The Still Small Voice

The Still Small Voice

The still small voice that speaks within
I hear it when, at play,
I speak the loud and angry word
That drives my friend away.

Refrain

The voice within, the voice within,
Oh may I have a care;
It speaks to warn from every sin,
And God has placed it there.

If falsehood whispers to my heart
To tell a coward lie,
To hide some careless thing I’ve done,
I heard the sad voice sigh.

Refrain

If selfishness would bid me keep
What I should gladly share,
I hear again the inner voice,
And then with shame forbear.

Refrain

I thank Thee, Father, for this friend,
Whom I would always heed;
O may I hear its slightest tone
In every time of need.

Refrain

Words: Francis Fagan, 1866.

ht: Cyberhymnal

Saint John of the Cross Episcopal Church Indiana

While we were in Shipshewana Indiana we took a drive on The Heritage Trail to many small towns circling back to Shipshe. We stopped at this church in Bristol to take photos and found out it was a historic landmark.

Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday with Beth and Sally.

We are having a slow Saturday here at this old house. Patio covers are removed and…

…we are just watching the leaves fall. How’s your weekend progressing?

Thank You for Friday & Everything Else

Last weekend Dear and I were visiting our eastern Washington kids. On Saturday while the guys worked hard on a home project, Jamie and I attended a Paint Party. The party was put on by Raggedy Rose Vintage Designs ~ Make and Take Sign Parties. They have a Facebook Page.

First we got to pick our wood board in whatever finish we liked.

We got to choose the stencil with a saying we wanted to add to our board. The equipment was all provided along with great spaces to create. So many paint colors to choose from. The hostesses went around helping us and giving us tips.

After we painted the lettering and symbols we let the paint dry somewhat and then we peeled off the stencil and got to see our final results. When things were good and dry they screwed in a hanging wire for us.

There was a little glare on the photo of this one which is our daughter in laws. Mine is the one at the top of this post that says thankful & Grateful.

Here are the gals with their new creations ready to take home. For a non-crafty person like myself this was not as scary as I thought it would be. Everything was so well organized and things explained well. It was a lot of fun. We got home in time to relax before we enjoyed dinner with the guys.

On Monday we got to enjoy a wonderful double rainbow just out of our kid’s door.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

¹⁷So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” Genesis 9: 13-17

I posted this Russian Beet salad, Vinegrette, that was a family favorite growing up on Monday. You can find the recipe at Mennonite Girls can Cook by clicking here.

On Tuesday we drove the five and a half hours back to our home in Western Washington.

I’m thankful and grateful for God’s goodness and love towards us. For our visit with our kids in Eastern Washington. For enjoying creative endeavors. For Dear and Dan being able to complete a house project together. For God’s provision for our son in giving him a good helper in Jamie, (Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”) For the rainbow and God’s promise to us. And on a lighter note…good food!

I’m linking up to…

Foodie Friday and Everything Else at Rattlebridge Farm

Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home

Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story

Holmes County Ohio

While in Holmes County, Ohio, Mrs. Yoder’s was recommended to us for a meal so we stopped here for lunch breaking up our country drive. The food was plentiful and at a good price. Many locals were eating here rather than tourists.

A fun fall display at Troyer Country Market. “The foods in our Amish Wedding line originate from time-tested Amish recipes and have out-of-this-world flavor,” Vogt said. “The Amish Wedding line is all about foods that are naturally good with clean-label ingredients. Read the ingredient list on our jars, it’s what you don’t see on the label that proves what’s really good inside.”

Linking up to signs, signs with Lesley and to Good Fences with TexWisGirl.

We came home from Eastern Washington yesterday. It was a 5-1/2 hour drive and

today we have been working at filling up some yard waste bins with the leaves that fell while we were gone.

Do you have to rake leaves? Dear used a leaf blower that sucks up and mulches the leaves. It’s noisy but it gets the job done. We aren’t done with leaves yet because more will fall from the maple, apple tree and pear tree.

Ohio

O is for Ohio. I have an abundance of photos taken while in Amish/Mennonite country in Ohio and Indiana. The sights we saw were otherworldly and original for us. You could hear me exclaim “oh my goodness, look at that!” Also, “oh my, look at all that pie”.

Other sights that made us look more than once.

Oink, Oink!

The schoolyards so very different from our experience.

Our room was outstanding too with lots of square footage and nice outside views.

The clip clop of the horse drawn buggies was the highlight in this part of Ohio and in Indiana.

Linking up to ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and administered by Roger and the great ABC team!

We’re traveling today and unable to be online to see all your October posts. I’ll be back online soon.

City of Murals

In late September when traveling from Shipshewana Indiana to Sugarcreek Ohio we stopped briefly in Ligonier, Indiana.

