Two Calls

I received two calls within minutes of each other this morning.

The first was from a friend whose adult son had been

transferred to Cleveland Clinic after one of two heart valves recent

recently replaced had developed trouble.

His surgery would be tomorrow.

The second was an elderly friend confined to his room in 

a local nursing home.

He was waiting for his shower which had been scheduled for 10:00.

Of course, he'd been ready since 9:30, and he was still waiting

at 10:30.  "It's hard to be patient," he explained apologetically.

***

Thinking about the two calls,

I thought of their importance to each person.

  In the grand scale of things, we might be tempted

to rank the severity or significance of the two higher or lower.

But weighed in the personal circumstances,

 I recognize the importance of both issues--both calls.

More importantly, the Heavenly Father does--

He who knows and cares when a sparrow falls to the ground!

The Apostle Peter reminds us to cast ALL our cares upon Him 

for He cares for you/me/us. 

2 Peter 5:7

 

Lest I Forget...

 It was just a little over a 24-hour getaway,

but oh, the delight!

 Three friends at a lake cottage!

(This was the sunrise...)

We played Qwirkle...

we talked.

We visited a thrift store where I found these two treasure...

The book is a Bible study I wrote years ago.

 One of the friends gave me the Sister Wendy book. 

 At home, it now sits next to my recliner with an older book of saints.

I even returned home with two dozen farm fresh eggs!

Simple, delicious meals,

a surprise meetup with friends from long ago,

and personal quiet time from 4:00-7:30 in the morning

were all parts of a wonderful, much-needed respite.

Thanks, Betty!

"My Genesee"

 

A dear friend died recently.

He was a poet.

It was my privilege to type out a bookful of his handwritten poems.

A few days after he died, I promised myself to honor him by honing my own, feeble poetic inclinations.

Below is today's attempt to respond to the book that lies at my bedside.  The writings of Henri Nouwen continue to be a source of spiritual challenge and inspiration to me...

from my journal page

Myrna's Treasure

It was Wednesday evening.  We were gathered around tables at our weekly prayer service.

She sat across the table from me, heart-heavy with the recent loss

of her best friend/sister-in-law.

After prayer, my husband led us in a discussion study of John 12

and the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet 

with the precious ointment.

The discussion ended, folks got up to leave,

 and my friend across the table timidly motioned for me.

She handed me this treasure, wrapped loosely in Christmas paper.

She said she'd lost something precious this week and felt God directing her

to share something precious with me.

Only after unwrapping the "treasure" did the full impact (and parellel) of this friend's

timid and generous gift strike me.

Indeed, as did Mary's ointment THAT day,

THIS lotion's fragrance filled and CONTINUES to fill the room of my heart.
***

Dear Myrna.  I receive and return the treasure of love.

I Still Can #7

 I still can appreciate artistic talent!

A young friend of mine

has recently taken up water colors.

I sent her this photo of our house,

and this morning, she delivered!

I couldn't be happier with the result.

God...Somehow

"Just reading about the New Jerusalem with no more years or pain.  That promise should keep me going.  And so much more besides!"  Months of physical pain were the background for her text to me this morning.

"Yes," I responded to her message.  With a smiley face I acknowledged the typo in her comment, adding, "Neither years NOR tears!

"Some pastor suggested we'd be in our prime forever, and that's attractive once we've passed it."  she replied.

"HAHAHAHAHA!  HOW TRUE,"  wrote I, my shift key stuck in the capital position.  "I HAVE wondered about that actually..."

"I have too.  For the elderly whom we've only known as elderly and the young whom we've only known as young, prime is puzzling.  We'll recognize one another so God will work it all out somehow,"  she posited.

"God...Somehow.  I think we should write a book with this title!"

"Go for it!"  she directed.

Perhaps this WILL be the forward for just such a book--

a book with many chapters.

Each of them laced with examples of

God...Somehow! 

Have YOU a chapter?

Bears and Me

I've watched this work in progress in our neighborhood.

It started with the eagle on top...

Today, there were three bears!

It reminds me of a couple of "bears" in the Bible--
"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other..." (Colossians 3:13)
and
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
And this quote:
"It seems to me that trying to live without friends
is like milking a bear to get cream for your coffee.
It is a whole lot of trouble, and then not worth much after you get it."
Zora Nealle Hurston

People-Watching

If ONLY I'd thought to record the conversation among these three lively women

who met across the aisle from us at Barnes and Noble yesterday!

The two standing had apparently walked the mall

before sitting down at the table where they were joined by the third lady.

Here, the two stood up to look admiringly at a magazine in which

the home of a niece of the white-sweatered lady was featured.

They remarked with excitement about the decor,

while agreeing that white was not for them!

 Their conversation included such lines as:

• She's been on disability for a long time.  Some people just take advantage of the system!
• I turned my ankle and it swelled.  So I heated some water with Epson salts in it and soaked my foot.  It feels so much better.
• You should see my sink!  I ought to get a new one, but I could die by next year.
• I bought new faucets at Menards and they are already pitted! 
• I'd like to get one of those instant hot water heaters.  I have to run and run and run the water before it heats up.
• So-and-so just got a bunch of new furniture.  She gave me several pieces.
• Well, tell ME the next time she gives some away.
• How old is YOUR house?
• How long have you lived in it?

It was SO much fun to listen in to their talk.

I wonder who I'll be meeting when I'm 80 years old...

and who will be listening in to our conversation.

Hmmmmm.

Better than Roses

We don't usually do a lot of decorating,

card-giving or gifting for Valentine's Day.

Still, there are a few friends in my life

who are alone or going through challenging circumstances

that I wanted to acknowledge.

