"Leaf" Me Alone!

Today is such a gloomy day...

Both inside and out...

I needed to do something physical

while I waited for word about my brother...

So I headed out to the

 leaf pile with the rake...

Each autumn

we bag up the leaves to use as insulation

for the chicken coop and foundation...

In the spring...

We take these bags 

and place the leaves in our mulch pile

to help make soil for the gardens...

Could you please rake up some juicy bugs???

I know that I shouldn't worry about Gary...

  "Do not be anxious about anything,

 but in everything by 

prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests

 be made known to God."

 Philippians 4:6

And I know that Satan

just uses worry to keep us from

trusting in and turning to God...

"Casting all your anxieties on him, 

because he cares for you."

 I Peter 5:7

But waiting is always the hardest part...

"And which of you by being anxious 

can add a single hour to his span of life? "

Matthew 6:27

And so,

as I work out my frustration 

with this rake...

I am just praying that

 Satan will

"leaf" me alone..

"...for I have learned,

 in whatsoever state I am, 

therewith to be content."

 Philippians 4:11b

Well, at least,

my "ladies" are content!

 

Update on my brother 
as of this afternoon...

 It's hard to believe that this
morning I was raking leaves...

And this evening we may be shoveling snow...

We have received a call about my brother...
The results of the biopsy
revealed bone cancer...

Thank you all so much for your 
continued prayers throughout the day...

We are trusting that the Lord
will be with us through the road ahead...  

Please Pray...

Some of you already know

that my brother, Gary,

was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney

 last month and had emergency surgery 

to have his kidney removed...

We received a phone call this morning

that he is on his way to the hospital...

They are doing a biopsy on his arm...

and one on his bladder...

The doctors suspect that the cancer has spread.

Please hold him and my sister-in-law Nancy

up in your prayers this morning...

As well as the physicians...

God is so Good...

And we place this all in His loving hands...

  "Then great multitudes came to Him, 

having with them the lame, blind,

 mute, maimed, and many others; 

and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet

, and He healed them..."

Matthew 15:30

Just In The "Knick of Time"...

A few weeks ago,

I stumbled across a charming blog

called "Knick of Time"...

Angie features wonderful vintage finds...

and every Tuesday

she hosts 

"Knick of Time Tuesday"

where you can link up a post

dealing with vintage items 

from your blog...

She also features several blogs

each week...

This week...

She featured the post that I

did about my dad's chair...

What an honor for me.

If you have a minute,

check out her blog...

And take a trip "back in time."

Speaking of just in the "knick of time"...

We had an experience like this

just yesterday...

My son's truck was not driving well...

Even though he had very recently

put 4 new all weather tires on it

and had it aligned...

My husband took a look at it...

And discovered that the brand new tires

on the front had worn down 

most of the tread on the inside...

So we took it to the garage 

where Sam works...

So they could put it up on the lift 

and see what was wrong...

Sam's boss said that it almost

appeared as though it hadn't been aligned at all...

But it was our little 

mechanic extraordinaire

who discovered the real problem...

 Just in the "nick of time"...

There was very little thread left on this bolt...

 The bolt to the tie rod

had never been tightened 

after the alignment...

And was about to come off...

Which would have most likely

caused an accident...

What an amazing blessing

that Samuel discovered this

just in the "'nick of time"...

We immediately drove the truck

very slowly

back to the place it was aligned...

The gentleman was so good...

He realigned the truck...

and gave Josh a check for

two new front tires.

Just another concrete example to us

of how our Lord

watches out for and protects us

each and every day.

And we will be careful to give Him 

all the praise and the all the glory...

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, 

“I will rescue him;
    I will protect him,

for he acknowledges my name. 

 He will call on me,

and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him..."

Psalm 91: 14-15

Our New Cat-illac!!!

Okay, okay,

I know...

It's only Sam's 82 GMC

with a blown motor...

Such a pretty blue... Too bad it has a big hole in it...

But since our three barn cats

Have taken up residence

while he completes his "restoration"...

"Why is everyone else always asleep on the job?..."

I feel the need

to rename it...

Our new cat-illac.

"Do you think I'll ever be big enough to reach the steering wheel, mama?"

I wonder if they make racing helmets

"kitty size"???

Supervising is such exhausting work!

"A joyful heart is good medicine..."
Proverbs 17:22

Blessings By The Bagful!

Samuel came home from his part-time job

at the garage this evening

with 3 bags full of groceries...

A turkey, stuffing, corn, pumpkin bread,
 green beans, pumpkin pie, crackers, potatoes,

cranberry sauce, and homemade rolls!

A gift...

from his boss and mentor...

The wonderful man who is teaching Samuel

everything he knows about auto repair...

Just his way of saying...

"Happy Thanksgiving!"

A bagful of blessings, indeed! 

We have so very much to be thankful for...

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise:
be thankful unto Him,
and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting;
and His truth endureth to all generations."

Psalm 100 

Hot Rod Sam...

We attended a banquet this weekend

for a very special "family"...

To celebrate the end of a season...

About an hour north of us

is an abandoned airstrip...

