photo fun

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

Some of my Previous Flannel Inventory

And a Whole Lot of Black Friday NEW Flannel!

The Young Stock of Steers plus Kittie the Heifer (center in black)

(Mooooo!)

Saturday's Project for my Men & the Popper: Pouring the pad for the outdoor wood stove with QuickCrete

How vast His grace! How great His faithfulness!
How deep His love! How rich His mercy!
How high His thoughts! How sure His wisdom!
And all of these, He gives to me.

How just His ways! How good His discipline!
How pure His truth! How kind His goodness!
How calm His peace! How long His patience!
And all of these, He gives to me.

How broad His pow'r! How grand His majesty!
How true His reign! How bright His glory!
How strong His might! How clear His triumph!
And all of these, He gives to me.

So I will praise Him with every breath,
For He has rescued me from certain death.
And now this life I live, I live in Him.
O let His glory shine while mine grows dim.

"All of These" by Craig Curry

overflowing thoughts of thankfulness

With fellowshipping after church and facebooking and switching laundry and i-net searches and tucking kids into bed and blog-reading catch-up... it is now L.A.T.E.

But I have much to be thankful for, so I will try to share something tonight!

My mom made this purse for me! =)
Thanks, Mom!

I am thankful for our guest speaker today at church -- we are in the beginnings of a building program, and the speaker is a missionary builder. In Sunday school he shared from Philippians 4 after asking us if God rewards those who are faithful, asking for verses to back our answers, and examples of lives God has rewarded. Good stuff. And when the guy gets teary-eyed, how can I not?? (telling about leading a couple of 65yo men to Christ at a building project...) For his sermon in the worship service he looked at the life of Daniel: Daniel purposed to not defile himself; he proved that God is real; he prayed for wisdom; he praised God for answered prayer; he prospered spiritually (and otherwise). Tonight it was more of an explanation of their ministry with the theme verse from Nehemiah. {Let us rise up and build!}

I am thankful my parents could come to church with us this morning (with the purpose of hearing Miss MusicBox play the offeratory, which was beautiful.) And then they came to our house for lunch with us (YAY! for a main dish from the freezer accompanied by leftover sweet potatoes, rolls, and corn from Thursday!) Our girls went home with them to help decorate a Christmas tree - thank you, Lord, for good times with the grandparents!

I am thankful for the opportunity to help honor some good friends as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next month! Now that the holiday weekend is over, I need to get some invitations ready and in the mail. This would require names and addresses. Hmmm. Their son gave me the name of a couple in Nebraska but didn't know which town... So I plugged in the info I had into MSN white pages... Would you believe there is only ONE person listed in the entire state by that name?! Thank you, Lord! It would be really sweet if they can come, but I'll be glad to just let them know about it. {{Did I mention this is a *surprise* party?!}} Fun, fun, fun!

The Artist had some fun with my camera and my roses... 130 photos?!

Look at these beautiful napkins and plates I found at Hobby Lobby on Friday!



A friend made this real wreath for us =)
(sorry, didn't get the photo turned before I uploaded)

Flannel photos will have to wait... Good Night!

my good man and our good friends

I shopped too late/too long yesterday, so missed my date with My Hero last night (we were both too tired from feasting on Thursday to go out anywhere...)



But I came home from my marathon shopping (with 3 of our DDs) to my Good Man, pizza, the other kiddos playing a game with their dad, and ... roses ... =)

[sorry I'm too tired to find the camera to download the pics I took of my roses and the p.i.l.e. of flannel we bought at JoAnn's ... maybe tomorrow?]


And ... tonight ... we managed to keep our date but weren't sure of our destination. So, after we made a stop at Kohl's, Tim called a friend for his advice: Outback Steakhouse, he said. So we did. Y.U.M. We haven't been there before (we grow our own steaks, remember?) .. so enjoyed our first bloomin' onion before the steaks came. Later the waiter comes to tell us he heard we were celebrating our anniversary, and he will give us a chocolate sundae. Hmmm? Then he brings the sundae and tells us that our bill is P>A>I>D> in full!

Thank you, Mr. Good Friend!

seventeen years ago on November 27

No, I'm not thinking of a special shopping trip or purchase on a Black Friday.


It was the culmination of what officially began on Leap Year Day of that same year (1992).


It was the day My Hero and I became husband and wife!


I was and am SO thankful to God for giving me His choice of Mr. Right in His own perfect timing.

...whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God... Ruth 1:16

Photo by Pete Tekippe Photography

trying to count our many blessings

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:5

I am thankful again that I know the God Who alone is GOOD and FAITHFUL and ABLE. He abundantly blesses us each day.

