Aren't you glad it's Thursday?

Around the house..there are lots and lots of boxes of Kleenex. After avoiding the cold germs the menfolk have been toting around the past few weeks, I have finally succumbed. And for some odd reason, the cold medicine I have reluctantly been taking seems to rev up my mind rather than put me to sleep. At least at night. =)

Outside...the temperature is gloriously cool in the mornings! Even as I sit here this evening, the windows are open and there's a slight cool breeze blowing through the house. The trees are being dabbed with fall colors, a little more each day. (and for the moment, the leaves are hanging on for dear life!)

I am thankful for...more than I can say. A God who heals. My brother's pathology report came back cancer free. A God who holds us close and is faithful. My father's health is declining rather rapidly at the moment. We are hoping for healing for him but he has an appointment at the cancer center here on Monday. At this point, we have no real idea what we are battling but daddy is very discouraged and pained.

Some highlights of the week...we had our second Bible study meeting Tuesday night. It was wonderful! We are doing Priscilla Shirer's Jonah this time around and it is powerful. I also received a sweet letter from my Compassion child, Natacha, this week. She is now 8 and she writes the sweetest letters. They are in French and I can read/understand parts of it which is kind of cool because I feel like she and I are actually talking rather than me reading what someone else says she said. (Does that make sense?)

All in all, it's been a good week. A little peculiar at times, but still good. (Except someone keeps implying that I am grumpy. I think they are confused.) How about you? How is your week going?

Pour out your heart...

I intended to write letters to two of my Compassion children tonight. As I sat down to do so, I realized that I really didn't know much about where my newest two were from, just the basic details provided by the Compassion packet. That's what makes search engines a wonderful thing. I've been checking out various sites, marveling at the pictures and the poverty levels and imagining the lives that my children are living. All was well, my heart was hopeful and I was thankful for the opportunities that we have to make a difference for them.

At least it was until I began looking up information on Burkina Faso.

Life in Burkina Faso is bleak.

It's one of the poorest nations in the world with little hope of changing it's situation. In the region where my child lives, one in three children die before the age of five.

One in three.

Oh, how my heart aches.

My beautiful Natacha is six. She's beat the first set of statistics. However, so many more issues/challenges loom before her. How I long to snatch her up and carry her to our home.

Instead, I pray for her, her grandmother who cares for her, and the Compassion workers who will guide, teach and minister to her for the next decade (God willing) of her life.

There are currently 52 children in Burkina Faso waiting to be sponsored through Compassion. If the Lord moves your heart, would you consider providing hope for one?

Get up, cry out in the night,
even as the night begins.
Pour out your heart like water
in prayer to the Lord.
Lift up your hands in prayer to him
for the life of your children
who are fainting with hunger
on every street corner.

Lamentations 2:19 NCV

busy weekend

The skies cleared long enough for us to have several of the traditional Derby events this weekend: the balloon glow, the great balloon race, the mini-marathon and the marathon.

photos courtesy of the cj.

rainbow connection

It seems that the rain has stopped. For a bit anyway. It was lovely to glance up and see a beautiful rainbow out just for me. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) Actually, I think this is the first rainbow I've seen since the two weeks of rain began. With all the horrific weather over the past 24 hours, I think I needed the reminder of His promise and provision.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

gonna have to build me a boat

This has to be some of our more unusual Derby weather ever. I think they said we got 4 to 7 inches of rain this weekend (on top of the 4 to 6 we'd already gotten) and are expecting another 4 or so this week. Next thing you know, we'll be having the Great Steamboat Race down Main street.

Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) April 21, 2011">

Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) April 24, 2011">

Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) April 24, 2011">

Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) April 24, 2011">

photos courtesy of the courier.

the city is still standing...

although with the amount of fireworks going on last night, one might have wondered. As always, the Derby Festival put on a beautiful show. Last night's event was entitled Thunder Power and the theme was heroes and superheroes. The entire extravaganza used 52 tons of fireworks shells, 250 tons of launching tubes, 2 million pounds of sand, and 700 miles of wiring. Thunder was actually held a week early to avoid conflicting with Easter weekend. No wonder I thought time was flying! However, I heard the festival chairman say last night that there were at least 67 more Derby events before the big day! I wonder if anyone ever attends them all>

The first Saturday in May approaches

It' hard to believe that it's that time again. Thunder time! Actually, it's the beginning of the Derby festival. Even though the weather's cold and a bit rainy and the Ohio River has flooded it's banks, taking some of the better viewing spots on the great lawn, still, the show must go on!

It's a bird, it's a plane...

I am sitting on my bed, minding my own business when out of the corner of my eye, I see something white fly up in the air.

A moment passes...then, up it goes again, accompanied this time by a ferocious growling sound.

