Do You Have an Old Friend?

Do you have old friend?  Not friends that are old, but friends that you have known since childhood.  Some of those friends are ones that you may not see for a while, sometimes a good while, even years.  But when you get together it's as if you've never been apart, you just take up right where you left off.  Catching up only takes a few minutes and then your just right back where you were the last time you saw each other and in those early years of friendships.  Those are lifetime friends, friends that you developed a relationship with through the thick and thin of life and they will always be your friend no matter what. They are friends you've shared you most intimate secrets with and your biggest joys with. They are a permanent part of your heart.  It's just gotta be a God thing.  My friend Judy is like that.

In my deep sadness, I could not figure out why I was so deeply affected by the situation with Gus.  I have not actually OWNED him in 9 years.  Gus had  belonged to someone else.  While I have seen him through these years, I have not ridden him or been around him for any length of time.   I've had numerous horses since Gus and two now.  But Tuesday it was if I was losing my only horse, my best friend, my comrade, and a piece of my heart.

Today it hit me.  I realized it was because he was like one of those old friends that you take up the relationship right where you left off.  Tuesday, as I leaned over him, kissing him and telling him goodbye, he was that old friend, the one you hope you'll never lose.  All of our time together just came racing back into my heart and mind as if it were yesterday.  In a flash, I remembered so many good times with him and some difficult times too.  Our relationship was not void of some trials and hardships too, but we made it through together, he and I.  This realization has mades sense of it all now and it has blessed me to see this so clearly.

Today I am so grateful for those treasured memories and treasured friendships.  God is so faithful to give us treasures in our hearts, the kind we will take with us till the end.

One of the best things about Tuesday was that his current family was with me or should I say, I was with them.  There was this bond between us that neither of us had ever known, but it was as if our love for Gus individually had bonded the two of us together as well.  There's  no other way to describe it.  There's just this spiritual thing between horses and the women who love them that only those women know and feel.  It would have been too hard to do it alone, but we were there for each other and for that I am eternally grateful.  There were angels among us.

I found this reading and scripture this morning in my Jesus Calling devotional that sort of said it all.  I sent this to Gus' mom.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

This scripture is as if Jesus said to us.....
"When you need comfort, I love to enfold you in My arms.  I enable you not only to feel comforted but also to be a channel through whom I comfort others.  Thus you are doubly blessed, because a living channel absorbs some of what is flowing through it.  No matter what losses you experience in your life, no one can take away my constant companionship with you."

God, I thank you for your loving arms that hold and comfort me all day long, in good times and in bad.  You are my Savior and I praise your name.

You know me.  There will be many more trails and tales of horses in my life.  There will be a zillion memories to share and hold dear to my heart.  There will be more horse love than I know what to do with!
So here's to happy thoughts and happy trials and swishing tails and hoof prints in the sand!

Matthew 6

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

Be Thankful Psalm 100:4

Psalm 100:4

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

Just last night the friend I had dinner with said "how's it going".  I told her, "in my life, I have no complaints.  I still strive to be content no matter what my situation is.  I don't always succeed at that, however, it doesn't take long for me to listen to someone else's story and realize how blessed I am.  My family, my home, my health, they are all great.  My life is good.  My life is "going" great".  Of course that quote is not exactly what I said but the content is accurate.  We discussed the health of some of our dear friends, the financial situation of some, how HARD and long hours some of our friends have to work.  We discussed "life".  At any time, life can take that downward turn, that turn that sends you straight toward God in a rapid pace.  Until then, strive hard to live grateful, live blessed, and stay close to God.  Try not to wish for someone else's life, someone else's stuff.  If possible, enter everyday in a feeling of gratitude, and be blessed.  

I found this poem on a friends blog.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

Encourage one another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you XO

The Butcher, the Baker.....

Luke 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ”

About a month ago I put out a request on Facebook to see if any of my friends knew anyone who made homemade bread and who might be willing to show me how.  I got a couple of suggestions but I got phone call from a friend with a solid offer to show me how to make sweet (cinnamon) rolls.  I immediately took her up on it and we set a date!
That date was last Friday.  I asked if I could bring anything along.  The only things she suggested were pecans (uh, no), raisins (uh, a BIG no) and pans.  The pans are what I took.
When I arrived we perused the recipe (which she had read over numerous times already since it had been quite some time since she had made some).

