Charlie - Early Morning Buddy

Charlie is my early morning buddy.   At 5:15 am he and I have our quiet time together.  After his breakfast and my coffee has brewed, he sits next to me or curls up on the floor by my feet.  I sip my coffee and have my quiet time with God.  When he sits like this I wonder if he is waiting for me to read aloud to him!  It is an amazing, refreshing time for me as I dig into God's Word and I am blessed to have a foot warmer sitting with me!

Anniversary

It has already been a year

since my dad passed away.

I love looking at these pictures

depicting all of the fun he had.

Grief is a crazy thing

with days of peace and then

days of unending tears.

It helps knowing God

is taking good care of him.

I miss you, Dad.

Christmas for the Birds

Snow fell softly overnight

A white cover purifying the land

On the corner of our deck is a bird house

A place of safety for our winged friends

Slipped over branches is a wreath of green

Both are wrapped in peace

Christmas should be shared with all

Hankering

Hankering is a funny sounding word.  Tonight I had a really strong desire for fish tacos.  The craving was strong enough to be called a hankering.


The problem with making fish tacos on the spur of the moment is using the limited ingredients available.  I had one tomato that wasn't mushy and some onion.  I diced that up and added some dried cilantro.  Then some salt,  pepper, and lime juice.  While that marinated I baked a few pieces of cod. 


Do you call romaine lettuce a stalk or head?  Like head of lettuce?


I had romaine lettuce so I washed that up. 


When the fish was done I chunked it and tossed it in with the tomato/onion mixture.  Then the whole kit-and-caboodle was spooned onto a romaine leaf.


Did you hear me yelling NUMMY? 

I wonder if God had fun coming up with the word hankering.  Maybe He was sitting around, stroking his chin as He thought:  what would be a good word for a really strong desire or craving.  Oh, why don't we call it hankering. Ha! ha!

My fish tacos sound bland but they were incredible

May your next hankering be fulfilled in an amazing way like mine was tonight.



Snow Mania

We have had several days of near 60 degrees.  It is a very early spring for southern Minnesota.  Until today.  There is a blizzard predicted with up to 14 inches of snow expected.  It has been sleeting with snall pebble-sized pellets.  I can hear them hitting the window tonight.

School was cancelled fo tomorrow as soon as the storm was announced.  How I wish I was still in school!  Work will not be cancelled.  Nuts!  I may end up taking the city bus if we get the amount of snow predicted.

We live in a part of the world where there are four definite seasons.  Our spring doesn't really start until the end of April or May but we have had such warm weather, everyone has thought spring was here.

The four seasons are amazing.  White snow.  Tree buds in the spring.  Green grass in the summer. Crisp air with orange/brown leaves in the fall.  We are so blessed with the changes.

Ramblings

Ramblings since I just want to type and see what comes out of my fingers.  Since my last post there have been so many things that have happened and I guess I lost my desire to write.   Tonight I went to the pool and spent time water walking.  I was walking and the thought popped in my head:  what do I really like doing and I realized writing is something I love to do.  So I'm back from the pool with the resolve to get some thoughts down and I doubt I'll publish this post. 


I watched cancer win its battle over my dad.  That battle and his death have affected all of my family in different ways and it has ripped at my heart seeing all the grief.  Not to mention how grief lingers in the background of my own life and pops up at unannounced times.  The anger, sadness that makes breathing hard, streaming tears, and loneliness are like a jack-in-the-box popping up in surprise.  I know it is important to get these feelings out and it is part of the process of healing.  But gosh it hurts. 


Cancer sucks.


Kidlet One and Favorite Son-In-Law announced that they will be having Grandbaby #3 in August.  How thankful I am that there will be LIFE to focus on in this year when dad's DEATH has made such a big hole for all of us.  Oh Lord may this baby be healthy and may Kidlet One feel good from this point on!


There are other heavy things in my life.  It is such a war for me to give these things over to God and then I turn around and pick them up again.  Silly me.  I trust Him to work everything out yet it seems I cannot fully surrender that control over to Him.  This is one of those amazing things of asking Jesus to be the Lord of my life--giving myself fully over to Him--and then allowing my flesh to think I need to help Him out.  This is one area I really want to have victory in soon. 


My job is changing.  I don't feel that I am using the gifts God put inside of me in the new direction the work is taking.  This is so frustrating and draining.  Another area that I need to lay down to God and let Him work it out. 


Today I had the privilege of celebrating Grandbaby C's third birthday.  Oh we had fun!  My mom, Kidlet One and I took the Birthday Girl to the Mall of America.  Each one of us went on a ride with C and then we went to the American Girl café for lunch.  Grandbaby C was wide eyed and in wonder.  Her innocence and joy were contagious and lifted my spirits higher than they've been in a long time.  We laughed and enjoyed sharing this day together.  In fact we decided this would be a yearly event.  All of us celebrating the birth of this delightful girl.  How amazing is it that a grandchild can fill my Love Tank so much!


The thread that remains woven in amongst my feelings is the cord of God.  He has a rope that has been a lifeline to me.  I honestly think I've felt every emotion imaginable in the past months and when I get to the end of myself there is God holding the rope that I sometimes didn't feel was around me.  He pulls me up onto His lap and just holds me allowing me to bury my head in His shoulder.  And then He looks into my eyes and just smiles at me.  A great and loving Father.  Amazing.


Getting words down and out from inside of my heart feels good.  Thank you, Lord, for challenging me to do what I love. 


Again I am So Amazed at your faithfulness in walking with me through this journey.

Therapy

Baking by candlelight.
It is amazing therapy.