Birthdays come so often!

Few words from me - sweet doggies, lovely gifts, out to brunch, all dressed up and for a change someplace to go (and ENJOY!) Sixty four - not a bad age - but definitely not in "middle age" anymore - no way I'll make it to 128! I was blessed for my birthday (and all the days in the year) far beyond what I deserve and I am SOOO grateful! Mostly a garden themed b'day and with an almost blank slate here on Windsor - that is fabulous! It is good on Buhlaland and just a little older.

Bless y'all - it is spring here - loving it!

Holiday Decorations and Settling In

Moving Experience

No pictures no poems no pretty scenes - just me putting on a note from computer at work (my wonderful, stressful overpaid job - yes really!!)
Movers came and most of our "big" stuff is in new place - not in proper/comfortable/decorative place in new place - but available to be placed.
No internet at new house - Skybeam rudely insisted they provided service "OF COURSE" - as the customer disservice agent declared. As soon as installer drove up he said "y'all can't connect from here". :::sigh::::
So clever DH is working on an alternative route to get internet service - hope it works but until it does - y'all have a beautiful holiday week ! I'll be learning my country commute routes and praying for getting our big place on the market and SOLD ASAP!
If I don't comment on your blogs - not being rude just not able to get online much - soon - I hope to be back soon -- Buhlaland is still good - just on the move type good. A skunk visited us the first night at new place -DH and I were out in the garage surveying our domain (or possibly searching for paper plates so we could have some supper!)- apparently we are acceptable new neighbors because he did NOT leave his calling card!

New Neighbors and update

We went up to try and finish up current painting projects (emphasis on the try word!) Pleasantly surprised to have some neighbors drop by - didn't stay for coffee (we didn't have any to offer so that was a blessing) or a chat but stayed around long enough to let us know they'll be back!

Very calm doe with her twin fawns - the deer were all in our nearest human neighbor's pasture - directly behind our back fence line so we get a nice view.

Might have to get in on the mole hunting competition with CedarPond and Sand Flat Farm after we move in if mole population is that strong. Neighbors across the road have several cats --apparently they like to try to outplay, outwit and outlast a mole (any Survivor fans out there?)

One room is pretty much painted - we are using the same color we have in our bedroom on current Buhlaland - Soothing Celadon (wouldn't it be fun to make up the names for paint?) Going to paint the yuck flat grey trim celadon also - room is small and with 3 doors (closet, entrance and attached bathroom) making the doors different than wall colors seems choppy.

Plenty more to do - we are trying to ration our energy and time - already on the financial ration system! God has given us the nicest place to spend more years here on earth - looking forward to being there full time. It is good on Buhlaland - whether current one or newest version - we are blessed beyond belief.

On the topic of working on our houses - we think we know what we want and need - only the Lord God has the blueprints.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Front yard DMZ

De Moisturized Zone - cannot waste water on keeping too much area greened - simply keeping a little lawn alive so when the rains come (and they will) grass will have some life left.

Rain will come - always does - right now it seems more our country needs this kind of rain even more than the moisture kind


- but we serve a God great enough for both - THE reason it is always good on Buhlaland! Bless y'all

Rainstorm in Texas - this clip lasts a full hour - listen to as much as you need to recall the refreshing feelings of rain. Good reasons scripture describes the blessings of God coming as rain - sustaining and refreshing.

Live and Learn - in a good way

A video on youtube is being circulated through emails - while we are cautious about viral videos especially distributed via the internet - well this one seems to check out. I don't believe I have EVER heard the additional verses to our national anthem. The slight mistake made by the gentleman (not the second verse but the fourth verse) doesn't diminish the dignity of his statement. No I'm not starting a political discussion. I will close comments on my blog for a while as a preventative measure because I've seen some of the comments left on other sites by those who don't believe in free speech (well they believe in their rights but don't respect the rights of others). Whoever chooses to read please take time to digest the concepts.

Bless y'all - it is good Buhlaland is in the land of the free and the home of the willing to learn.




O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

What's it all about?

