Catching Fireflies - 5

Light House

Patsy Clairmont: “I’ve known a plethora of light houses…walking, talking, bona

fide lit towers who, at critical moments, through tumultuous waters, have guided me and others to shore… Two lighthouses aligned – one taller, one shorter – are said to form a ‘range,’ used to help ships navigate tricky waterways and dark coastlines. Scripture tells us that where two or three believers are aligned in agreement, Christ is in the midst of them. Christ loves when we come together in harmony and in the best interest of others. His whole ministry was outreach to others. He taught the sinking Peter who it was that could lift him out of deep waters. He taught the shipful of frightened disciples that no storm could overtake them if He who created the sea and stirred the waves was in their midst.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 & 4:9

We become lighthouses powered by the hope we have in Christ. We have the responsibility and joy of standing tall and shining bright – with all of our heart, soul, and strength, right down to our last moments and our last flinching muscle, flashing out – for others on dark seas, our gratitude.”

Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from the book]:

• Who make up the plethora of lighthouses inn your life?
• Who has ‘towed’ you in? When?
• What makes your eyes flash with passion? Pleasure? Purpose?
• Who do you need to thank? What will it cost you?

garden update

and random shots of my life...

been weeding and harvesting...had some fresh bruschetta last night - a favoriteof mine...
But I'm in need of eggplant recipes, -- anyone?
I'm open to any suggestions, I love to grow it - but have very little experience cooking it...
I harvested my first tomato [talladega] yesterday!oops! It must have been eaten before the photo was taken...

been debating disposing of the rabbit guts and leg my favorite cat has left for me on the carport, he seems a little protective of it so I'm hoping it'll all be cleaned up in a couple of hours [we're all about the circle of life around here...]

been finishing up some knit projects...[love the pig model, don't you?]
and am hoping that the two little people who receive these can look past my beginning knitting efforts and accept them as a hand crafted work of love... [Gotta say, I've found knitting to be very relaxing and fun!]

been cleaning bathrooms and dusting / vacuuming upstairs and now I'm off to clean-up my scrap area and replace my glass mat on my work surface... I'm not sure if I've shared how I attempted to set a grommet with a pounding hammer on my other glass work surface - thinking as I did it, "This is going to shatter into a million little pieces.." as I pounded away... and it did... so thankful the little shards of glass didn't end up in my eyes [you know I've had two instances of ulcer-like wounds on my eyes from metal bits being embedded that had to be 'shaved' off...- who even knows how that happened...] but liking the look of my first fabric scrapbook page -[This is the intro page for my Inspired album and incorporated all the things I learned - painting -- yes, look at those noses!-- beading, metal work, and mixed media art]
After Craig and I went to breakfast this morning we did a walk through goodwill and I picked up a picture for $10 and he took the glass out for me to use [my other glass mat was acquired there also] oh! [and I'm rambling here...] we got some comic books from the 1960s and 70s too... kind of fun since I was never allowed to have comic books as a kid...
- have a great weekend everyone

I know many of you are unaffected - but I have to admit I'm a bit sad to hear of Michael Jackson's death - I've been a fan of his music since I was 11 years old...I can probably still sing "Ben" and " I'll be There" and maybe a few others word-for-word with him, still, today... [A-B-C? Rockin'Robin?...]
And some of his later songs and his 'come-back' - THRILLER
- were pure genius.

I had the opportunity to see The Jackson Five live here in Huntsville in the early 70s with Lional Richie and The Commodores opening for them - wow! what a show! My dad was so sweet to actually attend this concert of screaming girls with us- and I'm not sure my cousin and I even noticed that we were
two of only a hundred or so white people there...
and then years later my brother [who is quite a bit younger than me] loved the come-back Michael Jackson with the red jacket and white glove...
He truly had a stellar career, but the saddest thing about Michael [to me, and many others, I suspect] is how his life turned out - the demons he fought for so long and the awful choices he made in life... - it's just been very sad these last few years to see the decline and know that he never quite got his life pulled together...
For now, let's focus on his musical genius and
I know I'll be one of the thousands downloading my favorites to
listen to these next few days...
what are your feelings?

Catching Fireflies - 4

My take [journaling in the little folder]:
I’ve struggled with anxiety for many, many years of my life. Some times it’s like a knife stabbing me in my gut and other times I have the freedom of knowing my Lord is in control. I guess we all struggle with a sense of control over our lives and surroundings… it’s during those times of anxiety that I know I underestimate my Lord. Because I know [I have seen it time and time again] that He will always provide the peace I need whatever the situation. He is faithful.

