any little reason

give thanks in everything. for little things, or things that may seem inconsequential, we still say thank you, awesome Father.

- a few good deals this weekend on some fall clothes
- a good burger for supper last night & time w/brother to watch a movie
- 19 accident-free days at the local poultry plant

yes, this last item is actually a reason that some are giving thanks over there at columbia farms off sunset boulevard in west columbia. it's celebrated on a marquee out front. walked by there w/friends the other night (don't worry about why we were walking down sunset at night), & we found it amusing that 19 days sans a poultry-processing incident would be cause for such delight. but sometimes it's the small things. even one day, casualty free at the plant, is cause for thanks i guess.

i recently came across a penetrating question posed by francis schaeffer- "what is the present value of the love of Christ in your life?" which i think relates to the admonition to "give thanks in everything"... if the love of Christ in my life has high value right now, it's helping me see all things- little things, disappointing things, days w/o any harmful accidents, etc.- as from the hand of a good, kind, righteous, loving, just, wise, powerful, gracious Father. do we need his help to understand & remember this? yes! do we need a photo of the above-referenced marquee? i say yess, for some humor slash entertainment, for posterity, and for a reminder to be grateful for it all. check out this aerial view of the slaughterhouse:
http://wikimapia.org/10985675/Columbia-Farms-chicken-processing-plant

...& the slogan there is priceless- "truckloads of live chickens go in; truckloads of frozen chickens & a horrible smell come out." we'll push past the odor to beat all & be thankful for another injury-free day.

a few things

1. co-worker feels inspired to try her hand at some baking. so i invited myself over. should be this weekend sometime! her idea? sweet potato cheesecake. how will it not be amazing!?

2. took a break from elie wiesel's short stories to read his novella the accident. more on plot, etc. soon, but for now i'll say his take on the city of blinding lights especially struck me. i heart new york as much as the next, but his haunting description of times square was worth re-reading & sitting with for a while: "times square hadn't changed. false lights, artificial shadows. the same anonymous crowd twisting and untwisting. in the bars and the stores, the same tunes hitting away at your temples with thousands of invisible little hammers. the neon signs still announced that to drink this or that was good for your health, for happiness, for the peace of the world, of the soul, and of i don't know what else."

3. loving psalm 18 (for the vivid & detailed description of a great rescue). be encouraged by vs. 16 & 49, by way of summary- "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters... therefore, i will praise you among the nations; i will sing praises to your name"

it was good?

when i taught english, i banned the word good. i told my students it was bland & overused & their writing could be more colorful than "that character was good," or "the plot was mostly nice" but "the ending was really bad." our "dead words" tutorial, re: words they weren't allowed to use in their papers, was complete w/memorial service, laminated tombstone, & homily... (tis true.)

but now i think i'm needing a tutorial on good. i'm a slow learner, & this- "it was good for me to be afflicted that i might learn your decrees" -psalm 119:71- is a hard teaching.

Father, help me embrace your good ways. help me love your goodness. help me learn to value the good work you do of drawing near & teaching me. give me a thankful heart that "through thorny ways," you lead to a joyful end.

"the nearness of God is my good" -psalm 73:28

cocoa & cream cake, & time w/hannah's lil men

saturday afternoons at the edgrens are perfect. especially when baking with hannah & spending time with her 3 adorable active boys is on the docket. arrived during naptime today, dad & eldest son michael were off at the water park. hannah had gotten most of the ingredients together for pioneer woman's cocoa & cream cake (pw's ccc). my contribution was chocolate chips & a block of cream cheese. here's a full list of ingredients & steps:

http://thepioneerwoman/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/cocoa-and-cream-cake

thankfully, youngest son grady woke up about halfway in. hannah had finished mixing the batter, then G was able to oversee me making the cream cheese mixture. (smiled the whole time, despite nursing a virus.) and before we put the two together, he looked like he wanted to do some damage, as you can see in pic above left.

final outcome melted in our mouths. the chocolate cake part's light & fluffy, not overpoweringly sweet, & the cream cheese mix gives it the gooey richness our hearts desired. those are hannah's technical terms;) (side note: husband jon seemed gratified, post- his toils at the water park, to eat two helpings of pw's ccc.)

a special non-desserty treat was middle son jonathan singing "our God is so big" & "God our Father" after napping. wish i'd captured his expression of sheer delight on film. also would love to share in that delight. God our Father, we thank Thee for our many blessings, ah-ah-men! i thank Him for the blessing this family's been. for desserts. and saturday afternoons playing with thomas the train, watching thomas movies, & reading thomas books with han's lil men.

christianity is the only religion whose god...

...bears the scars of evil. -os guiness

although my mind is perplexed & divided, my nature perverse, yet my secret dispositions still desire Thee... break the fatal enchantment that binds my evil affections, & bring me to a happy mind that rests in Thee, for Thou hast made me & cannot forget me. let the Spirit teach me the vital lessons of Christ, for i am slow to learn; & hear my broken cries. -valley of vision


He is God of the universe; He is gentle & humble in heart.
He says "come to Me, weary. i give rest to your soul."
He says "there's change around you? i'm your constant companion & am the same yesterday & always."
He says "are you having difficulty getting (& keeping) your bearings? My word & character are firm ground."
He says "do you feel misunderstood, disliked, neglected, out of place, insignificant? anyone who speaks or thinks ill of you can't know the depths of you like i do. and knowing your worst, i'm still here. you belong to Me. and i'm showing perseverance & love to people through you."
He says "take heart. i've overcome your fears, the accuser's end is certain, i am for you. and it's unthinkable for Me to leave."