Joyful Journey

I was surprised when walking down the stairs midday; I noticed a few deer right outside our family room window. Seeing deer around our yard is not that unusual in the early morning or early evening time frame, but not usually midday, at least not out in the open that much. However, on this day, it seemed that the deer grapevine indicated our yard as one of the hot spots for lunch. I began counting the ones I saw making their way up our side yard, across the back and then head back into the woods behind us. I quit counting at 25, because they were still coming. As long as I stood quietly they didn't appear agitated. I wanted to see what all they were going to munch on. Their selections included the leaves off of young saplings and grasses along the edge of the yard. Thankfully, they did not sample my hydrangea bushes, which I understand can be a delicacy. I'm not very anxious to share those bushes, but they are welcome to nibble on all the things growing along the edge of...

I was thinking this morning about how many of my friends and family are waiting. Some are waiting for results from a biospy. Some are counting down the days until their wedding day. Some are wishing the boxes were unpacked and the internet connected. Some are anticipating a big move. Some are waiting for their body to heal. Some are looking forward to the birth of their son or the call from the adoption agency. Some are counting down the days until Christmas or the next school holiday. Some are just counting down to the weekend. And some of us are waiting to hold that new grandson. (Okay, so that's me!) Often I have something that I am looking forward to or at least planning for, whether it's with great joy or simply that which needs to be done next. It's been said that we need just three things in life: "Something to do, Something to look forward to, and Someone to love." As I meditated on that I realized that as believers, that could summarize our liv...

I was sick last week with a cold. I didn't run a fever, but had a cough, runny nose and that "just feeling lousy" feeling. I finally began feeling better Saturday and on Sunday was able to put in a "full day." Bob left for Europe that afternoon and for some reason, I wasn't able to sleep that night. The last time I looked at the clock it was 2:30 a.m. Monday morning. I had a 9:00 a.m. appointment, so I didn't get much sleep that night. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep well on Monday night either and again had a morning appointment. But Wednesday morning I didn't have an appointment. I went to bed around normal time (11 p.m.) and fell right asleep. But then I woke, I looked at the clock, and groaned. It was only 5 a.m. I did not have an appointment, so I could have slept in, but here I was awake after only six hours. Initially, I was frustrated, but then I said, "Okay, God, who are you waking me to pray for?" Immediately, Steve...

When I was home in June, we did not know where we would be living come September. It might be that we would be able to return to the states or we might end up in Prague or Korea or who knows where! And so, although the company would send us back to the states, at least for a quick trip in September, we decided that it would be wise for me to do some preparation in case the September trip would take us on another international assignment. So I did some closet clean out, as much cleaning as I had time to accomplish, and before I left, I emptied the pantry, refrigerator and freezer of all the food. My flight left early afternoon, and so I did need some food around on that last day. I left some food in the refrigerator for a neighbor and left it plugged in as I was expecting my brother and his family to spend the night on their move west a few days later, as well as a bag of non-perishables sitting on the counter for them. But somehow I neglected to include the bread that was in the br...

It was interesting some of the things that you couldn't find in the stores in Switzerland or things that were so different in the way they were processed that when you prepared them in a recipe it just didn't turn out the same. Bacon cooked up differently, oatmeal was smaller and ground up, the brown sugar that was the natural brown sugar or raw sugar, and shortening was non-existent. So, even though oatmeal raisin are one of Bob's favorite cookies, I didn't make them while we were in Switzerland, with oatmeal being different and shortening not being available, I was concerned about how the cookies would turn out. Of course, there was also the factor of a slew of new desserts just waiting to be sampled and enjoyed while there. Why stick with the old familiar ones? But now we're back in the states again and I decided it was about time I make Bob some Oatmeal Raisin cookies, especially since fall weather seemed to finally arrive. What is it about fall that just b...

If you are a parent still raising children at home, you know that it is often much easier to do things yourself rather than teach your child how to do them or have them help you. But seeing life from this side of raising children, I can tell you that every effort you make to train them is well worth it. One of the advantages of having your adult children either live with you or live in the house while you live abroad, is that they are so very helpful ! They mow the lawn without being asked anymore, help you move furniture, install curtain rods for you, explain how to operate the DVD player, provide IT assistance when necessary, call to see if you need anything at the grocery store on their way home, clean the house, do the laundry, help with or even do the cooking. Which is why I can tell you that I am a 110. Not that I am 110. I may soon be a grandma, but I'm not that old! For quite some time we had discussed replacing our water heater, which was located in the attic directl...