A "Pooh" Day

It was a lovely day for a picnic and since it was Memorial Day a couple friends and I headed out for a little jaunt. I felt like "Pooh" and his friends going out on an adventure. And so to be true to character, I left my watch and cell phone behind and determined to enjoy the day.

After we drove around the section and parked the car, we set off across the field toward the creek, sack lunches in hand. A shady spot was soon found and we spread our blankets, kicked off our shoes and settled down to enjoy the outdoors and a good time of fellowship. As we munched on our lunch we chatted of many and varied items of interest.

Then...it was time for a story! I pulled out my "Pooh" book and read the adventures of "Pooh" and friends searching for the North Pole. This, of course, put the adventurous spirit in our blood and we, too, set off to find the North Pole (or something of the sort).

Our exploration was temporarily delayed as we came to the bridge and decided on a game of "Pooh Stix"! (For those of you who don't know, this game consists of everyone dropping a stick into the water on one side and then racing to the other side to see whose stick comes out first.) It's great fun and you should try it! It doesn't matter if you're 5, 35 or 65, anyone can play!

It wasn't very successful as our sticks kept getting hung up, due to all the brush and debris in the creek. At last we went down the riverbank to see what was under the bridge. "Just as I thought," said Eeyore, "no better from this side. But nobody cares, what does it matter." And so we abandoned our game and sat by the water chatting. This went on for some time, till at last we returned to the road and decided to meander along the creek on the other side. It being a very warm day, that didn't last for long and soon we were headed home.

I must add this bit from our story about Eeyore - some just don't know what a tail is, he said. They don't appreciate it. They think it's just A LITTLE EXTRA on the end.

Roasting Marshmallows

There is more than one way to skin a cat...or...roast a marshmallow! We had to burn a small pile of brush and didn't want the fire to be totally wasted so I traipsed off to dig out some marshmallows. But then...where were the sticks...we burned them all and so we had to resort to the next best - a rake! It was a delightful perk to the evening. You should try it sometime.

And then there were ants...

I arrived home at 9:30 last night in a jolly mood, but as I climbed the stairs and rounded the corner, I was horrified to see a trail of ants making their way down the hall and into my bedroom. This was not just a lost sister and brother but a vast army. A very vast army!!

I thought it couldn't be! I had visions of ants in my pants... in my hair... in my bed...I was nearly dancing a jig just thinking about it. As I stood there gazing in disbelief and wringing my hands, I suddenly realized action was needed.

I bolted down the stairs and grabbed a can of Raid, rummaged in the drawer for ant traps and searched under the sink for the spray bottle of lemon juice. In a flash I was back upstairs armed to do battle.

Once again my mouth dropped open in surprise for the last of that vast army of ants was disappearing under the north door jam from whence they had come. I encouraged them in their hasty departure and then sprayed Raid to discourage their return. I went back to my bedroom to discover a lost ant on my bedspread. Not for long! I yanked back the covers and made a careful scrutiny of my sheets. No more ants were forthcoming, much to my relief.

The ants are diligent creatures and could be compared to the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. That woman often sounds a little super human and I pass over that chapter thinking I'll never measure up. But this morning verse 25 came to mind, "...she can laugh at the days to come," and I realized that's me. I am laughing (here meaning free from anxiety and worry) because of the great God I have that is taking care of me every day. Ants or no ants - I have nothing to fear as I trust my God.

Change of Plans

I am currently cooling my toes under Ann's computer, instead of working. It wasn't in the plans when my alarm went off at 6:25 this morning. How quickly a day can change!

I was just heading out the door when my phone rang and I was informed that I didn't have to work today. In some ways I was glad and in other ways not so glad. An unexpected free day was fine but, on the other hand, I found myself choking down a feeling of panic at the thought of less pay, while even now, the bills are stacking up against me. How can this be?? And yet...God told me He would provide and I have no reason to fear.

