The Shoe Saga and Light....

For those of you who have asked me about where I purchased Luke's shoes (the ones in the last post), I purchased them at Payless Shoe Source.

Luke's shoes, his only pair, were a saga this weekend.

Saturday evening, Marc, Luke, and I took a nice long walk through town (Luke, obviously, was in the jogging stroller). It was a bit chilly, and so Luke not only had on his jacket with a hood, but his legs and a bit of his torso were wrapped up in a blanket.

When we got home, I sat Luke down to take off his shoes and socks to get ready for bed. I noticed one of his shoes was gone -- yep, one of the brand new ones that he just started wearing the week before.

I continued to get him ready for bed, and Marc hopped on his bicycle -- the one with the light and all as it was dark.

He rode our walking route, looking for the shoe. But, he didn't find it.

This morning (Sunday), he got up really early and went for a run. He ran the same route we had walked the night before -- to again look for Luke's missing shoe. He still didn't find the shoe.

This afternoon, after Luke's nap, the three of us (with Luke in the stroller) once again went out for a walk -- the same route we took last night. Marc and I weren't ready to give up looking for this shoe.

Wouldn't you know it? We found it just under two miles from our house -- in the middle of a fairly busy street (12th and Main St. for you locals). I actually am the one who spotted it, and Marc ran into the middle of the street to grab it.

Needless to say, it had been run over a few times in the almost previous 24 hours it had been missing.

Here's a look at the shoe....





I'm usually not too sentimental with "things," per se. But, for some reason, this one kind of makes me sad. We thought Luke looked sooooo cute in them. They actually fit him. They only lasted him a week. My friend Lisa said to me today, "I'm sure it won't be the only thing he'll ever lose." True -- but, it's just a bit sad to me.

So tomorrow, Luke and I will head out to purchase another pair of shoes. Hopefully, we'll find some just as cute and just as functional.

Marc and I are still baffled as to how he kicked that shoe off from underneath a blanket without us knowing :)

*****

And now, to the "meat" of this post....

A couple of weeks ago, I was having one of those weeks....You know, one of those weeks where nothing seemed to be going correctly, no matter how trivial it may seem.

I won't bore you faithful readers with all of my so-called crises, but I will share one of them -- complete with photos.

I am a part of a Young Moms Bible Study which meets on Tuesday mornings. It's a great group of ladies to be with, and each Tuesday, we take turns bringing a yummy breakfast to share. A couple of weeks ago, it was my turn.

I decided to "go out on a limb" and bake something new -- a pumpkin muffin recipe that I found online. After all, fall is here....

I mixed them up (I even had to buy a few ingredients), and then, I proceeded to bake them. After the timer went off, I stuck a toothpick in SEVERAL of the muffins, and each time, the toothpick came out clean. After they were baked, I placed them on a cooling rack.



After they were cooled, I went over to put them in a "take-along" container for the next morning. At that point, I accidentally dropped one to the floor. Uugghh....

Ultimately, however, I'm glad I did that. That muffin wasn't finished AT ALL in the middle. The dough just kind of spewed out. Uugghh....

So, in a panic, I ate one myself. It too was doughy. Uugghh....How could this be? The toothpick came out clean on several muffins.

I poked through a third one. Doughy....Again, uugghh....



It was 10:00 P.M. at that point in time. I wasn't about to try and bake something else. After all, I was tired. So, I went and told Marc that I was going to make a late run to the grocery store and just buy some muffins for the morning -- completely and utterly disappointed in myself, at that point.

Fortunately, the grocery store did have some what turned out to be pretty good blueberry muffins.



After I got home, I threw away the muffins that just weren't going to work.



Little situations like this and bigger situations that at one point afflict us all are just what Satan wants to happen. The enemy is lurking around -- just wanting something to happen to make our lights for the True One, Jesus Christ, go out.

Though I have, in situations like the muffins, come really close to letting Satan win, I am determined to not let him win.

Throughout that week of minor crises, I was reminded of a song many of us, including myself, learned in Sunday School as children. I'd like to refresh all of your memories or perhaps share it with those of you who may not know it. It's really W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Shine all over Newton (or insert the name of your town).
I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over Newton.
I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over Newton.
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

And to close, I'd like to quote some important scripture....

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16