Red Marbles

RED MARBLES 

 I was at the corner grocery store buying some early

 potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and

 feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of

 freshly picked green peas. 

 I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of

 fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new

 potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the

 conversation between Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the

 ragged boy next to me. 

 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 

 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. 

They sure look good.' 

 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 

 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 

 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 

 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 

 'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 

 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 

 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 

 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 

 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue

 and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at

 home?' the store owner asked. 

 'Not zackley but almost..' 

 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you

 and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.

Mr. Miller told the boy. 

 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' 

 Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to

 help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other

 boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor

 circumstances. Jim just loves  to bargain with them for                                                                                                                                                                                   

peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. 

When they come back with their red marbles, and

 they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all

 and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green

 marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip

 to the store.' 

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this

 man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never

forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering

for marbles. 

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous

one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends

in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that

Mr. Miller had died. 

 They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my

friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon

arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the

relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of

comfort we could. 

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an

army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark

suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They

approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her

 husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her,

 kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on

 to the casket. 

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one,

each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand

over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the

mortuary awkwardly , wiping his eyes. 

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and

reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what

she had told me about her husband's bartering for

marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led

me to the casket. 

 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I

told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the

 things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim

 could not change his mind about color or size....they came

to pay their debt.' 

 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this

world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would

consider himself the richest man in Idaho. ' 

 With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of

 her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three

 exquisitely shined red marbles. 

 The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by

our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath.. 

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot

of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone

call from an old friend...Green stoplights on your way to

work...The fastest line at the grocery store...A good

sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where

you left them. 

Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just Did... 

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT

TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

Arther unknown

Aloha Friday

What interests those around you???...

What do they dream of someday doing, or becoming???...

How can you gift them with an acknowledge that you care about those dreams?

Now lets get those thinking caps on, monies or no...

I have confidence in ya all that gifts will be coming forth from your hearts.

Join us for a bit of fun.

Post your own question then come over here and link up

An unexpected Day togeather with my husband

My Mr had to take an unexpected additional day off today.
We got the kids off to the bus stop and I did morning chores tending the critters.
We decided to pack a lunch charge a cell phone and go drive to the Northern valley
The Day was a Day of great beauty here in the Desert Land.

I snapped this up above Scottsdale Arizona heading north.

We headed North to a wonderland called "Seven Springs"
There had been a bad burn up here a year or two ago.

There are many washes to ford.
I was rather unesey being an hour away from the kids at school, but Mr U helped me to live dangerously to have some fun.
After hiking up one wash to the burn area we got so cold with a storm moving in that we hiked back and got warm in the rig while I made turkey sandwiches on my lap.
We like to take our foods with us from home.
It is so much better and far more economical.

We were cold and hungry!
After a drive farther into the area we found the first tree.
Burned to death and aged with the seasons.
Daddy man and I were on a mission.
We are Making a miniature tree house for and with the children over the holiday break.
I can tell you now for we have begun the gift.

He is so handsome to me , even after 26+ years of marriage and friendship.
We were not thrilled with the limb and decided to go deeper into the burn area. I was a nervous Nelly in the wash for a storm was moving in swiftly.
It chilled rapidly, we felt a snow temperature in the air.

A majestic old tree that had been burned to death in the fire.
It was magnificent.
There were several hundred in the area so be at peace we wound not desecrate a woodland.

My viral Man cut that very branch for our family.
No easy task.

We were fighting the storm encroaching upon us, and snapped some quick shots. This one looks like I am grabbing him, but we did not want to take any more time.
I really was very concerned.
Flash flooding happens here and it is not to be disrespected either.

I love his humor.
We laughed and really enjoyed our friendship together.
It has been a very long time for us that we have not taken time together.
See we do not practice childcare.

so funny!

This is my I'm freezing and the black sky is moving from 10 o clock in the dome above us to 2 o clock in a count of 14 seconds. I wanted out of the area and onto high ground.
Mind you I am an hour away from the kids.
That is huge for me.
There was a time when homeschooling was partially based in a fear of the world harming them.

I thought it might be cool to make a scenario on the platform. We will put the tree house on a framed platform on casters. So we got some wonderful rocks to adorn the set.

We both marveled in the deeply worn water marks in this large bed rock.
See why I wanted to hurry.
He looked up and agreed and we got out of the area to the other side of the fords so that we would not get caught behind a ford if a flash flood happened.
I have to be able to get to our kids!

It was moving in fast

So we made a stop on the high plateau above the back roads.
This is a Hohokam Indian Ruin.
It is an area rich in Gold and copper mining history.
It was so cold that in the time It took for me to turn around and face the opposite direction the sky above me did this...

The last three shots were taken in about one minute!...
yes, the storm was moving that fast!
Temperatures dropped at least 15 degrees.

That is where we had come out of the "seven springs" area in a hurry.

We drove farther on west toward the Valley and the sky did this in a very short time.

Behind me to the right or south (over my left shoulder)
In that five minutes ...this is where we had been.

This is the view toward the "valley of the sun".
This si a rare sight.

click to enlarge.
It is so magnificent.

This was over my right shoulder
Now that is opulence.
Why?

Weaver needle formation in center image.
The famed "Superstition Mountains"
Many a Gold hunters story about those mountains.

