I n s i d e O u t

Snowfalls at Night

2012-01-13T23:34:00.001-05:00

I used to love when, on a cold dark night, it began to snow. I watched it with my nose against my second-story window. It was a safe feeling, knowing how cold it was on the other side of the glass and being snug inside. Sometimes, from downstairs in the kitchen, Pop would flip the switch and turn the flood lights on. The light illumined each snowflake as it fell against the blackness. I love this memory.

Photo courtesy of kitisconfused at photobucket.com

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Snow

2012-01-12T14:15:00.001-05:00

The first thick fluffy snowfall of the season :-)

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The LightKeeper

2012-01-05T22:27:00.001-05:00

"And God saw the light." --Genesis 1:4

This morning we noticed the goodness of the light, and the Lord's dividing it from the darkness, we now note the special eye which the Lord had for the light. "God saw the light"--He looked at it with complacency, gazed upon it with pleasure, saw that it "was good." If the Lord has given you light, dear reader, He looks on that light with peculiar interest; for not only is it dear to Him as His own handiwork, but because it is like Himself, for "He is light." Pleasant it is to the believer to know that God's eye is thus tenderly observant of that work of grace which He has begun. He never loses sight of the treasure which He has placed in our earthen vessels. Sometimes we cannot see the light, but God always sees the light, and that is much better than our seeing it. Better for the judge to see my innocence than for me to think I see it. It is very comfortable for me to know that I am one of God's people--but whether I know it or not, if the Lord knows it, I am still safe. This is the foundation, "The Lord knoweth them that are His." You may be sighing and groaning because of inbred sin, and mourning over your darkness, yet the Lord sees "light" in your heart, for He has put it there, and all the cloudiness and gloom of your soul cannot conceal your light from His gracious eye. You may have sunk low in despondency, and even despair; but if your soul has any longing towards Christ, and if you are seeking to rest in His finished work, God sees the "light." He not only sees it, but He also preserves it in you. "I, the Lord, do keep it." This is a precious thought to those who, after anxious watching and guarding of themselves, feel their own powerlessness to do so. The light thus preserved by His grace, He will one day develop into the splendour of noonday, and the fulness of glory. The light within is the dawn of the eternal day.

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(This is Spurgeon's devotion for this evening. I needed it.)

2012-01-04T23:19:00.001-05:00

"Do what God asks you to do; God will do more than you can ask Him to do." Andrew Murray

Don't envy the folks who seem to prosper as they follow their own path. Follow God's path. He does not forget you.

"Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace." Psalm 37:37

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2011-12-29T21:55:00.001-05:00

"Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
'My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God'?
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength."

Isaiah 40:27-29

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Feeling Fragile?

2011-12-29T12:16:00.001-05:00

What to Do If You Wake Up Feeling Fragile - Desiring God

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Calmer of The Storm

2011-12-29T00:04:00.001-05:00

This was the best version I could find on YouTube. :-)

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Spurgeon's Devotion for This morning

2011-12-28T21:58:00.001-05:00

Meditation for This Morning by C. H. Spurgeon

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Lies

2011-12-19T23:34:00.001-05:00

"No one likes me" "I'm rejected" "I'm better than him/her"

Do I lie to myself? Do I learn to adopt and nourish lies about myself or my situation? Yes. And then I languish in the feelings of frustration which follow. There is a chapter in the Psalms which begins by asking who can abide in God's presence. It talks about a person of integrity, who loves God with his whole heart, and because of this, the nature of God Himself flows out through this man's life. There is one sentence which has particularly grabbed me: "[he] speaks the truth in his heart...". I have always taken this to mean that I must be honest with myself and with God - excuses for sin or denial that I am in sin (if I am and don't want to face it), or dishonesty of that nature. I have recently begun to consider another way of having dishonesty in my heart. This happens when I indulge in self-pity. It happens when I feel rejected, or sometimes when I feel envious. The lie is that others don't find me likeable. Further, the lie may say that I am better than someone. These two lies often approach me hand in hand, even though they sound like opposites. I begin to wonder why others should be accepted and liked where I feel shut out, even though I consider myself superior to them in some way. The truth is that I am neither better than any person on this planet, nor am I disliked by everyone. I am not alone, I am not superior and certainly not worthless. These are lies. And the very knowledge of that helps me to begin the battle of crushing them.

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Home.

2011-12-15T23:03:00.000-05:00

I began to realize how fundamentally attached I am to this world. The thing that made me realize just how much value I place on this passing life was that I thought about some goals that I hold very dear to my heart. These goals are wholesome and I believe are pleasing to God as part of His plan - but their completion requires that I be here on this earth. I began to fear that the turbulence in the world as part of the end times would interfere with my cherished hopes. And then I thought, "If my hopes and affections were placed first in Christ, I would rest in His plan for my future. I wouldn't need to fear or be anxious that things won't turn out as I had hoped - whatever my Father wills would bring my deepest peace and truest satisfaction." I am so far from this love of my heavenly Father and His ways! I desire it, but I haven't fully acquired it yet. Please Lord, "create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me..."

Little by Little

2011-12-11T22:50:00.000-05:00

"Little by little, Every day
Little by little, In every way
Jesus is changing me
He's changing me

Since I've made this turn-about face
I've been growing In His grace
Jesus is changing me

Sometimes it's slow going
But there's a knowing
That one day perfect I shall be!"

Have you ever heard this song? I hadn't until my pastor mentioned it in a sermon. Now we sing it frequently during worship service. It is such an encouragement!

Who is Our God?

2011-12-11T22:09:00.005-05:00

"That was it! It wasn't that I needed the security of a certain amount of money; it was that I needed the security of a relationship. I walked up the crunchy pebblewalk feeling more and more certain that I was on the verge of something exciting....If I were going to give my life as a servant of the King, I had to know that King. What was He like? In what way could I trust Him? In the same way I trusted a set of impersonal laws? Or could I trust Him as a living leader, as a very present commander in battle? The question was central. Because, if He were a King in name only....I would remain a Christian, but I would know that my religion was only a set of principles, excellent and to be followed, but hardly demanding devotion. Suppose on the other hand that I were to discover God to be a Person, in the sense that He communicated and cared and loved and led. That was something quite different. That was the kind of King I would follow into any battle." -Brother Andrew, God's Smuggler

:-D

2011-12-06T19:19:00.001-05:00

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hi there.

2011-12-04T22:51:00.001-05:00

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Hallelujah

2011-11-20T14:18:00.001-05:00

This must have been fun to put together :-)

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Responsibility

2011-11-08T23:02:00.001-05:00

"We are to be self-controlled people who take heed to our own souls. God has given us power over our own spirits. You don't have to give way to foolish behavior." I view this quote by Nancy Wilson as an encouragement and challenge combined. Tap into the Vine, and stay there. Through Him we can do all He wills.

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Emily

2011-11-06T20:39:00.003-05:00

Doing Vs. Being

2011-11-04T20:20:00.004-04:00

"The moments I truly live are the moments when I act with my entire will" Oswald Chambers. The disconnect between life and religion, solved? When "should" becomes "be", and the whole beautiful harmony of Christlike living begins. Never achievable apart from Christ, no strength to do this apart from His strength. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Who I Am by Jason Gray

2011-10-10T17:19:00.001-04:00

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Why I Believe Abortion is Wrong

2011-10-01T22:14:00.001-04:00

This video is gritty...and true.

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Now's Glitter

2011-09-05T21:37:00.002-04:00

You can buy 100 pounds of junk, or you can save up and buy a diamond. You sort of distantly know you might possibly be able to get a diamond (or at least, the people who do the right thing do, somewhere), but it takes patience and endurance and hard work, and all these flashy sort of clunky baubles dangle in your eyes like candy. You hear that they’ll rot your teeth or turn your neck green, but they’re so shiny right here and now. So shiny as they clink around together on your neck all twisting and linking, and catching on your clothes. They’re teachers you will remember though. But will they make you better after showing you their corrosion? Or have they bled just enough into you to give you a little taste for more? Or have they left enough of a mark that you’ve got to get some more, and keep getting more, just to cover up the tainted color?

Sittin' in the Sunshine

2011-08-02T21:52:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when my Jeep sits in the sun on a hot afternoon. Within 5 minutes of starting it up the temp reads cooler (well, relatively - its been super hot in general). In case the pic is too blurry, it shows my Jeep's little info screen reading the outside temperature at 102 degrees.

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Filled to all the Fullness

2011-07-19T19:14:00.004-04:00

"A holy, joyful expectancy is of the very essence of true waiting. And, this is not only true in reference to the many varied requests every believer has to make, but most especially to the one great petition which ought to be the chief thing every heart seeks for itself---that the life of God in the soul may have full sway. That Christ may be fully formed within, and that we may be filled to all the fullness of God. This is what God has promised. This is what God's people too little seek, very often because they do not believe it possible. This is what we ought to seek and dare to expect, because God is able and waiting to work it in us." -Excerpt from "Waiting on God", by Andrew Murray. I may have posted this excerpt before...but I still like it :-). I recommend this book; it has encouraged me so much.

Great Are You

2011-07-15T10:55:00.001-04:00

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Patty Cake

2011-07-07T21:28:00.001-04:00

Lol :)

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Princess Shoes

2011-07-05T23:13:00.001-04:00

I snapped this picture in DSW while shopping for shoes to wear to a wedding. These didn't really go with the dress I'd bought, so i didnt buy them even though I fell in love with them. One day they will be mine. :-)

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God's Love

2011-06-30T22:40:00.001-04:00

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; ..." Psalm 139:17-18

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Beauty and Forgiveness

2011-06-14T00:58:00.001-04:00

"I'll trade these ashes in for beauty, and wear forgiveness like a crown..."

So lovely.

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The Vine

2011-06-09T13:56:00.001-04:00

I'm thankful to Jesus for revealing more of Himself to me...It gets better and better.

2011-06-04T22:01:00.001-04:00

I Forgot How Much I Love Pictures

2011-06-01T11:50:00.003-04:00

I took these a summer or two ago with my brother's Canon.

Colors?

2011-05-24T13:51:00.001-04:00

The very last ingredient on a can of Red Bull: "colors" ..........What?

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What Do I Know of Holy

2011-05-21T22:38:00.001-04:00

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He Is

2011-05-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

Firsts

2011-05-15T15:41:00.001-04:00

This weekend I have experienced several firsts! It was quite a busy and varied weekend. Here is the list of my "firsts":

First 5k run! My time was 28:30 and out of the 40 women in my age bracket, I placed 8th. Next time I plan to be faster, but for my first race I was pleased. There were around 1,000 runners and walkers participating! I was a little nervous but not as freaked out as I thought I would be. The start of the race was exciting, because everyone was waiting en mass for the gun to signal the start. One good thing is that if I looked fidgety, no one need know if it was nerves or me trying to keep my muscles warmed up :-). It also helped to be there with my friend Kendra - her whole family participated either by running or walking.

First Barbecue Festival! The 5k was actually a part of Owensboro's International Barbecue Festival (it's a big deal!). After we ran, Kendra and I got cleaned up and headed out to experience barbecue heaven. Which leads me to my next first...

First taste of mutton! Kendra bought me a mutton barbecue sandwich. Apparently mutton is a big deal at the festival - and it was yummy!

And my last "first": I swished my hands around in the Ohio river. Owensboro, like nearby Lousiville, is on the Ohio, and though I have been on the water, I had never actually gotten wet from the water. The river was way over its banks. It looked sort of funny to see several light poles rising up out of the water near the edge. I can only guess, but I think there must have been some sort of docks or park area down there, all covered with water.

That's all for now. Now I am relaxing and plotting how to get into better shape for my next 5k, whenever that happens :-).

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I Truly LOLed

2011-05-05T14:01:00.001-04:00

Watch "Ultimate Dog Tease" on YouTube

From Glory to Glory

2011-05-04T00:51:00.001-04:00

I get so frustrated when I cannot see the fruit of the Spirit perfected in me all at once. I want to see each part of me that needs changing made perfect in a snap. But it hasn't happened like that. It is a process: a continual renewing of the mind. I learn bit by bit to defer in all things to Christ's example. One day it will all be complete, in heaven. For now, I will rest patiently in the hands of the Master Gardener.

Double Rainbow

2011-05-03T23:18:00.001-04:00

We've had so much rain these past weeks, it was sweet to see this. I couldn't capture it completely with my phone, but it was a complete rainbow from end to end.

So...?

2011-05-02T21:18:00.001-04:00

Pounding out a workout on the eliptical with Fur Elise pumping through my earbuds. Yup.

Birthday

2011-04-25T10:34:00.001-04:00

A few gifts I received from my nephew :). My favorite is the pink "robot".

