What’s happening in May ‘14
I am thinking . . . how happy my f-i-l and m-i-l will be to return to Alabama this week after his heart surgery in Cleveland last month
I am thankful . . . the Lord answered our prayers for a successful surgery with great doctors and nurses
I am appreciating . . . the fun things we got to do together prior to surgery, like visiting Niagara Falls and seeing the ice on Lake Erie
I am discovering . . . I’ve never been happier for spring to get here as this year (it was a long, cold winter!)
I am experimenting . . . with Twitter’s new collage feature
I am playing . . . with the Hemingway App—plug in your writing and get suggestions for improvement
I am watching . . . American Idol (I’m actually caught up!) and hoping Alex won’t get sent home this week
I am praying . . . for those who lost homes and family in our latest round of tornadoes
I am hoping . . . local volunteers continue to help with clean up and aid. Two great organizations we work with are PAR and Keep Volunteering
I am inspired . . . by the great attitude of Pastor Greg Nelson, the head of PAR, whose own house was damaged yet sent us to work on his neighbors’ houses first
I am reading . . . Letters by a Modern Mystic by Frank C. Laubach about his spiritual practice to focus moment-by-moment on God
I am pondering these words . . .
“I shall just live this hour on until it is full, then step into the next hour. Neither tomorrow matters, nor yesterday. Every now is an eternity if it is full of God.”
– Frank C. Laubach
I am creating . . . a new schedule for Do Not Depart’s next memory chapter challenge of Hiding His Word in My Heart to be revealed soon!
A picture for thought . . . a milestone moment for me, walking across this bridge between the U.S. and Canada at Niagara Falls (I’m scared of heights!); my first foray into Canada, albeit briefly
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What’s been happening in your month?
The Simple Woman’s Daybook
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Lisa, I am so grateful to read of your father-in-law’s successful surgery and that his recovery is going well. I am equally grateful that you and Jeff were able to be there in Cleveland to lend your care and support in the actual setting where he was.
How good it will be for everyone to be back on the home turf.
Love, Lynn
Thank you, Lynn. I know the one month there is nothing compared to David’s long stay of recovering, but it seemed like so much longer! ha. I’m thankful, too, that Jeff and I were blessed to go for part of the time. It was an honor to be able to give back some to my in-laws. They are very giving people themselves. But yes, it was SO nice last night to have everybody back in their own homes for the first time in awhile!
I love that picture of the 2 of you by the falls. I did just a bit of hiking at two very LITTLE falls the last two weekends. I’m no athlete, but it sure felt good to be out in God’s creation, stretching these legs which have sat way too still over the winter.
I love spring!
;-}
You probably did far more hiking at the small falls than we did at Niagara. 🙂 Yes, I so agree with you that it feels marvelous to be outside and see the huge things and the tiny things that God created. Winter is finally over, yes?
As an ‘almost’ resident of Tuscaloosa, I find that Alabama has me heart…and that heart is broken by the tornadoes. (Had a great job offer with UA, but was too ill to take it.)
May will be a month of trying to keep going, in the face of a worsening – and apparently terminal – physical condition. It would be nice if it were otherwise, but I can’t complain, because others have so much less.
Tuscaloosa got more than their share of tornadoes in our big round of them in 2011. So much devastation. One of my best friends had a son that survived there only by the grace of God.
I’m sorry to hear about your health situation. 🙁 Praying for your healing despite the diagnosis, but praying also that you’ll be surrounded with peace and resources and people to walk beside you through this time.
Great things to be sure, Lisa. Glad to hear the answers to the prayers for your family.
I always seem to learn from what you’re up to. A Hemingway App? Twitter Collage? I gotta get into the new world!
The water’s warm in the new world, Floyd. Dive in. 🙂 I think you’d especially like the Hemingway App; just a fun experimental thing to look at from time to time.
So happy to hear about your fil. Sounds like you have made some great memories. I’m finishing up our home school year. i’m reading Cry, My Beloved Country, by Alan Paton. I am looking forward to visiting my sister in TN in June with my girlies. Blessings
Nice to hear that someone’s reading Paton!
I read Paton with my daughters too during our home school years. Good stuff!
Hi Lisa,
I’m pondering this line you quoted: “Every now is an eternity if it is full of God.” Intriguing.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
I’m still having to think on that line, too, Jennifer. Deep stuff. I’ve really been on a binge lately on meditating more on the “now” presence of God, so this quote is staying close with me for awhile.
Lisa, Those are wonderful answers to prayers. God is so faithful in His love for us.
So glad you got to see Niagara Falls. I grew up near there, it is a beautiful site. You should see it all frozen over in the winter with the ice spray coming at you…brrrr. Don’t miss the cold of the North area.
Blessings to you.
That’s cool that you grew up so close to Niagara Falls. I can’t imagine it being much colder than it was that day in April. ha. Frozen in the winter would be beautiful! But I’m too wimpy for that kind of cold. 🙂
So glad your f-i-l’s surgery went well. I’m sure they’ll be so glad to get home.
The visit to Niagara sounds fun – though that bridge looks intimidating!
Yes, they were both thrilled to get back home! They’re big on being outside, so they were happy to see their garden and all their flowers again.
Continuing to pray for your grandson. I know everybody will be so excited when he finally gets to go home!
Love your list. Never heard of the Hemingway app. That looks interesting. And you make me want to dig out my copy of Laubach’s writings again. long time ago I read them. Thanks for mentioning it.
My biggest happening this month was submitting today 30 devotional to Barbour for a book that will be published next Feb. did you hear my scream of delight and relief when I hit send? LOL . Grateful to visit my son and DIL in the Chicago area this weekend and looking forward to a visit from very close friends in early June. Lots of good stuff coming!
I have had Laubach on my to-read list for ages. I shouldn’t have waited so long to read him. Loving how he was so present to God in the moment. That’s what I want too.
How exciting about your book! Awesome! I pray it does well and blesses many. Hope you have a great weekend with your son and DIL. Yes, lots of good stuff coming for you, Jean.