30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 9 & 10 - Temporary Home & Vanilla Spice Candles

The last few days have been a new variety of crazy-busy as I am beginning to catch up on missed work while still determining which of our clothes and kitchen  and personal items will be able to comfortably fit in our new little temporary digs - without cluttering things up.

Physically, I am finally starting to rest a little better and while I do feel like I'm in a battle with a mild ear and/or sinus infection, I am determined to win this little skirmish with my health in tact.

Here is my catch up for days 9 and 10:

Day 9 -  Temporary Home 

I am thankful for this cozy little travel trailer we are now calling "home" during this transitional phase. I was talking to my dear friend, Wendy, yesterday about my new little casa, and she commented on how flexible she thinks I am for embracing this unexpected change rather than resenting it."What are you gonna do," I replied. I come from a long line of strong people who became very accomplished at making the best of whatever life handed them, learning to laugh about it, loving each other through it and thanking the good Lord for every bit of it. I am just carrying on a family tradition.

As I sit here at the little dining table that doubles as my work space, I look around at this miniature version of home, and I am reminded of Alan Jackson's song, "Little Bitty," especially the chorus:

"It's all right to be little bitty

Little hometown or a big old city

Might as well share, might as well smile

Life goes on for a little bitty while."

I may have no idea of what the Lord has in store for us next, but for now, we are together, happy and blessed. Our not-so-little-bitty 60-pound canine companion is enjoying her not-so-little-bitty cushy pillow - on which she is currently passed out and snoring. There is a lot to be said for simplified living. Life is good.

Day 10: Vanilla Spice Candles

I'm a sucker for holiday-scented candles, and this year I discovered a new-to-me fragrance that is helping to make our little home on wheels smell a little more warm and inviting. It's Vanilla Spice - a wonderful blend of the warmth of vanilla and the pick-me-up undertones of cinnamon and other spices. It really doesn't take much to make me happy, and this candle is doing a fine job of it. What's YOUR favorite holiday fragrance?

 

It Could Happen to Anyone

Today I'm taking a break from my usual subject matter to share with you an article published this week in the Town Messenger in Hutto, Texas.

Penned by Yours Truly, it is a true account of a recent experience I had involving my car, a camera, and a $75 ticket.

Enjoy. But not too much. :)

It Could Happen to Anyone - 

The Good News & Bad News of Getting Busted on Camera

by: Rachael Wilkins

It finally happened. I had heard of it happening to other people, but like so many other things we hear about, you don’t really believe it until it happens to you. And it happened to me. I always thought that if it did happen to me, it would happen in some big metro area, not in a little community like Hutto, TX. But here is where it did happen.
 

They say Hutto is a small town with big ideas, and that is precisely what popped into my head and out of my mouth when it happened.
 

“Hey! What’s the big idea?”
 

There I was, minding my own business, sorting through the mail - bill, bill, advertisement - when there it was. A letter from the City of Hutto addressed to yours truly.  “Hmmm, I wonder what they want?”
 

I slid my trusty letter opener along the top of the innocent-looking envelope, creating a nice, clean opening through which I pulled out the contents. I opened the “letter,” and there they were, staring me in the face – two full-color snapshots of my rear end. Okay, so it was my car’s rear-end, but now that I have your attention, let’s continue.
 

Now before you start thinking that I was flying down Highway 79 like a bat out of you-know-where, allow me to explain that when I committed the offense that got me busted on camera, I was making a right turn on a red light at Exchange Blvd, an act that, so far as I know, is perfectly legal. Apparently, however, I did not come to a complete stop before doing so. That, come to find out, is not so legal. 

For those of you who have found yourself in this same situation, I know you feel my pain. Thank you. For those of you who have not yet experienced that surreal moment when you see a full-color photo of your vehicle committing a no-no, accompanied by all the sordid details, don’t laugh. It could happen to you, too. And if it does, I have good news and bad news for you. Bad news first.

The bad news is that fighting a photo ticket is next to pointless for obvious reasons, and your little moment of carelessness (aka committing a ticketable offense) will cost you $75.00. 

