Stepping Out

This year I have been really challenged in the area of finances and giving.

It's a place that God has to keep visiting and revisiting with me.

Because, well, money is a bit of a deal with me.

I feel like I need to be so careful because, what if, one day

I can't look after myself.

Being paralyzed and all, life is just a whole lot more complicated.

So I try to justify hanging onto savings.

Because I seem to trust in them more than I trust in God.

And I know the Bible talks all about wisdom and going to a multitude of counselors.

There's lots of advice about money in there.

Sometimes He tells us to give it all away.

Sometimes He says invest - don't bury it.

Sometimes He just says "share"...

So I'm still on this long learning curve.

And this evening I had the privilege of learning

That I've had the opportunity of becoming a part of something really beautiful.

God prompted me to give a certain amount for the building of an orphanage

For kids in Thailand.

A future and a hope.

Because Jesus cares about them

He spoke to me way over here, an amount.

Quite specific, I might add.

And I wrestled and asked for confirmation.

He didn't confirm the amount the way I was hoping.

Instead He spoke to me about justice.

I wondered how I would feel if those were one of my children.

I would give whatever it took to see them tucked safely into warm beds at night

Under a solid roof.

With healthy food in their tummy and clothes on their back.

And access to education.

So, I'm learning that it's better to just obey.

By faith.

Because that's what pleases God.

Even if I didn't quite hear perfectly.

It's really so little because it doesn't even inconvenience me.

I bless the one man who looks after these 40 kids.

Laying down his life for them

Every day.

Because He is following in the steps of our beautiful Master.

Who laid down everything for us.

Oh how He loves us.

Fall Flavours

MmmmmMmmmm!!

Just cooked up a big bowl of delicious butternut squash soup.

Garlic, Onions, Celery & Carrots fried up in butter

Chicken Stock with butternut squash blended in, cumin & paprika

Tastes like a warm welcome to fall...

I should really make an apple crumble for dessert

To round out the flavour of harvest around here.

On my way home from school, on this cool and rainy day I stopped at an orchard where all kinds of garden produce was standing in bins and on tables in the garage for sale.

I happily drove off with my giant squash, peppers, tomatoes, onions, corn, and peaches.

Having my own little private thanksgiving here minus the turkey.

I truly am grateful.

And I have a house full of lovely girls to share the soup with tonight.

Doubly grateful.

Now I just have to bake up a batch of cheesy biscuits and the meal will be complete.

The season of Apples is upon us.

APPLES!! Big, beautiful, colorful...

Decorative and plentiful.

Red, pink, striped, yellow, green, round, magnificent orbs of health!

So sweet and crunchy.

It's almost unbelievable how many there are...

And how pretty they make the trees look.

Big blue sky, green green trees and grass.

Sunshine.

Glorious! Lifegiving warmth stretching into these lovely fall days.

I've just felt like celebrating every day when I leave school.

(which sometimes means an icecap or some other yummy treat

that makes its way into my car from a drivethrough)

It's got to be one of the loveliest seasons.

And yes, I'm back at school.

I just made a phone call and there it was.

A place ready and waiting for me.

Sweet children needing to be assessed

Tests to be marked and children waiting to learn.

I feel so much happier having a place to go

Where there are important things to do.

I'll just turn my back on all my insecurities

And head into the year trusting that all will be well.

I'll figure out what to do with all those certificates I'm accumulating

And with the weight that comes with knowledge and training.

As I do, I will learn.

Changing Seasons

It's nearing the middle of September.

Not officially fall yet, but a new season has definitely begun.

Kids are back in school and I must be careful driving through those school zones!

Amazed, yet not, that I have no school aged children to drive around.

I miss the comfort of those predictable scheduled days.

Soon I will be back in school teaching, but not quite yet.

I could just leap in and get things started,

But somehow I am moving very slowly and putting it off.

Finding other things to do while I gather courage and strength.

The darkness descends earlier and the days are shorter.

Colorful apples are hanging in abundance on the trees.

Big red boxes stand beneath the trees outside my home,

waiting for the apples to be completely ripe.

A huge full moon brightens the cool night sky.

Northern Lights thrilled us with a free showing and

I sat outside in my pajamas to watch.

Each bedroom in the house is full.

God has answered my prayer and sent life and laughter and activity.

I just had three lovelies come into my room

Their hair wrapped in plastic bags

Their faces covered in egg mix

Eager to share their beauty secrets so that my face could also

Have a "lift".

It's feeling dry and crackly.

Even my girl is here, finding her way and finding life.

There is grace for this season.

Adjustments to adjust to...

like a married son in town with his dear wife

and getting invited to their house for supper.

Family that needs me for adventures and outings.

I'm the cream cheese in the middle,

feeling a little squished and unsure of my flavoring right now

But I'm dwelling in the land and cultivating faithfulness.

And thanking God that I get to dwell in such a very lovely land.

Lots to be thankful for.

Dwelling

A word the Lord spoke to me recently was

"Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness..."

I finally found that verse tucked into the beautiful prose of Psalm 37.

Altogether a very satisfying and comforting read

full of all kinds of amazing advice...

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him"

"Trust in the Lord and do good"

"He will bring forth your righteousness as the light"

"Fret not..."

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way

When he falls he shall not be hurled headlong

Because the Lord is the one who holds his hand"

Oh my goodness - it's just all so delicious and so wonderful.

He holds my hand!!

He delights in MY way?!

He establishes my steps and those of my loved ones!

HE will bring forth my righteousness!

So, in this strange and quiet season I am trying to follow God's good Word.

I haven't started work yet.

My new teaching materials haven't even arrived.

I don't really have a proper work space set up to do the new teaching.

I'm feeling like I am 'accomplishing" so little but...

I am dwelling in the land and cultivating faithfulness

cause that's what He told me to do.

Meanwhile I rest in the Lord while enjoying the sunshine and breezes and kittens out on my back patio while I look out over the hills and down into the valley. I read good books. I cook a little bit and have coffee with friends. I visit with the dear girls in my home. I pray for my missionaries and arrange picnics at the beach for my family to enjoy. I spend time with my precious daughter. I run errands and take care of the business God has given me to tend. I am the center of something important and I don't want to wish away this beautiful season.

I want to bloom right now where He has planted me. Cultivate faithfulness.

Help me Jesus where I am missing the boat but help me not to fall overboard and drown in any kind of condemnation.

I am overwhelmed by the beauty that I get to drink in each and every single day

in this season of rest.

Simply OVERWHELMED!

The apples are getting big and colorful,

The rich season of harvest is upon us.

Hello September!

So glad the sun and warmth showed up for August and it really felt like summer.

I'm hoping the sunny warm days will continue for many weeks.

The bean and I took another trip to Vancouver last week which was supposed to turn into a longer holiday down the coast.

But it didn't.

Other things had to be dealt with and what felt impossible and dark and sad is working it's way into light and possibility.

God is so amazing.

Faithful.

True to His Word.

Trustworthy.

I just came home from a sweet evening with my Butterfly friends.

Good food and exceptional fellowship.

An epic saga was shared and other stories were caught up.

Prayer and laughter and tears.

I love my Butterflies.

The history we share is very precious.

My dear girl and our housemate are up on the mountain having a holiday and hearing from God. May they come down with their faces shining.