a little cheer

Fanny Crosby wrote, "All the way my Saviour leads me. . . He cheers each winding path I tread."
So, I sing it, believe it. . .
Sunday after church meeting, John handed me a brown paper bag containing a lovely golden brioche. That evening we sliced and ate it- toasted, with butter and jam. Perfect
Monday I got an email from Michelle, "I know your kitchen is hot; you probably don't bake bread in the summer-I thought you'd like some homemade. . ."
Wednesday John and I munched goodies in the kitchen, "I keep meaning to thank you for buying these dates!" he said.
"Me? It's our friend, Patricia-every time I visit her, she sends me home with dates!" I said.
I love to think on the particular ways the Saviour leads and cheers. . . and how He uses people with bread and dates and more-
And this week my boy sent me a text, "students are back, bike shop is crazy busy, no day off for 2 weeks."
hmm, how to cheer his path? I sent a fast food gift card- Yep, fast food.
2 days later he texted, "Thanks, Mom, you're the best!"

love in the Gospel. . .

Today John started back to school-prepared to hug weeping 4 year olds.
And Mercy went back to college on Saturday, after a consult with the optometrist.
"Yes, you do need vision correction-wear your glasses all day!" he said. Sigh, she probably needed glasses years ago (she's #8 . . . )

Mercy and I traveled to California for Molly's wedding, just the 2 of us. Mercy meets people, puts herself out there; one evening she got to know Eddie's family-some of them don't speak English. I love that about her.
So, on the flight home we shared people stories.
Mercy and the cousins talked about worldview and practical faith, about living selflessly or selfishly-how does it look?
(where was I during that worthy pursuit? I was distracted by mountains of fresh peaches.)
We talked and I had an opinion- the topic under youthful examination seemed clearly defined, but maybe not-
So, I've been thinking,"do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. . ."
These days John and I are doing an unselfish deed. . .outwardly I appear totally, radically unselfish. But in my mind sometimes I hear ghastly selfish thoughts, feelings-shocking!
I can't make myself be more selfless-
Heart, remember God's love in the Gospel. . .
"We who live in him are no longer to live for ourselves, not even for our good record, our family's approval, or our clean conscience. We are to live for Him who for our sake died and was raised." (2 Cor 5:15)
Ah, so totally unselfish. . .

from house to house. . .

We spent the last weeks of our summer road trip traveling house to house, visiting our own children. We walked the older neighborhood where Josiah and Lindsey live in Memphis.
And we craddled our newest grandaughter, sweet Gwyneth.

I watch and listen to all these children of mine . . . and their unique and varied lives. They've lived in places I couldn't have imagined 10 years ago-California, Colorado, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Spain, England-this summer one couple moved to Mexico City (mega-city!) and another to Ohio (college town!) . . . And not only the places, but the pursuits-Ah, so this is what God was preparing her for. . .I had no idea! (Mother's think like that)

I remind myself that God has a good plan-mostly I pray that each would follow Jesus, especially in hard places. . .and sometimes I'm grateful that they are young, and I am old, just watching, cheering them on. Dear Ones-Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. (Ps 37)

There were pinwheels for Molly and Eddie's wedding-lovely.
then my camera battery died.
so sad-but the good part. . . no camera means more conversation!
I met Fern and Merv, retired missionaries from Africa and Mexico. They just celebrated 55 years of marriage. Last year Fern had a stroke.
"I don't really do anything now," she said.
"You pray, don't you?" I asked.
"Yes, I pray. . .and I enjoy my husband!" she touched Merv's knee.
"Do you have marriage advice?" I asked.
And without hesitation Fern said, ". . .stop-sit down-have a cup of coffee-and enjoy one another!"

I'll be remembering. . .

in the path of old saints

Rachel texted me, Glad you got home safely. . .with stories to tell, I hope??
Indeed, I have people stories. . .
So, I want to park myself in the path of old saints, Christ followers who have followed and followed, followed fully; you know the kind, they're like gold. . .
The sweet lady on the left is Helen Kay-she's grandmother, aunt, mother-in-law to this group.

