Monday, April 30, 2012

I Don't Know

Sunday's weather was beautiful.  Sunny and warm, with a nice breeze. Lovely.  This field is right next to the church I've been going to.  Of course, the pictures don't do it justice.  And neither do any words I can come up with. 

And I had just told Libby the day before that I didn't think it was really possible for us to understand heaven with the words that we know.

 So maybe part of the beauty in the field that particular day was having just come from worshipping God and then watching about 15 people get baptized outside in a pool set up for the occasion.

But my car was parked facing the field and when I got to the car, I stopped.  And looked out over the field as it blew in the breeze.  And took it in.  Took in God. And remembered the camera in my purse, and made the kids wait, and took a picture.  Trying to capture God.


Monday, April 16, 2012

PLACES

PLACES I SEE GOD
I love the way the leaves of this squash plant gather drops of water along the edges each morning.  

My knock-out roses (I think that is what they are called) have bloomed in all their glory.







PLACES I NEED GOD
My almost-sweet-sixteen year old opened a bank account and got her first debit card.  With a driver's license in a few weeks, I definitely need God!

PLACES I PRAISE GOD
In Burger King, thanking the King of Kings for my three beautiful kiddos.


PLACES IN MY HEART WHERE SADNESS HAS SETTLED
-The sudden death of a friend today
-The grief of my friend who was there to find him
-Watching another friend make hard life decisions
-Watching people destroy their lives with drugs
-Knowing that the Thief has come to destroy and knowing he is just so good at it
-Navigating relationships
-Reading Emily Dickinson
-Being alone
-Not being alone

PLACES IN MY HEART WHERE THANKSGIVING ABOUNDS
-Sarah, Libby and Jacob
-Freedom in Christ
-Knowing the One who came to give abundant life
-Knowing that he is JUST SO GOOD AT IT


Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Thoughts

That picture has really nothing to do with what I am about to say.  But isn't he a handsome kid?  This was taken at sunset at the beach when we had finished dinner and were all in a relaxed mood that only the beach and the ocean can produce.  :-)

I was telling a friend Saturday night that I had gotten my kids' Easter baskets together and hidden (I don't know why they feel their baskets must be hidden, but that is what we do) and then he said I was a good mom and he told me that he had never received an Easter basket in his whole life.  I knew he had grown up in a dysfunctional family, but this revelation stopped me cold.  I looked at him, seriously puzzled, and said, "Are you kidding?!"  Nope, he wasn't kidding.  No one had ever taken the time to put together even the simplest Easter basket for this child, now grown.  Even a less-than-good mother would give her child an Easter basket, wouldn't she?  From the perspective of my sheltered and comfortable life, this makes no sense to me.  We weren't rich when I was growing up, but my sister and brother and I never went a year without an Easter basket. I suddenly felt so grateful for my "normal" childhood, I wanted to cry.

Thank you mom for always having an Easter basket ready on Easter morning for Melissa and Matt and I.  And thank you dad for working so hard to earn the money with which she was able to buy them.  I love you guys!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Seedlings!

Update from the garden.  A sunlit picture of the fence to keep Rufus out.  And Rufus, being kept out.

Peas!!!!!


Spinach!!!

This is my first real time to put a seed in the ground, care for it, and watch God make it into something good and useful!  It's pretty exciting stuff.  Still waiting on my green beans to emerge.