She already had just about everything set out for this event including bowls, measuring cups and spoons, ingredients, etc.  So fun.
We set about our task, each making their own "batch".
First up, bowl of liquid ingredients including milk, sugar, salt, butter;
Second bowl, warm water, yeast, sugar.

When the yeast is ready it's sort of frothy.  

Beat 2 eggs, mix/knead 7 cups flour in slowly, till no longer sticky.

 This was the fun part.  Kneading!

Linda's on the left, mine on the right.
Put in bowl to rise in a warm place, cover; resting, rising.
After a couple of hours, dough doubles, punch it down.
Rise again...roll out dough, spread with softened butter (a lot); cover with brown sugar (a lot).

When you think you have enough butter, add more; when you think you have enough brown sugar, add more.

Linda added chopped pecans to hers.
Roll up dough, cut in slices, grease pan, line pan with rolls,

Let rise, bake at 400 degrees 12-15 minutes
Icing is made of powdered sugar, tbs spoon butter, vanilla, milk or half and half (yum).
Viola!

Ice while hot then EAT!!

Oh my, heaven!
I'm hoping the friend I found who does make bread will call and make a date with me.  I'm sitting by the phone.
Till next time...

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Footnote:  I took 85 photos; I didn't figure you wanted to see all of them!

Kindred Spirits

Warrenton Day Two Continues

It happened again.  One of those chance meetings with someone you feel this deep connection to and you can't really explain it.  Here's the story.
As we, Janie and I, are finishing up our last day, trying to get the last of the best under our belt, we headed off to look at something Janie thought I would like.  As it turned out, that was a false alarm.  However, the booth next to that one just drew me in.  They had creatively decorated their booth and had these adorable succulents in tea cups that drew me in.  Every where I looked something caught my eye.  We started chatting with these three gals who were the venders and they, all three of them were just delightful.  Two of them were sisters, identical twins to be exact!  We found that they were from Canton.  When asked if I'd been to Canton, "oh yea" was my reply.  "Have you been down on the square" they asked?  "Well, no" I said and they proceeded to tell us of all the very cute and cool shops on the square in Canton.  They told about several of those, two of which were theirs.  I can hardly wait to go back to Canton!
The Picket Fence  131 W Dallas St, Canton  (Carrie)
Whimsical Gardens of Canton   (Lanette and Yevette)

During our conversation I eyed these sweet crosses made from old silverware.  They were all very different.  Several had tatting handcrafted by the designers of the crosses.  I had to have that one.  Well, I had to have two!  They showed me around the booth where all these crosses  were hanging and as it turns out, I ended up with six!

(I'm only going to show you a peak at my crosses because I don't know where these might end up!  You know Christmas is just around the corner.  This one has a hummingbird on it...you know how I love those.  So this one I'll probably keep.)

(Guess who this one might be for?)  I love things that are "upcycled" or made for one intention and crafted into something else.  These were a great example of that.

Every time I turned around there in this little shop there was some fabulous other handmade thing that made me swoon!  I kept putting things on their counter saying "I'll take this too".  About 13 items later I made my final purchase.  This shop was truly a fabulous find.

During my shopping we starting sharing things about ourselves.  We had so many commonalities it was uncanny.  Horses, one twin raised cutting horses.  So we had to have a conversation about my horses too.  One twin's last name started with T, as does mine. Interesting.

The most curious thing however, was when I found a sweet little vase with lace and a butterfly on it.  Had to have that too.  I explained how my mom loved butterflies and every time I saw one I thought of her.  Both the sisters looked at each other and sort of turned their heads in that "hum" kind of way and said "us too".  It was then that I knew this stop was a God thing.  He just doesn't do things by accident.  He obviously had some reason for me to walk in this little fabulous booth of women.  We talked a few minutes about our mothers.  Everybody got a little teary.  I have never met anyone who thinks about their mother when they see a butterfly like my sister and I do.  Butterflies are just dear to us....and to my new friends.

1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

We then shared phone numbers, email addresses and cards and all hugged as we were leaving, like old friends do.  It was just a special meeting of women among thousands of people in the fields between Roundtop and Warrenton.  It was a delightful way to end a great day!

I don't know that this is the end of my "chance" meeting with these new friends.  I believe God has something else in mind.  I believe the connection was made for some reason.  Who knows when we might find out what that is.  In the meantime, I'll just enjoy the story and will certainly share it with my sister.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Encourage one another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love...

Divine Connection

Have you been fortunate in your life to meet someone new that you just "connected" with?  That almost immediately you felt like you had known this person your whole life?  You felt like they knew your heart before you even spoke it?

