Home Safe and Sound

We finished up the last night of the conference last night; and headed home. We also headed right into a snow storm. The roads were treacherous - and visibility was limited. Around midnight, we decided it was time to let the storm win and find a place to stay for the night.

After a good, but short, night's sleep - a tasty complementary breakfast by the motel - and Bible reading and prayer time - we headed out this morning for home. The roads were cleared and we made it home with no trouble at all. It was as if, God just wanted us to have some extra time to spend together.

I am home now - and Rob is at the church. Life is right back on schedule. God has used this conference in my life to bring to light some things He needed to show me. What a blessing it is to have God speak to your heart!

I am thankful to be home, thankful for the meeting, thankful for God's watchful care of us on the roads, and thankful for the extra time we had together as a couple. He truly does - "supply all our needs".

Trust your day is blessed with the reality of His presence - and His Blessings.

Resting in Him,

~Martie

Face to Face

We have had a busy week. We left on Monday afternoon to Holiness Conference. It was a blessed time while we were there. We found ourselves surrounded by good godly music and great preaching.

After the preaching on Monday night the choir sang an old hymn of the faith - "Holy, Holy, Holy!" I was moved to tears as I listened. I thought of Heaven and what it will be like to kneel before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - as Heaven's choir sings of His holiness and His power. I am sure as I kneel there one day; I will try to sing but will find myself unable to through the tears. I will only be able to kneel before Him - (the One who purchased my redemption with His own blood) - with tears running down my cheeks and whisper the words - "Thank you..."

There let the way appear,

Steps into Heaven;

All that Thou sendest me,

In mercy given;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer My God, to Thee!

Nearer, my God to Thee,

Nearer to Thee!!

So blessed - so undeserving - so thankful for His mercy. Awaiting His likeness to share.

Blessings,

~Martie

Looking for Love

Meet Novocain. He is Rachel's pride and joy - the object of her affection. He was named by her - because he came into the family after Rachel's dentist appointment - in which, one of her teeth was pulled - so with swollen cheeks - and gauze packed gums - she found her hamster. On the way home - with slurred speech she told me that she would name him Novocain. Seemed appropriate then - with the events of the day fresh on our minds and on Rachel's gums.

I grew up with hamsters. My sister, with her entrepreneur brain, figured out that selling hamsters to pet stores would allow her to earn enough money to purchase a Shetland sheepdog that she was in love with. She also figured the more she breed the creatures the faster she would get the dog - so, like I said - I grew up with hamsters - and a lot of them at times! (You can ask my mom - this is not an exaggeration at all!)

My mom has a deathly fear of rodents of any kind - she does not even enjoy watching squirrels climb up trees out side - she hates rodents!! Her feeling about these creatures are very similar to my sediments on bats. I am pretty sure that we both need counseling for our phobias - and no, phobias is not too strong of a word for the way both of us act around the despised and feared creatures of choice. (Although, as much as I hate bats - I hate birds even more - but that is a story for another post - way too much info about me!!)

Anyway, back to hamsters:

One thing about hamsters: They do NOT stay in their cages. If you ever have owned a hamster - you know this for a fact. If you are new to hamsters - you will find this out shortly - they WILL get out.

The other thing that is very common protocol for hamsters is - when they get out - they will do their best to stay as far away from humans as possible - making their recapture exceptionally hard and frustrating. They also run very fast. This makes for family memories that will be talked about over Christmas Dinner for years to come. (I have a great one about baby hamsters that got out of their box, in the car, while mom was driving, on the way to the pet store - I can not tell it without laughing!!

However, we have found an exception! Novocain loves being with people. When he gets out of his cage - he goes into the girls' room and finds the bottom bunk occupant and snuggles in bed with her. I thought it just a coincidence the first time it happened. Then it happened again. Still though, I had my doubts - until one night when the bottom bunk was empty - due to a bad dream. Abbey had come downstairs and was sleeping on the couch in the front room. In the wee hours of the morning she awakened Dad and I to tell us that she had felt something crawling on her. ( I was sure that she was dreaming - but Dad thought that he better have a closer look.) Well, Dad and Abbey went in and found Novocain sitting on the floor next to the couch looking at them. He did not run away - he just walked over to them - and let them put him back into his cage.

I think this little guy loves to snuggle. So much so, that when the bed is empty, it is worth a trip down the long staircase - to find them. I think he feels more secure sleeping next to them. I think he knows he is loved!

Odd indeed - but a true story. If you come for a visit I will not make you sleep on the girl's bottom bunk - unless of course you love rodents - Novocain is one of a kind.

Thanks for stopping by today - I am so glad you did.

~Martie