Summer’s balmy air lingers~I see a hint of gold,
Some leaves stay vibrant, others dry and fold.
New callings begin and the season moves swift,
An unchanging faith remains my steady gift.
Peering out my window I saw tiny hints of red, green, and brown. Another record high temperature was recorded!Despite this warm month, fall will always be my favorite season.
Just as leaves in autumn, miracles repeatedly fall this season! K.L. Hale
As much as I long for epic fall road trips, I’m happy with the tiny ones. They’ll all miracles to me.
Tiny Trip
It’s about an hour between the two tiny towns of Clever and Buffalo, Missouri (if around 3,000 population is tiny to you!). For our tiny trip of 5 family members, we made it EPIC. Before heading to Shrock’s Meat Market, a stop at Buc-ee’s was a must! We overwhelmingly loaded up with laughs, snacks, and drinks. Dad joked that the market would be closed after another stop for a mum! He wasn’t wrong. We arrived and I went into the butcher store only to find out that was the only place open; the market was closed. I dreaded to share the news as I saw the sweet faces of my family through the sunshiny glass doors. At THAT exact time, the young worker said,
“I see the owner pulling up to the market now! I’ll go talk to him.”
With optimism, I had the family follow me! Next door, a TALL young man wearing overalls and a huge smile welcomed me with a kind introduction.
My gratitude and appreciation flowed like the Finley River as I waved at my family to meet the owner, Grant. What a gift to open the store!After 30 minutes of shopping and visiting, we left feeling grateful, inspired, and tired!
It wasn’t a huge trip to see the “kids” or “grands”, mountains, river, or a National Park.
But sitting there with my precious parents and family, sharing laughs, snacks, and memories on the drive? That’s better than fine. More miracles! Tiny OR grand!
Trust
Life continues to present things I don’t always understand. Through trust in Christ, I don’t HAVE to understand. If I try, I’ll lose the joy of now. I was asked if I trust my doctors, the plans, and treatments. The trust I have in my Savior, who put these wonderful people and plans in my life, is enough. Despite pain or plans, fatigue or fall outings, a virus or venture, I TRUST and KNOW that life is a gift–there’s nothing for me to gain. I’ll always be a traveler this side of heaven. It’s a tiny trip compared to eternity. This trust won’t stop with the next scan, blood draw, and future outings in the fall. It’s IN ME because HE is in ME. Friends, I trust that no matter what falls on you this season, know that you are loved.
Don’t lose hope, friends. Have faith. 💚
*** Shrock’s Country Butchering and their Meat Market have provided custom packed beef, pork, and venison/deer sausage. Their country store (Shrock’s Meat Market) offers deli sandwiches, frozen & deli meats, cheeses, baked goods, apple cider, local honey & homemade jams, jellies, bulk foods, and gourmet food selections. If you are in that area, I encourage you to stop! A special thank you to the owner, Grant!***
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“ Life is a tiny trip compared to an eternity.” Amen, sister!
You know, David! Amen!! 🙏 thank you for reading and supporting me!
I like your philosophy on trust. Trust simplifies life, so you don’t have to worry about every little detail. It was also nice that the store owner trusted you enough to open his store early for you. Sounds like it was a good deal all around.
Tippy, I like your philosophy ~”Trust simplifies life so you don’t have to worry about every little detail.”
There was a time I felt I was paid to worry ( my career!). Yet, the freedom I had in Christ was a perfect tension between the reality of this world and the truth in which I live!
I can’t wait to get back to the store! It has such wonderful food and items.
I appreciate you, dear friend!
FROM: Murphy’s Law
Terrific road trip with your family Karla. I’m so glad you stopped at that market and the owner was kind enough to open up for you. I love the AI photo of you and sweet Miss Finley in the car.
Short trips, long naps , love and laughter….all are the best medicines for what ails you. Pace yourself my friend, and enjoy the wonder of every leaf you come across.
Prayers to you and the family, and that includes Finley, of course!
ginger🦋🙏🏻❤️🦓🌾🍁
Thank you, sweet Ginger. It was such a precious day.
Pacing myself~ words I just used yesterday! “Pace of grace”. The recovery from “things of life” shocks me.
Even writing this post? Yet, I know where I get the strength and I take steps forward…or like today, not as many steps but I’ll keep the same awe in the beauty and miracles all around me!