I Love Spring

2011-04-18T12:58:00.001-04:00

I was driving by this field near my house and noticed the vivid yellow-orange mixed with green. I pulled off and ran over to get a few shots with my phone. It's better in person :-)

Smooth

2011-04-15T00:55:00.001-04:00

I had the drawer open to put away clothes, and Duchess ever so coolly slid in. And would not get out. She was still there a while later, and still wouldn't get out. She's not the touchy-feely type and not my cat, so I was leery of reaching in to scoop her out. I tried faking her out and completely closing the drawer with her inside (hoping she wouldn't like that and decide drawer-sitting was too risky) but that didn't work either, and since I hadn't the heart to leave her in a closed drawer, I left it open and allowed her the coveted spot. I was a tad jealous: it did look like a perfect cozy spot.

Morristown, TN

2011-04-14T08:19:00.001-04:00

An ode to Morristown, NJ, and only four hours from my house! I was surprised to find this place when a friend and I took a weekend trip recently. Unfortunately it was closed the day we were in Morristown. :-(

Stopped in My Tracks

2011-04-13T17:04:00.001-04:00

These little boots! Awww :-)

2011-04-12T11:10:00.001-04:00

Tuesday

2011-04-12T11:05:00.002-04:00

Enjoy today!

2011-04-11T09:16:00.001-04:00

Watch "Stronger by Mandisa (From the Upcoming Album "What If We Were Real")" on YouTube

Luigi's

2011-04-08T16:43:00.001-04:00

Luigi's restaurant in Morristown, TN. If you are in that area, hungry, and lean towards a thinner, almost NY-style pizza, I highly recommend it.

Somewhere at Sunset

2011-04-07T22:35:00.001-04:00

Overlook between Morristown, TN and Middlesboro, KY

Nosey!

2011-04-05T00:01:00.002-04:00

:-D

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Self Portrait

2011-03-31T22:48:00.001-04:00

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"Though None Go With Me"

2011-03-30T22:03:00.002-04:00

It sort of struck me this evening while reading a Psalm that David was a real man. He really faced a lot of garbage in His life. And He really trusted a real God. And God really delivered Him. Really. The Bible is full of accounts from the lives of real people who lived real lives and experienced the living God through all sorts of circumstances. So, no matter what the future holds or how many people I know fall away or deny this gospel, I am not alone in this faith. Not only does God go with me, but I have the faithful witnesses of the countless souls who lived it before me. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2. I highly suggest reading chapter 11; it talks about particular "witnesses" who help to make up this "cloud". :)

Sound Counsel

2011-03-30T17:12:00.001-04:00

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

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Reminder

2011-03-26T23:23:00.001-04:00

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Gulp, Gulp :)

2011-03-26T15:35:00.001-04:00

A nice full belly. I like making my car happy.

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Surprise

2011-03-12T19:00:00.002-05:00

You lovely Spring, you. Well, almost.

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Saturday

2011-03-12T14:46:00.001-05:00

Saturday afternoon at Panera Bread. I needed a bit of a respite. I am glad this place exists. :-)

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2011-03-05T14:12:00.006-05:00

Highways

2011-02-21T23:34:00.001-05:00

"...I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer." -Ps. 17:4
It makes sense. If you wanted to keep yourself from being eaten by a lion, you wouldnt walk a path that you knew was made and frequented by lions. If we know that a particular place, behavior, etc makes it tough for us to resist temptation or hold fast to the convictions birthed in us by God's word, we ought to avoid it whenever possible. For me, these "paths of the destroyer" are sometimes small and subtle, and might seem silly to others. But each of us has limits, boundaries set by the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. When we listen, we keep from falling.

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A Little Bit of Calm

2011-02-17T16:51:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love those snapshots in time when you find a quiet spot to just....be....still? I do. :-)

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Hurrah!

2011-01-26T14:43:00.002-05:00

Today I came into the basement at the house of the family I nanny for and noticed this arrangement on the couch. Check out the striking pose of the right-most G.I. Joe. :-D

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Puppy Snot

2011-01-25T20:49:00.003-05:00

I love washing dog snot off of windows. Don't you? :-D ******************Thanks for the photo goes to __gofigure at photobucket.com

...For God Has Willed...