I am thankful for that same God working in my life to bring me to saving faith in Christ... and His promise to continue that 'good work'!

I am thankful that we will spend tomorrow with Christian friends and family. It is a sweet fellowship we have in Christ Jesus. They will also bring some of the food, which will make my day much less hectic =) And they already know that I am an imperfect housekeeper. These are my priorities in preparing for the day ~ (1) food; (2) seating for all; (3) cleaning. Actually each day this week, we have been able to work on all three priorities =) And the kids have even had time to accomplish some schoolwork and to play!

Here's the Popper at the piano this morning with some recently found Christmas music - before I encouraged her to finish today's math ;-)

I am thankful the rain seems to be ended ~ my son (the Professor) will have a chilly bike ride today with his extra-heavy papers (Black Friday ads - Younkers alone is 75 pages), but he should be able to stay dry.

I am thankful for an egg-loving short-order cook known by code name as Miss Music Box =) This morning (as usual) she asked her other egg-loving siblings for their preferred style of eggs for breakfast... and then cooks them up for them! (...while I sat here trying to get this post started...)

I am thankful for a bright and diligent daughter (the Cowgirl) who has her schoolwork done early, so has been available to be my able assistant this week -- right now she is stirring up a batch of cracker dip for tomorrow evening's inevitable snacking.



I am thankful for each of our children ~ they are so unique and special ~ and they are huge fans of their daddy =) Here's a still-life arrangement by The Artist, who hopes to capture it on paper too... after she takes her science test?



And WooHoo! Look what came in today's mail just a bit ago! Our f.r.e.e. photocards from SeeHere.com ~ coupon codes are still good through Nov. 30 I think ~ see this post for links!

this is your wisdom... teach them thy sons

Today I am thankful to our Great God...

• for Miss Music Box who is ..still.. playing the piano tonight. I think she's taking advantage of the minimal school assignments I gave this week to spend time with one of her favorite things... and we get to listen =) [Right now it's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring... ahhhh]

• for safety for My Hero as he hauled cattle to market... in the pouring down rain! It wasn't a home again jigity-jig sort of trip, but he made it. Also thankful he had half of the market-ready boys already out of the pasture so they could go. The rest will have to wait for next week. Sounds like it's going to get c.o.l.d. this weekend, so the ground might be more frozen if not dry. It's all good.

• for strength and help to make progress in the Dinner and House Prep for Thursday =) We did a lot of actual cleaning in the basement today (you could say it gets this level of cleaning only once a year... so it's good when we host Thanksgiving dinner ;-))
  

Here's the big pot of sweet potatoes ready to cook...

...then a sweet daughter prepared them for a casserole that looks something like this...
only better because she puts more topping on!

Yum. I wanted to eat them n.o.w. before she put the sugar, etc. on top!

We - and I do mean WE - made the rolls too!


Another sweet daughter chose to scrub the kitchen sink!
I smile when I see it now =)
And I will positively g.r.i.n. when I do laundry next...
for I requested yet another servant to scrub the shelves in the laundry room -- she changed her bucket of soapy water for each shelf -- yuck, should I be publishing that?!

• for the FIRST arrival of Christmas greetings from good friends in the form of their annual Thanksgiving Letter. Sweet!

• for good discussion between my DH and kiddos at bedtime devotions. It is good to have him home again in the evenings!

Behold, I [Moses] have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons...

(Deuteronomy 4:5-9)

symphony tier bars

Symphony Tier Bars

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. pecans, chopped
2 oz. (1/3 c.) chocolate chips, melted
(we use semi-sweet)

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour, salt, and pecans; mix.
Layer vanilla and chocolate batter into greased 9x13" dish -- after dividing batter in half and blending melted chocolate into one half.

Bake at 350* for 30 min. Cool and frost.

Frosting:

5 T. flour
1 c. milk

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

Blend flour and milk in 2 quart saucepan; cook and stir over low heat until you have a thick paste. Chill.
Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add cooled flour mixture and beat at high speed for five minutes.


Cut your pieces .s.m.a.l.l. ~ Enjoy!

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

Today I am thankful...

• for my younger kids who helped me plow through a LOT of the clutter in the basement, so that we can clean and prepare for 19 of us to eat dinner down there on Thursday (Yes, dinner is at our house now. But it's really okay as long as we make make enough room for tables to seat everyone. And I'm feeling better about that after today's work. Yay!)
• for the familiar favorite verse we read in Isaiah this morning (see above ;-))
• that Mrs. S. had a full six dozen eggs for us today. I guess I should put her chickens on my prayer list, eh?
• that these full-of-butter treats should be gone in another hour (recipe will be forthcoming!)

