Sabbath Keeping

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."

~ Proverbs 29:18 ~ 

"Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy,

to follow but not imitate,

to praise but not flatter,

and to lead but not manipulate."

~ William Arthur Ward ~

"The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example."
~ Thomas Morell ~

"To handle yourself, use your head.

To handle others, use your heart."

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

"You manage things;

you lead people."

~ Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper ~

"I must follow the people. 

Am I not their leader?

~ Benjamin Disraeli ~

"A leader is one who knows the way, 

goes the way, 

and shows the way."

~ John C. Maxwell ~ 

"We must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must bear with their imperfections, correct them with gentleness and patience, and lead them in the way to heaven."
~ Francois Fenelon ~

"A man who wants to lead the orchestra 

must turn his back on the crowd." 

~ Max Lucado ~

"Don't follow the crowd

let the crowd follow you."

~ Margaret Thatcher ~

"When people talk, listen completely."

~ Ernest Hemingway ~ 

"The important things is this: to be able to give up in any given moment all that we are for what we can become." ~ DeSeaux ~

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."
~ Woodrow Wilson ~

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good.

In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness 

and soundness of speech."

~ Titus 2:7-8 ~

Keep in prayer ~ Vicki's family ~ Bonnie's family ~ Diana and her Hero ~ Anita ~ Julie and Nancy ~ Ronnie ~ Patty and family ~ Jim ~ Steve ~ Sandra ~ 

Thankfully, it is Friday.

Nancy, A Rural Journal blog, has brought back Random 5 Friday where folks join in by posting five random facts about any or everything. Frankly, I'm over the moon happy it's Friday and am seriously considering a tub of hot water, Marcia Willet's A Prodigal Wife, a tot of Jack Daniels with honey followed by my flannel nightgown.

1. Above, my American Curly Horses are having a lie down during a windy but warm and sunny day. From the left...Dandy Man, Dani Girl, Peaches, Tumbleweed, Izzabella and Meri Go Lightly.

2. In the same upper pasture, Daisy, a redbone hound, gambols with Sadie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Sam, a basset hound spaniel terrier mix. I'm partial to hounds, can you tell?

3. My two favorite house boys, Sam and Gray Tom. Shortly after Dave, my husband, died Tom walked up the driveway and said, "Honey, I'm home." Two months ago, Tom died and I'm still reeling from the loss. Since November, there have been a lot of deaths on this farm and each death cuts me to the bone.

4. Not sure if you can see this clearly but the Mama doe has her tongue hanging from the side of her mouth. Her twin fawns are nursing rather energetically and Mama is nearing the weaning stage.

5. My valley has a fair share of eagles and, ever now and again, I catch a good photo. I've heard a number of preachers say an eagle won't eat the carrion of others but I know for a fact that's not true. Eagles eat their kill and the kill of others and I've watched them eat stuff that's a day old. Isn't it funny how we latch onto something, believing it to be truth and just keep telling and re-telling the same ole sorry lie?

Those are my photo contributions and hope you like them. It's the bet I can do after a day spent outside in harsh winds but sunshine. There were so many outdoor chores...pruned the fruit trees and bushes, cleaned out a dozen flower pots to get them ready for plantings, tied the tarp on the camper (again), moved the blueberry bush (not the right time of year but if it makes it that'll be a lot better than being run over where it was), swept the front porch and re-arranged the furniture...still need to put up those little upside down question mark -?- hangers for the hanging baskets...and gave it all up late afternoon so I can join Nancy then take care of me.

~ The End ~

Ponder this ~ "We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started." ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

Laughing in the Wind

On Monday, the 11th of April, I had business meetings which wasn't an auspicious way to celebrate my sixty plus birthday but at least I celebrated above ground. So many don't get the chance, do they?

 ~ Nancy and Stacy ~ 

Sisters On The Fly had an outing at the Kings Dominion Campground and twenty-five or thirty of us met for a good time.

