Merry Christmas

While reflecting on the Christmas story over the past several weeks, I found myself humbled as I thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her reply to the angel following the explanation that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that she would bear the Son of God, was something that stood out to me over and over again as I heard the account of the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season at church and on radio programs:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1: 38)

Mary did not argue with God or make excuses regarding what was about to happen, even though it could have cost her her life. In her culture a woman pregnant outside of marriage could have been stoned to death. She had a lot on the line, but humbly accepted her position as the Lord's servant. We can learn a lot from Mary's example.

As Christian women, we need to ask ourselves if we have the heart of a servant. Are we willing to accept whatever God has planned for our lives? Can we with all honesty say we are the Lord's servants? Being a servant requires that we completely give up our selfish wants. We embrace what God has called us to do without making excuses. Most of us would like to say we have the heart of a woman who is willing to serve God, but sadly our lives look rather different. Our lives reek of selfishness. Often, rather than saying, "I am the Lords servant," we could be heard saying, "I want to serve the Lord, but...."

There is no middle ground when it comes to serving God. We will either choose obedience or disobedience. Every time we make an excuse, it is simply disobedience that we are trying to disguise as a good reason for not doing something God has called us to do.Being a woman who is willing to serve the Lord and follow His ways is not easy in a culture that is overflowing with selfishness. We are constantly told that it is all about us, but God's word tells us just the opposite. It's not about us at all; it's about being women with hearts that are willing to serve.

With the Christmas season coming to a close, it would be a good time to take a look at the true condition of our hearts. I pray that we will seek to have hearts like Mary; hearts that would allow us to say with all honesty, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."

The Breath Of God

The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen~ Job 37: 10

A Faint Whisper

And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Job 26: 14

I woke up this morning to a soft snow falling that transformed the drab winter landscape into a winter wonderland. I could not resist grabbing my camera and heading off for a walk through the woods. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I cautiously walked up and down the slippery hills. Everything was beautiful and snow covered! The dreary brown trees were dressed up in sparkling white attire. Pine trees bowed down under the weight of glistening snowflakes, and birds were flitting about, their colorful feathers commanding attention amidst the snowy white background.

It brought to mind the scripture that I had read in Job 26: 14 during my devotional time earlier in the day. The beauty of nature that we see all around us is just the outer fringe of God's works, and only a faint whisper of who God truly is! Not even a whisper, but a faint whisper! How amazing and how incomprehensible He is! We cannot even begin to imagine the wonderful and amazing things He has prepared for us in heaven; things too incredible for our human minds to comprehend.

It's hard to imagine anything more beautiful than the snow covered trees glistening in my mountain wonderland today. Yet, his word tells us that even this is just the outer fringe of His works....a faint whisper of Him.

Home Cooked Memories

She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family. Proverbs 31:15

There's no place like home; especially when a pot of homemade vegetable soup has been simmering on the stove all day mingling with the aroma of freshly baked yeast bread warm from the oven! I've never met anyone who didn't appreciate a good meal, and cooking and baking is a simple way to make memories for our families and show hospitality to guests in our home. We don't have to cook expensive or fancy meals. In fact, some of the most comforting foods are the simplest things. There's just something warm and inviting about a home where something good is cooking in the kitchen.

I've talked to a lot of people who speak with fondness about the comforting food prepared lovingly by their moms or grandmothers, and many moms and grandmothers are famous among their family members for certain dishes. Nobody made pork and saurkraut like my Grandma Mitchell. She was also famous for her pumpkin pies and soft sugar cookies. Her chicken rice soup was known to heal the sick. My aunt was very ill following surgery for a large brain tumor and was unable to eat. Grandma smuggled some of her chicken rice soup into the hospital one day. My aunt was able to eat it, and from that day on started to recover. I still smile when I recall grandma telling me the story about smuggling her soup into the hospital. She looked at me with a sparkle in her eye and said, "I didn't think she was going to make it, but my soup brought her back!" My mom was famous for her vegetable soup, apple pies, apple dumplings, stuffing balls, and gravy. Nobody ever came close to making pie crust like mom, and even though I have her recipe for gravy and stuffing balls, I've never been able to duplicate it. My mother-in-law made the best fried chicken I've ever tasted, and I've never found anything that even came close to hers. They have all passed on, but the special memories of the foods they prepared lives on in the hearts of family members.

