Little Cabin In The Woods

Oh Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.....

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me,O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!

O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life

Months have passed since I have been able to post. Relocating, illness, schooling and life's up and down adventures have been constant in our changing lives. But, we always find time to play ;0). The littles delightfully go with the flow and almost never complain. How I cherish them all. Mountain Man is working hard and thriving.

We are semi/sort of settled. :) It is emotionally , physically and spiritually difficult moving to an unfamiliar place where there are no friends or family and so unlike our old breathtaking home where we were settled and comfortable. I miss my family so!!

We feel like strangers in a foreign land. Home sickness has tackled our hearts often enough. But, no matter where we are, the Lord is here always constant and remaining the same. What a great assurance to have with so many uncertainties in life. Do you have this assurance? Do you have His everlasting grace and free gift? I don't have much time to write much , but will say I appreciate so, so very much each and every prayer my dear friends have lifted up for me and mine.

Psalm 139. This scripture is such an inspiration to me and I treasure His Words. Please take moment to open your Bible to soak in this scripture from David. So many truths are contained within. It is so comforting, soothing to my heart and I know it will be to yours. Even if you are not hurting ~ it is a balm to the soul. God loves us so. I have a few more photos to share and hope you enjoy them. They are on a warm fall day here where the girls were just frolicking and being the tender hearts they are. Be blessed and may His precious grace fill you deeply. Just ask Him....Psalm 139 read it.

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Jumping &

Jumping....

Posing...

Running....

Dancing and singing....

Twirling...

Twisting...

and sometimes falling ;)

And I can't leave without a couple of my signature shots

..

..

When HE Moves...

 

"Rules for Self Discovery:

 1. What we want most;

  2. What we think about most;

  3. How we use our money;

 4. What we do with our leisure time;

  5. The company we enjoy;

  6. Who and what we admire;

  7. What we laugh at."   

 ~ Tozer ~

 

 

A life in the Lord is an amazing journey of learning and spiritual discovery. Days are filled with joy and laughter as well as lost tempers and aggravation.

It is my hope to grow daily in Him ~ to receive Him fully, wholly (holy) ~  for Him to fill every aspect of my life entirely when He moves me.

 

The past couple of years for us have indeed been a trial.  But woven within the hard times has been deep soul blessings.  We have met people we may have otherwise never met.  Not the ones we envisioned would ever be the hearty hopegivers to others.  Not the on fire church goers nor the raise your hands hallelujah in the pews people but the simplest of God's human creations.  These salt of the earth folks, over-flowingly full of kindness and grace, who forget their own sufferings through helping others,  have embraced and astounded us in  imaginable ways.    

 

Well, we are completely moved  in body and possession but working on the emotional adjustment of  new surroundings as we continue to look for property.   The littles are thriving with their go with the flow attitudes and we are still in the mountains, thankfully by the grace of God, but in a completely different area.  The Lord is ever good. 

 

Lat month gifted us with a wonderful visit with family and friends.  It also unwelcomed the loss of my lovely friend  Dana who lost her fight with cancer but won the battle.  This dedicated mother and believer in Christ is now in our heavenly home with our Lord.    She was the loving mother of five sons, a homesteader, believer, true southern gal, and devoted wife full of life, laughter and joy.  Goodness , she was a beautiful person.   

It is hard not to question "Why her and not some criminal?",  but we live in a world of sin, disease, illness and poverty and sometimes there is no answer other than this   We can, however have the assurance if we have God's only son as our personal Savior.  He paid the price and took on all of this to bridge the gap and make a way to God so we can have eternal life with Him.  I have the promise of seeing my sweet friend in heaven and will surely miss her sweet voice and presence here.

 

I know many of you have seen these shots on facebook,  just thought I'd share them here ~ 

 

 

Missing her big brother

 

 

 

All the littles miss him

 

 

and.... I have no idea what they are doing or looking at...

 

 

hmmm. she's up to something....

 

 

Ah, I see

 

 

better run now

 

 

A flower will make it up to him. ;)

 

 

We had such a lovely time visiting... too short

 

 

 

Pookie having a serious discussion with Brandon.

 

 

 

Isn't this the prettiest cactus?  Anyone have an idea of what it is called?  I'd love one.

 

 

enjoying family

 

time for a shot with the littles before it gets too dark~" Jack, get them to sit still and tell Pookie to stop playing with  shoe"

"Jack, tell Pip to put Pookie's shoe back on"

"No... no.. don't throw it!  Put it back on her foot"  ( I love the look on Jack's face at this moment)

And this is what happens when they mess with big brother .  Oh well, I tried.

And lastly, my precious friend Dana whom I and so many others will sorely miss. 

