Straight Lines

As I walked across the newly black topped parking lot where I work, I admired the freshly painted lines where cars would park. It all looked so straight.

It reminded me of a time several years ago, when I attempted to put brick behind a Franklin fireplace stove. I had done my wifely duty of sufficiently harping on my husband to put it up and finally took things into my own hands, literally. The directions were easy enough. You were to mark certain places by measurement and start here then work out. But, I didn't follow the directions. I started on one end, made sure it was a straight (imitation) brick and then spaced accordingly.

When you are working closely to something, you don't see that a bit off here and a bit off there make a big difference.  I was congratulating myself on how quickly I finished, as I backed up to take a look. To my horror the tile had gradually slopped and looked terrible. Luckily I was able to shift several into place while the grout was still soft.

It's kind of like our daily walk. We put one step in front of the other making decisions and are unable to see the big picture as God does. But all these little choices can gradually get us off course before we even realize it. Fortunately, we have a God full of grace.

This is a pillow I made with my grandmother and great grandmother's (born in late 1800's) lace handkerchief, buttons removed from the cuff of a blouse, broach & earnings. A great way to display precious keepsakes.

Overkill?

I know I'm an organizer, but I have to admit it's fun having someone here to notice. Greg has been renovating the kitchen and wondered if I knew where the 'kitchen' paint was. And also the 'ceiling' paint, which was what was used in the front room. I went to a closet and brought out both for the touch up he needed to do. 

He just laughed and said, "I should have known."

He Delights In Me

My devotion today was about how God delights in me. The words brought tears to my eyes. Here is this big creator of the universe and I delight him?

If you are like me, you've experienced times where you have displeased people. Perhaps your parents, an estranged friend, or an ex-spouse. These instances can play with your head and make you feel unworthy to anyone.

What assurance to know there is one whose love will never falter, no matter what. I can't do anything to make God love me less or more. He delights in me.

The Office Move

My office is moving. I don't mind that I have to share an office now, or that it will be much smaller once three desks are set up. What I mind is my window. My window to the world of weather and activity.

Most of all I will miss the bush right outside. It has a nest that houses a bird each year and sometimes baby birds are born. I've saved this nest a few times as landscapers come with their hedge trimmers. Already a bird is there. It won't even know I'm gone, but I will.

Irony

I've exercised all my life. I remember Jack La Lane, Jane Fonda, leggings and just sold my Thigh Master at my last yard sale. But, I have never joined a gym until this year. I couldn't pass up the price with no contract, to see if I liked it. I love it!

What is better about a gym than working out at home is, you walk in the door and all you can do is exercise. Getting there is half the effort, but once there, I make the circuit. I go from treadmill to the 30 minute room to stretching to stairs to elliptical. At home, I'll be in the middle of a yoga DVD and remember the laundry in the washer, or dinner I need to remember to take out of the freezer. I can stop and do something anytime and often will make things up just so I can stop.

The one thing I find disturbingly ironic is that there is a donut shop in the same parking lot as my gym. How can this be? I 'la, la, la' my way past it as if that can block out the smell, but just the name donut can trigger a primal groan. So far I have not stopped to purchase one, which is good, because once that barrier is broke, it's all downhill from there.