Friday Five

1. I am making Chinese for dinner tonight. Yum. Fried rice, sweet buns, and fried dumplings. I am using frozen premade dumplings that I got from an Asian grocery store. I tried cooking them a few different ways. I think today I will boil them first, then fry them. I didn't have any rice already made, so I had to cook some so I could chill it (you have to use cold rice).

2. I can wait to try this. Mix a cake mix and a can of pumpkin. That's it. Yum. I'm going to make it into cupcakes. Can't wait!

3. I love having every other Friday off. Love! ♥

4. Gus is sleeping on Rusty's chest. So sweet!

5. I am loving this cool fall weather. Oh yes, I dig it. Awesome.

{late} Weekly Scavenger

I didn't get around to posting my pictures yesterday. Whoosie! Here's my late entry.

1. Something black that fits in the palm of your hand
2. An electronic device
3. Something that rolls

1. Oreo! Yummy.

2. My least favorite device...the awful alarm clock. I do not like mornings.

3. Do you see the kitty in the background?

Dried out {living water}

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
~ John 4:13-14

The ground was dry and parched, thirsting for rain. I noticed my flowers had started withering in the heat of the summer and I vowed to remember to water them that evening. Unfortunately for my plants, my thumb is not green in color. My poor little plants - I aim to keep them thriving and healthy but I am thrilled when I don’t kill them completely. My best intentions fall prey to my wandering focus.

Eventually I remember to care for my plants: watering, weeding, pulling off dead flowers, and clearing fallen sticks and leaves. How much easier would it be if I kept up with these things in order to keep my flowers at their healthiest?

The same is true for my spiritual life. I had been reading at least one chapter of God’s Word almost every day for quite a while, but the last month has been hit and miss. I can tell that my heart is thirsting for more. Not the dehydrated thirst of an unbelieving heart that tries to quench its longing with worldly things, but the craving of heart that has experienced growth from Jesus' living water and now feels stagnant.

I know what to do to begin that growth again: spend time with God, read His Word, pray, and mediate. Life gets busy and yet one more thing falls prey to my wandering focus. But I know this is one thing I cannot allow to slip away. I must get back on track.

Dear Father,
Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Forgive me when my focus strays from you. Draw me ever closer to your heart, and bring me into a deeper relationship with you. Help me be a light to those around me, always displaying grace and compassion.
Amen.

Have you experienced this same thing? What do you find helps you get back on track towards spiritual maturity?

OGRAK: The final chapter

By now you all know that we brought a kitten home last Thursday, but I figured you need all the details. And lots more photos. Right?

First, I realized that in my excitement I forgot to tell you kitty's name. Silly me. Let me introduce you to Augustus, or Gus.

Gus and his sister were the only two small kittens at the Humane Society. Their foster mom was there and she started talking to me, asking what we were looking for. As soon as I said, "Kitten," she started telling me all about these two little kittens. When I asked about personalities, she said that Gus was the most cuddly of the two, and both liked to play. She tried HARD to talk us into taking both little things. She had me sold, but Rusty wasn't budging. LOL! So after some hemming and hawing, I decided to take Gus.

I have a kitty. No. Way! But yes. I have a kitty. Nah. Can't be. Wait, do I? Maybe so! KITTY!

Let's see, a few details...

• Gus is almost 11 weeks old
• He's super cute, sweet, funny, affectionate, and playful
• He pretty vocal but not so much that it makes you crazy
• He's part Lynx Point Siamese and probably part domestic short hair

Lynx Point Siamese

• Also known as Tabby Point Siamese or Lynx Colorpoint Shorthair
• Origin - mating of a purebred seal point with a tabby

Friday Five

OGRAK Addition

1. The little gray kitty we were trying to adopt was still sick. Rusty and I fianlly decided on Tuesday that we need to cancel that adoption. I was sad, but felt it was the right decision. We had been waiting for 3.5 weeks. Weeks!

2. We decided to try going to a different shelter...one where we wouldn't have to wait for a kitten to see a vet before we brought it home. So, we went up there last night and...

3. Phases 3 & 4 (find and bring home) are officially complete! I'll give you the whole story later. WOOT!

4. In the meantime, here are his basics... Our new kitten is a boy who was 10 weeks old yesterday. He is some kind of Siamese mix of some sort...which is funny since I stated repeatedly that I didn't want a Siamese. Ha! Isn't God funny?

5. Phase 5 is in progress and should be completed soon. Taking 1,872,463 photos shouldn't take long. ♥

Here is one for you: