Making Plans

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord;

plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

Plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Camping with God

photo: 2007 Summer Camp

Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to.
(1 Timothy 6:11)

That is my prayer for our son as I drive him to camp today.

As he jumps off "the blob" into the lake, as he makes new friends, as he studies his Bible with kind (and cool) counselors, as he listens to the band at night while sitting around the breathtaking lake....may he hear your voice through it all.

"I love you, I love you, I love you!"

Water Walking

I am reading Oswald Chambers this morning*and am reminded again to replace fear and worry with Jesus. When Peter saw the wind he was afraid (Matthew 14:29-30). But when his focus was on Jesus, he simply walked on the water.

I like being prepared and organized. But I have taken myself too seriously and instead of walking on water, into the arms of Jesus, I have left my boat and am setting up camp on the shore. Jesus is surely walking closeby on the water, but I am too busy to notice His outstretched hand towards me.

My seaside dwelling is coming along nicely, thank you. I've got quite a beautiful library going for writing puppet scripts and Bible School curriculum. A conservatory for compiling song lists and playing the piano. A kitchen where I am preparing meal schedules and helping my husband coordinate grocery delivery via bush plane.

My seaside house is becoming comfortable and even cozy. I have even built a beautiful balcony overlooking the water. This balcony should be the place I come to pray, but this morning I see cobwebs on my deck chair.

Instead of preparing and handing over, I am beginning to horde and camp. And to be honest, I've almost completely forgotten that there is water a few feet away.

But I want to walk on the water. I have done it before -- holding my Savior's hand. He doesn't want us to "wing it" on this mission we're taking and so we prepare well. But I am sensing it is time to dismantle my little house on the beach, place my efforts in a boat and send them off into His care. And then I, being unencumbered and free, can join Him on the water.

I see Him smiling at me this morning...hand outstretched. "Come," says He.

I want to walk on the water. All that I've need of, His hand will provide. He's always been faithful to me.

Lord, help me to come. Help me to take your hand.

*thanks, Elise, for reminding me to get up this morning to meet with our good God

Gone and Back

photo: the family who prefers lounging--getting ready to hike

(that's a golf-club-hiking stick my Dad's holding)

I'm sorry I didn't let you know we were flying the coop for a few days to experience our annual extended family get-a-way in the hills.

We had fun together, but my favorite part of any trip is coming home. I love our nest! And while birds feather their nests with sticks and such, I like to feather ours with antiques, of which I managed to find a few while gone.

The laundry machine is whirring...baseball game tonight...serious Alaska planning tomorrow.

There's no place like home, and I'm appreciating our little dwelling even more knowing we'll be leaving her again soon.

My First Love

photo: dad and me, 1966

The most important thing a father can do for his children...

is to love their mother.

-Theodore Hesburgh

Loving Mom, Loving Me, and Laughing.

I love you, Dad.

Overwhelming

Just something pretty to remind myself that God will take care of everything.

We continue preparing for our summer visit to the Alaskan bush...

(more later!)

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26

It's Time

She came over and sat on the lawn chair next to me at the pool. We have known each other since the day we walked our high school daughters into kindergarten. She has always reminded me a little bit of the woman at the well. And while I have tried to be an encouragement to her and her children these past years, I have not done enough. (The spirit has nudged me through the years about this woman and sometimes I've obeyed but, sadly, mostly I've ignored.)

So when she came over to me and began talking over the noise of the community swimming pool, I was glad to catch up with her and pleased she would want to share her life with me. She has finally finished her schooling. She is so proud that her eyes fill up as she tells me about completing her coursework. Growing up in the shadow of a "genius brother" she can't quite believe she's graduated. I delight in her accomplishment!

She shares her burdens of trying to raise a pre-teen son by herself. I provide her a recent example of her son taking the higher ground and being an example for my son. I suggest giving her my book written by a cool (male) Christian author about growing up without a dad (now I know why I have a copy of this book, Lord). She gladly accepts the offer. We chat about high school and work and children.

And then she tells me.

As she made one more weary trip to the well, she met a man who promised her abundant life and living water. And she realized this wasn't just any man. This was the man she has been looking for all her life. And she has accepted his offer.

She didn't grow up with religion, she tells me. Her children have never known their creator.

"But it's time" she announces. "It's time."

My heart swells with emotion as I type this morning. Through the din and the clatter of life, One voice continues whispering to each of us "I love you. Follow me. My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30)

There is a time for everything, King Solomon tells us. This time my weary friend said "yes", gathered up her 3 precious children and followed.

Birds of a Feather

photo: gifts awaiting delivery

I do not go looking for new friends. Don't get me wrong, I love meeting new people and consider myself outgoing. But life is full and I have trouble making time for extended family and the wonderful friends I already have.

But last week, God gently dropped a wonderful gift in my already-full nest. Nicole! And I do believe that God went to the same "parts closest" when He created each of our creative, nesting personalities. We speak the same creative language. We have the same eye for accessorizing. We shop the same stores and can rattle off current inventory. We share a similar wit. We're both mothers. We both know Jesus.

And our nests are 100 yards from one another.

Birds are social; they communicate using visual signals and through calls and songs. How wonderful to be singing my own little nesting song in my own little tree, and hear another singing the same song.

I think our singing tickles God even more than it tickles us.

Workshop

I was invited to his workshop when we lived in his village for 6 weeks. One of my first friends during a very lonely time. We laughed and chatted in the workshop. I remember like it was yesterday, the twinkles in his eyes…his upraised eyebrows and deep laughs at my zany-ness. Refreshment for my weary, isolated soul. Oh, did we laugh!

A small, simple structure with a wood stove. Sitting on a little hill thirty feet from a winding river. But as we met in that workshop, Your gracious hand lovingly knit hearts together and transformed a plain wooden shack into a sacred place.

Memories flood my heart as I write about my friend this morning, and a song begins playing in my mind…Holy ground, we’re standing on holy ground. For the Lord is present and where He is is holy. The workshop wasn’t holy in and of itself. It was holy because when I went there to visit my friend, You were always there, too.

Isn’t it funny that the God who created us with a need for people always gives us the people we need? One of the few quotes I've committed to memory immediately after reading. Probably because it is so true.

That lonely summer in a small fishing village, I was longing for a girl friend and lo’ and behold, You sent me a male ivory carver with grandchildren running around. And You grew our friendship not over tea in a warm kitchen somewhere (the expected and hoped for), but in a simple shed (the unexpected and perfect spot).

Love born in an ordinary, unadorned place. But that’s how You do things, isn’t it? You make me smile.

Thank you for giving me one of the very best friends I’ll ever have. I love You.

Thank you, Lord for the workshop, and for the man who spent many hours creating beautiful ivory carvings within it’s walls. My heart overflows with gratefulness this morning knowing that fire only destroyed the building and not the man who made the building so special to me.

We travel to the last frontier exactly one month from today. I am thinking about friends in the village and looking forward, God willing, to our yearly reunion. "Workshop" was originally posted on my former blog on 16 April.

I DO

photo: Homer, AK 2007

June 2, 1990

18 years ago today I promised to love, honor and cherish.

All the days of my life.

Best decision I have ever made.