2011-01-18T22:44:00.001-05:00

"...And though this world with devils filled
should threaten to undo us
We will not fear for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us..."

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Something that Sings

2011-01-13T21:54:00.004-05:00

I wanted to write something
And I wanted it to sing
I didn't want it to be a song, yet
I wanted it to sing in your bones
And make you feel things
Like a shock-red flower
Like deep blue velvet
Or the stars, those famous stars
That so many have looked at, and felt.

To Get the Ball Rolling Again

2011-01-04T19:35:00.004-05:00

      I haven't written much about my thoughts or life lately. And that's OK... but I miss it. I just haven't felt like it for a while. And then there's that frustrating tendency I have to want to start typing and have it be beautiful and deep and profound and edited perfectly at the first shot. Oh, and interesting, so that you might want to actually read it ;-). I've learned that it just ain't like that, that I gotta just start typing and let it roll. Editing can come later if the impulse arrives.
     I am such an odd combination of up-tight and free-spirited. Sigh. And that reminds me of an epiphany I had recently. Let me start by explaining my position on the subject of labels (as they refer to people and life in general): They don't work. The thing is, people just don't fit perfectly into one box with a typed label on the front. They might fit mostly, but some blob of personality will stick out the handle-hole of the box, or their head will keep the lid from shutting down tight, or their stomach will start to growl, and the whole neat and orderly aspect of labeled boxes is negated.
     On the other hand, what if nothing in life was categorized? What if you wanted a book from the library, and then walked into the library and saw piles of books lying around with no order? Philosophy books buried beneath teen magazines and rubbing spines with Richard Scarry? You'd probably start feeling overwhelmed and freaked out, and be sorely tempted to walk out without even attempting to locate the book you wanted.
     You see, labels and categories are the supporting structure, not the substance, of our lives. We cannot focus so minutely on the letters and lines that we lose sight of the things of value. The real stuff...things which are slippery. The breathing substance of living. People, emotions, situations... all are slippery things. They just are what they are - and they are not the labels we place on them. The labels merely help us locate or keep track of something deeper.
     Imagine a book which expounds on all sorts of deep and meaningful and profound issues on life. The letters are formed into words, there are paragraphs and chapters and page numbers, a spine and a cover. All those things help to deliver and make accessible the ideas in the book - but the book is not the spine or pages or ink. It's the thoughts that those things try to solidify.

***photo courtesy of LuckySharp at photobucket.com

Hit the Road, Jack.

2011-01-03T20:44:00.001-05:00

Caffeine...............such a love/hate relationship I have with you. You perk me up for a time, and then turn ugly as time wears on. I'm sick of the roller coaster! I am emotional enough without having to process through a caffeine crash. Don't be sad, for I will still enjoy you in the mornings and other occasions. But the time has come to step back in our relationship. I am tired of trusting you only to have you abandon me soon after. Au revoir, caffeine!

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Let Us Not Grow Weary

2010-12-21T01:13:00.001-05:00

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:7-9

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Wow

2010-12-19T23:19:00.001-05:00

Thank God for moms. Where would we be without them?!

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Alarm, Cruel Enemy

2010-12-08T13:04:00.003-05:00

Alarm, Alarm/ Wake me not/ I'd rather sleep/ To dream and plot/ And not be faced/ With cold hard day/ To rise and go - / I'd rather stay! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photo courtesy of prfreak at photobucket.com

Distance to the Top

2010-12-02T20:15:00.003-05:00

I was praying and feeling how far I am from where I ought to be. And it occurred to me that maybe sometimes when the Bible talks about patience, it is referring to the patience it takes to walk up the mountain to the goal. I can't reach the top in one big step - but that doesn't give me an excuse to not even try. I must realize that one trusting baby step is more progress than many a hopeless gaze at the pinnacle. God will bring me there in time.**********************************************************************************************************photo courtesy of kathya1204 at photobucket.com

First Post From the New Phone

2010-11-28T19:41:00.002-05:00

Hello! Yup, i've got my new phone at last!

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Thankful

2010-11-18T01:09:00.000-05:00

Today I am very, very thankful for my church family.

Shallow?

