Hallelujah

Nothing else to say - we rejoice on Buhlaland with believers everywhere - He Is Risen and nothing has ever been the same.

Just so you know

We are hanging in there - one week ago Monday our lives began a different road on this journey. DH continues slow road to recovering from stroke - tired much of the time and some difficulties with oxygen levels (he still has a breathing disease - stroke or no). Pictures are one of our favorite oak trees here on Buhlaland - in every season it is beautiful. Sure enough - even more dependable, faithful and great - the Lord's provision in our lives -

Just so you know - it is good on Buhlaland because great is the faithfulness of God and our beloved friends and neighbors and family.

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.

Facing Tomorrow

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

It is very good on Buhlaland - a little rain forecast and lots of weeding, egg gathering, home renovation, doctor appointments and prayer to do!

Some Rain and a song I needed to hear

Philippians 4: 6-7

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Leaning on the everlasting arms - really hard leaning here on Buhlaland - some rain and storms but nothing we can't weather with our Father and each other. It is good on Buhlaland - hard sometimes but the goodness is still there.

Flutterbye

This morning I'd like some problems we are facing to do what this butterfly did - visit if you must but then flutter away to some other garden! Isn't that selfish - to wish problems would visit somewhere else? My late husband (a wonderful guy who passed away in 1996) was often asked if he was angry a good person like him got something horrible like cancer. He (Ross) would always say "who would I wish this on? " He was a better person than I am -you probably notice I tend to marry above my grade in maturity level.

This morning we go into Fort Worth to the Heart Center for hubby to have a a stress echocardiogram. I'm claiming verses like crazy in my heart -"fear not", "trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understand" "be still and know that I am God" - but I realize the right one for us today is

2 Cor.4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

The possibility of serious heart problems or any of the myriad physical afflictions which can drastically change our lives aren't equal to persecution in the faith, but making that correction in my application of what Paul wrote - I still trust our physical being WILL waste away but eternal glory - now that's a trade off worth anything. Y'all remind me of this when I get down in the dumps again OK?

It IS good on Buhlaland this morning - even butterflies have the sense to enjoy what they have when they have it. This morning I have my beloved and he has me, we both have our salvation and loving Father. That's enough isn't it?

I haven't Croaked!

Terrence the Toad reminded me I haven't checked in on the bloggy world in over a week.

Buhlaland is literally crawling with toads - from smaller than a dime to critters the size of a hardball -all intent on finding moisture and bugs. Bugs we have in abundance but this summer moisture comes out of a hose or sprinkler. Don't want to rant about weather -we've been in a warmish spell (nighttime lows in the high 70's) and today saw 102 on our deeply shaded porch thermometer.

Weather and toads don't have a thing to do with why I'm not blogging. DH hasn't been well (we think he is slowly improving - not terminal just tiring) , I'm stressing about finding a job and generally ignoring the biblical admonition "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6 NIV

We have always had more than abundant provision. We are daily reminded of God's faithfulness in our walk with Him. My head and most of my heart knows things will work out better than I could have imagined -- my stomach and bit of my often rebellious heart keep bringing up "what if it doesn't happen this time?" BUT - we rely on God's grace He is more than enough.

If I had a picture of a nice frog - then I could use the acronym Fully Rely On God and be all clever. So you have to accept my word for it - FROG works.

The sweet doe (I suppose she is sweet - she hangs around here and has beautiful eyes - for all we really know - she might be the head of the Mean Girls in her herd!) still hangs around our place. Saw her and her fawn a week or more ago - trotting along in our front pasture and then leaping over a 5 foot tall fence as if it were nothing.

So little real news, the toads and I decided to check in with the blog world. It is hot, quiet and healing on Buhlaland and that is good. Ribbit--ribbit

Read the Word (s)

Most of us have several bibles (I won't go off on the very disturbing reality we seldom wear out our bibles.) and at least in our household we have 4 or 5 translations and a paraphrase (The Message is not a translation). This morning in our readings I was quite taken by the simple, firm beauty of Micah 6:8 - for those who try to make walking with the Lord complex or legalistic or ritualistic - read the WORDS.

