Currently Listening Greatest Hymns By Selah Track 1 - Be Thou My Vision see related

"Nay, there is no loss to show..."

“Show me not th’ imagined loss – I see His Cross.”

the Lord will provide

The Father said, What dost thou hold in thine hands?

The son answered, I hold only crumbs, fragments left to me by family, friend, and foe. This is all that is left; nothing else I own. Only crumbs, my Father, but they are precious to me; I hold them dear. Others may wish to hold so much more in their hands. I am content with these few crumbs. They are enough; they will suffice. Truly, I can be sustained on only crumbs.

The Father replied, My child, wilt thou give Me thy crumbs?

The son answered, Are they important to Thee, my Father? Do You truly want them, need them? They are all I have; they are all that is left. But at Your bidding, I empty my crumbs into Your hands. Now I hold nothing. My hands are empty.

And the son lifted his face toward heaven and stretched out his hands.

Then the Father took the crumbs and broke them yet again, scattering them to the wind in all directions. And the breath of God carried the crumbs to a seated multitude nearby.

The Father said, See I have taken your meager fare and fed a crowd. And thou thyself hast also eaten to the full. Now, go back and gather new fragments, fresh crumbs. These will sustain you yet longer.

And the son went amongst the crowd and took up twelve baskets full. There he called upon the name of the Lord – the Lord is my provision. The Lord will provide.

Currently Reading The Black Arrow (Signet Classics) By Robert Louis Stevenson see related

"We've got cows!"

Friday, July 11^th, was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A. My family celebrated it by donning black and white spots, paper ears, and horns. The reward for our efforts was a free combo meal apiece. :)

“Oh, look at the cute cows…”

I’m making a cow costume today.

Black and white spots. Ears and horns. And maybe a tail. Tomorrow, Friday the 11^th, is Cow Appreciation Day. And to celebrate, Chick-fil-A is giving away a free chicken sandwich to anyone dressed like a cow. It should be fun and wacky. It’s not every day one has a reason – and a reward – to don black and white spots and go out in public.

Tomorrow is also Free Slurpee Day at 7-11. Now, this is a long-standing tradition with my family. Every year we make July 11^th our errand day, and stop at any 7-11 convenience store we pass. I love my family; they are so fun.

In other news, yesterday while driving down a little country lane, I saw behind me a guy in a truck throw a paper bag full of trash out his window. Boy, did I want to whip my car around, chase that guy down, and give him a good tongue-lashing! If my big, strong brother were with me, I’d have let him teach the dude a lesson. Litter-bug.

Speaking of my handsome brother, I have this great picture of Elliot and Weston that needs a perfect frame. My room can always use one more picture of my favorite brother.

Along with constructing a cow costume, one plan for today is to give blood. After returning from Ghana, I had to wait twelve months before donating blood again. A year is up now, and I may do my small part in saving lives.

Secondly, albeit of far less importance, while out today I hope to find a new pair of sunglasses. I accidentally left my faithful shades at the lake Friday night. The sun was setting, and we were playing Scrabble… and I took them off and laid them on the ground. And abandoned and left them to the mercies of ants, herons, and future campers. I miss them. And, having grieved almost a week, I am ready to move on to another pair.

Happy Thursday. Smile today.

- haley

Currently Watching Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection (Manhattan Melodrama / Evelyn Prentice / Double Wedding / I Love You Again / Love Crazy) By Myrna Loy, William Powell, Jack Carson, Clark Gable see related

Dr Pepper, Texas

The most sacred ground in the state of Texas is the Alamo, located in San Antonio. The second most important place in the Lone Star State is the small town of Dublin, where Dr Pepper is made.

We visited this revered spot on Saturday. Took a little road trip west, driving a couple hours to tour the plant and sample the product. And I bought a case to carry home with me. :)

I love Dr Pepper. And I’m grateful to be a Texan.