2010-11-13T10:22:00.003-05:00

Hi there, Saturday. Oh, and hello to anyone who might be reading this. Today is Saturday. Yesterday was Friday. I am brilliant. For months now (since this past Spring) I have been eagerly waiting for my ATT upgrade to roll around so that I can order a new cell phone. You see, in the Spring I went to Cumberland Gap. I hiked. It rained. And rained. And rained. And my phone didn't come out alive. Thankfully our family has saved all the working phones we've used since we signed up for cell service in Kentucky, and I was able to fall back on a couple old (I mean OLD) phones while waiting for the upgrade. I was really REALLY tempted to bite the bullet and just order a new phone at the best price I could find, but I got to thinking and decided that since I had a working phone (albeit from the dinosaur age) and the upgrade/renewal would give me a big discount, I could have the patience to wait 6 months for a new phone. It's been rough. I know that sounds pathetic, but in the age we live in, technology makes a big difference. I'm not saying we can't live without certain things - I'm saying that some things become a lot more easy and convenient with a little help from technology. This Thursday is the day. I have been counting down. And it's gettin' close. Happy Saturday. *********************************************************************************************************Image courtesy of markmun4 at Photobucket.com

Thankful

2010-11-12T09:55:00.001-05:00

Today I am thankful for Fall. Especially for Fall evenings, when it just makes everything so cozy.

Giving Thanks Challenge!

2010-11-03T13:34:00.004-04:00

I have decided to join the Giving Thanks Challenge, hosted by Leah over at the South Breeze Farm blog. No reason not to be thankful :-). Today I am thankful for a job I enjoy. I get to practice housekeeping and mommy skills while getting paid. The couple I work for is very good to me, and the little boy and I get along well.

I Cannot: God Can

2010-11-03T00:30:00.004-04:00

My world is enclosed in a reality that God is not limited by. You see, He controls reality... He is God. He is in the business of doing the impossible. He created the world, after all! He sent His Son into the world born of a virgin. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He heals miraculously. And yet I limit Him based on the "reality" encased in this temporal world... I have been reading Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. Murray talks about how we get frustrated, beating our heads against the wall because we consistently fail in our attempts to be wholly devoted and surrendered to Christ's will. Very shortly put, he points out that "...the things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:37) Is it in coming to the end of myself that I will find the solution?

Grab Bag: Serious & Silly Stuff

2010-10-31T13:20:00.003-04:00

This morning I wore a sweater that was clean ... but since the last time I wore it was to dinner at a friend's house, it smelled like dinner. And I don't really want to smell like dinner at church. So - I'm a genius right - I put on the sweater and then hastily slipped into the laundry room, grabbed the Febreze, sprayed a cloud into the air and then walked through it. Voila. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it actually.. but the sweater wasn't dirty! Just aromatic :-p. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the serious note -- Singing songs that ask God to let His Spirit rain on us, for His Spirit to move, etc., often scare me. I've always pictured God moving my heart in a direction that I'm scared silly to follow in. This morning it occurred to me that when His Spirit comes, it's sufficient. Not that there is no quiet waiting on God for preparation and direction, but that's the point: it's all in God. He shows us what to do, and He is our ability to do it. In correction, He is the source for a change of my heart. In stepping out, He is the strength and courage. He is all. Oh, isn't He good to show us these things?!

Have you seen Him?

2010-10-29T13:24:00.004-04:00

C.H. Spurgeon's evening devotion for today (Oct 29). Worth a look :) You can find it at www.ccel.org

Photo Shoot with Abigail!

2010-10-16T23:17:00.007-04:00

Recently I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot of my dear sweet friend Abigail. We had a lot of fun and Abby was a wonderful model! Look at that beautiful smile.

Prayer for Authenticity.

2010-10-11T23:07:00.003-04:00

Lord - my Healer, Savior, Righteousness...my All in All. Help me to be authentically all in for You. All Yours, always.

Flower Fest

2010-10-02T15:50:00.006-04:00

STOP!

2010-10-02T14:27:00.006-04:00

I watch stoplights. What I mean is, If I am sitting in my car at a red light, I feel compelled to keep an eye on the light controlling the cross-traffic - I like to know when it turns yellow, and then red. That way, I know when my green light is coming. Do you watch stoplights?

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Photo courtesy of joycechan2009 at Photobucket.com

Something Lost

2010-09-24T22:29:00.006-04:00

"It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie -- harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things.... A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well.... I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind." -Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn (excerpt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A woman's calling is noble, and good, and so very, very vital. As women, we must never consider the home to be second in importance to the workplace.