Micah 6:8 (Contemporary English Version)
8The LORD God has told us
what is right
and what he demands:
"See that justice is done,
let mercy be your first concern,
and humbly obey your God."

Micah 6:8 (The Message)
8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.


Please don't take yourself too seriously -and remember to be grateful and loving. Tomorrow is Father's Day - I miss my Daddy and hope any of you blessed to still have your father with you will make the day extra special.
It is blooming here on Buhlaland - canna blossoms and faith. That is good - very good.

4 Words of Christmas

God is WITH us - Merry Christmas and know that the name Emmanuel is the name to change your life - know that God IS with us. He is with us here on Buhlaland - and wherever you are either physically or spiritually - God is with US. Merry Christmas and it is good on Buhlaland.

The Day AFTER

We didn't stay up watching tv results and not happy with several of the election outcomes but --- hmmm got outside early this morning. Yup - sun is shining, sky is blue, I have coffee in my cup and internet access. Life after November 4th is simply - November 5th. Don't like many of the results of votes cast yesterday but as Abraham Lincoln said “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

I'm going to bake something wonderful and do a few more loads of laundry - life goes on and we continue our need to pray, seek God's will and rejoice DH's eye injury wasn't serious (piece of sawdust scratched his eye - relief that it wasn't a big problem - thank you God). If the baking goes well - I'll share recipe and picture of results. Obviously - my life on Buhlaland is based on faith, work and liberal amounts of butter!

UPDATE Sorry friends you have no idea how much I thought about posting an update saying I was wrong - the world was crashing to a heap of rubble but you should know by now - I don't get all that worked up. Real reason for update is : no baking today - long appointment with potential clients and overwhelmed with sneezing (dratted ragweed). Something soon though - I promise!

Just something pretty for you

No great thoughts today - I've been under the weather ( incredibly persistent virus) for a week now. Here are some flowers in our garden right now -thanks for dropping by and I'm quite certain my virus isn't one you'll catch via Buhlaland!
Moe wanted to be sure you realized he tends the flowers very carefully - frequently by laying on top of the plants but sometimes by taking a "cat nap" next to some posies and the tin can veggie garden.

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.

Oswald Chambers

We have faith here on Buhlaland that being sick doesn't last forever, neither do flower blossoms so deal with the former and revel in the latter (take a hint from Moe !)

Snapshots of a life well lived

My mother in law, Ethel, was born April 4, 1919 - an identical twin. She loved being a twin - although a few years ago the three of us (DH, MIL and me) had studio pictures made and she didn't like any of the proofs. We got a little exasperated with her and asked WHY? they were all good shots - she made a little disgusted face and said "I look like Elsie". We both cracked up - well yes Mom - you DO look like your identical twin! We told her we'd buy the pictures anyhow and tell people it was really Elsie.
They grew up on a farm in Michigan and she often shared stories about the cooking and animals and family gatherings. I think she liked living with us because we have animals and live outside town. One picture is the twins when they were young women and the other was taken about five years ago. The feisty hula girl was Ethel in 1944.


Ethel moved from Michigan to Florida with her husband who unfortunately passed away in 1980. In later years she lived there with her younger son and his family and still later her beloved youngest child and only daughter, Pat. She believed in staying busy and worked at KMart--keeping in touch with many gal pals from her KMart days. Ethel maintained a busy correspondence schedule - sending cards and notes to literally dozens of people. Since her death there will be a lot of folks with less in their mailboxes now - she never liked email but almost every day had a stack of notes and cards to mail. She was creative and a joyous participant in holidays - at Christmas she loved decorating - my Christmas pictures show some of her handiwork. One of her special joys was reading --often reading 4 or 5 books in a week. When she and I went into Fort Worth we made our shopping circuit -- DSW shoes, Mardel's Christian Bookstore - then to Costco. We'd trade books and have friends who also love reading and had the Linda, Ethel , Ella and Kathy exchange library around here! She also sent shoeboxes of paperbacks to Elsie and we got packages in the mail with Elsie's share of the book exchange.
Ethel left notes around her bedroom upstairs - reminders of doctor's appointments, eye exams, people's special events and bits of scripture or Christian fiction which caught her eye. Every morning she was up in her room after breakfast - reading Our Daily Bread and the scriptures related to those readings. She loved Christ as her Lord - deeply and with a personal faith.
The last picture is Ethel several years ago in DH's sporty red car - she was always willing to have fun and often teased by her devoted son - we'll miss you Ethel but definitely will see you again some sweet day.
"No eye has seen, no ear has hear, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."Isaiah64:4

Honduras

Our friends I've mentioned before who are missionaries to the deaf are busy in Honduras. Mike has just gotten his video posting going and sent a link this week to their adventure in open water. You need to know - Martha doesn't swim and like me - isn't all that crazy about being so far from shore in a small boat. BUT this video will give you a good idea of a day in the life of a missionary. Mike's sense of humor is a touch on the wry side - hope you enjoy the surf, sand and joy. The Garifuna people visited in this video have a difficult life so different from here on Buhlaland. We are always reminded of our blessings.

He is Risen and life renews

Wild plum blossoms in our back pasture - the fragrance is almost overwhelming. A perfect "find" on an Easter afternoon walk. Wonderful Holy Week for us - Good Friday service was moving, reassuring (traditional elements tend to give us a spot on which to stand). Easter Sunday - the empty grave, life renewing in ways we only understand in our small ways. One speaker said we should realize when we respond to the centuries old declaration "He Is Risen" - "He Is Risen Indeed" was said by about one billion believers today. Amen and Amen!

WWJD?

Elius then and now

















Bipul first picture and now - our boys are growing so fast!














"What Would Jesus Do" a slogan on bumper stickers, jewelry, shirts, coffee mugs and banners, WWJD in a multitude of places . I know a definite answer to that question - Jesus would be smack dab, totally in the middle of the poorest of the poor children. Compassion International is working as Jesus with skin on in the world. Pictured are our children through Compassion. Elius and Bipul live in Bangladesh. The serious young man in blue long pants has been ours for a year longer than Bipul. Elius has a hardworking mother, his father died over a year ago. Bipul's parents placed him with someone so he could go to the Christian center in their town and they traveled as itinerant workers. For less than the cost of going out for pizza and a movie ($32/month each) God has changed their lives, they are getting an education, medical care and learning about Christ. We get letters regularly - usually with drawings of animals or plants and lots of questions about how we live. They pray for us , you can't imagine the persistence with which we pray for them. The world in which they live is as different from the United States as earth is from Mars. Bangladesh is a primarily Muslim country, one of the poorest countries of the world and afflicted with frequent severe flooding. But they have hope - realistic hope through a simple arrangement done very well.
Compassion International is sponsoring a blogging trip this week to Uganda - I've included links to all the blogs and a link to Compassion so you can sign up RIGHT NOW and change your world. It is absolutely the best thing you can do to make a difference. I'm adding this on Friday the 15th - I forgot to mention when we contacted Compassion to sponsor - we simply asked for the child who had been waiting longest - no stipulation on age, location or anything. God engineered it both times that it would be a young boy in Bangladesh.


Bloggers for Uganda Trip - absolutely worth reading - share these with everyone you know and ask your readers and friends to become Compassion sponsors:
Anne Jackson
BooMama
Chris Elrod
David Kuo
Doug Van Pelt
Heather Whittaker
Keely Scott
Phil Ware
Ragamuffin Soul
Randy Elrod
Rocks In My Dryer
Shaun Groves
Spence Smith
Tom Emmons





I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider sponsoring a child today! In fact - I strongly recommend it - it'll rock your world. Knowing that on the other side of the world, two boys pray for us makes life even sweeter here on Buhlaland. Thank you Lord.

Looking up

Lord has been providing more beautiful skies recently . I think that is correct but it is possible having a new camera has made me more aware. I enjoy taking twenty or more pictures and picking through them for something appealing. The cloud formation with a rapidly approaching sunset made for dramatic colors and effects. I chose the picture with more color and less of the dark, smoke effect because I get a sense of sadness from the darker ones - as if the darkness is overtaking the light. I know that isn't true - where there is any light at all it dispels darkness.

