Good morning! Happy Monday ! And Happy Fall! 🍁
Can you believe that this is the last Monday in September??? Wow! Where has the month gone? 😲
How was your week and weekend? Ours was good here. Accomplished quite a bit on the home front and am busy at work getting ready for Prairie Jubilee. That's about the extent of my world at the moment.
How was your week and weekend? Ours was good here. Accomplished quite a bit on the home front and am busy at work getting ready for Prairie Jubilee. That's about the extent of my world at the moment.
Today I'm joining Sandra and the other lovely ladies for Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Join me, won't you? 💗
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| Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and all of the wonderful ladies of Happy Homemaker Monday! |
Right now I am...
... finishing up breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea while I write this post; doing laundry and have already started my morning cleaning.
... about my friend, Charlotte.
A few years ago, my world consisted of ministry (home, family, friends, hospitality, community, outreach, online ministry, writing articles for Christian women's publications, card and letter-writing, food, etc.); now, I live in a bubble (half a week at home and half a week at work).
A week ago today I discovered that my friend, Charlotte, had passed away a few days prior and that her memorial service had been held the day before. I didn't even know she had been sick.
The last time I had talked to Charlotte was six-months previous and, at that time, she had requested prayer for her body. There was something wrong, but, up to that point, the doctors hadn't been able to give a diagnosis. Of course, I prayed for Charlotte and thought of her often, but, not one time after that did I call or follow up with a visit to see how things were going. The woman died of pancreatic cancer.
Her family tried to reach me after her death on Friday, but I was at work. I didn't recognize their cell number (figured it was a telemarketer) and didn't call them back.
I feel terrible that I wasn't there for Charlotte (or her family) during, what had to be, the roughest and most difficult time of her life on this earth. I, mean, I'm still having a hard time believing that our last contact was six months ago. It seems like just a few weeks ago.
I did think about Charlotte. In fact, the two weeks previous to her death, her name came to my mind multiple times. I knew I needed to call or go see her and...I would, I thought..."soon", but "soon" was too late.
In the old days, the minute the Lord would lay someone on my heart, I would react. I would run by to see them, give them a call, or do whatever was necessary to make that contact and be obedience to the voice of the Lord. This time...I missed it.
And that's not the first time I've missed it lately. Actually, that's the second time that I failed to be obedient to the voice of the Lord in as many weeks. I've missed it two times in a row THIS MONTH that I am fully aware of.
Something's got to change and it's got to be within me.
I do feel bad that I wasn't there for Charlotte, but I don't grieve for her. I have absolutely no doubt of where she is today. No one loved Jesus more than Charlotte did and, even in all her human frailty, no one sought to seek and please Him more. He was her life and her total focus. And, in thinking about that, it just hit me that, yes, in my own human frailty, I missed it...I wasn't there...but He was. What joy Charlotte must be experiencing at this moment just to be in His presence!
"Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you... (James 4:8).
On the breakfast plate...
... not my usual breakfast, but leftover tuna and noodles and Twining's Irish Breakfast tea
... not my usual breakfast, but leftover tuna and noodles and Twining's Irish Breakfast tea
The weather...
... 68 degrees and cloudy, at the moment. We're supposed to reach a high of 79 degrees this afternoon and stay under mostly cloudy skies. The week-ahead-forecast promises highs in the lower-70's to lower-80's with nighttime-lows in the mid-50's to mid-60's and a few chances of rain. Am thankful to finally be able to enjoy some more fall-like weather! 🍁
... 68 degrees and cloudy, at the moment. We're supposed to reach a high of 79 degrees this afternoon and stay under mostly cloudy skies. The week-ahead-forecast promises highs in the lower-70's to lower-80's with nighttime-lows in the mid-50's to mid-60's and a few chances of rain. Am thankful to finally be able to enjoy some more fall-like weather! 🍁
On my reading pile...
I finished The Table That Speaks - Bringing Communion to Life by Kenneth W. Hagin and am working on the review, so, at the moment, I am in a lull between books.
On the menu this week...
I finished The Table That Speaks - Bringing Communion to Life by Kenneth W. Hagin and am working on the review, so, at the moment, I am in a lull between books.
On the menu this week...