Looking closely at our country (Butterscotch is not camera shy)

- lest we forget why we celebrated July 4, 1776

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"

All the powers of government are from the consent of the governed - or as the great philosopher Pogo said

We appear as a country to be our own worst enemy in recent years. Americans elect people based with skewed values and when the elected officials turn out as useless (also known as without backbone, good sense or virtue) as the previous bunch - we just pick more like'em. We are not advocating Rick Perry for President - he isn't even a favorite Texas governor - but he is definitely onto something with this proclamation.Rick Perry's Proclamation

Life on Buhlaland doesn't depend on the government for our values. We don't need government telling us it is acceptable to destroy life if it isn't convenient, to defend evil and call it good, or to recreate the definition of being married. For those who are confused this election season- if you need a reference book or two - we strongly suggest the Basic Information Before Leaving Earth and on politics you might try these time tested writings. We're just suggesting - it is good on Buhlaland and with some determination, willingness to take charge again and the most uncommon of qualities - common sense - it can be good in America again. Bless y'all and if you aren't praying for rain in the southwest - well please start - we are dry as a powder keg - both precipitation wise and politics wise.

He Is Risen

He is Risen Indeed - alleluia and amen! Life is good on Buhlaland - and it is well with our souls. Bless y'all

Saturday - the waiting day

Realizing I am not a fountain of knowledge about liturgical terminology (churchy names) I wondered today - we have Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Resurrection/Easter Sunday - so what was Saturday? I'm sure one of you clever folk know and if it were a serious question Google stands ready to oversupply information.

The whole idea of completion - there was work done out of human view - important work which is wonderfully defined as "one of the mysteries". It isn't popular in today's preaching/arguing on the internet to talk about the mysteries of scripture - we are modern enlightened people. Believers in Christ must be able to explain every word every jot and tittle of scripture. Sorry folks - I think mysteries are wonderful -to not know - what a deliciousness in not knowing some things. I know my Savior Lives and He is not only Risen but returning - but it is was the sabbath after He suffered and died - people were waiting. Great sermon by Shadrach Meshach Lockridge - doesn't tell us what happened Saturday but anticipated Sunday was coming. Blessings on y'all this Saturday - whatever you are waiting for - trust and obey and know - your Sunday is coming

One Reason to Live on Buhlaland

Recently we had business north of Fort Worth and travel during "rush hour" for city folks. Kindest part was being behind a Texas State Trooper for part of the drive (strange how much more polite drivers are with an officer of the law in their vicinity). You see our GPS (thank you again April and Reese for a very thoughtful gift). The rush, difficult traffic transitions and occasional heart pounding near misses by drivers determined to share our lane of the road - defying laws of physics which say two objects cannot occupy same space at same time - resulted in a psalm of praise when we returned to our quiet place in the world.

Psalm 16: 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Yes it is GOOD on Buhlaland and we are grateful "rush hour" is when it is time to feed the dogs and goats!

Confirmation

Psalm 46:10 (The Message)
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything."

Psalm 46: 10 (NIV 2011) He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”



Every month or so the Hubby and I spend some time deciding what to do with our tithe ( we are not actively involved in a local church -we support God's glory in situations to which we feel led). Honestly it is a monthly struggle - so many worthy causes and our sharing of His money can't change the world - can it? We pray for confirmation in our choices - usually it is in a simple manner - we make decisions which we trust are exalting God, helping widows, orphans and the poor, coming alongside those in need. For this month's tithe (not a legalistic slot machine action on our part - God provides everything and we are honored to share a portion) X number of dollars were in account designated tithe and March 26th we received a message from Compassion International (see link on left side of blog page if you are interested) with Xnumber (precisely, exactly) listed as what was needed. If you are not a believer - this all sounds foolish

1 Corinthians 2:14 (Contemporary English Version)
14That's why only someone who has God's Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn't have God's Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

This blog post isn't about us - it is about us in relation to the Lord and that makes it ALL good on Buhlaland. Bless y'all - as we are blessed.