As homemakers, we have the opportunity every day to make memories for our families and guests. One day our children probably won't remember how clean the house was when they were growing up, how successful we were in our career, or how many things we were involved in, but they will remember coming home to the aroma of a home cooked meal and warm cookies straight from the oven. They will recall, with fondness and smiles, the blessing of home cooked memories.

Every Winged Bird

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. " So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1: 20-21

Tis the Season to be Busy

As I watched a White-breasted Nuthatch and a Downy Woodpecker flying back and forth, incessantly pecking away on a suet cake this morning, it made me think about how often we fly around incessantly pecking away at all the distractions life throws our way, rarely stopping for a moment, tossed back and forth from one activity to the next. Busyness seems to have taken over our lives; we live with it, embrace it, and at times boast about it. Yet, I believe it is one of the most powerful weapons Satan uses against Christians. It’s so common today that often we aren’t even aware of its presence. It is a problem year round, but even more so as the Christmas season approaches.

The trend towards excessive busyness seems to have reached epidemic proportions in the lives of people today, and Christians are not exempt from it. Ask anybody how they are and the answer is usually the same, “Busy!” Sadly, Christians look like the rest of the world in this regard. We are stressed out, frazzled, overextended, anxious, running in circles, rushing about, short tempered, exhausted, and running on empty. Running on fumes, we fall into bed at the end of the day only to jump back up the next morning and start the vicious cycle all over again. I once heard a speaker say that BUSY stands for “burdened under Satan’s yoke.” I would have to agree!

I’m currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study called, Breaking Free. In the one chapter she talks about “the captivity of activity” and how perpetual activity leads to perpetual exhaustion. I often see this in my life and in the lives of those around me. I believe Satan uses busyness to keep Christians ineffective in their spiritual walk. It is so common and so widely accepted that it’s seldom even thought about. Since Satan works subtly and behind the scenes, we fail to notice him. If he can keep us busy and distracted by all the things going on around us, he can render us unproductive and ineffective as believers in Christ. Busy lives lead to lives void of prayer and scripture reading. Lives void of prayer and scripture reading leads to Christians with shallow faith.

When asked where our relationship with God is in our lives, most of us would proclaim, “God is first in my life!” However, when asked to share our busy schedules, we would find God in a different place. A pastor once said that our true priorities are revealed by looking at our daily schedules. The things that fill our days speak volumes about what is truly number one in our hearts. We always seem to make time for the things that are important to us. We can’t miss our favorite TV program, but we can miss our quiet time with God. We don’t have time to pray, but we can answer our cell phones and send text messages throughout the day. We don’t have time to work on a Bible study lesson, but we have time to go shopping or to surf the internet. We say we are simply too busy for God, but yet we always seem to find time for TV, cell phones, and the internet.

When was the last time you really and truly sat at His feet and listened for His voice? Being still before God and making time to sit at His feet is what’s really important. In light of eternity, it won’t matter how many TV programs we watched or how often we sent a text message or answered our cell phones. It won’t matter how much time we spent online looking things up. What will matter is our relationship with our Heavenly Father and those things that have eternal value.

This Christmas season, I pray we will keep our priorities in line amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, baking cookies, and wrapping presents. The abundant life Jesus came to give us is waiting. We need to slow down, be still, and seek first His kingdom rather than the distractions the world has to offer. We won’t be disappointed, because Jesus is the sweetest gift of all!

Counting My Blessings, Day Eight

My heart has been encouraged, as I've taken some time each day during this week leading up to Thanksgiving Day to focus on the many abundant and rich blessings that God has given me. I truly do have so much to be thankful for and blessings too numerous to count!

I conclude my week of counting blessings by being thankful for the blessing of Christian music. When I feel depressed or discouraged, listening to praise and worship music always lifts my spirits and restores joy to my soul. I love the traditional hymns, but I also enjoy contemporary Christian music. Often the words speak directly to me or to the situation I'm dealing with at the time. I am so thankful for the amazing artists and musicians who willingly use their gifts and talents in the ministry of music. Many of them will never know, this side of heaven, how their songs have impacted and changed lives.

Counting My Blessings, Day Seven

Today I am thankful for the blessing of beautiful sunsets that declare the glory of God and proclaim the work of his hands!

