The Aldi Lady and the Devil and --- :)

"Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”   --- Matthew 16:23

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So last Friday.

While home alone, our Aldi order arrived at the red door, so I carried the bags to the kitchen. Peeking inside, I gasped! A half gallon of strawberry ice cream sat leering at me.

No really. Leering.

Strawberry ice cream! My second favorite dessert in the world, but I'd not ordered it, for I've had to give up milk products (and sugar) for my health's sake. Consequences will happen if I don't.

Darn that Aldi Lady and her mistakes, anyway.

My second thought? "Get thee behind me satan." Seriously, this past year I've totally overhauled my diet and am determined to never again have fibroid (and other) problems. 

But what a temptation! I needed to sit down and pay our bills so I considered, "Hey. Afterward, I could eat a couple spoonfulls of ice cream as a reward then throw the remainder away." So yeah, I admit it went inside the freezer.

Yet after paying the bills, I thought, "No! This was just a test and I'm determined to pass it." So I yanked the ice cream from the shelf, placed it inside a paper bag, then marched it down the steps and outside to the trash can.

And smiled. I'd passed this test. Was sorely tempted, sure, but whew. I'd passed.

Tests arrive, you know, to show us how far we've come and how far we've yet to go. And how much we need to rely upon Jesus for moment by moment help.

And when we live aware of what's happening we can cease feeling frustrated, confused, and instead? Be grateful for the very power of God available to help us obey Him and succeed.

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"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. "   --- Deuteronomy 8:2

Just a note: I've noticed--for us--we can afford organic and fresh grocery products now because we've given up so many garbage foods. 

Something I hope everyone will at least consider.

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I enjoy buying my garden seeds from Ebay! Flowers and vegetables. They're very inexpensive because most folks use limited, so-not-fancy packaging and just place their own homegrown seeds inside. Many are organic, as well. Highly recommended.

Daily I'm still counting my Top Four Blessings of the Day. A life-changing thing, really, and I love that I can depend upon 4+ special things happening each day. (So often, half will be that I finally unprocrastinated doing something.)   ジ

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Okay, this decorating video was lovely because the ideas were so doable, especially if you live near a thrift shop or visit lots of yard sales.

Wow, the first part of this video was absolutely dreamy and showed the kind of life I'd imagined for myself while young. Yet God chose for me to have forms and pieces of this lifestyle throughout my decades, instead, and I'm happily content with that.

For other fans of The Waltons out there, do you ever watch Judy Norton's videos about her memories of the show? Mostly just rabid fans will enjoy them, but here you go. One of my favorite of her videos is here.

I've got that 'Springtime Has Finally Arrived' feeling in my heart! 

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"Rejoice in the Springtime of the year. Let there be Springtime in your hearts. The full time of fruit is not yet, but there is the promise of the blossom.

Know surely that your lives too are full of glad promise. Such joys, such wonders.

All is indeed well. Live in My Sunshine and My Love."

From God Calling by A. J. Russell

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

This May Not Be Biblical, But I'm Glad I Did It Anyway

"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar."   --- from Proverbs 31

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Two years after moving to the farm, Tom was downsized from his job. An unforgettable day, that one.

Another memorable thing? Soon after, something startled me. Tom continued to mow the lawn, but I did everything else. 

Everything. Else.  And somehow that glaring discrepancy had never appeared so obvious in all our decades together. (He'd not even mowed the lawn till we moved to the farm. But remember, he'd had polio, though always I'd tried not to baby him for that reason.)

Yet it was more. Namely, for the first time I realized that if (heaven forbid) something ever happened to me, Tom would be sunk. Marooned. I'd taken all those 'wives should do everything for their husbands' Bible verses far too literally.

I'd created, not a monster, but a Helpless Husband.  Uh-oh.

So since Tom now had all sorts of free time, I began teaching him--maybe not how to run a house--but to keep it (and Life) from collapsing. Believe it or not, yes, this included how to boil water (he didn't know to place a lid over the pan).

I taught him to cook simple meals. Which pans and dishes to use. How to load the dishwasher. How to feed the cats, sweep the floor, clean out the refrigerator and --

You know, just enough to where, if on his own, he'd be ok. Not live in squalor or defeat. And when the training was over, I felt more relaxed and better about the future.

