See the USA....by FedEx.

Conclusion: The package did finally get here. I ended up keeping it, though it was useless to me for the coat for which it was intended. It is nice fabric and I will use it for other projects. I just did not want to have to deal with the company on any further level (even for a refund), so I decided to simply cut my losses at this point - keep the fabric - and just never order from them again.

Update: the package has now made it to Orlando (3 days to fly from Atlanta to Orlando?) But the expected delivery date is now pushed back to May 23... 

May 18, 2009 2:43 PMDeparted FedEx locationATLANTA, GA
May 18, 2009 3:02 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
ATLANTA, GA
May 16, 2009 12:26 AM
Departed FedEx location
DALLAS, TX
May 15, 2009 10:16 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
DALLAS, TX
May 13, 2009 7:06 PM
Departed FedEx location
ATLANTA, GA
May 13, 2009 3:47 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
ATLANTA, GA
May 13, 2009 2:33 AM
Departed FedEx location
EARTH CITY, MO
May 13, 2009 12:08 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
EARTH CITY, MO
May 12, 2009 4:51 PM
Shipment information sent to FedEx

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ship date May 12, 2009

Estimated delivery May 22, 2009

Well, since this needs to be made into a coat to be worn on May 23 - I think we have a problem, Houston (oops, that would be Dallas!) So we took a jaunt into town (an hour away) and bought alternate fabric. It is coming out of the wash now and will be cut out tomorrow - that still gives me four days to get it cut and sewn. I have had worse deadlines - now if the rest of life would just hold still so I can get caught up - LOL. 

So whats up with that side trip to Dallas anyway? - up to that point it was going well and on time scheduled to be delivered to me today!!!  I am glad we can't see with the eyes of God - I am sure I don't really want to know the answer to that - it will work out fine this way and I am sure it is much better this way. 

The Ministry of Suffering

Poor little Snowman. He was accidentally dropped into the oven while the Princess was removing a pan. No one noticed his plight until the flames were visible inside the oven door and the smoke detector went off. I had originally planned to write a funny story about the ensuing circus of events - but every time I look at this Snowman's face smiling above that charred mess, I keep thinking of the spiritual lesson there. And then this morning in my daily Tozer on-line devotional I read this:

December 12
Trials and Pain: Forced to Our Knees
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. --2 Corinthians 12:7

The experiences of men who walked with God in olden times agree to teach that the Lord cannot fully bless a man until He has first conquered him. The degree of blessing enjoyed by any man will correspond exactly with the completeness of God's victory over him....

We might well pray for God to invade and conquer us, for until He does, we remain in peril from a thousand foes. We bear within us the seeds of our own disintegration.... Deliverance can come to us only by the defeat of our old life. Safety and peace come only after we have been forced to our knees. God rescues us by breaking us, by shattering our strength and wiping out our resistance. Then He invades our natures with that ancient and eternal life which is from the beginning. So He conquers us and by that benign conquest saves us for Himself.
The Pursuit of Man, 45,50.

I certainly don't enjoy suffering, but I love (really love) the results it brings. It is tough to stay focused sometimes on that end result. I think that is why sometimes the Lord sends these little mercies, like this smiling snowman combined with the Tozer devotional, to remind me that the fruit will be worth all the toil.

Truthfully, I am not suffering more than a few minor inconveniences. I have friends that are blessing me in the midst of their very difficult circumstances. And I often think and pray for those Christians in parts of the world that are truly suffering for their faith.
See: http://www.persecution.com/

So I rejoice in the head cold I have, the financial challenges, the time crunches, and decisions regarding the future. I rejoice in some of the trails I have already walked through (there were some biggies there) and I rejoice that there will be others to come. All refining me in order to love and serve my Lord even more.

Beginnings - Poured Out and a Wedding

I have been blessed by others many times this weekend. There are many people who have poured themselves into my life, not because I deserved special treatment, but because they love the Lord and obeyed his calling on their lives to reach out to others. Most do not even know how they have blessed me, or met needs only the Lord and I knew about.

Here are a couple:
* Mrs. C. at church just offered Dd (Princess) and I a box of Wilton cake decorating pans and supplies. This is something Princess has long aspired to do. We have completed level 1 (with the bare necessities) and are planning to do level 2 soon. This gift is a treasure that we could never afford to buy for ourselves, but more than that, it is an honor to be entrusted to receive these jewels.

* Mr. S. at church saved up two huge bags of aluminum cans for son #3. In fact several of our friends do this for him. #3 uses the cans to help buy gas for Penny Pingleton (the giant, 25 yo van he drives.) The financial help is great - but more than that it is an investment of encouragement and care into a young man's life.

* ...and then there is "The Wedding".
After losing track of a high school/college friend for 30 some years, I was welcomed as a sister back into her family's life. I have always admired Suzette's humility and meekness, as well as her unfailing love to follow the Lord. But don't be fooled into thinking she is weak; she is strong and faithful in even the smallest things.

Her 20 yo daughter, Anna, just got married this weekend to Josh Duggar. http://www.ja20.com/home.html Every adult member of the Keller and Duggar families (and many of the children) went out of their way to greet each guest personally and thank them for coming to share in the joy of this wedding. But I want to especially note the example of Michelle Duggar that was poured into my life late that Friday evening as the bride and groom whooshed out of the church parking lot in a tin-can-trailing vehicle. Michelle is 6 months pregnant, tired, and just experienced the first of her children getting married. Yet, she never rushed anyone away that wanted to talk with her. She also patiently dealt with her children's needs while talking with guests.

But what I will always see when I think of that night is Michelle's tears as I sought to encourage her by saying that we pray for her and her family - especially that they will remain standing strong and faithful to the ministry they have been given. I felt so small and humbled that my paltry efforts were so appreciated. When someone tells me they are praying for me - how do I react? I can honestly say that never was I moved to tears of appreciation.

Oh, for a softer heart to hear God.
Blessings,
Patti