'Little Women'..... Some Thoughts

I just finished rereading Little Women for probably (at a conservative estimate) the 20th time. Even now, some 15 years later, it remains fresh and readable. There's more for me to absorb each time.

I'm in my early 20's now and desire a husband and children, Lord willing. But, as Marmee said, "...Better be happy old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls, running about to find husbands..."

Often, Jo's ways remind me of myself, and not always the good things either... My temper gets the best of me more than I like and my too often sharp tongue is something I dislike about myself.

Bethie is a sweet example for me. I want to have her gentle spirit and servant's heart. She wasn't glamorous or famous, but she loved her family and friends and did the best she could.

If you are going to take examples from fiction, the ones shown in "Little Women" are better than many in contemporary books - fiction or not.

Traveler....

I have been in 6 states in 10 days. One state I went through 4 times. MD, PA, WV, VA, OH, IN among them. What a blessing it's been to be able to make this trip, in planning for almost a year.
I was privileged to visit with my Nana's siblings that are still with us. Her eldest brother and his wife are 93 and 94 respectively and they will celebrate their 68th anniversary on my birthday. They are wonderful examples.

I saw the pain, and dignity of 2 widowers - my Great Uncles. Both lost wonderful spouses who I loved calling 'Aunt'... Both have trouble knowing what to do with themselves without their other half. For one Great Uncle, he struggles with giving his late wife's things away over a year later. Another is just starting his journey through grief.

I saw a dearly beloved Great Uncle bowed with age, the only brother of 3 left, it's just he and his sister now.

I saw the simple joys of another Great Uncle and Aunt who live quietly, love much, serve the Lord, and serve others to the best of their abilities.

I saw an elderly cousin as tickled as if he was back in his 20's. (He got an old restored car, the same model as his very first one.)

I see a grandmother who endeavours greatly to make sure she sees her siblings on a regular basis.

I am blessed beyond measure to have such wonderful relatives as examples for me...

In Christ,
L.

P.S. Many thanks are due my beloved Nana - who hosted me and did so much driving!!!!

randomness

I am thankful to be able to feel pain.

I'm thankful for warm things to wear when it's cold.

I am thankful for a sense of taste.


I am thankful for uplifting music like this song.

 I AM REDEEMED
WRITTEN BY PHIL CROSS

VERSE 1
I WAS A SLAVE IN A FOREIGN LAND
SO VERY FAR FROM THE FATHERS LOVING HAND
HE RESCUED ME ONE GLORIOUS DAY
HE BROUGHT ME OUT, PAID A DEBT I COULD NOT PAY

CHORUS
I AM REDEEMED, I AM REDEEMED
JESUS LOOSED THE CHAINS OF SIN AND SET ME FREE
I AM REDEEMED, I AM REDEEMED
JESUS LOOSED THE CHAINS OF SIN AND SET ME FREE

VERSE 2
STILL I LIVE IN A FOREIGN LAND
BUT NOW I'M FREE ACCORDING TO REDEMPTIONS PLAN
SOON I'LL JOIN THE ROBED IN WHITE, THE REDEEMED
WE'LL SING THE SONG HOLY ANGELS CANNOT SING

CHORUS
I AM REDEEMED, I AM REDEEMED
JESUS LOOSED THE CHAINS OF SIN AND SET ME FREE
I AM REDEEMED, I AM REDEEMED JESUS LOOSED THE CHAINS OF SIN AND SET ME FREE

*Random picture alert*

On another note, Happy Birthday to my friend S.C.M's little "Crown of Praise" who turns 3 years old today!

The learning continues,

Leah ;P

So many birthday's... More thankfuls

  There are a lot of birthdays in my family in January. January 15th is my beloved 'Nana's' birthday. This year, she is 80 years young. This energetic woman is a wonderful example for me. She raised 3 children, helped her husband run an audiovisual business, cooked wonderfully and so much more. When her kids were grown, she traveled, wrote a book, started - and ran - her own business, helped her siblings write their family history, endured the tragedy of losing a child - and grandchildren, and on a regular basis travels 500+ miles 1 way to visit us.

I love you Nana, and happy birthday!

Thankfuls
#1. I'm thankful for friends who I can call up and talk with anytime.
#2. The privilege of being able to openly read God's Word.

Philemon:25,
Leah

Thankfuls

   Thankfulness, I believe, is contagious.

