Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time a little boy was on the 

way back from the park with his mommy.

The park is right by the Fire Station.

A truck pulled out right in front

 of the mom and her son.

There was also another truck 

on the driveway and firemen were shining it up.

Then one of the fireman saw them

 and waved them over.

"Want to come see the fire truck?"

The little boy's eye lit up with glee.

And then the fireman said,

"Would you like to get up in the fire truck?"

He let him touch the buttons

 and the steering wheel.

Then mommy got into the driver's seat too.

The fireman took their picture.

Both were very happy.

And now can you guess 

what a little boy will ask to do-

every time they walk back from the park?

Yup.

You're right.

For all the Exiles

Fall brings some new "friends" to the garden.

This is a garden variety-
 black and yellow argiope.

He is a web maker- 

that glistens in the dew of the morning.

We have a mutual agreement right now- 

I won't bother him,

 if he doesn't bother me.

But, I still would prefer 

if he liked another yard better than mine.

I'd REALLY like to exile him from my yard.
ah- yes, THAT word- Exile.

Reading in Chapter 12 of Eugene Peterson's book-
Run with the Horses.
Processing a bit of that here.
Peterson states that "the essential meaning of exile 
is that we are where we don't want to be. 
We are separated from home. 
We are not permitted to reside in the place 
where we comprehend and appreciate
 our surroundings.
 We are forced to be away from that 
which is most congenial to us. 
It is an experience of dislocation- 
everything is out of joint; nothing fits together. 
The thousand details that have been built up 
through the years 
that give a sense of at-homeness- 
gestures, customs, rituals, phrases- are all gone."

Reading in the book of Jeremiah-
 he was a different voice to the people in Israel. 
They were use to leaders like 
Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemiah who 
"called attention to the unfairness of their plight
 and stirred the pots of discontent."
They made a living "merchandising nostalgia."
So Jeremiah sounds a new story- 
shift happens.

Peterson summarizes-
"Quit sitting around feeling sorry for yourselves. 
The aim of the person of faith
 is not to be as comfortable 
as possible but to live as deeply
 and thoroughly as possible-
to deal with the reality of life, discover truth, 
create beauty, act out love."

The bottom line is that we are all exiles.
Something has moved us out-
 or moved into our world.
The new teacher for the school year,
a friend of twenty years that is moving away,
a job change,
 a leadership change at church,
a health diagnosis.
Our reality and "known" has been altered.
We weren't consulted about the change
 and certainly didn't give permission.
We just no longer are AT HOME.

In this time of Israel's history- 
they became
their most creative ever.
They prayed hard and deep.
Perhaps that is our EXILE lesson.

So if you find yourself in exile-
which is basically-
 "being where you don't want to be
 with people you don't want to be with",
you have a decision.

How will I live out my days in exile?
With all I have- because of all He has done.
I'm just gonna be hanging out - 
one yard to the next-

till I reach my eternal home- 
Home at last.

sections from Run with the Horses-
by Eugene Peterson
 Jesus in Glory photo
 from St Paul's Lutheran School Gym- 
Ann Arbor , MI

Saved by a Dump cake

 OK,  
so some times I have the best intentions 

of trolling Pinterest 

and finding a great dessert to make. 

The problem is that I never remember 

that in time to find it, 

go to the grocery store, and THEN make it.

A dear friend was stopping by this morning 

and of course I am searching the pantry bins at 10 pm, 

wondering what is already IN THE HOUSE to make.

And so THAT is how this 

FIND and DUMP cake came to be...

some fall inspired fruits

and now what to call it?

Crancherry Walnut ?

And the sack of walnuts in the freezer.

 Dad's walnuts.

Saved.... saved for over six years in the freezer.

Too nostalgic to open the bag, 

not wanting to use them,

because there will never be 

any more "dad's walnuts".

Lovingly harvested, shelled, 

and picked in the long days of winter.

 Shared with his children.

This isn't a food blog.

 There is only two other posts 

on a food related item.

But, perhaps I will step out

 in faith to use the walnuts.

And perhaps share the story here.

Crancherry Walnut Dump Cake

Turn oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9x13 pan with no-stick spray 

Dump into pan:

1 can of Cherry pie filling

1 can of apple cranberry pie filling

1 can of cranberry sauce with fruit

Stir gently.

Melt 1 1/2 sticks of margarine in the microwave.

Spread dry cake mix over the fruit mixture.

Spoon melted butter over cake mix.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts over the top.

Bake for 50 minutes.

Cool.

Great with a cup of coffee in the morning.

or a dip of ice cream for dessert.

And I am adding this to my list of "recipes",

because I may not remember-

 just what was in the pantry on the day 

when it was time to bake a treat.

Tribute to the Aged

Autumn arrives-

    we are blessed with a summer's day,

We grasp it to our bosom, 

          and say please stay.

Knowing soon will follow

     winters stormy blast.

Wondering is there strength inside,

          enough of it to last

Until the crocus and the daffodils

                           announce that spring is here,

Assured then we've made it

                  for at least another year.

Our life has its autumn,

                    and indeed it comes to all,

But it need not venture beyond

             the multicolored fall.

If our hearts beat on in rhythm

                                with the whippoorwill that sings,

We have the spring within us

                         as that little bird takes wing.

