A Perfect Family

Really....A perfect family? Have you ever in your life heard of anyone who had one? I listen as some of my friends tell me their stories of how it was for them growing up. For some it was great, simple, and uncomplicated! But for others, it was a bit more troubled, and left many scars. Some people have proved that by the grace of God they can overcome the generational curses of their families! It doesn't have to always repeat itself ...When you are a kid you really do not realize what "normal" should be. When you begin to have a family of your own then things start to dawn on you, and as your children grow you are enlightened! You may look back at your own life and all of a sudden realize it was far from what it should have been. Let God  be your father. To those who grew up in foster home after foster home, and you feel so broken , abused and lonely...let God be a loving arm around your shoulder....He has good intentions. He only cares about you...I am so thankful for my Father in Heaven.....He is the strongest....He is the kindest...He tells me I am special and wanted! ...He has never abandoned me ...He has never belittled me...He has never pushed me around....He has never thought evil towards me...He has never been jealous of me...He has never cussed me out....He has never left me hungry or cold or without clothes.... He has never lied to me... He has never disappointed me....He has always rejoiced in my smallest accomplishments and been so proud! Maybe your family wasn't perfect, but it doesn't matter because God  has always been right here by your side and He has promised to never leave! He knows my name and every hair on my head! I can truly say ..I have the Best Father!                                                                                                                                                         2 Cor. 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,says the Lord Almighty."     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Got the Right Number?

I was rummaging around in our old truck shed  one day last summer in much trepidation, trying to watch out for the Pine snakes that like to lurk up overhead in the warmth of the rafters. I came across this old relic and of course I was ecstatic that I had uncovered yet another treasure! I brought it in, cleaned it up and immediately put it on display. Soon after, I received another one of my many country decor magazines in the mail and to my surprise there was a replica phone on the page for sale! I thought...they stole my idea!! But my phone has something theirs does not...it still has the original phone number etched on the circle.... and mine was actually used! In this day where just about everything is digital and animated, it is difficult nowadays to actually speak to a human when you call a business. Most of the time we are prompted to press #1 for this, #2 for that, #3 for everything else; and if you are anything at all like me, by the time you are done pressing numbers you almost have forgotten who it was you were calling and what you were calling for!  I am thankful this morning that when I call unto God , He hears me immediately . I don't have to go through any one else to get to Him. No party line!!  No one else is on the other end listening to the conversation ready and willing to gossip about it to the next anxious listener! He doesn't put me on hold.                                                        
Jer.33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and mighty things which you know not."

The Old Outhouse

How many people do you know that still have an outhouse in their backyard in 2011?  Well, I do! It was built by my husband's grandpa when he and his wife first moved here to the Northwoods of Wisconsin back in the early 1930's. From what I am told, there was already an outhouse here but apparently was not to the liking of Grandpa, so he built his own. This is no ordinary outhouse mind you. It has accommodations for four! It has two adult sized holes and two children sized holes. I am not positive as to the why it was built this way; I really don't think they made this a "family affair". My theory is....Grandpa was probably a bit particular about anyone else sitting upon his " royal throne" so decided he would make other holes for the other family members, so they would not have to share his. I don't know...I suppose that is a good question for one of  his children the next time one pops in for a visit to see the old homestead, as they often have.

You  can see how far away  from the house this is...Yikes! It is quite a hike if you had to go really bad and if the temperature was anything like what we have been having  this winter! Not to mention, trudging through the snow, besides! In case any of you are wondering....yes, we do have two modern, indoor bathrooms with flushing toilets!! We put them in shortly after moving here ourselves  about eight years ago.  Sometimes I find it is refreshing to take a quick glimpse back at the past  every now and again. Although it is true, we don't want to dwell on the past for too long, we do need every once in awhile to look at it in new appreciation of  the progress we have made both personally, and spiritually...hopefully we are making some progress. Hopefully I can say I am better as a person today than yesterday. I sure am glad that my bathroom is a better place to be than that old outhouse on a cold winter day! Remember...no matter how bad things seem to be...you can always find something to be thankful for!                                                                                       
                                              Psalm107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good...."