Grace in Autumn (36 page)

She swallowed the despair that rose in her throat. The old skipper had come a long way in the past month, and who could say what the future held for him? After all, wasn't December the month for miracles?

Smiling at the thought of taking him a chocolate Christmas yule log, she turned and lifted the coffeepot. “Who's ready for a fresh cup?”

Epilogue

A
s the clock strikes midnight and concludes another Thanksgiving holiday, my own spirit is warmed by the grateful hearts in Heavenly Daze. Though there is one less human on the island tonight, every heart is blessed to know that Edmund de Cuvier is at home in heaven.

And every man, woman, and child who wrote to Heavenly Daze, for whatever reason, will realize God has provided a place of help and hope, of prayer and genuine caring. Such a message cannot be valued in terms of money, for honest compassion, in this age, is priceless.

The angels, however, both on earth and in heaven, are giving thanks tonight for a far different reason. Far more significant than Edmund's homecoming is Georgie's adoption into the family of God. Having been prepared by loving parents, faithful teaching, and the Spirit, this November Georgie placed his faith in the Son of God.

And we rejoice.

Birdie, by the way, would love to share her pattern for handknitted dishcloths. You'll find it on the next page.

Until we meet in December, we wish you warm nights and heavenly days.

—Gavriel

Birdie's Deceptively Simple Dishcloths

Materials needed:

Size ten knitting needles

Peaches and cream or sugar and spice yarn, any color

(Birdie favors buttercream yellow; Vernie likes red)

To begin: Cast four stitches onto a size ten needle.

Row 1: Knit four stitches.

Row 2: Knit two stitches; increase one stitch in third stitch; knit one.

Row 3: Knit three stitches; increase one stitch in fourth stitch; knit one.

Row 4: Knit three stitches; yarn over; knit to end of row.

Continue knitting as in row four until there are forty-six stitches on your needle. Return; knit two; knit two together; yarn over; knit two together; knit to end of row.

Continue this until eight stitches are left on needle. Then on the next row, knit one; knit two together; knit two; knit two together; knit one (you should have six stitches remaining on your needle).

Knit one; knit two together twice; knit one.

Bind off the four remaining stitches.

Take a crochet hook and tuck in the loose thread.

You have now finished one of Birdie's Deceptively

Simple Dishcloths. Launder as you would a towel; no special handling required.

If You Want to Know More About . . .

• Angels as servants and messengers: Genesis 24:7; Exodus 23:20; Hebrews 1:14

• Angels are as “swift as the wind” and “servants made of flaming fire”: Hebrews 1:7

• The angel who was detained on his mission to Daniel: Daniel 10:13

• Angels' special care for children: Matthew 18:10

• Angels as protectors: Psalm 91:11-12

• The heavenly throne room: 2 Chronicles 18:18; Psalm 11:4; 89:14; Revelation 4:1-6

• The prayers of the saints: Revelation 8:4

• Angels' limited knowledge: Matthew 24:36

• Angels eagerly watching humans: 1 Peter 1:12

• The third, or highest, heaven: 2 Corinthians 12:2; Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 115:16

• Seraphim: Isaiah 6:2

• Cherubim: Genesis 3:24

• Satan as the prince of the power of the air: Ephesians 2:2

• What happens when we die: 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23

• The resurrection of believers: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

• How to invest in eternal treasures: Matthew 6:20; Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33; Philippians 3:8; 1 Timothy 6:19

About the Authors

LORI COPELAND
is the author of more than 95 books. She lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. They are very involved in their church and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa. Lance and Lori have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and five wonderful grandchildren.

ANGELA HUNT
is the best-selling author of
The Tale of Three Trees, The Debt, The Note,
and
The Nativity Story,
with over three million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her book
The Novelist
won gold in ForeWord Magazine's 2007 Book of the Year award.
The Note
was a Hallmark Christmas movie in December 2007. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. She and her husband make their home in Florida with two mastiffs.

F
or a copy of Babette's Maine Blueberry Gingerbread recipe and the latest news from Heavenly Daze, visit:

www.heavenlydazeME.com