Tuesday, January 4, 2011

birthday blessing

About a year ago I came up with this crazy idea that I wanted to paint my kitchen cabinets blue. So I did the most logical thing I could think of -- stay up until 3 in the morning, googling "blue kitchen cabinets." At first Google wasn't very helpful, but eventually it led me to the most delightful turquoise kitchen. I melted and near about changed the decorating style for my whole house based on that one post.

After getting over the initial awe of her kitchen, I noticed a few other things about this blogger. She's a homeschool mom! She is passionate about her faith in Christ! She's an amazing writer! And then I started noticing that most of my favorite bloggers were followers of her blog. What rock had I been living under that I had never visited Life in Grace before? So I quickly added her to my reader and have been lurking ever since. Although by the end of this post, you might want to call it stalking.

You see, I actually have a picture of her by my bedside. I'm trying to lose a few pounds, and the website I use to track my progress encourages members to put together an inspiration journal for encouragement. So I have a little (coincidentally, turquoise) notebook that contains various pictures and handwritten notes to myself. One of those pictures is of Edie in her turquoise kitchen, because to me the picture oozes a feeling of contentment and joy.

Photobucket

Those who follow my little place in the blogosphere know that I did eventually paint my cabinets, although I've been very cruel in never revealing the result. I didn't paint them the darling turquoise Edie chose, but rather stayed with my initial choice, a light powder blue. As I mentioned in a previous post, to pass the time while painting, I immersed myself in the Word by listening to online sermons. Well, that was another Edie influence. She says she's addicted to listening to sermons and had recently posted a link to one that particularly inspired her (cannot find the link). So I started with that one and loved it, and pretty soon found myself listening to one of my favorite pastors, hearing messages that were seemingly written just for me. I can't tell you how much I needed that during the last few months, when I've felt like I've been hanging on by a thread. That's a whole other post, and the reason for my bloggy hibernation, but suffice it to say I'm thankful for Edie's sharing of God's Word.

So thank you, Edie, for the encouragement you bring me and so many others. I'm heartbroken for you and your family that you have experienced such loss, but I know you will lean on the God of all Comfort. As a little birthday present, I thought I'd share what I have written under your picture in my little journal -- these words were supposed to be an encouragement to me, but I hope you might be blessed by them too.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever -- do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Even in this difficult time, God will fulfill His purpose for you and your family and he will love you with everlasting arms.

Hopefully, this will make up for me being a lurker and all the times I've failed to say how much of a blessing you are to me. Now I'm going to go frost a cake for my almost 13 year old birthday girl and listen to some Alison Krauss in your honor.

And to my other bloggy friends: I'm sure I don't tell you enough either what a blessing you are to me. I can't count how many times God has used your blogs to encourage me in my walk with Him. Thank you!

{Join the birthday party at Life in Grace.}