Three Day Weekend

                                                            Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                             everyday is a journey.


Sun of my soul, thou 
Saviour dear,
It is not night if thou be near;
O may no earthborn cloud arise
o hide thee from thy servants' eyes.

--John Keble.

Sitting in the car, I sighed deeply, wondering just how I got here. The car sat positioned in a slant, half in the parking spot and half out of it. It wouldn't start, then it went completely dead and finally the anti-theft automatically locking it in. I couldn't even get the key out of the ignition. 

There was no time right now to rant and rave, Emily was expecting me in fifteen minutes to be picking her up from work. She'll have to take the bus and it was the weekend. Who knows when she'll get home. Springing into action, I dialed the necessary numbers. First Emily, then Pepboys and ending with their tow truck hotline. 

Not exactly what I had planned for this 3 day weekend and I had plans. Friday, I awakened early (6 a.m.) and headed out with an errand list long enough to keep me busy all morning. First, an oil change. The technician pulled out a list of his own with much needed car preventive maintenance. Okay, I can deal with it. When I bought this car, I made a promise to take good care of it. By the time they were done, there was only one errand I was able to do. 

Saturday, once more up at 6 a.m., heading out to pick up mom for grocery shopping. The problem was it rained heavily all night and the areas around were flooded. What usually is only a ten minute drive turned into a 30 minute drive going completely in a circle to her place. Then followed by the deli and finally settling in by her place for the Crocheting Ministry Gathering. Mom was hosting again. After that a few more errands, before quickly stopping by at the apartment to make some crepes. 

We were having ricotta stuffed crepes with a hot fruit compote on top. To say we were looking forward to it was an understatement. It's been quite awhile since we had some, usually opting for Summertime when there is an abundance of ripe fruit. A special meal on a special day, only it didn't turn out that way. The crepes finished, I headed out for the final errand of the day, picking up Emily from work. Back to the first paragraph.

So I sat there, waiting for the tow truck from 5:15 p.m. until after 8 p.m. It seems that there was a shortage of tow trucks that day. We did have many floods and accidents from that terrible storm. I sat there, waited and had a good cry. You know, I'm always amazed at other women who are married and don't realize just how lucky they are. Their husbands take care of situations like the one I was in. That's not the case for me. I've always had to take care of things myself and that's a very lonely feeling. 

Emily sat next to me the entire time while I had a good cry. I don't ever want my daughter to feel like I did that moment. Going through life by herself isn't something I want for her. Life is hard, one needs someone beside them. For me, it's just Jesus and I. 

Yeah, I felt sorry for myself, but I also felt grateful. You see, I might have spent a huge portion of my savings, but at least I had some money to pay for it. Yes, I broke down for the first time with this car, but I broke down right in front of my apartment. Yes, I didn't have a car for majority of this weekend, but at least, I was able to take care of the most important errands. I was home, I was dry, I had food. I was okay. How many can actually say the same?

Have a blessed day everyone.

What Are You Reading?

                                                                      Everyday is a brand new day,

                                                                      everyday is a journey.

The night I know is nigh at hand,

The mists lie low on hill and bay,

The autumn sheaves are brown and dry,

But I have had the day.

Yes, I have had, 

dear Lord, the day.

When at thy call I have the night

Brief be the twilight as I pass

From light to dark, from dark to light.

--S. Weir Mitchell.

It seems that I have been on a quest of sorts. A quest of collecting new and used books! I regret disposing of my collection when we moved out of the house into an apartment. I guess, I thought it was too much for an apartment? Then there is the carrying of boxes. Oh well, today is a brand new day.

1. God's Devotional Book For Mothers
By:W.B. Freeman Concepts
This devotional is unlike any that I've read before. It reads more like Readers Digest with several quotes, personal stories of encouragement and tidbits of wisdom from both known/unknown artists. It's a very inspirational and fun read as I found myself looking forward to reading that next page, that next story. This is a great book as we all need some encouragement from time to time.

2. Hope When The World Falls Apart
By: Russell Burrill
This book is here to offer hope and help for both today and the tomorrows. The author concentrates on the Book of Daniel and Revelation to show the many prophecies that can provide the comfort we need in a world full of chaos. If you are a person who is very worried about what is going on around us, this book is for you. If you are a person who would like to learn more about these two Books of the Bible, this is the book for you. Either way, we all can benefit from it. 