I am thankful for:
#1. Jesus. He is so wonderful to me, even when I am so undeserving of it.
#2. My job. It's not glamorous, and doesn't pay too great, but it's steady and I get Sundays off.
#3. Church. It is such a privilege to be able to meet openly with fellow believers and worship Jesus together. And I'm so blessed to have been a part of the same church for (roughly) 18 years.
#4. My church family. I've known most of these people for -quite literally - my entire life. They are such blessings in my life.
#5. My family. We aren't perfect, but we're us.
#6. My "birthday twin", 'Sandee' C. who is one of the sweetest girls I know. Also C.J.M. & Nat. who are wonderful examples of young womanhood. The 4 Musketeers. :D
#7. My hearing. It is such a precious gift.
#8. The gift of reading. You can travel the world from your chair.

More next time...

In Christ,
Leah

 

A small portion of my books

P.S. Happy 22nd birthday to my wonderful brother - S. T.!!!

I ♥ Thursday

This has been a bit of an odd week for me. But I DO love Thursday, because it means Sunday is just 4 days away! And Sunday means I get to go to church and worship Jesus!



                                                                                       This is so me - I love quirkiness like this!

This is so cool!

I want to make this so bad!

Can you imagine this hairstyle with a tunic sweater, dark wash boot cut jeans and a pair of Oxford heels?

ACKKK! Cuteness overload!

These guys are awesome!

ThePianoGuys

   This piece was my introduction to their awesomeness!

That's all folks!

Answered Prayers

It is so exciting to see prayers answered. Let me tell you a little story...
Years & years ago there was this sweet little lady named Margie who had encountered Jesus as a mother of a large family. Every day she prayed for her children, and later, grandchildren. Margie went home to be with Jesus in early 2001..... Today, I was privileged to listen to the teaching at church with 4 of her grandchildren and 1 daughter present.

I am seeing God answer prayers TODAY that were prayed over 11 years ago! Truly, Jesus is the SAME yesterday, today and FOREVER.
*Sorry for shouting, I get rather excited when I think about this!*

What really makes this special is that as a 5,6,7,8,9 year old I had the distinct joy of being watched by "Mrs. Margie". I still miss this wonderful, loving woman who was an amazing example of Christian womanhood.

Below is one of the songs we sang today. Lord Jesus, let this song be my prayer...
Today, I Choose

In Christ,
Leah

Surprise of a Lifetime

*This is a repost from a Facebook note posted April 18th 2011* 

T-shirts made by a cousin that play up Grandpa's love of hunting

Surprise of a Lifetime

     Somehow 30 plus people managed to pull the surprise party of a lifetime off. The unsuspecting guest of honor was reeled in slowly and carefully and the planning started immediately after the Glick family reunion last July(2010). Relatives from Canada to Virginia to Indiana and Illinois and D.C. all came together to plan. The surprise was to take place in Winchester, Virginia on April 15 and 16, 2011.

    And of course being that it is the Glick clan, we can't help but "make a funny" every once in a while. From "Booked under Courtney Shess" to the "Glick wedding party", to Uncle Marv's hilarious texts to everyone the day of the surprise, to the unforeseen event of the guest of honor's delay by traffic jam, there was plenty of laughter to be had.

   The weather was perfect that evening and, by dribs and drabs people started to walk down to the resturant. I ran to get a coat, as the breeze was rather chilly and coming back to the corner where I was supposed to follow Mom and Dad, they had disappeared. I went up and down for a bit, then caught up with my Aunt Carri, and Cousins Jerry & Will and we promptly got lost together. Finally we got on the right track and found the resturant.

    Laughter and chaotic greetings ensued and things began to take on a new, quicker pace. The waiting seemed interminable, and we whiled the time with catching up with various loved ones.

   Finally the guest of honor arrived. "Who is it?" you might ask... Well, it was my Grandpa Glick, known to some as "Vern", to others as "Uncle Vern", but to me, simply - Grandpa. After the singing of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" we all hugged and greeted him

   Then we sat down and broke bread together.

   Saturday began on a gray note, as the city of Winchester soaked up a heavy spring rain, accompanied by lots of wind, and towards evening, lightening and thunder.

   Sleeping in, conversations, laughter, piano-playing, picture taking, and many other things diverted us all as we relaxed and waited for the evening to draw near.* Laughter was had by the younger members of the party when 2 of the teen boys on the trip were retrieving an elk call & used it in the hall of an upper floor while waiting on an elevator. It was heard IN the elevator by another cousin & myself on the first floor!*

    Preparations began for the evening's party and everyone prepared once again to enjoy a fun-filled evening. Half the fun of watching the AWESOME slideshow that everyone contributed to were the wry, funny or openly laughing comments made by the audience - not to mention the captions!!! Most of those photos  were ones that I had never seen before, or most of the relatives for that matter.

