Just two weeks left until school starts back. I am always amazed at the parents who cannot wait to send their kids back to school... I don't know, it just comes across rather like the kids are a disease or something you want to get rid of as quickly as possible. I on the other hand mourn as our days of freedom together draw to a close. Ah summer, I love you. Kids, I love you more.

I had this funny (melancholy wonky funny - not funny haha) word picture the other day. I was driving down a small road and admiring all the wonderful wildflowers. Then I began to think how sad it is that the city road crew comes through and without a second thought mows them down. I understand the purpose - to keep things tidy and visible as you drive along. It's just a shame. "Consider the lilies of the field..." That refrain rang through my head. And I thought, is this what the Western Church has become? The road crew of God's kingdom? Keeping things nice and tidy and making sure everyone is safe? I like the wildflowers. I like wild things in general. And I don't want to tame them or replace them with something safer - say pansies planted in perfect rows perhaps?

So this whole western church dilemma has been vexing me. Then I read Ephesians 1:20-23 in the Message translation:

All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence.

Oh my, my heart is arrested! I certainly don't have that view when I hear the word church. The same God who is keeping all the galaxies in perfect order rules over the church - it is the embodiment of who He is! Praying that my view becomes one with His.

Feels so good to be back on here. We have been on vacation, I have taken a short business trip with my Mom, and then my browser was malfunctioning and would not connect to blogger. Anyway....I am using safari browser now and connected just like that! Cannot wait to read the thousands of updates I have missed and be inspired!

Thanksgivings

1) Working in the garden. Endlessly weeding with a boy who seems to be turning into a man child before my very eyes. A man child, asking deep questions, about the eternal and the beginning of time.

2) The first fruits of labor. Broccoli, fresh from the stem - debugged and carefully washed, then gently steamed into deliciousness.

3) A cup of Keurig coffee, steaming hot with just a touch of honey and cream.

4) Morning meditations rediscovered in the words of The Message. Gospels come alive, speaking clearly, reaching across the chasm of cultural differences.

5) Finding a new favorite book - The Secret Life of Bees.

"When you are unsure of yourself," she said, "when you start pulling back into doubt and small living, she's the one inside saying, 'Get up from there and live like the glorious girl you are.' She's the power inside you, you understand?"
Her hands stayed where they were but released their pressure. "And whatever it is that keeps widening your heart, that's Mary, too, not only the power inside you but the love. And when you get down to it, Lily, that's the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just love - but to persist in love."

Right up there with To Kill and Mockingbird and I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings. lovely, just lovely.

Thank you.

Catching up

This has been the most glorious spring for birds around here. Perhaps it is because we have had the windows open for a month now, but it seems like I can hear so many more birds this year. I don't know if there is anything better than a quiet cool house and the sounds of birds singing in the background.


Made muffins this morning using this recipe. This time however I used strawberries that were just about over ripe. I omitted the cinnamon and....drumroll please....I substituted the 1 cup milk for 1/2 cup organic vanilla yogurt and 1/2 cup organic milk. Ohhhhhh they are so scrumptious if I do say so myself:)


I am laughing at myself. I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off and yet when I get ready to blog I think, "my life is so boring. I have nothing to share." That was until I just uploaded the May pictures. Wow I will have to do a whole post tomorrow on things to do in East Tennessee.


Right now, as the boys snooze on, I am listening to the quiet chatter of a girl playing in her dollhouse. "Room service...we have spaghetti, eggs,...." The dollhouse was something my grandmother started but never finished before Alzhiemers took over her life. Noone else in the family seemed interested in taking on the project of restoration of the beast and so, my little brood received the honors. Several years ago I began working on the crumbling house for my daughters birthday. You can view the pictures of that project here.



And while we are sharing, let me share our "grown up furniture"!

I have always dreamed of having a red overstuffed couch and chair. Imagine my happiness when I showed up to help my sister price for a yard sale to benefit her family's mission trip to Peru. There sat my dream couch (someone had donated it to the sale). When she told me the price, I immediately called my husband who graciously agreed to come over and see the dream couch. My husband agreed it was a purchase we could make and voila! my dream became a reality.

The new furniture led to an update of artwork above the piano. Excuse the photography (I was using my cell phone). These paintings were done my beloved husband as a project for his color theory class. I just loved them. They really served to change the feel of the room.

Hope your day is warm and full of adventure!

Everyone is so sick of the rain here. But I must confess, I love it. I am content. All is right with the world. I finished my last exam yesterday. Spent today planning meals, grocery shopping, and planting trees in the yard. It has started raining again. I think I might go throw some flower seeds in the ground before I call it a day. Ahhhhhhh.

Tollipop giveaway!

One of my favorite blogs is celebrating her one year anniversary and as a way to celebrate, she is giving away three, count em THREE, of her fabulous prints. As you can see from the picture above, these are the sweetest little ladies on the block. Click here to enter this fabulous contest! Good luck.

Note to Self

Dear Precious Daughter,

You are more than what you do. You are valuable even when your hair is a wreck, your bathroom filthy, your legs unshaved, and your car a landfill. You are more than an A on the last paper, test, presentation. A's do not define a person. What about the P's? Positively present! It is better to be present with the ones we love than doing mindless dribble we will not remember in a year. What is most immediate is not always most important. Some things can slide.

You are lovely, and beautiful and precious. No need to worry. No need to fret. Give away your worries, cast aside your doubts and fears. Release them in pray and meditation. Give them to the Source for He is more than able.

I love you,

ME