Because I spend a considerable amount of time volunteering to revitalize and encourage growth in our downtown, I am allowed many blessings through those that God places in my path along this journey. We laugh that the Broadway Brew is my office. For sure, it is a place I frequent. In the years since the Brew first opened its doors to today, there have been many baristas come and go, and some come again as they travel their journey. Each one has given to me in their service.  

The greatest among you must be a servant. Matthew 23:11

There are a few that God has woven more closely the threads. Rachel is one that has blessed my life in a gentle but powerful way. I confuse her, and she embraces my crazy. What a joy she has been in my life and I will miss her and her husband, Sean Bohnet. They will be moving to Idaho for extended education, and this places them closer to her family; for this, I am thankful. 

"Our Fruit Stand" (see it on the sign?) is just that, our fruit stand. God places a variety of individuals into our lives for us to "feed" from for goodness. All are good alone, but when we come together as a fruit salad, with Holy whipped cream...the message is yummy!!! God blesses my fruit stand daily. How about yours?

Fresh Find: A fun fruit holder!

Sometimes we are lucky enough to experience something amazing. Then, other times we feel emotions because we understand the depth of God's love and know what we see is his design.

Hebrews 12:2-3

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

We preserve the memory of those who have served to protect,  it's what we honor today.

On this day, we each step back and take a moment to reflect in appreciation to those who served to protect us, who fought with honor and have found their eternal home.

This Memorial Day, let's make a choice, to serve where we are. Don't be a taker, be a giver. Pay the ultimate price through sacrificial giving in the Name of Jesus Christ. We must align ourselves spiritually. For this is what will be remembered in our memorial moment. Live life fully serving until we are no longer; teach in action.

Fresh Find: Sacred Pace; Aligning Yourself With His Will looks to be a good read.

I know there is a message in this picture.

Lichens are unique in that they are a composite life form: a fungus living in symbiosis with a photosynthesizing organism, which may be green algae or cyanobacteria, or both. There are more than 14,000 species of lichens known to exist from pole to pole and on every type of land surface. They are useful.

Many model train trees are made from them. Lichens are used for making dyes, perfumes, and traditional medicines. They promote both physical and chemical weathering of a rock, but are non-parasitic and so will not harm a rock or healthy trees. Besides bestowing beauty, lichens can provide a food source for some animals, such as flying squirrels and reindeer. A decline in lichens can be an indicator of increasing levels of air pollution

Sounds like faith-friendships to me!

Adds beauty, won't harm, a stable diet for others, and non-pollutant.

Fresh Find: A Lichens read.

Traveling to a Glasgow family reunion, all in a day was tiring, but it is always nice to see Peggy Glasgow Wall's family every other year. Her family was represented well today in the Temple, Oklahoma and Burkburnett, Texas areas.

We were missing a few, but we had the 'most present' family group there!

Fresh Find: Balloon Bot Battle looks like a fun game!

Clinton Wall has always enjoyed golf. He just needs more time to play it.

Fresh Find: Maybe I should start playing with a Calloway Junior Set 3???

For some time we have had an occasional tree symphony in our backyard. The tree is playing our fence. With our crazy wind days lately it has been more often, longer and louder. It is eerie in the evenings when dusk gives way to the night and the moon rises.

Fresh Find: A great nixie cube clock!!!

This is a straight forward scripture and one that has allowed me to understand the journey God has me on with depth. I have been told that I'm not easy to love. I pray that those who choose to are rewarded.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

The Red Letter Words of Jesus by Jack Countryman

God's love for me surpasses knowledge. I know of the Love, and I know the Love that is found through an ongoing and committed relationship with my Redeemer. The Spirit empowers me. I desire to allow this love to flow from me into others; to be an encourager.

My journey is a challenge each day. In God's design, I am created for a purpose, and I know my worthiness is found there. Being one wired with Aspergers, I struggle to make it through each day. The amount of energy it takes for me to attempt to be "normal," according to the vast majority of society gets tricky. It is sometimes like being in a trampoline park where you jump from one trampoline to another and off walls and back to another trampoline; often in slow motion. Things are bouncing right along until you come face-to-face with the reality of humbling yourself mid-air. It's hard when you don't have time to wrap your mind around a situation and deliver your theatrical lines with accuracy. Sometimes you adlib, and that doesn't work to get the correct thought across. 

I am blessed with the ability to read the hearts of people uniquely. I also have a directive opinion that is rarely desired. Listen more, talk less.

Patience is not my gift or my forte, but through the Holy Spirit's lead, I can do far more than I ever thought possible through waiting and listening.

Loving others beyond differences gives us the courage to be the voice, to create the change. Live each day expecting joy through the knowledge that hope is found in Love and spread, as seeds by the unworthy but ever willing.

Because of the social disorder component of Asperger's, I struggle with being difficult to love because of how I am created, all of the time, knowing that I am blessed beyond measure. Now, you try to figure this all out. Ha! I know I'm not easy to be around at times. I get it more than you know. I think this is why I "preach" tolerance. Because I preach it, He gives it. Those that come into my life need it. 

Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5

Practically everything I do is outside of my comfort zone, and I am not equipped to do, but God is. 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

If you have a hard time following my thoughts from time to time, no worries, I do, too. Feel free to ask me what I mean or what I'm trying to say. Maybe I'll know, and perhaps I won't remember. Either way, love me in my differences.

Fresh Find: Jar of Smiles would be a fun, encouraging gift!

In the room where I spend a significant amount of my time doing everything from Bible Study to blog writing to Facebook sharing to laundry to sewing to reading, there are a few hats. Just a few of the over 200 hats are found in my "office." The remainder of the hats are displayed in the "wo-man" cave and at various other locations within the confines of our home. The hat collection started with my aunt's, my grandmother's and my mother's and grew from there as other community leaders contributed. Each one tells a story. I would love to sit and listen to their stories about what they saw in their heyday.

Here are a few of what I get to enjoy...

Fresh Find: A nice flat cap.

2 super fun girls we got to watch dance this weekend. They are growing up. They are very different, but the same kind hearts!!!

Miss D

Miss A

When we got there, Miss A had the sewing machine we bought her out and ready to go. This is the first interest she has shown in it. When we got there, she had the bobbin ready and the needle threaded; youtube video to the rescue. Miss D, a fantastic artist, was working on a piece for a family reunion auction.

One was sewing, and one was drawing! Love their creative minds.

What a fun trip we had. We are very blessed by our 2 super fun grand-sister sets!!!

Fresh Find: A cute little diamond flower gold disc necklace.