The good news is that photo tickets do not count as moving violations, so they should not appear on your driving record or affect your insurance rates (or so says my attorney). 

The other “good” news is that if you do find yourself the recipient of a traffic ticket in Hutto (the photo variety or the old-fashioned kind), you can easily pay your fine online at the city’s website, HuttoTX.gov, from the comfort of your own home. I love technology.

But seriously, this little adventure has served me well as a reminder to pay closer attention when I am driving. It’s easy to get distracted and coast through a stop sign or fail to come to a complete stop when appropriate. I’m grateful for the fine job our Hutto Police Department does in keeping ours a safe community. But in the future, I will be more careful and keep that $75.00 in my pocket – at least until the next big shoe sale.

The Inner Sanctum

Music from the Heart: Sarabande by George Frideric Handel

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. For six days He engaged in the most unfathomable expression of creative power that ever existed. From galaxies to grasshoppers, He designed the universe in intricate detail. Then, on the seventh day, He rested.

Well, I'm not one to mess with a good thing, so in the spirit of following His example (not to mention His instruction) of a day of rest, I typically indulge in a Sunday afternoon nap. It's been said that Sunday afternoon naps are the best sleep you get all week. I can't argue with that.

And so it was that today after lunch I made my way to the bedroom to engage in a little Sunday slumber. There is something about walking into my bedroom that makes the rest of the world seem to slip into the background. It's like stepping through that threshold causes both body and spirit to let out a deep sigh of relief.

It's summertime, and in our part of the country, that means air-conditioners and fans. In our home, that means some combination thereof produces just the right mix of cool, conditioned air blowing across the bed. Following my usual routine, I laid down, picked up a book from the nightstand and began to read. After only a few pages, the steady hum of the box fan blended with the rhythmic spinning of the ceiling fan to produce a lullaby I could not resist.

The book slips out of my hands onto the bed, and I am out.

Why am I telling you this? Here's why. To me, my bedroom is like a sanctuary, an inner sanctum where I can escape from distractions and worries and chores and to-do-lists. It is to me a place of rest and peace that is to be guarded and protected. There is no television and no phone, and when I lay down for my special Sunday afternoon rest, I typically leave the cell phone in the other room. I don't want this time to be disturbed.

I don't invite just anyone into my bedroom. When you come to my house, you will be greeted and welcomed into the "family" areas of the home, and you might be shown the bedroom as part of the "grand tour" if you have never been here before. But if you are invited into my bedroom to linger and talk, then you are on a short list of close and personal friends with whom I am comfortable sharing this sacred place.

The dictionary defines a sanctum like this: a sacred or holy place, an inviolably private place or retreat.

Just like my bedroom is a private and personal place in my home, there is also an inner sanctum within my heart - a place where only I and One other are allowed to go - a place that is to be guarded and protected. It is a secret place where He and I meet, and where He expresses His heart to me and I bare my heart and my soul to Him.

What's in your inner sanctum? Is it a place of rest and peace? Is it free from distractions and clutter? How often do you go there? Do you go alone or do you frequently invite Him to meet you there?

I encourage you to spend as much time there as possible. Time spent in the inner sanctum, the holy place with Him, is time well spent, and it is vital to the furtherance of His kingdom, both in you and through you.

"I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5

10 Things I Remember About Summer as a Kid

Music from the Heart: What A Wonderful World by Kenny G & Louis Armstrong

As the lazy hazy days of summer are making their rounds once again, I admittedly find myself at work some days wishing I was anywhere else. After pondering this a little more deeply, I have decided that my daydreaming has less to do with my job (I love where I work and what I do) and more to do with a nostalgic longing for a simpler time.

With that in mind, here is another edition of my "10 Things" lists:

Ten Things I Remember About Summer as a Kid

1. The thrill of having unstructured time to do whatever we wanted.

2. Riding my bike to the library and spending half the afternoon there, reading, dreaming, and enjoying the smell.

3. Swimming lessons, culminated at the end of the second year by jumping off the high-dive in order to pass the class.

4. Spending time at my grandmother's house, without Mom and Dad, and how special & grown-up that made me feel.

5. The unforgettable sound of night critters like crickets & katydids, which seemed to be everywhere.

6. Kool-aid and bologna sandwiches.

7. Slip n' Slide and whatever other ways we could get wet with the garden hose.

8. Drinking from the garden hose without even a thought about getting sick - but letting the water cool off first, of course.

