Be Encouraged because ~ Kindness is Showing Up Everywhere

If you have read here very long you know that my ONE WORD for 2024 is kindness.

I have observed so much kindness during the last several months...even at the airports with the TSA people I've experienced nothing but kindness, as well as other people in the airports and on the planes.

I love how the word and ideas just pop up anywhere and everywhere!  Here are a couple of examples that I have come across either on IG or blogs of friends and I wonder if when they posted these if they thought of me.

Thanks to my friends Lisa and Melanie for sharing these two.

They each brought a smile to my face when I saw them.

Worrying vs Trusting God

Which is easier to do...worrying about a situation or trusting God for the outcome?  I think worrying may come more "natural" to our flesh than initially trusting God.

Which is the most beneficial to us...worrying about a situation or trusting God for the outcome?  Seeing as how worrying has been proven to cause multiple health issues, trusting God is definitely the most beneficial for us physically, but it is also the most beneficial for us emotionally.

I have a very recent incident in my life to share that demonstrates my point.

In July of 2011 I had a fall that broke my left femur and my right wrist.  I required surgery for having a rod put in my leg and because my wrist was broken and I would be unable to use a walker with a cast on the wrist, I had to have plates and pins put in my wrist.  

I've grown accustomed to life with metal in my body...until...I knew I was going to need to go through security in order to fly to Maine.  I have flown several times after 9/11 so I knew about the scanners but all of those times were long before I needed the rod, plates and pins.  

I thought it would be no problem...I would just call the office of the surgeon who did the surgery and ask for them to give me a card that I could present to TSA when I was checking through security.  But when I called, the lady in Medical Records told me that they no longer give out those cards because TSA quit accepting them. 

Oh great!  That's when the worrying began. 

But of course I didn't actually call it worrying.  I found myself asking people I knew  were faithful to pray to please pray for me as I was "concerned" about the situation.  You know...it sounds much more spiritual to use the word concerned rather than just admitting that I was worrying and asking God to forgive me.

I realize now that when I worry it is really a form of fear and that it shows a lack of trust in God.  But at the time that I was going through it none of it really registered as such.  

People would ask me if I was excited about the trip and the worry or fear would always surface.  I didn't even begin to think about packing until less than 24 hours before we were to leave home.  I had allowed the fear to keep me from seeing things I was leaving undone.  It was crazy...because now as I look back at it all what was it that I was worried about?  That I would set off the scanner and people would stare at me while my leg and wrist were scanned separately?  Yes...I didn't want to be noticed.  

Everything I worried about or feared never happened! 

I know that several people were praying for me and I so appreciate each one,  because God had the victory.  Once I was home and had a day to rest up a bit, I began thinking about it all...truly pondering how I had allowed myself to be taken in by worry and fear rather than trusting God.  I thought about how it was because I didn't want to be singled out...to be noticed and have people wonder what I did or was trying to do that would cause the scanner to set off the alarm.  

And then I took it a step further...as a Christian, if I allowed that much worry or fear to drive me to the state of almost being paralyzed by it, how would I react under persecution for the cause of Christ?  I know how I would want to react...because the Bible tells me that I am an alien here on earth...my true residence is in Heaven with Christ...but would I?

I'm thinking it's time to give up worrying and starting to do more trusting in our Sovereign God who makes no mistakes.  It's time to remember that HE is the One with the plan.  It's time to remember that whatever He allows to come my way is because He knows it's good for me...all through the process of my growing in Him.

The Last of the Maine Adventures

 The day before we left to fly home, our daughter-in-law had a fun excursion for us.  We visited the Wadsworth-Longfellow home in Portland.  I enjoyed the tour of the home so much.  

The home was first owned by Peleg Wadsworth, Henry's paternal grandfather,  who was an American Patriot officer in the American Revolutionary War as well as a member of Congress. 

 He was close friends with George Washington hence this picture of George Washington is hung in a very prominent place in the home.

This is a portrait of Henry around the time he became a professor at

Bowdoin College.

Henry graduated high school at the age of 14 and graduated from Bowdoin College at the age of 18.  He was offered a professorship upon graduating from Bowdoin, but he turned it down because he didn't feel equipped enough to do so since he didn't speak any foreign languages.