The never-ending, seldom-posted Colorado narrative: Wednesday in Pagosa Springs

2010-09-22T22:27:00.000-04:00

Wednesday. Wednesday was the day we totally chilled out. It was a grey day with a light rain, just the sort of day to take it easy and really settle into vacation mode. After sleeping in, I left Mary to snooze away the rest of the morning and I went for a run in "our" neighborhood. It really was that; I believe I've mentioned before that we were in a substantial condo community. For reasons I do not know, it tickled me to be able to step out of our door and go for a jog while on vacation. Maybe it's because on family vacations growing up we usually crammed as much carefully planned activity into the day as possible - leaving little room for individual reflection or exploration (which is perfectly logical since as a family there was necessarily planning and structure involved to keep things running smoothly). Those vacations were a blast in their own right, but this was my very first absolutely grown-up trip - no parents, no siblings, hundreds of miles from anyone I know. This is going to sound awful, but...it was great :-). Don't be shocked - you know that while we all thoroughly enjoy familiar home-settings and family close by, sometimes it is delightful to scamper away on your own now and again to breath new air and see new things. I digress! My jog was wet. Wet and cold. I was a wet, cold popsicle when I marched back into the condo. I got thawed and cleaned up, Mary got herself up and moving, and we decided to run to the shopping district to see what we could see (or rather, buy) And so we did. The shops were interesting. You had your regular assortment of things you could've bought in any state combined with authentic and local "stuff". One of our favorite stores was an interesting gift shop connected to a real-live boot, hat, and ranch/farm outfitter. You could just tell that real people could come in and buy a hat worthy of wearing around the local cows. We spent money. Yes, a little too much money. My justification was "for Pete's sake, we are in Colorado...you don't get to do this every day. I'm spending the money and doing it right!" We checked out a local artists' shop - where multiple local artists sold their stuff. There were striking photographs, paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, crafts, and other handmade gems. We picked up a carefully chosen gift or two there during our stay. The end of this fruitful day? How about a hot soak in natural springs...beneath a night sky... The top photo was taken across the river from the hot springs place. Do you see the blue umbrellas? They are in the area that the hot springs/hot tubs were. The bottom photo is yours truly, keeping house in our condo :-)

"I Smile at My Enemies"

2010-09-21T10:54:00.002-04:00

"And Hannah prayed and said: 'My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.'" 1 Samuel 2:1

To Think On

2010-09-14T13:48:00.003-04:00

"It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it." — Oscar Wilde

Christa Wells: My Best Remedy

2010-09-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

Stumbled across this video while blog-hopping tonight...lovely.

A Warm Yellow Cupcake

2010-09-12T16:02:00.002-04:00

A warm yellow cupcake - before icing adds its gaudy touch. I love to break open the cupcake and eat it in pieces. Yes, I do enjoy cupcakes with icing - and icing can help redeem a sub-par cupcake... but a nice moist yellow cupcake is the stuff. Icing sometimes complicates things unpleasantly. Above is a shot of the cupcakes I made this afternoon. Yes, I iced them. I told you I do not despise icing! I did, however, eat one plain. :-)

Autumn

2010-09-07T21:02:00.000-04:00

Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. ~Samuel Butler

marigold

2010-09-04T20:06:00.002-04:00

"nothing in my hand i bring"

2010-09-01T12:11:00.003-04:00

"A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord." - C.H. Spurgeon

The Bridge Grating by Rebecca Lange

2010-08-23T23:21:00.004-04:00

I think about the holes in the bridge grating ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every time I walk over it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not always the same thoughts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sometimes I wonder ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If little shoes would stick through if a kid walked over it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And whether they thought of that when they made it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whether anybody thinks of these things for safety’s sake ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think how dreadful and yet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How funny it would be if I dropped something important ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My phone down through the rusty grating ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Into the green spongy stuff that lies on top of the smelly water ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I always have to decide ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whether I’ll walk on the bar-shaped strips of concrete ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That I assume were placed there for the benefit of car tires, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So they don’t have to go over the grating. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Or whether I’ll walk carefully over the grating. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know I won’t fall through, but there’s the thought ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What if I catch my shoe somewhere, trip, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And throw my keys into the lake.

I Ask You by Billy Collins

2010-08-21T16:06:00.001-04:00

I Ask You by Billy Collins Love this imagery...