9. Playing outside from morning until dark and coming in at night wearing the smell of summer.

10. The absolute freedom of not having a care in the world.

The Smell of Freedom

It's been more than a month since I posted. In some ways the days have sped past me like I was sitting still, and in others, it is as though it has been much longer.

We lost David's sister, Judy, on February 11. She suffered a fatal blood clot in her lung following surgery on a broken ankle. The time spent in Austin with the family was bittersweet, but the presence of the Comforter was quite strong at the funeral services.

Two hours after singing at the funeral, I lost my voice, which had a significant impact on my plans to lead worship at the Thrive women's retreat that weekend - in fact, it made it impossible. But God had other plans, which He typically does when ours turn south, and it was a sweet time with my sisters, including a very timely and personal encounter with Him. God is so good.

Over the next several weeks, as my voice has slowly recovered, I have come to appreciate the silence and the things that the Lord is speaking to me in that silence. For weeks I was rendered quiet and was forced to slow down and listen. What I heard was the strong, gentle voice of the One who knows me more intimately than I even know myself. He has at the same time quieted things in me that needed to be stilled and begun to stir up in me those things that have laid dormant for far too long.

Revelation regarding my own value and worth is slowly taking shape in a way I never expected. From understanding more about myself and my destiny to recognizing the specific strategies of the enemy to target me personally, I am coming to a place of a deeper awareness that will lead me into a freedom I have never known.

The smell of deliverance is lingering in the air. Freedom hovers nearby, whispering my name and beckoning me with the challenge, "How desperate are you? How badly do you want to be free?"

To Obey or Not to Obey

This week has been for me a lesson in obedience. Not the kind that deters punishment. No, this is the obedience that results in a greater blessing and a deeper closeness with the One who loves me most. It is the kind of obedience that, when we do not walk in it, strips us of the blessing intended for us by a loving and merciful Father.

It's three o'clock in the morning, and I have been awakened by the Lord to spend time with Him. After our conversation, I have decided to share with you some of what we are discussing, because I believe that what I am discovering is important enough to share.

I had a health issue arise last weekend that by Tuesday had me desperate for some kind of relief. Oddly enough, someone at church last Sunday, while praying for me, felt led to pray for my health. As I was praying about what to do about the sinus pain and pressure I was having, which was not responding to any medication, the Lord led me to the internet, where I not only discovered some natural remedies (which turned out to work beautifully), but where I also came across information regarding what I now believe to be the root cause. More on that later.

As I walked into the health food store to purchase some of the things I needed, I heard the voice of the Lord ask me, how badly do you want this? He was asking me how committed I was to really feeling better. There are some significant lifestyle changes on the horizon if I am to truly be free from these symptoms that have plagued me for months, and in some cases years, things that I thought were completely unrelated, but I now believe are all connected to this root condition (again, more on that later).

When I immediately felt better when using the home remedies I discovered, I also began to reason with myself why I should allow myself "cheat days", allotted times for me to deviate from the truth I had uncovered, that certain things I was doing and consuming were causing my trouble. Herein lies the problem - the spirit is willing, but yes, the flesh is weak. This is why the Lord was asking me how badly I wanted to feel better.

So here I am at three in the morning, reading over Isaiah 30. Verse 15 tells of His promise of salvation and strength if we repent, rest in Him, are quiet before Him, and trust Him. Verses 16 and 17 speak to our "having none of it" and pursuing our own ideas and agendas. Then in verse 18, we see the longing of the Lord to be gracious to us. It says "He rises to show you compassion." That means He takes an active role in positioning Himself to show us compassion, not passively waiting for us to pass in front of Him as He waves some heavenly "compassion wand" over us.

