Half Done

Hey There,

I am having one of those days when it seems everything is half done! I look forward to heaven for this reason, not exclusively of course. Meander with me if you like, while I dream about laundry always done. (Hopefully we get to wear those garments and never have to worry about soiling them again.) Food always completely prepared , yes on time. Lessons for the children completed and corrected.Oh, I could go on and on....... But needless to say, if this is training time on Earth. I am sure I am only half done!! Today is that humbling reminder. I guess I'll just smile and wave the white flag!

Meandering Me

Chubby Christmas!

Hello my friends,

I trust and pray all have had a blessed Christmas! We are experiencing the "Wii" fever in our house now. Of course Mom hasn't been on it, but I was informed that " If I was interested, our console came with a fitness game as well!" Now why on earth would they think I was interested?? Maybe I should be. Well there's always New Years!

Hope you had a chubby Christmas too!!

Love Brea.

Dead Bodies????

Ok, life has a way of really being nutty. I've been digesting; as of late, the way my life has taken a real curve towards the nutty. Im sure the Father just wants to bless me with material for this kooky blog I started, and felt I was in need. So he turned my husband into a transport driver for a funeral home!!!Thats right, Funeral Home!!! Do you all know what that means? You only transport one thing from a funeral home friends, and it isn't pizza!
Well, this job came about right before the bottom fell out for us. We have officially tasted the recession now. So really God is so good and funny at the same time. (I am finding myself in a blurry daze at times and watching or reading everything I can about women who had to survive tough times. You know, all those pioneer women of courage and strength?!)
Back to the job. Ken is now enrolledd in college to get his A.A. degree to become a liscensed Funeral Director.(Thanks to a family member) "Okay....... ", I say. "At least there's job security, the recession can't stop the inevitable".
On another note, you wouldn't believe the strategic place of ministry a person is in, when someone walks in your door who is in great grief and mourning. Im reminded of Jesus himself walking amongst the grieving and dead. How it was his joy to bring comfort and peace and healing to those hearts. He was always walking in on a funeral it seems.
So, here we are in another nutty and sovereign place by the hand of our Lord! Is it easy? No way. Have we had to taste our own losses? Absolutely. Does it make sense? Not really. But, we can either keep crying or just laugh and love its nuttiness!!!

In His Unending Love-Brea.

PS- Did you notice my mention of funerals in my blog greeting? Maybe the Lord took that as an invite?! Way nutty!!!!!

Sharing Affliction

Hi Friends.

What a weekend, probably one of the top in a long time. Hubbie and I had a night away without any kiddos. The Hilton, shopping, eating, bubble bath, movies in bed. Wow what a blessing and so needed, could it get any better?I ask you, could it? Yes, and it did.

Being a Pastor, DIM was called upon by another to come and teach in his pulpit. I was reminded so clearly that God has purpose for our lives that is never what we expect. I watched, heard and experienced the word of God through my husband as he shared from his own heartache, lessons and pain that our Heavenly Father allowed, out of love. Do you know what I saw as my husband broke down in front of a crowd of people? I saw, a transformation take place before my eyes. I saw my darling become so strong, through weakness. He was lifted back up by the hand of God, to remind Gods children of the truth. He first had to experience it though.

Yes, there will be great loss. Yes, there will be trials you cannot even fathom. Yes, there will be pain, sickness, failure, back stabbings, you name it the list goes on..... but, that isn't the point. The point is, He has overcome the world and that means your world too. Will you still choose to serve Him? Better yet, when you choose to fall to the ground and not get up. Will you let Him lift you, for His purposes?

I guess to the world this is all nutty, so it still fits into my blog title. For us who believe, we're to think it not strange when the trials come. In other words don't act so surprised?! Yah, without the Spirit it is nuts.

Trials are Blessings!

Brea.

Secret Place

What a day. A day that Im blessed to say included yet again a , sugar-free, caramel, soy latte. Yes, it was good. I decided to shower which is a good thing. I decided to make-up my face which is always encouraging and then I decided to hit the town. That's right the big, small town. (Thats when I actually met up with the latte.)

So, where to go with my three banditos in tow? "I know,"I said. "Our very favorite secret place." Shhhhhhh... Its my punkins' and my secret place. Its where Mama hides from the laundry and chores. Its where we play "RobinHood", and where we find wild animal prints. Its where we yell and yodle to hear our echos against the mountain wall. Its where we listen and watch for our fishy friends to jump to gobble our Dragonfly friends, (it gets violent sometimes).Its where my kiddos hear Mama talk to God, (they really hear me, Ive always been an out loud prayer, shocking I know.)Its where I remember who I am and what I've been given. Im so grateful to have our secret place its our sanctuary, and Jesus is always waiting for us.

If you don't have a place, I encourage you to look around, it may be right in your backyard!

Brea.

Chicken Sabotage

Hello All,

I decided it was about time to do some writing. I also had to let you all know the recipe I was to cook, flopped. Not because of bad cooking, mind you, but because I have nutty chickens!! Yes, Nutty Chickens,( it sounds like some sensational Easter candy), but these are real ones and belong to me. I have wanted chickens my whole life! Really. Well, at least as far as I can remember. Anyhow my wonderful nutty chickens have decided to eat every last bit of my Rhubarb plants. I was told the leaves of the Rhubarb plant are poisonous, which make my chickens suicidal as well as nutty. Oh well.

On another note I did get to try an authentic Irish meal over vacation. I was so tickled I spoke in a brogue during all of dinner. We took the weekend to travel to the coast(Tacoma), and hit an Irish pub with my Ma. I actually got to eat 'Dublin Coddle', with 'Irish Soda Bread', and 'Guiness Chocolate Cake' for dessert. Thank you my sweet, sweet Ma, for a very special dinner indeed!

So back to the cooking, I have to choose a new recipe, so I'll let you know when I know.

Blessings Bloggers-Sabrina

Everything Irish

Friends, Nuts and Meanderers,

Im thinking its time to put my irish self, to working through my new, Little Irish Cookbook. I know it sounds so "Julie and Julia", but really its part of this major hobby of mine right now; the search for my Irish self.( This maybe a future book, I have to warn you.) I will tell you all I love everything Irish!!! Why? Its just some quirky island thats always hostile and drunk, you say? Where they talk with a cool accent, smoke pipes and wear cool wool sweaters while chasing sheep, you say? No, it's an amazing place with amazing people and history, and its part of my history too!

My Ma (as I call her now, for fun), and I are hoping to travel to the land next August. I have been researching a little and have found the counties where my Fathers ancestors lived,(the West) my ma's are on the other side of the country, we think the East. I've been studying the history of Ireland for awhile, thanks to our little library here, and have been enjoying every bit. One of my goals is to learn the native language,(Gaelic) this year , at least Level 1. Yes, Rosetta Stone even has Gaelic! Can you believe it?? haha

Basically, its a giant Unit Study for Mom! Why not? God loves His children to learn, I believe. My kids laugh when I bring home yet, another Irish film or documentary. But you know, it brings some connectedness in some strange way too. It explains even some funny mysteries of behavior in my own family. Oh how we pass things down, even through the centuries.

Well, my first Irish dish will be 'Irish Rhubarb Country Cake'- can you dig it? I will somehow take a picture of this event even if I have to pay friends to help me!!

In Memory of my late Irish Grandmother Neva-Jean Dennis Shively(1921-2008), a poem.

As a white candle

In a holy place,

So is the beauty

Of an aged face.

As the spent radiance

Of the winter sun,

So is the woman

With her travail done.

Her brood gone from her,

And her thoughts as still

As the waters

Under a ruined mill.

J.Campbell

Happy Meandering! -Sabrina