"You don't realize how much you know!"

Last Thursday, Ted and I participated in a podcast for investors.  It was a new experience for me!  We enjoyed our time "telling our story" and interacting with the host.  "You have a unique story!"  Oh...if you only knew!  There wasn't time for twenty-five years of adventures.  As I sat back and thought about it after we signed off, I don't think our host would believe the tales we could tell.  "Well, that made me feel like I don't much when I listened to you go back and forth with Mr. Host!  All those things tumble out of you like...it's amazing.  I love to listen to you...you know so much..." I shared my thoughts with Ted.  "Kari, you don't give yourself enough credit.  You have learned so much through the process...look at what you can do...and by the way...there is a lot I don't know!  But my Dad taught me...and Teddy said it the other day when we were talking some business..."I remember Papa said..."You don't have to know everything, you just need to know where to find it!"  Ted and I said the last few words together...with tears in our eyes.  "We have learned how to teach ourselves...and our children have taken that option as well...everyone has that same option, but few actually use it...good grief...we hold it in our hands all day long!"  I remember when we got our first home computer two years after we were married.  WOW!

I appreciated the pep talk from my husband and Mr. Host's perspective.  I have been feeling overwhelmed by the "business stuff" to learn as I work for a new boss.  I am in uncomfortable territory for me.  Give me anything educational and I know and understand that world and was finally comfortable knowing that I was experienced and good at what I was doing.  Now it is time to grow in new ways...good thing I have someone who can show me the ropes...and if not...he reminds me to go to youtube!

 

"Bless the Lord, He will give me His peace!"

I love spending days at the beach listening to the waves and the seagulls.  It is a restful place to spend time.  To me, it is relaxing!  I find it interesting that the crashing of waves sounds peaceful to me.  The same waves can build in intensity in a storm and cause concern and even destruction.  I see the similarity...now... standing on solid ground in daily life as we spend time waiting on tests, appointments, and results.  There is peace knowing that God is over all and in all, but calm can be overtaken quickly by waves of fear and doubt.  My tried and true way to deal with the waves that threaten to crash the calm is to turn on music to fill the empty spaces of our home...and my mind!  There are times to be still and quiet...but not in the storms of life!  Too much quiet can leave your heart and mind open to satan's stirring up the waters of fear and doubt.  Turn up the music and let it fill your home and heart with truth!  Tears will fall as you listen to the words...and will reset your heart and mind on that which you already know.  Let God remind you of what you know to be true...that He reigns day after day...and He will speak peace to the waves of fear and doubt.

In The Valley (Bless the Lord) 
Verse 1
When the path that I feared
Is the way He has set
And I long to give in and retreat
Still to Jesus I hold
As I face every step
For the Lord He will give me His peace

Chorus
Bless the Lord! He will give me His peace
Bless the Lord! He will give me His peace
And if I should remain in the valley today
Bless the Lord, He will give me His peace

Verse 2
When the road that I tread
Fills my heart with despair
And it seems that my grief has no end
Still to Jesus I hold
Who will walk with me there
And the Lord He will give me His strength

Chorus
Bless the Lord! He will give me his strength
Bless the Lord! He will give me his strength
And if I should remain in the valley today
Bless the Lord, He will give me His strength

Verse 3
On the road that You walked
With the weight of the cross
All my pain and my sorrow You held
So to you I shall hold
You redeem every loss
For my Lord, you have given yourself

Chorus
Bless the Lord! For he gives me Himself
Bless the Lord! For he gives me Himself
And if I should remain in the valley today
Bless the Lord! For He gives me Himself

Playing with watercolor

Last summer while we were on vacation up north, I played with watercolor for the first time...well, besides kindergarten art.  I looked at all the ideas I had saved to try.  I pulled it out again this week.  It has been a soothing activity for my brain and heart.  I have not taken much time to be creative.  There are boxes to sort through from school.  There are probably a few cobwebs and dust bunnies to chase away, but I am finding this profitable for focusing my mind on others as I listen to good music.  I need to be conscious of taking steps to encourage others as I step out of the classroom.  I was smack dab in the middle of opportunities on a daily...hourly basis.  With the change of this year, I need to be intentional.  So I am fulfilling the need to be creative and encouraging by making cards...right now, by playing with my watercolors.  A couple cards were picked up today by our happy mail lady and are making their way to Florida!  Grateful for the artistic gene that I got from my Dad...remembering the times he would sit at the table to draw and color with us when we were little...and then the VBS cardboard characters we helped chalk..and finally the backdrops we painted together for school programs.  I learned so much from watching and helping Dad...and I have had multiple opportunities to use what I learned!  

