Inspiration Thursday

When you have a craving for comfort food, where do you go?  In the chain restaurant business, most people would consider Cracker Barrel the king of comfort food. I'll have to admit, they are right at the top of my list.  I can eat breakfast there any time, and their sausage is just the best ever.  However, if you were to ask our grandkids where they like to eat breakfast, the answer is probably going to be "Nana's House".  Whenever they come to visit, a good home cooked breakfast is a given.  The menu must include scrambled eggs, biscuts, bacon, sausage patties and gravy, and milk and orange juice. The fact that they get to help crack the eggs, make the gravy, and set the table only adds to the magic that is Nana's Kitchen.  The sign hangs above the kitchen window and it is all true, meals and memories are indeed made here.
What about your soul?  When it craves comfort, where do you go?  I go to The Rock.  The Bible tells me that God loved me so much that He sent His only Son to pay the price for my sinful behavior in order that I might be able to have an eternal relationship with my Creator.  In fact, the Holy Spirit is referred to as The Comforter.  I find comfort in His Word.  I find comfort in people that He has brought into my life.  But when life becomes a burden, I find comfort in knowing that this earth is not my home, and the place that He has prepared for me will provide eternal comfort, where there are no more tears, anger, sickness, hurt.  There is just joy in the presence of Lord.  Have a blessed day.

Wordless Wednesday

The Right to Bear Arms

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

After several weeks of packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in, I am almost back on schedule.  My blog has suffered significantly, so it is time to resume Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Here we go.

Writing

Some people think that I have nice handwriting for a man, but the best looking handwriting I have ever seen belonged to my father.  Our handwriting does have one thing in common...we tend to fill the available space.

  

 Curly

I have always been a doodler.  Is that a word?  Anyway, I tend to doodle when talking on the phone.  It is something that my mother did.  I guess it was one way to practice my cursive writing strokes as a kid.  After I retired I bought some pens, pencils and paper so that I could explore a relatively new trend in crafting/art called Zentangle.  I really like this activity, I just haven't pursued it as diligently as I should.  There are lots of great example on Pintrest if you would like to see more.  At any rate, this is one of my more curly examples.

  

Pattern

As you may have noticed from the previous Zentangle, the art form is basically a collection of patterns that are

confined to a larger pattern or shape.  Most zentangles are done in black and white, but there are some who have done marvelous work in color. I can see where this might be a training exercise for tattoo artists.  I must admit, it is a relaxing pass time.

My View

As I sit here working on this post, this is typically my view when I come into the room.  I just purchased a 27" monitor and that is a great addition to my computer interests, that include photographic post processing. 

I'll admit, it's not the neatest workspace, but it suits me and I do tidy up a bit from time to time.  I'll be in "tidy up" mode shortly after finishing this post.

 Love

This is Valentine's week-end and the last prompt is "Love" so I am taking the opportunity to post an image of myself with the love of my life.  We've been married for forty-one years.  Obviously I didn't take this photo, but I choose to bend the rules on this last prompt.  We were on our Alaska cruise, celebrating our 40th anniversary when this image was taken.  It was the trip of a lifetime.

 

 

Skywatch Friday

A calm lake, a few clouds at sunset and you have a magic place to relax for a little while.  This is one of my favorite places in the spring and summer.  In fact, if you were to tell me to go to my "happy place", you just might find me here.  It's only a few miles from the house and I've some very good luck catching fish with the grandcrew here.  I'm sure we will make several trips here this year as well. Have a blessed and happy week-end.

Inspiration Thursday

Have you ever pursued wisdom or knowledge?  Most of us have at least made an effort to complete high school.  Some of us completed college and were awarded a degree from an institution of higher learning.  Still others pursued an advanced degree and fewer still have made learning their life long endeavor.  While knowledge about the world around us is worthwhile, if it came from text books it isn't true knowledge or wisdom.  That can only come from a single source.
The Bible tells us to get wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 4:5). One might ask, "Where do I start this search for wisdom and understanding?" Proverbs 9:10 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 1:7 also tells us that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." So why don't people look to the Creator of the universe for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding? Proverbs 1:7 also tells us that fools despise wisdom and instruction. Why do we live in such a violent, abusive, self-centered society? Because we don't like to follow instructions.

Back in the Saddle...Sort of. Inspiration Thursday

After taking a few weeks off to move into a new house and change Internet providers, I am back...sort of.  I may take a few weeks to get back into the rhythm of regular posting, so bear with me.
Well, we are moved, mostly.  All of our stuff is in the new house and 99% of the boxes are unpacked and put away.  It has only taken ten days to get this far along in "Operation Downsize".  Of course we only moved about 10 miles.  We moved from a very wooded, semi-rural lot into town and a pretty standard sub-division lot.  We have had three rooms completely painted and the ceilings in three others painted a new color...white!  For several years the trend in new home construction has been to paint the walls and ceilings the same color.  That's fine, up to a point.  There comes a time when the color of the walls/ceilings and the age of the eyes don't provide enough light to see.  I am there.
We can even get both cars in the garage!
Phase One of downsizing involves moving into a smaller home than before (not significantly smaller).  Phase Two is the realization that you didn't give away enough of your stuff prior to the move.  There will be a garage sale in the spring to further thin the herd.  Phase Three is deciding where will all of those pictures be placed in the new residence and what new furniture is required to truly make the new house feel like a home.
Our plan is for this home to have a little more casual feel than our previous abode.  That is due in part to the truly open plan of this house.  The living, dining, and kitchen share a large open space.
If there is a Phase Four to this downsizing process, it is definitely the yard.  It is smaller, and flatter than before, so maintaining it will be easier.  Still, there are some things that need attention to make it our yard, but that will be a post for another day.  All in all, the move has gone very smoothly and we are very happy with the new house.  When was the last time you packed up your life and relocated to a new home?  Did it go well?
Life is filled with changes.  Our recent adventure in moving is just another one of those changes.  How we deal with change can affect our life in many ways.  It can even impact our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.  I think this move will have a positive influence on all of the above.  Ever since we built our last home, ten years ago, I have stood in amazement of what God has allowed me to do.  I truly don't deserve any of the blessings that He as poured out on me and it is only through His love, mercy, and grace that I have anything.  Thank you Lord for all that you have done.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Bird Feeder Chronicles

I find it a little ironic that my first post of the new year will be my last post in our current home.  We will be moving into town this week.  We built this home in 2004 and I thought it might be our last residence.  I was wrong.  The opportunity came to downsize and simplify our lives a little bit, so we made the commitment to pack up all of our belongings and move.
One thing that I am going to miss about this place is the close proximity of the woods and the variety of birds that come to our feeders.  This past week I spent a few minutes each morning, before the packing started, to capture a few images of my feathered neighbors.  I'm going to miss these guys, but I'll just have to make new friends in town.  Hope the new birds are as colorful as this group.

I'll be down for a couple of weeks.  Between unpacking and getting a new internet service provider, I probably won't post again until the first of February.  But check back anyway, I may sneak a post in before next month.