Counting My Blessings, Day Six

I'm so thankful for God's word and for the wonderful promises found in scripture. I love the Bible and cherish each moment I spend reading it. I have many different Bibles, but my favorite one of all is my Women Of Faith Study Bible. I love everything about this Bible, especially the wide margins and study helps. I enjoy writing out prayers in my Bible, and this one allows me plenty of room for taking notes and writing. Treasures are found in scripture, and it's a wonderful blessing to be able to read and study God's word.

Counting My Blessings, Day Five

Today, I'm thankful for the joy that babies bring into our lives. There is just something extra sweet about a baby! When our youngest granddaughter is here it seems as if the world stops and everything revolves around her. I never tire of sitting in the rocking chair holding her while she sleeps. Her sweet smiles and precious little baby face can make all the cares in the world fade away. I cherish each moment I have with her, because I know she is going to start crawling soon, and then she won't be content just to sit on grandmas lap. Babies are such blessings and I'm so thankful for the newest baby in our family, sweet Cabella Ruth.

Counting My Blessings, Day Four

Today I'm thankful for the special men in my life.

My Dad, a retired farmer, who worked hard all his life to support his family. He worked seven days a week without a vacation from the time he was a teenage boy until he retired. He is probably the most generous person I know, and has helped countless people over the years.

My husband, who has worked hard to support me and our four children over the past 32 years, which made it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mother. If not for his willingness to work hard, I would not have been able to stay home and be there for our children.

My sons Justin and Josh, who are wonderful men, work hard at their jobs, and truly love their wives. I know I can always count on them if I need something. They would be there for me in a minute. I'm so proud of the fine young men they have become.

My sweet grandson, Austin, who is always a joy to be around. He is always full of life and loves the outdoors, just like his Daddy.

My son-in-law-to-be, Barak, who is always there for our youngest daughter and truly loves and respects her. It's such a good feeling in today's world to see a young man show respect and love for your daughter, and to know he will always take good care of her.

I have a lot to be thankful for with the special men in my life!

Counting My Blessings, Day Three

Today I am thankful for God's beautiful creation, and thankful that I live in a place where I only have to look in my backyard to enjoy the wonders of all He has made. What an amazing and wondrous creation it is!

Counting My Blessings Day Two

Today I am thankful for the beautiful and special women who are part of my life: My daughters, Heather and Heidi; daughter-in-laws, Jess and Missy; and the sweetest little granddaughters in the whole world, Amayah Grace and Cabella Ruth. I feel incredibly blessed to have them in my life and thank God for each of them.

Counting My Blessings

Temperatures have been colder than usual for mid November, and I've found myself dreading the frigid months ahead. I dislike cold weather and the winter months are my least favorite of all. I miss the fall foliage and being outdoors.

Today, I found myself already grumbling about the cold weather and it's not even winter yet. I knew I was going to be in trouble if I didn't get my attitude in check, so I decided I needed a little attitude adjustment! I know from past experience that it's hard to feel thankful while complaining, but it's also hard to complain while being thankful! I decided the perfect remedy for my complaining attitude would be to start counting my blessings each day. I have so much to be thankful for and God has blessed me in more ways than I can count. With Thanksgiving just a week away, I decided it would be good for me to post a different thing I'm thankful for each day over the next week through Thanksgiving day .

I'll start off today by being thankful for the soothing comfort of tea. Nothing evokes feelings of warmth and comfort like a cup of steaming hot tea, and I feel no kitchen would be complete without a tea kettle. I always had a fondness for tea pots and tea kettles, often hosting pretend tea parties with my dolls when I was a young girl. I still have the tiny blue and white china tea set I got for Christmas one year. Of all the gifts I received as a child, it was my favorite.

Tea and hospitality seem to go hand in hand, and time spent with friends is sweeter over a cup of tea. When I phone an elderly friend of mine to tell her I'm stopping by for a visit, she always says, "I'll put the tea kettle on!" It's always a treat to walk into her cozy kitchen and be greeted by the steaming tea kettle, and even more so on chilly evenings. There's just something about the clinking of cups and saucers that makes the world seem a little more peaceful.

Season of Transition

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3: 1

Change is in the air. The last of the fall leaves have fallen and rather frigid temperatures seem to be settling in. Early mornings spent strolling through the woods and walking by the pond have been replaced by time spent indoors, and I'm thankful for the warmth of the old wood stove. As the fall season slowly transitions into winter here in the mountains, I find myself also in a new season of transition.


