Catching Up

Happy Sunday!

Blogger won't let me post a picture of my FREE furniture to show you. But as soon as I can, I will.

Today is our baby's 10th birthday. He has a 102 degree fever :( Hard to believe he has hit the double digits. It's all a blur from here.

Oh, who am I kidding? It's been a blur with all 3 so far (except the colicky stage with our daughter -- that was slowwwww motion).

You are loved today and everyday by the God of the universe.

That's something to smile about.

For sure.

Climbing Companion

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him. Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions. Matthew 5:1-4

Lord, so often I choose to sit down on the trail and watch you go on ahead. Help me to climb. Amen

How Do I Love Thee?

Too many ways to count.

ALASKA 2009

Sweet Friend in Alaska wearing our 2007 t-shirt

We're gearing up in earnest, asking God what He's doing in the Last Frontier that we can be a part of. Plane tickets purchased. Team from church forming.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

So if this were your (possible) theme for ministry activities, what kind of t-shirt would you design?

To Those Who Wait?

Good things come!

Wanted: Velvet jacket. Fitted. 2% spandex. Anthropologie or J. Crew style. Walmart price.

Got it!

Moving down my "wants" list: real cowboy boots. Size 7. Brown. Classic with an edge. Lucchese style. You know the price point.

Beauty Parlor Angels

I tried to mind my own business. Really, I did.

It's just that I had to pipe up.

"Excuse me. I guess if I had never read a Bible before, or been to church...ummm, uh...I don't know that I would really pick up the King James version and read it. If your goal is to have your hairdresser actually read a Bible, you might give her The Message instead."

I had to tell these two grandmothers beside me, in the Bible aisle at the Christian bookstore, about this contemporary version of God's Word.

The one woman held firmly to the King James version, but looked over at me and said "it's for our hairdresser and she doesn't go to church and she's

never read a Bible."

I hold out the only paperback copy of The Message the store has. The copy I am getting ready to buy for my friend. "Here, you can have this one if you want."

"I don't know," she says. "I've never heard of this version."

As she leafs through it, her friend and I chat a bit. About different translations and Paul's warning about changing the Bible (that's why she reads the King James, she says). I smile and nod. I understand where she's coming from, but

what good is a Bible that's never opened?

(Other than making the 3 of us feel good?)

The friend picks up a leather bound copy of The Message and hands me mine back.

"Well, I don't know about this...but I'll give it to her," she says abruptly.

I'm inspired by these women, these beauty parlor angels, who have come to the bookstore to find a Bible to try to help their hairdresser find Jesus.

And I'm now praying for a hairdresser I'll never know.

But I have a sneaking suspicion I'll meet her one day in heaven.

Because Jesus is going through an awful lot right now to tell her He loves her.

Let me tell you why you are here...you're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God.

Matthew 5:13-14,16 (The Message)

Real Simple Art

I opened up my Real Simple magazine the other day and was drawn to this photograph of an older couple clearly enjoying each other. When I read the caption, I knew I would tear out the page.

I found a frame that looks like old barn wood (Big Lots - 6 bucks) and

ta-da!

Real Simple decorating.