A True Friend

A true friend doesn't count the miles she drives to sit at your table.



She helps your doggie take care of some serious business.

And when she travels hither and yon with you, she doesn't keep track of how many times you get lost along the way.

Reprise

As the title of this post suggests, the following thoughts--although mine--are not new. I jotted them down awhile ago, during a challenging "niche transition."


Walkin' in the Light

Were you a fan of "The West Wing?" I was. I enjoyed watching the fictional President Josiah Bartlet and his staff deal with all the crises that came up while they were trying to run a Superpower. Yesterday I was reminded of a frequent line from that show: "We serve at the pleasure of the President."

Lately I've been happily involved in a couple of ministries: a regular Monday midday meeting with my prayer partner, and the facilitation of a weekly neighborhood Bible study. This past Monday, the first ministry had to be suspended indefinitely, and the second was jeopardized. I was inclined to seek out my comfortable old friend, the pit of "I'm not good enough." I likened it to my tension headaches; they hurt but I've had them so long, they've become an accepted part of my life. And so it was with that old pit.

Yesterday, though, while I stood at the edge of my pit, poised to jump, I realized how painfully inconvenient it really is in there. There's no light. No ladder either. Can't see much, and it's always so hard to climb back out. So I asked the Lord if there might be a different place to go this time. That's where "The West Wing" came in. God seemed to drop that line into my spirit, replacing the word "President" with "King." "We serve at the pleasure of the King." Meet for prayer or pray alone, lead a study or not, stay in a certain town or move on; it's all at the discretion of our Commander in Chief. Step by step, He leads us. Isn't that liberating? Seal the pit; I can't follow if I'm stuck in there. Besides, I'm lovin' my walk in the Light!

Good Golly Miss Molly

A few months ago, I discovered The Handmade Dress and fell in love with Samantha's straightforward pattern designs. To try them out, Ellie's mom and I chose the Miss Molly Sundress. I ran to the fabric store with its aisles of wonderment, and here's the result, in size 18 months. Easy and tres chic for our little fashionista's Fourth of July--no?

Ethan

Meet Ethan William, Ellie's big bro. I think he's pretty amazing.

Ellie

This is Elliana Grace. As far as this grandma is concerned, her only fault is that she lives too far away.

Sunday Serenity

If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
even there Your hand will lead me.

~ Psalm 139:9-10

Berry Bread

My post about wild raspberries made me hungry for some of our favorite berry bread. It's pretty popular around here, and the recipe makes 24 muffins plus a small loaf in a pretty, giftable pan* for a friend who just might be having a birthday tomorrow.

I use this recipe with a couple of minor alterations. Two cups of mixed berries--red and black raspberries in addition to the blueberries--really pack in the flavor and add color. I've even been known to throw in a few extra berries when nobody's looking. I also like to sprinkle some crystalline sugar on top before baking, for even more flavor and a bit of crunch. I generally bake the muffins first, then the extra little loaf until golden brown and tests done. The recipe may be halved, although since it freezes well, I usually make a full batch. Enjoy!

*I found my pretty pans at Michael's for 99 cents each last Christmas.

Raspberry Hill

Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by. I thought you might like to see how this blog got its name. Many wild raspberry bushes border our little patch of land. (In addition, a humongous wild raspberry tree popped up across the driveway last summer. A former city dweller, I hadn't a clue--raspberries grow on trees, too!) We live on a hill as well, great for riding mowers (not!) and grandkid sledding parties.

I share a cottage in the woods with my husband of 32 years and our lab mix rescue dog, Sheba--affectionately known as "Sheebs." They are both worth looking at but camera shy today.

Between the hubs and I, we have three grown, "married-with-children" kids--two boys and a girl--and nine grandchildren. The boys live closeby, but the girl is a ten-hour drive from here--or nine and a half, depending on how long it's been since we've seen her and her family. All of these dear ones just might appear in future posts.

Please stop by anytime for some wild raspberry bread and good conversation. I'm looking forward to your visit!