Wednesday, March 30, 2011

rain
photo: the beautiful life

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key.  ~the eagles

seems to me the key is eucharisteo...grace, thanksgiving, joy
{thank you, Anne Voskamp}

my friend, Ruth, gets it too
{isn't she beautiful?}

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it's worth the virtual trip to go visit and read about how her change in attitude brought gratitude and joy...go ahead just click below...you'll thank me, i promise


It's our lives that are little and we have falsely inflated self, 
and in thanks we decrease and the world returns right.  
I say thanks and I swell with Him, 
and I swell the world 
and He stirs me, joy all afoot.  
ann voskamp

Monday, March 28, 2011

flying


time, that is

it's flying

i did the big haul this morning at all my usual haunts (save Target)...while i was waiting for Penny to slice my turkey breast (low sodium Sara Lee, chipped) i pulled out my grocery list and smiled BIG when i noticed our son had added a request at the end...he even drew me a picture  


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i tossed this beauty into the cart at walmart (of all places)...i've eyed them for years at summer parties but couldn't justify the expense.  but for 6 bucks, i splurged...hurry up summer! (it is in the 40s here this week)

i have let my blog slip...hopefully i won't let it slip-slide away


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March brought lots of stuff with her...another summons for jury duty (argh! i loved doing my civic duty 5 years ago...so proud, i was! but then i got summoned again 2 years later and again this past month.  random-schmandom, i say)  luckily, each saturday morning, bright and early, a recorded lady told me i was not needed that week.  i love that recorded lady.

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the kids had spring break...my husband is on sabbatical...my routine, my computer time...it's all out the window (but that's okay)

still helping my neighbor...other friends are struggling (so much pain just in my little circle)...started a new Bible study i love...trying to keep the house clean...teaching my class...expecting an overnight guest next week...needing to exercise (my husband blinked and lost 20 pounds...i wish his willpower would rub off on me)...need to call lots of far away friends (i really procrastinate making phone calls)...set our graduation party date and need to begin plans...trying to make LENT meaningful...beginning ALASKA plans and meetings

i finally told our son to quit asking me what time his practice is every day and to check my calendar...i'm getting a stomach ache with all the sports practices and games this spring (and those coaches change the schedule mid-stream all the time!)

so when i need a breather from my good, busy life (i really am so grateful for the time He's given me...the people...the activities) i've been cranking j lo.  you'll see...she does a heart good--gets the body moving, motivates a person to clean...and exercise (ye gads, she looks great) 

alright...so that's my catch up post

time to go pop some tater tots in the oven, throw a salad together...cut up that good rotisserie chicken i picked up today (gourmet meal, i tell ya)

how in the world are YOU?

Monday, March 21, 2011

hey, bud!

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oh, what a glorious sight you are, my little buds!  you spell H O P E just by being your beautiful little selves.

i raked lots of leaves yesterday afternoon...just decided to get out there and scoop up the dreary remnants of a looooooonnnnnnnng winter.

and under all that brown leafy death...behold!

burgundy and green LIFE

i smiled right out loud at the surprise

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it's spring break here this week {although i'm still working}

baseball and softball season stepping up to bat 

dentist appointments and hair cuts and a new grand niece to visit

and then the normal...grocery shopping, helping my neighbor, laundry, cooking, grading papers, keeping up with Bible study lessons (oh, it's a good one...the Psalms of Ascent -- i do love teacher Beth Moore), working out, driving kids to practice...

even with a long to-do list i have a get-up-and-go feeling this morning...

a bird-singing, breeze-blowing, SPRING in my step

i could just hug my little buds

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SPRING IS {FINALLY} HERE

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A GOOD WORD

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our daughter saying goodbye (and being lifted up) to a family friend, AK 2010

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchardthings like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.    -galations 5:22-24


amen

Sunday, March 13, 2011

joy sprout

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Man tearfully hugs his dog, after being found by a firefighter. From Sendai-shi, Wakabayashi-ku (Tokyo Shinbun)


thank you, God



for being everywhere

Thursday, March 10, 2011

who would have thought...

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people often ask me how Alaska has affected our children

{they were 6, 8 and 11 when we first lived in the bush}

and to tell you the truth...i really don't know how to answer them anymore

because serving God by loving others has changed them

and is now part of the fiber of who they are

how they look at other kids...

other people...

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how they live their faith...

how they view God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit

yes, they're normal kids

{my husband is now almost fully gray}

but Alaska has changed their souls

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and when someone asks me

"has your time in Alaska affected the kids?"

my heart overflows and my words are few

yes. i answer

it has

Friday, March 4, 2011

fresh

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source: googleimage

been cleaning and painting the house

i actually hired harold and the purple crayon to do the painting

{what a luxury...i'm usually the painter...his name is not really harold and the purple crayon, but i think it should be since he's a painter and his name is harold...even though i always call him howard by mistake}

benjamin moore "white cloud"...it's F R E S H & C L E A N

and so B R I G H T that i told our son to shut the front door...i thought the bright light was the sun shining in

spring is right around the corner...and it feels so good to do some 

SPRING!  fixing up...it's doing my soul good

the bread truck picture, you ask? 

i just love it...i could eat french or italian bread every day...all day...i once ate a dozen hard rolls in about 30 minutes...i was 12 but i could {easily} still do it

alrighty...got some more cleaning to do...playing "Stacey Kent" radio on pandora...my good candles burning...hot cup of coffee in hand

have a fresh and bright weekend

may you eat all the hot, crusty bread your heart desires

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source: googleimage
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