• that it's not raining ... yet. Please let it wait until My Hero has the cattle loaded from the pasture so that they can to go to market tomorrow night! or even until our Thursday celebration is over? We have a tradition of hikes in the woods and a 'turkey-shoot' (Sgt. York is a favorite movie... we just use a target since there aren't usually any wild turkeys in our yard). Or really, my request would be for fair weather thru December 15 for our house builder to get a roof on... and then I'd like clear highways to travel to Grandma's... but a nice blanket of snow in the yard, of course. One day at a time, you say?
• that my husband cares when I stay up too late... so I'll not repeat last night's indulgence of reading a 40+ post series on a 'famous' blog :o
• that Thanksgiving is such a blessed holiday... and that Christmas is just around the corner!

Good night, All!

With one last photo just for Conny! ;-)

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

~ Thomas O. Chisholm

Some of these will sound like mixed blessings, but I am thankful today

• for our Pastor who is also our current Sunday school teacher - He is able to make our study of Hebrews very interesting and beneficial with the depth of his study
• for today's song leader who pointed out the third verse of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" - which is why I copied it above - and ultimately for the Truth (our God) of this hymn!
• that I used the basement oven for breakfast this morning... and discovered the puddle of turkey grease in it before we left for church with the oven on time bake with some of our lunch. Follow that one?!
• that I didn't have to wash my hair this morning... so I had time to clean that oven! (we won't talk about whether my hair needed a wash after soaking in the greasy fumes the oven was pouring forth when I turned it on the first time...) ahem, I made sure to put some perfume on ;-)
• for my brother-in-law and my dad who were both able to join us for lunch (dinner!) today
• for extra guests to help eat the-- um (can't think of the right adjective) -- very rich dessert that DD3 insisted on making on Friday. Another day I will post the recipe if any of you dare to request it. It's called Symphony Tier Bars, and they require ONE POUND of butter for a 9x13 dish of Oh-My-Yumminess. Three meals and we still have a meal's worth leftover.

Have a blessed week preparing for your Thanksgiving celebrations!

Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1

check out the FREEbies!

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour,
and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 7:12)

Y'all are going to think I'm putzing out of this 30 days of thanks, but yesterday's computer time I spent with getting 100 FREE photo cards to go with our Christmas letter (er, um, which is to be written at some point hopefully still in 2009...) I'll give you links in a minute.

And today! We were out the door before 8 am in some seriously dense fog (!) to deliver the big kids to a youth group activity, then on to a big town for some marathon-style shopping with a couple of my littler girls. Home again to strip the turkey that had been in the oven all morning and then some (on time-bake so he was just right... even an hour and a half after the oven shut off). Then back to pick up big kids, take a really quick tour of house progress (without camera! :p), then a quick (ha) stop at the local outlet... and home again to try to get supper on the table before the Cinderella hour of 7pm... ((are you out of breath yet?!))




SO, I am **very** thankful for safety for all of us this morning in the fog. The big kids traveled away from church for their activity. And the girls and I just kept shopping until the sun started shining ;-) And since I really don't like NASCAR-ing up and down the interstate, I'm just plain thankful to be home again.

I'm thankful my husband's brother could join us for supper - a sneak preview of next week's Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, and that dinner WILL be at our house next week =) Flexibility is good. I'm thankful for good friends we can make plans with -- and be free to change those plans up a bit -- and still get together for some great food and fellowship.



I'm also thankful for emails that say my orders of FREE photo cards have already been shipped! Okay, I promised you links... Let's first give credit to my real-life friend Sarah who blogged about this awesome deal(s). And really it's SeeHere who's giving these photo cards away! Keeping the Kingdom First and Freebies 4 Mom both obtained coupon codes from See Here for 50 free photocards, so if you place two orders for 50 using each coupon code, you end up with 100 free photocards!!! The kicker is you need to get it done by November 30! And See Here will also give you 100 free 4x6 prints just for registering with them. Cool.

come, ye thankful people, come--

...Raise the song of harvest home:
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied:
Come to God's own temple, come--
Raise the song of harvest home.

~ Henry Alford

Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness.

Psalm 65:11

I am extremely thankful to say that my husband is D.O.N.E. with harvest! He was home for lunch with us at noon. He took me with him on some errands this afternoon. And soon he will be home for supper and an evening at home with us!