There is so much more I am gleaning from this chapter that I cannot share it all here and now, but I will later. For now, these verses remind me that His wisdom far exceeds mine, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that when I am serious about pursuing His methods of taking better care of myself, I will reap the blessings He has in store for me in all their fullness. They also humble me as I again see Him faithfully and actively pursuing a deeper relationship with me as I ask the age-old question, "Who am I?"

And it all starts with repentance and rest, quietness and trust. The repentance and trust aren't difficult. It's the rest and quietness that I struggle with the most. I must be still and know that He is God.

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength."
Isaiah 30:15

My Little Corner

The following is n excerpt from my journal, dated Sunday, January 4, 2009. I am being consistently reminded these days of the need to simplify my life and my surroundings. Here is a little peek into my world ...

Yesterday I spent most of the day cleaning the bedroom. It isn't quite complete, but very close, and my new favorite spot is a corner I've set up as my personal quiet space.

I've had my eye on this spot for quite some time, and I'm thrilled that it's finally ready. It's in the southwest corner of the room, next to a west-facing window. There is a glider chair, and to my left as I sit here is a bookshelf built by my maternal grandfather. Housed on this shelf, along with pictures and a few other treasured items from our wedding, are a couple of Bibles, some devotional books, my personal Bible, this journal, a lamp, a CD player, and some worship cd's. A of Kleenex sits on my dressing table just to my right.

I expect many sweet hours here, countless encounters with my God, my Friend. I am filled with anticipation as I imagine close and intimate moments here with the Lover of my soul.

Yesterday as I dusted the shelves and their contents, I found myself praying a prayer of dedication of this special place to the Lord. I told Him that we will have many wonderful conversations here. This will be a place of revelation, of refreshing, of peace and communion.

How divinely precious is my little corner of the world.

Quick Updates & Quiet Moments

Much has happened since my last post. Here's the rundown ...

Tyler is doing better and was able to spend Christmas at home. He has since had the cast replaced with a walking cast, which enables him to get around the house a little more easily. He will still use the wheelchair when he leaves the house. He is having IV medication administered every six hours (for about a month) through a PICC line in his right arm, which feeds about a foot and a half of tubing directly to his heart for better reception of the meds. This happens at home, and a home health nurse will go to school and administer the meds when he returns to school next week.

Other than that, we had a great Christmas with both sides of the family. It was all about the time spent with those we love, and our only regret is that we were unable to spend another week, and we would have loved to have had the opportunity to hook up with more friends while we were in town. God is good, and we were blessed to visit with a few friends, though.

Since we got back, we have hit the ground running, both at work and with the River. We are excited to see where the Lord will lead us this year, a year of renewed hope and fulfilled promises and realized dreams. We have both received some pretty strong and encouraging words for this year and are looking forward to see what the coming months will unfold before us.

On a sadder note, David's great uncle, Gene Johnson, passed away yesterday morning in Austin. We will not be able to return for the funeral, but Uncle Gene was special to David, as he was closer to him than he was his own father, which is a story for another time and place. Prayers for comfort for the family are sincerely appreciated.

In honor of our concentrated efforts this month to unclutter our lives as much as possible and to simplify our surroundings as we return to our First Love, I am temporarily removing the Music from the Heart in the interest of promoting a quiet, peaceful environment. An old song once reminded us, "Silence is golden ..." and what I am reconnecting with in these first days of 2009 is the beautiful peace and rest of simple silence. Now, for someone who has been accused of being a music junkie, the introduction of musicless moments into my day is HUGE, but I have already come to be reminded, in these precious moments of quiet solitude, how much more readily I can hear the voice of the Lover of my soul with no distractions and interruptions, even those that may seem "worthy."

So, again, enjoy this simple quiet moment, savoring it for all it's worth, and simply listen. Listen for that still, small voice gently calling you to a place of peace and rest and closeness in the coming year.

Grace & Peace,
Rachael

Christmas Blessings

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Josh Groban - I'll Be Home For Christmas

It's Christmas Eve, and I'm at my brother's house, awaiting the arrival of my nephew, Tyler, who has just been released from the hospital. He was admitted last week with a staph infection. The details aren't important at the moment, but it all stems from a foot injury he incurred this past summer. We were initially told he would not be home for Christmas, but today we were surprised to learn that he will be.

