A MOST WONDERFUL SURPRISE

Weeks ago, my treasured letter opener went missing. It belonged to my mother, and is one of the few things of hers that I still own. To say I was devastated would be an understatement.

How could it have disappeared? I kept it in a special box with my scissors, pens, and post-its, and only took it out when there were envelopes to slit. When I was done, it went right back into the box.

After searching every conceivable spot I could think of, and praying many prayers for the Lord to reveal its whereabouts, I gave up and ordered a new one from Amazon. The new one was much bigger, and didn't do near as good a job. It was also much uglier than it had looked in the picture on their website. 

Fast forward to today. 

I was standing in the same spot I always stand when exercising to the video on my cell phone propped up on my desk. Same routine, same exercises that require me to bend forward, then backward, then forward again. Only this time, something caught my eye. It was my missing letter opener tucked into the side of a box under my desk. 

Some people may scoff and say it had been there all along, I just hadn't noticed it, but I'm convinced it was a God thing. 

DRIVEN

This post was written for Five Minute Friday. 

Word prompt--DRIVE

Five minutes to free write about it.

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This week I felt driven to finish up the puzzle I wrote about in last week's post, the one that had the strange pieces that forced me to think outside the box (no pun intended). It was quite a challenge, and I devoted much more time to it each day than I normally allow myself to spend on doing jigsaws.

Wish I could feel that driven to finish up all the household chores I've been procrastinating about. 

ORDER

This post was written for Five Minute Friday. 

Word prompt--ORDER

Five minutes to free write about it.

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There are certain rules of my own making that I like to follow when doing jigsaw puzzles, a certain order of things. Like first finding the edge pieces and putting the border together.

This puzzle, however, made it impossible for me to follow that order. The pieces are small and oddly shaped. They don't fit together the way normal pieces are supposed to--not even the edge pieces. I've had to work from the inside out, instead of the outside in.

At first it was frustrating, but now that I'm getting the hang of it, it's actually quite fun.

WORDS ON A FENCE: WISDOM

There's more to this colorful sign outside the library than what first meets the eye. It is full of quotes that I didn't even notice until I went up close to get a better look at the designs.

WORDS ON A FENCE: PART II

No wonder I was only able to find nine signs in PART I. Come to find out they hadn't all been put out yet. So here are the rest, except for three that aren't ready yet.

The signs are displayed along Main Street (from the roundabout near Harris Teeter, to 23rd Street), down 21st Street, and then two more around the corner on 23rd Street (one in front of the Allstate Insurance building near Rose's Bakery, and one in front of the new Tack Shop building near Monk's).

STRONG

 

This post was written for Five Minute Friday. 

Word prompt--STRONG

Five minutes to free write about it.

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This morning I started my devotions by looking up Scripture verses about strength. There were many, but this one in particular, made me think of my fun-loving, multi-talented granddaughter, who despite multiple medical issues--including a serious heart condition--is determined to live life to its fullest.

                  She is clothed in strength and dignity; 

                  and she laughs without fear of the 

                  future. -- (Proverbs 31:25 NLT)  

                           

Though I have prayed my heart out for this particular granddaughter, watching her travel a rugged journey she never signed up for or expected, my prayers weren't answered the way I hoped. Instead, the Lord has graced her with the ability to endure, and despite her circumstances, to  accomplish things many people can only dream of. To me, she is the epitome of courage and strength.

I started writing this post for myself, to help me deal with my own challenges, which pale in comparison to hers, but maybe it will encourages her as well, and let her know what an amazing testimony the life she lives is, and what an inspiration she is to her fellow travelers--myself included.

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Be strong and courageous; Do not be afraid; do

not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will

be with you wherever you go. -- (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the

strength of my heart and my portion forever.

(Psalm 73:26 NIV)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the

power of the weak. -- (Isaiah 40:29)

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their

strength; they shall mount up with wings like

eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they

shall walk and not faint. -- (Isaiah 40:31 ESV)

So do not fret, for I am with you; do not be

dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen

you and help you; I will uphold you with my

righteous right hand. -- (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes 

my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to

tread on the heights. -- (Habakkuk 3:19 NIV)

I can do all things through Christ who gives

me strength. -- (Phillipians 4:13 BSB)

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I

fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the

LORD will be a light to me. -- (Micah 7:8 ESV)

WORDS ON A FENCE: PART I

Every year we have a community art show featuring works of local artists. Discover Purcellville, the sponsoring organization, picks a theme and provides the objects to be painted. The finished products are displayed in front of various businesses around town, and then auctioned off in the fall to raise funds for future projects.

So far we've enjoyed Painted Barrels, Painted Benches, and Painted Christmas Ornaments. This summer it's Words on a Fence. 

Because I have only been able to locate nine of the 30 signs that were commissioned, I have labeled this post Part I. Part II will follow as soon as I can find the rest.

Enjoy!