There Are No Knives In My Kitchen

It's been a strange few days. Fifi was marveling at how she could feel it in her whole being, that her daddy wasn't in town. Even in the middle of what would usually be a workday, she could sense that he wasn't near.

He comes home tomorrow. And tomorrow I'll make my friends laugh by hauling a basket of kitchen knives back to their proper home. I keep them by my bed with phones and flashlights and all my other preparedness supplies...because, "ain't nobody gonna come in here and kill me with my own knife! They're gonna have to bring their own!"

Yeah, I've been accused of being irrational, but I like to think I'm cautious -- having been brought up by a police officer and all.

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What a wonderful Lord's Day we enjoyed! Husband is finding that God is answering our prayers here at home that he be an empty vessel for the Spirit of God to work through two states away before his mother and brother. The 5th commandment has been upheld. The Gospel has been proclaimed again. And information about our pursuit of peace has been made known for the first time in a decade. Praise the Lord for letting such a wonderful testimony be made on this trip.

The girls and I were blessed by the consistent and strong teaching of a new church we're visiting. They are moving through Hosea and 1John in the Sunday School and Worship Hour, respectively. Both messages converged today to address the issues of sin, blame-shifting, disingenuous "repentance," and the holiness of God.

And after lunch and a quick trip to the bookstore next door, today ended really beautifully. It wasn't without its bumps, though that's what gave the evening its texture.

Attitudes needed to be adjusted. Hearts needed to be examined. Sinners needed to be held accountable. Guidance needed to be prayed for. Behaviors needed to be recognized through the eyes of others. Correction was made and discipline was administered.

And then came repentance: tears and hugs, shame and sorrow.

Restoration followed even faster: kisses and forgiveness, kind words and reassurance. His mercies are new every morning, and so will mine be.

By His grace, joy reigns in this house tonight.

I am in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on closing up shop for the day.

Dumpling and Cuddlebug sound like a half-dozen little girls giggling and running around in circles, "I'm the leader! I'm the leader!" They try to outwit one another by cutting her off at the pass and turning her back to become the leader, which only makes them both -- and me -- laugh all the harder.

And Fifi is playing her newest hymn, Now Thank We All Our God. She practices to play it more slowly and steadily, because she knows that her purpose is not to glorify Fifi, but rather, to aid others in glorifying God. It is a sweet sound, and my cup is spilling over.