There are so many things I have to pay for that I don’t even like.
And then, these things are free:
Having my kids spend a couple hours with Landon Saunders. Move over Garrison Keillor. The greatest voice and the greatest storyteller in America is LS.
Sitting beside a stream with the kind of peaceful noise that people actually pay for on relaxation CDs.
Watching the World Cup with my boys (even though I still don’t love soccer), cheering on the USA — even while being excited for the possibility of Africa having a team move on.
Hiking up hills and down hills. Talking and listening. Hoping against hope for a glimpse of a moose or bear (from a GREAT distance).
Having the five of us together.
I remember at Christmastime when Megan was still alive. No matter how expensive the gifts were, she preferred the boxes and wrapping paper. It felt good in her busy hands.
Haven’t some of you found that? There are things money can buy — e.g., the long, slow, memorable meal — that are certainly worth it. But so many of things that you really remember years later are (almost) free. Jumping on an inner tube to float down the river. Going out for a walk or a bike ride. Packing a picnic. Playing a game of Monopoly late into the evening. Hoops in the driveway. A little league game. Homemade ice cream.
Well, either tomorrow (Friday) or the next day or two, someone will be #1,000,000 since I dropped on the counter. Let me know who you are!
Greetings to all from a beautiful cabin on a God-sent river in the luscious state of VT.
I live in NH Mike and gotta say I agree, its beautiful here in your next door neighborhood state as well. Enjoy this time, and yes its true the best things in life are free.
The happiest and most content people I have ever seen in my life were Africans who had next to NOTHING……no, I mean really nothing……not our “nothing”.
Thanks for the reminder!
DU
My wife and I don’t go on dates much, but we go for a walk with each other about 4-6 nights per week. Our two oldest kids are big enough, now, to keep an eye on our two younger ones, so we can just grab a cell phone and take off without worrying too much.
I love those walks. We talk about stuff. Real stuff. Besides our kids. (Yes! We have discovered we actually CAN talk about things that are important to us outside of our family. Imagine!) During times when the stress in my life threatens to drive me to the brink of insanity, those long walks and deep conversations somehow manage to pull everything back into perspective. They are like gold to me.
Here are a few freebies I love:
- a kiss from Kim
- a smile from my kids
- Venti tripple filtered ice water from Starbucks
- looking through the scriptures and being suprised, yet again, of how much God loves me
- your blog
That trip was free? How did you win those tickets to Boston and the stay in that cabin?
Swimming in the Hudson River while my dad and uncles went crabbing; running through the street in the summertime after the firemen came to let out water from the hydrants; family picnics at Peach Lake, NY. and lastly, walking on a cold winter evening with dad to pick out the family Christmas tree and all of our little hands holding onto the truck to carry it home. Ahhh!! sweet sweet memories!!!
Recently, I have heard more than once this catchy little saying, “The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.”
Perhaps this is true in some situations. But, it is refreshing to visit your site and find that it is not always true. Your words have allowed us to join you there on that God-sent river in the luscious state of Vermont. With you, we marvel at God’s handiwork and how His hand works in our lives.
Thank you! Praise the Lord! -bill
Mike –
Have you been to River Run in Plainfield, VT for breakfast or dinner for the catfish or bar-b-cue? We eat there every summer.
The breakfasts are huge and the catfish is incredible – the ambiance is pure Vermont!
Speak of moments – last week we were celebrating our tenth anniversary and as we waited for friends we watched an elderly couple – she with one hand on her cane and the other on his arm – he escorting her and carrying their groceries. They toddled past us and down the cobblestone street. I got a photograph of them, arm in arm as they slowly walked away. Would that we are all so blessed with many years with those we love…
Have a great weekend!
I’m not a huge soccer fan either, but Nacogdoches’ own Clint Dempsey scored USA’s only goal – cheers for Clint!
BTW — in New England there are camps and cottages — there are no “cabins.”
oops — meant to add
to the above
Enjoy the COTTAGE by the river!
I think I know very Wells where said cottage is.
Exactly right, Jeff. Now, off to Moosilauke.
On one of my refrigerator magnets: Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.
I’ll add a very few of mine.
Watching my children, with red faces and runny noses, enjoy themselves sledding.
Collecting fresh eggs from our hens. Each one is a small gift from God.
Getting almost knocked off my feet by my 3 year old, when I get home from work in the evening. DAD!!
At our church when the whole congregation sings with one voice “I know that My Redeemer Lives” (insert your favorite song here).
Has anybody else seen the picture from the Congo on the front of the online NY Times this morning? At first I thought it was a painting… Mike has a link to the NYT.
There is so much work to be done.
Landon is an old friend of mine. We went on the Good New Northeast campaign together. I had the honor of listening to him speak to the contacts we had made in the D.C. area. My contact was Maria, from Venezuela. I absolutely loved her! She was a communist revolutionary in Venezuela. She was very intelligent and sought out the truth in everything. After Landon spoke she said, “I want to meet this man.” I went and over and asked Landon if he would come over and meet Maria. He was amazing. She said in her broken english, “Beverly, tell him of my beliefs.” Okay, well in my thick southern accent I told Landon, “Well, Landon, Maria is a communist.” He smiled and began to lay out the most amazing comparison of Jesus Christ and the man who she loved Marx. He was so totally in tune with her heart. Maria was baptised later. So I hear ya with the Landon thing…when he spoke at lectureship I felt as if he was speaking just to me. Sorry, long story but just thought I would share..
Watching my son swing a golf club. A year’s worth of green fees, $____, Titleist Driver,$_____, watching him swing it and manage his game in a tournament, $PRICELESS.