3. Waiting For Morning
By: Karen Kingsbury
This book is the first fictional Christian novel I have ever read. It will make you cry so bring a box of tissues with you as you recline on the couch with this book. It deals with a young woman who loses her family to a drunk driver. The emotions that follow include a hatred of the drunk driver involved and anger towards God for taking her family. A powerful story that will definitely evoke a strong emotion inside of us. Like I said, be ready with the tissues!

I hope you will find the time to check some of these good reads this Summer. Have a blessed day everyone. 

A Simple Meal

                                                           Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                             everyday is a journey.



Beloved, let us love so well
Our work shall still be better for our love,
And still our love be sweeter for our work:
And both commended for the sake of each
By all true workers and true lovers born.

--Elizabeth B. Browning.

The sizzle of onions browning lightly in butter filled the quiet of the kitchen. It was mid-morning on a Sunday and we just finished Church. Cooking Sunday Brunch became the norm as Emily has been working in the afternoons for quite awhile now. Today's meal consisted of sauteed onion and brussel sprouts over white rice.One of our favorites, for sure, but we say that about all our meals, don't we?

Just a simple meal, that's what we regularly eat. Nothing fancy here from a famous chef on a famous cooking show. Majority of my recipes come from country cooks who learned how to cook with what they had in the garden. You ate your vegetables. You ate all your greens. And they enjoyed it. There were no picky eaters or fast food takeouts. 

Remember that one question people like to ask? If you could go back in time knowing what you do now, where would that be? Well, let me tell you. I would like to live like the people before us have done in the country. I want to grow my own food, raise chickens, can my goods and live the simple life eating simple meals. 

Why does it take us almost all of our life to realize that? I think we have to live a little, cry a little all that the world has to offer. Well, majority of it. When we lose some things in life, we truly realize what is important, especially in our hearts. 

So pull up your sleeves, take out your pots/pans and make a simple meal from your childhood. When you're done, invite someone to share it. A simple meal. A simple conversation. A beautiful Sunday.

Have a blessed day everyone.

Needed: Yarn!

                                                          Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.




Quiet, Lord, my froward heart,
  Make me teachable and mild,
  Upright, simple, free from art,
  Make me as a weaned child;
  From distrust and envy free,
  Pleased with all that pleaseth Thee.
J. NEWTON.

Hello everyone! Today I'm not posting a story, but come before you with a need for yarn. My Crocheting Ministry is experiencing a shortage of yarn right now. I very rarely come out and ask for donations, because there has always been a steady supply available. 

We have had many ladies come and join the Ministry. Many of them have also gone after a time. Right now, I have about 6 ladies and 4 of them are regular machines when it comes to crocheting. They just whip these crafts out like it's nothing. Now, like I said, it's not always like this. Volunteers come and go. Since the opportunity has presented itself and we have been blessed with more ladies, I would like to keep them actively happy working with their hands for the Lord. 

So if anyone can help with yarn, it doesn't have to be brand new or whole skeins. We will take anything! I will leave the address below;
The Crocheting Ministry Club
c/o Lottie Krol
10064 Holly Lane #1N
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
Thank you so much in advance. We are continuously blessed by our regular contributors and any new ones that follow. Have a blessed day everyone. 

Old Family

                                                                       Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                        everyday is a journey.


O youth whose hope is high,

Who doth to truth aspire,

Whether thou live or die,

O look not back nor tire.

Thou that art bold to fly

Through tempest, flood and fire,

Nor dost not shrink to try

Thy heart in torments dire--

If thou canst Death defy,

If thy faith is entire,

Press onward, for thine eye

Shall see thy heart's desire.

--Robert Bridges.

If your family is anything like mine, you probably have relatives strewn all over the U.S. or even in different countries that you haven't seen in years. Some I've never even met. How does that happen? Well, easily enough.

When the kids were little, their cousins would be over daily. Our intermediate family saw each other all the time. For years, we've lived within three blocks of each other. We would be under each other's feet all the time. That is no longer true. Everyone is pretty much spread out from Florida to Wisconsin and beyond.

All this distance has affected our Holidays and get-togethers. Some of us haven't seen each other in years. I find that very sad, because things were different years ago. Distance places indifference and complacency within our hearts. The next thing we know, we make absolutely no effort at all to see one another. We just shrug it off and place the blame on the next guy. If they really wanted to see me, they would do so. Things work both ways, you know. 

