One Part Inspiration...

Remember this?  This was the floor that we took up to replace with new hardwood flooring.  It had some potential, and we kept it in storage.  In fact, my Dad removed it piece by piece in the dining room and kitchen when he knew we had to do some remedial work below the floor.   Well, my husband has been in the process of renovating his new office.  He did the same thing in the office that we did in the house - ripped out walls, removed flooring, redid the ceiling, added walls and so on.  The flooring was industrial strength carpeting.  Although he wanted an industrial look in the office, he didn't want that                                                                   carpet, so out it came. Eventually, he decided to use our old flooring to create the look he wanted in the off...

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, they were instructed to take " twelve stones  from the middle of the Jordan,  according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites... [carry] them over with them to their camp, where they [would] put them down." [Joshua 4:2-9]   The purpose of this exercise was to have a visible reminder of where they had come from, who had led them, and who would still be with them in the land in which they were arriving. In my life, I have always believed in finding ways to mark events.  It's a way of following the Israelite example of taking a stone from the river to mark a significant passage of time, or a lesson I have been learning.    For instance, I had for many years, a wooden cottage that lit up from the inside.  I bought it at a time when our family was going through some very deep waters and I wanted a visual to remind me to HOPE in God.  Another time, I bought a special clock to mark the 15th an...

*Agree at pancake breakfast to go garage saleing with mom and sister *Poke around, finding records and such *Help find the different destinations, with my eye out for anything that looks like a garage sale sign. * Land at the mother-lode of garage sales.  It is late in the day, and we have found a complex with four different houses with their wares out. *My eye lands on an electric bike.  Interesting!  I've always wanted an electric bike.  Go  investigate. It looks brand new. The price is 350$.  There is also a brand new bike rack for sale. It is marked $20.00. Talk to my mom, who informs me that she can't help me out with this one.  She needs to pay her mortgage more than spot me the money for a bike. *Engage the owner in a conversation about the bike - how it works, where he purchased it, what kind of use he has made of it.  Ask owner if he is willing to negotiate on the price.  He says "Make me an offer."  I am not sure what ...

A week after the first celebration, we geared up for another.  My daughter graduated from her program in Sign Language Interpretation yesterday. We had to be on the road very early - we went in a convoy.  She was allowed three guests, because the auditorium only seated 300, but she was quite sure she could fit her whole entourage in the seats - she has very long eyelashes. It was raining like November all the way in.  I was worried because I had dressed for summer and didn't relish the thought of sitting all that time in wet clothes and damp feet.  But she found us a parking spot right across the street - with one hour parking.  We questioned the wisdom of parking there for four hours,  but she was quite sure that we wouldn't get a ticket, because "they NEVER check", and trusting her long eyelashes again, we parked and ran across the street, clutching umbrellas to shield us from the rain. We made it inside with the minimum of water damage. Once insid...

This is the tuxedo. It arrived a week and a half early, and we had plans to get pictures taken before the big day, but the weather and timing did not cooperate. When it was sunny, one of them had to work.  When it was raining, everyone was available.  It all worked out in the end because prom day turned out breezy blue. This is the wrist corsage.  And this is the boutonniere. I bought the materials and a dear friend took time out of her day  (in spite of being sick) to make them.  I was impressed with how co-ordinated the grad and his date would look.                     These are the left over orchids which have lasted much longer than either of them.  This is the advantage of making things yourself.  You get to enjoy the product which you haven't used in another setting.                               ...

This week marked the entrance in a great reward for a great man - The great Bud Isaacs.  I am sure there is a typo in Hebrews 11 because it should read: And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,   Barak,   Samson,   Jephthah,   David,   Samuel, BUD ISAACS , and the prophets,   33   who through faith conquered kingdoms,   administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,   34   quenched the fury of the flames,   and escaped the edge of the sword;   whose weakness was turned to strength;   and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies..... 39   These were all commended   for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.   40   God had planned something better for us so that only together with us   would they be made perfect. Others have written about Bud's early life and his accomplishments on the var...