Friday, March 15, 2024

When You Believe A Wrong Thing--Or--Will She Be a Cat Lady In Heaven?

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."   --- John 8:12, John 1:5


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(While reading this I hope you'll ask yourself, "Am I believing something not true?")

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On Monday we lost Charlie Cat. 

Days before, he'd stopped eating and the renal failure and bad heart (the part I didn't tell you) caught up with him. No fistfuls of money can rescue a cat from those so, taking the long way, Tom drove us to the vet again.

The next 4 days? Oh dear. The darkest I'd visited in my mind since an upsetting, unfair time in 2000. This losing a young Charlie felt much worse than our last July's loss of Daniel: at least he'd lived the average length of a tabby.

I tried snapping out of it. 

I pictured Charlie in my heavenly house with our earlier cats. Did some gardening. Read books and clung to Jesus every minute (how does anyone survive without Him?).

Yet not until Thursday did the darkness, the anger, the confusion and the temptations for self-pity, disappear. How? That's when I stopped telling myself, "No more cats ever! No more risks. My heart can't handle being shredded again."

Jesus showed me that was a lie. What my heart cannot face is never having another cat curled up beside me on the red couch. Or upstairs here sitting in the window or staring at me from the guest bed.

Those absences are what my heart cannot handle.

And when I finally stopped believing the lie and making decisions based upon fear? Oh Honey, the sunshine in my soul returned. I felt free again, like my good ol' normal, Jesus-set-me-free self.

Maybe, in some months ahead, we'll even get 2 cats(!), as a sign of God restoring double what we'd lost. More work? Yes, but I'd rather feel physically tired than emotionally crushed. 

Besides, I'm now planning on being one of Heaven's cat ladies. (You know Heaven has them, right?)  ツ So a couple more cats would fit just right.

But here's the thing: I had to reach this place, myself. Oh, a book and even Instagram helped, but mostly as vehicles by which Jesus spoke soothingly to me, personally. 

Others' opinions about my next steps, well, I avoided those.

Today's lesson? If we're feeling all wrong inside, perhaps we're believing a lie. Like Jesus said, the truth will set us free.

But only if we release the lie and pick up the truth, instead. And hug it to our heart. Believing.




If the emotions, heart, will, or mind is set against the thing being done, there will be no rest. . . 
God never blesses people who run. Wherever they are hiding He finds them and takes them back to what they ran from so they can face it and experience true freedom. God gives us power and wisdom to deal with situations, not to try to escape them. Avoidance is not a godly character trait."  
--- Joyce Meyer, from Eat The Cookie, Buy The Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up


Here's a short (quirky) blog post I wrote in 2005 about self-pity. Boy, did I have to remind myself of that post this past week!


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Technically tomorrow is my birthday, but I'm celebrating today by doing my favorite things, mostly alone, around the house and yard. I'd planned these specific activities since last year and am grateful God returned me to truth and light yesterday, just in time to enjoy this day. Whew.


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What took me so long? For years I'd wished to buy plant stakes like these--


-- and last week I finally did. They're even lovelier in-person (a shinier copper color) and already I placed two in my herb garden, one for scallions, another for chives, both which are already thriving in our Spring-like weather.



You haven't watched Return to Mayberry in awhile? Here you go. Free.

This woman is like a real-live Hobbit. Such an inspiration and oh my--her bedroom! What a wonder.



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Books I finished reading in February (went a bit crazy. Er hem.) --


Sharpe Point by Lisa B. Thomas
Sharpe Edge by Lisa B. Thomas
Sharpe Turn by Lisa B. Thomas
Ghost Town Treasure by Clyde Robert Bulla
Mystery at Star Lake by Margaret Goff Clark
The Slipper Point Mystery by Augusta Hueill Seaman
The Brass Keys of Kenwick by Augusta Hueill Seaman
The Boarded-Up House by Augusta Hueill Seaman
The Disapperance of Anne Shaw by Augusta Hueill Seaman
Three Sides of Paradise Green by Augusta Hueill Seaman
Mystery of Sebastian Island by Margaret Goff Clark



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This verse helped me realize that, although there are a lot of 'no's' in my life, cats are still a 'yes'--and a good thing from God.


                               
                                 
                                I'm so grateful God does heal our smashed-up, ripped apart heart--and in very customized ways.




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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

The Good News. The Bad News. The Free Chandelier.



You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you because he trusts in you.


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It's wild how emptying our head of complaints can create tons of room instead for creative ideas. I like to imagine it as the axiom we learned in school--

... two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

That chandelier I showed you? Just one idea which arrived only after I gave-up (released) the clutter of I-need-a-different-house whinings.

I absolutely stare at that chandelier. Love it, especially when the sun shines, causing tiny rainbows to dance across the ceiling.

Well, (you're sitting, right?) I actually found a place for another chandelier(!) At the end of this looong area upstairs, there's a tiny, indented space beside the chimney, just the perfect place for yes, another one.

In fact, before the chandelier arrived, I lugged-away-down-the-street the ugly large-ish table lamp sitting on the floor nearby. How good to create a bit more of empty floor space.

I know, I know, another chandelier? But hey! Why not, especially when I ordered it for free with credit card reward points.






Today's lesson? Let it go. You know, the it-isn't-fair-or-even-my-fault clutter, touchable and not.