Monday - Italian sausage-stuffed banana peppers served over sauteed zucchini
Tuesday - homemade vegetable pizza
Wednesday - chicken fajitas
Thursday - corn chowder and cornbread
Friday - tacos
Saturday - chili and cornbread
Sunday - leftovers
Wednesday - chicken fajitas
Thursday - corn chowder and cornbread
Friday - tacos
Saturday - chili and cornbread
Sunday - leftovers
On my 'to do' list...
- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", do laundry, wash bedding, clean the fridge
- Tuesday - Take a friend grocery shopping, get together with the bead-makers in the evening
- Wednesday - Meet oldest dil for breakfast, make food ahead for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Thursday - Meet up with an out-of-town friend for lunch and a visit
-Friday - Work, family in from out of town arriving
- Saturday - Work (Prairie Jubilee); company
- Sunday - Church; company
In the craft basket...
- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", do laundry, wash bedding, clean the fridge
- Tuesday - Take a friend grocery shopping, get together with the bead-makers in the evening
- Wednesday - Meet oldest dil for breakfast, make food ahead for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Thursday - Meet up with an out-of-town friend for lunch and a visit
-Friday - Work, family in from out of town arriving
- Saturday - Work (Prairie Jubilee); company
- Sunday - Church; company
In the craft basket...
This will be the last week of paper bead-making. I'm not sure that I'm going to reach my goal of having, at least, 200 necklace kits put together, but Jubilee is Saturday and what we have when we're done tomorrow night is what we have and it will be good enough! 😊
Something interesting I watched...
This caterpillar feeding on white crown beard...
This caterpillar feeding on white crown beard...
From the camera...
Scripture passage...
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| Am loving my Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies! They're the best! <3 |
Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful week ahead! And I'll see you next week!
Until Next Time...
~Rebecca
Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...
Would like to make the Prairie Jubilee but we have a band competition the same day. We'll be sort of down that way but still not quite close enough (I checked, doubt I can talk my husband into a 1 1/2 hour detour during the competition breaks, LOL!) to sneak over there. So sorry you missed your friend's passing. That's a tough one. My father passed away from pancreatic cancer 14 years ago, it is still so hard to diagnose and moves so quickly! Hope the rest of your Monday goes well and you have a fantastic week. And of course, a great Jubilee!
ReplyDeleteWish you could make it, Jean, but I understand. BUT...if you can talk your husband into the 1 1/2 hour detour during breaks, come on! You and your husband would be most welcome! I'm sorry to hear that you father passed away from pancreatic cancer. It's a rough one for sure and, yes, I miss my friend and feel terrible that I wasn't there for her. Have a great rest of the day and a beautiful week ahead! Will be thinking of you at Jubilee! <3
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for you, I know how hard it is to find time when you are so busy!!! Praying that you can find some peaceful moments. I also really enjoyed your autumn bucket list! Sounds like a lot of fun!!! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stacy! I appreciate your prayers. Blessings for a beautiful week ahead! <3
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies for your friend's passing. will be thinking of you .
ReplyDeleteHave a great week
Thanks, Lucie! Blessings for a great week ahead! <3
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about living in your bubble. I do that as well. If it's happening outside of work or my family - I probably don't know much about it. I keep trying to get myself to live more intentionally - to really love - but I keep sticking to my same comfortable routine.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the Mrs. Meyer - I didn't know she did a pumpkin scent! I will have to look for it.
Sherry
I hear you, Sherry! That's me! If it's outside of work or family...forget it! I don't know anything! And I hate that! I'm going to at least try to be more aware in future. And, yes, Mrs. Meyer's! I used the pumpkin today and our house smells so good! I'm hooked!!! <3 Blessings for a great week ahead! <3
ReplyDeleteLove your precious honesty about your friend, dearest Rebecca. And the human frailty that is in us all to not always be as obedient as we should. Prayers sent that when God calls again next time your ears will be opened so as to have no regrets. I have no doubt Charlotte is loving where she is an is now an angel that knows your name. ;)
ReplyDeleteLove Meyer's too and saw they had Fall scent out now! I love the basil one too for cleaning. Smells so good.
Blessings on your week ahead dear Gal xo
Thank you, Carrie. Your words brought tears to my eyes and a great blessing to my heart. Your prayers are much appreciated. And, yes, I have no doubt that, at this very moment, Charlotte is absolutely exuberant and blessed beyond measure as she stands in the presence of our precious Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, Himself!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you commented positively on the basil. I already had it in my shopping cart for next month and was hoping I'd like it. I'm confident now that I will. :)
Thanks again for your words and blessings for beautiful week ahead! <3