And After You've Waited Awhile ...

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."   --- 1 Peter 5:10

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Sometimes God does make a lot of sense.

Although I felt He'd give us 2 cats as a Job-like way of restoring twice what we lost--still--I felt God saying, "Wait. Wait until you become contented, even happy, at Hobbit Cottage without any cats."

Probably He remembered how I'd written Hobbit Cottage just wasn't a home without at least one cat.

Now, there's nothing seriously wrong with that, but God was giving me a chance to grow past needing something to be a certain way before I could be happy. 

Here was an opportunity to rely upon Him more deeply for my contentment, to grow more dependent upon Him, alone. 

And, well, I appreciate that.

So after the initial grieving weeks over losing Charlie Cat (more intense than I told you here), I began adding more life around Hobbit Cottage so to defeat the pall of death. I --

... gave the outside birds, suet (man, it's devoured in one hour!) 

... filled the birdfeeders more often. 

... paid more attention to my morning quiet time.

... planted seedlings in my tiny terrarium and kitchen window.

... prepared my 6 garden beds for Springtime planting.

... read funny books, watched comedic movies, etc.

And eventually, although I'd, at first, wondered if it could happen? I became happy at home again, without any cats.

And that's when we found the perfect pair of brothers.

I'd prayed for tons of grace in the next cat search, a godly ease, and poof! Naomi took care of the entire thing. Her new cat rescuer friend was ready to release these cuties and Wednesday they appeared at our red front door.

The cream-colored one I named Happy Cat and Tom named the other Poncho Eduardo. シ  I believe they're 18 months old, or so.

We're not forcing anything and slowly they're growing used to us. I think they've taken over Tom's room (heh) and already we see delightful times ahead.

Today's lesson? Trust God's timing, even if it means waiting longer than we'd like (usually does). Our resistance to a hurried sense of impatience shows Him we're growing in a much-needed-these-days sense of godly trust, a complete restoration,--

--as well as a deeper love for an almighty God who will never, ever, vanish, even if we lose all else .

Give God time. He's not in a hurry and the lessons we learn while waiting are always far more valuable than immediately receiving answers.

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I enjoyed this (free) Aurora Teagarden Mystery movie. Cute, and just right for a warm afternoon yesterday.

Cheap Snack Recipes for families (or anyone). True, grocery prices have risen, but making food at home is still an inexpensive possibility. 

Miss Annette's Little Farm in the Big City Yay! A new favorite Youtuber. Annette is adorable, a treat.

Oh! Another cozily-decorated tiny house from The Incredible Tiny Homes folks. Loved her ideas and that hanging glass-fronted cabinet, especially.

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

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 "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

The Free Stomach Surgery From God And Other Stories

"For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,

and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it."  --- Ecclesiastes 7:12

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Four years ago I began skipping a substantial evening meal, using lunchtime for that, instead. Why? Because of a general discomfort (nothing major, just a couple acid reflux episodes) when I'd slip into bed at night. Who wants to take forever to fall asleep?

Problem solved. Well, as long as I'd eat only a small snack after lunch between 2:00 and 4:00 pm, call it done, then have nothing else. Nothing. Else.

Yeah, some days, being a mere mortal, it's ultra tempting to cheat. Er hem.

Anyway. I chalked this up to another one of those oh-so-merry adjustments one must make as she goes old lady ages.

Then beginning in 2023, if I eat too large of a lunch, well, oh dear. I suffer for it upon falling into bed. Wow. Major stomach issues. Nausea. Bleh. I can swallow my trusty Slippery Elm pill and an acidolphulus one, but still. (I'll spare you the sad, sorry-eyed details.)

And if I also consumed suddenly-I-can't-handle-foods like onions, hot sauce, salmon, jalapenos? Oh wow. Perfect storm for a stomach ache from heck.

Gah.

Eventually this came to me: it's as though God, Himself, gave me (unasked-for) one of those let's-shrink-your-stomach surgeries. 

Seriously. Unexpectedly, my stomach shrank (it feels like) and boy, how it punishes me if it stretches even a tad. Not with heartburn, just with this nauseating, dull ache.

Now let me be clear, lest anyone worry. When I follow all these new rules, have a tiny breakfast, a sensible lunch and an afternoon snack, hey! I'm fine, wonderful, even. Healthy, all Life-is-incredible! And I sleep great.

But when I try to ignore this new Debra and pretend she's 30 again? Forget it. It's suffer in the dark time.

Why share this? Well, because it's hardly likely I'm the only one to experience this 'free surgery from God.' Often over the years I've read senior citizens usually eat less the older they become. 

So if this is also you, you've got company. You're not alone. And if you're having a difficult time accepting this, dare I say 'annoying challenge'? You're not alone in that, either.

Lately Tom and I, no longer the frolicking youngsters we once were, are making changes. Many. Changes. And we're trying to view each challenge as an interesting one to conquer, rather than whine, groan, complain or--Heaven forbid--ignore.