Helen Kay is gold. One morning we sat together and I asked questions; her life is marked by adversity, a particular affliction with no earthly end in view.
But Helen Kay doesn't talk a lot about her circumstances-today I see her face as I work on Colossians 2:6-7, "Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. . .abounding in thanksgiving."
We hugged goodbye, "Darcie, I'm not very deep. . .I just skim from the top." she motioned with her hand.
Oh no, Helen Kay, you live deep with the Saviour. . .
And I can learn much-

home is good. . .

And for those souls (like me) who love to travel, there's a time to be home-mmm, home is good.
after 5 weeks on the road, 6,000 miles, and a quick trip to California for my niece's wedding, I'm home to stay-at least for awhile.
Today I'm resisting the temptation to react to the undone, all that waits for me. . .to resist making 20 appointments this week- (perhaps 1 or 2)

This morning I sat- simply sat in my regular spot, at the regular time, with my favorite worn out Bible. . .I'm back to the beginning of Psalms.
In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch (Ps 5)
And it was good.

cooking, critiquing, and more

This isn't a cooking blog, really. . .but then women cook together, cook and talk. I do that a lot.
So, in Indiana Rachel and I made a key lime pie. Brett squeezed all the key limes. We ate it and critiqued it. . .
Brett made a few gracious suggestions for next time. Dave ate it up-no critique (but I think Dave is content with whatever Rachel cooks for him).
The next morning I offered to make scones-my recipe.
"I think the recipe is in my head." I told Rachel.
"After last night's pie-I don't trust you. . ." she said.
hmm, I thought I'd posted the recipe on this "non-cooking" blog, but I guess not-so here goes:

Darcie's Cranberry Scones
(this recipe comes from Southern Living, but I've been making it for a long, long time. . .)
2 cups flour
2 Tbl sugar
1 Tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or more)
Mix the dry ingredients, cut in butter til crumbly, add cranberries, mix in buttermilk.
Pat dough into an 8" round on floured surface, cut into 8 pie wedges, place on lightly greased baking sheet, brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes. (careful not to over bake)

in Indiana. . .

Brett amd Rachel live in a home that once belonged to Brett's grandparents; they live with Dave, Brett's Dad. It's small town Indiana-the house sits on a highway, and across the highway, a university. The flower bed along the house is new-I love its curve and the perennials that Dave chose to fill the bed.

Tuesday evening we walked to the nursing home where LaVerne, Brett's mom, lives. LaVerne has early onset Alzhiemer's-she's my age, our birthdays are 2 weeks apart.
Dave and LaVerne married in 1972, just like John and me- almost 40 years of marriage for them, for us.
-over 5 years ago Dave and LaVerne began a journey with Alzhiemer's.
These days Rachel cooks in LaVerne's kitchen; last week we cooked together.
Memories of my own first years of marriage flooded in. . .the same yellow tupperware, small flowers on white Corning Ware.
Photos of young Dave and LaVerne picture little Brett sandwitched between 2 sisters. In the 70's LaVerne sewed a polyester leisure suit for Dave. . . while I embroidered on denim for John.
We all followed Jesus. . .

LaVerne sits with us on the patio at the nursing home on Tuesday; she wears 2 bracelets-lavender, her favorite color.
Brett asks, "Mom, do you remember who gave you those lavender bracelets? David! He's your husband, do you remember?"
Then I wonder, Does LaVerne understand that her dear son is married. . .married to my daughter?
Sometimes words like confused-helpless-broken sceam in my mind.
Heart, remember redemption, the cross, blood shed for me, for her. . .and faithfulness
I think about faithfulness in marriage, of Dave's testimony to love and care for his wife, for 39 years, into the unknown, til the end. . . and of God's faithfulness to LaVerne and Dave, to John and me, into the unknown, til the end. . .All the way my Saviour leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living bread. Though my weary steps may falter, And my soul a thirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see.