The murals all depict historical places, businesses, and events. No tax money has been used for the murals. All money and time has been donated by local foundations, individuals, businesses, and industries, even to the bronze plaques on each mural.

Mier Carriage

Tyler Tank Oil Company

Mier Car

Blazed Trail Garage

Ligonier 1835. (I took this one from our moving car)

There are now a total of 31 murals. Artists have been chosen from Bronson, Mich.; Winona Lake, Ind.; Goshen, Ind.; Butternut, Wis.; Kendallville, Ind.; and Albion, Ind. from the Dept. of Corrections at Chain O’ Lakes State Park.

It would have been fun to go on a hunt to spot all 31 but we were in a time crunch to get to our destination for the night. They offer a map on the city web page showing where the murals are located.

I’m linking up to Monday Mural hosted by Oakland Daily Photo.

Hope your Monday is going well.

A Church in a Barn…

When were were driving the Heritage Trail on a Sunday in Indiana it didn’t take us long to figure out that there was a church gathering happening in a room in this barn.

All the horses were unhitched from their buggies.

At one point a fussy little one had to be taken out to the buggy for something to soothe the tears.

I’m linking up to…

InSPIREd Sunday with Beth and Sally and

The Barn Collective with Tom The Backroads Traveller.

We are in the country again this weekend in Northeastern Washington State. The guys are working on finishing up a staircase project while us girls are walking and enjoying other things. The big storm that was suppose to hit the Western part of our state fizzled out. That’s okay by us. Hope your weekend is filled with peace.

Holy Spirit, Truth Divine ~ Hymn

Holy Spirit, Truth Divine

Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine;
Word of God and inward light
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

Holy Spirit, love divine,
Glow within this heart of mine;
Kindle every high desire;
Perish self in Thy pure fire.

Holy Spirit, power divine
Fill and nerve this will of mine;
Grant that I may strongly live,
Bravely bear, and nobly strive.

Holy Spirit, right divine,
King within my conscience reign;
Be my Lord, and I shall be
Firmly bound, forever free.

Holy Spirit, peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine;
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
Stayed in Thy tranquility.

Holy Spirit, joy divine,
Gladden Thou this heart of mine;
In the desert ways I sing,
Spring, O well, forever spring.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Words: Samuel Longfellow

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 (KJV)

Escape from Seattle…

…to the country.

We were greeted by many country creatures upon our arrival.

We’ll be busy being country mice for a few days. I will get caught up with bloggy world here and there. Meanwhile back on the other side of the Cascades these warnings are being issued.

The latest look at the forecast models this morning shows they are still calling for a major windstorm this evening and tonight. This morning would be a good time to do your final preparations in case the power goes out in your area.

Right now a powerful low pressure center carrying the remnants of Typhoon Songda is off the Oregon coast. It’s expected to track inland across the Washington coast into southern British Columbia — a text book scenario to a damaging wind storm in Western Washington.

We have our home prepared and people in place to watch and let us know what’s going on…

Five More in Fall

When we (the MGCC Girls) were in Ohio our publishers brought each of us a gift of these great totes from Lands End with a personalized logo. My bag is hanging on one of our dining room chairs.

Some of the girls were at the airport together in Chicago on their way home and had a photo shoot with our new bags. I stole this photo!

When we were at a book signing at The Gospel Shop in Sugarcreek , Ohio it was fun to see our book in the new release section of the bookstore.

We had a few nice days without rain this week in the Seattle area so Dear and I took a drive to see if we could see some nice fall colors. This road above is off of Highway 20, the North Cascades Highway, near Concrete, Washington.

This week I posted this great cucumber salsa inspired by my daughter in law. You can find the easy recipe by clicking here.

We are always on the lookout for a good burger spot and we found one this past week close to home. This restaurant is called the Tipsy Cow. Good brews and good burgers.

Thankful for Bags, Books, Drives, Salsa, and a good burger.

Last night I had some bonus time with half of our kids. We went to a Sounders Soccer game together and were able to talk and get caught up. It had been awhile that we could see each other face to face with all of us going hither and yon. For the next few days Dear and I will be spending time with two more of our kids, doubly thankful.

Linking up with Foodie Friday and Everything Else at Rattlebridge Farm, Five on Friday at Love Made My Home and Friday’s Fave Five at Living to Tell the Story.

Dear bloggy friends, I’ll be late coming around today as we are traveling across the mountains to our son and daughter in love’s home. See you tonight or early tomorrow morning….

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Author Archives: Ellen

The Still Small Voice

Saint John of the Cross Episcopal Church Indiana

Thank You for Friday & Everything Else

Holmes County Ohio

Ohio

City of Murals

A Church in a Barn…

Holy Spirit, Truth Divine ~ Hymn

Holy Spirit, Truth Divine

Escape from Seattle…

Five More in Fall