Catching Fireflies - 4

Week 4
Candlelight

Patsy Clairmont: “A Chinese saying suggests, ‘It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.’ That truth is worth pausing over and caught my attention because I’m given to highlighting the negative before I discover the positive. I’m not sure why that is…At the Relay For Life for cancer survivors, they place luminaries along the high school track in memory of those who have died fighting cancer. .. Instead of being depressed over their losses, they are celebrating their loved ones’ lives. Instead of forgetting the problem, those left behind are helping to find a cure for others… [I love the word instead; it reminds us that we have a choice.] … For many years when I heard of other people’s bad news, I moaned, ‘I could never bear that.’ Since those years I’ve gone through some crushing blows, much more than I thought I could bear, only to find that in my weakness I discovered new levels of Christ’s strength. The candelabra-truth that our God rises up mighty in our weakness blazes throughout scripture, as God’s people repeatedly fell on their faces in fear and rose up in courage…

There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle. – Robert Alden

Make a list of times when you have knelt down weak and risen up strong. Rehearse them until you have them securely fixed in your heart to reference the next time you find it hard to be courageous or the next time you get to share your flame to light someone else’s candle.”

Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from the book]::
• Are you emotionally war-weary? What brought you to this place?
• What would cause you to glow with hope?
• How could you be a blazing candle for ‘your people’?
• Do you underestimate God? How?

Cookie of the Month: Peanut Butter

Happy Father's Day Sweetie!

Made your favorite cookies today - and we laughed again about a former neighbor making these cookies and borrowing sugar to mix them up - she came back later to borrow more sugar saying the cookies just didn't taste right and she was going to make another batch - the third time she came over to borrow yet another cup of sugar she brought a cookie with her saying
something's just not right,
"Will you taste it and tell me what you think?'
- I did, and asked,
"What kind of cookies are you making?"
"Peanut Butter," she replies... and I go...
"There's no peanut butter in these cookies..."

- We laughed together since she'd made two batches of peanut butter cookies with

NO PEANUT BUTTER!
Here's the simple little recipe that's been in my family for as long as I can remember
PEANUT BUTTER CRISSCROSS COOKIES

Melt together: 1 cup shortening and 1 cup peanut butter
Add: 1 cup sugar and 1 cup brown sugar
Stir in: 2 eggs and 3 cups of self-rising flour
Roll into one inch balls and flatten [criss-cross]with a fork dipped in water.
Bake 8 minutes in 375* oven
Enjoy!

Encyclopedia of Your Ordinary Life - N

A few years ago I had the opportunity to complete this extraordinary scrapbook album designed by CathyZ and based on the book, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Rosenthal. While I still haven't read the book, I love the concept of this album - a random sampling of those ordinary facts about your life [my life.] The homework involves keeping a list, A to Z, of random memories for several weeks and then gathering photos [or not] to support these memories. Love it. The album is really very simple [a la Cathy Z] and easy to put together with only two square photos per page and two to four 'definitions.' Have I said I love this album? And I want to share some of my life with you so I've committed to do just that in 2009 [keep in mind this was completed during the summer of 2007.] I'm going backwards and today I present:N

NICK NAMES
I’ve had many nick names throughout my life – Pumpkin, Toe-head, Jude, and Pokey – all terms of endearment [I hope anyway!] The unusual thing about one certain nickname is that 3 people I’ve been closest to have all called me the same thing – without ever hearing the others call me this. Jud – my longest lasting nick name. [Thanks Joe, Laurie, and Craig!]

NEST
I have the tendency to nest anywhere I might be for several days – a hotel room with photos of my family on the nightstand, - a hospital room with my own quilts and pillows, - or my office that is filled with many, many things that remind me of home. And at home, I want every one to feel welcomed and at ease in my own little nest.

NARCISSUS
This is one of my favorite flowers. Seeing them open up their blooms into bright beautiful orange and yellow [and even white] trumpets of flowers is one of the best ways to welcome Spring. Love having them in my front yard to welcome me home each day after the dreariness of Winter.

