sisters

we were born on the same day

and sometimes it does seem like we're twins...

{i was her birthday gift when she turned 7}

i feel so blessed to have a sister who is also a cherished friend

next week we'll spend our birthday (3 months late) at ikea

the drive, the pitstops, the laughter, the shopping...our relaxed relationship

i just can't wait

* sure do love my sissy *

anchors

happy monday!

i found this little gem yesterday and keep hitting "replay"

{for the ears and eyes...just beauty FULL!}

when i sing along, i think of my husband first

and then i think of god

both love me just as i am

and in the most lovingly gentle ways

anchor me back down

grOwiNg

when i was in college i took a lot of english classes

because i loved english and each course was an easy "A" for me

until i got dr. demott for american lit...my lazy ways didn't fall under his radar and i did not love his english class

a "d" on a paper!  and when i rewrote it (with little effort), a "c"

but i became a better writer, a better thinker because of dr. demott

and i felt better about that "B" in his class than all my "A's" put together

i am reading two books right now whose authors may just be related to dr. demott


i've been praying for a kick in the pants on behalf of my expanding backside {i love to eat, hate to exercise} and on behalf of my lukewarm spiritual life {how my mind can wander to such great lengths during prayer is beyond me}


from author paul e. miller:


oddly enough, many people struggle to learn how to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God


and this...


so don't hunt for a feeling in prayer.  deep in our psyches we want an experience with God or an experience in prayer.  once we make that our quest, we lose God.  You don't experience God; you get to know him


miller has called my bluff (which seems to be the bluff of a lot of people, which is comforting) and is teaching me to re-think prayer


and from a most surprising author {DJ from "full house"} i am rethinking how i go about weight loss


{her book is getting great reviews}

i nearly laughed out loud when a few nights ago i read this


remember, the heart will deceive us with all sorts of negative thoughts: ..."you're getting older and people can't take the weight off" 


{i have been using this excuse a lot lately!} 

i suppose the biggest lesson i'm gleaning from candace's book has nothing to do with food or weight

but everything to do with willpower, delayed gratification and moderation

{things i already knew...but candace reminds me that it's all about body, mind and spirit together}

i hadn't really planned on reading either of these books 


but i'm glad they have found their way onto my nightstand


i want to grow spiritually and shrink physically {grin} this year


so on this sunny, but wintry cold, day


i leave you to curl up by the fire to read


happily welcoming more wisdom


from unexpected places

well, hello!

backyard sandhill crane, florida 2010

getting ready to go back to work tomorrow

after i hit "post" i will write an assignment for my college students

they will have to turn off their cell phones for a day

and write about how that little action affected their face-to-face communication with others

i wonder if they'll look like a deer in headlights when i explain the assignment

or like this crane when they have to look into another's eyes during a conversation

i'm trying new things this semester...

big ideas...fun activities

i'm ready for that bell to ring!

detour

we stopped here on a visit to see my dad between Christmas and New Year's

paris?

brussels?

germany?

none of the above...

thanks to my generous dad, we were able to treat the kids to this place on our way to visit he and his wife in florida

so unlike us, really

to go off the path when we had such a short time to drive and visit...

a place with lines and crowds...

but these children of ours are growing up too fast

beginning to move towards the edge of our little nest

so we need to fly together now as much as possible...make as many together-memories as possible

for time? it's fleeting!

we visited Hogsmeade!

i've been funny about the kids reading the books...

spread them out so that they read the "darker" books when they were older

have had good discussions through the years about good vs evil,

about allegories (intentional or not),

the creative mind of JK Rowling...

about God

but back to Hogwarts and the town of Hogsmeade...

it was a magical and wonderful family time

rollercoasters & butterbeer!

an experience not to be forgotten

and one more memory tapestry for this mama bird

to add to our little nest

birthday love

have you met EDIE?

i've popped over to visit many times over the few years i've been blogging

her blog is pure eye candy...beautiful colors, amazing photos, great layout

and the energy behind the wordsmith is evident because sometimes edie's words just dance with excitement!

today is edie's birthday and my friend patty is throwing a little party for her

{because patty's an amazing friend, like that} 

and because edie could use a little blog love after a raging fire knocked on their lovely door and turned everything topsy-turvy

patty asks us how edie or her blog have positively impacted us...

and one word pops in my mind: CHEER

when i've popped over for visits, edie always has something positive to say...

her joyful love for her children inspires me to be a better mom...

edie's passionate devotion to Jesus is contagious...

and her happy decor and daring paint colors always make me smile

happy birthday, edie!

this one may be celebrated in a valley instead of on a mountaintop

but the One who created both

will renew your strength

and give you wings like eagles

to soar again

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? {Isaiah 43:19}

livin' outside my own little world in 2011

Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
give me open hands and open doors
put Your light in my eyes and let me see
that my own little world is not about me 
-matthew west

Dear God,

I wish to hold your hand every moment of this new year. Give me courage to be your hands and feet...in my home, in my neighborhood, in your world. I want to follow where you lead me.  

I know there is a bigger picture.

And when people look at me, I want them to see... 

you.

love,

Cathy

January 2, 2011