So how do families stay in touch? Well, social media being what it is allows us to see one another in a click. Other families have yearly family reunions where they all meet at one particular spot for a weekend. That involves a lot of work! Usually a couple of people perform this task, not one individual.

That's where I'm at now. I want to know all of my family. We have family in Europe that I have been trying to get in touch with from my maternal grandmother's side. They have been living in Paris originally and now are in Sweden or Holland. How exciting is that? The original family member that moved there was my grandmother's sister and she died from ovarian cancer in her forties. Another reason I would love to know all about her. 

Learning about our ancestry is very important and not just for health benefits. I want to break family genealogical stumbling blocks that keep coming back generation after generation. How will we do that if we don't know the members? Or where they came from and what they have endured. More on that in the future, but for now, I hope you will reach out to your family members even those that do not want to keep in touch. It's difficult for people to forgive one another. Believe me, I have one I'm trying to reach. There is always hope so please do not give up.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

A Heart For Him

                                                                         Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                         everyday is a journey. 





And oft, when in my heart was heard
  Thy timely mandate, I deferred
  The task, in smoother walks to stray;
  But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may.
W. WORDSWORTH

It was a beautiful morning, one we had wished for a long time. It was filled with sunshine and clear skies. A beautiful day to begin a new Bible study. I've said a hundred times before, I love Bible study! We women need other women in our lives.

Of all the Bible studies I have done, I believe that Beth Moore takes the crown for being one of my favorites. As much as I moan and groan at all the homework her studies have, I am glad for it. Her belief lies in the homework being the link in our learning. I believe she is right. We all can sit and listen, but when one digs in deeply by reading and looking up scriptures, you will remember all that knowledge.

Now, I have heard many messages from various Preachers on David. I forgotten to mention the study is on David, Seeking a Heart For Him. One would think I have learned all that I can on that subject, but that's not true. Someone said once that we can read stories or watch the same movie several times and get a different perspective each time. It's true, you know. Isn't that the whole point of a Bible study?

There is another good reason for a Bible study, if I don't understand a scripture verse, there is someone who will be able to explain it. I wouldn't have learned if I didn't join others along in this study. The Word of God is available to us whenever we need it for all areas of our life. The women in my group are all at different intervals in their life and I love to see how this particular scripture has affected them. We never come out on the other end the same as we went in. 

I sincerely hope that each one of you joins in some sort of women group to just plain engage with one another. There is great knowledge to be shared, especially if you are an older woman. Just think of a young woman going through some serious things in her life that once you have endured. Imagine all that advice and experience to pass on to someone else. On the flip side, I've learned plenty from the younger generation! Share your life with someone. Share your experiences.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Simply Laundry

                                                         Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.



For His great love has compassed
Our nature, and our need
We know not; but He knoweth,
And He will bless indeed.
Therefore, O heavenly Father,
Give what is best to me;
And take the wants unanswered,
As offerings made to Thee.
ANON.


Some days are just plain busier than others. The last time I wrote about my laundry situation, it looked like the picture below. Well, add another large hamper overflowing plus two large shopping bags to the mix. Yesterday morning, on my way out for an appointment, the repairman came to fix the machines. Alas, I was very disappointment, because after my appointment I had to go to work and I knew there would be  a mad dash from all my neighbors to finally get our laundry done. 

So like the mad woman that I am, I set the alarm clock for 6 a.m. so I could be first in line to do the first load at 7 a.m. that morning. Selfish all the way, I am. I spent basically the whole morning doing laundry, all six loads until I ran out of quarters. I could have done one more, but the coins ran empty. That's okay, I was pretty tired. 

This isn't my regular routine. Usually, whenever I have a load, in the washer it goes. I don't wait around for a laundry day. Heck no! This took all morning and then some, because all the clothes had to be put away. I don't have time for that!

The older I get, the less I want to do any kind of chores like cleaning or doing laundry. I find myself rushing through it as fast as I can so I can get back to what I love most. 

I find many of my friends and family detesting this chore of laundry the most out of all of them. I can't blame them. Majority of them have small children and we all know what messy little buggers they are! Who could keep up with all that laundry? No one! Not all are lucky to have a laundry facility in their apartment buildings even if it is only one washer and one dryer. Just the thought of dragging all the hampers, bags and cleaning solutions along with your children is a nightmare. I also remember those days. 

So I'm very glad the laundry situation is under control and back on track. Now off to better things in life. 

Have a blessed day everyone.