We'll be starting soon, so I'll keep this post short. I'll write more soon about our Christmas. In the meantime, I'm wishing a Merry Christmas to one and all, and a very blessed time with those you hold dear. May the Lord abundantly bless you and yours, and may He wrap his love and protection around those who are spending Christmas in the hospital with loved ones who are ill or injured, those who are working away from home, and those who are serving our country in foreign lands defending our freedom.

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Rachael

Blessings in Disguise

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Kenny G - White Christmas

It's early December, and to celebrate the colder temperatures we are now experiencing, I played around a little with the camera this morning, donning woolly hat, gloves and scarf, all in an attempt to dress for the season.This evening I uploaded the pictures and played around a little more with various colors, soft edges and a host of other wonders of modern photo-editing software, and have selected a few "self-images" to share with you, dear friends and family. You can find the link, entitled "Just Messin' Around" in the photo gallery section on the left of the page.

The flip side of why I had so much time today to play around with this stuff is that I seriously sprained my ankle and foot Monday and am operating with limited mobility for at least a week. Ugh.

Ace bandages & crutches aren't exactly my idea of a festive holiday season, but I have chosen to accept this temporary slow-down as a blessing in disguise, as it has necessitated a slow-down of my busy-ness for a little while. This slow-down,while not on my calendar, is a welcome reprieve from the craziness that I tend to surround myself with if I'm not careful. Truth be told, I have actually enjoyed the opportunity to delve a little into a creative project, something I don't make enough time for these days.

So, no deep profound thoughts this evening. Only a gentle reminder to take a few moments each day to savor the season, especially the moments that kinda sneak up on you unexpectedly, and look for the little blessings nestled inside those unplanned interruptions.

Happy December!

Rachael

Stay Close to Me

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Selah - O, Draw Me Lord

It's late in the evening, and I've been sitting at the computer for a while now, catching up on some work that I brought home from the office. As usual when I am sitting here, Sheba is stretched out next to my chair.

Even though she's a dog, this canine friend teaches me little life lessons whenever I'll take the time to listen. Tonight's lesson is about closeness.

Sheba is all about attention and affection, and she is never happier than when she is either touching or being touched by David or myself. She will approach me when I'm working and nudge my arm to let me know she needs some attention, then once she has been sufficiently petted, she lies down contentedly at my feet.

When she wants to go outside, she doesn't bark or fuss. She simply comes up to where I'm sitting and stands in front of me looking straight into my eyes with a look of expectancy, wagging her tail the entire time. She knows that I know what she wants.

One of my favorite things she does is to walk up to me and lean into me, bowing her head slightly, just getting in as close as she can. She knows I can't resist loving on her when she does this.

So here I am, being reminded again, that my Father desires the same from me - for me to want to be near Him and to press in as close to Him as I can. He knows me well, and all I have to do is gaze into His face with expectancy, knowing that He knows my heart's desire and delights in giving good gifts to His children.

Why, then, do I tend to make things so much more complicated than that? It seems that no matter what is going on in my life, when I find myself at the end of myself crumbling at His feet in desperation, asking for some kind of solution to whatever quandry I have found myself in, the answer is almost always the same. "Stay close to Me."

I know this. I really know this. But I don't always do it. I want to be of such a simple, childlike faith that His lap is the first place I run to out of a deep desire to be close to Him, not the last place I end up when I've exhausted all other possibilities.

Sheba's fast asleep, actually snoring now. When I finish here and toddle off to bed, she'll get up and follow me, making sure not to let me get too far away from her. When I move, she moves, but that's a lesson for another time.

Precious Father, my prayer tonight is simple.
Teach me to stay close to You at all times,
in all things, and in every way.
I need Your constant touch.
Hold me, as I lean wholly on You.
Amen.

