Just a day.

I now know where the term poop deck came from...It's the time of year when the geese say goodbye.

"Whose turn is it?" "Does it matter?"

"Twelve year old boy turns into old character due to extended vacation at the lake."

"I've done nothing wrong."

Thank you God for the gift of laughter and the animals and people that make me do so.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing.

C.S. Lewis

Season of Change

Scared, relieved, apprehensive, exhausted, hopeful. Does that fit our faces? She had been waiting for so very long for me to come. Moments before this photo was taken we were standing in a run down, moldy, dark orphanage - this day - one year ago. The little one outside waving goodbye is unknown to me but she went back in, waiting I'm sure for someone to come take her home. I wanted to take them all home that day. I was overwhelmed by what had God had done in bringing us to our daughter. All that time, all that distance, all that waiting, all the faith steps we took are fresh in my mind but so much has changed. I had news today that the orphanage is overflowing with children due to tough economic times in the area. More suffering, waiting children.

So, change, waiting, and periods of adjustment seem to be the theme for us in August. What does God have in store for us this year? We are waiting to find out, waiting, trying to not ask why.

Today though, we just celebrate our family of four, established August, 2008!

God thank you for my daughter, for the changes you initiate, and the patience you demand. Forgive me for my questioning and lack of patience. Take our lives and reform them into what you want. We will try and not ask why.

But with you there is forgiveness so that we can, with reverence serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 130:4-6

Friends, Feet, Fishing, and Frogs

Relationships are to me, to my family, the most important things. All of them, unique and special - with family, friends, and most importantly, God.

Thank you Jesus for my relationship with you.

Thank you for feet that sometimes go before me and know the way, and sometimes follow behind.

Thank you for my family.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

Extended Vacation

The headline of this photo might read: "Former city girl becomes old character due to extended vacation at the lake." We have been here for three weeks and I can count on my index finger the number of times I've put makeup on. The days go by. The lake tells me what to do; rock hunting, on the boat, walk in the woods, in the water, read inside, attempt real dinner without blowing a fuse (not mine - the one in the 100 year old cabin), dominoes, stare at the water, stare at the stars. Such a strange, wonderful time in our lives.

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.

Charles Spurgeon

The Real Hannah Hurnard

The truth can be so disappointing sometimes. When I become consumed by a book, a devotional, a Christian book, I like to investigate the author. In researching Hannah Hurnard author of Hinds' Feet on High Places I found out the following:

• She believed in universal salvation, that we save ourselves by suffering and affliction and that suffering brings us into unity with Christ.


• Later she taught that once we are unified with Christ that we could have revelations, do astral projection, etc. Very new age stuff.

I will still read the rest of the book but with my eyes more fully on Christ than before. How easily I can be taken in by beautiful words, how easy it is for me to stray, so prone to wander. It's always good to seek the deeper truth. Through this information being revealed, I've opened yet another can of worms about myself. I'm vulnerable, easily attacked, and susceptible to pretty lies.

Thank you God for opening my eyes once again to how much I need you, how much I don't know, and my need for greater focus on your word, just your word.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. DO people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?"

Matthew 7:14-16

Music in Low Places

So did I hear the beautiful songs in this low place? I did, I opened my mind and ears and God spoke to me quietly in the wind through the trees on my walk in the woods. He offered me peace and grace and lifted me high.

And at the end of the day we breathed in our surroundings and enjoyed.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

James 4:10

Rough Water

This day has one good thing about it...it is almost over. We feel much like the water out there, rough. In the allegory Hinds' Feet in High Places, Much Afraid learns that there are beautiful songs in the valley as well as in high places. The high places are just a starting point to go down into the lowest places. I shouldn't have a continuous desire to get out of the low places but learn to hear all the beautiful songs that are in the valley. Someday, if I learn the language of love, His love, I'll be able to "mount to the High Places swifter than eagles, for it is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving."

"For you shall go out...with joy, and be led forth...with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands:

Isaiah 55:12

God, help me to hear the beautiful songs in the valley. I give myself to you to do whatever you want. Thank you for this difficult situation we are in. I want to know you for who you are.

Jump for Joy!

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee,

Op'ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
Henry J. Van Dyke, 1907

Psalm 71:23

Big number, big hope.

At least it's not 50...but, what's in a number? This has been the best decade of my life and I'm sure the next will be even better so I'll be celebrating big time on my 50th. My body is tired at the end of the day after playing.

My spirit though, has been lifted lately by hope. We still don't know what's ahead but we seem to always be given hope and that's all we need.


Thank you for my life God and the people in it. Thank you for the challenges that are behind us and ahead of us, we know it's for the best.

Not only so, but we also glory in out sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perserverance, perserverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-4

Smoothing out the way for us.

I have been handed down a passion for rocks. Some of them I love to leave in their raw form and others I polish in a tumbler, taking a rough surface into a smooth, shiny one, a joy to hold in your hand and look at.

The hands holding this agate have been collecting them for 70 years...a lot of rough surface turned into smooth.

God I trust you today to guide me in the darkness and smooth out this rough patch in my life.


I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16

Keep my head above water.

What a difference a day makes; in the weather, in my mind, and how I feel. The weather is the best it has been since the 4th of July. In my mind I feel like a storm is coming though. Why? Why do my feelings take over my thinking like they mean something? They don't. The only thing that really means anything is the truth, and the truth is that God has a plan and He has provided us this place to live for now and He will continue to provide.

God, thank you for this temporary place for us to be. Thank you for the new "weather pattern" you provide for my mind today through your word. Today is a day of renewal, I'll review what you say and make it my own.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Time to gather stones.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to men, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Dragonfly Faith

It must have been an hour that their attention was focused on it.

Katya wanted to keep it, make it "part of our family". I told her that it would fly away the moment you let it. She thought not, put it on the little branch above her head, and flew away herself. The next morning I witness her saying "good morning, how are you little one?" It was still on that same tiny little branch, couldn't have been a different dragonfly. She seemed unsurprised, took it into her hands and gave me a look of forgiveness even though I said it wouldn't be there tomorrow.



Tomorrow. Why do I try to see it, predict it, tell others what it will be like? Because I can't see it, or predict it, and I don't know what it will be like!
I don't know where the 5 legged dragonfly will be tomorrow, but God does.
I don't need to know all about tomorrow, I just need to pray.

Do not be anxious about anthing, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Holy Ground

Sometimes a man just has to dig a hole...don't know why but he dug and dug and dug until there was no light left.




Katya pursued more artistic things, sand cookies for Mom.




A bald eagle landed above our heads in the pine tree, the sound it made, the excitement from the kids was enough to scare it away...it did. Still a wonderful thing to see up close if only for a moment.




When the extraordinary full moon came up, glowing on the lake, they went for a swim with lightning way off in the distance offering a goodnight show.





Sometimes God's creation illuminates everything good and right in my life.
Thank you God for your beautiful creation and all the good and bad that is in it, thank you for reminding that my life is best at your pace, not mine.

Found my marbles...

I thought I had lost them completely but when I woke up this morning, it was a new day, just as promised.

I found them playing chinese checkers with my family.

The day had much to offer but I chose to do very little, didn't want to lose them again.

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

C.S. Lewis