Sweet Finn feels better after a routine needed appointment. She and I love you, Ginger. 🙏💕🐾
First thing. Please forgive me for being a bad friend. I’m so far behind in the reading of all of the blogs that I supposedly “follow.” Nevertheless, please know that I have continued to pray for you, daily. I just happened to see this one pop up in my email notifications, so I went to read it immediately. Such a beautiful post. I’m sharing a whole paragraph in my own blog today, my sister. And that one line, “I don’t have to understand. If I try, I’ll lose the joy of now.” Oh, my goodness! So beautiful! And that whole paragraph is perfectly timed for something that is going on in the life of my pastor and her family, right now. Thank you, Karla, and I will try to do better. Love you, sister! ❤️❤️🙏🙏
Brother, first, I will always forgive you~ secondly~ what is there to forgive? Tee hee.
I’m equally missing yours, too! Life has kept me away from our beautiful world here in the blogosphere! Yet, I have LIFE. It’s a new stage of life and I’m thankful to Christ for His power and indwelling Spirit as He keeps walking the earth He so beautifully created!
I have missed your writings and encouragement. Please know you, C, and S, are all in my heart and prayers! I love you brother! God bless you all!
PS~ I look forward to reading your blog! I’m encouraged that God’s timing will have a ripple effect! 💕🫶🏻🥰🙏🙏
Great post on a great story. Thank you! Now I want to go to Shrocks for lunch someday! That would a grand adventure.
God bless you richly as you journey through this week, Karla. He’s got this!
Tim and that Rascal.
Amen, Tim! Thank you, dear friend!!
Off to Shrock’s we go on an adventure! If Rascal and Finley got a whiff of all that meat, we’d go for a run!
God bless you both! Finn and I send our love and prayers daily! Our Savior is amazing!
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Thank you, brother!!
Beautiful and what a wonderful shop owner!!!
Thank you, dear MAK!! You’re kind of place! Finn and I send our love. We appreciate you 3!!❤️🐾🐾
Blessings Karla and Finley! I LOVE the drawing of you and Finley driving down the road! You should hang it on the wall.
That meat shop sounds incredible. I’m so glad you got to shop.
God bless you richly, my sweet friend (and of course Finley, too!) 🙏💕🐾
God bless you and Henry, sweet friend! Isn’t that the cutest picture ever? I just love it! What a great idea!
I’m sending lots of love to you and Henry. I pray you are doing well. Many blessings to you both, Cindy! ❤️💚🫶🏻🙏🏻🐾
Thanks for the wonderful reminder of how tiny our trip here is Karla. May God bless you greatly on yours!
Thank you, Pastor Pete! God bless you on yours too, my friend. I pray you are all well!
Life is what we make of it! I enjoyed your lovely poem. Your story of tiny trips is a great example of making the most of what we can do and knowing our limits. The story of the meat market is really great. There is nothing like meat from the market!
Amen, Dwight! Thank you! I’m so happy you enjoyed my little poem. ‘Making the most of what we can do and knowing our limits.” Yes, Dwight! You’re right!
I always appreciate your wisdom and support!!
Have a great week, Karla! Cold weather coming,,,
Thank you, Dwight! You too! It arrived today and I love it! I get to the infusion center today for much needed boosts and help! God is so good!
Take care!
funny; I was just thinking of you, how you are, and you ‘pop up’ 🙂
Isn’t that how the Spirit works? I think of you too, dear friend. Particularly when I go to appointments and have different things to help boost me and walk this journey in more comfort. Even moreso, we have a Savior who loves us! I do pray you are well, John. Life stages and seasons keep me away from here at times, but my heart and prayers are with you and our other friends. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I’d like to get to my 80’s like you and many I know, dear friend. But I’m enjoying living one hour/day at a time and making the most of what God hands me now. Even if its rest at times. Please take care! I appreciate you!
thanks Karla; that’s a great way to live. I do this too, One da at the time. The Lord is at our side. He looks after us. You are right. We are blessed. Good to hear from you. Hugs. John 🙂
O Karla: this is wonderful, buoyant with faith and joy 🙂 and that pic of you and Finley driving through those yellow woods is priceless; bookmarked this one, of course 🙂
Thank you, John! That’s wonderful! 🥰🍂🍁
Sometimes tiny trips are the most important! ❤️🙏
Amen, Kelley! Thank you, sweet friend!❤️💚🫶🏻🙏🏻
Karla, this was just what I needed to read! The poem is beautiful and your words of wisdom were a soothing balm. The Holy Spirit was working through you!!!
Thank you, Val. I’m encoraged to know it was perfect timing for you, too.
