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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Sunday, July 01, 2018

Sabbath Keeping...and a little bit more ~


"I said, I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin,
I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked."

"A smart person knows how to talk.
A wise person knows when to be silent."
~ Roy T. Bennett ~

"Live your truth.
Express your love.
Share your enthusiasm.
Take action towards your dreams.
Walk your talk.
Dance and sing to your music.
Embrace your blessings.
Make today worth remembering."
~ Steve Maraboli ~

"I love to talk about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about." ~ Oscar Wilde ~

"Many people are good at talking about what they are doing, but in fact, do little. Others do a lot but don't talk about it; they are the ones who make a community live." ~ Jean Vanier ~

"Great minds discuss ideas;
average minds discuss events;
small minds discuss people."
~ attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt ~

"Many men talk like philosophers and live like fools." ~ Philip K. Dick ~

"One ought, every day at least to hear a little song, 
read a good poem, 
see a fine picture, and, 
if it were possible, 
to speak a few reasonable words."
~ Goethe ~

"Remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now,  you would strongly be tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." ~ C. S. Lewis ~

"I would never speak about faith, but speak about the Lord himself - not theologically, as to the why and wherefore of his death - but as he showed himself in his life on earth, full of grace, love, beauty, tenderness and truth. Then the needy heart cannot help hoping and trusting in him, and having faith, without ever thinking about faith. How a human heart with human feelings and necessities is ever to put confidence in the theological phantom which is commonly called Christ in our pulpits, I do not know. It is commonly a miserable representation of him who spent thirty-three years on our Earth, living himself into the hearts and souls of men, and thus manifesting God to them."
~ George MacDonald ~

"Quit playing, start praying.
Quit feasting, start fasting. 
Talk less with men, talk more with God.
Listen less to men, listen to the words of God.
Skip travel, start travail."
~ Leonard Ravenhill

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray (talk) to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This then, is how you should pray (talk to God):

"Our Father, who are in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen."

Please pray for ~ Maxine's family. Max has been given six months; at this point in time, she's being kept as comfortable as possible. Please pray for her sister as she oversees caregivers for Max as well as their Mother who has been in nursing home care for years. Please pray for Arial, the primary CNA (who is studying for her nurse's exam), and other caregivers, family, friends, neighbors. Max and I have been friends for 47 years but last week, she didn't appear to know me and she has totally stopped talking to everyone. 

If you've read my blog for the past few years, you know Dave's story and my story. You know I've said I'm only smart enough to know God has good plans for our lives and for His glory.  His purpose and design are mysteries but I do know He can be trusted. This brief life is over so quickly and I firmly believe each and every thought, word and deed here has enormous ramifications in eternity.  God, who created Creation, has designs, plans and purposes for all eternity and we cannot begin to comprehend this side of the veil. He loves US so much He sent Jesus to bring us back into the fold, but we must accept Jesus and, through Jesus, make our peace with God. You may rant and rail all you like. You may choose not to believe. The fact remains: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and NO one goes to heaven unless they say 'yes' to Him and accept God's free gift:

"Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for my sins and want to spend eternity in heaven with you and God." 

Find a Bible believing body of believers; go to church to seek and worship God, read the Bible every day and, if possible, be baptized. As importantly, keep your eyes off other people and keep them on God.



A little bit more...it's hard to believe on July 31, it'll be a year since I signed the papers and bought this new to me farm. Someone told me it would take me a year to unpack and, as it turns out, they are correct. There are still dozens of boxes to unpack, things still have to be hung on walls, Dad's garden is coming in which means food to can and freeze and my raised beds are coming along nicely.

Before I could hook up the trailer and pick up, Ronnie delivered fifty sacks of top soil and each of the three raised beds received twelve sacks. The other sacks were used for flower beds and pots. My little patch has tomatoes, herbs (lavender, rosemary, basil) and flowers to attract bees and birds. I must admit, it takes more strength and energy to dump the dirt and, as well, takes more time to recover. Gosh, I hate to admit that!


If I'm on the farm, I usually have a shotgun and handgun close by; there are critters who aren't welcome here...snakes, muskrats and a few miles up the road, Ronnie's employees' horse was attacked and killed...possibly by a mountain lion or, some call it panther, cougar or puma. Whatever it's called, the horse was violently attacked and subsequently died so I'm not taking chances; guns are always at hand, just in case.


Another reason to be safe...one of the Inkspots, reclining his bad self as he watches me work.


Awww, you know I've always run a loose household! When the dining room furniture was delivered (after the Epic Mess of 2017), I turned to answer the phone (or some such foolishness) and when I came back to the job, Gypsy Rose Lee was overseeing.

