Yesterday afternoon I was at home for a couple hours, and my landlord and his plumber came to fix some leaking radiators and toilet valves. I had to leave for work at the store while they were still here. A couple hours later, the landlord came to the store to drop off the key. They had finished their job, locked the door behind them, and gave me the key.

My German friend was with me, and I explained to her what happened, and why. Her eyes got big. "In Germany, I would NEVER leave people in my house while I went away."

I would be cautious too, under normal circumstances. However, for the last 10+ years I have served these men at our store, and sold them countless ice cream cones and tins of pet food. I know their wives and children by name. I know where they live. I trust them and they trust me. This is a benefit of long-term local employment.

Today there was news of another tiger kidnapping up the country. This is when criminals kidnap the family of bank workers and hold them for ransom. It's becoming more rampant around here. A month ago or so, a lady down the road was robbed in the middle of the day. Working in a store and living alone, I hear these things, and reiterate my motto: trust God but lock your doors. I try to be sensible and not take chances. Even if I leave the house for a walk down the road, I lock the door. I leave lights on after dark. But I don't live in paranoia. And I feel extremely blest to be able to leave my landlord and plumber in the house and the only disturbed thing I see when I return is the wet rag and bowl in the sink that they used to drain the pipes.

I'm not a mom, and don't spend any time on mommy forums. And yet, I feel terribly protective and, I don't know, mother-bearish about my girls. My Bible school girls from CBS and SMBI.

I can't stay in touch with all of them, but there are strings stretching from my heart to them wherever they are on the globe. And now and then one will write me to say they're dating or getting married, or tell me of their latest heartbreak, or latest gladness. And I shake my head at these little girls being brides, and smile, and wish I could hug them tight. Or I cry with their sadness, and ask the Shepherd to carry them gently. And I'm soooo proud of them, making wise decisions about their varied life assignments.

Oh, I do love my girls. They have no idea how much I love them and how big I dream for them. I don't know if I'll ever be a mommy. But I know Isaiah 54 is true, that I have more children than the mother with children. For this, I'm rich beyond measure, though unworthy, and thankful beyond words for the breath-taking privileges I've had. For some reason, He chose this bumbling, passionate girl, myself in need of mentors and shepherds, and helped me to be shepherdess and mentor to others, and I am so grateful.

I like the blogging world for many reasons, and dislike it for other reasons. I'm very choosy about the blogs I follow, and frequently delete the subscriptions that don't mean anything to me or have too much fluff. I follow mostly friends' and writers' blogs, to keep up to date with what's happening and to learn from wordsmiths who are going the way before me.

I loosely follow the Christian writing world, and what they're saying at the conventions and what the agents are looking for. The latest I've heard is that Amish Romance is what's selling, but of course we all knew that and are disgusted with it. And the next coming genre is going to be Amish Fantasy. Yes really. So I've heard. And shuddered.

Anyhow, moving swiftly on--my favourite blog is the one I admire the most because Ann is a mom,  farmer's wife, photographer, and poet. She's gifted and humble. I often read her posts through tears because she treats with gentleness and honesty the deepest feelings that are inside but no one verbalizes.

Ann has been able to experience what every writer dreams of--that a publisher notices your blog and asks you to write for them because of what's on it. I look forward very much to her book coming out next year from Zondervan, I think it is. Find her blog and be blest.