Keith
The best things in life really are free. Here are some of my favorites:
-Talking with my roommate until the wee hours of the morning
-Getting “attacked” by my 9-pound ADORABLE dachshund puppy
-Hugs from anyone and everyone I love
-RAIN! It’s finally raining in Abilene!
I am so jealous you are in Vermont! Most of those priceless memories you are talking about, for me, took place last summer when we were in VT/NH for Liz and Bryan’s wedding. Not that I’d give up having grown up in Malibu … but there is something so beautifully simple about the NorthEast. Going to my 1st Zoe in October with my dad — look forward to seeing you there!
I love it when…
- you have an unexpected reunion with old friends.
- I get to watch my 10-month old son wake up his mom.
- a song all of a sudden has new meaning to you.
- someone understands and responds to God’s tremendous love for them!
Priceless things:
Dawdling after dinner with loved ones, talking about important things (or even unimportant things)
Hearing a grandchild say “I love you, grandad”
Spending a lunch time filling plates at the homeless shelter and realizing all over again that only a couple of bad decisions could determine upon which side of the lunch counter I find myself.
Riding my motorcycle across the desert.
Being married to the world’s greatest wife.
Praying, and knowing I’m heard.
I remember when complaining about bad officiating didn’t cost me anything…
Hearing my daughter calling out, “A I U daddy?” (where are you daddy)
For some reason, fountains going full blast during rain storms.
When my wife laughs.
Mike, my brother-in-law has spent extended time with Landon and my husband some short times. We were living in Houston and newly married and walked into church with our toddler son and Landon broke away from a conversation and engulfed us in his arms and said I know that you are Danleys. Knelt down on one knee and spoke to Corey in such a tender voice. Corey listened. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
I’m sorry J. Peirpoint, but as a true Southerner, I resent your using “catfish”, “barbecue” and “Vermont” in the same post. Those are ours!
BTW: Has anyone tried the maple syrup at Bubba’s Fillin Station, Bait Shop & Diner?
Tim, you crack me up – The owner/chef of River Run is a transplanted Mississippian!
Mississippi-raised chef Jimmy Kennedy has brought outstanding Southern fare to Plainfield, VT. Fried catfish, hush puppies, collard greens, and whiskey cake are just a few of the dishes at this restaurant. Try catfish and grits for breakfast.
It all part of that communist philosphy of multiculturalization!
Landon is one of the nicest people I have met.
What a great servant for the Lord.
Off-subject. I had guacamole for breakfast and thought of you. Avacados were on sale at Kroger, and I couldn’t resist.
I will never forget the series Landon Saunders did about 20 years ago–The Heart of the Fighter. Wow. I would love to go through that series again. I can hear the song in my head now.
There’s a beautiful place on the Pecos River near Cowles New Mexico that I was reminded of when reading about sitting beside a stream and listening to the music of the water. And the smell of the forest. But then there’s the ocean. What an amazing artist God is.
I have a running list of the things I love…some are duplicates
.
Some of mine are:
- Ghana (we’re going again for July 5-20 campaign, and received word that the excitement of the coming campaign has already resulted in 3 souls being saved! Keep us in your prayers.)
- road trips with my son
)
- being silly with my kids
- framing a window
- being with fellow believers
- a warm bed
- washing dishes (calming for some reason
- rain on a metal roof
- quiet time with my husband
Just a big thank you for being such a blessing to my sister and her family. I thank God for you and the brethren at Highland.
Dear Mike,
Back in 1971 Landon Saunders used to preach and teach at our summer campaigns in St. Louis, MO. Some of my fondest memories of Landon were eating at Steak and Shake at 2:00 a.m. in the morning after baptizing folks at one of the local church buildings following his meetings. He was and is a great story teller! I have lost track of Landon over the years. Please greet him in the Lord for me. In fact, give him my e-mail (brad1125@swbell.net). Back in 1999, my daughter, Hannah, who was a student at Lipscomb at that time and attended Ottercreek came home to tell me about a great guest speaker she heard there named “Landon Saunders”! What a small world it is sometimes.
Brad Stevens
St. Louis, MO
Practically all the things I really value in my life have no purchase price.
My mother’s tears.
Memories of my daughter’s wedding.
The love of my wife and kids.
Breaking the bread and sharing the wine with Wes Netz.
A toddler’s uncontrollable laughter (which, BTW, is the sound I think will greet us at Heaven’s gate).
Having a mate for life whom I can trust with my own soul.
Memories of my Daddy laughing so hard he had to sit down.
The smells after a mountain thunderstorm.
A hard day’s labor put in well.
Special friends coming to visit.
Fishing.
A worship service with lots of hugs.
I could go on and on…
But isn’t life, and our appreciation of it, supposed to place value on things God made for us to enjoy? Somehow, I just know that when I read:
“Be still, and know that I am God…”
He is telling me to stop what I am doing and pay attention to everything and everyone around me, all witnessing to his love and consideration and thoughtfulness on my behalf.
God, who made it all, is showing me who he is, over and over.
He loves us all so much!
hey, if you really want some beauty and rivers of love
check out Oregon.
One of my very favorite things is going to the river to trout fish. The babbling river, the beautiful trees, and mountains all around, and the occasional tug on my line.
God is alive in the river
amen
The other is a good lightning storm with lots of thunder (sadly there are none of these here.)
matt grubb
A few things I think are priceless:
non-coerced hugs from my teens
crossword puzzles with my hubby
a pile of new books to read from the library
sunny, 80 degree weather (today, in fact!)
sitting around the family dinner table long after the food is gone and laughing and enjoying each other
Google is the best search engine
Found you site on a Landon search. Landon did a Feeling Good about workshop in 1978 in Burlington, MA and more in 79 & 80 in Lowell. I remember so many moments
with him and so many of his observations, encouragements and insights.