Friday Foto Friends: Being Rooted and Grounded

Hello my Friday Foto Friends! I hope you have had a wonderful week.

It's been kind of topsy-turvy here for me.  I wanted to take a little trip to Georgia to visit my brother, Russell, who is fighting leukemia, but thanks be to God, is currently in remission . My other siblings were going to be there, and I really wanted to be there too. But things just weren't coming together for us to travel up there, and reluctantly I finally had to call and let my brother know I wouldn't be able to come. It is a good thing I didn't go...within 24 hours of making that call I came down with a terrible cold, and spent the next couple of days blowing, sneezing, coughing, and feeling absolutely miserable. There is NO WAY I should have been there visiting him with a cold...so I thank the Lord for giving me the wisdom to cancel the trip before getting sick.  Thankfully, I am starting to feel better now...and my siblings all had a great time visiting even without me. 

Here they are:  Clifford, Doris, and Russell. Praise the Lord that he is doing so well. Trusting we will have this opportunity again when I can go.

Other topsy turvy feelings...as most of you are aware, we are trying to sell our house, with the intention of moving to a little community about 30 miles away, to be near our kids and the church we have started attending and enjoying so much this past year.  Of course, while waiting to sell our house, we are also kind of looking for a house to purchase there, and this week we found a house that we really loved.  We wanted to try and tie it up somehow until our house sells, but realized that just wasn't going to happen.  So, again, reluctantly, we have had to make phone calls to say can't do it yet...gotta wait...and try to be patient...and wait on the Lord to open the doors of His choice...

 (pictures were taken near the house we fell in love with...)

This morning's devotions were read from Ephesians 3:13-21.  Here are the parts that really spoke to me and gave me a blessing as I read them:

14.  "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15.  from Whom the whole family 

in heaven and earth is named,

 16.  That He would grant you, according to the riches of 

His glory, to be strengthened with might 

through His Spirit in the inner man,

17.  That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18.  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-

19.  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

(anyone recognize this? I think it is a persimmon)

20.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

21.  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Amen."

This helped me to realize that I need to stay focused on Christ, and be "rooted and grounded" in love..and He will strengthen me with might through His Spirit...and He will also do "exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think..."

I just need to be patient and wait on the Lord to work all these things out...He knows what is best for us in every way. 

On a funnier note, for several months I have had my eye on a little house for sale that is right down the street from our son and daughter in law's house. I kept telling the "kids" that was the house we would probably buy if nothing else developed. That statement was usually greeted with a raised eyebrow from our son, and a giggle from his wife (the newlyweds, remember?)  I'm not sure they ever said anything too enthusiastic, like, "Oh that would we be great, Mom," or, "Oh, we would be so excited to have you living so close..."   I called it our "back- up house", as it was the right price, a little on the small side, but from the pictures that were shown online, it looked like it was pretty nice inside and it could work in a pinch.  Well, in our little journey this past week to look at houses we finally did look at that house inside.  Let's just say that it is always a very good idea to see something in person and not rely on pictures on the internet to sell you a house...  I could not believe how filthy dirty this house was inside...I don't think the floors have ever been mopped...and it was obvious they were smokers judging by the choking stench and the yellowed stains on the walls...and as we were finishing our tour, the "gentleman" who lives there pointed out three very small packages of Lysol cleaning wipes  sitting on the kitchen counter and said to us, "Well, I got my cleaning supplies ready to start cleaning up the place..."  It was all I could do to stifle my laugh until I got outside and could breathe again...  Anyway...the "kids" seemed a bit relieved when I told them they didn't have to worry about us moving into that house any time in the near or far future...  Lesson learned...Don't judge a book by its cover (or a house by pictures on the internet), and don't try to live too close to your kids. 

So, tell me, dear friends, what have you learned this week in your journeys? I am looking forward to reading your stories and seeing your pictures.

Have a blessed weekend!  Now let us join our other Friday Foto Friends over at Deb's place at "Breathing in Grace."  I hope to get caught up with each of you.  I'm a bit behind in my reading due to being so "topsy turvy" this week.