ThinMint

-4- There is a lot of time between now and Trump’s inauguration. I’m not suggesting that a lot of things are going to flip or go sideways. But, I do know a monster thrashes when it is dying. Desperate, it will cling and dismantle and evade and thwart in its final moments. These stretches and hits are unpredictable though anticipated by those terminating its existence. I have not forgotten what Trump said years ago: “The 25th Amendment will come back to haunt [Joe Biden]…” I’ve speculated about different ways how this will be carried out. I’ve also ruminated on Trump saying there will, “Be a pause.” What does this mean exactly? I don’t know. And there’s the infamous, “10 days of darkness.” What does this mean for us? I have ideas, but don’t know for sure. No one knows what these things mean. I think the time to ponder is over. Whatever happens in the following months will not be a surprise to the One Who is in control of it all. We can rest –truly- under His wings, sheltered from the frenzy and frantic as He moves. Regardless of how one feels about Trump, he’s not the one in charge. We will see the LORD use nonorthodox people in unconventional ways. So it’s not about, trusting the plan. It’s about trusting the One Who already won.

-3- It’s like we cannot collectively take a deep breath, relax the shoulders, and indulge in the victory of a hard-fought battle. (More to come, yes, I know.) There are those plowing ahead with fantastical administrative predictions and suggestions. It’s amusing, though a little sad. Just an opinion, offered in the gentlest way possible: don’t get caught up in it. If you have trusted Trump this far (even if you have questioned him a lot) then I think he can be trusted appointing those who will serve The People best. Focusing on his previous administration and/or the future one will distract us.

-2- I took our youngest son out this week for some one-on-one time. Everywhere we went traffic was unexpectedly heavy for our area and it felt like I was dodging a lot of crazy drivers. That’s not usual near the small town where we live. Our errands took us to different stores and the places were a little crowded. No big sales and it’s still a little too early for Christmas shopping. People’s mood was interesting –at least for just having gone through a controversial and contentious national election. Folks weren’t behaving in a grieving or peevish manner. They weren’t buoyed or celebratory either. I would describe the street traffic and flow of customers as frenzied, but the mood was oddly subdued.

-1- Felix and I once lived in an area where many a tropical storm and hurricane have passed. There is a very distinct feeling that permeates when a serious storm is approaching. For those who have not experienced these intense barrages, the anticipation is quite palpable! There is a hurriedness, a busyness that borders on panic. The air feels charged. Then just before conditions worsen, there is contradicting quietness and stillness that settles around the area. After decades of knowing this feeling, we easily recognize it. That’s what it feels like now. And I think others recognize this, too.

Please share all the good & inspiring, delightful, awesome, beautiful things: stories, memes, music, news, images, bible verses -all the goodness you see!

I love music. All kinds of music. In my youth, I went to all kinds of concerts, too. Today, I’m content to be at home listening to whatever the mood calls for. Back in February I started a YouTube channel. Thought it might be merry to share the things that amuse me with friends (found under Playlists). And I wanted to share personal, uplifting videos –scriptures, prayers, personal writings -those sort of things. Right now I am in the process of uploading the 30 Day Prayer Challenge. These are humble little videos filmed around my home and property. Just like for most things in my life, I’m winging it. So, you may hear children in the background, busy neighbors, and cars and airplanes traveling by. But, that’s the hum life. Maybe one day I’ll have some polished videos. For now, you get the blunders and ordinary, but thoroughly authentic. https://www.youtube.com/@ThinMintWorld

Challenge #9

I made a Big Decision™ In light of it being Election Day™ thought we could all use some Comedy Wednesday starting to today. Be sure to check back often as I will continue to update with some Funnies™ over the next two days. As always, most of the Political Stuff™ is over at The Liberty Tavern.

It's crazy out there, right? Stupid crazy, scary crazy, excited crazy, hectic crazy, clueless crazy. Hope you are still making every effort to be alone with God. We love spending time outdoors, but I'm quite content to simply sit still and listen to His creation. The other day the two youngest joined me as I did a walkabout on our property. I've been praying Psalm 91 for awhile now, but this time I wanted to stop every few feet and touch the ground as I prayed and read. We slipped on our rainboots then crunched and squished our way through the land. In between steps and prayers the kids asked lots of questions. Love their curiosity! Along the way we collected all the nifty leaves and nuts and flowers and mushrooms and seeds that caught our eye. We plopped it on the outdoor table and they helped arrange it for this photo. And for a project I've been working on (will let you know about it very soon!). God is in the details, friends. Be well. Rest and reside with Him.

QUICK BURNSVILLE UPDATE: TM: Someone asked about contacting state reps... Burnsville's representation is all republican except their governor. Their NC house rep has been in the hospital with pneumonia. The state senator was actually at home in one of the counties that got obliterated, and he appears to be active and in the middle of it. The US senators and rep have visited places and talk an okay talk, but ultimately toe the line with comments praising fema or mentioning misinformation. They're useless. TM: In regards to a Burnsville video shared in the comments... That's a small supply setup that has been there from the beginning. The one confiscated by the military was a HUGE apparatus, operated at various points by both the Cajun navy and Samaritan's Purse. TM: My friend is looking into the rumor about the kids being confiscated.

If you are up late agonizing or worrying or just feeling discouraged over something — relationships, circumstances, mistakes, doubts, whatever — a good way to move past it is to honestly ask for the solution and then thank God for that solution in a specific way. With all the details. … Thank you for healing my kids’ relationships. Thank you for raising affection in them when they think of each other. Thank you for drawing us closer to each other, and closer to You. Thank you for desiring good to come of this hard season, because You will have Your way, and it is good. Thank you for making this thing that looks so bad actually work out to our advantage, better than we could have planned. Thank you for giving us wisdom, and favor, and protection. Thank you for providing for us so we can plan well. Thank you for helping us see how confidently we can trust You. … And then see if you don’t rest better after that. 🤍 📖  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:7-11

Please share all the good & inspiring, delightful, awesome, beautiful things: stories, memes, music, news, images, bible verses -all the goodness you see!

... To all you November babies! 🍁

A challenging consideration...

Challenge #8

🍁 I actually have two challenges for today. The first one is fun. The second one is a little more serious and I will post that later.

UPDATE FROM FRIEND LIVING IN BURNSVILLE, NC: "The supplies were removed from the supply station in the Rose's / Sav Mor parking lot, which is down the street from Fred's. Fred's is completely run by the National Guard now. One of big supply stations (an elementary school) is getting packed up by the military. Just like the shopping center was. The military presence is obscene. The high school looks like a base. People who live here hate the military presence. Military trucks of all sizes driving up and down 19 [the main road] all day and Lord help you if you get in their way. I hate driving around town. Someone is going to get killed. I don't know if the military is working building roads, etc. I honestly don't know what they are doing. There hasn't been any helicopters since the rotor wash incident. My daughter had her fema application denied because the other duplex tenant filed first. Apparently fema did not make note that this was a duplex. So she had to go to the fema center and file an appeal. And now she waits 5-7 days for the update."