QUAD SQUAD

Praying friends come in many combinations and from different seasons in life. 

I'm blessed to have family, along with friends from elementary school, widows, neighbors, Sunday School, H2H, church, mission and transition "zoom" prayer teams, Prayerful Wonderwomen for Ukraine and college & Pi Phi chums. 

I need lots of prayer warriors.

Praises for a recent retreat with my "Quad Squad" college chums at Full Circle Ranch---

.....&  my own bedroom sanctuary with all the accoutrements for my morning cuppa before..... 

....a morning walk to the sounds of goats, chickens, cows and birds in flight! Later a bull strolling behind his keeper, Sam and a ride on the "whoopie"* acting like teenagers!

Did  I mention surrounded by 600 acres. with the original log cabin (circa, old) a "She" shed which became a garden room, great for devotional times......

a home with 6 fireplaces, 4 "sitting" porches, one with a bed swing and lots of rocking chairs, a wood burning fireplace and lots of comfort....

....calmed by a serene view of horses.

From almost an entire day in PJs to lunch at Marcy Jo's and a 3 hour Bible Study led by Dr. Mark Houston.

Thank you Doris, Winslow and Joyce Ann for this much needed respite for your ailing friend. God's Quad Squad....always there for each other!(Acts 2:42)

*whoopie --ATV often called a quad bike; how about that!

BEHOLD! BEHOLD!! BEHOLD!!!

#1 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. (Psalm 54:42)

#2 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:5)

#3 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)

Three glorious truths to see, watch for, be alert to BEHOLD!

THE PERFECT GIFT

Addendum---after posting this entry, 2 different folks said (directly to me)----don't let your tinsel get in a tangle! Then ,I "uncovered" this gift from a friend.........."I get it! I get it!"

Some people are "naturals" at gift giving---thoughtful, creative, pragmatic, & within budget all rolled into one. Many folks I know do this. However....
I  would not be one of those. It's not that I don't try. I even try to keep notes on who likes what so I don't give milk chocolate treats to the dark chocolate diehards, or "forget to delete nuts" in non-nut folks' recipes---actually, I usually err on the side of extra nuts so I just eat it all extras myself!

I have really struggled this season, trying for perfection in all my shopping. Though son Buddy's recent sermon, reminded me that joy is re-findable, even in holiday chaos, when folks tend to lose their way. A reminder to slow down and "savor the season" (and the Savior) and not "over shop it." So....I pulled out some gifts I've received to try to replicate similar ideas of thoughtfulness for others---these "small" gifts were "perfect" for someone like me.

 "My" favorite Christmas carol highlighted on a super-sharp pencil (and it has a great eraser!!)

Fresh gathered eggs from Full Circle Ranch for me to share with family. Grandson could not believe there were pink ones, white ones, along with light and dark brown ones. But, all tasted delish!
Just ask, Owen.

So many but don't want to list for fear of leaving someone out!! But what I see in each is that relationships are real between the giver and the receiver----I'm just blessed to be on the receiving end!

I do keep trying so hard to make all (12) stockings personalized and yet fair---don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Then, I read an Ann Voscamp quote. "Stop holding onto a standard of perfection instead of being held by the arms of grace." I had already written an AV observation, that began to ring true as I wandered distractedly here, there and yon (in my own house, no less. Voskamp said anxiety can give you God Alzheimer's." I might forget where I've hidden hubby's gift or M's tea but I don't want to forget God or move Him to the back room. So, I stopped, refocused and 5 folks walked in unexpectedly. Yahoo!

Of course, the only true perfect gift arrived centuries ago in a manger in Bethlehem. A gift from our heavenly Father who keeps on giving....
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights... (James 1:17)