Without going off the deep end here about darkness, light and all the symbolism inherent - I tend to choose light, colors, breezes, clothes, touches, humor, hair and definitely- Jesus - the Light of the World.

DH asked me how to spell maranatha - while making sure my brain hadn't misplaced that spelling- I found out the Aramaic phrase that results in Maranatha is used in the New Testament one time. We've read and been taught in scripture, repeating an idea gives it greater importance. Obviously once was enough for making an impact with that word - come, Lord. We talked at one time about naming our place Maranatha but I'm glad we didn't - Buhlaland suits us better (and mind you - DH doesn't call it that) and I don't like to trivialize the most important moment in human history (or future story if it doesn't happen before I get this posted).

I promise - I'll do some pictures and stories and recipes about flowers and food and birds and bees or something - I had to get this one out of my system. We're all about keeping systems cleared here on Buhlaland. Come, Lord - today would be good.

One Hundred It IS!

I'm a team player (playing on the name of our real estate company - Team Buhl). According to weblog etiquette on the occasion of my 100th blog post I'm supposed to list 100 things about myself. So far I've worked at this for five days (obviously not around the clock! I can take only short sessions of thinking that much about myself).


Grab your kleenex, diet coke and a comfy seat:




100. I've been divorced, widowed and married (not in that order)



99. Proud cum laude graduate of Humboldt State University - B.A. degree in Psychology



98. Miss Sierra Blanca 1966.



97. Was sitting in the library of Ruidoso High School when I heard that JFK had been assassinated.



96. Salutatorian of the Class of '66 - literally gave my speech, got my diploma and left town the night I graduated.



95. My first car was a '65 Comet Caliente.




94. Favorite pet as a child, our Toy Fox Terrier named Tiny Sue Lin.



93. Love various shades of purple but mostly dress in black or red.



92. Fight against a tendency to be paralyzed by fear of failure. I fight by failing a lot but getting back up afterward. It works - causes a lot of bruises but it works.



91. My Dad was in the US Air Force, we moved a lot during my childhood.



90. Costco versus Sam's - totally Costco.



89. Birkenstocks versus Crocs - yeah Crocs - washable and cheap!



88. I've lived in Florida, Kansas, Idaho, California, Texas, Colorado, Vermont, Illinois, and New Mexico.



87. Diet Coke Zero - carbonated beverage preference.



86. Iced Luzianne Tea for general cold beverage.



85. Black coffee at home, coffee with cream in restaurants.



84. Can't stand to eat okra, sweetbreads, or liver.



83. Dogs or cats? Both - if forced to choose, probably a dog since DH prefers canine to feline.



82. I have scars on my left palm from a severe burn sustained when I was about 3 years old. Embarrassed me during elementary school years - kids said I had worms in my skin. Grateful for total use of the hand, docs told parents I'd have nerve damage - no sign of it in over 57 years!



81. Classical or pop music- definitely classical.




80. Emergent, evangelical, charismatic or mainline protestant? hate labels for being a follower of Christ - have begun to put that in religious preference - Follower of Jesus Christ.



79. Reading - love it - bookstore - Mardel's. Thrilling to find good books so cheap ( I prefer real books not paperbacks).



78. Favorite authors - primarily Christian thriller or legal stories , Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker,Randy Alcorn, Randy Singer and Alton Gansky.




77. If I could only have one book - Bible.



76. If time and/or money were not barriers I would love to travel in Australia and New Zealand. Would want to explore coast line and the vast variety of sub climates.



75. I own 137 cookbooks.



74. Least favorite body part - stomach (as in belly not internal digestive parts).



73. Favorite body part - ankles.



72. TV shows NCIS, Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, news , So You Think You Can Dance? !



71. Traveled in 4 foreign countries on two continents.



70. DH and I sponsor two boys in Bangladesh through Compassion International - best thing we do! They are named Elius and Bipul.



69. Despite a painful and long time period I was frantically pursuing pregnancy, never had children and I trust God's plan for me in that.



