"Blessings In Disguise"

When I mentioned in my blog post HERE yesterday, that I was reading the Sugarcreek Amish Mystery Guideposts series book one, "Blessings in Disguise",

the neatest thing happened.  One of my long time ago high school friends, whom I haven't seen but maybe once in the past 50+ years since graduation (and she was in a younger class than I), sent me the most astounding message....but first let me get the timing right for how this happened. 

I finished reading this library book around 9:15 p.m. last night. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to find out if our library had any more of this series available. So I went online to the library website and discovered that they only had the next two books out of some 27 books in the series.  I was kind of bummed about that, but at least thankful that they had the next two, so I placed my order online for them to be sent to my local library branch, and then I would be able to get them in a few days when they arrive.  During this time of confinement I am doing a LOT of reading, and I like to read good Christian fiction, and especially enjoy "mysteries".  This is my evening entertainment since I rarely watch TV.

Well, no sooner had I taken care of that order, I looked at my cell phone and saw that I had a message from my friend.  Now, we knew each other in high school and because we have the history of attending/graduating from the same school and from a hometown where everyone knew everyone, we have gotten reacquainted on Facebook. Nevertheless, I was surprised to get a private message from her. And even MORE surprised at her message at that particular moment.
She said that she saw that I was reading this book series, and that she has practically ALL of the books in that series, and that she would LOVE to GIVE them to me "if you can use them".  She also reminded me that she doesn't really live very far away, maybe 20 miles, and that she would be very happy to deliver them to my front porch today so that I don't have to come out...

I was flabbergasted in a very happy way...I couldn't believe the timing of her message...but I thought, "God, that was YOU, wasn't it?"  Yes, I am sure God put that thought into my sweet friend's mind to bless me today with these books...and what a "Blessing in Disguise" (not so disguised) it is:

 Just look at this bag ripping open at the seams it is so full of good books to read:

Overflowing with wonderful stories to keep me entertained for quite a while, and then I will pass them on as she requested...

I LOVE the card she printed to give me along with the books:  Isn't that the truth? Except I haven't been thinking much about cleaning the house since my surgery...I let the guys take care of that...

My friend Linda is a retired nurse, and she was very careful that we practiced "Social Distancing", so no hugs allowed.  But we did meet on the back deck so she could see the pond and hubby took our picture together. But, Gosh, I really wanted to hug her!!!! What a blessing...no disguise about it at all.

And even though we weren't able to have "church" today, I think we had "church". This is the church in action, Christ's body reaching out to another to bless us.  A bag of great books to a person who is in "confinement" due to surgery recovery as well as the current corona-virus crisis is a very special gift, and I am so very thankful for my friend being an ambassador of God's love to me today.  Thank you, Linda, and thank YOU, Jesus, for giving her that idea at the perfect time! Just another example of "God's perfect timing".

Now I need to cancel that order at the library, and go sit down and start reading!  Wow! I am still amazed! 

Here's another of those "Amish Proverbs" found in one of the books:

Good thought to close on today.  Kind of goes along with "'Tis better to give than to receive", but in today's situation, I am very blessed to be the receiver. But when I get finished with these, I hope to be a good giver and spread the blessing forward.

Have a blessed day, my friends!!!

A Peaceful Day

I opened up a new library book to read today, and this was the first page I turned to:

I thought that was pretty appropriate for our current national situation.  

Who knew? (God knew). This is a library book entitled "Blessings in Disguise", which is a part of the Guideposts fiction series of "Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries." 

It has been a quiet, peaceful day here on our side of the pond....Well, except for our son's car breaking down about 40 miles from home and him having to get it towed to a safe place to repair it, but God is good, and it all came together. And a kind soul from his workplace drove him all the way home (about 50 miles).  Now he just has to figure out how to get back and forth to work everyday until he can get it fixed. But he's working on that too, and I'm sure a solution will be forthcoming soon...it may be a bit "beyond our reserves", but not "beyond God's resources!"

Anyway, as I was saying, it's been a quiet, peaceful day here...after last night's royal territorial battle between the rival Canadian Geese...

These two males had quite the fight, but they finally backed off and swam back to their respective "corners". 

Today I think only one couple has been in the pond, so it really has been peaceful.

 As a matter of fact, it was so peaceful that they walked right up onto our lawn and checked out the bird seed under the bird feeders, with us sitting on the deck right above them. They stayed there for quite a while and didn't seem to worry about us being there at all!

It was fun to watch them up so close.  I do hope they will build their nest here on our pond so we will be able to watch their babies hatch. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, we are so thankful to have our kids living nearby. During this time of  "isolation" they have been very kind to take care of some errands for us "elderly folks" so that we don't have to go out into the world of germs too often.  Today in addition to picking up some things we needed from Home Depot, our sweet son and daughter in law brought me some pretty flowers to enjoy.

Aren't these tulips and daffodils just gorgeous?  They are special because we can't grow these here in Florida, so it is always a treat in the springtime to have a bouquet of these "Easter flowers" to enjoy for as long as they will last...

And I have been wanting some colorful plants to put on the front deck, and so they brought me this lovely red geranium plant...and it came with a little green friend:

Mr. Green Chameleon is hurrying away to a safer place...

They also brought this lovely pink geranium, which is in a hanging basket. I just need to find the right spot to hang it.

For now this is how the front porch/deck looks.  The plants have lots of new buds, so soon they will be loaded with new blooms.  Do you still see the chameleon?  He didn't go far. I think he probably jumped back  into the plant when I left. That's why you should never bring plants inside the house that have been outside...sometimes even snakes have been found in them...just saying...

Well, while I have been sitting here writing this, the geese went back to battle again outside. It is getting too dark to take any pictures, but the noise was wild!

 I will close with these pictures taken earlier of our resident couple, staking their claim on a log in the water...

I think this means that he's "the bull goose" around here! LOL.

I will close with these words that we read in our devotions this morning from the book of Hosea 6:1-3

Seems like some good words of advice and possible prophecy for us today:

"1.  Come,  and let us return to the Lord;

For He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind  us up.

2.  After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

That we may live in His sight.

3.  Let us know,

Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord,

His going forth is established as the morning;

He will come to us like the rain,

Like the latter and former rain to the earth."

We look forward to the Lord coming to us like the rain...

Until then, be at peace, and stay healthy, and may God bless you and keep you always.

Amen.