But this night I think is best summed up by my Great Uncle Dan in this -  http://jdanielhess.com/blog/?p=5897.

I am privileged to be a part of such a family. And three cheers for Grandpa!!

*The asterisks convey that this particular portion was written this morning. 

In Christ,

Leah - Who.Is.Blessed.

Thoughts

Still reading LaJoyFamily's blog archives. Still thinking, absorbing, praying. Feeling disappointed in myself that I wasn't willing to suck up my laziness and put in a few more hours at work.

Trying to figure out WHERE in the world I'm going to put a 52" long table top grow light system.
(Our house - including an already overstuffed garage - is roughly 1,600 sq. feet. We are swiftly coming up on 24 years in this house & have 5 people residing in it.)

On a funny note - the beloved Panther/Vinnie/Snowflake cannot meow. He has this little trill, which sounds a bit like a raccoon. He CAN purr & does so with great gusto - especially when you fill up the food bowl.

Leah

"I ♥ Thursday (#1 for me!)

  Since I broke down and joined the land of bloggers, I wanted to link up to www.bramblewoodfashion.com's  awesome  "I ♥ Thursday" posts.

I am loving http://lajoyfamily.blogspot.com/ right now. I'm reading through the archives right now & just amazed at their story.

Cutest dogs! (Sorry, can't figure out how to make it show the picture)

blue by swonderfulfunnyface featuring a leather shoulder bag

Making Homemade Citrus Cleaner

I'm so excited to try this out!!!

I love this stuff & buy it by the case!

These 3 cats are enormously dear to my family - okay to me & my dad. My brothers & mom have more of a love/hate relationship with them. 2 of the 3 have been with us since birth.

  

Kitty Dog Pile
Front to back: Pansy, Ankle Biter & Snowflake.

This former stray who has such enormous personality!

My brother loves irony - he started calling this little scamp of a black kitty, "Snowflake"... because he has 1 patch of white at the very base of his belly. Panther is Dad's name for him, Mom votes for Vinnie & me - I call him everything.

The Unloved... Do You Hide From Them?

    I've been reading a blog, it is 1 family's story of adopting from Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan. And I am asking myself, really digging deep and asking, 'Could I open my heart like that? Waiting YEARS to bring home children?'  The heartbreak of RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) & just how quickly the hurt can come. I'm so glad for the honesty that Mrs. LaJoy has  link here = LaJoyFamily blog
The cost of international adoptions are astronomical. Now Russia has closed its doors to US adoptions. These children are, as Mrs. LaJoy put it, basically imprisoned. This song speaks to my heart about this subject. Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath 

Oh, that we would allow God to give us His eyes for even just a second!!!

I may be single, but I love children, & my heart aches for them when they are in less than ideal situations. 

The foster system in my own country is all jumbled. I have a dear friend who was fostered until 18, when her foster parents were finally able to adopt her. At one point this gorgeous girl looked at me and said, "I haven't seen my brother in 10 years." (At that time she was about 17-18.) 

I know God put this sweet friend of mine into my life for a very good reason..... So that I would know, and be able to have compassion for, the foster children, orphans, and so many others who are invisible to the world's eyes. 

Miss Elaini' ous has a passion & heart for orphans in India. Go back and read through her blog archives. She may not be able to travel, but she has God's heart for the orphans.

Please - take a few minutes and pray for the orphans, foster children, and any in need. 

 Shared with:

 

The New Year

     My new year started off with a bang - I got in bed before 12:30. HAH! I've not been doing that lately.

It was such a blessing to get up and fellowship with my friends in Christ this morning... Eat and enjoy a big  breakfast, then spend the rest of our morning - and part of the afternoon being lazy. Watching and playing with 2 small boys gave us much food for laughter - and the opportunity to act silly.

Children make me laugh. They are utterly honest, and sometimes rather sneaky. When I ask one for a hug he's known to look at me and say, "No, you don't need one." Yes - he is 2 1/2. Kids are sponges - it teaches me to watch what I say in front of them, for they will learn it in the blink of an eye.

It's such a privilege for me to be a part of this group of people. The fellowship of like-minded believers is precious indeed.

Rose inverted to look like a negative

                                                             Blessings in Christ,
                                                             Leah