Another moment, another trip in the air.

It appears that the beloved basset has found a bevy of socks, clean, paired up and ready to be put away.

Well, they were paired up.

Now it looks like there's been a sock explosion at the foot of the bed.

And the beloved basset is exhausted from his efforts to liberate his little sock nation. He's building his nest and preparing for bed.

As for me, I suspect that after I locate and rematch all the "freed" socks, I'll be moving them to a higher perch.

Do all basset hounds feel the need to "build a nest" before settling in for the night or is mine unique? (Perhaps spoiled is a better word.) At the moment he is less than thrilled because I am claiming my side of the bed. One can only imagine what kind of late night retribution he is planning.

I lift my hands

And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

It's Alright

This is my new favorite song.

I absolutely love the promise of it.

And after a few horrible days of watching Jonathan in constant, horrible pain, I need to hear the words. Over and over and over again.

It’s alright, everything will be okay
You just hold tight, I’ll be with you the whole way
When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
Keep going, we’re almost home
It’s alright, everything will be okay

Already?

I was minding my own business Sunday.

Truly I was.

Sitting in bed, recovering from a flu-like thing, reading the paper

Checking out the Target ad.

Arguing with the editorial page.

Working my way to the front page of the paper. (I read the paper backwards because Josh reads it first so I get in a slightly different order than originally delivered. No big deal. Who wouldn't rather read the Target ad than the editorial page?)

So, when I finally got to the front page, what did my eyes behold?

DERBY COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Really?

Already?

Not that I'm not ready for a bit of spring, but I'm not sure I want to wish half the year away. Oh well, hang on to your hats, folks. Evidently it's time to start talking horse.

the month in review

While I didn't post a lot, January was still a busy month at the heigh-ho house.

1. We celebrated the one year anniversary of this:

isn't she beautiful?

2. We adjusted to a school schedule again with the boy starting his second semester of college.

3. I took a "me week" of vacation. No real plans, no real desires. Just a few days to recover from the Christmas hustle and bustle.

4. finished fourteen books including this one which I am still pondering and planning to read again here.

5. counted 45 gifts (with plans to "count better" in February.)

6. Watched my husband paint our bedroom. =)

7. Enjoyed a visit from my brother and beautiful niece...and maybe saw the beginning of healing...

brother, niece and father checking out modern technology

8. Learned some scripture: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5

9. Got a confirmed diagnosis from the geneticist for the boy. Nothing that wasn't expected but still a little disconcerting. No one wants to hear the term "wheelchair" when thinking about their 18 year old. He is, however, somewhat intrigued by the idea of a service dog. (And he asked about the possibility of a "service monkey." I told him I didn't think a service monkey could pick him up when he falls. So naturally he suggested a service orangutan.)

10. Kept on task with my daily scripture reading and finished Genesis and Exodus in the Amazing Collection. Learned a few things as well!

All in all, January was a good month. How could it be anything but? After all, my heart (and life) is under the Lord's control. He turns it any direction He chooses.

Relax

re·lax - to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., esp. for the sake of rest or recreation.


I love days like today.

Days where I have nothing planned and nothing I have to do.

I have no appointments, no lists and no pressing tasks.

The house is reasonably clean (except for the never-ending muddy footprints left by 5 dogs and their endless journey in and out of the house) and the laundry is mostly done. The pantry is stocked and the fridge is full.

We are expecting a decent snowfall and I have nothing more pressing to do than watch it tumble down outside while I'm inside the warmth of my house.

I can spend the entire day reading and not feel guilty. (Which is a good thing because I'm finishing this and this and just got this in the mail yesterday!)

I can bake cookies, fix a big dinner, or take a hot bath and lounge around in bed all day.

The world is my oyster today.

And it feels good.

Remember

Now this is what the LORD says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel — "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Isaiah 43:1

Held

I have spent a great deal of time pondering the brevity of life lately. Between our next door neighbor dying suddenly in her sleep (she was about my age) to the horror that occurred in Arizona this weekend...there are no guarantees with life. And yet, we know that He knows the number of our days. And that everything happens within His Perfect Will. Nothing surprises Him or catches us unprepared.

A friend reminded me of this song yesterday and I think it provides a great deal of comfort.

something to ponder

"True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant my desires within you."
~~Jesus Calling, January 5th

benign

be·nign

–adjective

1. having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.

2. showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.

3. favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.

4. (of weather) salubrious; healthful; pleasant or beneficial.

5. Pathology . not malignant; self-limiting.


Praising God for good news!

Peace

From today's reading:

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. This Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.

Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace.

May you find peace in Him today.

For I know the plans I have for you" [this is] the LORD's declaration—"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Anticipating the New Year...