It has happened to me.

I moved to west Texas in April 2007. s.  I had purchased a cute little condo and was working on it's decor and furnishings.  The interior was dark and dreary and some dark Gothic fans and light fixtures has immediately gone to the resale shop.  New, creamy white fans with frosted glass fixtures had promptly taken their place.  Other lighting and furnishings were needed to make this place much different from my previous home.  I wanted a fresh start.

I had been to numerous estate sales in search for things, not new, more vintage.   At one, where the house was also for sale and on the market, I bought a creamy white, with antiqued gold trim , floor to ceiling lamp with three small shades for the living area.  In this patio home (there are tons of patio home in Midland), I spotted an enameled floral chandelier over the kitchen table.  I was in love.  It was not for sale obviously, as it was part of the house for heaven's sake.  However, I had a feeling that whoever purchased this house would want to "update" it, not live in it as it.  I got the name of the realtor who was listing the house.  I gave her a call and put a bug in her ear that when the house sold, if the buyers decided not to keep that chandelier, I would love to purchase it.  She stated she would be glad to forward my message.

On a random weekend that October, I decided to go to the "Trade Days" held, monthly, in Fredericksburg searching furnishings and for a chandelier like the one I had found and loved.   While the trade days there are not near the size of those in Canton or Round Top-Warrenton, they take a day to explore.

At the very end of the first barn I navigated I found a vendor with a similar chandelier.  It was not quite as big and it was not quite as fabulous, however, it was close.  And most importantly, it was available!  I immediately took up a conversation with the gal who was the proprietor of this shop.  Her name was Lee.  I don't know how much I told her about my life that day, but there was just this immediate attraction to her gentle soul, who also loved old things like I did.  We had a great deal in common.  We talked about the chandelier and my finding the one in the home for sale.  We talked about a TON of other stuff.  I think I told her my life history.  Anyway, I told her I loved it, but honestly I wanted to look around since I had just gotten there.  She also had a beautiful quilt I feel in love with but honestly didn't need.  I told her I would be back to let her know something.  So off I went for more exploring.  It was a great day and I found a number of items for the condo, but no other chandeliers. My heart still longed for the one living in that home in Midland.

Days later I emailed my new friend and told her I was going to pass on her chandelier but loved meeting her.  We shared some more and I remember her sharing Psalm 92 with me.  Life was turning on a very big wheel for me during this time of my life.

it was February 2009, before I contacted her again.  I just felt a calling or a directing to email her, so I did.  She was no longer working at the place where her email when but "by chance" a previous co-worker emailed that email to her new address.

The rest is history.  We have been friends ever since.  She has guided me, mentored me, uplifted me, encouraged me through many events in my life since that time.  She is just always there.  She always has something to say that makes a mark on my life.  She is my objectivity.  They fact that she did not "live" through the last 25 years of my life with me has her coming at things from a whole different refreshing perspective...which I needed.

We are truly friends in our souls and our spirits.  Here's the funny thing.  In these 5.5 years, because there was so much distance between us, the first time I saw her again was April 2011.  We met in Warrenton, Texas, at the Antique Fair.  We shopped, spent the day together, went back to her house for the night and went back to Warrenton to shop some more the next day!  We had a blast.  For me, it was as if we had never been apart.  It was as if I had known her all my life.

Yesterday, a year and a half later, we met for lunch.  Once again, just started where we left off.  We spend a lot of time emailing, however, do not get to spend much physical time together.  We don't even talk on the phone.  Since we met we have shared intimate things, things about our families, our grandchildren, our loves, our hopes, our desires, our difficulties, our losses and our joys.  We have shared a lot and truly have become the friends it appears we always were...if that makes any sense.

I believe God put her in my life that day in Fredericksburg, Texas.  He connected us and touched us in a rare and fruitful way.  I only hope that I have added even some small thing to her life through this compared to what she has added to mine.  I pray for a long and lasting friendship with her for the rest of our lives.  I thank God for her.

Ecclesiastes 4
9  Two are better than one
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 if either of them falls down,
     one can help the other up
     But pity anyone who falls
     and has no one to help them up.

    

THE REST OF THE STORY....
The Chandelier
Several months later, late in 2007, I got a phone call from the realtor.  She said they had finally sold that patio home I had contacted her about months ago. She said the buyer was a local interior designer and yes, he was changing out all the fixtures.  She said he was holding the lovely enameled chandelier for me at his store...for no charge.  It proudly hangs in my condo!

