Step

In 2011 I was challenged to choose a word to focus on for an entire year.  Having recently entered a new phase of life, I chose the word OPEN.  It is amazing how many times I thought of this word before making a decision. As it turned out, "Open" was operative!

This year's word is STEP...as in step out, step in, take a step.

The first step...

I didn't choose this word, actually, it chose me.  But I accepted it -- which reminds me how I came to God.  He chose me, but I accepted.  It is fascinating, isn't it, when we look back at all the events in our lives that happened because we took the first step?

I look forward to this year's steps, admittedly, with some trepidation.  It is my MO to wait until I'm sure before I take steps --  not entirely a bad thing:

"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps." Proverbs 14:15

With wisdom from above, enabled by a loving Lord, my steps are firm. I look forward to the walk, and I wonder where the path will lead.

One thing I do know; I know who is walking beside me. And, as evidenced by this chart, where the foot goes, the whole body goes!

"Father, walk with me as I step out, step in.  Make my steps firm.  Make them count.  Help me bring peace wherever I trod."

Love, Becky

If you liked this post, please click the following link to step over to a place I love to go; and read about other word choices.

http://theletteredcottage.net/word-of-the-year-link-party-2012/

  

Opportunity to Take a Trust Trek / The Plan

I am thinking that August will bring many opportunities to trust.  So I am planning a Trust Trek.

I love home and home-based things, like family, decorating, gardening and now raising chickens.  I also love being safe.  And home is safe.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm a homebody, and might be surprised that I'm planning a journey.
But there are threats to life everywhere, even at home.  (There is that asteroid that my brother says could be heading my way! Thanks Jeffrey!)

I have been passing on a nugget of truth to my peeps and now it is time for me to listen to my own truth and put it to the test.  Here it is:

OUR WEAKNESSES ARE MISAPPLIED STRENGTHS.

What are your weaknesses?  Think about the opposite to each one to find a strength you are not applying correctly.

My greatest weakness is fear.  I don't fear everything, I fear threats to my safety: physical, emotional, financial. Why?  Because too often I think I am in control.  Why? Because I think I am safe with me in control;  I'm a good, wholesome control-freak with personal integrity; I'm smart, and tenacious...  Ahh, but that's where I let myself down...I'm not good at everything; I don't have all the answers; and sometimes I don't even like me. ( Interestingly, I'm not afraid of spiritual threats, because I KNOW I'm not in control of that battle!)

If I apply my own truth, that means my biggest problem is that I am misapplying great faith in God's path for my life and his ability to be my present and faithful guide.   OOPS!  Did I just go my own way and get lost!

" Where are you, Father?
Right where I left you?
Okay here I come!
I'm on my way back through the woods to your side...
How long have I been gone this time?"

So I plan to take an open trek of trust this August.  On my journey, I will combat every threat to my "safety" with faith in God.  And I plan to hold myself accountable to share the details here. 

I hope you check on me to see how it goes.  I have a good teacher. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6

"I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain: today's language

I know in whom I believe and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've
committed unto him against that day"

Words: Dan­i­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 4, 1883.
Music: James Mc­Gran­a­han (MI­DI, score).

Egg Day in the Hen- Pen

The long awaited day arrived yesterday.  And I was able to document it..sort of.
 

I had decided to play with the spiffy little Cannon camera our girls gave me for mother's day. It was a crisply cool morning (for Tucson, that is, about 67degrees) and a little blessing was about to reveal itself in our backyard chicken-house and pen. 

   Over the weekend I built a  chicken run with things we had available to give my four hens more room to wander, play, beat the heat, and as it turns out...to lay eggs.  Clean, fresh brown eggs.
 

(This sign was crafted for me by my grandson, using only a magnifying glass and the sun.  The egg was made by Banana Chip, using her instinctive, chicken-momma skills.)

Here is the little egg- mother...in front.  Miss Piggy is behind her, followed by Dinah, with Coconut in the rear.  They are playing in the new run behind the bushes, where it is always shady, and where they enjoy a chicken-eye view of the rest of the yard --and me-- approaching with treats, or in this case, the camera.

I was so excited . The long-awaited day had finally arrived. The first trip to the pen, my camera ran our of space.. I'm still trying to post the actual video of finding the egg.  After loading my first hen-pen tour onto the laptop, I heard a commotion in the backyard.  For those of you who have never heard a hen laying an egg, it is very noisy, as you will soon discover.  The other three "virgin " hens were clueless, " What on earth is going on?"  Bobcat lay stretched out at the patio door watching his "pet" eat breakfast. (Video documentation of Bob's pet is on its way to the production room, Rachel). 

But you can see my journey and hear the blessed event in progress, and see the proud result.




Just turn on your speakers and click play below.=")

Check in for the big tour coming soon. 

The sequel to the above story is here:
Chick Flicks Are the New BH&G

The Day I Joined The Technocrat Society

Here I am
where?
why, at the kitchen table
doing what?
writing a blog...charging a phone...listening to free instrumental music...downloading photographs.

I've been detached from the office,
The littlest room in the house

Now my camera, phone, office, and I can go anywhere !

It all started the day I sent my phone through the wash...

An hour later a new, "free," phone was on its way.

No...It all started when the kids (oops, Kelly) gave me a camera for Mother's Day.

NO...It began when Jim took over my desk.

Or... Was it when I started to feel claustrophobic in the office.

Thank you, Rachel for your help selecting my new laptop, allowing me the liberty to blog here, there, anywhere.  Thank you Josh and Kelly, Rachel, Vanessa, and Emily for the camera.  Thank you washing machine for ruining my old phone.  Thank you recent economic down-turn for the tax rebate that paid for my new life as a technocrat.

Open Please

Last night we opened the door and walked into Kelly's warm and cozy home.  It was filled with our peeps.  The first to greet -- with a swoop -- was the ever-smiling, Daniel.  As Jim and I rounded the dividing wall, I looked into the sweet faces of my little women (and my little women's little girls) sitting around the table.  Could anyone be more blessed?  Apparently so, for out on the porch were all their men -- two strong and silent types, a mover and shaker, and the one who has our back! 

When the men came in, the two groups merged and there was a discussion about some of the implications of the tragic shooting of Gabrielle Giffords and several other people.  This kind of event can not help but cause people to think.  It jerks us out of our everyday lives and the plans we have made, to think about how fragile life is and how suddenly all can change, and what is really important.

Then Kelly shared an idea she'd discovered.  Choose a word and focus on it for a year, perhaps blogging about the results.  Emily immediately blurted "Patience!" Then the discussion moved on.

For some reason, the word I think I'll choose is "open."  There are other contenders  ( trust, explore ) but OPEN seems to cover those as well. 

Open to God's will for my life.
Open to Jim's business ideas.
Open to new experiences.
Open to hear others.
Open heart.

What's your word?