Category: HOPE

April, ALL is well with my soul ~

April 1, 2026

It’s April (fool or no fool!), and Brenda (https://brendasrandomthoughts.wordpress.com/) alerted me that it’s time for the A-to-Z Challenge, which I’ve not participated in for many years.  So we, Cale & Hagar, signed up to share the daily duty (full of hope for creative stamina)–let’s begin!

😊✝😊

#AtoZChallenge 2026 letter A

As April arrives

also gift of tulips, five

number of grace

face of Spring

smiles surround vase

joy comes in April colors

friendship’s bright gems

ALL

is well with my soul ✝

~ Cale

Increase overall brightness naturally

(gift from caregiver, tulips grace Blessed Table)

10 Things of Thankful

March 29, 2026

Hello again, Hagar here.

On the to-do list Cale left for me I see there’s a prompt, “Ten Things of Thankful”–so I’ll get on that right away.  However, I’ll only be linking to Misky’s post (not up for doing Mr Linky).  https://misky.uk/2026/03/28/ten-things-of-thankful/

I’m grateful for Spring, even if it’s a tad chilly–it arrived speedily here, and some things are better when hurried along.

Also grateful for Public Domain images on wikipedia such as, Vincent van Gogh’s “Almond Blossoms”–used for current header image on this site.

It’s nice to be here as Cale’s substitute, not too scary yet, so I’m thankful to be offered a turn at the wheel.

Very grateful for Holy Week, an emotional time on the Church calendar.

On topic, I’m most grateful for JESUS, that He chose me out of a crowd of better candidates.  To be saved, and deeply loved as a “daughter”–it’s nothing short of miraculous that He’s my Lord.

Friendship is a gift I’m thankful for each day–to have a few people to share the dailyness of life with, in deserts and on mountaintops, is no small thing.  We are blessed to bear each other’s burdens with patient non-judgmental compassion–not everyone’s fit for the calling.

I’m grateful for “little things”…we never know how God may use them for His big plans.

I’m thankful for free movie streaming.

And microwave popcorn, even if it does turn me into a stick of butter with popcorn hair…I’ll look like my grandma!

I’m grateful I know WHOSE I am, and that my future is well secured–it irons out a lot of stress, I don’t have to be super-smart about everything.

Thanks to all who visited today, may God bless you bountifully✝

Hagar🕯

Hello from Hagar

March 28, 2026

Hello, I’m Hagar, and I’ll be taking the helm here for a spell, in Cale’s absence.  She and I are close friends, and she has previously posted some of my poetry here–but otherwise I’m new to blogging.

She gave me a “to-do” list, and I’ll try my best–please don’t over-expect.

I’ve made a few changes in decor (with her permission), and I’ll get around to blogs, and write posts as time allows–this is Holy Week, so things are busy.

Thank you for your patience, may God richly bless all who visit during this interim gig.

Hagar

Raising My Expectations

March 25, 2026

A single mustard seed of faith, some quiet patience–and believing God means what He says–will raise confident expectations that He’ll restore what seems irretrievably broken or lost.

~ Cale Caron

Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah], “If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], You will become My spokesman.  Jeremiah 15:19  Amplified Bible

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!  When God restores [the fortunes of] His people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.  Psalm 53:6 Amplified Bible

God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. 1 Peter 5:10  GOD’S WORD® Translation

https://lindaghill.com/2026/03/25/one-liner-wednesday-are-they/

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/03/23/rdp-monday-restore/

Ten Things of Thankful

March 22, 2026

Happy and thankful to be here once again!  I love weekends…there are no business calls to take, so I do regular stuff I enjoy: church, cooking/baking, emailing with my Bestie, movies, and visting my 2 cat nieces downstairs.  (We’ve concluded that slow and rhythmic waving of tail by Sammie as she stares at me, is feline version of human eye-rolling🙄.  I get it…I’m jibber-jabbering away, and she can only feign interest for so long.)

I’m beyond blessed and grateful to be using my cell phone exclusively.  The landline service became ridiculously/outrageously expensive–so I took a deep breath and downgraded to Internet only!  The first day was both scary and funny: I had to call a list of folks to update my records with new phone number…and more than several times I accidentally disconnected before people could answer the rings.  But I’ll get the hang of it before too awfully long–I have faith!

I’m thankful that although my corned beef was not especially successful this St Pat’s Day (I tweak recipes unwisely sometimes)–my caregiver was glad to take home all that I would have tossed!

It was a delight to celebrate her birthday this past week:  I baked a cake of course, and found 3 Russian versions of the traditional “Happy Birthday” song on YouTube.  She was so surprised.  The cake was absolute perfection (whew!):  Black Magic Chocolate Cake is very delish, and has a secret ingredient! (if you ask, I’ll tell you)

As always, I’m glad and grateful for blogging–so many wonderful people, and every day is different.

6-Sentence Story is dear to my heart–I’m thankful for new prompts each Sunday (and grateful the Lord drops an idea in my head)!

I’m beyond grateful the snow was fleeting…enough to satisfy folks who didn’t get a white Christmas, and not sufficient to freeze the parking lot into an ice rink.

I’m thankful for very old needle-nose pliers.  I’m no “Tina-the-Tool-Gal”, and the knob broke off the thermostat in the Upper Room…who knows when Maintenance will respond…so the pliers are ugly but handy.

Alright-y…I don’t know how many thankfuls that is, but you’ve probably heard enough of Cale’s world–so I’ll just tell the Lord I’m grateful He stuck with me another day, and sign off.  See y’all next week, if He doesn’t call me Home!

~ Cale