For a long time I've contemplated giving up my work-at-home job as a Medical Transcriptionist to return to caring for my home and family exclusively, as well as focus more on writing. It's something I've prayed about for a long time. In my heart I never felt right about working, but always seemed to find a way to justify it. I know God's word is clear that a woman's priorities are to be centered around the home, so I thought since I was in the home that I was doing the right thing. I was working at home, therefore, I must be in God's will! The problem was that my job was the number one priority. When we work at home, it's still work. We still have deadlines to meet and our work often takes center stage over things in the home.


As always, God is faithful in bringing us to the place where He wants us to be. Over the past several weeks I developed some increasing health issues that zapped my energy level and will require major surgery in the near future. At the same time my job became increasingly demanding as my boss took on more accounts. Just keeping up with all the new information was a full time job in itself. Things at home became more and more neglected. There was little time to cook, and we often ended up buying high priced take-out meals. I continually felt conviction over the state of my home. I felt for a long time that God wanted me just to focus on things at home, but yet I was afraid to take that step of faith to trust Him to supply all our needs. The medical bills arriving in the mailbox on a daily basis were a constant reminder of how much we could use the extra income. I found myself consumed with worry, fear, and nagging doubts. What if my husband was no longer able to work due to an injury or illness? What if we can't make ends meet on one income? What will people think? After all, I only have one child left at home and she is nearly eighteen. Surely I can handle a job since I have no small children! And the economy is bad right now. We need all the extra income we can get. I have to work!


Yet, my life continued to unravel before my eyes. I was exhausted and tired of trying to keep up with the rat race. Not only was the house falling apart, my entire life was pure chaos. I would read scripture, and God's word would reveal truth to me that I pushed aside and ignored, choosing instead to find an excuse not to walk in obedience. All of my worrying, fear, and excuse making only revealed the truth; I had a trust problem. I was not trusting the God who supplied our needs over three decades of raising four children solely on my husbands income; often on much meager wages than we have now. I was failing to trust the same God who never allowed us to go hungry or failed to take care of us. God had never once given me a reason not to trust Him, yet I was choosing to act as if He had.


Circumstances with my job escalated last week, and I felt as if God was putting me in a position where I finally had to take a stand. I could no longer ignore what needed to be done. It was time to step out in faith and step down from working for a season to focus on my health, my relationship with God, and those things which He has entrusted into my care; my family and my home. I parted on good terms with my boss, and she told me my job will be there if and when I choose to return, which is another blessing from God. After explaining my situation and sharing with her how I felt, she waived the two week notice that is usually required, and I was able to step down immediately. I don't know how long this season will last, but right now I know my role is to care for my home and family to the best of my ability. God will let me know when it's time to move in a different direction.


As I make the transition from working to being a full time homemaker, I pray I will embrace this new season with joy and a grateful heart, as I once again accept the highest calling of all; the call to be a wife, mother, and homemaker.

Dusk By The Pond

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19: 1

God is Faithful in all Seasons

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

With the majority of the leaves having fallen now, I’ve been amused by all the vacant bird nests throughout the trees and bushes here in the woods. In late fall, I always enjoy scouting out the woods looking for nests. It's interesting to see how many different birds have nested nearby that I was unaware of. Seeing all the vacant nests reminds me of the nearness of my own approaching “empty nest.”

I have to smile when I think back to the baby and toddler years and how I thought those busy days would never end. I remember elderly ladies in the grocery store (as I struggled to restrain a two year old in the midst of a temper tantrum and break up a fight between school-age boys) smiling and saying, “Enjoy them while they are little honey, because they grow up so fast!” At times I felt irritated with them for saying those things. I used to think that it was easy for them to say that, because they weren’t struggling to juggle children and groceries and get everyone to the car in one piece. Now I’m the older woman in the grocery store telling young mothers to enjoy their children because they grow up fast. It’s funny how time changes things and we find ourselves in new roles and new seasons of life, all in such a short time. One day it just seemed to happen; somewhere between changing diapers, nighttime feedings, wiping off sticky fingered toddlers, endless peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunches, helping with homework, juggling after school sports schedules, and the trying teen years, the nest grew emptier and emptier and now the baby is almost eighteen.

