Fire Flies (aka Lightning Bugs)

I was headed out to the shop this evening to do some more work on a couple of quilt racks for a friend, only to find Emerson closing up the shop. Rats. Hmmmmm. So I grabbed my fishing pole and headed for the pond. I thought that it must be a sign from God :>)

We have had a LOT of rain, so I knew it probably wouldn't be great fishing, but still, I knew I'd have fun. I got a couple of little bass along the edge of the pond. Then I thought I'd go up and try a couple of casts off the dam.

It was getting dark. There was a cool breeze making the cottonwood tree leaves dance. Everything is very green. It even has the smell of green growing plants. Lots of ivies growing--I'm sure some of it is poison ivy and oak--but I don't seem to be allergic to any of it.

The frogs were croaking out a dissonant song--in several different frog languages! The big bull frogs with their deep resonating song, and then several other kinds of frogs that I don't know the name of--but hear their songs all the time. The ones that give a long bbbzzzzt, those that are almost a metalic sound click, and then the ones that sort of whhhhrrRR!

And then, my most favorite--the fire flies. Doing their own little mid-air waltzes and minuettes. They just look so.....happy!! I love watching them!!! Then I started thinking about a verse in Phillippians (2:15):

"...prove yourselves to be blamesless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world..."

And I think just maybe we are fire flies for God. As you watch fire flies your eyes are just naturally drawn to where they are because they are such a contrast to the darkness. By our own daily living, we can be like that for God, walking in His steps, a stark contrast to the ugliness of this dark world. And you don't ALWAYS see fire flys. Their lights shine for a few seconds and you see just a streak behind them as their light goes out. Then our eyes are drawn to the next fire fly. And the next, and then, maybe back to the first. We don't ALWAYS have to be front and center, in the spotlight to be a light for Him. Just as there are many fire flies, so there are many Christians, and we don't always have to be the most brilliant one out there. We just have to keep on flying, and make sure our light doesn't go out completely. And you know, you can't really SEE fire flies in the light. If you ever have, you'll know they are not a particularly attractive little bug. And that, I think, is how we will appear when we are bathed in HIS light! Just plain looking bugs. His brilliance will be so glorius!! But we can have a great impact on the darkness in this world.

Father, let me be a fire fly for you! I love you.

Grace to you, and all kinds of peace in believing!

3 year-old Addy and her Dinosaur cakes! 

Pooh & Tigger guard Ellie while she sleeps! 

Nana Work

After some encouraging words from family and friends, I have decided that right now my "calling" is just to be Nana/Grandma and just me!! So here are a few "happenings" from my "calling":

Yesterday, we celebrated Addy's third birthday. What do you get when you cross a just-turned-three-year old and dinosaurs?? A Dinosaur bithday party!!!! Cousins Aaron and Daniel were here, in addition to Addy and her sister Ellie. Addy and Daniel helped mix the colors into the frosting for our dinosaur cake! Daniel was especially helpful--he was very good at his "licking" job!! Jayme and I baked the cakes at about 9:00 a.m. We put the finishing touches on them about 6:00 p.m. Now, I'm not saying that we spent that ENTIRE time decorating them, but it did take a lot of hours!! Especially with all the kiddos around! And I guess there was the 2 hour block of time I spent in the dentist chair (I'm sure they wondered why I had a purple tongue [purple icing, of course]), and the 2 hours Jayme and Neal were gone with Aaron, Daniel and Addy to the movies.

Not only did we make 2 dinosaur cakes, but we also fixed a meal for 11 people--bar-b-que chicken, deviled eggs, creamed corn, and homemade ice cream. Daughter-in-law, Donna, brought 2 salads.

Jayme decorated the table, complete with dinosaur tablecloth, dinosaur napkins, dinosaur plates, dinosaur cups and dinosaur decorations. It was VERY VERY cute!

About mid-day I started stressing about getting everything done. But then I decided that if being Nana was my calling, my Father certainly wouldn't wat me to be stressing about everything and not having a good time--and maybe keeping others from having fun, too! So, I DECIDED that I would NOT stress. I managed to do a pretty good job of it too. Stressing over these kind of things is a bad habit for me, so this was an excellent day!! Thank you, God!!!

So maybe now I truly can....
ReJoyce in Living!

Are you Calling???

I guess I'm feeling old. I've not really ever felt this way before. Maybe it's because the 'ole body just isn't what it used to be! Or maybe it isn't old I'm feeling, maybe it's useless. Just sorta seems like I'm treading water or slugging through sand or something. I don't really have a job right now (and that by choice, not circumstance), I don't feel useful at church. I love my husband--more every day really, although we're both human and have faults and we get on each other's nerves sometimes, E is really a wonderful husband. So I do things for him and try to please him. But that's all within the norm. I love my children; my daughter is precious beyond words, and I love my step-sons and daughter-in-laws more and more. And the Grandkids!! Oh, the Grandkids!! What joy they bring to my life.

And hopefully I bring joy to theirs! [Collin, our 3-year old Grandson in Houston was saying goodbye to us when we were getting ready to leave. He put his little arms around my neck, as well as the string to a wind-up toy, and says (while hanging tightly on to the string around my neck) "Grandma, I'm NEVER going to let you go!! ] And what fun I have with all of them! We just spent 4 1/2 days with the 3 in Houston. The last day we were there, the girls started verbally listing all the fun things we had done: went to see Madagascar, went swimming, took 2 long bike rides/walks with Grandpa, made Bedrock Catapillar cookie with Grandma, looked at and tried on all of Grandma's jewelry, rough-housed with Grandpa, had a picnic at the pool, went to kids baseball games, played Badmitten, ate Breakfast at Denny's, played with the dogs.....whew! We managed to do a lot in those few days!!

And tomorrow evening, the Emporia crew comes to prepare for the Tuesday celebration of Addy's 3rd birthday. So that will be a family dinner with lots of fun, making a dinosaur cake, and more fun time with Addy and Ellie and their cousins Aaron and Daniel.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of that.

But then I think.....what in the world am I doing for your Kingdom, Lord? We've tried to do so many things at church, only to be shot down. We've basically been reduced to pew warmers. I hate that!!!

I feel like God has given me many talents. I'm creative, I work well with teenagers, I love teaching ladies classes, and we have some great ideas to get the community involved in our church. But nothing.

Our prison ministry work was a disaster. We struggle with what we want to try next.

So I've been doing mostly a lot of things I like to do for myself. Quilting, gardening, scrapbooking, reading, doing stuff on the computer (BLOGGING....!!). And it seems like we are always busy running here or there......

But--what am I doing for you, Lord? You've given me these talents....am I using them for you? Are you calling me to do things for you and I'm not listening...not paying attention...not hearing? Are you calling????

Oh, Father, I believe. Help my unbelief!! Help me to love you more...to serve you more...to be more like you. Help me to be less concerned with earthly possessions and more focused on you. Are you calling??????

M.H. I miss being able to communicate with you. BTW, I wrote this entry before reading your most recent entries!