After touring Europe over a three year period, Henry returned to America having learned five foreign languages.  It was at this time that he accepted the professorship at Bowdoin College.

The Wadsworth-Longfellow house became home to many generations of that family.  Henry's sister, Anne Longfellow Pierce, lived 87 of her 90 years in this home.

She left instructions in her will that everything was to be left exactly as it was at the time of her death.  For the most part, those instructions have been carried through down to where the pictures are placed on the walls.

The kitchen was quite interesting.

It was also noted at the time of the tour that there were never any modern conviences in the home...no running water or bathroom facilities.

This is the chair where Henry would often sit and write while he was living in the home if he wasn't traveling. 

 

When he married Mary Storer Potter they moved to Brunswick Maine in 1831 where they lived for three years.  At that time, Henry was offered a professorship at Harvard, after traveling abroad again.

Mary had a miscarriage during the trip when she was six months into her pregnancy.  She did not recover from this misfortune and died a few weeks later at the age of 22.

Henry returned to the US in 1936, resumed the professorship at Harvard and was required to live in Cambridge.

He did remarry in 1843 to Frances Appleton and they had six children together.

Henry's sister Anne Longfellow Pierce was a rather sickly woman.  

This was her room, where she was able to enjoy it not only as a bedroom but also where she received guests.

I found it interesting that nieces, nephews, and grandchildren all took part in her care.

Vesper Hill Children's Chapel

Our son and daughter-in-law took us to one of the sweetest places shortly after visiting the harbor in Camden and Mt. Battie.  It was in Rockport, Maine and the name of the place was Vesper Hill Children's Chapel.

The approach to the chapel is lovely through forest and it is surrounded by beautiful gardens.  Up the steps you go and enter into a quiet and serene chapel without walls.

Once inside without the walls you are surrounded by nature.  It's so peaceful.  

You can read a bit about it's history HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today.  I have just one more adventure to share with you tomorrow from our time in Maine.

From My Journal

 TODAY IS: June 24, 2024

AROUND ME: we had rain last evening for the first time in a couple of weeks.  It was glorious!  We are to have a little more this morning and the temperatures are to be a bit lower today!

I AM PONDERING:  how worry is the exact opposite of trusting God...and how it leads to needless fear.  More to come this week on the blog about a personal experience concerning just this very thing.

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS:  

.

BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY ENJOYING:  my reading has slowed down quite a bit because of preparing for our trip this month, so there isn't any change in the books I've been listing other than the book by Sinclair Ferguson on the trinitarian views of John Owen.

  Refreshment for the Soul is a collection of Richard Sibbes thoughts on different topics and is compiled as a devotional.  So, it will be an ongoing reading throughout this year.

The Soul's Conflict  by Richard Sibbes

John Owen by Sinclair Ferguson

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  memories, pictures of our kids having fun, my Redeemer, God's Word, sunshine, air conditioning...just to name a few.

FROM THE KITCHEN: Strongheart picked our first strawberries of the season last week!  They are so sweet and yummy!

SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY:  being able to get caught up on housework and gardening.

TO DO LIST FOR TODAY  general housework which will include washing curtains, blinds and windows. 

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12

Be Encouraged

 

The Harbor at Camden and Mt. Battie

 Our son was able to take Friday through Monday off from work.  Obviously Friday was for our granddaughter's graduation...then the weekend we enjoyed doing things together.  We went to the Red Barn Saturday evening for deep-fried fish and chips/onion rings.  As my son said, "There's nothing healthy about this meal!"  But it was yummy.  We usually always go to the Red Barn every time we visit Maine.

Then on Monday he and our daughter-in-law took us to Camden Maine so that we could see the harbor and all of the boats.  Here are a few pictures so you can enjoy the beauty too.

We left the harbor and drove just a few miles away to Mt. Battie where we could get a beautiful view of the harbor.

There are steps inside this tower that we climbed and enjoyed the view from the top!

There's still a bit more to share of our adventures, but that will be it for this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by and traveling with us over the beautiful landscape of Maine.