Release it all through your windows (or by way of bags in your car) and then welcome the creativity just waiting to move into that space, instead.



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What (if anything) do you tend to often complain about? Has God shown you a way to release the complaints so to make room for gratitude and fresh ideas, instead?


Everyday we can splash around--at least awhile--in creative endeavors which elevate our happiness.







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Now, for the bad news which I'll share as I did at Facebook:


This wasn't supposed to happen. Charlie Cat's test results came today and the doctor said he's in early renal failure. It's so rare for such a young cat. We'll pick up special food and pills for him, but--barring a miracle--it's an attempt to sustain his life for as long as possible.
This is horrible and truly, we need a miracle. We do believe in miracles! Thanks for your prayers. Maybe I should've stuck with my no-more-cats verdict after Daniel, but then, I wouldn't have missed meeting Charlie. What a sweet cat he is and he did help our hearts to heal.


So there was that. 

But you know? Before the vet (who sounded sad over the phone) gave us the results, Charlie had, the day before, begun eating much better! And he still is, this week later.

So God's used that to encourage us. We've chosen peace and belief that all will be well. That he'll continue to appear perfectly normal. Even the vet sounded hopeful yesterday. 

And personally, I am choosing just to celebrate each day that Charlie's still here. To love on him for however long I can. To appreciate him fully, like now, while he's curled up on the guest bed or leaning against my hip on the red couch.

To love this life God's given me, even at the times it doesn't flow the way I'd like or understand.






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Some easy desserts!  Here, here  and here.





Thanks for sharing this today, Tracy! --


"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]". Proverbs 3:5,6





Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Monday, February 19, 2024

$1,000 For Groceries Every Month?!



"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ..."   ---  Proverbs 3:13-18


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So while watching a video about inflated prices of food, I scrolled down to the comments. One woman said she and her husband are retired and each month they spend around $980 on groceries(!)

Oh my goodness! I think I got dizzy. Wow.

I told Tom, "Maybe while they both worked, they ate out all the time and never learned to cook from scratch. Perhaps now they're still eating tons of restaurant food or convenience items."

Or maybe they live in New York City or Alaska where grocery prices are nearly double, but even so, that still sounds crazy-high. To me, anyway.

Yes prices are ridiculous now! But as I'm always saying, we are not helpless. Anyone who's determined to make changes, to 'beat the status quo'--can.


We can make our own--

--seasoning mixes
--baking mixes
--convenience foods
--liquid hand soap
--cocoa mix
--laundry detergent
--cooking oil spray
--room refresher spray
--fabric refresher
--spice rubs
--teas from homegrown herbs
--household cleaners


We can --

--use 1/2 (or even 1/3) of a pound of meat, rather than the full pound. Use extra fillers like frozen or fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, bread crumbs, etc.
--grow our own vegetables
--create inflation-proof meals
--dry our own homegrown herbs (and other dry-able foods)
--always have a supply of shelf-stable foods on hand
--avoid buying pre-made convenience foods
--reuse items like glass jars, plastic bags, twist ties, paper bags, cardboard boxes, metal cans, etc.

(All of these ideas, above, can be found by doing searches online.)


Here's a money-saving, grocery-minded post I wrote in 2023. 

Oh, and this year I'm aiming to skip ordering from Aldi at least one week per month. If I do? I'll have saved us $840. (Already since January I've skipped 3 weeks. Having a prepper pantry is a huge help.)

Anyway, may this post encourage you today grocery-wise. Prices may seem out-of-control, but that doesn't mean our spending must be.

Ol' Debra loves saving money on groceries, especially when it frees-up dollars for her to spend in more creative, fun ways like in her story, below.  ツ


Some favorite inflation-proof meals around my house:


chili
stir-fry vegetables and chicken
meat mix, green beans, mashed potato layered casserole
homemade chicken and vegetable soup
crockpot chicken with salsa, sour cream and vegetables
Italian wedding soup

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I still think Julia is the best for low-cost meal recipes. I'm loving her cookbook! The majority of her recipes use the items I always have on hand.

Oh! And See Mindy Mom. Love her ideas, also.

You can do a general search at Youtube for other cheap, under $5 meals. Would take anyone days and days to sort through them all!


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Last week for Valentine's Day, Tom decided to try something new. Nothing. He would do nothing.

Well Honey, that did not work out well for him. Er hem.  ツ

So early next morning I watched Homestead Tessie (as always) and oh wow. With some gift money, she'd purchased an adorable tiny terrarium! 

Now, that's something I'd meant to buy for years actually, to use it, instead, as an indoor cat-proof greenhouse for starting my garden seedlings.

Oh my oh my! Immediately I ordered one similar to Tessie's, though with a wider door since I'd be taking plant pots in and out. Then I strolled downstairs and told Tom I'd ordered a Valentine's Day gift from him to me. Something I'd desired for years. A terrarium.

He actually breathed a sigh of relief, especially when he saw the glad, excited expression upon my face (a far different look than one I'd worn the previous night). heh.

And here it is, probably the best Valentine's Day gift, ever. (Ladies? Sometimes you just have to give a present to yourself. And you may quote me.)





(Oh and years ago, I had a larger terrarium, but gave it away, for I could find no place for it at Hobbit Cottage. The lesson? Release what isn't right in order to create space for receiving what is.)







Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 ***

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15