Autumn Rain

Today's Music from the Heart: Phil Keaggy - The Wind and the Wheat

Two of my favorite words (and favorite things) are "autumn" and "rain." Put the two together, and you're looking at one happy girl. There was a sweet autumn rain falling most of yesterday and into the after-dark hours, and I loved it. Granted, trying to juggle purse, umbrella, a spiced vanilla chai, and whatever else I might have in tow can prove to be quite the challenge, but from the inside looking out, an autumn rain stirs up the cozy-maker in me. I want to put on sweats and fluffy slippers, burn a pumpkin spice candle and bake something. Or perhaps curl up on the couch under a fluffy blanket, sipping the aforementioned spiced vanilla chai, and put on a movie (a good, sappy love story, of course, or perhaps a feel-good holiday flick).

However these cozy indoor hours are spent, I send out my heartfelt thanks to the autumn rain, for inspiring me to slow down a little, to break away from the routine, even if only for a few moments or a few hours, and enjoy a little precious downtime. As we enter into the holiday season full speed ahead, may we be inspired to invest in more of these stolen moments to pause, reflect, and simply enjoy the life we have been given.

Father in heaven, You are the Rainmaker.
Thank You for the autumn rain, and for
precious moments spent with You and
the people who share my life.
Help me not to take either for granted.
I love You. Amen.

Picture This

I've finally figured out how to create online photo albums using Picassa, and I have now posted my first two here for you to peruse. You'll find the links under the heading "Pics" on the left side of the page under the post archive. Take a peek and let me know what you think.

Enjoy ...

grace & peace,
rachael

Ten More Things I Love About Autumn

Since I love this season so much, I thought I'd indulge myself with an additional 10 Things list to celebrate the season. The photo at left is that of a little guy who stands proudly in front of our house. Thank you in advance for bearing with me on this little journey through my love for Autumn.

1. The crisp blue of an October sky
2. S'mores (duh - I can't believe I forgot this on my first list!)
3. The sound of rustling leaves
4. Wishing both parents Happy Birthday (Dad on October5 and Mom on October31)
5. Adopting my fall "look" (hair color, wardrobe, and of course, shoes and boots)
6. Making "cool weather" dinners like homemade soup or chili and cornbread
7. Perusing cookbooks and recipe magazines for new slow cooker recipes
8. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner and inviting over friends who don't have family close by
9. Pumpkin Spice latte at Sweet Bay
10. Sipping hot tea from a favorite mug before bed (made more enticing by a molasses cookie or piece of gingerbread!)

Thank You, Lord, for the ability to see, hear,
taste, smell, and feel the passing of each season.
Thank You for Your presence in so many of the
things and people we walk by everyday with
little or nothing more than a passing glance.
Open our eyes to see Your hand and our ears
to hear Your voice. Tune our hearts to Yours
as we take the time to stop, look, listen ...
and be thankful. Amen.

October Sunday

I have a confession to make. I played hooky from church today. And I had an accomplice.

First, an explanation. I'm entering into my busy season at work, which will involve long hours and a lot of travel, and my first trip is this week. In preparation for this trip I have already been keeping later than usual hours doing my admin thing, as well as recruiting and training an enrollment team that will be traveling with us. For you who may not know, I work as the Group Services Manager for an insurance broker, and one of the services we offer our larger group clients is benefits enrollment. This means that once a year we take a team out to each location of a given company and provide information and the opportunity for their employees to make changes to their insurance benefits.

Back to my confession. Knowing that we have barely seen other this past week, and also knowing that I will be even busier and traveling starting this week, David and I took today for a much needed time to reconnect and spend the day together. We went out to breakfast, then strolled around Home Depot for nearly an hour-and-a-half, doing a little shopping and little dreaming. We like to dream together about "one day when we build our dream house, this is what we want in it." David dreams big. It's one of the things I love about him. We dream big together, both in life and in ministry.

After Home Depot, we did some home projects we had been putting off. We hung decorative shelves in the living room, he mowed the back yard, and I re-potted some houseplants. The rest of the day was spent just relaxing, then finally eating dinner and watching television together.

Church relationships are a wonderful thing and when cultivated, they become a vital part of our Christian experience. Corporate worship is not something either of us take lightly either, as we both know well the importance and the power of unity that is the result of gathering together with fellow believers.