When I look back...my parents have taught me so many things through the years!  I should try and make a list!  I hope I have shared enough different things with our children.  I know they have learned things from their grandparents...because they have mentioned specific things on occasion...which makes me grateful!

Psalm 91:4

Alisa made a gift for me to share with a friend.  She brought it to me and we took a picture for her collection.  As I looked back at the picture, I thought of the verse in Psalm 91..."He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

I am thankful for God's creation that points us back to truth...real or crocheted!
 

Love in action

My sweet daughter put love into action on Tuesday.  I was feeling overwhelmed and she willingly did the grocery shopping for me as I mowed the lawn.  When I came down from taking a shower, there was a basket filled with sweet things just for me!  Yes, she made me cry!  The special "Today is a good day" calendar was turned into a journal of thankfulness and reminders.  So many songs and verses have been shared with me that I want to remember!  My morning coffee has tasted good as I sit and meditate on the goodness of God.  My girl knows her momma!  And what hit my heart...my girl showed love this way because her momma learned from her mom who learned from her mother.  Share your heart, share a kind word, share your time, share a cup of coffee or tea, share snacks, share God's Word, share hugs...

 

Updating the progress

If we do a little at a time, pretty soon it will be all done!

"Ya know, if you turned the boards on their side, you could get a lot more on each load!" he admonished.  I replied, "I'm not your normal idiot...I thought about this...if I do it your way I can't fit through the garage door on my way to the truck.  Plus...it will be way too heavy for me!"  He laughed, "You are right, you are above average..."  And on my way I went!

Yes...I was wearing sandals and it occurred to me that I wasn't being very smart with that choice!

Nails...screws...and rotting wood...OH MY!  And this board...was not even the right kind of wood for this project...it was particle board.  Double OH MY!

After beating the crow bar and yanking and pulling...Ted's arm is not feeling so great these last two days!  He decided to give his arm a rest.  Hopefully, we will finish this up on Saturday with minimal aching and burning.

 

Psalm 16:8, 9, 11

      TRUST

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

HOPE

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Today, Mom has claimed these verses for her journey.  She shared this with me this morning.  These two words are sustaining her...TRUST and HOPE.  They have ministered to so many people through the years who stood in the valley.  They have walked through trials with our family.  They have never wavered in their confidence in God.  Once again, I am reminded of the faith of my parents and their faithfulness to the One they serve.

"My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty..."

One of my favorite places is the Smoky Mountains.  Pictures never seem to do it justice...but this unknown photographer captured a beautiful day!  It is the perfect representation of the song from my childhood that was just playing.  "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty...there is nothing my God cannot do! The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the stars are His handiwork too...My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there is nothing my God cannot do!  For you!"

One thing I love about my summer schedule is the time to sit and have coffee as I meditate on the truth of God's Word.  An added blessing is when the music that is playing is just what you need to remind you that God is in control.  We look at the world around us and think about how out of control it is, and pretty soon, we put that whole thought process into practice in our daily life.  We leave Him out of the daily living.  We sit in church on Sunday and fill up and forget to take our faith with us through the week.

This week, our family is having an opportunity to once again practice the faith that we have claimed for most of our lives.  We believe that God created all for His glory.  Sin ruined the perfect world and caused separation from God.  But in His great love He provided a way for us to be forgiven, the death of His dear Son on the cross.  I am so thankful the story did not end there!  Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we have hope!  He lives and He is ever interceding to the Father.   We know that we are not alone.

On the mountains, we sing of His strength and might.