68. I understand there is genuine artistry behind hip hop and rap - not a fan.



67. People I learned to appreciate as I've aged, Johnny Cash, my Mama, Adrian Rogers, The Gaithers, real cowboys and anyone who is kind to me.



66. Least attractive celebrities to me - Madonna and Tom Cruise. I don't even consider those sad young women referred to on Fox as "pop tarts".



65. Favorite movies, The Princess Bride, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Independence Day, Men In Black, Sleepless in Seattle, Terminator, Night at the Museum (in memory of my friend Ellie)-this list always changes - at one time I'd have said Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks - just not there right now. Oh and the Bourne movies series - lotsa action.


64.Don't mind being alone much of the time, it is how I've lived and I'm used to it.



63. I deeply appreciate and have affection for different kinds of people, find them endlessly interesting but I'm not a good woman friend. I don't "do lunch", shop for amusement,don't like to chat endlessly about my personal problems ( or things I seem to think are problems) or exchange very personal tidbits (can you tell?)



62. I most admire people who don't make a big fuss over their pain - everyone has pain whether physical or emotional. Wearing pain so everyone has to see it doesn't make it better. I often remind myself of this - because it is easy to slip into doing it.



61. The best dog I've ever had was a mutt - cocker and Lhasa apso mix named Mr. Smiley Dog. His ashes are buried with my late husband. No offense intended to my current duo of canine companions - they are different dogs and this is a different time in my life.


60. I was convinced that my DH is one of the kindest people I'll ever know when he drove 120 mile round trip to take my dog to be cremated. Many people might have done that for medical treatment but once the dog was dead he drove him to a nearby town in a heavy snowstorm so I could take Smiley's ashes back to Texas with me.



59. What did I think I'd be when I grew up? A lot smarter than I am and I truly thought I'd have a bunch of kids and live on or near a college campus (first husband was a professor).



58. I accepted Christ as my savior when I was about 7 years old. I did not make Him Lord of my life until the past decade.



57. What do I most regret in my life? I have so much to regret but have begun to accept when the Lord puts it as far away as the east from the west - I don't need to dwell on things.



56. Favorite cereal - Kashi Heart to Heart .



55. Best location described in the Bible - Revelation 22: 1-5 (Msg paraphrase) I love that the Tree of Life will have leaves that are for the healing of the nations.



54. Worst advice from a wife in the Bible was from Job's wife "curse God and die". Her attitude isn't supportive is it?



53. Best time of day - early morning - very early.



52. Favorite flowers - roses - not the florist kind but the growing kinds. Roses are closely followed by lilacs - in Vermont there were hedges at least 20 feet tall of lilacs - when they bloomed it was a fragrance beyond description. Lilacs don't really do well here - so I substitute crepe myrtles and lilies - but nothing smells like springtime lilacs.



51. Worst subject in high school - algebra.




50. First computer - a radio shack thing my husband put together for us - with the two floppy disks so you could have the operating system on one disk and run programs with the other.



49. Praise heavens I'm half way through this! See - I'm easily thrilled.




48. Best thing I've ever done, anonymously help people - love to be God's hands and feet without the burden of someone knowing about it.



47. Favorite meal, steak, enchiladas, salad and a really good red wine. Creme Brulee with raspberries for dessert.



46. Biggest travel adventure - went to Costa Rica alone for a vacation (it was a tour thing but only one couple in the group and we definitely went our own ways).



45. I had my identity stolen on AOL about 12 years ago - somebody ran up hundreds of dollars in charges and I ended up having to pay about half. Harsh lesson but good one - there is no inherent evil in the world wide web - it is like living in a huge city - some good places and some places you shouldn't even drive through.



44. Favorite car I've owned so far, Mitsubishi Diamante - a V6 with a moon roof and leather seats - I love to drive that car. Not so expensive but fun and comfortable.



43. On a hot dog - the more the better - I love mustard, onions, kraut and a touch of relish.



42. The blog through which I was motivated to begin a weblog was Foodie Farm Girl -http://www.foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/ Susan combined photography with explaining about real life in a rural setting. It didn't seem to be so "techie" so I thought I could do this. Then my friend Rachel Chapman started blogging about her mission work (see side bar for Redeemed for His Glory) and I was hooked.