But today was more about cultivating our relationship. We recognize that no matter what we do for the Kingdom, our marriage is the most important investment of time and energy we can make. Our partnership in this thing called life is what fuels us for stepping out and pressing on to fulfill our destiny - his, mine and ours.

Years from now, we may not remember the events of today, but we will never lose the benefit of the time we spent together one Sunday in October.

Teach us, Dear Lord, to savor each moment,
to live it to its fullest potential.
Thank You for the moments that make up our years.
Thank You for the people who make up our lives.
Amen.

Home Sweet Home

Admittedly, it has been almost a month since my last posting, and since we have successfully complete our move into Fort Smith and I have internet access at home again, I hope and plan to be able to have more time to post more of what's going on in our little corner of the world.

One of the first things we have noticed since our relocation back to civilization is the savings in our gasoline budget. We are having to fill up both vehicles much less often and spending MUCH less on gas. That is a real blessing.

The house is starting to become a little more homey. We purchased a few pieces of new furniture, and I have been gradually getting little things here and there to make the place more our own. I did buy some sheer panels and iron-look rods for the living room. We were blessed to find furniture that we both love for the living room that suits our rustic country taste. I am having fun beginning to develop this room to feel warm and inviting. Now that I am spending so much less time driving to and from work everyday, I am finally getting a chance to flex my creative muscle again for the first time in a long time, and I'm loving it!

No deep philosophical musings tonight - just a simple "Hello, I'm back." Look for more details on the new abode soon. It's time for me to start winding things down for the night. My cowboy will be home soon from his men's meeting at the church.

Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

Rachael

Moving

Our move is progressing nicely. We are doing things a little differently this time. Since we were able to get the keys to the new place a few weeks before the official move-in date, we have been gradually moving things in almost daily. Since we currently live so far out, we have determined to make the most out of every commute into town, which means that we load up whatever we can carry in the car/truck, take it by the new house after work, unload and put it away, then bring the boxes and bins back to the old house to be repacked that evening.

We have gotten quite a bit moved over already, and we will be finishing up this weekend. It is admittedly tiring to have to commute to work, work a full day, unload a carful of stuff, commute back home, and sort and pack each evening, all the while making sure a husband and dog stay fed and well-tended to, but I know it will all be worth it soon.

I'm SO ready to be closer to work and church! The Lord has been faithful in blessing us with a great little place that has everything we needed and most of what we wanted. He is truly good, and may we all make the time to remember and acknowledge His goodness and faithfulness, no matter how busy our lives may be.

" Be still and know that I am God ..."

Psalm 46:10

Goodbye, Possum Hollow

We are moving! While I am not overly enthused about the the prospect of packing AGAIN and hauling all our earthly possessions to a new locale AGAIN, I am actually excited about this move because of the newness of it all.

A little background ... we live in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area. With a population of 80,000 people, Fort Smith is the second largest city in Arkansas, with the largest being the capitol city of Little Rock. We had the opportunity to move about a year and a half ago to a little house in the country on ten acres. That's right, ten acres of beautiful country landscape in the hills of the Arkansas River Valley. It's quiet, peaceful, and green. Trust me - it doesn't get much more country than Possum Hollow Road in Booneville, Arkansas. Being a country girl at heart, this sounded like a great idea to me, even though it would mean a daily commute of about 45 minutes. That was before gas prices skyrocketed.

For the past several months, we have been paying as much or more than our rent in fueling both vehicles, and I have come to realize that country living loses its appeal if you're not home enough to really enjoy it. So, we recently began the nerve-racking process of trying to find a place closer in to town, where we both work. I prefer not to relive this process, as it was so traumatic, so I'll spare you, my dear reader, the details. Suffice it to say that the process of looking for a new home is not one I care to repeat very often.

We had hoped to buy this year, with the market being favorable to buyers right now, but we have decided to rent a little longer, and continue to build our down payment fund with the money we will be saving on gasoline by moving back into town. We hope to be in a better position to purchase a home within the next year or so.

At any rate, we did find a place this past weekend, and we will be moving over Labor Day weekend. Our new residence is in a brand new subdivision, and the home has only been occupied by one other tenant, for about 3 months. There is a privacy fence around the backyard, so Sheba will still have a place to run around outside, although not being able to see through the fence may prove to be a test of her sanity - she likes to be able to see what she's barking at.