Garden Update

Made my quick and easy [Desperation Dinner's version] Jambalaya for dinner tonight and
added fresh green beans and banana peppers from the garden...yum!
Things just keep growing along and I'm afraid I'll soon be at the
'I can't keep up with picking it' stage -
As promised - here's some photos of the really pretty tomato arbor Craig and the boys built.
Since the garden [and tomatoes] are planned as permanent fixtures in the new location I thought it would be a great idea to do one big - really nice- tomato box instead of having to do a new one each year.
This is wonderful! And I think it'll look pretty even in the winter when the garden's resting.
Lots of flowers growing too -I'll add photos of the zinnias, butterfly bush, lantana, and sunflowers next week.
Until then, I'm interested in finding some really yummy eggplant recipes!Any ideas?

Catching Fireflies - 3

My take:

When the boys were younger my dad always, always bought them a flashlight for Christmas [‘Every little boy needs a light to guide his way.”] How wonderful it is that our God is always willing to guide us – to go before us and prepare our way. [Scripture] I do love that His Word is lamp unto our feet and gives us fresh wisdom that is needed in whatever circumstance we might be in at the time

Catching Fireflies - 3

Week 3
Flashlight

Patsy Clairmont: “If you live in my house, you will receive a flashlight for Christmas. It’s a rule – unwritten – but you can count on it. Every year whether you need one or not, a flashlight will be either in your stocking. In a gift box, or a part of the decoration on top of a package. If it isn’t presented to you by one of those methods, when you return to your bedroom, it will be blinking on your pillow bedecked with ribbons...for me it has taken flashes of light from God’s Word to replace the old, dark messages and behavior…I still struggle with bouts of shame when I don’t live up to the impossible standards I’ve placed on myself. But I’m grateful that I continue to make progress, as I give myself permission to make mistakes and even at times to disappoint others when I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Deuteronomy 32:4, 10 -14
“God’s Works are perfect and He is fair in all of his dealings. He finds us – even in our wasting places. Scripture goes on to say that Father God encircles us, cares for us, and guards us. What a protective picture. Allow that kind of care to saturate your thoughts. Pause and meditate on it.”

Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from the book]:
• What about God is hard for you to believe?
• What flashes of light from God’s Word address your struggles?
• Who is your circle of accountability?

A bit of my crazy life --

Have picked a couple of crops from the garden already - Can we just say - YUMmy?! And my boys have been building a wonderful tomato arbor to support the vines [photo soon!]Been walking every night on the treadmill - and it's pathetic how I've let myself get out of shape! Still - I have a goal and little steps to work toward it - we're doing the 5K [I know those who are in shape are thinking - wheEeE] as a family at The Gulf this year. But I've never done one so I'm looking forward to saying I did!

Made the final decision to register for CKU-Provo and I'm so very excited to be a part of this event, but I think I'm more excited to have some time to mingle and enjoy Utah once again with my sweetie. Do you think we should try the hike to the Y? And does anyone remember how far that is, exactly?

Both boys were in a wedding last week - very special and simply elegant event. Makes me realize once again how fast they are all growing!

Found out at the last minute I was one of 12 invited to the Governor's office to see him sign the proclamation for Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Very nice of him to take the time to be in the moment with us and talk about the needs of older adults. He even shared a quick story where the joke was on himself - that'll go in the ol' scrapbook...

Catching Fireflies - 2

My take:

I suggest taking a photo of ourselves enjoying the morning light our God has created… I love the scene[s] in “City of Angels" where all the angels gather to face the sun [and worship The Son] every morning. I’m so thankful that my God holds the keys to my freedom – to my life – and promises to never leave me or forsake me no matter how many times I ask the same things over and over again. He shows me new mercies each and every day – but I see it most often in His patience with me as I, a mere mortal, struggle to understand His ways…

Catching Fireflies - 2

Week 2
Morning Light

Patsy Clairmont: “Have you ever noticed how invigorating dawn light skipping across wooden floors is?...Morning births opportunities. I like that. Because some days become sullied, and I find it encouraging to know that within hours, a new day will unfold with a potential fresh start…God’s mercies [compassion] are new every morning. I think we don’t begin to ‘catch’ His mercies because it’s so easy, at least for me, to be focused on what’s not working. This is a broken planet; we don’t have to look far for troubles…may God remind us of His mercy toward us, which is bestowed anew every day, just as sure as the sun rises and shines its light on us.

‘The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.’ Proverbs 4:18
Tomorrow is a new day, fresh with God’s mercies. May we purpose to catch a basketful of compassion and extend it to others.”

Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from the book]::
• When was the last time your morning went askew?
• Who are the intercessors in your life?
• Who holds the keys to your freedom? List some new mercies in your life.

