The Love of A Father...

I had almost forgotten about this little chair...

I spotted it this summer

in the thrift store...

And fell in love with the

soft rose colored velvet upholstery...

It would be just the perfect little rocker

for the reading nook in our loft...

And...the price..

99 cents...such a bargain!

Until I looked down...

Both rockers were broken...

One snapped in half...

Taped together with duck tape...

The other...missing the front part.

I bought it anyway...

Hoping my father could do something...

After all, he is "The Chairman..."

He brought it over yesterday afternoon...

He had replaced the two rockers

with new ones he had fashioned...

He amazes me...

How he takes these old, broken chairs

That someone has cast aside...

And makes them new...

Much in the same way

Our Heavenly Father does with each of us

Who belong to Him...

Amazing Love.

"Behold, what manner of love

 the Father hath bestowed upon us,
 that we should be called the sons of God..."

I John 3:1

Casting Our Net...

A frosty October evening...

Sitting by the woodstove...reading...

Feeling toasty warm...

A voice in the stillness...

My sweetheart...

"Tide's just about right... 

Be a good night to go get some bait..."

My family enjoys two 

 activities every fall...

Which also help provide food

throughout the winter...

Hunting for deer and fishing for smelts.

 

 

My husband grew up

in the woods and on the water...

So...if he says that it is 

a good night for bait...

Well, I just know we'll come home with bait!

For, you see,

You can't go smelting...

Unless you have minnows 

to catch the smelts with...

 

And you can't catch minnows

Unless you cast your net 

into the stream...

 

So, in the cold and the dark...

down to the banks of the water

we trudged in our hip boots...

flashlights and bucket in hand...

To "cast our net..."

As I held the flashlight 

in the tall sea grass...

and my dearheart "dipped"...

 

I couldn't help but think of 

the story told in John 21...

When the disciples were having 

no luck with their fishing...

And our Lord told them to cast

their nets on the other side of the boat.

So many lessons from that 

one little account...

A lesson on how important 

it is to listen and be obedient...

Now, if I had ignored 

my husband's voice and

had stayed by that toasty warm fire...

We would not be able to go

smelting this evening...

Just as the disciples 

would not have caught any fish...

If they had not listened to Jesus

and moved their nets 

to the other side of the boat.

We all know that Jesus was more

than capable of making the fish swim to the men...

Or, jump in the boat even, for that matter,

But this was a lesson in obedience.

Another wonderful lesson from this story...

We must "cast our nets" where the fish are!

 

My husband knows the exact spot

on the right side of the little bridge...

where the minnows swim up 

the salt water stream to hunker down 

in the mud when it gets cold...

It would do us no good to try dipping

for minnows on the left side of the little bridge...

Just as the disciples soon discovered

that they only needed to move their nets 

to the other side of the boat...

 

 

 

If we are going to receive the answer

 God has for us, 

We are going to have to do what He says...

 When he says it...

And where He says to do it. 

 

I'll let you know

How the smelts are running tonight!

They were hoping the minnows were for them!

 

"And He said unto them, 

Cast the net on the right side of the ship, 

and ye shall find. They cast therefore, 

and now they were not able to draw

 it for the multitude of fishes...'

John 21:6

  

Across The Miles With Love...

Another "Olivia the Owl"...

For Miss A...

In bold yellow, blue and green...

because she loves these colors...

And a homemade hankie...

For Maria...

Made from vintage cloth

and crocheted edging...

To dry the tears that sometimes fall...

Please know that you are both

in our prayers.

"The LORD himself goes before you
 and will be with you;
 He will never leave you nor forsake you.
 Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged..."
Deuteronomy 31:8

A Bag Full of Cheer!

One of my sons has a sweet little friend

who has been feeling "under the weather"

for about a week now...

Today, he went shopping

and came home with a bag full of items

that he hoped would make her feel better.

Of course,

he needed something special

to put it all in...

So...

Out came my "stash"

and I put together this little lunch bag.

Spending an afternoon sewing

was so therapeutic...

I just couldn't stop...

So, I added this little napkin...

And a tissue holder

for her sniffles!

It was fun making this bag

in a "chevron" style...

I got the basic pattern from this

great "Jane of All Trades" tutorial...

Then added my own little twist.

Sure hope this does the trick!

Get well soon, sweetie!

"A joyful heart is good medicine..."

Proverbs 17:22

In His Perfect Timing...

On the phone with my sister this morning...

My heart heavy...

This lovely note from my new friend, Sandra...

