http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/ Our Blogging Page en-us Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:00:04 MST Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:00:04 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com CSB Weblog Generator 1.0 thelittleshopontheweb thelittleshopontheweb http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#1200 Last week I had my first introduction to, and date with, our snow shovel. Up to this point in my life in Idaho I had not had to shovel snow. We've had enough snow to need to clear sidewalks and driveway but my husband was available to do the job. Last week we had a day in which it snowed 4 5 inches and my husband was gone to work, so I needed to clear the driveway in order for him to park in the garage. What an adventure for the little gal from the central valley of California.I waited as late into the afternoon as I could in hopes that the snow would stop. It didn't. So, with shovel in hand, I went out to get acquainted with the process that would make our driveway safer for my husband, and, as I was to find out, afford us less work in cleaning up melting snow and rivers of water in our garage after he parked the car. What a mess just from the snow melting off all the varied surfaces of the car. Anyway, I digress. I started shoveling areas about 10' wide and then would stop, go into the garage and get the pan of de-icer stuff, sprinkle it on the concrete so the falling snow would melt and not turn to ice, and then went back into the garage with the de-icer stuff so it would stay dry, and then back out into the falling snow to resume the snow shovel two-step. We have a long driveway that starts by going up hill from the street and then flattens out and turns into the garage, so it's really important to keep that slope ice-free. So I shoveled a little and sprinkled a little, and then shoveled a little more. I happily discovered that I'm in better shape physically than I had realized because the only aches I had were in my neck area. (This area is very vulnerable from an accident sustained a few years ago anyway, so I wasn't surprised.) This process took an hour and I hadn't even gotten to any of the sidewalks! The sidewalks waited until the next morning when the snowfall had stopped and I was rested.What a dichotomy. That which is so beautiful to watch falling, from my kitchen window, becomes so much work and a hazard when driving or walking. Isn't that the way it is with so much in life? There seems to be two sides to just about everything. One of the hazards for us was that my husband slipped and fell while we were out for a walk. He had to get his hand x-rayed and now has to see the orthopedic doctor because our doctor thinks he might have a chipped bone. Terrific. One of the pluses for me was that I saw that I was the only lady out shoveling snow in order to try to make life a little easier for her husband. He really appreciated my efforts and I was blessed. Happy January! Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#1200 http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#1064 I have made a wonderful new friend from my church. I've known her for a year or more, but it has been during this past Christmas season that we have drawn closer together. This dear woman has met a special need in my life since I have moved away from family and friends, and that need has been the need for a hug in friendship and a word of praise. You see, in my former church, a hug was a common occurrence when greeting friends; this is not really the practice in my present church. It certainly isn't wrong; it's just a need some don't have. I'm a hugger, and I am so thankful that God has provided another hugger in the form of this friend. There is a special connection when a friend values us enough to reach out to us with affection.This dear woman also values people with her words. She gives a word of praise rather than having over-reaching expectations of others. This appreciation for people causes her to be a wonderful hostess. When you are welcomed into her home she treats you as a very special guest, she absolutely understands the importance of hospitality. I had the opportunity to help her decorate for Christmas this year and what a wonderful time I had with her, as well as the opportunity to watch her respond to her husbands needs as we worked together. Her husband has had some serious health issues this past year and is very dependant upon her, so he would call to her regularly for some need to be met. Even when we were up to our eyeballs in decorations she would respond in love, and stop what she was doing, and go to him. She was never impatient, rude or cross. I marveled at her ability to flow with these circumstances, as well as taking the time to offer me a cup of tea at the same time. She never seemed to tire.I have come to really value and appreciate this friend, and God has used her to teach me some new things in the art of hospitality and being gentle with the people in my life. Blessings from the heart… Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#1064 http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#651 Two weeks ago my husband and I went to a nearby Christmas tree lot to pick out our tree. What a rich blessing awaited us there.This tree lot is on a working ranch and is tended by the owners of the ranch. These people are the kind of people that could be referred to as the salt of the earth. He is the third generation to farm this piece of land and, of course, is selling Christmas trees to keep the money flowing in the off season. This is not a huge farm.Like many people today, we went prepared to pay for our purchase with either a debit card or a charge card, so we left the checkbook at home. This business was not set up for anything but cash or a check as payment, so we explained that we lived within one mile and would be right back with the checkbook. The owner said, Oh no, don't worry about it. Just come back anytime today to take care of it as he is tying the tree to the top of our car. As you might imagine, we were really shocked. No one lets the merchandise escape the store unpaid for. It is rare for this kind of trust to be exhibited by anyone anymore unless you have a longstanding relationship with the person. My husband and I were so blessed, and surprised, by Mr. Wissel's attitude. What a wonderful way to begin our Christmas season this year! We wish for you a wonderful Christmas blessing as you are out and about this week. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#651 http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#532 It's a big choice because it is not easy, and most of us have had trust trained out of us as we grew into adulthood.My husband and I throw wild birdseed around the base of our layered spruce tree, in the backyard, to entice any and all that want to stop by for a bite. Many birds in the finch family come; my goal is quail. Anyway, when we go out to do this, if there are any birds in the area, they head for the hills out of fear. Even though we are feeding them, they don't trust us. I sometimes find myself thinking, My goodness, I'm not going to hurt you, I've brought food. Pretty ridiculous thinking, but I did notice that this past week when I came near the tree, there was a bird sitting in the tree that did not fly away. I found myself wondering if this little guy had been coming around for a while and knew I wasn't carrying a gun.I wonder how God feels, when we flee from him, when He comes near to us. He knows he means us no harm, and any discipline we receive from His hand, we certainly deserve. Yet we struggle to rest where we are perched, if you will, and trust that He means us no harm. I am in a time in which I am struggling to trust, are you? If you aren't at this moment, a time is coming. It's part of life. I have a dear friend with serious health challenges who continues to grow in trust. She has rheumatoid arthritis and is now facing surgery number 30, or close to it, as I recall. There are concerns for she and her husband, there is much she cannot do, and they continue to trust that God won't forsake them. She and I encourage each other to not flee from God because of life's difficulties, but rather, to trust Him and draw close. It is not easy, and does take discipline, but if we do we learn that He is trustworthy. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. God is available to us if we but go to Him and ask, and then we must trust in His answers. May He richly bless you today… Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#532 http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#388 My husband and I have received our first invitation to a Christmas party since coming to Idaho two years ago. The invitation came from neighbors we have only met one time since moving into this neighborhood. I can't tell you how shocked, and very pleased, I was when I opened the door to find Deanna standing there with an envelope in her outstretched hand. She explained that she has an open house, including dinner, for her neighbors every year as a way to build friendships in the neighborhood. I've read about people who do this, but I have never experienced it. This is a major amount of work and expense for Deanna and her husband, not to mention the commitment to people who are all but strangers at this time. But she seems to have a vision for these strangers to become friends, and my goodness do I applaud her! What a wonderful way to facilitate the building of new relationships among people who are all new to the neighborhood within the last few months, to few years. In fact, we have houses that have not yet been lived in, and some still being built on our street, that's how new our subdivision is. So this dear woman is only just beginning, but what a wonderful beginning!I can't imagine a nicer way to begin the Christmas season than with this invitation to hospitality from new neighbors. I have been so aware of the hesitancy, by most people, to inviting guests into their homes, and thus, into their lives. It's so sad. I'm hoping this might be the beginning of many years of friendships in our little part of the world. I'll keep you posted...may God richly bless you this Christmas season. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST http://www.thelittleshopontheweb.com/blog329009.html#388