So I hit the holiday aisles at the supermarket this morning.

They were very disorganized AND relatively depleted.

Still, I felt happy with these purchases.

Cards have been sent to our grandkids (all out-of-state),

and hubby and I have plans to celebrate each other later in the week.

Meanwhile, I'm comfortable and blessed by the relaxed atmosphere

in our home

which is FAR better than a dozen roses to me ♥

El Shaddai

 We were the blessed recipients of tickets for an Amy Grant concert Saturday night

She appeared at the Fort Wayne Embassy Theater and was accompanied

on several songs by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra.

 Our friend had received the tickets as a Christmas gift

but was unable to use them since she had a knee replacement 

earlier in the week.

My favorite was Ms. Grant's classic, El Shaddai, 

sung toward the end of the evening.

We will praise and lift you high,
El Shaddai.

One of the stanzas of this song refers to our God's provision

for His people, Israel, as He brought them out of Egypt.

Coincidentally (?) this coincides with the Exodus passages I'm currently reading

as a part of my read-the-Bible-through-in-a-year plan! 

Music once again ministered to me at many levels,

refreshing me emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Thankful!

Liverwurst, Facebook, and Me

It all started with one of those silly Facebook posts --

a "remember this" one, as I recall.

And it was about liverwurst.  Braunschweiger.

Actually, "goose liver" is what I remember my mother calling it.

Anyway, I remember that I loved it.

A few years ago, a friend of ours fixed a spread made
with braunschweiger and cream cheese

for a carry-in we'd been invited to.

 The Facebook post reminded me of it

and I shot off a message to him to see if he could make me one for $10.

(I know the price of cream cheese has gone through the roof!)

To make a long story short, 

within 24 hours this beautiful - and large - ball arrived.

Friends who commented on the Facebook thread are clamoring for the recipe

AND a liverwurst party is being planned for after the holidays.

Should be fun!

By the way, if YOU like it, what's your favorite way to eat it?
And please, no information about how unhealthy it is!

Duets with Donna

Thanks to our friend, Dorcas, for this photo.

For several months now

on most Mondays,

I've met with a friend to play duets on her grand piano.

The experience has challenged both of us musically

and blessed us in so many ways.

Today, our practices culminated in and informal afternoon concert

for nine special friends.

We served refreshments (including an Amish-baked pumpkin roll)
and enjoyed each other's company.

I hope it encouraged our guests to revive a latent talent or two

and share the results with others. 

Donna and I hope to work on a few Christmas duets 

between now and Christmas for our own pleasure.

We both agree that music is good for the body AND soul!

One Fine Autumn Evening

Smiling faces were in abundance Saturday night
at the 9th annual cookout for our Sunday School class.

 Last year was our first with them.

Angus beef hot dogs were served with all the fixings...

and dessert was genuine kettle corn -- hot from the kettle.

This is all tradition.

The broken garage door was NOT, 

but it DID serve as entertainment for all the handy men in attendance!

Lots of conversation and laughter echoed in this large building

where we retreated due to high winds and a storm that was obviously coming.

A fine autumn evening it was with great company to match!

Friends and Neighbors

 

Friends - like THIS one!

We spent an evening with this one and his precious wife.

Homemade ice cream (peach, strawberry or vanilla),

conversation, and music!

 Neighbors - the only explanation I have for this tomato found on our back porch

this afternoon.

In a day when people are being constantly pitted against people,

it is reassuring to find oneself surrounded by friends and neighbors.

And in the end, besides prayer,

BEING a good friend and neighbor locally

is where solutions to this insanity and/or evil will begin.

 

Serenity, Indeed!

Little did I realize when I titled my last blog post "Serenity"

just how that word would be fleshed out in the following days.

I spent Thursday evening through Saturday morning

with friends at McClish Lake, where one of them owns a cottage.

 The experience has become an annual tradition

that I look forward to so much.

This year, I took with me the book I recently purchased for myself

after glancing at a library copy.

I was not disappointed with even one minute I spent reading Elisabeth Leseur's journal.

"Serenity" kept appearing on the pages in various forms.

I could not escape it!

In one section, she outlined her practice of daily meditation,

a monthly day of reflection and prayer,

and an annual week-long retreat.

I realized this has become my practice apart from specific intention.

How thankful I am
for THIS particular monthly day spent in reflection and prayer

in the encouraging company of true friends.

Serenity, indeed!

I strongly recommend the book.

I celebrate the aforementioned practice.

I enjoy these special friendships...

Friday's Friends and More

What an incredible experience to meet Deanna face-to-face!

After reading Creekside Cottage for several years now,

I felt like I already knew her, but our conversation confirmed it!

How I thank the Lord for our mutual love for Jesus--

a fast and firm bond of faith that made our short time together so precious.

This was followed up by a meeting with friends from our college days.

Craig and Sylvia were incredible hosts, treating us to a fantastic lunch

and chauffeuring us around beautiful Amish countryside and towns.

We'll never forget this day!
(I hope THEIR photos turned out better than ours!)

Well, this one did turn out better than mine....this is Sylvia & I.

The rest of these photos are various sights from a Thursday afternoon walk
around the area of our downtown Lancaster PA hotel and convention center.

Small courtyard behind the former home of Charles Demuth

In front of one of the many art galleries

A fountain outside our hotel

More Demuth courtyard

Hubby in entrace to Demuth courtyard

Hydrangeas & hosta in front of one of the 1700's structures

Trees - always my fascination.  This one in front of Art Museum

Grounds surrounding the Museum of Art

I took the time to play this one!

Folded paper - so creative, I thought

A sweet flower shop