Sam "built" his race truck...with parts he "picked up" here and there!

A group of enthusiastic dedicated people

turned this eyesore

into a place where folks

gather most weekends in the summer...

Sam...racing down the 1/8 mile track..

Our youngest son, Samuel,

our mechanic extraordenaire...

has a little hobby...

Drag Racing!

Sam is one of the youngest racers there...

Now, I know...

Many moms would be nervous

about this pasttime...

Sam "blew" his engine...next to the last race of the season!

But not me!

For you see,

this little dragway is such a "family"...

Sam...hangin' out in the announcer's tower!

Everyone is so kind and helpful...

Looking out for one another...

Making sure that safety

is the number one factor...

Sharing tools and even cars, sometimes...

After Sam's engine blew...another racer gave him the keys to this hotrod!

Most of the "racers" are

 much older gentlemen...

They fear that the sport will die out...

That's why they are so excited

to have Sam part of the "family"...

Sam went 108 mph. in 6.4 seconds!

So much so that they named him...

Rookie of the Year!

Sam has taken his "passion" for 

engines and trucks...

and his "need for speed"...

and refined it into a "sport"

 he enjoys and can "excel" at...

Rather than "hot rodding" around town...

Which makes us very happy!

Thus, the nickname...

Hot Rod Sam!

 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed 

about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight,

 and the sin which doth so easily beset us, 

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us..."

Hebrews 12:1

A Chilly Coastal Evening...

On the first really "wintry" day

of the season...

For dinner,

we enjoyed...

homemade baked beans

from the crock pot...

Thanks, Samuel!

meatloaf made

from deer hamburg..

and homemade

cinnamon applesauce...

banana bread

with raspberry jam...

and brownie "cupcakes"...

just the special "thing"

 for brownie sundaes!

All from our little cook stove...

Just perfect...

for a chilly Maine evening!

Stay warm!

"He hath given food

unto them that fear him: 

He will ever be mindful

 of his covenant..."

Psalm 111:5

The "Chair"man...

My father has recently acquired

a new nickname...

Our family is now affectionately

referring to him as

The "Chair"man...

For, not only is he

the patriarch of...

10 children...

18 grandchildren..

17 great-grandchildren...

(and another blessing on the way!)

But,

At the ripe "young" age of 89...

He has taken up a new hobby...

Refinishing and caning old chairs!

He taught himself to cane

by reading articles and instructions

on the internet...

This is the one he is currently working on...

 He has already completed

about 10 chairs

since starting early this summer...

As you can see, he has a good supply!

 He picks up old broken chairs

at our local town "swap" shop...

And at the thrift stores

when he and mom travel to

"the big city!"

Recently,

during our hurricane clean-up

He surprised me with one

of his finished products...

This beautiful little rocking chair!

You see, 

we have always had a rocking chair

next to the cookstove in the kitchen...

The last one we had

(pictured in my header)

unfortunately became firewood

after a little mishap...

It had served us for over 18 years

and had been reglued many times!

Not only did my dad

cane and refinish the sweet little chair...

But he also made rockers for the bottom

as this was originally just a straight backed chair.

What a sweet gift...

At just the perfect time...

That's why he's the "Chair"man!

"Every Good and Every Perfect Gift

is from Above..."

James 1:17





 

Feeling Moody???

My son, Joshua,

woke up this morning 

feeling very "Moody"...

Now, 

most moms would not 

welcome this...

But not so in my case...

For Josh was in the "mood"

to take me to lunch at "Moody's"!

Moody's Diner is a wonderful local restauraunt

that has been around since 1930.

Actually, the Moodys

started their small business

in 1927 

with 3 cabins...

no heat or running water...

for $1.00 a night.

In 1930,

a small restaurant and some additional 

cabins were added...

 Our family really loves supporting

small local businesses...

Hard-working people

who put their whole lives

into what they do...

The original menu from 1930!

And who take the time

to make their customers

feel welcomed and important...

So,

I got treated to lunch today

for no special reason whatsoever...

They even have their own gift shop!

 It sure put me in a good "Mood"!

^" Whatever you do, work heartily, 

as for the Lord and not for men,  

 knowing that from the Lord 

you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

You are serving the Lord Christ."

Colossians 3:23-24

Cleaning House!

Another beautiful Autumn day...

Quite a change from yesterday's touch of winter...

The sun was shining...
A slight breeze was blowing...

Just the perfect day for...

Cleaning House!

Of course,
as you can see,
I'm talking about the chicken coop...

Not one of my most favorite chores
to be sure...

But I do so appreciate those fresh eggs...

And if we don't keep the "girls" house
clean and fresh...

We won't reap the benefits!

God's word tell us to
"clean our house" as well...

 "Therefore, laying aside all malice,
all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking..."
1 Peter 2

These things must be laid aside, or "cleaned up",
 or we cannot receive the word of God 
as we ought to...
 

Larry, our resident supervisor!

And, as we all know...
A clean house is a happy house!


" To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
 good, obedient to their own husbands, 
that the word of God be not blasphemed..."
 Titus 2:5