From the first bright light of morning,
To the last warm glow of dusk;
Ev'ry breath we take is sacred,
For it is God's gift to us.

~Claire Cloninger

we gather together

...to ask the Lord's blessing...

This verse makes me smile...

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. (I Sam. 25:18)

You have to imagine Abigail gathering this h>u>g>e> pile of food in a hurry.


Does this also make anyone else think of Thanksgiving Dinner??

She [and her daughters] cooked a twenty-pound turkey, a pound of cranberry sauce, six pounds of apple sauce, ten pounds of mashed potatoes, ten pounds of praline sweet potatoes, two pies, honey butter, whole wheat rolls, sweet corn, green bean casserole, ... {and thought, What am I forgetting?!}

I love Thanksgiving Dinner. I especially love having it here at home with lots of friends gathered with us for a day of feasting and fellowship. My folks are often gone or helping with the community dinner when they are here, so we've gotten in the tradition of having extended-family Thanksgiving another day (this year it was Oct. 31!) ...which leaves our Thankgiving Day open for inviting friends who don't have family nearby. We have been so busy this fall, we haven't made any plans for who to invite... and a few weeks ago I even had the thought (prayer?) that maybe we could GO to someone else's house for dinner :o And guess what?! Today a friend called to invite us to THEIR house =)

Yes!

2-for-1

Instead of blogging yesterday, I spent my free time with my Bible and this book:

• I am thankful for this book that I picked up off a book sale for ten cents.
• I needed a quick nap as well, but ran out of time because 15 minutes just isn't enough when I use this book - I'm thankful I decided to read first. I have missed too many opportunities for quiet time lately.
• In spite of my lack of sleep, the Lord was good to allow my eyes to remain watchful as I drove to church last night for the ladies' meeting and home again...
• ...with NO deer sighted this time!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the devos I read was called "Your True Motivation," based on Matthew 19:27-20:16.

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29)

Mrs. Barnes writes, "Many times in our religious life we think God will punish us if we don't serve Him rather than being truly motivated by a pure desire to serve Him." (page 50)
Hmmm, think on that one a while. Am I motivated by fear, selfish ambition, or love?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And as I was thumbing through the book to find my page, I found one called "Choose to Be Thankful." That sounded appropriate! But what caught my attention was this paragraph (page 106):

In Galatians 5:22 we read a list of Christian characteristics that are universally known as the "fruit of the Spirit." They are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Being thankful is not on this list. Evidently to be thankful comes about by choice. We choose to be thankful. Have you made that choice today?

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;

but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:15-21

Yes, it does say Monday, November 16 above since I started to post last night, but My Hero came home at 9:30 so I quit and left the computer for him! This IS Tuesday's post as a two-for-one special. =)

family time

..specifically with My Hero =) I got to sit right beside him for a couple hours at church (the kids like to sit by him too, ya know). Then after lunch I went with him while he did some cattle chores and looked over the house project. Now it's a little Packer football (sorta pathetic, but oh well) before we head off to church again.

We are oh so ready for corn harvest to be done this week! But thankful for this good day together!

(photo by The Artist)

sabbath rest

I am thankful it is Saturday night. Tim thought they would finish 'early' tonight ~ before 8pm? I am thankful that his alarm won't be going off tomorrow morning at 5:15am. I have enjoyed our early morning conversations this week, but I am so ready to sleep past 6 again!

I accomplished some kitchen work today... lots of those free pears made into yummy pear bread. I assigned some able-bodied assistants to chop up 6# of Jonathan apples for future applesauce (thinking Thanksgiving dinner prep here!) - we put them in ziplocs and freeze ... then we have easy sauce to enjoy. And their price was a blessing as well - the grocery store had them $1.13/3# bag yesterday (Fri the 13th sale :p) - and they're nice! =) They also had store brand turkeys for $.40/pound -- so you could say I have 'dinner in the freezer'... ha. I need to decide when I'm going to cook one for Thanksgiving dinner - something else to do ahead so we can all enjoy the Day a bit better!

Tomorrow's dinner is also underway - roast in the crockpot tonight, so it will be perfectly tender in another 18 hours. Veggies chopped for a quick saute. Sunday afternoons are too short for us, so the quicker dinner is on the table, the more likely my Hero can have a much-needed nap.

And tonight's easy supper is ready -- with a late dessert planned/prepared by Miss MusicBox to hopefully enjoy with her dad!