Encyclopedia of Your Ordinary Life - O

A few years ago I had the opportunity to complete this extraordinary scrapbook album designed by CathyZ and based on the book, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Rosenthal. While I still haven't read the book, I love the concept of this album - a random sampling of those ordinary facts about your life [my life.] The homework involves keeping a list, A to Z, of random memories for several weeks and then gathering photos [or not] to support these memories. Love it. The album is really very simple [a la Cathy Z] and easy to put together with only two square photos per page and two to four 'definitions.' Have I said I love this album? And I want to share some of my life with you so I've committed to do just that in 2009 [keep in mind this was completed during the summer of 2007.] I'm going backwards and today I present: O

ORGANIZER

People have made fun of me in the past for keeping my color-coordinated calendar. But I’ve done this long before palm pilots were around. Pink is for me, yellow is work, blue is family and Craig, green is for Matt, and orange for Drew. I can tell at a glance who has an activity scheduled for each day. It may be a little [?!] OCD, but it’s helped me keep my sanity in this crazy, chaotic [and wonderful] life I live.

OCEAN BREEZES

There’s just not many things better than sitting under a beach umbrella in the late afternoon sun [think ‘golden hour’] with a good book, on the sandy white shores of The Gulf, [or on the deck of a ship] and a soft wind blowing warmly from the water. We were blessed to live near The Gulf for a few years and love to visit as often as possible.

OMELET

A tasty meal of eggs filled with meat, cheese, and, on occasion, veggies. I learned to make an omelet from watching Julia Childs on television when I was in elementary school. I was lucky to have parents who didn’t mind my experimenting in the kitchen as long I cleaned up my messes. Gotta say – ‘ole Julia knew how to make a delicious looking omelet and mine turn out pretty good too. I’ve enjoyed teaching the boys how to make their own delicious egg – meat- and – cheese treat too!

Catching Fireflies - 1

My take:

I LOVE fireflies! Love them. Really, every March I wait expectantly for the first little blink of light in the trees around our house – and by midsummer our yard is practically aglow with them! Love them. They’re just a little joy in life. A little bit of light in the darkness that reminds me of simpler times when any dream I had might come true. I was saved when I was 7 yeas old and as my relationship with the Lord grew I turned to Him to guide my dreams – to learn the choices He wanted me to make as I travel through this world. And I’ve found that in those times when I might be a little confused [or obstinate -?] about what He wants me to do if I’ll just be still and listen…believe that He has great plans for me, discern where He’s leading and accept this – even when I don’t understand – then things will always work out best.

The winner ----------

Thanks for all the comments, y'all!! Remember to check back toward the end of June for the next Once a Month [old stuff] give away!

DH chose a number this morning and the winner is :

Colleen said...

Hi, found your post on fiskateers and had to check out your blog. What a neat blog, I love how you are combining life, faith, and scraping.

May 31, 2009 5:48 PM

Colleen - please send your mailing address to me: Judy@faithbasedpages.com and I'll get your little box 'o goodies out to you -

Catching Fireflies - 1

Week 1
Catching Fireflies

Patsy Clairmont: “I can still feel the same tummy-giggle at the sight of lightening bugs that dotted the landscape with magic. Those pinpoint flashes sent us kids dashing down the hill to capture them in our glass jars. Then we would line up the jars on the picnic table, creating a row of luminous lanterns. Oh, how they glowed!” Patsy goes on to talk about going to sleep with the fireflies next to her bed and having ‘firefly’ dreams…then she talks about how God uses dreams to speak to us - like the one given to a lady who had never even heard of Patsy Clairmont – to tell her that “God has Not forgotten Her.” Patsy goes on, “My friend, God has not forgotten you. He knows your sorrow, your troubles, your finances, your fears, and your dreams – and He has not forgotten you. He promises to redeem our hardships for good. Sometimes we think that if God doesn’t fix or change our struggles, then He must have forgotten us. Nothing could be further from the truth. … A life of faith involves seeing past what’s happening today and believing in God’s redemptive care in our tomorrows.

‘I Know that You can do all things, and that
no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.’ – Job 42:2
Five Luminous Lanterns to help us during our night to know that God hasn’t forgotten us:
1. Be Still 2. Listen 3. Believe 4. Discern 5. Accept
Be attentive when it’s the darkest, for that’s when lightening bugs do their best work…and nothing fans faith’s imagination like the dance of a firefly!

Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from the book]:
• Did your childhood sparkle with fireflies?
• What important dreams have you had?
• What do you tend to do when you don’t know what to do?
• When have the heavens seemed silent to you?