41. I attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, The University of Vermont in Burlington, and graduated from Humboldt State University with my BA. Then got a teaching certification from University of Texas Permian Basin (called UTPB). Big whoop huh?



40. I have a college degree, am a notary, real estate broker, have had a NASDAQ license (no longer), have had an insurance license and a teaching certification in secondary level social sciences. Big whoop again.



39. Hardest habit to break - using "colorful" language. It was easier to quit smoking than to quit saying things I knew I shouldn't. Yes I quit smoking almost twenty years ago after doing it for 20 years - cold turkey - quit smoking by not putting them in your mouth or lighting them - simple enough?



38. My sister in law is the best crafter I have ever known - she can make anything with a hot glue gun, beads and feathers and silver. Sort of the MacGyver of crafting!



37. My brother knows trivia - when the Trivia board game was popular he was absolutely the best partner for a killer team. He has a Master's in history so made a career out of knowing when and who and where. I used to wish he'd go on Jeopardy and have a blast!



36. I've met Rock Hudson, Ruby Keeler, Jack Gilford, Patsy Kelly, Max Lucado, and Robert Duvall (he was not a good experience) . I don't think the few who are still alive would remember me.



35. My brother was an only son who has one son, who has one son, who has a ----daughter.



34. DH used to work for a company that transferred personnel a lot - between the two of us we've owned 23 homes!



33. I prefer to use the name Linda Sue (it is my real name) but rarely does anyone actually say my full name - hey you, yo mama, baby, sweetie, and Linda are aliases to which I'll reply.



32. DH and I spent two wonderful weeks in Germany visiting friends near Frankfurt - what a gift that time was for us. All the cliches about Germans and their cleanliness,promptness and loving a good party - true and fabulous!



31. I love being a Texan - it is irritating to a lot of people that some of us feel a unique spirit in Texans - incredible diversity and usually an attitude of "sure we can do that". Of course there are fabulous people all over the globe - being a Texan is part of MY identity and it is fun.



30. Greatest fear - dying without making a difference for the good of someone's soul, comforting someone else since I've been comforted so much by God - slogan on DH's computer is "God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters". A version of pass it forward. Less dramatic fear - claustrophic - do NOT like tight places.



29. Greatest guilty pleasure - a chance to lie in the sun and do absolutely nothing.



28. I have never gone to a single reunion of high school or college and I don't recall any real famiy reunions.



27. Accountability for exericse - http://www.walkertracker.com/ - pedometer website.



26. Hair color - without color it would be mostly grey but hasn't been "natural" for so long - who knows? I'll continue to color it until I mature enough not to have that one tiny vanity or it falls out. I used to answer the question "is your hair naturally blonde?" "yes - I'm from Texas - I'm over 50 so naturally I'm blonde".



25. I'm a good baker and cook. Not fancy any more - DH and his mother are not fans of elaborate cuisine - but cooking is a skill - I'm not over endowed with skills so wanted to list this one.



24. Sports - not a huge fan - like to watch football with DH, occasionally follow some golfers and live sports are fun.



23. No cable or satellite tv in our house - we quit years ago and don't miss it at all.



22. Best sandwich in the world - turkey on whole wheat, mayo, leaf lettuce, cranberry sauce and very thin slices of sweet onion. IMHO



21. Biggest surprise about getting older - it isn't all that bad - everything takes longer to heal, digest or complete - but age has it's advantages.



20. OK I'm SOOO running out of things I'm willing to post here - my reticence in revealing too much is also coupled with the fact that I don't think talking about my life is quite the pinnacle of blog journalism.

19. Church - prefer contemporary worship but occasionally would like to have a liturgical traditional service again.



18. Best surprises - not ever surprise parties but I do love getting a personal note or small gift for any reason or NO reason at all.



17. Most fun person who worked with me - probably Heather E. She is still a friend and has great faith and skills. or Mad Skillz per BooMama nomenclature.



16. First thing in the morning, I make coffee then after emails and devotionals I check a list of blogs - every morning - well except Sunday - we go to 8:30 am services so read our scriptures on Saturday am so we don't get behind.



