SPARKLES

 Various references of definitions define "sparkle" as a noun in various ways...."a glittering flash of light, little sparks, brilliance, a glittering quality"....you get the idea.  

Halloween 2020 has come and gone.  Our household had a sleepover on Halloween Eve with a sweet four year old.  It was a wonderfully fun time.  There were many card games, some bingo, favorite foods (cue in macaroni/cheese, peanut butter biscuit, brownie...), sidewalk art and much outdoor fun.  The Girl send some pages of scavenger hunts for little people and a lot of time was spent with those.

The Grandbaby was very enamored with her "spowkle" nail polish.  She is ALWAYS enamored with anything with "spowkles".

Science and art are two of her favorite "subjects"....art I understand, science not so much.  I do understand from this particular photo that The Grandbaby has a poppa who can learn to enjoy art.

Mid afternoon e'erbody returned to their own house to prepare for the Halloween main event.  A while later, Poppy arrived!  It was a Trolloween....

Poppy's dress had many many "spowkles".  Poppy loved it as did we.  The five of us concentrated our visit to the kitchen as "spowkles" were all over the furniture, the floor, everywhere!  And you know what?  This Neema didn't care a bit!

This morning, the morning after, I noticed the sparkles on the chairs in the kitchen.  I suggested to The Poppa that since he was wearing black to church, he might not want to sit there unless he wanted to wear "spowkles".  I swept in the kitchen and the sparkles remained. It will take a bit of time to be rid of them all and maybe we won't ever be rid of them all.   I love it!  A few sparkles never hurt anybody.

Imagine if we let our lives sparkle with love and kindness.  It would spread joy, joy, and more joy!

I wish for you many sparkles in your own life!

Consider...

TIGHTENING SCREWS AND CHANGING LIGHT BULBS

Years ago I got my own tool box.  It happily has screwdrivers, a measuring tape, wrenches, cutters, and other such fine tools in it.  Granted, I say I grew up in sawdust since workshop business was the family business so I should be good with tools.  I am.  With some tools.  However, I still can't draw a straight line with a ruler nor can I write straight across a page of unlined paper.  Such is my life and I'm okay with it.

One thing I really enjoy is tightening loose screws.  Somehow I find great satisfaction with that task.  Often I have to tighten the screws on my pancake griddle and electric frying pan.  I love finding the right size screwdriver in my tool box, tightening the screw, and seeing the steadiness of the object since the screw is tight.  I am about to tighten my towel rod in the bathroom.  It's been shaky lately.

The other thing that's important to me in a household is plenty of light.  I like to flip the switch and have a bright light to see.  First of all, as I age I find that my eyesight is not as good as before.  Especially as I now have cataracts as The Eye Doctor said the other day.  That's another post for another day.  I tell The Husband I like to the flip the switch and as I do my mind says, "Let there be light" and for the most part there always is.  Lately, though, there's been a world of bulbs out in my house.  Two in the den, one on the carport, and the light over the kitchen sink.  Ugh, that's a bad one.  It continues to give trouble, giving light sometimes and giving none the other.  If it continues that way, The Husband has a plan to repair it more as he KNOWS my light obsession.   I get a lot of pleasure in seeing a bright light when one has been out of commission.

As I pondered my little concerns about these things, I likened that to myself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Often things come along in my life that make me feel a bit shaky in these areas.   Worries, fears, and concerns come along and I often get in a tizzy trying to get them firmed up some.  They need their screws tightened.  The "screwdriver" I've found that works the best is a little talk with Jesus.  Okay, sometimes I need a BIG talk with Jesus.  I've found that once that happens, the screw is tightened and the shakiness is gone.  Jesus is the best screwdriver ever to tighten these "screws".

As for light, I just need light in my life rather than darkness and the remedy for the light is the same.  Jesus.  He says, "I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life".  (John 8:12)  The uncertainties of walking in the darkness is kind of scary to me.  You never know what might be on the path, even if it's a familiar path.  Predators and unwanted creatures can lie in wait on such dark paths.  It's that way with life.  The enemy brings things to try to trip us up but if we always remember to follow Jesus, we don't have to walk in darkness and be afraid.  After all, it's said (and I haven't counted) that the Bible says 365 times to not fear.  That's one a day and more than enough.