In my Jeanne Guyon book, Initmacy with Christ, I gained much wisdom from her letters between she and Francois Fenelon. Their correspondance, while she was in prison, hits right at the heart about the power of Christ was have in us now–no matter the size of where we live, where we go,…the day, circumstance, etc…
I’m “down” with a virus–weak, tired, achy…yet, one step forward and a blessed trip I can look forward to tomorrow–a “tiny” trip? It’s to the infusion center for fluids and my injection. To check my blood.
It’s the same September Song in which I don’t want to keep singing–so you get it. But through these daily things of life God meets us in the now. This moment is the eternal moment–it IS for HIS good and glory, no matter how big or small.
Finn and I miss you and Mochi. Thank you for being such faithful friends and support! We love you both!
Karla, Mochi is sleeping beside me as I correspond on WP. I know that comfort and power of the Holy Spirit that sometimes catches me by surprise (it shouldn’t but it does). I hope that you can feel the presence of Jesus while you get your infusion and that the Holy Spirit wraps you in a healing embrace. I love you and Finn! I’ll look forward to hearing that you are feeing stronger and the effects of the virus have passed!!!!🙏🏻🙏🏻💗💗🐾🐾
Sweet Karla, I loved your poem. I am so happy you are making the little trips. What a nice store owner that accommodated you all. You are always in my prayers, dear friend! You are on a journey that is full of God’s amazing grace. You are loved eternally by the One who hung the stars in place, paints awesome sunsets, and the gorgeous colors of autumn🍂🧡🍂
I love you 🙏🏻🧡🙏🏻
Pam, your words and presence always encourage me, sweet friend.
Your prayers and support lift me!
You and Butch and would love this place.
The last sentence in your paragraph moved my heart 🧡 the ONE!
I’m very happy I’m going to get boosted today with a bone infusion and fluids (and my monthly shot). After having an unexpected virus through this tiny trip and week, I’ll be ready for more tiny trips!
I love you, dearly. I pray your day and weekend are filled with joy and blessings!💚🍂🍁🙏🙏🙏🎶🎶🎶
Right you are, Karla. Any trip is an event if you make it one. “I TRUST and KNOW that life is a gift–there’s nothing for me to gain. I’ll always be a traveler this side of heaven. It’s a tiny trip compared to eternity.” I couldn’t agree more, dear friend!🧡
My dear friend, you KNOW! You live it, too! Many hugs and blessings. I appreciate you so much dear Mitch! ❤️🙏
So love this! I can feel the love and joy you had on this excursion with family. Little miracles are awesome, and I love that Grant opened the store for you all! Keep savoring those moments, dear friend! ❤️❤️❤️ I am wearing my flannel today. 60 degrees. Yay! Tomorrow they are saying 84! 🥵 So crazy!
Love you and sending hugs and prayers. 🧡💚🧡💚And give some belly rubs to sweet Finn 😊
Thank you sweet C! I’m in our blanket since we FINALLY dropped today after setting record temps (that must be to you now!!). Isn’t flannel the best?
Grant was so kind! Can’t wait to get back there.
Finn says thank you!! We love you!! 🥰♥️🐾🐾🙏🙏
Yay on our blanket and temps dropping. 😊
Finn is most welcome! 🥰 Love you both too!
Bring on the Fall and Flannel and cozy blankets. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🧡🧡🧡🧡
‘My gratitude an appreciation flowed like the Finley River’ : a great line in a warm and inspiring post ; thanks Karla, you brighten my day 🙂
It’s my blessing, John. Thank you, too, dear friend. I appreciate you! ❤️❤️
I feel al is good when I see you post and write those great lines 🙂
Thank YOU!!!🥰
Your outlook is, like so many say, inspiring Karla. T…asked about you today…says hi. The smallest adventure, is still adventure. Your tiny trip made a big story. How fun.
Oh, Gary, thank you. Will you please give T my love and hugs (and C too?). I had visitors from my former little hometown today. We spoke of tiny trips now (vs what I “used” to be able to do). After losing a dear friend at the age of 40 (she reminded me so much of T), we talked about the tiny trip we have here compared to the most glorious trip in the future we’ll see!
In the meantime, these tiny trips ARE fun. Tim and I still talk of getting me “up” in your area. Now that would be a FUN trip, too!
May God continue to bless the precious Fultz family in every season. You are loved. I appreciate you so much.
Kindness always matters. He made all the difference.
YES! He did!! There’s so much kindness out there–and I love recognizing it! Hugs and love, sweet Jennie!
Such a great story of kindness!
Thank you, Jennie!
You’re welcome!