Unchanging

 

This world is constantly changing, isn't it?  Countries change their borders and their names, kingdoms, rulers, and dynasties rise and fall.  Cities, houses, farms and businesses are built and then not many years later they are torn down and new ones are built in their place.

 

Our old stone house is showing some wear.  She was built in 1882, and has survived much longer than most of the other houses built during that time in our area.  Back in the 1990s someone remodeled the interior, but then no one lived in it for awhile and now look at it.  Things change.

 

 

There are lots of old fences around our place, and what once held pigs in is now a nice backdrop for my red tulips.  Everything is always changing in life.  We may think we are all settled in one place, and then circumstances change and we have to move.  Life events cause those we love most to change as well.  I know my husband is not the same man he was when were first dating 20 years ago, and I know for sure I'm not the same girl. 

 

The older I get the more I realize that comfort and security can never come from our circumstances-  not from the people in our family, and not from a house or money.

 

The only One who can give us comfort and security is God, because

HE NEVER CHANGES!

 

I the LORD do not change.

Malachi 3:6

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

 

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

or you brought forth the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting

you are God.

Psalm 90:2

 

I am so glad that God doesn't change- it is so comforting to know that the same God who helped us back then, is the same God who will help us in the uncertain future.  He is good!

 

I am joining Home and Garden Thursday

Field Trip Time

One of the advantages of home schooling is being able to take lots of field trips.  Getting to see history or science in person is much better than studying it in a book!  So now that the weather is warmer we decided to head out and see what we could see. 

 

Our first stop was this old mill.  They are currently restoring it, so we didn't go inside, but it was fun to imagine how life might have been 140 years ago when this mill was built.

 

 

Here is an early photo of the mill, I'm sure it's good fishing there below the dam!

 

After our windy picnic lunch we stopped at the oldest courthouse still in use in our state.  The boys liked the cannon out front, as well as seeing the old jail in the back of the courthouse.

 

 

The jail was full of signatures of inmates scratched on the walls and bars, along with marks keeping track of their time.  I do not enjoy touring old jails, but the kids thought it was interesting.

 

 

Then we toured this old ranch.  The original owners spared no expense in the building of their stone house, barn, and outbuildings.  We enjoyed seeing the old house and figured if we lived there we would lose people, there were so many different rooms and nooks and crannies!

 

Now we're ready for another adventure!

A new tea set

It sounds so funny now, but deciding to adopt through the foster care system four years ago was one of the scariest things I've ever done.  I was scared of the big needs our child might have, scared of "the state", and scared of what it might mean for our family.  But it was so obvious over that summer of 2012 that God wanted us to adopt through foster care, so, in August we said "yes, Lord," and sent in our application.  Even though it seemed so scary, adopting through foster care has been the biggest blessing in our lives since then, because God gave us our little Miss E.

 

 

She doesn't look too scary, does she?  (:

God knows what he's doing, and if he is asking you to do something out of your comfort zone, don't hesitate to say "yes"!  He is always good, all the time, no matter if what he asks you to do ends up being extremely hard or easier than you thought.

 

Now for our tea time!  A couple weeks ago Miss E's foster mother, (who is amazing), stopped by to give Miss E a birthday gift- a beautiful blue tea set!  We decided to try it out in our secret garden, since the daffodils and grape hyacinths were blooming so beautifully.

 

 

We had a lovely time, the weather was beautiful, not as windy as it has been!

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

 

I hope spring is popping up wherever you live as well!

 

I am joining No Place Like Home

In a Sun-scorched Land

I have a great book recommendation for you!  Back in junior high and high school days I sat by a sweet girl in band, playing the clarinet together.  God took her through many adventures after our school days, and she recently wrote a book about her life, called "In a Sun-scorched Land".  It's about her family's journey of missionary life and adopting in the country of Haiti.  The book is very interesting and encouraging.  We all have trials in life, and hearing other's stories of God's working helps me see God how God is working in my own life and helps me trust Him more.  If you would like to read it, you can find it here on Amazon.

In a Sun-scorched Land by Jennifer Ebenhack

Happy Easter

 

"God sent His Son- they called Him Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive.

 

He lived and died to buy my pardon;

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

 

Because He lives I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

 

 

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

 

And then one day I'll cross the river;

I'll fight life's final war with pain.

 

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns.

 

 

Because He lives I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives."

 

~Gloria and William J. Gaither~

 

And that's exactly why I want to wish you all a Happy Easter--

because He lives!!!

 

Favorite Wedding Dresses

For Valentine's day this year our church had a date night for all the couples in our church.  It was a lot of fun, and one of the things they did to make it really special was printing off copies of everyone's wedding photo, and displaying them for us to guess who they were.  Some people change a lot more than others!  After the banquet the wedding photos were gathered and I got the job of putting them in an album for the church library.  I have enjoyed looking through the photos and admiring all the dresses!  Here are a few of my favorites, with the year of the wedding.

2015

2008

1981

1964

1961

1954

I'm joining Home and Garden Thursday

Daffodil Tea

Daffy-down-Dilly
Has come to town
With a yellow petticoat
And a pretty green gown

Spring is here!  And I'm so glad. (:

 

 

Miss E and I enjoyed our tea this week out on the porch, which was a welcome change from the cold winter months.  It's hard to be sad in the spring, you know?

I hope you are having a beautiful spring where you live as well!

I'm joining No place like home.