Sunday Scripture

Genesis 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Saturday Links

I enjoyed John Eli Garay's 3 lessons he learned from one of his own lies:
https://john-eli.com/2018/07/30/biggest-lie-ever/

The Fuzzy Fanatic shared beautiful pictures of horses... horses, enough said:
https://fuzzyfanaticblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/16-beautiful-horse-photos/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

"Baking with Julia" Julia Childs. Yes, a cookbook. I enjoyed this TV series, too.

My favorite quote by Julia: Everything's better with butter.

Musical Thursday

The Afters' "Every Good Thing"

https://youtu.be/FY2ycrpbOlw 

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

"You're welcome," in response to "Thank you," doesn't show up until 1907.

Monday Quote

Sunday Scripture

Genesis 1:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Saturday Links

Christians Read talks about "Cast-Iron Cooking," something I've been thinking about doing:
https://christiansread.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/cast-iron-cooking/

If you need a bit of encouragement, Tarnya Coley, author of Open Doors, always brightens my day:
https://closeddoorsdotblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/the-big-lie-your-mind-keeps-telling-you/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach

Musical Thursday

Jeff, over at RabBits, shared a lovely post.

https://jeffrab.com/2018/09/17/to-who-knows-where/

He talked about watching a seagull alone. The first thing to pop into my head was Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The next thing I know I'm wandering through memories. Some good. Some not. Hope burning through them all.

The book influenced me at a young age. I always saw God in it, though I've heard others condemn it for being Godless. I remember hearing a speaker say, "Search for good wherever you can find it." Jonathan Livingston Seagull is one of my keepers. It affected me on many levels.

A movie was made. YouTube is an amazing place. I watched it there when it wasn't available anywhere else.

There was a time in my childhood when I slept in the living room on the floor. I'd put on the bulky headphones and listen to the soundtrack, by Neil Diamond. That's how I went to sleep, for a month or two, maybe longer.

https://youtu.be/k028-NETGOQ

The above link is to "Be," one of the tracks. I still love this music. Yes, I owned the vinyl and finally bought the CD. I still enjoy listening to it. The next is "Dear Father." A couple of my favorites...I love the whole album.

https://youtu.be/qDbToBxhZUo

I believe God sent it into my life to teach me to fly in spite of the abuse. Through the muck and the mire, it was bits of inspiration like this that kept me from giving up. God often sent help in the way of music and books.

Side Note: My first hero, in "A Promise of Possibilities" was named Jonathan. Yes, a tribute to a long-adored hero, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Tingle, as in the sensation, wasn't used until 1848.

Monday Quote

Sunday Scripture

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Saturday Links

Jeff Rab, over at Rab Bits, shares his creative talent and faith (the fire truck is adorable):
https://jeffrab.com/2018/07/19/5274/

Send Sunshine posts uplifting quotes daily:
https://upliftingquotesdaily.com/2018/07/24/40929/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Three Rivers Ranch series bundle by Liz Isaacson, contemporary western Christian romance. This was recommended by a friend because it reminded her of my Holiday, USA series.

Musical Thursday

Francesca Battistelli's "The Breakup Song"

https://youtu.be/H0wpP5o7xpI

Wordless Wednesday

September 11

Many of my memories are as fresh as if it were yesterday.

I woke, as usual, in the wee hours of the morning, before the sun was up, anyway. It was still dark. I dressed and drove to take care of my horse. I fed him, groomed him, spent time enjoying him, like every single morning for the previous 4+ years. It was my time with God. No one was out at the barn as early as I was. It was the perfect way to start the day.

King's Pawn was an Arabian/Appaloosa. He had the Arabian dish in his nose, but his head wasn't as small. He was a flea-bitten gray, white with tiny brown spot, like little bites, all over. His white mane and tail had a touch of flaxen mixed in.

He'd been abused by his first owner. His second owner worked hard to earn his trust. With her, he'd been trained to second level dressage and then had done some endurance racing. She had him 13 years but could no longer give him the individual care he needed. I took over as his groom for a while. He had a severe colic, and she feared she'd have to put him down. I worked with him. He became mine when he was 18 years old. A story for another day.

I'd finished, for the day, and was headed to my car. I needed to pick up my transcribing work. One of the other boarders approached me and asked if I'd heard about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. I didn't know her well, and I thought her idea of a joke was sick. I'm not good at hiding how I feel, and she kept trying to convince me it was true. I'd had friends in the past who'd tell outrageous stories because they thought it was funny to "trick" people. Yeah, we aren't friends now. I don't find it humorous to make a fool of someone else.

The owner joined us and said that a plane had hit the pentagon. I knew her better and realized neither of them was joking. It was after seven, which made it after ten in New York. There was so much we didn't know yet.

One thought popped into my head: Which airlines were involved? One of my friends, at the time, was a pilot. The last I'd heard, his route was on the east coast. No one knew which airlines were involved.

I turned on the radio in my car and drove to pick up my work, with the windows rolled down. I was already hot and sweaty from taking care of my horse. A little more heat didn't matter. As I passed other cars on the road, with their windows rolled down, I could hear they were listening to the exact same news I was. Neither place where I picked up work knew what had happened.

Upon arriving home, I called my friend, expecting to go to voicemail. He answered, on the west coast, grounded. His route had changed. It was learned later that his airline company wasn't involved.

I turned on the television and left it on for three days. I knew the world had changed, forever.

Several of my friends lost friends.

It wasn't until months later that I learned my cousin usually had breakfast at Windows on the World, at the top of North Tower. He wasn't there that day because he was taking his parents to the airport.

My home is close to an international airport. I'm used to seeing and hearing planes land and take off all day long. The silence of the next few days, both visual and audible, was deafening.

I cried then. I cry now. I continue to find stories I didn't know about at the time. I will remember.

Monday Quote

Sunday Scripture

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Saturday Links

Following Him Beside Still Waters shared a humbling and inspiring reminder:
https://followinghimbesidestillwaters.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/just-when-i-thought-i-would-crumble/

Dyan Diamond shared some wonderful ideas for battling loneliness:
https://dyandiamond.net/2018/07/17/in-case-of-loneliness/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

"Tuesday" by David Wiesner is a picture book I read in my Children's Literature class when I went back to college. Decades later, and it's still my favorite picture book.

Lantana ~ Butterfly bushes

Musical Thursday

MercyMe's "Grace Got You"

https://youtu.be/xtiUjNT_vAM

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

The reason you won't find "I'm sorry" in any of my Regency stories is because the phrase wasn't used until 1834. I use "Forgive me" or "I apologize" or something along those lines.

Labor Day

Faith's Labor

The fifth of thirteen novellas...

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Organic herb farmer Faith Walker regrets many things in her life, none as much as marrying a man who divorced her after their wedding night, leaving her pregnant and alone.

Horse trainer Dusty Harper crushed on Faith all his life. What is he supposed to do when she drops back into his life and turns his world upside down?

God provides unexpected answers to those who seek His will...
Available at Amazon:
http://a.co/d/9CsiPGc

Sunday Scripture

Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Saturday Links

Sometimes bloggers post lifesaving information like what to do if you're having a heart attack alone:
https://mygoodtimestories.com/2018/08/31/saving-a-life-it-could-be-your-own/

I love the idea of a Prayer Box, shared by Brilliant Viewpoint:
https://brilliantviewpoint.com/2018/07/13/a-good-friend-gives-a-prayer-box/

Encouragement from William Emmons, who's had a trial or two...
https://wemmons.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/the-wounded-walk/

God bless.