Minding My Own Business

It was a lovely day today. The sun was out and for February, it was unseasonable warm and pleasant. I had my to do list and started on the highway. Listening to some great music, I was ready to get off in West Rutland to go shopping. Had it all timed, be home by 3pm etc. My day's business was set. It was great!

Suddenly this nudging from God's Spirit. Go to RT 7 and be about My business. hmmm...really got to stay on task, Lord. A verse moved into my memory from my sister's casual call a few days before. "Look up...the fields are white unto harvest.".... go to the hospital and visit our elderly friend there. hmmmm....Kind of last minute, Lord.I heard she wasn't receiving visitors. I haven't a clue what I'd say. "I will tell you what to say..." hmmm..

The car refuses to get off the highway in West Rutland. Don't put off doing good till tomorrow. ....OK Lord, hospital it is...but she'll probably hate me for this!!

Had a lovely lovely visit, laugh and cry with a dear elderly friend who has known me a long time. She was very happy to see me and wanted George to come back with me some time and give her one of his bear hugs...told me how much she enjoyed hubby's recent sermons on the local cable network.

Thank you God, minding Your business was so much more fun than minding mine!

Transitions

Today was a day of worry, stress, reflection, hope and praise (in that order)I'm thankful I've lived long enough to know that when God closes a door He truly does not only open a window, but a new pathway that He has planned for me. I can trust Him for that. I'm stressed out in this time for the changes that are "threatening" and may very well come to pass, but as I "worked" it out, with God reminding me He controls it all, I was so comforted by the fact that He's always been there for me. Even when I didn't know it and felt very alone as a young woman.There isn't any calamity that can suddenly fall upon me that isn't God filtered. I know that now.Do I like what I see on the horizon? No--but my love affair is with God, and He'll never ever let me down or allow anything to happen to me that He doesn't permit in His sovereign will.Some of the most interesting and most blessed things in my life have happened when I was put on a path I hadn't planned.


"The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind

Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
How You love me

It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway

See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me

You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me

You love me, You love me
You love me, You love me
How You love me
How You love me
How You love me."

If the rain or sun comes God, I praise You!!!

Freedom

Today was a hard day, lots to think about, so I sort of kept my brain's second hard drive on prayer and meditation mode.

I ran into myself today, maybe with a mix of my Amygirl, too; a casual acquaintance that reminds me of Amy with her tattoos, and piercings, etc. She would easily have been likely to stop at Rockin Willies to visit Amy when she was there, fitting in perfectly at one of David's shows etc. Thus to say I've a bit of a soft spot for her. She came from a far away state with her boyfriend to live here. Watching her happily adjusting to working in a traditional work situation and talking to a much older generation as she helps them on the phone. I'm a schmuck for the underdog and the disenfranchised. She announced today she was homeless because her bottom dweller of a boyfriend announced they were breaking up as of this moment and she suddenly had no place to live last night. Only 18, she was trying not to cry as she continued in her much needed job. I was a very traditional type girl compared to most but I know what it's like to have been young and dumped by a selfish person and suddenly find yourself completely alone.

It's my place to be professional etc. I hardly know her but my heart broke. A mutual acquaintance frowned on me when I told the girl I was proud of her for holding herself together and finding a way to work after she had to suddenly spend the night at the bottom dweller's mom's house. Do we turn our back on society just because they made some poor decisions? She was raised by her great grandmother and they gave the room away when she moved out. She had freedom of choice and she chose poorly. Do we pass the cup of compassion or judgement?

I was also thinking today of how many times my world traveler daughter Amy refers to her overly sheltered background with lack of fashion and TV channels etc. As I sat down today to watch my Hercule Poirot on the PBS station memories crashed in about all the wonderful stuff we used to watch on PBS because of our TV depravity. It showed a girl looking in a telescope as one of their ads. It reminded me of how the lack of the world's depravity as my children were raised in Walpole NH enabled my children to soar in their own dreams without the crushing of peer pressure to do what maybe they weren't ready for. For as much as some things were too legalistic with our church folks rules and expectations, my older kids had a wonderfully protected life that made room for each of them to blossom fully. I met a little girl today that may not have had a parents love, care and nurturing. Was she free or were my children free?

God cares for them all. I'm praying this little 18 year old will find God's love in Jesus and not be alone and vulnerable to the next bottom dweller because she could find her full value in the price Christ paid for her.