To our delight, we are on the last street in the very back of the subdivision, so it is nice and quiet, and there is - wait for it - wait for it - a cow pasture behind us. I guess I still get a little bit of country after all.

So for the next however-long-it-takes-us to finish getting our little duckies in a row to make a home purchase, we will be hanging out in a brand new place. God is good, and I am so thankful for His abundant provision.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Here Comes the Sun

I broke out my sunglasses again yesterday for the first time since our little snow adventure last week. What a beautiful day yesterday was! The electricity was finally turned back on, although there are still a few hundred people in the dark today. Thankfully, we are not among them.

The sun was warm and friendly yesterday, and I enjoyed every minute I spent in it. The snow has nearly completely melted away, and our dog, Sheba, spent most of the afternoon soaking up as much of the sun's warmth as she could.

One of the sweetest sounds I heard yesterday was the rhythmic whirring of the washing machine as I ran the first load since the power outtage. There are so many things we take for granted, and I noticed as I was getting ready for work this morning how many of the commercials on tv were aimed at making me feel like I need more stuff to make my life complete. Well, I have been gently reminded this week that my life is already complete.

There is nothing that I could purchase or experience that could ever take the place of the precious people in my life - friends and family who love me, laugh with me (and at me), cry with me, and make my life richer by the day. And it goes without saying that my most intimate relationship, that with the Lover of my soul, my Creator King, could never be compared to anything this world could ever present to me.

Are there things I'd like to have or experience this side of eternity? Of course. But all in all, if I never own or experience any of those things, I can honestly say even now that I am bountifully blessed.

I think I'll go outside now and experience a little sun-kiss. My cup runneth over.

-Rachael

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Okay, so maybe for someone who lives in the northernmost regions of this great nation of ours, this isn't cold, but for this Texas girl transplanted into the Arkansas River Valley, baby, it's cold outside!

Today is Saturday, and wow! How things change in a week! Last weekend, the temperature was in the mid-seventies. On Monday, the temperature had dropped twenty degrees, and we received 4.5 inches of rain. On Tuesday, the temperature had dropped even further, and we got 4 inches of snow. Wednesday, it all melted off.

On Thursday, it started snowing again, and by the time it finally stopped mid-morning on Friday, we had over 9 inches on the ground. Now it's in the upper twenties, and we have not had electricity since a little after midnight Thursday night. The electric company, whom I was finally able to reach at 2:30 AM this morning, assures me that we should have it restored sometime today, and as we were driving into town this morning, we did pass a convoy of power company trucks headed in the general direction of our neck of the woods. Hopefully, this little adventure of ours is about to come to a close.

As my routine, plans, and sleep habits have been tipped over during the last couple of days, I can't help but think of something my dear friend Wendy has said to me many times. On more than one occasion, I have turned to her listening ear when my applecart has been overturned. After patiently listening to me whine and moan about my current crisis, she almost always begins her response with these words, "God was not surprised by this." I find great comfort in being reminded that no matter what potholes I stumble into or what obstacles present themselves in my path, I serve a God who is never taken by surprise. His gentle and loving way of guiding us through the day-to-day situations that try us, test us, and perfect our faith in Him overwhelms me sometimes.

So, while the house was dark and cold yesterday morning, and as David worked to dig his truck out of the snow (an attempt which, by the way, was unsuccessful), I stepped out onto the front porch to snap a few pictures of our winter wonderland. Sometimes, when we face situations that are beyond our control, we have no

choice but to sit back and enjoy the view. So I did.

Note: We were able eventually to dig my car out and make it into work for the day.

As for now, my mission as a heat-seeking missile proved successful, and I have been at the office for a while now. My toes are thawing out, and my outlook is improving. No matter what comes my way, I am never out of His sight.

"She (Hagar) gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her:

'You are the God who sees me,' for she said,

'I have now seen the One who sees me.'

That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi

(the Living One who sees me)." Genesis 16:13-14

Blessings all over you and yours,

Rachael