Touch ups of a Dining Room Set

Current project: touching up chairs.  I am currently working on 6 chairs from my husband's Grandmother's dining room set.  Hoping to make them look like new! (Well, old to match the china cabinet, and new without any dings and scratches.

A Little Nugget of Gold

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, 

not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

Laurence Sterne

But because the Lord loved you,...the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you.  

Deut 7:8

I was struck today by the gentleness, yet powerful purposefulness of our God.  When I read this quote on courtship, it reminded me of the quiet ways God works in our lives: "a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as to not be understood."   We tend to notice the big changes, traumatic events, whirlwind changes, failures, successes, and big miracles, but do we notice unobtrusive guidence, the gentle guidance?   The next time your life seems to be stuck, not moving, unchanged, uneventful, maybe even just boring, look at it as "a number of quiet attentions."

BELT

B.E.L.T

         Today, I decided to stop at Tim Hortons on my way to work.  When Daniel & I stop for breakfast at Tim Hortons, we usually get a B.E.L.T (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato, and Cheese) .  (Yes, it dawned me that the cheese doesn't get significant reference, but more on that later....)   Somehow, whenever Daniel orders, the food is a-ma-zing,  but when I order, its average.  Grant it, I don't think Tim Hortons is to blame for that. 

         However, today, the food was average.   Good, but not estounding, and I almost had to pay double for it!  I like to order the B.E.L.T  with out egg, for $3.59.  Today, I place my order and there is some kerfluffle about how to bill it.  "We will have to bill it as a BLT, ok?"   I consented, slightly confused.   $4.19 came up on the screen.   "Wait," I asked the attendent, "Why is it more expensive?"  "There is more bacon on the BLT"  was my answer.   

         The thought of extra bacon made me want to cancel breakfast, so I protested.  "No," said I, "I order the B.E.L.T without egg, because I don't want extra bacon."   So, they re-rang it up again at $3.59.  As I pulled up to the window, I could see their puzzeled and unbelieving eyes.   Why couldn't she just have a BLT? 

           I drove away wondering that myself.  Why didn't I just get a BLT?  It has what, 3 pieces of bacon comapared to the B.E.L.T's 2 pieces?  I mean, it seems kind of steep to pay .60 cents for one piece of bacon, yet it's not the end of the world.   I took a bite of my sandwhich, enjoying the lovely taste of lettuce, tomato, bacon, and cheese.  

            Cheese.   In the same moment, I remembered the cheese.  The attendant said it was the same no matter how they billed it, but that's not true.   Tim Horton's regular BLT doesn't have cheese!!!!  I almost paid .60 cents for a piece of bacon and wouldn't even have the cheese!   Take about an expensive sandwich!!

           Techinically, it was only .60 cents without cheese, no big deal, right?  Well, this fiesty gal thought it was worth mentioning, but it was less about the money.   The big question really is about getting what you want.  When should we protest and get what we want, and when should we just let it go?   I'm not really talking about Tim Hortons, but more about abortions, gun control, internet censorship, social expectations, among a few.  Should we stand up for what we believe?  When is it right to fight and protest, and when is it just obnoxious?  

           

                                                     BLTC = Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese

Early Morning Thoughts

Some days, my waking moments are hazy, befuddled, and generally nonsensical.  I wander around as I get ready.  I can't find anything - I'm generally lost in the morning fog.  

But other days, like this morning are clear, crystal clear.  A checklist is formulated immediately, and excuted forth efficiently.  Check, check, check and out into the peaceful morning air.  

Well sort of - today was raining.  Rain has been falling for several days.  I must confess the rain is a welcome change from snow, and the smell of fresh air is exhilarating.  Looking down at my brown leather riding boots stepping along the submerged stone pathway, I realize how much I am blest.  

Warm feet, clean air, much water, and lovely boots are just a shadow of the true blessings.  Freedom to be yourself and friendships trusted-true, now those are blessings.  A life guided by the Saviour, our Saviour, is more precious than anything. 

I think all these rambling thoughts came of thinking about coming changes in my life.  Recently, there came into my life one of the nicest surprises, my best friend asked me to share his life with him.  The wedding is scheduled for May, for which there is much anticipation. 

Now my absence is explained, and this is a wedding announcement of sorts.  In some near future, I hope to post a picture.  In any case, as the final count down begins, you will find me scurrying about, trying not to follow rabbit trails.... but  then again, adventures only take a moment, perhaps a rabbit trail is calling.

45 days and counting down....

Closet Inventory = HELP!

I find it very very hard to blog on the new blog-thing-document (whatever you call it).  Its so white and grey and orange.  GOOGLE what happened to the color in life? ! ?  Couldn't you have added a bit more color in the updates?.... blah.

Anyhow.... I have been wondering on how one manages to track closets?  My clothes are tumbling out of the shelves again, after having been tidied and straightened for the 100th + time.  (Due to trying to see what there is to wear.)

I would love a inventory system or something, but so far have not had much luck... If you know of a way, please share :)

Keep Me Safe till the Storm Passes By

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.


Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try,
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Judge Gently

Often we proffer conculsions about others based on our assumptions. I am as guilty as any in this matter, but was recently challenged by the following poem to question my own conclusions of others.

We don't have to ignor evidence, and I am not speaking of tolerance of wrong doing. I am thinking of those little moments, when someone makes a different decision than our own - not a bad decision, just a different decision. Priorities and responsibilities are given to individuals by God in different ways, a person called to a distant mission field has that priority, but not everyone is called to a distant field of service.

Ask yourself today, am I judgingly gently?

Judge Gently

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps

or stumbles along the road,

unless you have worn the shoes he wears

or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,

though hidden away from view,

or the burden he bears, placed on your back

might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today

unless you have felt the blow

that caused his fall or felt the shame

that only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows

that were his if dealt to you,

in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,

might cause you to stagger too.