One of My Favorites

One of my favorites. I say that tongue-in-cheek, because my list of favorites changes and grows almost constantly.
That said, this poem by Amy Carmichael is a current favorite. Read it slowly and savor these thoughts. Let them challenge you as they do me.

FLAME OF GOD
by Amy Carmichael

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

Toot or Puddle?

On a recent Sunday morning Bekah (8) and I enjoyed reading Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie. The adorable porcine pair lives in fictional Woodcock Pocket, and each has his own personality.

Toot leaves Woodcock Pocket for a grand adventure—a trip around the world—but Puddle is content to enjoy the pleasures of home. While Toot is swimming with hippos in Africa, Puddle is ice skating on Pocket Pond. While Toot is snorkeling off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, Puddle is jumping in puddles during “mud season.” While Toot is exploring the Louvre, Puddle is painting his own version of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.”

I am Puddle.

I feel no compulsion to see the world, climb Mt. Everest, or travel to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on a mule. Not while there is an old farmhouse on six acres, surrounded by fields and woods with inviting paths. Not while there is fresh coffee in the pot and Kati’s lemony cake on the kitchen table. Not while candles are burning and the beds are all made and said farmhouse is clean(ish). Life’s simple pleasures are enough.

There is a place in this world for Toot. In fact, there are several Toots in my own family...and I love their sense of adventure. If it were up to the Puddles of the world, lands would remain undiscovered, resources would be untapped, technological advances would have stalled. We need Toots!

But I am content to be a Puddle and, hopefully, create a refuge for the Toots when they’re between adventures.

Who are you?

Finally...

Yes, finally, I have entered Blogdom. After pondering the idea for years (no hasty decisions for me!), I am entering this brave new world to share my musings about home— home life (home crafts, home cooking, home making, home schooling) and, above all else, my Heavenly home.

Join me as we travel homeward.