Lately, it seems we are constantly experiencing the end of certain events that have been a part of raising four children over the past 32 years. This year our youngest was the last of the four children to get a learners permit. The last one I had to teach to drive. September marked the “last” first day of school for us and the last child to enter her senior year. The last parent-teacher conferences will be attended this year. She will be the last to graduate. Monday night marked the last Halloween parade that she will be participating in with her dance studio, and next spring will mark the last dance recital. As I drive her to dance lessons and to her job at the dance studio, I cherish every trip knowing the time is so very short. Soon, she will have her license and won’t need me to drive her anywhere. It’s a strange feeling after spending so many years driving children to sports, games, and dance lessons.

I’ve been given a glimpse into the empty nest over the past year when the youngest started dating. My husband is a long distance trucker, rarely home, which means I’ve been spending more and more time home alone. It’s as if God is slowly preparing me for this new approaching season. It's been a learning process for me, and I'm finding it helpful to talk to other woman who have already experienced the empty nest, or who are close to experiencing it.

I received an e-mail several weeks ago from my friend Kathy, who lives in Alabama. Her wise words were such an encouragement and a blessing to me. She is also facing the nearness of the empty nest, as her youngest is a senior this year. Her e-mail was a much-needed reminder for me to continue trusting in God and waiting to see what He wants me to do at this new season rather than thinking about filling up my alone time with “stuff.” With her permission, I share the following from her e-mail:

“I know you and I share a bond because I’m spending a good bit of time alone too. My son is working at the Y and is a senior in high school, so he always has something going on. My husband works long hours at the store, so I’m learning to spend my afternoons reading my Bible while sitting on the deck watching the hummingbirds and squirrels. It has been a HUGE change for me, but the Lord has constantly reminded me that,”I’m all you need Kathy.” So instead of fighting it with busyness, I have finally said, “Okay, Lord, here I am!” I’m trying to spend time with Him during my new found alone time. “

I was encouraged by how she simply chose to surrender this new season of life to God rather than filling it with more stuff and activities. How often do we say, "Okay, Lord, here I am?" Too often we are quick to fill up those empty places in our life with other things that may not be part of Gods plan for us. We are quick to act without taking the time to seek God's wisdom for our life. Our culture today is so busy and fast paced that we often don’t think about just waiting and being still before God to see where He leads us.

This new season of life has already been a season of incredible grace and spiritual growth for me personally. I’m learning the importance of letting go gracefully, and I’m learning to accept things, knowing that God is in control. I don’t know what the future holds or what God has planned for me and that is okay. I can trust Him and rest in His promises as the empty nest draws near. Like my friend Kathy, I am also learning to say, "Okay, Lord, here I am, use me in this season as You desire." Though life is ever changing, God does not change. He is faithful, always, in all seasons of life.

A Gentle Reminder

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116: 7

Life has been busy here in my mountain nest over the past week or two, allowing me little time to meander through the woods as I had been doing throughout much of the fall. The home office makeover, an extra workload for my at-home MT job, and colder than usual weather all played a part in keeping me indoors, away from the beauty of nature. It's strange how one can become so caught up in doing "stuff" that the days run into nights and weeks pass by without one finding the time to pause and look at the beauty that surrounds them.

This afternoon, while still caught up in the "stuff" of daily living, I was busy typing medical reports when a Tufted Titmouse began to peck at my office window, almost as if to say, "Hey, we haven't seen you in the woods lately!" I've had birds peck near the window before, but this little bird just sat there for the longest time looking right at me, furiously pecking at the window every few seconds. It was quite entertaining, and one of those moments when I wished I had my camera nearby. I stopped working and just sat there enjoying this rare show when I noticed the Dark-eyed Juncos flitting about in the yard; their arrival announcing that winter certainly is upon us.

Fascinated by the bird activity going on outside, I put my work aside and decided to go for a quick stroll. I didn't have a lot of time to spare, but that brief walk was such a delightful adventure for me since the temperatures were rather mild today. It was a welcome diversion in my work day. I lingered a bit longer than I should have, but being outside surrounded by nature and the arrival of the Juncos made me realize how much I've missed spending time in the woods. It was also a reminder of how quickly I can get busy doing "stuff" and neglect to take time to "stop and smell the roses."

I was amazed at how much the woods had changed in just a week! Many of the leaves have fallen providing an open and spacious view of the mountains, which also makes it easier to see various birds flying about from tree to tree. The reflection of the sky upon the pond made the water appear azure blue in color, creating a soothing and serene picture of beauty. A Junco that perched nearby me on a stump reminded me once again that the harsh winter weather is rapidly approaching. I inhaled a little deeper, tarried just a little while longer, soaking in fall's beauty, knowing it's time is short.

