God knows our needs before we ask! My husband stopped at Lowe’s after work yesterday. As he was getting out of his truck he slipped his keys in his pocket, or so he thought! They actually fell out on his seat! Upon coming out of the store he discovers he’s locked the keys in the truck. Several years ago we had locked keys in a vehicle and called the police to see if they could help us and were told they no longer did that. So Jim went back into the store and tried to find something he could use to fish through the window and pop the lock. He was struggling to do this when a kind lady, who just happened to park near him and just happened to work for the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office, walked up and said a deputy could unlock the truck! She made a phone call and shortly therefore a deputy came with her SlimJim and in minutes the problem was solved. This kind of sums up how life is. Doesn’t it? We face all kinds of obstacles and challenges big and small along the way. But God in His providence makes a way to overcome. We have a choice every day to look at the problems or look at the answers! We can focus on the struggle, stress and the hardship or we can focus on God‘s love and provision to see us through every time! I used to spend a lot of time dwelling on problems, now I choose to see answers! “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

Did God miraculously give me these steaks? For real?!? My friend Jason DeZurik tells of a time, in his book, when his children had need of milk and the Lord’s miraculous provision regarding that “need.” That makes sense to me! But, steak? For real? Steak is not a “need.” Steak is actually a little extravagant in my mind. But not, apparently, in the heart of my Heavenly Father who loves to show His love and give good gifts to His children! So, let me back up and tell the story…. As my husband and I were grocery shopping the other day I mentioned to him that I would love to grill out and actually had a hankering for steak. But as anybody taking a look at beef prices knows… getting a decent cut can be rather expensive. So I passed it up. A day or two later I was looking at a grocery store flyer, and still hankering for a nice grilled steak… I checked out the sales prices. However, again, I did not purchase. Then Sunday evening my husband got a phone call from a neighbor, who shared with Jim that he had some meat in his refrigerator that he wasn’t going to get used and it was ours to have. When my husband returned he had these beautiful steaks in his hands!! Immediately I knew my good, good God had given us this gift! Not a need! Not even something I prayed about. Just a quiet desire of my heart! His love is beyond understanding and so so vast!

Took this photo the other morning of a pretty old springhouse on a country road near me. For those who aren’t from the area… there are people here in the Hocking Hills that still regularly drink from these natural springs. Back in the day these little “houses” were put over a natural spring before electric refrigeration. Not only did the house protect the spring from debris, etc. but the spring made things very cool in the springhouse so the family would keep meat, dairy products or anything else in danger of spoiling inside.

What’s today look like for you? Where are you going this week? Is it intentional? Are you making a plan with purpose? So much of what we do is a reaction to whatever appears urgent at the moment. And as the saying goes “urgent gets in the way of important.” Guard “important.” Protect it from dwindling away in the midst of the work and pressures of life! Ultimately faith, hope and love, God and people are really all that matter.

I aspire to a lifestyle of boondocking and taking in a view of the Grand Tetons from my camper! Jim and I, like so many others were hit hard by the 2008 recession. We are so blessed to have recovered in part from that financial blow. God has granted us a beautiful home and a “beautiful” mortgage to go with it. However, planning for retirement in the midst of years of money struggles, when you’re just trying to put food on the table, didn’t take a high priority. So we have recently come up with a Plan B. We are going to semi-retire and do lots of Boondocking!! If you don’t know what Boondocking is… it is the kind of RV camping that can come with a view like the one in this photo! It is off grid camping which of course requires some planning, but on public lands you can often camp up to 14 days at no cost and in remote beautiful areas! This RV lifestyle will also have another blessing associated with it! Being mobile we will have the opportunity to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse which sends volunteers into hard-hit areas after wildfires, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, etc. Anybody who knows my husband knows he has a lot of skill in the area of construction and is perfectly suited for that kind of volunteering! It is a perfect way for us to serve others in our later years while traveling! We have never been ones to sit around and do nothing… even in retirement! Too many hurting people in this old world to not try to make a difference and share the love of Christ. I believe with all my heart the good Lord has graciously brought me a home business that will give us the semi-retirement income we need for RV living! We never even knew this business opportunity existed a year and a half ago! We were praying for a way out of debt and to be able to semi-retire. God is so so good and I know I will see this dream fulfilled! Never, never to old to dream and make a difference! Live intentionally!

I almost missed a really enjoyable outing the other day. Why? Because there were dishes in my sink and phone calls to be made and… to put it simply, just a lot of work to do. But there will always be work to do! This is my MO, focusing on everything that needs to be done and missing opportunities for refreshing, health and interactions that have eternal value! I struggled with this unbalanced approach daily for 37 years while I raised babies. A noble occupation for sure! I don’t regret a minute of it. But what I do wish I had learned many years ago is how to take care of myself in the midst. Not making time for self care resulted in multiple health issues, being nearly 150 pounds overweight and quite frankly, depression because God never intended us to live fully “on” all the time. Even Jesus slipped away to quiet places with His disciples or by Himself! I am learning with much prayer to prioritize things that are important for my well being. You might think now that we are empty-nesters that there is extra time for such things but strangely life is very full. I still need to make sure I’m taking care of myself and so do you! Our day to day lives here on this earth matter greatly. Those of us who follow Jesus are “light and salt” in this broken world, according to Scripture. God designed you and loves you and has called you for a purpose! Take care of yourself! You are precious in His eyes and you have very important things to do!

This is the first time I’ve noticed our Dogwood tree out front turning a slight shade of pink! The flowering trees of been just gorgeous this year!