My mind was scrambling as to what to do with my unexpected day off. I considered going back to bed but that didn't really seem like a good option since I was already up and dressed for the day. I thought of making granola, which I had been putting off for some time already, due to the fact that I didn't have coconut. I called Doris to see about borrowing some and she went the extra mile (maybe half, in this case) and offered to bring it over. And so I made my granola and then went out to sit on my deck - the first time I did so in the morning! And what a morning! The sun brightly shining, a cool breeze blowing, birds singing and rabbits hopping.

I then headed to Quality Body Shop to get an estimate on my car. My dear beloved car, which I love very much, has a cracked head (windshield) and is in need of some stitches. I have no idea when this awful thing happened but I drove it home one night in fine shape and the next day this ugly crack had appeared. I'm quite sure it wasn't a night that it hailed or I could blame it on that. I guess it doesn't matter. All I need to do is get it fixed, which they will gladly do, for the lovely sum of $265.00! So here I am spending money at an alarmingly higher rate than that in which it is coming in.

I went over to Dad and Mom's and puttered around in the garden. Dad, with an unusual burst of energy, decided to go out and till. This time Mom went along and carefully showed him her row of beets so they would not meet the same doom as the strawberries. For Dad, wise though he is in many years, yet cannot see the tender young plants residing in the garden who wish to grow tall and strong and give of the best to their master.

Speaking of Dad...he was thrilled when I said I had something for him to do but I nearly regretted telling him so early for he has asked countless times, "When do you want me to give you a ride?" "Not 'til after lunch," I replied once again. And so he was ready for lunch at 11:30. His favorite thing for lunch (or any meal) is yogurt and today he ate it first since Mom didn't have the soup quite ready. By the end of the meal he couldn't remember if he had yogurt or not and would've had another bowlful if we had not stopped him. Yogurt is a good thing and yet Mom does not relish making it twice a week. At 12:20 he asked again when I needed to go. I told him 1:00 and he immediately went to put his shoes on.

And now I must go for it is 12:51 and poor Dad is probably waiting still for his procrastinating daughter who likes to be on time but not early. And so ends the tale of my mixed up day.

The Kind of God I Have!

Last night I picked up the book by Ron Mehl titled "Meeting God at a Dead End". He talked about waiting. Noah...for rain, Abraham...for a son, Joseph...for deliverance and Anna...for the Messiah. So I'm not the only one waiting, and even when I'm waiting, God isn't. He is working tirelessly on my behalf. He is fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together. I think there are too many pieces OR not enough. This one is the wrong color, that one is the wrong shape. It can't be right. But when God is done it will be the most beautiful picture ever seen.


And so...I went to bed with a sense of hope and I awoke this morning with that feeling. (I get it now and then but not nearly often enough.) The feeling that all is right with my world, that it's going to be a good day, that GOD LOVES ME! I grinned as I repeated it to myself three times. GOD loves me! God LOVES me! God loves ME!


Days like this I feel like ANYTHING is possible. Things I haven't even thought of yet. God is working on my behalf.


Yesterday I got off work early and went to the mall to do an address change on my driver's licence. The office was closed. Sigh! As I was walking through Sears I decided to check out the clearance racks. I spotted a lovely red sweatshirt. I thought to myself, I'd pay $5 for that. I looked it over. It was my size. It had a zipper down the front. It was warm and cozy. I looked at the price. It had been $36 but was marked down to $9.99. That was good but not quite the $5 I had in mind. I was disappointed. I put it back and looked some more. I came back and looked it over again. Yes, it was just what I wanted but I probably wouldn't get to wear it till fall. Should I wait? No, I decided to get it now. I took it to the cashier and she rang up the price. $4.99! I couldn't believe my eyes! I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry! I did neither but walked out grinning.


That's the kind of God I have. He is working on my behalf. I'm convinced there is nothing that "just happens" but it is all carefully planned by him.

Life

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments...that take our breath away."