... we rise up and stand firm

Psalm 20 

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed. 

May we shout for joy over your victory

And lift up banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests. 

Now this I know:

The LORD gives victory to his anointed.

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary

with the victorious power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses.

But we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They are brought to their knees and fail, 

But we rise up and stand firm.

LORD give victory to the king!

Answer us when we call. 

Psalm 20: 1 – 9 (NIV)

Pets of the week: Blue Parakeets

"The more often we see the things around us - even the beautiful and wonderful things- the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of the world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds - even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less. "
Joseph B. Wirthlin

I pray I will  have a fresh perspective and appreciation of the  beauty I see each day.


Now... for a bit about the pets of the week.
After weeks of focusing on dogs as pets of the week, I am grateful to focus these two little parakeets. Gloria is the proud owner of these two birds. They are so sweet.

Friendship Friday

"As iron sharpen iron, so one person sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

A true friendship provides an opportunity for friends to grow better together. We become more efficient and more skillful as God the Holy Spirit empowers us to serve.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve in Bible Study Fellowship with Belinda. Serving with my friend Belinda a joy. I wonder, if she realizes what a blessing she is to me.

Thrifty Thursday

Do you have any unfinished projects? Are you in the middle of a sewing project or craft project? Find time to work on the project  each day. I'm sure you will find  joy and satisfaction once you complete the last stitch.

Last week, you were introduced  to two girls who were working on a sewing project for their American Girl Dolls. This week, you will see their finished project. I hope they will be inspired to begin new projects and feel the joy finishing those projects. I look forward to sharing about their upcoming projects.

'"Finishing what you start is important."

Adam Neumann

Special thanks to Cindy for allowing me to share these pictures. 

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

"Most often, it is not the workout that gets us out of bed in the morning. It is the friendships and those unspoken bonds of those counting on us to show up."
F. Flowers

This morning we added a special reason to get out of bed this morning... we offered a Bridal Shower for Nicole our exercise teacher. Class members offered healthy snacks. Grapes, strawberries, water, carrot cake cupcake, etc.

Monday Musings ... Memories

Once upon a time before Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, people relied on yearbooks, photos, and memories to recall past events. Have you ever attended a high school reunion and realized some of your classmates are remembering events you do not recall.

As they retell events, you may look puzzled, annoyed, or frustrated. You think to yourself, "Really." You may even say,  " I don't have that memory at all." In two years, I will celebrate my 50th  High School  Class reunion. Lord willing, we will look over yearbooks and photos that will actually document events.

At our 35th and 40th High School Class Reunion, classmates were having difficulty remembering events.  Time and age have a way of distorting memories until they shift and change and may no longer resemble the truth.

In my experience, some memories are vivid. Others not so much. I wonder why happy or traumatic events  are somehow more  clearly etched  in our memories. 

I think Barbara Kingsolver said it well, " Memory is a complicated thing, a relative to truth, but not its twin." 

... prepare your minds for action

"Therefore prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves, set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that your formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
I Peter 1: 13 - 16  ( NRSV) 

Autumn Rain

Here is DH Lawerence's poem, Autumn Rain on this first day of Fall.

Autumn Rain

The plane leaves
fall black and wet
on the lawn;

the cloud sheaves
in heaven's fields set
droop and are drawn

in falling seeds of rain;
the seed of heaven
on my face

falling - I hear again
like echoes even
that softly pace

heaven's muffled floor,
the winds that tread
out all the grain

of tears, the store
harvested
in the sheaves of pain

caught  up  aloft;
the sheaves of dead
men that are slain

now wined soft
on the floor of heaven;
manna invisible

of all the pain
here to us given;
finely divisible
falling as rain

Thrifty Thursday

My cousin, Cindy  taught these  young girls a sewing project.
Next week, you will see their finished project.
They were fortunate to have a patient and kind teacher. 

"Beautiful 
things
come together
one stitch 
at a time"
Unknown

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

"I'm starting to think that maybe memories are like dessert. I eat it, and it becomes a part of me, whether I remember it or not."

Erica Baumeister,  The School of Essential Ingredients

When your server shares a dessert tray do you feel overwhelmed by the choices?
Looking at this sampler, what is not to love.
Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie, Bread Pudding, and more.

Monday Musing ... Boxing ... fighting ...

Are you familiar with any of the fitness trends for 2018? I became familiar with boxing studios because of my son. Months ago, I began to see a few pictures of him boxing on social media.  Then I began to notice boxing classes in our community.

Here, my son- in -law is
trying out his new glove.

Of all the trends, I wonder, why boxing? Sandy Todd Webster, editor in chief of the IDEA Fitness Journal  answers this question.  " We're all living with an incredible  amount of stress in our lives and hitting a bag or throwing forceful air punches using the torque of our whole bodies is an amazing release."

Plus this exercise is said to help strengthen your core.

Not all boxing or fighting has to do with exercise. Some battles have to be fought in the political arena. Or, you may have to fight for a worthwhile cause. You might have to battle against false accusations, or work to defend others.  At others times, you may have to navigate a  health care systems or fight for someone who is ill or powerless.

What battle are you facing? Whatever the situation, I pray God will give you strength and courage. 

text

"During the Middle Ages they understood that words accompanied by imagery are much more memorable. By making the margins of books colorful and beautiful, illuminations help make the text unforgettable. It's unfortunate that we've lost the art of illumination."
Joshua Foer

Now I understand why there is a wave of publishers who are capturing the lost art of illumination of scripture. They want to make the scripture memorable.

Monday Musings ... silence

I am growing to love silence. I think I am able to think more clearly when I silence the ongoing noise in my life. When I think more clearly, I am able to live with holy intentions and thoughtfulness.

I think you might enjoy this quote.

"God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grow in silence, see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence ... We need silence to touch souls."
Mother Teresa

I call to you ...

"I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.

Let a righteous man strike me - that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me - that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be throw down from the cliffs,
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken,
They will say, "As one plow and breaks up the earth,
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave."

But eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge - do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers,
fron the snares they have laid for me,
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.

Psalm 141: 1 - 10 (NIV)

Pet of the week, Leo

Leo is a Pomeranian. According to
the American Kennel Club, this toy breed
is one of the most popular.
They are known for they
glorious coats and their
vivacious personality. 

Last week, Leo attended the 63rd Carter Family Reunion in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this picture, Leo, the pet of the week was sitting in a chair while a card tournament was in the process of beginning. Leo is not only cute, he is also well behaved.

Seek to love

"Lord,  grant that I might 

not so much seek to be loved

as to love."

Saint Francis of Assisi

End of summer lunch

What was my favorite part of today's luncheon? I had so many... at the top of my list was the White Gazpacho Soup. This classic dish is originally from Spain. A wonderful recipe is available online from Cooking Light.  The soup was simply delicious.

What do you think about today's table setting? So beautiful!

Monday Musings ... Labor

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity 

and importance and should be undertaken with 

painstaking excellence."

Martin Luther King Jr.