When you think you're too old to have good clean fun, consider Barbara...she began her seventh decade April 1 and drove her T@B from Maryland to Doswell, VA. It's a smaller camper with a kitchen on the outside back with the inside basically for sleeping. Her T@B had a television, DVD player, radio and good lights for reading.

I cannot believe I didn't get a photo of her purple T@B! Women were laughing about their lack of attention spans and "OH LOOK...sparkly!" was mentioned; it certainly applies to me as well.

The eye mask was a gift from adoring Sisters; looks wonderful on her, doesn't it?

~ from top down, Nancy, Diane, me, Lori ~

Some of us didn't want to drive our vintage campers such a great distance so we stayed in a cabin. I do not recommend the lofts for adults...about three steps from the top, I (a short woman) had to bend over to keep my head from pounding against the ceiling. By the time I turned the corner I was just about kissing my knees and literally fell onto the bed. When I needed to get around the room, I crawled but, on the other hand, those lofts were perfect for children and I can imagine them having a good romp.

Kim owns this camper, believe it's called a Teardrop, and she can stand up in it. There's a small kitchen, television and just as AAAdorable as it can be.

Bettina owns this new Vintage camper...ALL the comforts of home including a lovely, large shower, full kitchen, queen size bed and the list goes on and on.

Amy owns this cute yellow camper...maybe a Teardrop...I'm not so good with my campers...yet.

Jan is the second owner of this 1959 Shasta...drool!

Claudia, above with her Hokey Pokey camper, and Jan were the hosts for the weekend and did a fabulous  job; many thanks to both! Claudia taught me a lot...how to make a kitchen/living room

using four Easy Up's with sides, bacon and eggs on electric skillets, of course coolers with bags of ice, hanging light fixtures and lots more. When one has vintage campers, it pays to be inventive.

My apologies for not pre-posting Sabbath Keeping and much appreciation for your continued reading of same as I'm always preaching to the choir but like it when others enjoy as well. As to the title, Laughing in the Wind, it's an old Van Morrison tune. Do you like Van Morrison? I certainly do; he's probably my favorite male singer...LUV his music, voice, style and he's from Belfast, one of my very favorite cities!

I came home to fence fixing, grass mowing, hay moving, feet trimming and lots of other farm chores. This week is sunny, thank God, and they'll be a lot of farm work accomplished with good memories to share my day. Lots of interest in the farm but no offers so keep praying, friends! Take care of you and come back soon, ya hear?

Ponder this ~ Do you look or do you see?

Sabbath Keeping

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk 

  through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

  for you are with me;

your rode and your staff,

  they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

  in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

  my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me

  all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

~ Psalm 23 ~

"The function of prayer is not to influence God,

but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."

~ Soren Kierkegaard ~ 

"Prayer is not asking.
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts."
~ Mother Teresa ~

"Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is accessible to all who will seek Him." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley ~

"There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying." ~ John G. Lake ~

"Prayer is not a check request asking for things from God. It is a deposit slip - a way of depositing God's character into our bankrupt souls." ~ Dutch Sheets ~

"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer, tears in my eyes, and say, "Oh God, forgive me' or 'help me'."
~ Billy Graham ~

"Until you know that life is war,

you cannot know what prayer is for."

~ John Piper ~

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

for it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

~ Francis of Assisi ~ 

"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." ~ John Bunyan ~

"God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays."
~ John Masefield ~

"God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede." ~ Oswald Chambers ~

"The man who says his evening prayer is a captain posting his sentinels. He can sleep." ~ Charles Baudelaire ~

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

~ Corrie ten Boom ~

"Our Father in heaven

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil."

~ Matthew 6:9-13 ~ 

Please pray ~ Diana and her Hero ~ Bonnie Jean and family ~ Jim ~ Anita ~ Patty and family ~ Gina ~ Julie and Nancy ~ Ronnie ~ Sandra ~