Southern Living Yankee

I don't collect normal stuff like dolls, baseball cards, figurines, stamps, antiques, etc. You might think I collect books, but nah, I accumulate books. Books just happen, willy nilly. Like cats, they find their way here. I do still have my coin collection from 45 years ago; what's left from my little brother raiding it to spend on bubble gum, that is. And I've seriously considered collecting dust bunnies. I found some spectacular ones floating across the wood floor when I opened the windows to spring breezes the week before last. They're like overgrown snowflakes, all lacy and delicate, and each one with it's own unique pattern of cat hair, dust, pencil rubbings and atomic particles. But where would I showcase them? And how would I label them? How would I dust a dust bunny? I get worn out just thinking about it. But I discovered I do collect something: I collect moments. I'm going to begin placing them here, simply labeled "My Collection." En...

Job 39:19-25 (New International Version) 19 "Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? 20 Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? 21 He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray. 22 He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance. 24 In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. 25 At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, 'Aha!' He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry. Saturday was "Beautiful Girlhood" time with my neice Liz. More about that later, but that's her at the foot of this marvelous horse sculpture we found at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This morning I read the verses in Job, and they went so well with the sculpture I just had to ...

Brooke and Chris were here last week with their new puppy BUCKLEY, and how I wish the video of Fudd complaining about him would post to this blog! Here's what it sounded like: Yoww wwowowowow. UR owwowoowowoww hiss rrwow hiss . . . Today on Widows Christian Place I've posted the letter that Pastor Dean Brdlik sent out last summer when they heard that Jane's cancer treatments weren't working any more. It's comforting evidence of God's grace and sovereign will. Dean spent several summers on the farm with us when I was a kid. Although he's my cousins' cousin to me, he's always been like one of the family and it's been providential that God has crossed our paths not only in Wisconsin, but also at Grace Seminary in Indiana and then in Ohio. WRITING UPDATE: Lord Willing, or as they say in certain pockets of people around here, "If the good Lord's willin' and the crik don't rise," I will attend the Festival of Faith and Writing...

Hey everybody! Great week here in Ohio! Yesterday Tom and I zipped up to Richland and the Jackson Twp Town Hall for a surprise birthday party for Joy, Tom's sister-in-law on Marilyn's side. Her grown kids, Julie and Chris, and husband Tim gave her a whammy of a surprise! Next time no one talks to her for a couple weeks, though, she'll know something's up. The whole family, and the whole church had to keep mum around her the last few weeks trying not to spoil the surprise. Julie got her to the town hall by blatant lying, which Joy totally fell for. Who wouldn't believe that Pottery Barn was hauling their clearance stuff out to a little town hall next to a cemetary in the middle of Ohio cornfields for the sale of the century? I don't know if I was more surprised that Julie could lie or that Joy was speechless when she walked in the door and everyone yelled "Surprise!" :) We all had a great time, and it was wonderful to connect with Tom's...

Family time this weekend! My brother Joel and family on the left, my sister Anjee and fam on the right. My parents treated all of us to a wonderful day at the Creation Museum in Hebron, KY, plus fun and relaxation at a really nice nearby hotel.                                                                                                                               ...

You just never know what a day might hold, but I'm thankful I know Who holds my days! My mom called early this morning to say that my nephew, Caden, was at a Milwaukee burn center! What??!! That's what I said! And then I got on Facebook as the fastest way to get people praying! Here's the note I sent out: Please pray for my highschool age nephew Caden. He's 100 miles from home at a Milwaukee burn center with 2nd & 3rd degree burns to his face from an accident last night. Thanks! Over a dozen people responded and passed it on to their praying friends. Before I left for work at noon I got this email from my sister-in-law, Caden's mom, Tammy: Ferree, Prayers sure are working. Caden is in no pain. He got up and walked around. He is now sitting in the chair watching Joyce Meyer. He wanted to watch a "religious channel". He is in great spirits. We are just waiting for them to get him into the O.R. so they can clean up his face and ear and see what t...

One year ago these two couples didn't know each other but God did, and He had an amazing story to play out in their lives. (Let me introduce them to you. From left to right we've got Mike & Christine, and Toby & Kim. I know Mike and Christine from house church. And I took this picture last Tuesday at HC, when Toby and Kim were our guests.) One year ago Toby, middle-aged dad, swim coach, school employee, husband, and dialysis patient wondered how much time he had left to spend with his kids and Kim. He'd been on the kidney transplant list for a few years; several people had offered to donate their kidney to him (yes, he's a well-loved guy); no match could be found. Enter Christine. A few years ago God sparked a little desire in her to be a living donor. She didn't know what she would donate--she'd already been a blood donor for years. All she knew was how thankful she was for her undeserved good health. Her heart welled up with gratitude whenever sh...