~But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.~

Fall Memories

Fall "Autumn" is my all time favorite time of the year. Sights , smells and sounds imprint our brain with memories and I can't think of a season that has done that more for me than Fall. Timeless memories of pretty colorful leaves on the ground....raking them up on a lazy afternoon--to see how large a leaf pile we could create so we could jump off the porch into the huge pile. School dresses in beautiful plaids newly made by my mom, with new lunch pails and pencils for school. Long walks home after the bus left me off --shuffling my feet thru the paths of dried leaves.

I remember long walks in the woods, looking for hickory nuts to crack open for a snack. Beautiful dark purple grapes in the vineyard behind Mr Toro's house. The smells of gorgeous leaves on the ground, damp with the Fall rain. Times going to the Danbury Fair to see the Clydesdale Horses....the harvest of the season at every display. I'll never be too old to remember how wonderful it all felt, even now. I put out the pumpkins at the door near the mums. Our house is surrounded by a carpet of gold and red leaves that reflect this beautiful light/aura around the house. I realize they have to be raked--David's job this year :-)---but right now I enjoy them and my heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for all his bounty.

~~The heavens declare the majesty of God~~~

Raging Waters 2011

It's odd that I've not blogged/journaled about Hurricane Irene yet. It's wrecked havoc across Vermont. Not sure what to say about it...so overwhelming it puts even this chatty Cathy to silence. But it's huge here. People are suffering. Roads and historic homes and bridges are washed away by streams that became raging rivers. There's much to do to help.

It's funny how so much beauty can be seen in such stark contrast to such darkness. People are despairing and suicidal, I'm told. In myself, I feel like I'm starting on a very good road. It's all about God and what He wants me to do. A new beginning... I desperately need this...to feel needed and helpful and yes even someone who people would be blessed to know. I'm so incredibly thankful to God for His never ending second chances. Life is rich and beautiful. Young people sometimes don't think us older folk feel and move with the same intensity or sense of joy that they do...but I can attest that this old lady feels full of hope and brand new. Bring it on!

Transitions

I've been rereading my post and realize I do a lot of whining lately. This is a public type blog so others are open to read it. No problem there...most will be bored and not keep reading. That's ok. It's meant to be a journal that folks close can read if they wish and know a little bit about our lives by reading it... a way to stay in touch.

So forgive my whining. Baby boomers are losing kids to college etc and our nests are getting empty. Sometimes that means we have to evaluate whether our houses are not too big, etc. Retrain ourselves how to cook for less is also a newly aquired skill. We have a lot in common.

I enjoyed College orientation day. Some of the speeches to the parents encouraged me that I'm not in the boat alone, and I will have to transition. With that thought comes relief of less daily parenting and panic of less daily parenting. I'm freer to enjoy my own music without criticizm etc. But wait--do I revert back to the 60-70s or have I not evolved? Thanks to XM radio I do 60's music all the time, thank you very much.. But I also should have evolved. hmmm--gonna have to work on that...

So transitions are uncomfortable and whining may happen. I whined out to you Lord and you heard me... What would life be without our God??

Have you transitioned to God? Better take care of that! Want to see you all on the flipside...

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you WIll be saved!" ~John 3:14

Soulology Project week 3

This album page was created to represent a major decision I made the impacted my life in a major way.

Chicago Mission Trip for Jake

We're excited and asking for your prayers as Jake leaves with his church youth group Saturday on a mission trip to the windy city of Chicago. He'll be there about a week reaching out thru soup kitchens and the like. Go Jake!

Boston Getaway

This is the Onyx Hotel that we stayed at during an overnight stay in Boston to see Keith Urban in concert. If you looked out this window you could almost see TD Garden at the end of our street. We got there early via GPS directions, with no problems.... parking attendant came right out and whisked our car away. After checking in we had time to walk the neighborhoods in Boston's north end and choose a nice Italian restaurante. The concert was my first in years, and I was shocked at how many young girls were there to see an rising star called Taylor Swift. She sings about all the issues of romance that these girls could relate to: she especially sings about lessons learned from dealing with past less than perfect boyfriends. The fan girls were singing to every song she sang.... a real eye opener for me. Young stupid boys who want to impress young woman this age could take a lesson: do the right thing and speak the truth. The girls will listen!!
Aside from the teeming social issues that could fill several sociology class discussions, we had a marvelous time. Keith Urban is very talented and sings a lot of pretty songs we enjoy. The boys were at their own 4 day SoulFest concert, so we were free to enjoy a bit of a get away. Thankfully the Sox were playing in another town!!