My son placed the mail on the counter...

 A hug and a cup of tea
sent across the miles...

Perfect timing...
Thank you, dear Sandra.

How did she know that raspberry is my favorite?

"My times are in thy hand..."

Psalm 31:15a

Preparing...

Spent the morning splitting and stacking wood...

So very thankful for God's loving provision...

And my God shall supply all your need

 according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 
 Philippians 4:19

Unexpected Visitors...

We just love having friends

and neighbors stop by for a visit...

And like to think that our door

is always open...

 Most days,
when you visit our home

you will find...

A candle burning in the window...

 

The teapot warming on the cook stove...

And a homemade goodie or two

sitting on the kitchen counter.

Friends and neighbors

often stop by to chat

and have a "mug up"...

or to bring our hens some table scraps...

And usually leave with a 

carton of fresh eggs from our "ladies..."

However,
we were taken aback

this week by some folks

 who stop by unexpectedly...

not just for a visit
or a cup of coffee...

but to discuss a matter of concern.

To be honest, at the time,

I was deeply hurt that they
had approached us concerning this matter.

Looking back...

I know that it must have

been weighing heavily on their hearts...

But in light of the circumstances

concerning my brother...

Well, it just seemed as though

this could have waited for another day.

I have to admit

that I had a difficult time focusing

on the conversation...

And I truly couldn't tell you

what most of my responses were...

Perhaps because I had had less than 

5 hours sleep in the previous two days.

As our visitor continued to share her feelings

My heart kept crying out...

"Why, Lord?

Why is she doing this now?
She knows what we are going through...

Can't she see that we are grieving?"

I wish that I could tell you
that the visit ended well...

That the matter was resolved
and that feelings were not hurt...

But sadly, this was not the case.
And, for that, I am deeply sorry.

Later, in bed,

 As I was praying for understanding...

My heart was convicted...

Of times when I, too,

Had felt so strongly compelled to share

some matter on my heart...

That I failed to consider

what the other person might be

dealing with in their life

at that moment.

And so the Lord,

In His most gentle and loving way,

 Reminded me once again

That all matters of the heart

 should first be bathed

heavily in prayer...

And never presented

"unexpectedly"...

 

"Therefore, 
whatever you want men to do to you,
 do also to them..."

 Matthew 7:12

Two Cups of Kindness...

Dear Sweet Friends... 

It has been over three weeks

since I've had a moment to sit down

and share with you all...

This is so hard for me to write...

I suppose I have been avoiding this

because in writing it down 

it makes it more "real" to me...

My brother, Gary, is not doing well...

Short of a miracle...

Which we continue to pray for...

Knowing that our Lord is more than capable...

If it is His will...

Gary will not be with us much longer.

The doctors are no longer treating his cancer...

They are trying desperately to manage his pain.

As I type this, he is undergoing surgery

to relieve pressure on his spine.

We have been traveling back and forth to Boston...

Taking my 90 year old parents down...

Staying with my sister-in-law...

So many parts of our lives have been

put on "hold" for now... 

We so appreciate your prayers

and sweet notes...

The Lord sends comfort and peace

in so many different ways...

This week I received two packages in the mail

as part of the cup exchange that my dear friend,

Stephanie, was hosting...

Which was another item on my list

that had been placed on the "back burner"...

In the first package was this lovely little teacup

 and some delicious tea... 

from my new friend, Sandra...

So sweet and fragile and delicate...

The Lord was reminding me that 

our lives are like this...

And that we need to treasure every moment

and hold one another close.

Thank you so much, Sandra...

The second package was filled

with a mug and various items

all coordinated in autumn colors...

From my new friend, Sherri...

This handsome mug is 

strong and rugged...

like my brother...

And it did not surprise me that 

the colors were Gary's favorites...

He so loves the autumn 

and has missed being able to see

 the foliage this year...

Thank you, too, dear Sherri.

Lord willing,

I am going to fill this cup

with some of Gary's favorite hot cocoa

 and freshly whipped cream...

to let him know that friends all over

the country are holding him up in prayer...

"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure..."

Psalm 16:5

***Update as of Friday, October 18th***

Dearest Friends,

You just cannot imagine how much your prayers
for Gary and our family mean to me... 
Thank you so so much...

Gary was operated on yesterday
in an attempt to relieve some of his pain...
As of this morning, 
it looks as though the operation was a success
as his pain has subsided somewhat...
We are giving God all the glory for this miracle...

With love and deepest gratitude,
Laura