Well, (not for the first time) this training came in handy last weekend.

Turns out my recent no-pain-yet-annoying-health-issue was due to a fibroid. Took me ages to pinpoint that, but when I did, thankfully, Dr. Berg showed me what to do. Ten days later, it was 'sloughed away'. (I'm skipping a zillion details, but I refuse to have As I See It Now become an old lady's illness ramblings.)

Anyway, I became a bit anemic, so I needed Tom's help and now I could relax while he cooked me some grass-fed ground beef, and fed the cats, and filled the dishwasher, etc.

The lessons in all this? Many, really, but Life does become easier when we daily seek wisdom and balance. Go living with those and our days will make more sense and even become easier. 

No really, they will.

"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."   Proverbs 3:13

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Some links for different interests:

A chocolate cake with only 2 ingredients

Chimney Rock 6 months after Hurricane Helene

Everything you're eating is toxic

Vintage Maximalist Grandma Decor

The Simple Joys of an Ordinary Life

A cottage decorated in a simple vintage style

Upcycled containers in every room

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"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."   --- Proverbs 4:7

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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

April This and That

1.) Weeks ago I began what I call Slow Motion Spring Cleaning. What's that? That's where I, each day, spend just 5 minutes on a simple cleaning task like wiping down a couple kitchen cupboards, or cleaning a storm door or using mineral oil on a hutch, etc. You know, tasks I do perhaps 2 or 3 times yearly.

Nearly 3 weeks later, oh my! I've accomplished much well before (a tiring) gardening season arrives. But it feels as though I cheated, for I expended so little energy.

A new habit for the rest of my life, this Slow Motion Spring Cleaning. Highly recommended.

2.) And oh! Darling Desi recommended a couple magazines I'd never heard of and although I stopped reading magazines years ago, these tempt me:

Daphne's Diary

Bella Grace: Book of Lists

Now, these are a bit pricey, but I've got some Christmas and birthday gift card money left, so we shall see.  シ

3.) And for a smile--

4.) Movies I can recommend:

The Maiden Heist  The rest of this movie was good, but the ending! Loved, loved it. I'd actually considered a similar ending, but thought Hollywood was too clueless to go there. Got me a tad teary-eyed, even.

Hoovey  

Buckley's Chance

The Christmas Letter  Lots of good Life lessons in this one.

Unstoppable  

Nefarious  Took me some weeks to prepare ahead mentally for this one (after watching the trailer), but since watching, I find myself viewing peoples' behavior differently and praying for them rather than shaking my head in disbelief.

All of My Heart  You can find this fun movie at Youtube.

5.) This just may help you sleep better at night!

6.) Books I finished reading in March:

Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco

The Luckiest Girl by Beverly Cleary

Murder at the Bee Farm by Sue Hollowell

The Feather Chase by Shannon L. Brown

Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary

Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther

Buried Secrets of the Copper Locket by D. L. Bush

A Murder Moist Foul by Summer Prescott

7.) Tom and I watched this estate sale video rather for old times' sake and I think it forever cured us of even dreaming of returning to those days. 

In fact I told Tom, "I know in Heaven peace, joy and forgiveness will be swirling around everywhere, yet if I left that much junk for Naomi to sort through? There is no way I'd have 100 percent peace. No way, not after God specifically asked me to declutter for Naomi's sake."

Oh dear.

8.) The Sassiest and Funniest Test Answers  (Oh my, the way children think!)

9.) For ages I've carried a black book bag instead of a purse and inside of it? There's a black wallet and a black checkbook holder/change purse and other black things. Go looking for anything and it's like my arm is circling around in a dark cave, unable to find the specific thing I need.

So this week, after our tax appointment in town (where I couldn't decipher between my checkbook and wallet and felt like the world was tapping its foot and waiting on me), I came home and ordered a light pink wallet. Whew, it'll make my life easier.

(And as always,what took me so long?)

10.) And may we always remember this:

Happy Springtime! I'm so anticipating seeing green outside my windows again. (These final days of all grey do make me a bit bonkers, I confess. Uh oh.)

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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