Location, Location, Location

We've all heard the quote, "Location, location, location". We are a diverse people, and we live in diverse locations. I live in a small town in an old neighborhood in a century-old house. It is a two-story house that has some nice but not fancy architecture. It fits our family well; we raised our 2 daughters here and it is a good place to gather together now that they have their own families. This is an older picture of our dining room and it looks about the same now.

 I'd love to vacation at an English cottage, complete with an English country garden.

Perhaps you live in a back country log cabin, with a picturesque view of a mountain stream...

...or maybe high above the cityscape in a loft apartment, close to the downtown coffee shops.

I'd love to roam the rooms of this stately Queen Anne Victorian...

...and I have a soft spot in my heart for the craftsman-style bungalow.

As I get older, I want to be home more and more. I love the comforts of home and I love being at home with my family. But I know that this is not my permanent home, and I look forward to the ultimate location, my forever home being prepared for me even now. Talk about location!

In My Father's house, there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back

and take you to be with Me that you may also be where I am.

You know the place where I am going."

John 14:2-4

picture credits: 1. mine 2.Chris Lofty 3.Flickr 4.BHG 5. A Crane 5. public domain

Come and Sit a Spell

When the days warm up, I like to sit out on our front porch and listen to the songs of the birds outside. It is a small, enclosed porch and it still has the original windows with screens on some of them so that I can slide them open and feel the breezes. As I relax, I often feel the presence of the Lord, and I can imagine what it would be like to have Him sitting nearby.

It is easier to forget about the tasks I need to do, such as laundry, dishes or cleaning, because I am removed from them as I sit on the porch, and it becomes a refuge. I am encouraged to rest in Christ, as if leaning against Him, and hearing His heart beat. It is a wonderful place to have my Quiet Time with Him, reading His word and pouring my heart out to Him.

The porch is also a pleasant place to sit with friends and share a cup of tea or glasses of lemonade and iced tea, and to get caught up on what is going on in our lives. It is a favorite place for our grandchildren as they bring out toys to play with and as they stand at the screen door to watch the happenings of our neighborhood. In warm weather, there are several pots of flowers and herbs growing on the porch; their scents fill the space and their textures call out to be touched.

Porches have a way of saying "Come and sit a spell," causing us to relax and reflect. I look forward to the warm days when the front door is open to the porch announcing the coming of Spring!

The eternal God is your refuge,

and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27

 (all photos from personal files, Country Living, BHG, or public domain)

Fiona and Twig Giveaway!

My blog friend Anne at Fiona and Twig is having a Paris Flea Market give away! Click on this button to see what she has in mind,  and check out her blog and Etsy shop.

Mosaic Monday - A New Spring Look

Maya came to play today and I was able to snap a few quick photos ~ it is like trying to capture the wind! 

Join Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Dreaming

This photo shows one of our flowerbeds at it's peak last year. I know I must be patient, but I needed to have a glimpse of things to come.

My Dedicated Man

(Lauren and grandson Eli)

My dear husband Lauren has had a very big anniversary this year - he has worked at the same place for 30 years! He has a degree in social work, and he has worked for a treatment program for youth all of these years, quite a feat considering that burn out is quite high in this field. He works with families that need help with their children, and he really enjoys what he does. His job has changed over the years with more paperwork to do and long hours, but he gets satisfaction from serving God in this way. He is a patient, steadfast and loyal man, not only at work but in his relationships with his family and friends. I am so blessed to have been married to him for 34 years, and he is my best friend.

His coworkers surprised him last week with a gift to honor his years of service...


...a little cabin they made to represent the gift of staying at a cabin for a couple of nights, a kind of retreat to relax and spend time with family away from the busyness of everyday life. What a blessing this gift was, not only for the actual gift of staying at the cabin, but also the gift of kind words they showered him with, acknowledging his dedication to his work and his friendships with those he works with each day. All too often we forget to say words of confirmation for a job well done, but I think these words to him meant more than anything else that was given to him for his 30 years of work.

For many years. I have prayed for my husband these verses from Colossians:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:9-12

In Like a Lamb!

Can you see it?

Yep! It's true!
60 degrees on March 1st!

I'd say March came in like a lamb!
So I opened up the front door...

...and let some fresh air in!