Archive - July, 2012

Because He Delights in Me

(Continued from The Fun Game)

The two of us finished our game and got on to the events of the day.

Later on in the morning as I read the eternal scriptures, I pondered this passage from Psalm 18 penned by Israel’s King David.

Holy Bible, Bible, open Bible,He delivered me from my strong enemy,

And from those who hated me,

For they were too mighty for me

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the Lord was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a broad place;

He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”  Verses 17-19

This king, David, got into a bad and dangerous spot.  His testimony is that God delivered him from those who were mightier than he.  God rescued him, why?  He did, because as David said, “He delighted in me.”

As my grandson and I were playing in the early morning, I kept him from succumbing to the effects of gravity and playing with an electrical source that could hurt him.  Rather than reacting in a spirit of anger or judgment, it was compassion for him that moved me to rescue him, because I love him.  I enjoy him and desire to protect the little one in my charge.

This little incident, on the day when I saw the “sunrise in the west”, illustrates the heart of God toward you and me.  To Him, we are special.  He delights in us and works to protect us.  Sometimes we might think He is impeding our progress toward our goals as I did with my grandson.  But some things are not for our good.  He will direct by stopping some of those goals and provide for a better situation.  His perspective is for our good.  Let us thank Him and enjoy being one in whom He delights.

photo credit: K. Horn via photo pin cc

The Fun Game

(Continued from Sunrise in the West)

Scooping him up in my arms, I carried Davey to join me on my bed.

The room somehow began to take on a more interesting look from Davey’s new vantage point.  He was within reach of some interesting “no-no” type items.

desk lamp, green desk lamp, glass lampshade, pull string, brass lamp,

The Tempting Item

The lamp on Grandma’s bedside table with a green glass shade perched on its shiny brass pedestal caught his eye.  Davey ignored its beauty.  What intrigued him was the small beaded chain that dangled beneath the green lamp shade.  When Grandma pulled it the light went on or off.  After studying this little wonder, Davey decided to investigate.

Now that the crib railings could no longer stop him, he was free to crawl across Grandma’s comforter and pillows to give that little chain a tug-just like Grandma did.

I could see the little wheels turning in his inquisitive head.  So I watched to see what he would do next.  Sure enough, he positioned himself on all fours and began his crawl over to the lamp.  As he got too close, Grandma’s hand grasped his ankle and drew him back away from the “no-no.”

“Hey, Grandma, that was kind of fun,” he smiled.  He, then, fixed his eyes on the chain and decided to try it again.

He persistently attempted the trek.  Grandma persisted, too.  I caught his foot to pull him away from a possible problem.  The giggles continued as Grandma and baby played this fun game.

(To be continued)

photo credit: André Hofmeister via photo pin cc

Sunrise in the West

Did you ever see the sun rise in the west?  I did just this morning.

doll, boy doll, doll face,From the west wall of my bedroom, beams of warm sunshine flooded the place.  They entered through the smiling blue eyes and round pink cheeks of my one-year-old grandson.  His little boy lips parted to show off a happy grin filled with eight white baby teeth.

As he peered between the wooden dowels of the oak heirloom crib his Grandpa had made, little Davey unleashed his charm.  With his baby voice, he gurgled out dozens of vowels and syllables.  Apparently his night of rest had left him eager to have a good morning chat with his stuffed puppy dog and his sleepy Grandma.

Rolling myself over, I lifted my eyes to see his exuberant countenance.  Though I felt groggy, his cheerful smile invited me to shake off the last lingering moments of my sleep and to interact with him.  I mirrored his attitude as I welcomed his sweet “good morning.”  Raising my hand, I waved to him.  Davey’s little nose wrinkled up as a sunshiny smile spread across his face.  He raised his chubby hand and jerked back a wave for Grandma.

As a first-time Grandma, I responded with whole-hearted applause.

Not to be outdone, this little cherub signed, “Thank you.”  His gesture resembled that of “throwing kisses.”  Needless to say, he managed to melt my heart.

(To be continued.)

Note:  If you are looking to share the joy of a new baby with someone,  please see the card, “Newborn“, in our store.  Other cards illustrating “children’s art” are “Penguin Duo” and “Turkey Sculptures“.  See also “Panda Pal“.

 

The Bug Hunt

(Continued from “Hidden Protein”.)

red raspberries, bug, raspberry bug

Raspberry Bugs Come to the Water's Surface

For cleaning the raspberries, it is best to cover them with water and let them sit for about 5 minutes.  The resting time in the water gives the berry bugs time to surface for air.  When they do, I get them.  Often they hide in the little dome inside the berry.  I look closely to try to catch any that tried hiding in there.

After cleaning the berries, I add sugar to taste, and package them in freezer containers.  Today I packaged them in freezer bags.

I packaged 6  1-qt. bags of berries.  As they lay on the table before going into the freezer,  my daughter spied some little black creatures in the raspberry sauce.  In spite of all of my searching for bugs, I missed several.

Generally, during the first crop of the year, at the beginning of the harvest, bugs are not much of a problem.  So, it did surprise me to find so many little bugs coming to the surface of the bagged berries.

Ugh, I was not finished with the job!  Fetching the bugs out of all this great sauce I had just made could be a hardship.  Fortunately with teamwork, my daughter helped me.  As l opened the bag’s seal, she scooped them out with a spoon.

Now, I am done.  The bags are in the freezer.  We will enjoy the fruits of our labors many times over through the year.

I think we got all the bugs out.

Photo credit: Bretta Grabau

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