A Few Fun Excursions

 Our son wasn't able to take off from work the entire time we were there, but we have such a special daughter-in-law. She took us to several different antique shops and antique malls. 

I found a few treasures...

The Blue Willow platter is a treasure because of its age.  If you have read here for any amount of time, you may remember about our trip last summer when my cousin gifted me with several very old (late 1800's) Blue Willow plates that have an irregular edge to them as part of their design.  This platter is the same way and is dated 1832.

I have been looking for a Salt Box for quite a while.  Right before we left this particular morning to go to this antique mall I said, "Today I am going to look for a salt box."  When we walked into the building and the first thing we saw was the above salt box all three of our mouths dropped open!  It couldn't have been much plainer!  It was actually a part of a 14 piece canister set...it had canisters, spice jars, oil and vinegar, and the salt box.  My daughter-in-law loves blue and white as much as I do and she's always looking specifically for blue and white "tea" jars or canisters.  So everything worked out...and everyone was happy.  When the ladies at the antique mall were wrapping the pieces up for us they commented that that particular set had just been brought in that morning and they couldn't believe how quickly it sold!  The Lord does grant us the desires of our hearts.

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share my special finds.  I did also find some really unique baskets.  I don't have pictures of them or some of the other items that I was able to purchase.  Since we were flying and couldn't pack everything, I am awaiting a visit from our son and his family this fall when he will bring everything to me.

Where in the World Have I Been?

 I want to begin this post by saying how much I appreciate those who have checked in with me to see if everything was okay since I'd not posted for a while.  Your kindness is so appreciated.

I thought that I would take today to give a brief update and to share some blessings that the Lord brought our way over the last two weeks.  

If you read yesterday's post, you will probably realize that we spent some time in Maine.  We actually left home on June 4 and flew from Pittsburgh PA to Boston MA, where our son and oldest granddaughter met us.  Our granddaughter attends college at Northeastern University in Boston and our son lives about two and a half hours from Boston.  He didn't want us to have to try making connecting flights(which was so kind of him) and insisted that we fly into Boston nonstop from Pittsburgh.  

Our primary reason for making the trip when we did was to celebrate our youngest granddaughter's highschool graduation.  We are so proud of her as she has faced many challenges, but she always proves that through God's grace, she can do hard things.

The graduate had requested to have a cook-out after graduation.  Several of the people that were invited were unable to attend because of having other graduations to attend that day as well.  But her grandfather in Maine, as well as a dear lady from her church and Strongheart and I were there...along with her sister and parents, of course.  (And of course, I had my eyes closed when the picture was taken.  Oh well...it's a memory, right?)

The graduation was on June 7 and then on June 9 during fellowship time, her church honored her as their only graduate this year.  That was such a blessing.  The church presented her with gifts, but an even bigger blessing was watching people of all ages coming up to her to wish her well.  She definitely came away from church that day feeling genuinely loved.

We were there for eight days...so LOTS of fun was had.  And I will share more about it over the next few days.

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing our joy with us!  I've had a lot to catch up on around here since returning but I will be around to visit very soon!

From My Journal

 TODAY IS: June 17, 2024

AROUND ME: expecting temperatures in the mid 90s today...and several other days this week!  That puts me out in the flowerbeds early in the mornings before it gets too hot.

I AM PONDERING: the faithfulness of God in answering the prayers of His children and giving us safety in our travels over the last week!

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS:  celebrating this girl...

BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY ENJOYING:  my reading has slowed down quite a bit because of preparing for our trip this month, so there isn't any change in the books I've been listing other than the book by Sinclair Ferguson on the trinitarian views of John Owen.

  Refreshment for the Soul is a collection of Richard Sibbes thoughts on different topics and is compiled as a devotional.  So, it will be an ongoing reading throughout this year.

The Soul's Conflict  by Richard Sibbes

John Owen by Sinclair Ferguson

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  some very well spent time with our family in Maine.

FROM THE KITCHEN: not a lot of exciting things since we just returned from Maine, but I did make some lasagna roll-ups and some chocolate chia pudding since we've been home.

SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY:  family time

TO DO LIST FOR TODAY:  doing much needed work in a perennial bed and thoroughly clean a bedroom.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12