15. My Dad was born and raised in Wyoming. His family lived in a log cabin - literally - with dirt floors. Their land was on the Little Big Horn River (yep - General Custer's final stomping grounds).



14. My Mom was born in Oklahoma but raised in the area of Cleburne, Texas.



13. Least favorite household chore - cleaning! I love to do laundry and cook but aaargh I hate the basics of vacuuming, washing floors, washing windows - that kind of thing. I pick up so it isn't cluttered, and when I do clean - it is a manic event with me tearing up everything and scrubbing behind under and over it all!



12. Favorite Holiday - Easter - I love the springtime and full religious significance of the resurrection of the Savior. We sometimes have as many as 45 people here for a buffet brunch and enormous egg hunt in the pastures. Then DH finds plastic eggs all summer by hitting them with a mower!



11. Hymn - How Great Thou Art - I remember hearing it when I was a child - sung by George Beverly Shea in a stadium in California at a Billy Graham rally. I don't recall many specific events in my childhood - it is mostly a pleasant general memory -but I recall that music so specifically.



10. Home Stretch now - jobs I've had - worked at a Dairy Queen, an ice cream shoppe, baby sat for a jockey and his horse trainer wife, worked at the college newspaper office doing layouts, worked in a college transcript office, worked in a medical clinic in records, intake clerk in an emergency room, secondary level school teacher, college bookstore textbook clerk, cook and server for a catering company, sales rep for an office furniture company,veterinary assistant,photography studio manager (worst job I had) real estate agent and broker, cook and kitchen coordinator for a church! Ta Da! Lots of jobs in lots of cities across the country - following husbands and heart and family.



9. People I most want to meet in heaven - in addition to my family of course - Ruth Graham Bell, Esther, Abel, Job, Rahab - I'm sure once we're there the list will change because there will be people we never heard of nor dreamt - but for now that is my list.



8. Biggest lie I tell myself - that I am doing the best I can all the time.



7. Love zoos - zoos and aquariums. That would be a great world tour - go to all the great zoos and aquariums of the world!



6. Used to have 5 aquariums largest was 125 gallons and smallest was 20 gallons. All fresh water with live plants. I was in an Aquarium Society in West Texas.



5. I like online better (usually) than in person because I can edit what I say - don't have a functioning delete button in my brain when I'm IRL.



4. Biggest peeve --smoking - hate the smell so much it makes me ill. Embarrassed that I smelled like that for almost 20 years!

3. Don't like confrontation -have just edited out 5 different explanations and figured - I'll just leave it alone,I don't like it.
2. Blogging gives me a chance to connect with people in a unique way - people all over the world. I like that - although far from a "one world" person politically - I have always had a strong interest in how people live - and deeply know that we are all just people.

Number one - numero uno - the final thing in this far too involved with myself task. TA DA!
For those who haven't seen me- I begrudgingly post this picture taken about two weeks ago! I'm waving at y'all - I really do love having you visit me and tell me about yourself too!










If you've read all this - God bless you and I'm not writing anything personal again.

Hi!

In an attempt to be clever I took a self portrait yesterday while in the back pasture. I'm waving hello. Evaluating things with that first of a new year almost my birthday ruminative mindset. Still working through issues about church, unsure about the directions it is going but not feeling any pull to go elsewhere. One of the blogs I check on has been discussing issues within the Southern Baptist Convention and tensions over baptism, private prayer languages and who can or can't do what. While an internal denominational issue, since they are one of the largest protestant denominations they influence many people. Seems to me - we as 21st century Christians are not seeing a clear outline of our faith (like calling my goofy picture a self portrait- you didn't think I'd be able to tie this to anything did you? HA!) because we obscure scriptural commandments, direction and admonitions with man made rules. A person can take from scripture and decide "hey - you aren't allowed to wear braids"because of 1 Timothy 9:9. Problem comes when interpretation ignores context -Paul was directing women to clothe themselves with good deeds as is appropriate for women of God. He wasn't giving fashion instruction - be decently covered but primarily cover yourself up with what is good.

