Guiso

Happy Sabbath,

I had a good week off from work this week.  My son sneezed in my face and coughed in my mouth a couple times while I was talking so I was sick the entire time, but I still had a great week. 

We spent some great time bonding together at home and the other day, we went to the park.  I decided to walk him down towards the creek a different way (the way I went on my birthday last month) and showed him the sand bar which gives easy access for boats and creatures to launch from.  When we were on our way walking, I saw an adult doe off to my right but my son missed it.  There was no need to worry, because we would see many more deer through the park as we went on our search for unblemished fallen leaves and pine needles.  We went to the park with the purpose of finding leaves for my wreath and pine needles or some other natural material for his reindeer he wants to give to grandma for Christmas.  He wants to make a snow man for pop-pop so we have most of what we need for that at home.  We walked for the first time together all the way through the dark wood and followed the path all the way around the park.  As we walked, we saw five more fawns in different spots close by and when we drove out of the park, a pack of three fawns stood close to the road and gave our shouted farewells blank stares. 

We filled an entire bag with pine needles and another with leaves, green pine needles on the branch, some acorns, and pebbles.  I spent time with my son gluing individual pine needles and bunches on the body of a papermache reindeer I bought from Jo-Ann’s Fabric and Craft supply store.  It has a couple more days of work it needs,  but the finished product should be amazing.  It will have an acorn nose and pebble eyes too.  I decided to use the green pine needles for my wreath and it is getting close to those William and Sonoma style wreaths.  Why pay over $100 for a wreath when you can visit your local forest or park and pick everything you need up for free? And the plus is that my son was able to see a bunch of real deer to give him inspiration for his own reindeer project.  God is good.

On Thursday, I received a call from Hope who told me she had wanted to make something for church today, but the person who said they would offer assistance didn’t call her on Sunday.  I decided to go out and get the items and in doing so, I ran into the person who keeps asking me to play piano for Sabbath school coming out of the store.  I never run into people I know so it was really nice.  I ended up going to at least three stores because I forgot to purchase the lemon at the last.  I dropped the items off at her house and missed a call from her today as my son and I were late heading out and contending with a spider at the front door.  I later learned her dad dropped her off and I was able to talk to her and tell her about some of the tragedies that the Lord brought me through.  I am glad I had the time to talk to her about the tough times, but also lift up the name of Jesus in it. 

Despite all that I went through, Jesus really helped me get through it. 

For what she planned to make, she made something called guiso (stew but with okra) and she brought it to church but our church is a shelter during code blue days.  The fellowship meal after service was to be cancelled due to the cots being set up for the code blue and Hope’s mom would not allow her to leave the pot of guiso at the church so we had to figure out a way to serve it or else it would have to go home with her.  She was able to serve it to all those interested and had only a little left to take home for herself.  It was really nice to see everyone running around with their bowls enjoying it and I had a bowl of it myself with rice and it was delicious.   We were worried that all of her effort would go to waste, but God made sure everyone who needed something received a bowl and all to took of it enjoyed it (and she didn’t have to leave her mom’s pot at the church). 

This week also, I was munching on some candy and now one of my teeth hurts on the upper left.  I might have to get a root canal or filling and I just received a notice that I’m overdue for a cleaning.  I went about scheduling a dental appointment for me and when doing so, I had to reschedule my son’s flu shot appointment to the next week.  When I went to put in his appointment to my phone calendar, I noticed there was an appointment saved in there at 4:30pm, but didn’t say for who or what.  I called the doctor’s office back to find out that the appointment that was plugged in for 4:30pm was for me (scheduled several months ago actually) and what was so great about it, my son’s was scheduled for the same day at 4:45pm immediately after.  I didn’t even know it but God had it all worked out.

There were so many other good things that the Lord has done but I just want to come on here to mention these.  God is good.  I hope you enjoy the rest of this Sabbath too and thank the Lord for the good things He does and puts in your life.