So yesterday our dear realtor friend, Cher, came over to lunch and oh! She said the last time she was here with us, it was a house, but now we had turned it into a home.
If she liked something, she said so and by the time she left, our house seemed prettier and I felt more creative. Wow.
And well, I couldn't help but compare this visit to the one by our neighbor out on the farm , who, after a half hour, said nothing about our home. And after she left? I kinda felt like a decorating dud.
Over and over again I see the truth in these verses:
"The power of Life and Death are in the tongue." ... Proverbs 18:21
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pitchers of silver." ... Proverbs 25:11
Weekly I tell myself, "Let the encouragement flow. Don't keep silent out of shyness, fear or anything else. Bless people by the truth. Never hold back, especially when God is saying, "Use your words to bless that person!"
Especially then.
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Cher was remembering my dressing table closet in our first suburb house so I sent her a picture of it for her friend who likes such things, along with a link to photos from that house which I'd practically forgotten I had. If you'd like to visit there again, go here.
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So somehow I lost my copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's, By The Shores of Silver Lake, either while at the farm or during the great Book Purge of 2007 ("I can always check it out from the library."). Ha!
I adore that book. It's one that I neeed to have near me in case an overwhelming desire to read it descends upon me.
Well, with the Amazon gift card Tom gave me I ordered another copy and it arrived yesterday, a beautiful collector's color edition for just 1 penny (not including shipping). Oh wow, I devoured it. All in one day I reread this treasure probably for the 19th time.
That Laura! She could certainly resurrect her whole family like nobody else--suddenly they all come alive again and it's 1879 inside your heart and head and you're in DeSmet, SD in its earliest days.
You know how many Christians would love to visit The Holy Land, to walk where Jesus walked and all that? Well, (now hang in there with me, kindly), I don't really, exactly, uh, wish to go there. See--to me--Jesus is here walking around Western New York. He's walking around my very room upstairs here because that's how real He is to me. In other words, I'm already walking where He walked. Where He's still walking, even.
(That is so truthfully how I feel. I hope it upsets no one.)
No, after having done just about everything I've ever truly wanted to, I have just one other place I'd like to go someday: De Smet, SD.
Visiting De Smet would be awesome. For years I've seen photos galore of the houses there and read about the yearly festivities, but someday I'd like to see it all for myself. To walk where the Ingalls walked so long ago.
And you know? I believe that if God wants that for me, too, then it will happen. And I also believe if I never get to go, I'll still die a very happy woman. God has given me one amazing life, indeed, and even now I live beside my own shores of a'Silver Lake' just down the street inside a cottage that's almost magical.
But always He will be the most amazing part of this life--and as long as I have Him--I will be one contented, blessed woman. With or without a tour of De Smet.
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These wedding photos were so hilarious I laughed until I nearly cried.
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"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." ... Psalm 37:4
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February! The month of Valentine's Day. Have you bought or made your Valentine's yet?
Back on the farm, I wasn't as organized as I am now and I forgot that I'd bought two packages of cute little blank cards (only $1 each pack) to use for Valentine's. So I'll use them this year.
Now, how can I be more organized in a house we only moved to four months ago than one in which we'd lived for three years? We have less stuff here. It's lots easier to organize when you have 1/3 less junk.
Think about it.
Anyway, I made my Valentine list yesterday and began getting excited. Thirteen friends (or so) will receive a little surprise in their mailbox and they'll smile when they open the envelope. Don't you just love to anticipate peoples' smiles?
And yes, postage went up again and even though I bought lots more Forever stamps before the rise (including some cute stamps specifically for my Valentine's), I still only saved a measly .80 cents.
But hey. One thing I've noticed? God has always made sure Tom and I have enough money so to bless other people. And there's one thing I absolutely know for certain: the moment we stop giving out of fear or selfishness--and halt the flow of reciprocity-- that's the moment we're sunk.
And who wants to be sunk? Certainly not me.
Valentine's Day. Makes me feel 10-years-old all over again.
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Oh my! If you're still wondering just what your gift/calling is, you know, the thing God wants you to do for others, I'll pretty much guarantee that this will help you find it. One of her most funny, timely and powerful messages ever (and that's truly saying something, trust me).
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re: The top photo: Yes, I've got Valentine's decor and Christmas together on our hutch and it looks wild. But we like it.
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Don't you just love the glow of sunlight right before it sets for the day, especially as these winter days grow longer? Ahh... happy sigh. Reminds me of portions of Intra Muros--which also reminds me--did any of you finish reading it yet? If so, what did you think? ッ
Ooo! I just now looked closer through the window. Kinda looks like Heaven out there, doesn't it?!
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