"Grace, Grace, Wonderful Grace"

I viewed my husband's last blog entry which read, " Blessings...Vindicated...Complete dismissal...Dismissed with predjudice...AMEN." Just thinking of the word vindicated brings alot of emotions flowing through my head. WOW!! Where do I begin?

I never thought I would be put into the situation I was put in, but I was. It's funny how you can go through this life thinking your so secure and then you get thrown a curve that sneeks in from nowhere...it feels like anyway. Well, my curve came on the night of April 1st, 2005. My two girls and I were going to comfort a friend who I had been ministering to for some time. She was going through a terrible divorce and it was getting very ugly. So ugly that things were turning volatile. My friend told me that her estranged husband wouldn't dare come back as he had been there earlier which was a direct restraining order violation. I felt things would be fine and headed over but not before my husband put one of our guns in my bag as he said it was for his peace of mind. Being pretty comfortable I threw the bag in my van and left for my friend's house. Twenty minutes later we arrived at her house which is a bit out there. We were all in our jammies looking forward to watching a "chick flick" and trying to help my friend get over the events of the day. No sooner did my girls and I bring in our bags than the estranged husband came up the driveway visibly agitated. He wanted in the house and he was headed in. My friend came yelling in the doorway and the two were exchanging expletives. All of a sudden the friend left the doorway and I was was now alone with my two daughters behind me. I had already taken the initiative to grab the gun and hold it at my side. My friend was calling the police. However, I was face to face with a man who was insanely irate and wanted in the house. I knew without a doubt that I could not let this happen because I felt in my heart of hearts that one or all of us would be physically hurt. I yelled out to him as loud as I could that he needed to leave now. He was still headed toward me. I then held up the gun and pointed in his direction and told him again he needed to leave and added that I had a gun. This did not faze him. I then told him to leave now and as I did so I cocked the gun. Thankfully he stopped in his tracks and threw up his arms and began to move backward and sideways to his truck. He left out of the driveway very quickly. I stood in the doorway until I could see him no longer and then stepped away from the doorway and breathed a sigh of relief. My friend was waiting for the police to call her back and in the meantime had called the neighbor down the road to let her know when he went by. The neighbor let her know that he indeed had gone past and included that there were also others in the truck. I was taken aback. Questions were raised in my mind. Why didn't they stop this man? Why did they come up when my friend was assumed to be alone? What were the intentions here? At any rate we were glad it was over. My husband came up and we all went back to my house. Yet, it doesn't end here.

We were talking and after about twenty or so minutes there was knock on our door. It was a deputy. I  thought the police were coming to see if we were alright and to take our statements but this was not so. He came to tell me that the husband and his friends had pressed charges and I was being charged with menacing times three and pointing a firearm. I could not believe what I was hearing. To be continued......

Seasons

I am real excited about the new fall season upon us. I went for my daily walk up the Lostine Canyon and was awe inspired at the beauty about me. The sun was out, there was snow on the tops of the surrounding mountains, and the foliage was an array of colors. With these times brings enjoyment of warm cozy evenings with my family as the fire crackles in the background, and hot "something" on the stove. Life slows a bit as we are not all this way and that but at home working on some project. I've been working on baby quilts for friends and am getting ready to start back on my cross stitching. With this season also comes the need, for me anyway, to clear clutter and revamp things in my home and finish up what summer seemed to interupt.

On another note,we will be bringing home our new baby soon. HHHMMMMMM, you may be thinking. Our new baby is four weeks old and he is an Old English Bulldog and we can't wait to be able to have him here with us. His name is Rosco. However I'm not looking forward to the nights of hhhhooowwling and accidents but thrilled that Archie finally gets to have something he has longed to have for a long time.

Ah.....the Sun

Well, it's official and I have it bad. I ....................have.....................SPRING FEVER!!!!!! I am really hating it because I can't do anything about it. I'll continue to consul myself by looking at beautiful gardens online or in magazines. I am really excited though about what I have planned for my front yard. The hope is to transform my front into a wonderful array of flowers, but I may be biting off more than I can chew, and it may the deer doing the chewing. At any rate, I will just have to give it a try and see what happens. Me and flowers were meant to be together. It makes a home cheerful and inviting and I want mine to be just that. It doesn't hurt that it makes things look attractive as well. So I can't wait to clothe my yard with magnificant attire.

Speaking of attire, I have enjoyed reading the blogs of others on the topic of modesty. It is such a big issue especially in the church. Culturally if "everybody" is wearing "it" than it must be okay. I am thinking of Phil. 4:8, where it tell us where our minds need to be. If the attire of someone causes someone else to be drawn away from right thinking than the attire should be questioned. Having daughters myself it is a struggle making sure they are making right clothing choices.  Many times  females don't see what they wear having an effect on the opposite sex or anyone for that matter. Does that mean we make our girls wear moomoos? (forgive the spelling...Bonnie-) I think not, but it does mean that we do counsel our young women consantly that the clothing they wear does attract a certain audience. I don't want those around my beautiful young women seeing them as nothing less than lovely ladies. And I continue to work to that end.

Heavenly Friendship