Relief

Have you ever noticed that things have to get really really bad before God steps in? Hubs and I were really low and with no real options for things to improve markedly, and then last Thursday a huge need (namely, a job for hubs) was worked out. They interviewed him first and cancelled the other interviews. Lots more news about this later.

The sermon mentioned suffering in great detail, Hebrews 12 being the text. Fortunately the preacher du jour very emphatically reminded that suffering is not necessarily about a sin we've committed. Surely I knew that already, you ask? Well, so do you, but when three years of h e double hockey sticks have been beating on a person, perspective and truth tend to become obscured.

America is all about comfort and moving up. Pretty much EVERYONE, save the homeless perhaps, lives better than a great many countries. God isn't about that. He is about loving me and conforming me to his image. He doesn't value the stuff the advertisers (and your friends) tout. There's a much bigger, and way more satisfying, God-thing going on. I think we're seeing some glimpses of that. Maybe this time has been more like training and healing intensives. That's what it appears.

Please don't stop praying for us, and we'll do the same for you! You can always send me a PM with specifics we can pray for, if you are shy like me.

New challenges, and they will probably be challenging, but I am glad for them and also very relieved.

Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.
Burke, Edmund

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.

Proverbs 13:12 (The Message)

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

from Jeremiah 29

If you are a female fan of the University of Tennessee

Then leave me a message here. I have leftover fabric from the apron I made for the Gardener and I will send you your very own UT hairband. This type of fabric is licensed and as such is verboten to sell, but I will enjoy sending you a hairband for free if you want. Don't post your address in the response, just make sure I know how to contact you directly via email and I'll send you your very own hairband!

Obviously, this offer is good only until I run out of fabric. If there is a run on these things, I'll take the earliest requesters.

Enjoy.

Garish, thy name is apron. ;-)

The Gardener and The Gardener's Wife have been very gracious to me. They have supplied me with a large quantity of fabric and such, that I will put to good use. I have already had fun blessing Bunny Mama's mom, Bee Haven Maven, and Smoothiejuice with some of the loot.

For example, they gave me this wad of trims and lacy stuff that will work well on my vintage type aprons I sell at market.

The Gardener's Wife gave me a length of Tennessee Vols fabric and said, "could you make an apron for The Gardener?" Being The Gardener has a shrine to the Volunteers in his basement, including a framed piece of turf from Neyland Stadium and a large framed Phil Fulmer poster, it seemed appropriate.

Did I mention I think the color orange is eeeeeeeeew?

I thought about putting it on a denim background, but I had a length of orange mini-camo. Upon sharing the situation with hubs, he gave me his advice. "Go all out; go with the orange. A true fan would rather have it go over the top."

Hokay, I did just that. See for yourself. ;-)

Of course, miss Mandy wanted to be in the craft action shot. As usual.

Hope, no longer deferred?

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.

Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

----

'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the cold—
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
I'm right here to help you.'


--from Isaiah 41 (NIV, and The Message)

Quote o' the day...

We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

--Sir Winston Churchill

Grateful

1. I feel better.

2. Hubs feels better. He didn't share in my pneumonia bliss, ;-) , but enjoyed asthmatic bronchitis instead. ;-)

3. Found some new cheap recipes, and unearthed some old ones. We all need to save money, so I'll add them here posthaste.

4. Working on a strip quilt. Fortunately for everyone, this has nothing to do with one's state of undress while making it. ;-)

5. Catching up on making product for market and various accounts. So grateful for the orders right now.

6. Merging with the other church has worked out fairly well. Other than concern for losing our identity (which I will fight tooth and nail), there's only one major problem. Well, that is a major problem, but surely I can trust God to take care of things, either fixing it or fixing me. ;-)

7. At least two of our cars still work.

8. More hope for ongoing provision in the last couple of weeks. We'll see where it all lands. It's quite the roller coaster at present. With the economy the way it is, you gotta do what you gotta do.

9. Feline therapy. I am a believer in my three pet therapists. They do a great job. Who needs Diovan when you have three lap kitties?

10. It is lonely, but I have been deliberate about reaching out to friends. It's funny how few of them are church related. But the fact remains: I know I have friends now, and they know I care for them in return. Actual relationships where I am not the one doing all the giving and encouraging! That's a good change.

11. Perspective. I have some more to say about that, but not till I take the photo I want to accompany the thought.

12. Lots more, I am sure. There are really stressful and difficult times upon us. More stress than probably ever before. But I do feel loved, and cared about, and blessed nonetheless.

'Think I'm going to cough up a lung about now...

...that might not be a bad thing. I've never had pneumonia before, so I just thought it was a cold. Grateful for good drugs and a warm place to sleep. :-) I sleep a couple of hours, wake up, sleep a few more, and repeat. Apparently, according to hubs, I cough WHILE I'm asleep. Had no idea I was that talented.

Quote o' the day

Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." --PJ O'Rourke

Easy and healthy dip

Everyone needs a dip for the Super Bowl. Go Cardinals!!!!

Put the following in a food processor (or in a deep bowl and use a stick blender instead):

Two cans white beans. Canneilli if you're uppity, great northern if you're slumming. I don't know that it matters. Rinsing the beans and draining them in a colander will cut down on the salt content.

A couple T water if you drain the beans.

Some garlic. Cloves, powder, you decide.

Sage and rosemary.

Salt, I like sea salt myself.

A dash o' cayenne. More, and my hub won't eat it. Your mileage may vary.

Puree, while adding a thin drizzle of olive oil.

Vegan, healthy fat, protein, and something my skeptical husband enjoys as well with raw veggies, or in his case Triscuits if he's lucky. ;-)