Sometimes we all need a gentle reminder to pause and be still for just a bit. I'm so thankful for the visit of the Tufted Titmouse at my office window today. Had the tiny bird not pecked on my window, I probably would have continued to work, caught up in the busyness of daily life, forgetting the beauty that lies just beyond my front door.

Anxiety Prescription

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94: 19

Working as a Medical Transcriptionist, I type a lot of medical reports each day, and it seems the majority of patients are taking something for anxiety-related issues. Based on my own calculations, roughly seven out of every ten reports includes prescriptions for anxiety drugs. I see this trend on a daily basis. I believe these drugs do serve a purpose, and when used properly can provide helpful treatment for patients who truly need them, but not all anxiety needs to be treated with medication. God often uses our anxiety to draw us near to Him. If we are quick to medicate our anxiety, we may never learn what it means to depend on God to meet our needs.

Lately, I've been reminded of the need to seek God during anxious times. I've been experiencing extreme anxiety over the past months that often keeps me awake into the wee hours of the morning. This has been happening more frequently as I enter the "change of life" season. I've been talking with older woman who have gone down that path, and they assure me that anxiety and nervousness escalates due to changes in hormone levels during this season of life. I've always been prone to worry about things, but that was mild compared to this new anxiety I've been feeling.

As I struggled to relax enough to sleep again last night, I opened my Bible to the Psalms and began to read. It was no accident that the first passage my eyes fell upon was Psalm 94: 19. "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." I was once again amazed at how God's word is never outdated and how it always provides direction for us through each circumstance we face. Right there in scripture is our anxiety prescription! The Psalms contains some of the most beautiful passages of scripture ever penned, many written from the pens of anxious, depressed, distraught, and fearful psalmists. I wonder if the Psalms would have been written if the Psalmists would have chosen to medicate their anxiety.

When we focus on God's promises and His amazing love for us rather than our fears and insecurities, we find consolation in His truth and we will be filled with peace and joy. That doesn't mean our worries are going to vanish or that we will never experience them again. It simply means that we experience inner joy by accepting our circumstances and trusting God with the outcome. True joy doesn't necessarily mean feeling happy, because happiness is based on happenstance; we are happy only when things around us are going well. Joy is a inner attitude of peace, comfort, and trusting God regardless of what is happening around us.

We live in stressful times and each day we face financial struggles, health issues, difficult job situations, concern over children or grandchildren, fear and uncertainty about the future, etc. These fears and anxieties are real and unpleasant, but there is a prescription that works. When we surrender all of our anxieties to God and trust Him for the outcome, His consolation will bring true joy to our souls.

"Not So Extreme" Home Office Makeover

For those who have asked to see them, here are the pictures of the finished home office project!

Last week I decided to do a mini, not-so-extreme makeover on my home office, better known as my "Writing Nest." I kept it simple, using left-over paint from last falls kitchen remodeling project. I put new sage green curtains up and moved a few wall hangings around, nothing major. I love the color yellow, because it always makes a room look sunny and bright, and it's a nice change from the cold-looking white walls. It was a lot of work to move everything around and paint while working for my at-home job in between, but I am very pleased with the outcome and it was worth the effort.

The small offset corner in the room has always been my favorite part of my home office. It's nothing fancy, but I wouldn't trade it for the most expensive office in the world. While I'm busy working during the day, the small offset provides a visual reminder to take some time to be still and know my Heavenly Father. It's my place of rest; the place where I start each morning; the place where I can sip a cup of steaming tea, listen to music, read, and pray. I feel so very blessed to have a room complete with a "quiet time" corner to call my own.

A Special Thank You

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3


Today is a special anniversary for me. Seven years ago, October 24, 2001, I became involved with a wonderful online ministry: First Place/Outlook. It has changed my life, and I am so grateful and thankful for the wonderful people I have met by belonging to this group.

I have grown so much in my faith through the online Bible studies we completed as a group (22 altogether, soon to be 23). I have made friends from all over the world, and many of these friends are like family to me. They are the first ones I call upon when I need prayer, and they are the ones who have truly been there for me more times than I can count. They have inspired me in so many ways, and always have time to listen and share encouraging words.