Encourage one another...continuing the journey on fresh paths.

God is Always Working

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." Philippians 3:13


Back in April I met a gal at a picnic in Roundtop/Warrenton weekend.  She's about my age.  She and her sister have a business with 'old things'.  As it turned out, she lives just outside Seguin...where my daughter lives, where I was originally looking to rent or buy.  She and I visited over dinner that day and I could tell I liked her right away.  I could tell we could be friends.  We talked about our lives and our faith.  I only had one short conversation with her after that, by phone, about a house for rent, which didn't turn out.  But God wasn't through with us yet.
This week I saw her connected to another friend on Facebook.  I sent her an email telling her I was finally moving to the area.  She friend requested me on FB.  I confirmed.  We emailed a couple of short emails and then I got an email that included the above scripture.  TODAY, that is just what I needed to hear.  I need to leave a lot of things behind, my old life in G and the negative things that happened there, still need to be behind me.  I need only be looking at the present and the future which will hold great things.  I know that because God made that promise.  I need to re-establishing old friendships that are positive for me, create new friendships with new people, get involved in a church family, watch my grandson grow up inside my daughters family, watch my daughter grow into an amazing young woman, watch her marriage grow stronger day by day.  I need to "reach forth unto those things which are before", not backward to what could have or might have been.  Those things are over, they are done, they are history and nothing can be changed about them.  My future is bright.  I have a feeling my life is going to be very full.  I am looking forward to my new home, my new friends, my old friends becoming new again, and the "meanderings of a happy girl" once more filling my days.  

Continuing my journey...but with fresh paths!
Encourage One Another

Remember Pen Pals

I purchased my condo about 4 years ago.  When I moved out of the big house I left many things behind.  It was really time to start new, leaving the old life behind.  And actually, the "old life" or life from a much more simple time is a design theme I love.  I talking about a much more simple time, the 50s and 60s.  My condo was built in the 60s, perfect.  It has not really been updated a whole lot.  So I decided to continue that theme.  Anyway, I went to the "trade days" in Fredericksburg in August 2007.  It's a great event, sort of like a big antique/flea market with lots of cool stuff.  I was specifically looking for a chandelier to go above my dining table.  I had seen one in a condo that was for sale but the light fixture was not.  I told the realtor that day I was interested in that chandelier if the new buyers wanted to sell it.  I wanted one similar to that one.  At the market in one booth, I found one I liked a lot, along with a very nice lady.  She and I struck up a conversation.  I told her about the one I had seen and what I was looking for.  Talking between us just came easily and we had much in common with our love for old things and our talents for sort of making something from nothing.  I have no idea how long we talked but I finally told her I wanted to look a little more.  In the trip I didn't find anything else I like better, however, hers was a little smaller than I had planned for.  I told her how much I liked it however, it was not exactly what I was looking for.  I got her email address and phone numbers.  We visited a while longer.  There was just something about this instant relationship but I could not put my finger on it but I could feel it in my bones.    

Months went by, probably three.  I got a call from that realtor, the new buyers in fact did not want that chandelier and wanted to "give" it to me.  Wow, what I gift.  I had it installed above my dining room.  It looked fabulous!  I email my new friend to tell her this story. Some time went by.  I can't say how much.  I emailed her again.  She was no longer employed at the same place but someone there had seen the email and forwarded it to her.  She and I began emailing each other regularly.  We became "pen pals" of sorts, like in the days I was a child.  In school we wrote some letters to kids overseas.  I don't even remember if they ever wrote back.  But my friend did.  We began to share intimate details of our lives.  We shared out faith.  We shared our thoughts and our suggestions.  We became incredible friends.  While she is not old enough to be my mother, she is a bit older, and wiser by far.  She always had just the right thing to say.  We shared information about our children, our spouses, our families.  To date we have been friends over 4 years.  We have only talked on the phone once (when I was nervous about applying for a new job that would have created a move for me) and seen each other twice…  The second time only recently when we went to Roundtop/Warrenton Antique Weekend.  We met there, shopped, and then I went to her house and spent the night.  We visited like old friends.  We shared some ideas and dreams.  Then we slept.  We traveled back to Warrenton the next day for more shopping and sharing.  Our lives finally included talking sharing in person, meeting some of her family (she had met my daughter when she was attending A & M in College Station ), hugging each other hello and goodbye and talking into the night like best friends.  She gave me a book about blessing others.  She is truly a blessing to me.  Although we do not see each other often, our relationship is something special.  It is a gift.  I thank God for her.  Our friendship will last for a lifetime.  I can feel it in my bones. 

