It's All Good. Even So.

"Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..."   ... 1 Corinthians 15:58

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About fifteen years ago Tom and I knew a couple around our age, Terrence and Genie, (I'll call them), from a 'sister church' of ours. Twice we went out to eat with them and at least once we shared meals in each others' homes. 

Sweetest couple, ever, Terrence and Genie. Terrence often reminded me of my meek, quiet grandfather, in fact.

Then, sadly, Terrence became sick and, tragically, soon passed away. Afterward, Genie moved to a different state to be near relatives and later I found her by way of Facebook (though for a couple years I didn't see her there). She missed our area and hoped to move back someday. This month we discovered she had.

So by way of Facebook, I invited Genie over to lunch for Sunday afternoon and she sounded excited about coming. I gave her our 'new' address and told her Tom and I were anticipating her visit after not seeing her in ages.

On Friday I began cleaning house, but not the consuming, must-make-it-all-perfect way that I used to years ago. Thankfully, I've picked up some common sense since then. By Sunday everything was presentable, including the yard, but certainly not spic and span. Dinner was on the stove and I even made a jello salad, something I'd not done in literally years.

But uh-oh! Genie never showed up. 

Perhaps she forgot. Maybe she lost Internet service and hadn't seen my last two private messages at Facebook. Maybe something important came up with one of her children's families nearby. She'd attended a pool party the day before so I'm telling myself not to worry about that. Worry solves nothing, but surely spoils much.

Anyway, yes, Tom and I were disappointed, and yet? We ate the Fideo and jello salad--Tom raved about both, probably to encourage me--but actually, I was already happy. I gazed around the room and appreciated that I was caught-up on chores. Monday's tasks would be a cinch. Things smelled yummy (during summer we get whiffs of 'basement scent' so that's saying something) and I could relax and read and dream the rest of the sunny day.

We'd experienced another fun weekend together, someday we'd discover why Genie hadn't arrived and in the meantime? God was still God, I'd stepped-out and invited Genie over (I'd been lazy about having company the past 2 years...tsk, tsk... and feeling convicted about it), my sinus headaches were gone and peace still reigned in our home.

It was all good, even so! Just as it was, just as it is when God is truly number 1. His peace is that unshakable, that over-powering-ly palpable because He is that mighty, that real, yes, even in Today's shaken-up world.

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And yes, I'll keep trying to contact Genie to see what's up.  :)



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Isn't she a vintage cutie? She was another yard sale find this weekend and will be living inside my dollhouse upstairs in Debra's World.


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Free Kindle Books:


Cooking in a Cup

The Demise

Five Years Later I Still Want One of These

A re-run post just for fun. Just to make you smile on this warm August afternoon...


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Our workers returned yesterday. You know, the guys who are siding our barn, and how refreshing to have found a reliable, first-class construction company! In our former house we dealt with some of the shadiest, shoddiest of them all, but this company makes us, well, darn pleased.

Speaking of which, last week at lunch in our local 50's cafe I told Tom that I wish I had my very own worker. My very own! A man who, if I asked him to construct raised garden beds in my Bunny Pasture, would say, "Yes, Ma'am! I'll be happy to. That's a wonderful idea." 

Then he'd walk away, whistling, to immediately begin framing the beds.

Not someone who would shake his head and reply, "Hmm. I don't know if that will work. Wouldn't it be better to just dig a regular garden bed? One over in that opposite corner where it would be closer and get more sun?" (something a certain husband I know would say. heh.)

Nope, I dream about my very own silent worker. A mute man would be a delight--or no-- one with a fondness for breaking out in song! Show tunes, preferably. Someone with muscles, a happy disposition, the heart of a willing, godly servant and a love of hard work amongst nature.

Oh, the miracles I could work around this old farm with one of those. ツ

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"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   ... Philippians 4:13


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Book Blessed

Wow. This morning Tom and I drove to what must be the reading-est street in our town. Nearly each of the yard sales there (10 perhaps?) had one or two boxes full of books. Not just regular ol' book-books, but vintage kids lit.

Vintage kids' lit.

Be still my happy heart! I'd not pawed through that many kids books in years and most cost just .25 cents. These are the ones I, a couple hours later, giddily carried inside our back door:

Oh, what a retro-delightful, dream-come-true home library God has given me. Our town's library can't compare to mine vintage kids'-lit.-wise. Imho.

Also? I found this handy, beautifully-illustrated book of herb remedies, uses and recipes:

The cost you ask? A mere quarter.

Tom also found things which delighted him and as if this all wasn't enough,we then walked through 2 old, old homes where estate sales were being held. I didn't buy anything, but simply enjoyed doing all my dreamy-eyed imagining as I do and climbed many stairs to a 3rd floor attic with decades' old furniture arranged and used as a guest room.

Yes, it sounds odd, but a morning like this is my favorite kind of fun.

It just is.

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Anyone else enjoy Running Wild With Bear Grylls immensely as Tom and I do? The only thing that makes me crazy and perturbed every single week, though, is the way Bear gives the stars impossible, scary mountains to climb or descend. Good grief. As I've told Tom before, "Doesn't Bear realize that just one maimed or dead tv star and he is finished. Over. Caput. Done-with forever?"

But other than that, I love this show.  :) How good to hear the stars' 'back stories' and thoughts, and to see their appreciation of nature and having completed such huge challenges in the wild. 



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Oh! Nearly forgot. Finally I've gone through through a whole day without my head and face hurting. Hooray! A major key, I believe, is leaving the air-conditioner off most of the night and much of the day. 

Fortunately, we're having the cooler August I prayed for so it's not been bad in here, but humid, though. Now, humidity makes me drowsy and lazy, but as I told Tom I'll choose drowsy and lazy over head-and-face-achy anyday.  

Thanks so much for your prayers!



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If you enjoy free Kindle books, you may want to return to my last post and check the list there. I added quite a few books this morning, some by Grace Livingston Hill.