LESSONS FROM MY YORKIE

Today my little dog, Valli, ran away. I was sitting on the patio having my quiet time, when I realized it had been a few minutes since I had last seen her. I looked for her, called her and even resorted to squeaking her favorite toy thinking she would come running. She did not. I drove the neighborhood and didn't see her. I was just about to have a melt down when I spotted her leaving the subdivision by way of a very busy street. She came when I called, but she knew she was in trouble. I was so relieved, all I could do was hug her tightly.

I've had my feelings hurt all day over her behavior. You see, this little 6 pound Yorkie is the "apple of my eye". I let her get away with just about anything. With my boys all grown up and so far away, I have poured all of my considerable maternal instincts into this little fuzz ball. After all of that, she decides to leave the safety of our fenced backyard and my presence!

Actually, she sounds a little like me... God has done everything for me. I am indeed the "apple of His eye". He's met every need I have including my salvation and yet I still like to wander off and check the offerings just up the road from His presence. I keep thinking I might be missing something! He just keeps calling me and I keep running back knowing once again, I'm in trouble, but He is faithful.

TREASURE HUNTING


David and I went to an estate sale this morning. Boring... I know, but we just love looking for treasures. David found a tool of some sort that guarantees you will drill perfectly straight holes in your woodworking projects. He does not have any woodworking projects and I can't remember the last time he needed to drill holes in anything, but nevertheless, if the need arises, we are ready!

Going through the things that are part of an estate sale always make me pause and wonder what will be left of David and I when God moves us to our eternal address. (After moving twice in the last two years, Praise God, He will be doing the relocating for us!) We don't have things of great value that will attract antique dealers. Our treasures have more to do with memories and the people who created them. I so hope what we leave behind will not be things, but will be legacies that our children and grandchildren will always be able to treasure. I pray they will clearly see a lifeline to Jesus and all He blessed the Haines' with. I will be delighted if they remember they laughed their heads off at the antics of their Mom and Dad. I will truly be blessed if they will remember they come from a long line of love, committment and grace.

So years from now, when the time comes for Jeremy and Jordan to sort through everything, hopefully memories will fill the biggest boxes. Of course, if memories are not enough to treasure, there's always that drill press!

Fall is in the Hair!

Houston, Texas offers many things... but no seasons! (We have bunches of seasonings in the Tex-Mex food, but our seasons are limited to Summer and just a day or two of the other 3) Today is fall. Tomorrow, we might be back to the almost 90's, but today I am happy and so is my hair! Lot's of body, no frizz, and it stayed the way I fixed it to stay. I even wore long sleeves (and hardly sweated at all) I love fall.

There are uncomfortable situations in each of our lives that seem to go on forever. Just when you think you cannot possibly handle it another day, God comes through. You wake up one morning and God has replaced the intenseness of your life with the cooling, soothing comfort of his peace and presence. One season has passed into another and you have survived. I want you to know, my intense season has not passed just yet, but I decided today to claim the victory over my circumstance. I know I am going to make it. I know you are going to make it as well.
I just wish I could stay the way He fixed me to stay!

I've got to run, I think I might make chili for dinner.