Encourage One Another

The Blessing Was Mine

On Sundays there's an older lady who sits on a street corner up the street selling newspapers.  She's been on that corner for months it seemed.  As it turned out, she's been sitting on that same corner on Sundays for over 2 years.  She waves and smiles to everyone who goes by.  You can't drive by without wanting to smile and wave back.  She just sort of brightens your day.  I have felt compelled for months to stop and talk to her.  But I haven't.  I have, in fact, felt compelled to take her a little gift and something for her pup..but I haven't.  I picked up something for her one day...but it wasn't right.  Friday, I finally found something for her, a scarf.  I really wanted a flower so she could put on her hat...but couldn't find one.  So I bought this pretty yellow scarf instead.  I also made her some chocolate chip cookies.  I put them in a little metal tin.  I wrapped her scarf in tissue and tied it w/ some twine.  I packed a little plastic bag with some treats for her pup.  This morning I delivered them.  Wow, can I just say wow.  I introduced myself and told her that I appreciated her friendliness and her smiles and waves on Sunday's.  I told her I had wanted to stop for months but hadn't.  I told her I see her every Sunday on my way to ride my horse and on my way back home.  She was appreciative of the gift.  She told me she lives close by (which I figured because she rides her scooter to this corner).  I told her if she ever needed anything to call me.  I'd be happy to run to the store for her or help her do something.  She said "I pay someone $10 an hour to do things for me like change a light bulb or do something I can't reach".  I said "no I don't want you to pay me, I just want to offer to help you with something like that if you need help".  She said "well all I really need is someone to pray with me".  I said "I can do that", but I was almost speechless.  She proceeded to tell me some about her life, how she became a Christian 10 years ago; how on Christmas eve ten years ago Christ finally reached her; how even though her father was an atheist and a Jew she always believed in God; she told me about her troubles with her daughter who just got out of jail; she told me she sometimes gives the papers away to folks who don't have money to pay for it but need one to look for a job or a place to live; that there are lots of people with many troubles in the world; that she used to drive a big truck, she was a truck driver; that she writes poetry and songs and often sings while she is there selling papers; I heard about her son and granddaughter who live in Dallas; about her saving her money so she can buy a car so she could drive herself to Dallas and take her dog too...lots of things I learned about her in our short visit today. She quoted scripture, she told me she never gives up, she said God will always come through if you don't give up.  She told me obedience is very important in that result.  She told me the best gift you can give someone is a prayer.  I told her she was very wise.  I felt very blessed.  I gave her my card with my phone number and address on it.  I asked her to call me any time.  She told me she would call me when she got home so that I would have her phone number too.  Her name is Mae...Mae Mae to some.  Her pup's name is Brat.  Although I haven't heard from her this afternoon, I am hopeful she will call.  I have prayed for a Christian friend.  This week God sent two.  If she doesn't end up calling, I'll stop by to see her again next Sunday's when she's selling papers.  I know she'll be waving and smiling at everyone who drives by.

Encourage One Another
The best gift you can give someone is a prayer!

Flash From the Past

"I believe I am passionate about 4 things, faith, family and friends.  I grew up in a very close family who had strong spiritual values.  I have carried these with me throughout my life, though sometimes being more committed to them than others.  When things have been difficulty for me however, my faith, family and friends are the things that have carried me through them.  My family and I remain very close and they have been and always will be an important part of my life.  I also believe that life is much better with friends in it; friends you can laugh with, share with, cry with, pray with and play with.  They do not need to be friends with all the answers, just friends with great listening ears. 

I am also a good friend and listener, and try very hard not to give advise.  If you and I become friends, you can count on me to be dependable and trustworthy.  I hope you will be also!"

I found this statement in some old emails I was going through.  Initially I had no idea who I had written it to.  After thinking about it a while, I think it is a statement I put on some dating site, some information about myself.  I find it odd that I put "4" things I was passionate about and only then listed 3.  The other thing I'm passionate about (as there really are four) is horses.  You probably read about that in a previous blog.  Since I wrote this sometime in them middle of 2007, I have lost my father, a huge piece of my family.  However, I have gained a grandson.  I believe my faith remains strong, although there is always room for growth there and I hope it grows in abundance.  Overall, the statement remains true.  I believe I am a good friend and I still cherish the most important things in my life.


Encourage One Another