Be still and know that I am God

Genesis 9:13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

"Happy are the people, who know the joyful sound"

Psalm 89:15 ¹⁵ Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord

He is never far
maybe hidden for a time
but near
and when the rain passes
and the clouds move on
the sun begins to shine
and the light is His grace
His strength
His might
and one remembers
feelings are but a vapor
but truth is the Rock
upon which the Kingdom footsteps are secure

"Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened."
~Charles Spurgeon

Dear Lord, today I'm thankful for

~ Hard conversations

~ that You never let go

~ soothing rain, mists, and growing things

~ the example of children

~ art to be inspired by

~ gifted teachers

~ antibiotics

~ my Honey

~ ferns, bleeding heart plants, lilies of the valley, and forget me nots

~ family dinners

Once upon a time

Bedtime is always sweeter with a good book to read.



And a carefully arranged dollshelf by Abby. "I have five babies Mommy. And they are a LOT of work." Fresh picked flowers added by Sophie.

Yes

It's been one of the days of spilled milk and wiping noses from raging virus.

Tears and shrill cries because of sickness.

It's been one of cleaning, and re-cleaning

Sharp voices and nagging worries about pet and people things

Fighting over dolls, instructions on sharing

then the "yes" comes. The "yes" after the attempts to pray it all away

longing for perfect and quiet

but He says, He is with me

His power is perfected in my weakness

and can I say, "blessed be the name of the Lord" in the hub bub of a day that moves faster than me?

And we leave the house and go to the pond

Where I chase the littlest

And listen to tales of frogs named "Fatso" "Rosetta" "Slippery" and "Chubby"

How they need a bath by the little girls' hands

Pull the happy 2 year old out of the mud

I remember this is but a swift season

And though it moments are fleeting, they are important for the "least of these"

I again, bow the heart, bow the knee

and say "Yes"

I will lift my eyes

Lost in thought and prayer lately. So many things I'm wrestling with, being challenged by. I hope it means growth, but truly, in God's kingdom, the way up in growing is down :) So I'm quiet while I let and allow and resist the urge to defend myself while my heart is humbled and I listen. Allowing the workings of my days, the stony parts of my heart, the rhythms of grace lead me back to Father's presence where I pray I'll be changed more and more.

Mother's Day was a treasure with love outpourings from my husband, children, and well loved friends and family. Days like that are beautiful in that they lift the heart of a giving woman, tell her and remind her what an important and irreplaceable job she is doing, and give her the space in a whole day to reflect on the fruit of her labors.


Life is busy and I'm forgetting a little to slow down and capture the memories by picture and words. So I picked up the camera again today to do a Grateful Monday for 1000 Gifts. So, without further delay...



Dear Lord, I am so thankful for:

~Husband who walks through the door with groceries in hand saying, "I've got the rest of dinner. I saw Rachel Ray do an awesome dinner in 15 minutes on TV at the doctor's and I brought home the stuff to do it!"

~Little girls who rested their busy bodies and minds to listen to my singing and storytelling.

~Homemade cards with misspellings and heart-thoughts of their own

~Being center stage in a little wonder of a boy's heart

~a Japanese restaurant and time alone with my Gentleman

~life reminders that their is an adversary that prowls to rob, kill and destroy

~2 toned petunias and free gifts at the garden store

~the Love of God, the love of family, the love of friends

~sweet, special time with my Mom and sister

~an anonymous, smiling, quiet woman whose hobby was portrayed in Victoria magazine sitting at a table next to me, and she was beautiful in her old age

~tasting bits and pieces of "peace that passes understanding"

~coffee in bed

~excited faces peeking in my bedroom door because it was a happy morning of Mother's Day for them as much as it was for me