In Him,  Patricia

Sqiggly Twigs dress

Is this not the cutest little dress?  I had so much fun making it.  And being as it is extremely easy as well as versatile, I want to make ten more in all different styles  ~  with and without an apron, with or without all the different vertical fabrics ~ so many options!  You can get the pattern over at                Squiggly Twigs Designs.   It is called Miss Maria.  Deb,  the designer, has so many cute, modest patterns.  I hope to share more soon as well as an update on our move!

 

                            

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

And I want women to be modest in their appearance.

They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.  For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.  {1 Timothy 2:8-10} 

Reign on me...

During this first blush before the sun has even peeped above the mountains dispiritedness has dented itself  into my morning.  I look at all that needs to be done, the whip of discouragement  shows up. 

      I need to make that schedule for my daughter.

                            I keep forgetting to send off that CD...those thank~you notes, that handwritten letter.

I really need to finish that chapter I have been putting off for that past century.

                                                                                   I forgot to make Mountain Man lunch...

                 It is snowing and icy so there goes Language therapy again 

That fossilized orange cat we rescued from under a snow pile last year  just yuk yuk'd on my old hardwood floors again adding to my disillusionment.

 I sit sipping the warm brew, looking at the mess in the back room, Pookies junk  creativity strewn, dishes already piled in the sink ( where do they come from overnight?), undone sewing, laundry, homeschool lessons yet to be planned ( are we behind again?)

And then it happens.

                  A drop of fresh, renewing , life quenching water reigns down on me.....in me filling my spirit,  allowing me the consideration of  It's ok.   It is OK.  Everyone slips and slides abit ~ or alot as is my case.  Mary knew what was important. 

So, I sit and pray, get up, open the door, take in the brisk air then up and begin ~ letting His grace, His staggering , breathtaking , never-ending grace reign on and in me.

                                                                         Patricia

Winter tide

 "Mama!!"  whining, whimpering

"What?"  sighing, wondering

"Willow put play dough in my mouth"  , whimpering, false sniffing

"How, did Willow put play dough  in your mouth?"   sighing, wondering, really wondering

"I was laying on the floor and yawned and she put play dough in my mouth"  a bit of a tear  for sympathy effect

"Willow, Why did you put play dough in your sisters mouth?"  questioningly, wonderingly

"I wannid do"  mischievously , grinning, smirking with enjoyment

~~~

Thus are the pleasures of the simple life.

            The quietness of home and hearth, 

                        the playfulness of raising many children,

                                the confined restlessness of winter tide.  ;0)

 

You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter. {Psalm 74:17} 

 

We recently fostered a Great Pyrenees and her 16 week old pup.   The puppy was full of frolicking fun!

And mischief.

He was such a snow bear.  Don't let his innocent looks fool you.  He was a naughty little big thing. 

When the end came, we kept the mother.  ;o) 

She is lovely

  An ancient breed, the Great Pyrenees is gentle, intensively protective, obedient and kind.  They adore children are playful and love the snow diving head first.  Gentle guardian giants is what they are.  I had a Saint Bernard years ago and adored him.  I guess I just love big dogs. 

 

He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.{ Psalm 147:16}

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet. {Proverbs 31:21}

After more playing in the snow...

Winter is a good time to break out the games

I love having four seasons

just when you grow weary of one ~ another springs forth

but not quite yet...

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?  {Job 28:22}

 

Glimpses of Home

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  {Hebrews 13:5}

It is a crisp 17 degrees this morning.  The sun is peaking through the french doors spreading her warmth on our little cabin.  Pookie is snuggled up next to me, kitty is perched on corner of the chair and a new day has begun...

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.  C.S. lewis

Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.  {Genesis 9:3}

old but usefull books ~ hand carved walking stick from a friend

little hands making playdough

 great uncle's mandolin

Books are the blessed chloroform of the mind ~ Oswald Chambers

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. Oswald Chambers

 

Expression

We were recently gifted a large brown paper sack chock full of handmade knitted items of hats, dresses, sweaters, socks and shawls.    I wish I could share with this person how much her homespun talents have blessed us, but I have no idea who she is or where she is from!  The articles do have tags which say by Lori Cordoni.  Maybe she will see one of my littles sporting one of her creations. I plan to use them in my studio too as they are so cheerful and full of personality.  I wish I had this talent!  So, here are a few to share....

my pookie

 

We still have no idea where we will in the future or when.  Only the Lord knows and I have given it to Him.  It is not mine, but His. So many closed bolted doors the past year - so much growing, groaning and searching.  Looking on each day as a gift.... we know he is moving us.  Please lift us up in prayer... to have discernment and joy no matter what, to be lead by His grace, to follow Him and to always be an expression of His love.

Have a wonderful day!

Patricia