And the Point Is...

2010-08-19T10:47:00.005-04:00

Baby Joanna! My time in Michigan couldn't have ended with a sweeter arrival. My aunt and uncle are the blessed parents of a darling new baby girl. I have been editing these photos bit by bit, but I've finally got them done.

Greenfield Village

2010-08-14T20:18:00.005-04:00

These pictures were taken in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. The workshop pictured is part of the Menlo Park complex - Thomas Edison's actual laboratory! I visited Greenfield Village while staying with my aunt and uncle this summer. Well worth the visit.

It's me, for real.

2010-08-12T19:03:00.006-04:00

Oh dear! What a dreadful long time since I posted last... to be honest, I logged on a few times and just didn't feel it, so I logged off. No posts. Oh well. Sorry. :-) Since I'm sitting here tired to the point of ridiculousness (if that's not a word I apologize in shame) getting poked by the edges of a Red Bull crash with a cup of coffee steaming beneath my nose, I feel compelled to share this quote. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "As soon as coffee is in your stomach, there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move... similes arise, the paper is covered. Coffee is your ally and writing ceases to be a struggle." -Honore de Balzac ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above photo is at Greenfield Village in Michigan. More about that another time! :-) And more photos later, too. Promise!

2010-08-02T09:15:00.002-04:00

Babies are the sweetest things...Joanna Jubilee was born to my aunt and uncle last Monday. She is a sweet, cuddly little darling! A very contented baby too - a blessing we all give thanks for! I hope to get some pictures up in the next couple of weeks. If not of Joanna, then at least a few of the pictures I've snapped to make memories of Michigan. Have a great day!

Green Day

2010-07-24T11:14:00.003-04:00

Michigan is the same and not the same as I thought it would be. The area I am in (roughly thirty minutes outside of the Dearborn/Detroit areas) is pretty rural. Many trees, many fields, many small "joints" selling pizza or gasoline on street corners. Yet just a fifteen minute drive brings one to any number of attractions. I'm struck by the amount of shopping available! Yesterday I drove to Canton with the intent of visiting Target and saw a Kohl's on the way. Sidetracked! Kohl's was having great sales, by the way :-). Border's, Target, Kohl's, Old Navy... the list goes on. It's not like one big mall with stores crammed in - they line the road and spread out. We are five minutes from a public park. Sweet. It's huge and has good running paths. Trees, sun, shade, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, a river... it's really nice. The water table is high here - therefore the grass is green, the trees are green, the weeds are green, the fields are green. Wildflowers spread down the roadside. The dirt looks like Jersey dirt, the woods look like Jersey woods. I'm reminded of my home state in many ways. The pizza is good, there are ice cream or frozen custard stands dotted here and there. I love the grassy fields crossed by flat roads, extending into ... what? Perhaps another farm, maybe a town. Were I laden with many extra hours the temptation would be too great - I would go on an exploring binge and see what I could see. From Michigan, have a sweet day!

Michigan

2010-07-16T15:56:00.002-04:00

Hi...from Michigan! Long story short: I'm staying with my aunt, uncle, and 3-1/2 yr old cousin in a little town near Detroit for a few weeks to help out. My aunt is expecting a baby girl any time! I apologize for the lack of photo - I hope to be able to take some and post them up here soonish. For now, I am keeping busy doing this and that and getting to see some of the lovely Michigan scenery. In many ways it reminds me of rural southern New Jersey (where I grew up). Very green, very flat, quite scenic and pretty :). Roadside ice cream stands and farmer's markets show up in every drive I take. I'm missing my family and friends, but I'm enjoying my time here, especially since I know this is where God wants me right now. Till later!

Today it is Pancakes.

2010-07-03T14:54:00.005-04:00

** Today's thing that makes me smile: the first pancake (in my house we affectionately refer to it as the "test pancake"). It sizzles, it cooks, and when it's done I swoosh it around in the pan to soak up/spread around the extra cooking spray. I eat it with my fingers, completely plain. It's odd, but I love the slight crispiness of the outside with the cooking spray soaked in a little... ************************************************************************************(photo courtesy of poppyseed at photobucket.com: http://media.photobucket.com/image/pancakes/poppyyseed/Food/AZN7wsuV4qbt8cw8lywnXyKPo1_500_larg.jpg?o=10)