Keeping My Fork

Every now and then I find a pretty fork at Goodwill. I print the following words on a card and attach it to the fork with a ribbon. If I can find one, I stick a small, flat magnet on the fork (on the back at the base of the tines), because then it can be placed on a magnetic surface (with the tines upright) and function as a unique photo holder. It's simple, but also a meaningful little gift for a friend or for anyone who could use a reminder of God's presence and promises.

I once found a fork in the road,
cleaned it off,
and decided to keep it as a reminder
of God’s character
and promises to me.
He is trustworthy,
and when I stand at a fork
in the road
with a decision to make,
I can remember
He holds me and guides me,
for He declares this in His Word.
When I sit at the table
at the end of a full meal,
and my friend tells me to keep my fork,
I can be thankful
for the Lord’s
abundant provision
and look forward
to sweet delights ahead.
In Christ,
when I see my fork,
I am thankful for His mercy
and His blessings upon me;
I remember I am glory-bound in Him,
and the best is yet to come.
I am free
to rejoice
in hope
because, indeed,
God is present
and His promises are perfect.

“Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.”
Psalm 73:23-24

You are invited to visit Greenfield Soap Co. at the following markets and community events in November, 2008:

Gladstone Annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 8
Time:
9 AM to 4 PM
Address:
John Wetten Elementary School
250 E Exeter
Gladstone, OR 97027

Annual Christmas Bazaar on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15
Time:
Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Address:
New Hope Community Church
11731 SE Stevens Rd
Happy Valley, OR 97086

Annual Bilquist Bazaar on Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time:
10 AM to 4 PM
Address:
Bilquist Elementary School
15708 SE Webster Rd
Milwaukie, OR 97267
Look for Table # 87!

Greenfield Soaps are $6 and when you buy 5, you get to choose an additional bar FREE!

Bring a friend and share the joy of homemade soap!

I make the soap carefully, in small batches for you to enjoy. Each bar is unique, gentle, sudsy and especially good for sensitive skin! I hope you will place them in soap dishes throughout your home, and when you walk by or stop to lather up, I hope they'll be a little blessing to you and a reminder of simple, beautiful and good things.

Perhaps I'll see you soon. In the meantime, I wish you blessings (showers of them!),

Susan

Mohawk

This one is for you, Jesse. I hope you are having a great day!

Susan

Balance

This morning I was feeling "mushy" leaving Sheldon at the airport. I hugged him tight, looked right in his eyes and said, "Do you know that I am going to miss you?" And he said, "Do you know that you have knobby knees?". I'm still giggling over this, and when I told Donna about it, she called it "balance". It's a good thing! Thank you, God, for balance and for being so big and for watching over Sheldon on his trek to Alaska!

Air Space Rule

Here is something I know...

When you are trying to smell something and you get so close to the thing you are trying to smell that your nose actually physically touches the thing, it is unavoidable that a transfer of residue will occur between your nose and the thing.

Now here is something I recall...

Personally, I experienced this aspect of our reality most dramatically when I was five and I smelled the yellow lillies my mother brought in from the garden to set on the table. I turned from the flowers to face my mother who smiled and brushed at my cheek with her hand, but I darted away to find Rosie who smelled the flowers too with all the exuberance she could muster. We then stood at the mirror behind the door and, giggling, inspected our stamen-stained reflections.

And here is something I wonder about...

This evening I displayed my soaps at a (very fun and meaningful) public event and I noticed that nearly every person (bless them!) who smelled my soap did so by placing their nose directly onto the bar before inhaling deeply. (I am gagging a little as I write this.) Where are the people who learned to smell a new thing gingerly and with at least a modest amount of air space between the thing and the nose? The question is relevant to me as I work hard to keep my soaps clean and beautiful for my customers to enjoy. Now it really was a pleasure to engage with all the folks behind the noses, and I was certainly glad to see them enjoying Greenfield Soaps, but I must say it did make my skin crawl a little to see all these noses engaging in residue transfer right there before my very eyes! If you are just now realizing your own lack of proper etiquette when it comes to smelling soap, please know I appreciate you and I am smiling as I write this, but for goodness' sake, please be kind and keep the air space rule in mind!

Licorice Allsorts

Licorice Allsorts bring to mind sweet memories of Grandma's Pantry...

On the left side of the cook stove was a door my sister and I were allowed to enter often with Grandma’s permission. This was the door to her pantry, and it smelled so good in there! The pantry was filled, floor to ceiling, with neatly stocked shelves of produce, canned goods, baked goods, flours and spices. We were usually invited to choose whatever we wished from the pantry for our snack. My favorites from Grandma’s Pantry were Licorice Allsorts, Circus Peanuts, Orange Slices, iced wafer cookies, and those chocolate-covered cookies with the wafer on the bottom, a berry filling and marshmallow. Grandma had many delicious and healthful home-made items available, but as a child I wanted the sugary “store-bought” things. We ate popcorn from little boxes too. There was an elephant on the box and a small toy or treat inside. The popcorn was lightly coated with a pink sugar glaze. I always picked the pink popcorn treat, and wondered how Dad could prefer the Cracker Jacks.

Do you love old-fashioned candies too? Which ones take YOU back down memory lane?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a sweet, sweet day!

Susan

This is Greenfield Soap Co.'s Juniper Lime Bar Soap. The scent is fresh, woodsy and fruity. I like the soft pink and green hues in this bar. Altogether, it's a happy combination--and gentle and sudsy and good for skin too!