I read The Seventh Step and Patty and the Spoonbill over the weekend, perfect reads while sitting in silence in God's waiting room for healing.

Today I'll begin Down Bayberry Lane. (Seriously, Helen Girvan's books are such delights. Like watching 1940's movies while you read.) 



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Saw this couple on Tiny House Hunters. As you can see in the photos, they did a great job further renovating the travel trailer they chose.


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"Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity."      ...  From Psalm 37

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What If Everything Suddenly Changed?

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ..."   Proverbs 3:13-18


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Although I enjoyed my yard-sale-find book, The Year of Pleasures, it's not a keeper. Let's simply say there were scenes/words you'd not find in my friend (and so-faithful blog reader), Deborah Raney's, Christian novels, a type of high standard for what stays on my bookshelves--and what gets carted to Salvation Army.

(Speaking of Deb, I'm currently reading, loving, her Home To Chicory Lane , the first book in a series. Where have I been living, in a cave? I should have discovered this right-up-my-alley book years ago.) 

Anyway. 

The Year of Pleasures did remind me that it's time to, again, re-post what I feel is one of my most important blog posts, ever:


The Necessity of Your Own Life


Pul-ease reread it. Use it as a type of checklist as to whether you're actively creating a life separate from that with your spouse/partner/significant other. The woman in Elizabeth Berg's book certainly had not, and oh dear! She wandered around like a lost baby bird for 9/10's of the book. So sad, so needless (much of it, anyway). 

I believe God makes a way for us to become far more prepared than that if--heaven forbid--we should, one day, find ourselves on our own. I believe it's wisdom to be as ready as possible for anything which may swoop in and change all our plans.

Again, here you go.

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