Good night, y'all! and enjoy your Sunday worshiping the King of Kings!

crazy kids

Tonight the boys espec were heckling the video we were attempting to watch (A Dog of Flanders)...mixed reviews here. It is something that has sat on the shelf since I picked it up on a book sale a long while ago. Now Miss MusicBox is pounding out some hymns on the piano, so hopefully they will find some sweeter thoughts to dream. (Most of my younger ones were aghast at the obvious 'bad guys' in the film.)


There has been plenty of goofiness going on around here lately. Last night at supper, the 'conversation' turned into a spoof of a commercial for using Mrs. Butterworth's for hair dye or gel or something. (?) The Cattleman was the favorite actor since he's my little Dep man =)




I should explain that they've listened to some old radio dramas complete with goofy commercials (I think that's the inspiration anyway) I don't do them justice trying to describe the silliness. But I think their dad is in for some entertainment if they can get an act together before Sunday afternoon. I think we should have named this boy Ham. At least he's the one that gets his picture taken while hamming it up!

Today I'm thankful for laughter =)

no-sugar challenge

For those who have asked about the no-sugar challenge, this is Laura's post I found via her recent menu plan. (It's old, Tania - you weren't sleeping) I emailed her this week to ask about it, and she says maybe she'll give a new challenge after the first of the year again.

And I want to give some credit to Becky as well. I read her blog a while back after she'd given herself a 21-day challenge and found it very beneficial.

Meanwhile, I'm doing my own challenge. I'm planning to indulge mildly on special occasions - like when my hubby is home for Sunday dinner! Minimal taste-testing occurred already Tuesday eve, but otherwise I've been "good" since Monday ::: this is DAY FOUR for me, my friends! ::: woohoo! for me ;-) And I've even been T-Tapping (BWO+). I don't know if my lower back pain is leaf-raking, way too much sitting at the computer, too much driving, or what. But I may have to give in and see the chiro before December :p T-Tapp works a LOT better for me if my spine is well-adjusted. =) It would be cheaper to give up reading/blogging... better get a timer for my computer desk!

Now, I'm back to the kitchen for some raw almonds and belated supper prep! =)

links anyone?

No, I don't golf. Sorry. I'm referring to hyper-links of course =) I was given a little helpful instruction, so let's try it...

T-Tapp - Here's "The Wellness Workout that Works!" The fact that I do not LOOK like Teresa Tapp should not hinder anyone from doing this to just FEEL better!

Kali - Here's a favorite 6yo who's amazing in her cheerful battle with a Dezmoid tumor on her jaw for the past three years. Her family is amazing in their faith and passion for ministering to others.

Laura - Here is one of my fave blogs at Heavenly Homemakers ~ she hosts a weekly "Gratituesday" theme along with plenty of hilarious stories (Be sure to read today's post for a good laugh!)

Ha. So cool and so easy. Thank you to my new bloggy friend Jodi!





Today's post is going to sit here until I can think of all the things I keep forgetting to list! That's why I am beginning after lunch instead of after supper ;-)

In addition to T-Tapp, Kali, Laura, and Jodi, I have been thankful for...

• hearing the grain-hauling semi-trucks driving by regularly the last couple days - that means progress in the corn harvest
• hearing the various neighbors' distinctive mufflers roar past ~8am every morning on their way to the local gov't-run school, while my kiddos might still be in their jammies :o (Should I admit that here?!) I am thankful we are able to stay home and learn lots together!
  
• ugh, the toilet that overflowed the other day :p so I had to wash the floor myself for once in a too-long time of leaving it to my 9yo's responsibility
• my DD's talent for drawing, even though it often gets in the way of solving algebra problems

• my 13yo's willingness to be the official light bulb changer for this house
  
• my 7yo's ability to still sit in my lap for giving the best hugs ever
• it's Thursday afternoon so our schoolweek is almost over! YaY!
• safety last night driving to church ~ the deer stayed in the ditch ~Thank you, Lord!
  
• the "silence" button on my cell phone when I get a 'junk' call
• free pears from my beloved 'egg lady' ~ I should cut some up for the kiddos' snack right now!
• the new basement floor which was poured yesterday
  

• Pastor's devo on Jacob last night. He's decided to begin a series on 'Encouragment for God's People when Discouraged ~ God Gives a Glimpse of the Unseen,' or something like that. Jacob - a lover of tents - is in the middle of dangerous nowhere on his 500-mile walk to Haran, fleeing his twin brother who wants to kill him, with a rock for a pillow...(and we think our life is rough)... God gives him a glimpse of Himself and His angels who obey His bidding... Gen. 28:10-22
  
• These delightful, familiar verses I read yesterday:

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou has done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. (Isaiah 25:1)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:3-4)