I am perplexed at how we take the love of Christ and turn it into an industry, marketing system, and scale for judging everyone else. Finished reading McManus'"The Barbarian Way" and still digesting that - my basic reaction is we become church ladies (Dana Carvey's cutting character on SNL)too easily. Certainly we should use discernment but that isn't even in the ballpark with being judgmental. Our love of God allows us to be free, less worried about tomorrow. We know how things will turn out but we continue to fret the small stuff. OK this is a big 180 away from my pets and recipes - I said in the beginning I was working through spiritual issues in my life, the blog was to serve as a discipline.

Counting down to the 100th blog - this is number 98 if I didn't get confuzzled about when this post will appear. I don't think there are 100 things about me worthy of putting in writing but I might include the ingredients for bread or something.

In my rantings - I have to conclude 1 Corinthians 13:13 means "love trumps everything"

In Buhlaland the current plan is to love extravagantly it is never wasted.

Chicken Soup for the body and soul

Feliz Ano Nuevo and or Happy New Year y'all! Tomorrow is our 8th wedding anniversary , amazing.

It is a little cool today so I decided to experiment with chicken soup recipes. Easy to make and you could freeze individual servings and microwave them for lunch this month.

Ingredients are in bold type

In a LARGE skillet heat two tablespoons olive oil,

1 cup of onion coarsely chopped

1 cup of diced carrot

1.5 pounds or two whole chicken breasts cut into small cubes

Add the onion, carrot and chicken to heated skillet and cook, stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes until lightly browned. Add 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic, then 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves. Stir until the spices and garlic are mixed in with the chicken - keep heat fairly high so chicken will continue to cook.

Add:

one 15.8 ounce can Great Northern Beans - drained and rinsed

one 15 ounce can Black Beans - also drained and rinsed

2 cans (4.5 ounce each) chopped green chiles (about one cup)

4 cups of high quality chicken broth

Allow this all to reach full boil, stir in 1/4 cup of ground yellow corn meal and stir briskly to avoid lumps. Keep temp up , the corn meal will begin to thicken the soup slightly. Add sea salt to taste and I added a teaspoon and a half of white pepper - you could use black pepper to taste also.

We served this with a dollop of sour cream on top - DH and I each added several shakes of hot pepper sauce but we made the soup NOT spicy on purpose so it could be jazzed up if desired. Would be tasty to add some corn and/or a handful of chopped parsley. Quick soup to make and flavorful, smells great. The 3 of us had a bowl which holds about a cup and there is enough left for almost that again. So I'm guessing 5 - 6 servings.

There is something elemental about making soup for yourself and people you love - feels like nourishing instead of feeding. We finished reading the bible today (DH and I have a discipline of reading the bible through each year - starting anew on the 1st ). I depend on that time each day to open the eyes of my heart - to see the world in a different way. If you show up here (and few do!) I pray that you will be nourished in some way - making a recipe, enjoying pictures or connecting to one of the books,blogs or resources available here. Feliz Ano Nuevo y'all - it is almost a new year and I'm grateful for the blessings of our life - the fun, peaceful times, and I'm beginning to understand about thanking the Lord for the trials. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (the Message paraphrase)"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time;thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." If you don't follow Jesus - I hope you will consider where you want to be when you leave (as C.S. Lewis called earth) The Shadowlands. I'm not a gifted evangelist - I only know what a change has occurred in my life and that it definitely was NOT me who changed - I'm still Linda Sue though not a beta version anymore - the real Linda 2.0

Here's to food, friendships, faith and faithfulness - and you are always welcome to visit Buhlaland.

Hey Fishies come HERE

Moe believes in a direct approach to fishing. He likes to stand beside the trough and stare intently - silently willing the goldfish to come to the top and become one with the cat. Moe is very zen that way- he likes for the world to become one with the cat. The world for Moe consists of rodents, fish, birds, snakes, cat treats and things we have not been able to identify once they've become ONE with Moe. Moe is very zen - personally we are nondenominational Christ followers but hey - a cat's gotta do what a cat's gotta do.

Here fishies fishies

That's how a cat lives in Buhlaland.