As we ease into July, it's hotter than you know what and yet another reason to spend eternity in Heaven! I try and finish outside work by 10:00 (sun time and not that dratted DST!), come inside to work or take lunch to Dad and visit with him a spell. My attitude regarding work is, it'll always be here so no need to try and set records. I've come to terms with being behind but every now and again have a good telephone visit with folks.

I'm still working toward a new blog...I want to do a "brain dump" while I've still got a brain and a memory and there's a ton of stuff I know that might be useful to folks. The learning curve is tremendously steep and I've only put up the beginning of "The Story", here, which might be of interest. If nothing else, it'll make you chuckle!

Take care, be safe and remember what's important, truly important, in life. It's over ever so quickly; please know as God brings you to my mind, you're tucked in prayer. Some of you I know how to pray while others I simply say, "Please, God, bless ____." He knows and that's enough.

27 comments:

  1. I read every word of this, my friend. You are right there with the truth on so many levels. I loved the Oscar Wilde quote...lol...
    I will go check out the new blog, too.
    I am glad you aren't killing yourself to get everything done in one fell swoop. Time is so precious and the older we get the more precious it becomes.
    Blessings to you and love- Diana

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    1. Yeah, the Wilde quote makes me chuckle every time I read it...SO true in my case! XOXO

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  2. LOVE the start on your other blog. We have similar lives in some respects. Please when you are working on that blog leave a way for us to comment. Have a great, blessed week- xo Diana

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    1. Thanks Diana; it was, and continues to be, a gift straight from God.

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  3. Hi Sandra! A whole year has gone by? Yikes! I'm glad you aren't rushing and pushing yourself. It's good to pace yourself when there are looming chores to be done. I hear you concerning the unpacking. It's such an all-consuming endeavor.
    Those dirt sacks ARE heavy. I have a hard time with them.
    Take care, friend.

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    1. Hard to believe Karen; on the 31st, it'll be a year since I signed the papers to buy this farm.

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  4. Your work ethos is so sensible. I adopt it too!

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    1. Absolutely! Work is always here but there's only so much of "us".

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  5. Anonymous6:41 PM EDT

    Oooohhhh, I have read the new blog. I have read all this blog as well, and have been well blessed all along. Thank you, Sandra.

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    1. Oh Carol, thank you for the gift of your time in reading.

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  6. Sandra, of course all of these quotes are great, as always, and I love reading about your days even though some of it is scary. But what a joy to go to your future second blog and read the beginning of the story, how you two met. Now don't leave us hanging, keep it up, keep on with the story even if you let it out just enough to keep us coming back for more.

    Guess what lyrics came into my mind after I read the first installment? "A Fine Romance". Remember the lyrics? Does it sound something like yours?

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    1. Dewena, I had to go back and hear it again. Dave and I built a good marriage on a great friendship, something that seems not to be understood today. I've someone to talk to, hopefully, they'll do the technical stuff as it is completely beyond me.

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  7. Lots of good quotes including a favorite from Lewis. I think I'll be making a couple of those raised beds once I move to my daughter's place. :) Thanks for another meaty post!

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    1. I bought my raised beds...found them for a great price from someone who was giving up gardening. You're welcome, glad you enjoyed.

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  8. so good.. such quotes and thoughts and dear to the heart passages. thank you for this and more - especially keeping my daughter in prayer.♥

    my heart hurts for your neighbor's employee, to lose a beloved animal in this way. terrible. thankful you pack for your protection.

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    1. Sherry, was praying for your daughter last week, not sure why she was brought to mind but she was tucked in prayer.

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  9. I sure enjoyed my visit with you on the farm today. With this oppressive heat in the south and soon to be nation wide, I understand, it is a good idea to be inside for most of the day. Have a good rest of your week.

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    1. Checked weather earlier this morning and next week is supposed to be life threatening heat. I'm going to fill three 50 gallon tubs for the horses to splash in and cool off.

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  10. Well . . .
    I liked the beginnings of the new blog . . .
    But then, I LOVE stories . . . yours AND mine!
    Great and Good quotes . . .
    One year in the new farm . . . wow . . . can’t believe it . . .

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    1. Yep, hard to believe! On the 31st of July, last year, I signed papers to buy this farm but didn't move in until last Sunday in August.

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  11. I laughed out loud at the Wilde quote and copied it immediately :-)

    It's a joy to hear how you are able to spend so much time with your father! I hope you do manage to get your new blog going. God bless you, Sandra!

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    1. Yeah. He took the words right out of my mouth! It's been lovely, spending time with Daddy; he'll be 90 in September.

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  12. Love all of your quotes.I need to remember to be a wise person. Off to see your new blog. hugs, lj

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  13. Hi, me again, love the Dave and Sandy beginning. hugs, lj

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    1. Thank you, it was a good beginning, full of fond, fun memories.

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  14. Lovely thoughts and verse. I live my entire life with love, faith and scripture so am happy to see you enjoyed your visit as I did here.

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