Since today is my First Place anniversary, I wanted to say a special thank you to each one of my First Place sisters in Christ for all you have done to inspire me to never give up and to keep going, no matter what. I won't mention specific names for fear I would forget someone. You know who you are! The encouragement and support you have given me regarding my writing has been a blessing, and I have appreciated every email, card, and letter that you have taken the time to send my way, always overflowing with your kind words and inspiration. What an incredible blessing you have been and continue to be in my life! Where would I ever be without each one of you?

When I started this blog, I was so afraid to step out of my comfort zone and share my writing, but as usual, as has happened many times in the past, it was you ladies who have become my biggest supporters and my cheering section. I probably would have given up by now if not for your thoughtful words. Thanks again to each of you! I'm so thankful for the blessing of your friendship. I look forward to continuing our First Place journey together!

The Woodstove

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 19-20

It’s that time of the year again; the time when chilly days give way to cold nights, temperatures start to flirt with the low 30s, and we awake to frost blanketing the land. The eerie chill over the house means that the inevitable is about to happen….the lighting of the wood stove. It’s a yearly tradition I’ve come to dread, and one I’m praying desperately to feel more thankful about.

Wood is our main source of heat for the winter months, and anyone who has experienced the role of being the one to keep the home fires burning will understand the trials of heating solely with wood. It is not a job for the faint of heart or for those who enjoy uninterrupted nights of sleep.

I don’t feel very thankful for my wood stove most of the time. Actually, I have a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with the old black stove. It’s an older well-seasoned model, rather ugly in appearance (unlike the cuter potbelly models) and the handle doesn’t open easily; I often have to whack it with a chunk of wood to get it to budge. I’ve jokingly compared the old black stove to a newborn baby, because of having to “feed” it so frequently and often having to get up at night to check on it.

I have several justifiable reasons for hating the old stove. Keeping enough firewood cut, split, and stacked to last the entire winter is a full time job in itself. Getting the stove to light can be a challenge at times also, as it can be rather stubborn to get started. At times, especially on windy days that cause a downdraft in the chimney, it gets a contrary fit and smolders, filling the house with a hazy wood smoke stench. Burnt fingers and wood splinters don't help to instill feelings of fondness either.

The stove becomes my obsession during the winter months. It’s the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, “Is the stove out?” It’s the last thing on my mind at night before I go to bed, “I better bank the stove up for the night.” When I go away I worry about it, “I wonder if the stove is out…I hope it s not smoking…I hope the house doesn’t burn down.” It’s the first thing I run to when I arrive home after being out, “Better check the stove!” Each morning I run down the steps praying to open the door and see at least a few smoldering coals, often being greeted instead with gray ashes glaring at me, meaning once again I have to re-light the stove. This same scenario is repeated if for some reason I have to leave the house for more than a few hours during the day.

I’ve tried to develop an attitude of thankfulness about my old stove. To its credit, it does provide a wonderful warm heat unlike any other kind of heat. Since I work from home, I’m able to look after the stove during the day. Wood heat is an extremely warm and consistent heat, and I’m thankful that I have a home to heat. Like a home cooked meal simmering on the stove, heat makes a home cozy and inviting on blustery days. It’s also inexpensive and saves hundreds of dollars each year that would be spent on purchasing oil or paying higher winter electric bills. It provides a good exercise workout. I get upper body strengthening each time I have to whack open the door. Since the stove is down on the basement level of our home, I do a lot of stair-stepping in the cold months. In a sense I have my own home fitness circuit complete with strength training and aerobic workouts, all for free!

God’s word says we are to be thankful and give thanks for all things, and I guess that includes my ugly old wood stove. As with anything in life, we can either choose to look at the positive side or to dwell on the negative. We truly do have so much to be thankful for each day and many reasons to praise God for the abundance of blessings we enjoy, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us. My mom used to say, “Don’t ever complain, because someone somewhere always has it much worse.” I’ve found that to be true over the years. Many of the things we complain about are rather silly and foolish, just like my complaining attitude about the wood stove.

As the cold nights and chilly days become a reality once again, I pray that I’ll keep a thankful attitude and a grateful heart for the blessing of a warm home, and for the old black wood stove, as I once again, with hesitation, resume my seasonal role as the one who keeps the home fires burning.

Sunday Drive...Reflections of Fall

How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! Psalm 47: 2