True, there are not many 

                 who can see the autumn go,

                      they are soon ushered up above

or sent straight down below.

         He must think them rather noble, 

             if he has told them at the gate,

                their work is not yet finished,

                I'LL GIVE THEM STRENGTH TO WAIT.....

Old tree, you are gnarled, hollow and broken.

Water from the stream no longer can nourish you.

Sprouts from your roots support your awkward limbs.

A sapling caresses your trunk,

stateliness surrounds you,

until the winds become too strong.

Poem by my mother- Katherine Elizabeth Graft.

Flowers from the garden of my sister - Lee Ann Siples.

          

Home Economics Theology

Listening to many moms and wives challenged

 to get things ready for the 

back to school week coming quick.

The shopping, organizing,

scheduling,

and 

infiltration of all sorts of agendas into 

the family home life space.

It all comes flooding back- 

25 years ago- 

we were in the middle of that mix.

Now it is our three daughters who

juggle marriages,

 little ones, and jobs as educators. 

And not much has changed.

Still got to feed people, 

do the laundry, shop, and clean.
And it has grown even more complex. 

I have a Home Economics Education degree.

The practical application of 

home arts and resource management, 

as well as best practices for family life.

It is a degree not found much

 at the University level anymore.

And fewer junior and high schools 

offer classes for their students.

Someone thinks that we now learn 

these skills by osmosis,

 or they are innately developed.

But, beyond the projects, 

and jobs and things to do every day at home,

we live in relationships.

Even singles and widows 

have their space and arrange life

 around relationships.

And in this very sacred space of home,

we develop our theology-

the study of the nature of God.

Perhaps we have applied systems- 

but it is a very practical theology

 within the home setting.

We make adjustments and pray,

and see if 

THIS YEAR

 it works a little better.

Before the end of September we are tired,

frustrated, and seeking more ways to make 

IT WORK.

So what words of encouragement 

does a home economist have to offer?

Chill a bit.

Play with a baby.

Count your blessings.

Start a gratitude journal with your family.

Look for simple beauty.
 Practice saying NO.
Laugh- a lot.
Cover EVERYTHING with GRACE.

Mark the parameters 

of your living space as sacred.

Spend time reading God's Word.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

It is the ultimate tool to cover our calendars, 

menus and to-do lists.

It is the greatest blessing we bring to 

the home space we live in.
Home economics- 
now known as family and consumer sciences.
It is the skills for everyday living.
And that just might include working out
 our practical theology
 of living life and learning about our God
 who loves us SO much-
He sent Jesus as grace and gift.

And whenever you need two monkeys
 on your back to get a two year old to eat.....
you just DO IT with a smile.
 That's home economics theology.

Bible Marginalia- Rest for our Souls

Bible Marginalia Series- #176

Reading Jeremiah these days.
It is pretty simply laid out.
The Lord says- Honor and obey me.
The people turn away and do as they please.
Jeremiah is called to tell it straight.
No punches.
Both prophet and Lord are rejected.
And the Lord says:
"Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path,
and you will find rest for your souls."

STOP   LOOK   ASK
WALK    TRAVEL    FIND

Verbs- action.
Response-
to the call of our God who always
seeks us first.
For HE is faithful.

Supplies:
Inspire Bible
Colored Pencils
 Micron pens 
Washi tape

Walking Stick Reassurance

Just finished reading Eugene Peterson's- 

 Run with the Horses.

It has challenged me to read
 the book of Jeremiah.

In the first Chapter, Jeremiah, 
the prophet to the nations, 
learns that before he was formed in the womb,
the Lord knew him, 
and before he was born,
he was sanctified- set apart. (v. 5)
 When he was concerned 
about his young age,
the Lord said:
I'll send you, tell you what to say, 
be with you, and deliver you-
do not fear. (v.7-8)
Jeremiah gets some details about his job-
and learns that he will bring news
 of judgment tempered with grace and hope.
Then comes the part 
Then the Lord asks Jeremiah what he SEES?
A branch of an almond tree, 
perhaps a rod.
(going with a stick in this play on words)
The Lord says- You see well, good eyes.
For I am watching, wakeful and ready,
to perform my WORD,
and bring it to pass. (v.11-12)
The almond tree is the first tree
 to bloom in the spring, to come awake.
An almond branch becomes 
a reminder that the Lord is STICKING 
with us, to make sure His Word STICKS
it out to the end.
His Word will come true.
Jeremiah plays here with 
the similar Hebrew words:
shaqed -almond
and 
shoqed-watching.

Last year when we visited 
Bethel Lutheran Church in Claremont, NC.
both John and I were given walking sticks.
Mine is the short one 
and the one on the left was given to John.
When the older gentleman who made them
 saw how tall John is,
 he decided he needed a taller walking stick.
A few weeks later John 
received the one on the right.
Our terrain is fairly flat 
and we don't use the sticks much for walking.
But, I store the sticks right outside
 the door we leave from each morning.
Almond wood or not,
 I believe they will now serve as
visual reminders.
The Lord is sticking with me,
and He is watching to make sure all His Words 
come true.
A pretty awesome way 
to start the endeavors of each and every day.