So those are my thoughts this day.  Hopefully your thoughts can be triggered even further from my thoughts.  That's really an intent of this blog....to encourage you and give you thoughts.  While I go to tighten this towel rod screw, you just consider....

DARKNESS

 I have to say I have been tossing around a new blog post.  I also have to say that this particular post is not it.  I'm writing this without much thought after reading my devotion this morning.

Anybody that reads my blog at all knows two things.  One, I so love Jesus.  Two, I tend to be a worrier.  Really, you say?  Uh huh.  Guilty.  I try to not be anxious and I am learning and getting better with that trait. 

After reading my devotion this morning, I want to share a few things from it that are so share worthy.   It starts by saying "what is a believer to do in times of darkness--a darkness of perplexities and confusion--a darkness not of the heart but of the mind?"   Well honestly--is that me or not?  Honestly, does it hit you at all?  The words go on to speak of these times coming to a believer who is obedient and walking in the will of God.  Really?  Of course.  It describes these times as times of groping in COMPLETE darkness.  

What does one do in these times of darkness and confusion?  Imagine my surprise when I read the answer.  Nothing.  Do nothing.  Well nothing except slow down and keep life's ship anchored to the dock.  In doing this, we simply trust God.  BINGO!  Simple.  Trust.  In. God.  Duh, who knew?  Well, I should have known this important thing.  The devotion speaks of how worrying prevents God from doing anything for us.  If God has placed us in a trial, there's a reason and he will work through it WITH us.  

As I read on, it talked of putting your hand in his as a little child as he knows the way out of the dark place.  It talks about climbing into his arms and trusting him.  This reminds me of all the times I'm out with The Grandbaby and she puts out her hand to hold on to mine and we clasp and walk along.  I'm also reminded of many times in my life that I just laid my head in the lap of my heavenly Father and found peace.  

The devotion ends with "when you don't know which way to steer, remember you have a pilot."

Now after that dissertation, I'm thinking you all might wonder what I'm going through now.  I will say I have another health issue that has made itself known and getting a test next week.  Honestly, the purpose of the test is to rule out cancer.  And of course, the dermatologist biopsied a spot on my leg this week so I'm waiting to hear from it also but the upcoming test is the one I really want to hear from.  With all that said, though, I'm really not worrying about this.  Imagine.  Me.  Not worrying.  And then I get this devotion that is so fitting for that and it reinforces my faith.  I hope it has reinforced yours also.

I will end with the scripture in the devotion, one I haven't read much (wasn't highlighted in my Bible, but is now).   I like it.

"Who is among you that feareth the the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?  let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."             Isaiah 50:10

Consider......

(Reference..."Streams in the Desert", October 7 writing)

A SHORT TRIP

The much anticipated "Fall Break" for school children early on after the school year begins just concluded.  The Girl, The Son-in-Law, and The Grandbaby took a long planned beach trip.  The Husband and I decided to join them for a short time toward the end of the trip.  It was a nice time and since I'm not a Facebooker, I thought you all might enjoy a visual.

Even though we had a somewhat late arrival, we managed to grab our new flashlights and do some crabbing.  It was my first ever crabbing experience.

 The next day brought some rain so we did a short ride to a sea animal venue and shows there.  Masked, of course.  

The Grandbaby's favorite thing there--popcorn!

There were lots of "sea" creatures and even tropical birds and slimy long reptiles.  I got no photos of the slimy long reptiles nor did I take a glance at such.

The Grandbaby had her first experience with putt putt golf.  She liked it so much she wanted to play again the next night.

In case you wondered, the leg decor are bandaids, not tattoos.  Just sayin'.....

There were beach times, reading times, and pier walking times.

There was a sunset captured by The Girl and her camera.

We took cameras and a tripod to the beach at sunset for some family shots....

And then...."Can we be goofy, Neema?"  And you blog readers know what my answer was.  Of course...

The Neema has not had nearly as much experience at "goofy" as The Grandbaby has.   Obviously.  My goofy is not nearly as well done.

So yes, it was a great time of making memories.....

"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."   Psalm 126:3