In the valleys, we bless the Lord knowing He is by our side and gives strength.

"This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice as we lift His name!"

 

Saturday's snapshots

I looked at what I was using to make breakfast on Saturday morning...all things that remind me of my Mom!  My eyes were blinded by tears again as I cut fresh fruit to go on the puffed pancake I was making.

I realized it is the same recipe that Mom uses to make Swedish pancakes.  I was comparing recipes...the difference is in how it is cooked.  I like the browned butter in the hot oven and dump all of the batter in a  9 x13 pan at once.  Mom takes time and love to patiently work the frying pan to make them one at a time.  I'm thankful for all the cooking/baking lessons and yummy recipes Mom shares!

We are dealing with the shock of Mom's tests results that were shared with us on Friday night (8/4/23).  We are praying for God's wisdom and guidance as clear, definitive answers are being sought.  We take what we know to be true and trust God for the days ahead.  We are praying for clear direction starting with an appointment on Wednesday (8/7/23).

With a beautiful Saturday and nervous energy, we got busy with a project that needs to be done.

Down comes the railing...piece by piece!

If we do a little at a time...it won't hurt our bodies!

Not sure if it was a blessing or more to be concerned about...some of those nail came out awfully easy as they were surrounded by soft (rotten) wood.  Next up, stuff off the deck down onto the yard.  Then cutting up the deck floor in smaller pieces.  Finally, ground level concrete patio.

So even our work...we rested in the thought that God is good and He will work all things for our good and His glory.   We choose to trust our good Father!

An added blessing...when someone tells you they will take care of a special request and they do exactly what you asked!

 

OH, the ups and downs of a week!

Cuddles...make you slow down!

A yummy and refreshing drink...boosts your energy up!

Time in the garage...sit down and let's chat!

Still learning all the things...power up with caffeine first!

My new boss...making all the things happen!  Taking a moment to document a big change...and the weight of advising and guiding is taking its toll.  "Anything worth doing is worth doing well...and God requires that we are good stewards of what He has given us.  I was asked by my Dad to take care of my Mom...and I would hope my son would do the same for you."  So many heavy conversations these last few weeks....life decisions are not done flippantly in our home.   Look up and let God lead!

I feel like I have done a whole lot of nothing when it comes to sorting and purging.  There is more value in somethings to me and how I use them than to other people.  Knowing the difference is hard.  Again...being a good steward and not a hoarder seem to be close in proximity to each other in my mind.  I know how to mess up a room!

National Chocolate Chip Cookie day was celebrated with a fresh batch!  Sugar up!

Counting down.  Loose change called for some attention!  Alisa told me Ashlynn contributed what was in the cup when she was here.  Hmmm...guess Mom has a decision to make!

I saw this sign and it was perfect timing to be reminded to take a deep breath and remember that all will be well.  In the little and in the big...God gives us the wisdom...if we just slow down and ask Him!  
 

Expanding my culinary skills..

and fulfilling a request by Ted!  He likes lobster.  I'm not fond of it, but I was willing to try again.  So I picked up some lobster tails at Costco.  Lesson learned...five is too many...go to a place that has smaller packages...but the info collected from friends was using Costco lobster.

I watched a couple videos on the how-tos preparing lobster tail in the oven.  You need to have strong hands to cut through the shells.  Ted stepped in and helped with that! 

Butter with seasonings...

15 minutes in the oven...

and a very happy guy!  He loved it.  Alisa and I tried again...and she moved on to her chicken option.  I am still un-wowed and undecided.  I will make it again for my love!  We discovered leftover lobster in homemade mac and cheese is good...but something happens in the fridge that made it not a great texture.  It was a good effort...but wasn't worth the time and ingredients to save for another warm-up.  Bummer!

 

Not sure if I did...

 but for $3.49...I took the bait!  Way to go, Costco!  These are very yummy for a pre-made, packaged, American version of a classic Mexican delicacy!  Never go shopping hungry or with a general female craving for snacks.  Alisa laughed at me and then picked her bag of choice.  We know Ted will like this.

And we stopped again for the intended choice on my actual list.