Blue Sky Miracle

So, it was maybe not the smartest thing I ever decided to do. We were in the beginning stages of the latest "mother of all storms" in this winter of 2010 and I NEEDED to get up the mountain to Thomas so I could deliver my art to Mountain Made for the scheduled show during the month of March. It seemed like the best day to go of the next few...and it turns out I was right, but it was still maybe not the smartest thing I ever decided to do.
So, I talked my friend, Stevie, in to going with me. We packed it all up and both drove up to Terra Alta. She is used to that drive and not too worried. Before we even got to Terra Alta or Evan's Curve (aka Whiteout World) I called her and said, "I don't think I can do this." The car was being jerked all around by the snow/slush on the road. There was nothing to do but keep on going, because there was nowhere to turn around. I started praying. I know...but, better late than never. When we went through Evan's Curve it was clear and beautiful. Amen.
So, we determined to continue on up into snowier country. But Stevie decided she should drive...OK by me! The trip up was uneventful and beautiful again. We did the delivery and started back so we wouldn't have to drive after dark. Because Stevie is such a great friend (and she had to get some hamburger for her famous meatloaf) she suggested that she lead me through Evan's Curve on my way back down the mountain. Yes! I accepted.
So, I started praying a little bit sooner this time. There was a bit of a white out this time, but I was able to keep her in sight most of the time. As she pulled off to turn around and go back through again we waved and I up sized my praying...I was on my own. Well, that part turned out to not be true at all.
This next bit is the best part.
I had not gone far enough for her to even be out of my rear view mirror when the snow pretty much stopped and the sky cleared over me. I mean blue sky! And just a small piece of the sky. The piece over me. I just started smiling, really BIG smiling, and saying, "Thank you, Lord". The blue sky followed me all the way down the mountain and home. And I wasn't home more than 15 minutes until the sky had clouded back up and it was snowing again!
Amazing, huh? Well, our God is amazing! It was kind of like the opening of the path in the Red Sea.
As an aside, I find it interesting that for years in my youth, I would have thought nothing of making this trip...on my own..no friend, no God. As I have grown older God has shown me how to lean into him and friends he puts in my life. It is a much nicer place to be. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Cowa-CataBunga, Dude!

In my new gig as a housewife I am busy this morning sweeping up the heaps of dog hair and bird seed that seem to multiply overnight. I use just a broom because the noise of the vacuum cleaner irritates me and I like seeing the pile I am making...shows my progress. I do have to place the dogs up on a piece of furniture to keep them from wanting to play "Catch the Broom"...well, they probably still WANT to but they are well trained enough to stay where I put them for awhile. Anyway, I have swept up a nice little, OK, not so little, pile right over by the trash can in the kitchen. I am ready to put it in. I put the broom down, turn my back to get the little scoppy thingy and I hear behind me the thundering of little cat paws and I see out of my peripheral vision a streak of gray cat and Mr. Skippy Jo Lohr, aka Skipper Doodle, launching himself from a running, leaping, slide into the pile! You just have to know he was saying to himself, "Catabunga, dude!"
After he finishes his slide he leaps up, turns completely around to go the way he came and charges back into the living room and up onto of the highest piece of furniture he can find (oak filing cabinet) and sits there with a look of supremely satisfied innocence upon his little feline face!
What a hoot.
Find the joy in your day!
Amen.

Be Still and Know

Part of God's plan from the very beginning was to have a regular time of rest. It's called a Sabbath. Even God rested on the 7th day, right?
We need to refuel so that we can be God's hands, feet, heart in our world.
Church is part of that perhaps. It can be a place where we come to get fed. To grow stronger in our faith and love. With our full hearts, bellies, and souls we can go out and share.
I don't know about the rest of you, but our world is a tiresome place at times. It is a battle. I need a rest after awhile.
All of this snow reminds me to, allows me to take time to be refreshed and refueled. In the quiet whiteness I can be still and know that he is God, he loves me and I can continue on ... after I rest...and shovel!
Enjoy this time of rest and quiet and apartness from the world as usual.

Peace-full-ness

After all of these days of not working I am getting a real feel for what reitred might be like and I'm likin' it!
I feel refreshed, eager, excited, happy, creative. Many of these things I have not felt in awhile. I am listening for God's word in my life and finding the peace-full-ness that comes!
I do not feel stressed, anxious, needy (for trips to Morgantown or Wal-Mart), tired. I he turned my focus from me to God more...still working on that, of course....recovering sinner and all.
There are still some bumps in the road now and again, but I have for sure entered a season of peace in my life. With this peace comes the desire to reach out again to God's big world.
Thank the Lord!

Cute! Cute! Cute!

This is some of what I have been doing with our snowy vacation days. I think they are too cute, but I might be biased! Almost makes me wish I had little kids of my own to dress. What do you think?

This one is for Calan in NM. His brother, Liam, got the very first one I ever made...now Calan is wearing that one, too.

This one has a little felt flower and a rectangle that says "MEOW" on the back of the shirt. Too little to get a good photo to show you.

You can barely see the word TWEET down the side of the woolie.

This one also has a tag on the back that says WOOF! in green felt.

Aside from the one for Calan, the other three will be at Mountain Made for my show in March. I think I will put them on teddy bears to display. What do you think? Are they cute? What's a good price? Help me out mommas.

Surprise!

Lately, I am more and more surprised at the person God is currently forming me into. And sometimes he has to resort to serious measures.
Today my little husband started his new job as a supervisor with the 2010 Census. So, he had to go to work, but since I'm still a Preston County school teacher, I didn't have to go. Having the day to myself and no snow predicted for the day I am thinking I should get out and about...adventure time...see the snow in Terra Alta, take lunch to Stevie, drive about...
I get everything packed and start my car from the house so it will be all toasty warm and go out to get in. I can hear the CD playing, but when I try to "start" the car with the key, it dies. I lucked into a good samaritan who helped me for probably an hour and a half...the engine is dead. Not the battery and not a fuse for the ignition...
Decide to try our "new" Jeep (that I got title and tags for because I could walk there), so I repack everything, give the dogs their bones and get in the Jeep. It looks too scary to try and get it out of the driveway where my little husband very carefully put it so we can fit 3 vehicles for the time being.
Not going anywhere today.
I come back in the house, start dinner for my little husband and myself, fix me a bite of lunch and actually eat it on a plate, and clean house! What???? Who is this person? No pouting, no reading, no napping...all my usual first responses didn't kick in.
I am becoming the servant spirit that I have asked God to change me into. I am learning to be less selfish.
And weirdest of all....I enjoyed it.
Oh, did a little laundry, too.
House smells good, going to make a salad and play a little Bejeweled while waiting for my little husband to come home.
Life is good.
Thank the Lord. Amen.

Think About It...

From Josh Graves' blog...

In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there will never be another just like it again. Today is the point to which all your yesterdays have been leading since the hour of your birth. It is the point from which all your tomorrows will proceed until the hour of your death. If you were aware of how precious today is, you could hardly live through it. Unless you are aware of how precious it is, you can hardly be said to be living at all.
(Frederick Buechner)

Live it up and know what you are doing...Thank God and love your neighbor.

Bucket List

After thinking about this for years and actually doing many of the things on my original list, (helicopter ride, sky diving, travelling, being vegitarian for awhile) I just read Shawn's Bucket List and was inspired to think about mine again.
A Bucket List, if you don't know, is a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Here's mine currently:

- see a moose standing in a lake with the mist rising up around him
-dance
-be a comfortable and charming hostess
-keep a clean house
-garden and "put up" food
-laugh a lot
-love a lot
So, that's my list for the time being. What does yours look like?