Night Flights

The light from her den called to me in the night,
But she was not there,
The fairie had left with her true love and flown to
exciting places yet unknown.

Her presence was felt still in her den,
But the light had grown cold.



She will return from far off places to visit us one day,
As fairies always do~
------This was a post I made last year when Amy got married. (I just added a more personalized picture this time )She did return from far off places to visit us but she is soon off again--this time to Japan. Safe flight Amy.... I trust you'll return again as fairies always do~

What are You Doing?

That was the title of the devotional on the day I walked away from a job that I've had for almost 8 years. I loved the work environment and the friends I'd made during that time. I regret giving up the position I'd gained there, and of course the incoming paycheck.But the Spirit of God still moves, just as in time of creation, and my husband George and I knew it was time for me to be home with the boys again. I've nothing but joy right now. Joy for the time to listen to family members, rest so that the creative side of homemaking is coming back, thoughts of hospitality again, teaching Bible studies again, you name it. It's all coming back. Especially time to hear God again. So what am I doing? Exactly what God wants me to do. Doing what God wants you to do?... priceless.

Merry Christmas from the Atkins Homestead!!

Family and Friends

The winter is warmer with the kindness of family and friends!!Thank you all for a lovely party.You are all a very sneaky and loving group!!

Bambi --Who's yur Daddy????

Poor Bambi is parentless again and my husband George is driving around Rutland showing off his Daddy!!!

Bye to football for another year--

David got to carry the ball here at the Poultney game. Unfortunately Slaters lost but next year is another fresh start and even Jacob is hoping to put on some bulk and play next year also. Uh oh--crazy parents on the sidelines making complete idiots out of themselves for one more year! Isn't it a wonderful life???? Pretty soon Sammy will also be kicking the soccer ball around the field. My schedule is going to be very full and very outside!

Just click your ruby slippers and you're home--

I love Fall. This picture is almost a perfect image of my back yard now. When the world seems to be unpredictable and biting, the beauty of the earth soothes my spirit. Thank God He already knows what is truly important in our lives. Now if we all could only get a clue, we'd know we're already very rich.....

Go Slaters!!!

David Atkins #44 makes solid yardage as Slaters advance (in the rain) to victory over Otter Valley 26-15.
Dad, Ellen , Jacob, Yubby and Grant were on the sidelines to cheer them on.

Flying or Dying

Everytime I am taking off in a plane the same things flash thru my brain...ie the status of my will, what was I thinking when I booked both parents on the same flight, DNA retrieval and identification (oh yeah) and things like that....

But all is said and done and I'm gloriously soaking up the sun and surf in exactly this location and I am loving it!!

Here's a question: As a parent of two teen boys back in VT with their sisters, am I free to totally relax or do I need to worry so nothing bad will happen? Dumb question but every mother knows what I mean. Well this year I am going to do the totally relax experiment and see how that goes. I've good kids and and a very big God, so here goes.... I've already strolled the beach--walked up to the Ocean Deck to eat a leisurely lunch on the ocean.. walked back down the beach to Starbucks for the long awaited caffeine fix and then took a nice nap with the surf in my earshot. I think I am getting the hang of this particular experiment... no calls please, Amy or Yubby!

Admiration

When Mom is gone who will admire your flowers at the front door? My cheerleading squad is gone and I miss her today.

Beam Me Up, Scottie!

The rain here is relentless and yet I have this dry spot --this non creative blip -in my journaling; which has nothing to do with the rainy day after rainy day we are having here in Vermont. I'm reading Michael Crichton's book "TimeLine". I found out he also wrote one of my favorite early sci fi books/movies " Andromeda Strain." Yes, you either hate it or love it but I loved it so! Needless to say I was looking forward to reading "Time Line" all the more. It's about quantum physics and moving into another sphere of the earth by replicating molecules. Yes, beam me up type stuff but not quite. He writes so convincingly and has so many references that you're challenged to figure out what part is fiction!! Just when I think I've a handle on it, I notice a small news notation amidst the Phelps gold medals and Russia trying to annihilate the Republic of Georgia. It's about a device being announced in the scientific journals that renders you invisible.
Where are we in the world when that is a small news note on a large page? It's comforting and interesting to know that amidst my "dry spot" there is still lots of creative energy out there....