Beloved a native, can count the times he has ever witnessed the whole of the valley clear like this.

center facing West

to the left or North

farther North

to the far right facing South West

When the children got off the bus they found us scrubbing the stump.

We were able to scrub off the burn. It was sticky cooked on sap
all the bark had been burned.
This is a nice heavy ?hard wood.

My darling leveled it off by having me hold it at a balance. He then got on his knees and using a cube with a pencil resting horizontally on it scribed it , then he sawed again. It will stand balanced on its own.
We will however be mounding it on a nice triangular 3/4 inch scrap of wood.

The wire brushes came out at the end and we were able to get a lot more of the soot off of the knot holes. If need be we will shellac just the burned spots.

Cold wet boots.

Charcoal covered cold wet hands.
We both paid a little discomfort for a wonderful great gain.
It has been my children's dream to "one day... when they are all grown up...
built their very own Tree House."
Why postpone a Dream...
In their dream tree house there will be a large room for the homeless children,a room on the low branch for me so I do not have to climb the steps. There will be many wings to the tree house. Dash will be the Mayer of the place. There will be gardens and lots of flowers that I get to plant.

(never mind the counter, today we were more important than the kitchen)
Now that warm cup of Coffee with vyta soy cocoa milk was awesome!
All I have need of My God has provided, Morning by morning new mercies I ssee.

We needed time away to relax, We need fun with each other. We needed to be refreshed by beauty unparalelled.
Our hearts longed to bless our young ones by fofilling a dream.
Walking into a vision that he and I shared togeather.
Unity of purpose in pleasure renewed us both.
Listen to each others dreams.
God gives us the desires that are within our hearts.
Encourage your young ones that anything is possible.

Wow a number providied

This morning as I was out talking with the driver of the trash collection truck, a neighbor came running out to get her can out after he had already passed her home. I asked the man to back up for her. He did so .
She and I began to speak, this dear sister in the Lord had been caring for her dear husband and friend who was this year diagnosed with a type of dementia.
Well for those of you here I have to go get the testing done.
I have obstinately denied it for two years now (mostly out of fear of loss of my benefits).
She had the next step for me.
A referral to a fellow who does the testing.
YES! in hand she delivered that number a few moments later.
She had returned from our talk earlier to find her sweet husband had exited the home naked (she had left him in the shower)...
We were able to laugh about it together.

I called the number, then I had to call my insurance carrier, then the number again to set the appointment for the testing.
This was so hard to do...
God however eased my trial, by giving me a number in hand from one who was pleased with the professionals services.
The fellow is on my plan and all the testing is covered.
It will cost me all of $15 to put this to rest once and for all.
I am so relieved to obey.
I know that God is God ...
I just forgot to act on that for this last two years out of fear and A choice out of fear, that I would be responsible for the destruction of my family.
That my friends is a lie...
I have lived in fear under that lie for far too long.
This is CHIRSTmas,
Christ came to heal and set the captive free.
I am a free woman.
I will no longer be imprisoned by the fear of a loss of provision for my family.
God is our provision.
Obedience is far better than sacrifice.
I have sacrificed my well being for the sake of fear of loss.
I have suffered silently up until this week when I finally went to my Beloved and told him my fears.
I am "My Beloveds" and he is mine.
His banner over me is LOVE.
My husband received me as Christ .

Raising Chickens

Total Egg count to date 100!
now five (of the 6) hens laying

Thankful Thursday

Reflective, life giving serene puddles lined the street this morning and a thought ...

He gives rain to both the just and the unjust...



"As a dear pants for the water so my soul longs after You."

Thirst.
None are exempt, it is innate.
Whether mammal, or any number of species we all thirst.
Flora or fauna.


Rain is given, mercifully, abundantly to some regions.

Living here in the desert I have a special gratitude for rain.

It is cleansing and refreshing.
Wonderful to splash in.
My child longed for the puddle time and was so very upset to be denied it due to cold.
The elements of gas liquid and solid...
Such a great force from the accumulation.
As may of you North Easterners can attest too.
I am grateful that we are all together not consumed.
Some are, or have been.
Both just and unjust.
Crashing waves and the tender drop all provision.
Rain on Me.

Word filled Wedesday * Merry CHRISTmas*

Join us here

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Please do not do Christmas on debt.
If you can not afford it, do not spend it!

It is not a gift if it is not yours to give.
There are acts of service, gifts of word.
Deeds of virtue, like asking for forgiveness and owning your errors or offense against another.
Some of my greatest treasures are the Love letters about how my Husband sees me.
Give what you have skill or talent in. Your talent/skill is an asset that you most likely underestimate.

Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

Give what you are able, do not give in pretense. It is a trap set for your feet by those who have their hands in your pockets.

Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Many food stores have collection bins, and the Salvation Army kept me from going hungry as a child. Let that bell remind you. Also those who serve as bell ringers love a nice hot drink in the cold. They can not leave the pot unattended.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

The poor we will always have among us. There are many kinds of poverty. Poverty of spirit is the worst. Kindness is free to give.

Luke 3:11
And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

Share.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

Your standard of measure...that is how it will be given back to you...generosity is a gain not a loss.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

Check the purpose of your heart. Going in debt to give under compulsion is a need for validation and acceptance. You have been given that through Gods love for you. Don't need to get it from a person :) Being real is a beautiful sign of humility.

James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Think about it.
Enjoy Christmas, and all year long...
"celebrate the reason for the season"
Merry CHRISTmas