Yesterday Around Here

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  ... Jeremiah 29:11

******

Last night I climbed our stairs to the rooms above and felt, as I have for a year, that two cats sat up there waiting, blinking in the dark.

But I shook myself from that, for now, no cats live exclusively upstairs. We (as I told you) lost Naomi's Ginger on Sunday and then, yesterday, Naomi packed up her sweet little Farrah for the trip to Justin's home where they'll now all live together.

Alas. Now we're back to just Sammy and Daniel cat-wise.

We knew this was coming and all is well, though, yes, we're aware of what the Bible says about co-habitation outside of marriage (so please, no nagging emails, ok? We know, we know.). But Naomi's an adult and this is what she wants.

Oh, these mother's hearts of ours, right? While Naomi packed with that happy sense of anticipation, my kitchen radio played all the Sad Good-bye songs (thanks, guys) and tears pricked my eyes. Then I'd remind myself of the cupboards, drawers and shelves I'd be getting back--and that helped. 

I do like me some good storage solutions.  :)  

Naomi originally meant only to stay here eight weeks, but they turned into 14 peaceful, happy-to-have-her-back-from-Georgia months, instead. We made adjustments and our little Hobbit Cottage fitted us all just fine and oh, all those mornings of "G'morning, Naomi," and the cookie surprises from her workplace, the way she'd ask if we needed anything from the store and those wonderful weekend cups of coffee she made us!

And the enjoying of the sweet woman our little girl has become. Some things, like this, words can't adequately express, but I'm thinking many of you understand what I cannot say.

Another season, ended. 

And you know? I believe it's wisdom to respect and fully accept each new season, to learn its necessary lessons which ready us for roads ahead. And then, when it's ended, to move on to the new one with great anticipation of what God will do next. 

He is, after all, full of awesome surprises.

                     "My son, do not forget my teaching,
                 but let your heart keep my commandments,
                 for length of days and years of life
                and peace they will add to you.

                    Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
               bind them around your neck;
              write them on the tablet of your heart.
               So you will find favor and good success
              in the sight of God and man."

                                                            ---- From Proverbs 3

******

Here's a lovely place for a new year --- Stories of Kindness.


And here's another retro thermometer, this one from Niagara Falls, Canada. Another fun Ebay find now hanging in my kitchen--- 

Oh, and technically, Naomi did say she wants to come visit us once a week to still make coffee for us. She's so thoughtful that way.

******



Free Kindle Books---


A Life of Balance

Pink Flamingoed


******

Don't You Just Love a New Year?

"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways."   ... Psalm 119:15


******


New Year's Resolutions! Love 'em. Seriously. 

Seldom do we (I believe) go anywhere noteworthy without aiming toward some goals. Like, if you shoot an arrow at nothing, guess what you hit?

So today I'm feeling super-convicted to, first, become more excellent at what God's already asked me to do. More focused about--


time spent with God or
writing, blogging, expressing gratitude and encouraging people or 
fixing annoyances around my house or
more exercising, reading, listening to good teaching or 
acting with excellence in all the daily stuff of Life. (Things people insist don't really matter, but which, oh my, do.)


God is again reminding me to use excellence. (Is He patient or what?) Excellence asks that I simply do my best upon all these blank pages and is far saner and easier to reach than perfection. May I remember that for more than 2 seconds and actually practice excellence in 2017.

And you know? That's all I have resolution-wise so far.

What I'm thinking is that excellence in the old things opens doors to the new things. First do your best with the obvious, then the mysterious unknowns will become, well, known.

At least, that's what ol' Debra says.

Or in a few words--- if I've become sloppy with my God-given tasks, why would He give me new things to do?



******

Don't you just love that super-sized all-things-are-possible feelings of a brand new year?



******

On Saturday, Tom and I watched (via On Demand) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Wow. We so enjoyed all that creativity and imagination! 

Did anyone else see this and enjoy it?

Weird, but it's as though my mind needs a movie like that every once in awhile to remind me to dream, to imagine, to create.

******


Free Kindle Books


Mercy and Mayhem

God's Provision in Tough Times

An Unexpected Family



******

Still Anticipating Great Things for 2017. Yes, Even So.

" ... even so we also should walk in newness of life."  ... Romans 6:4


******



A new year!

I chide myself about feeling more hopeful for our Country on this January 1st than the last. "God was the same back then as He is today," I tell myself. And I grow.

Our sunshine today is blinding and I'm so grateful because, on this first day of a new year, we've already experienced a tragedy at Hobbit Cottage. 

Alas.

Minutes ago, Tom and Naomi returned from the animal hospital where One Mean Kitty Ginger had to be put down. She was nearly 16 and she suddenly began to decline. No one else except Naomi, all these years, could touch her, well, these past months Ginger let me stroke her back once, occasionally twice if I'd feed her. We came to certain terms, I think. Finally.

Ginger and her sister, Farrah, were Naomi's first cats of sole responsibility. Tom's and my earliest cats? Oh dear, none fared nearly as well. Farrah's still here, the golden girl, sweet-natured enough for three cats and I'm proud of Naomi for taking such wonderful care of both her girls. Oh, their adventures!

An era ends for us and 2017 begins on a sad note, but you know? It's a note, not an entire song for all the year. We'll attach no childish bad omen nonsense to it. No, real life doesn't respect certain dates and instead, we'll remind ourselves of the long Ginger Years and the thousands of days she made Naomi smile. 

But of course, prayers for Naomi would be greatly appreciated while her heart heals.

And now on this quiet Sunday morning of change, I'll sit here and wish each of you all peace, joy and anticipation as you splash around within the new days ahead. With God.

Blessed be God ... the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort--"   ...  2 Corinthians 1:3

******


A drum student of Naomi's gave her this beautiful mug and when she saw how enamored I was by it, she presented it to me. Sweet girl, my daughter.

******

                                  New year, new morning sunlight.





Oh, and in case you missed it from my last post, here's a song that'll fix you right up if you're struggling.   (For best results, turn it way up. ) :)


Still need one more?  Here you go.



******