Ignoring the challenges of growing older? Not a good long-term plan. Not wisdom, either.

But with God who knows everything about the aging bodies of seniors? It's all very doable by following His instructions, obeying Him, especially when we'd rather pretend we can live as we once did.

"Despising something that has changed and will never go back to its previous condition is a waste of time. It can make a person bitter and resentful, but it doesn't have to if you choose to embrace it and let it become your new normal.

Joyce Meyer from her book, How to Age Without Getting Old

Sometimes Life just is what it is. What remains is to face the challenges with a brave heart and find other solutions, substitutions and make different choices.

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Earlier I shared at Facebook how I decided just not to open a too hard to loosen glass jar lid. Too hard on my wrist.

A friend from high school, Debbie, said her sister uses something like an old-fashioned coke bottle opener, though it's larger, to break the seal and it always works. 

I thought hey! I'll try that with my old bottle opener in the drawer. Oh my goodness. Why didn't I know about this decades ago? All it takes to open any jar now is for me to slip the pointy tip under the lid, pull up, then break the seal.

Just thought I'd pass that along.

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Yesterday we watched the sports movie, When The Game Stands Tall. Highly recommended (and how didn't we watch this years ago?)

And we loved Anthony Hopkins' new film, One Life, a very timely film, considering Today's hate-filled riots. Both these movies were based on true stories. Love those.

House Tour: A Charming 400 sq. foot studio apartment in NYC. (I really enjoyed listening to her share her stories.)

Rustic Farmhouse Garden Ideas

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And guess what? Next year my sister will be in an episode or two of The Chosen. She drove to Utah last month and was an extra in the filming of the Holy Week episodes. Cool, right? 

She's always up for adventures and in her heavenly book of details which God keeps, Corrine's book will probably contain 5 million whereas mine will have around 1,000. heh.

But that's ok! We're both having good times following the Life plans God mapped out for us. And that's what matters.

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Growing older? Remember--you're also growing kinder and wiser as you allow God to teach and remold you.

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

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 "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

May This And That

1.) Springtime! Love it and color me grateful we had Hobbit Cottage repainted yellow. I wish it to be a bright, sunny beacon for all who walk past, especially. A light in a dark place (Today's world), so to speak.

The afternoon sun gleams upon my Prayer Garden's side of the house and oh! Lately I'm using a special suet which draws songbirds. How thoughtful of God to have created birdsong concerts outside our very own homes.

2.) Don't you love it when God gives you a new idea? Lately I hold my morning quiet times here:

The light is brighter in Real Life. 

After moving the chair back a tad, I sit upon the carpet beneath the sunlight-like lamp, facing my reference and non-fiction/fiction books. Usually instrumental 70's music softly plays and wow, how I anticipate these times!

3.) My current quiet time books? These:

And actually, I have quiet time throughout the day (most often on our front porch and yard) and even night (upon my bed when I awaken in the early hours). Anytime seems right for drawing near to God.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found."   --- Isaiah 55:6

4.) I forgot to mention something about Instagram, namely, I'm using it only for beautiful things. Inspirational things. 'Things of a good report' (as Philippians says).

I appreciate this idea. My other social media places are mixtures of everything good, bad or ugly, but Instagram remains my 'Calgon, take me away,' only-sweet, rejuvenating place.

5.) Tom and I rewatched The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and you know? I believe we enjoyed it even more the second time. Bittersweet (very), but we found Louis' life so creatively interesting.

6.) Here are plants that are toxic to cats, making it wise for cat owners to never own these (best) or to place them in impossible places for a cat to reach--

• Aloe
• Azalea
• Chrysanthemum
• Lily
• Mistletoe
• Poinsettia
• Rhododendron
• Tulip
• Holly

7.) During my recent time of trauma, I kept a draft folder of helpful, timely online quotes. This proved so encouraging for me. Here was a favorite:

"Never doubt in the darkness what God showed you in the light."   ---Tim Sheets

Oh, the temptation during traumatic times to forget that!

8.)   ジ

9.) Books I finished reading in April:

Farewell by Horton Foote

The Curious Affair at Heron Shoals by Augusta Huiell Seaman (favorite of the month)

Best Friends by Mary Bard

The Mystery at Number Six by Augusta Huiell Seaman

Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand by Donald J. Sobol

The Girl Nextdoor by Augusta Huiell Seaman

10.) Another new morning ritual? Listening to someone funny, like this lady.

Anytime is right for visiting Stowe VT online in the autumn!

Here's what the eclipse was like in my neck of the woods. Oh, and this happened there, also... so cool!

And for anyone else who happens to be aging, this was rather nice.

11.) Remember those Bible verse cards I bought a couple years ago to use as bookmarks?

I began leaving one or two inside the books I give away. Perhaps they'll prove helpful to people and hey... everyone loves getting something for nothing.  シ

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

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 "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