The F word…

I refuse to use the F word

F-E-A-R

If people ask me what my biggest fear is

I politely refuse to speak it out

Because I believe that satan and every demon in hell

Perks up their ears and does the happy dance when we use these two little words

“I’m afraid”

Fear is to him what faith is to God

Fuel

My daughter, son-in-law, and two oldest grandchildren leave in three weeks for Ghana

This time it’s not just for a few weeks, not just for a couple of months,

It’s long term

Shortly after they get there, my husband has been asked to come to Ghana as well, to speak at a conference

He’s been to Africa before

And it’s only for a couple of weeks

I’m fine with him going

BUT they want me to come too

Perhaps to share with the women there

Here’s where that dirty word comes in

I don’t know why this makes me so uncomfortable, but it does

Maybe because I’m such a homebody

Maybe because I don’t want to see the reality of the life my daughter has chosen

I can’t put my finger on it

On why I feel that dirty word trying to take root in my heart

I know it’s not about the people

I already love the people

I sob, ugly cry, whenever my daughter shows the videos of the people

Maybe that’s what is gripping my heart

Maybe I’m afraid I’ll love it

That it will change me

Here’s the verse God reminded me of yesterday as I wrestled with all of this…

“It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will march with you;

He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you;

let there be no cowardice or flinching, but fear not,

neither become broken in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 Amplified Bible

So I’m fasting from the F word

I’m denying self and what’s comfortable

I’m going to Africa

Pray for me, friends

Pray for my husband

Pray for my daughter, grandbabies, son-in-law

But most of all, pray for Ghana

Pray for the continent of Africa

Still following,

Elizabeth

If you are interested in learning more about my daughter and son-in-law’s ministry here is the link:

Ask for the Nations

Perhaps God is even asking someone out there to give.

 

Hobnail milk glass…

After Mama died, us kids packed up the few things remaining in her little apartment at the

assisted living center, deciding what to keep and what to give to the Goodwill.

This little hobnail milk glass, egg shaped vase used to sit on Mama’s bathroom counter holding her makeup.

We put it in the Goodwill box, but then I couldn’t do it.

I brought it home with me and it sat in a box in a closet with a few other things of Mama’s

that I just couldn’t throw out, including a white glass bud vase.

Last week, on one of my “run into the Goodwill for half an hour on my way to somewhere else” stops,

the first thing I spied was a pair of hobnail milk glass candle holders.

I thought of Mama’s vases, of a white doily crocheted by my mother-in-law, and this little arrangement was born.

I love the sweet and delicate look of the milk glass and doily contrasted with the old zinc pan.

And I’m beginning to love hobnail milk glass, which probably isn’t a good thing,

because the last thing this girl needs is another thing to collect!

 

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

 

remember to enter my giveaway!

 

 

Just because…a giveaway!

just because you are the best followers/readers…

just because you’ve been nothing but kind and encouraging…

just because you’ve stepped up and prayed when I’ve asked you to…

just because blog friends can be real friends…

just because “you get me”…

just because it’s fun to share…

just because you’re special…

just because you’re you…

just because…

I’m having a giveaway of the above items:

-one cute basket to hang somewhere special

-one cute hanging preserves jar

-two sweet café au lait bowls

-4 vintage English ironstone saucers

-one seashell topped bottle (made by yours truly)

-one homespun tea towel

You can win the whole shebang!

Here’s what you need to do:

-become a follower if you haven’t already

-then just leave a comment telling me one random fact about yourself

Winner will be drawn two weeks from today.

 

I hope YOU win!

Elizabeth

A reason to keep on hoping…

The weather this week has been all over the place,

from typical Oregon gray skies and rain,

to blue skies and sun breaks,

to low temperatures and slushy snow mixed in the rain.

Yesterday, while cleaning and puttering around the house,

I caught a glimpse of yellow out the patio doors.

Isn’t that just like Jesus,

to give us a little reason to keep on hoping,

no matter what the weather,

or our circumstances,

are telling us?

****************

I’ve taken the Joy Dare.

I’m counting one thousand thanks in one year.

I hunt for thanksgiving using the prompts Ann gives us each month.

If you are interested in joining in, click the link above or at the bottom of this post.

I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little green journal…

#1676-#1696

a gift at breakfast, lunch, dinner -

-hot coffee

-homemade vegetable soup

-our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters over for dinner

3 gifts white-

-my new travel mug from the Hubs

-a load of white, fluffy towels still warm from the dryer

-white bowl filled with the leftover soup

3 gifts that changed today-

-blue skies peeking out after days of gray and rain

-new buds on the neighbor’s tree outside my kitchen window

-a hurtful, disappointment for youngest daughter

but thankful she feels able to share with us and we can pray together

a gift of tin-

-Mama’s old measuring cups and spoons

a gift of glass-

-the window in the stair landing, my view first thing in the morning

a gift of wood-

-our big dining room table and all the meals we’ve shared there with family and friends

3 gifts before 11 a.m.-

-waking up to blue skies and sun

-a phone call from my daughter

-breakfast made by the Hubs

a gift nearly worn out-

-my almost full gratitude journal

a gift new-

-a new gratitude journal waiting for me to begin

a gift made do-

-this old laptop, repaired but still quirky, yet still working!

3 gifts seen as reflections-

-the Word, which is like a mirror

-seeing my daughter reflected in my granddaughters

-when I see Jesus reflected in the love of His people

 

Gratefully yours,

Elizabeth

My Defense and Refuge…

The enemy is ruthless and relentless.

He tries to wear out the saints.

He wants us to give in and to believe his lies and deception,

to convince us that God is not good,

to convince us that our situation is hopeless,

to convince us that it’s too hard and that we should just give up and quit.

He’s a liar and the father of lies.

Don’t quit my friend.

Run to your Defense and your Refuge,

but don’t you dare quit.

If you don’t quit, you’ll win.

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

 

also linking to My Freshly Brewed Life

     

Friday’s Favs…just a little bit of this and that

Valentine’s Day is over so I put all the little Valentine touches away.

I haven’t made any big changes,

done any big makeovers,

or made any purchases.

I’ve just added a few little hints here and there that spring is on the way,

and taken some other photos of this and that to share with you.

I made a few simple changes on the mantel.

A bird’s nest holding a colored egg is perched under a cloche.

My Mama’s old, colorful, wooden spools of thread fill an apothecary jar.

The vintage trunk that serves as our coffee table holds a couple décor books and some of my favorite magazines.

(I love Where Women Cook!  It’s a wonderful magazine of lovely kitchen décor and yummy recipes.)

A little wooden caddy holds a vintage hymnal and an old children’s Bible story book.

I removed the vintage Valentines from the drying rack photo display

and added some old hymn pages.

An old postcard of Mama’s hometown in Maine is held on the old drying rack with a clothes pin…

…along with photos of my Mama…isn’t she pretty?…

…and a photo of my handsome Daddy with me and my little brother enjoying sledding on Mt. Hood…

…and here’s yours truly!

On the dining table, my white wooden box traded places with my dark wooden tool caddy.

French lemonade bottles are lined up inside.

Lastly, I realized I’ve never showed you the treasures that top the kitchen cabinets…

vintage Franciscan ware…

…aqua colored canning jars mingled with a few apple shaped collectibles,

(the few I kept after I purged the house of most of the apple stuff following the “apple themed kitchen” phase)…

…Watts pottery and Mason Cash mixing bowls.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you today.

It’s almost Friday!

Happy, Happy Friday and Have a Blessed Weekend,

Elizabeth