in case you're wondering....

I'm in one of those pathetic "funks" that causes me 

to tell myself NO ONE is wondering, but in case you are...

I'm still among the living even though it's been two weeks since I last posted here.  

Perhaps you've imagined that I went through with my desire to heist the

beauties from camp that I photographed and have now been in "the clink" for 14 days...

not so.  (not this time.)

I have been back at camp, though, this time in the kitchen baking up a storm.

It was a challenge, but in a really good, life-giving kind of way.

I really do enjoy working with my hands,

even when they ache by the end of the day.

This back-and-forth to camp has been really hard for me this year.

Maybe it's my age...

do people really struggle this much in the second half of the 30s?

dislike.

Anyway, as I've been catching up on all the fun blog posts I've missed in the last week, 

I've begun to sink a little....alot.

Perhaps I should have done this after I was little better rested.

If you're reading this, I probably don't need to explain why and what I mean.

so i won't.

If you're reading this, you will understand why Lysa Terkeurst's post spoke to my heart 

as though the Lord Himself reached across and took my hand,

gently patting it and reminding me of His endless love and approval of me,

just the way He made me.

If you're struggling like I am, maybe you want to head over for some good encouragement,

and the challenge to "get prayed up" today.

source

Go on over and have a cup of coffee with Lysa at:

Brutally Honest -Lysa Terkeurst

other people's children

I have learned that one of the greatest ways to bless a friend or peer is to delight in their children.

As much as parents try to tell themselves that their identity and worth is not found in their kids (or particularly the behaviour of their kids), it always does the heart good to see someone else enjoy your offspring.

Lessons come in many different ways.  I would say, for me, this lessons is born of three observations:

1 ~ a mother's face.  Look at it when you take interest in her child, bending down to his level, chatting about something that's important to him.  Look at her face as you share something that is delightful in her child - his funny laugh, his sharing during playtime, the sound of his voice singing.  A mother's face will tell you that you've been an encouragement to her, that you've validated the hours, weeks, years she's invested in her little ones.

precious Ms. Hester - Abbey's kindergarten teacher in NC

2 ~ the flip side.  I tell myself I'm not the only one, but so many times people have come to share a little story with me about how my child said this-or-that and isn't it so funny, when it's very obvious that the child was being rude or obnoxious.  I never know how to respond - am I expected to flush with embarassment (my go-to response) or should I laugh along (kids say the darndest things....oh yeah not YOUR kids, just mine.).  I really do believe these people are just trying to connect or something like that, but I always walk away feeling less-than.

masked man takes time to play with wild children! :)

3 ~ my heart.  The Lord knows me, He's called me by name (Ps 139:1, John 10:3,  2 Timothy 2:19).  He delights in me and sings over me (2 Samuel 22:20, Proverbs 3:11-12, Zephaniah 3:17 ).  These are scripture words that never fail to speak to and encourage my heart.  As I child, I didn't lack in this department.  I relished in the knowledge of being cherished by my family, valued and enjoyed as a friend.  And yet - I still love to hear it!   I love to hear it from my Lord and anyone else who wants to say it! :)  And I love to hear it through the dear ones who delight now in my little ones.

delighted in being the centre of attention.

Everyone has the fundamental need to be valued and I have the opportunity to share Christ with people as I make the choice to delight in others.  I may not always connect on some deep level with all my friends kids, or the kids at school and church, but I can always find one thing.  I can be a blessing to parents and children alike as I choose to see whatever is lovely, whatever is praiseworthy....

And that's what I think of other people's children. :)

for myself

for the one with many hopes

who feels hopeless....

for the one who longs to have peace

but feels burdened....

for the one who wants be good-natured and fun

but sees what is dark and what is wrong...

"It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light."

G.K. Chesterson

"Take my yoke upon and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus

Matthew 11:29-30

for those who want to believe

and are plagued with unbelief...

"I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24

for the one who needs the reassurance,

again and again and again...

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying,

'I have loved you with and everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.' "

Jeremiah 31:3

A friend gave me a necklace made by this artist.
Check out her website to understand the meaning behind this wearable art. 

"My heart says of you, 'Seek His face!' Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Psalm 27:8

thank you, Lord. 

theme

the first Sunday of Advent.

I've never done it before, but I have decided that I will have a theme for our family and home this Advent/Christmas season.  When I saw this wall hanging on our trip, it spoke to me...

Thinking about a time of year that can have a tendency to be more rushed than reflective and harried than peaceful, these words caused me to pause and wonder what my home would be like if these words represented how we would be doing the holiday season.

Comfort - not comfortable, for that's something entirely different - but to choose activities and traditions that bring rest and peace to our hearts...not just something to fill up every night from now until December 24th.

Joy - not an obsession with being merry, the ho-ho-ho of it all - but things that reflect real, lasting joy and the peace that comes only from above.  Choosing to do things with meaning, building into a sense of contributing the God's Kingdom work.

And of course, I was drawn instantly to the "&" because it looks very much like and treble clef and that represents the power music has (at least in my life) to stir up feelings of comfort and joy, peace, hope and love all in a few notes!

So my mission for the next 28 days is to ponder, wait and celebrate, to consider the Gift of my Saviour in terms of comfort and joy and to be a source of both of these in my home and to the people around me.

 May your unfailing love be my comfort... 

 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, 

   for your law is my delight.

psalm 119:76-77

see my heart

Yesterday I had the privilege of seeing a dear friend's "bun in the oven." How I love ultrasounds! I remember with perfect clarity seeing each of my three babies on that fuzzy black and white screen. (How could I forget the pain of having that much water in a bladder being poked and prodded....)

Before I could even feel them, I could see this tiny love squirming around - hands and feet waving and kicking.

I remember the technician pointing out the heart: "see the 4 quadrants, formed and operating?"

That was good news, of course. But truthfully, I was more interested to see the footprint they were able to zoom in on for Abbey; the profile of Ethan's face -looks like daddy!; and the sweet layer of baby fat they pointed out on my week late Cassidy. (and that gender was crucial information!)

How did I miss the importance of the heart?

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

How often do I miss the importance of my heart, all the while being careful to serve my Lord with my hands and my feet.

I wanna sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hands

Lay back against You and breathe - feel Your heartbeat

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand

I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming.

take 4 minutes to worship through the first song on my newly installed playlist!
mind your heart.