He Will Quiet You With His Love

This past month has been full of heartbreak and hope. Despair and mercy. Critical moments of pleas to the Lord and quiet moments of simple gratitude.

This past month my four year-old nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia. And not that anything involving children and cancer is normal ... but his last four weeks have not been normal. My heart doesn't know how to reconcile the events and my brain wants to block it all out. But in this all, we still see God.

My brother-in-law and his dear wife have been amazing through all of this. Their care for their son, their dependance on the Lord, and their straight-up grit in managing a nightmare situation. I am in awe of them.

Our own little bright spot in this has been in the care of little brother. He is the most delightful, charming two and a half year-old ever. Having him in our home, has been blessing and a constant reminder of what to pray for and what to rejoice in.

The journey has just begun for this sweet family. Our prayers are maturing as is our faith. I have no words to adequately speak to recent circumstances, but grateful we serve a God who is always enough.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, 
He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

Zephaniah 3:17

A Wink and A Smile

This last year I have endeavored to take on a less-is-more mentality. The purging has become rather addictive. So freeing to have less stuff to not only clutter my home but also the recesses of my already cramped mind.

The natural by-product of this outlook is to be purposeful in what I buy and bring into our home. This is a more challenging discipline, I confess, but necessary and worthy nonetheless. But what is lovely, I'm finding, is satisfying my "I'd like something new" desire with temporal items. 

This week we've spruced up the dreary, bedraggled pots and planters that haven't already been tossed in the bin. The happy, budget-friendly violets that have found new homes on our front porch and back patio feel like a little wink and a smile every time I see them. I can't think of one thing in my garage rafters that has the same effect ...

Curious About the Harvest

This last year has been such a tangled vine of growth. So many challenges that seem to stretch on and wind their tendrils around anything it moves past. This scandent behavior has felt overwhelming, at times. It's easy to become weary ... of feeling weary.

Yet, the interesting thing about growth is that the intent is to bring fruit. Off of the woody, invasive vines, those tendrils latch on to provide security, to develop a base in which fresh green shoots can launch forth with an astonishing growth rate of their own. After a winter of seeing only barren stalks, the green bursts forth yielding vibrancy and the promise of a harvest.

This last year my health has presented itself as a forerunner for our attention. However, there is now a springtime of activity in our lives that is bursting forth in a most dramatic show. Some opportunities for our family that we have prayed about for years now seem to be unfurling with remarkable haste.

It feels strange moving forward into possibility rife with the unknown ... particularly since I have not yet wrapped a bow around the box of my health challenges and set it on a back shelf to collect dust. But here we are. And we acknowledge the issues of the day and press forward into the promise of the yet to come.

It's a bit terrifying. But it's exciting. I don't want to prune off the new growth from the old. Summertime is coming and I'm curious about the harvest.

I am the vine; you are the branches. 

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; 

apart from me you can do nothing. 

John 15:5

A Captured Heart

This past Saturday, my little boy turned 13 years old. In my mind and heart, he is still this fuzzy-headed, bright-eyed little boy.

We are all better people for knowing and admiring this young man. He inspires me year after year.

With Elegance and Intentionality

 I heard someone say, recently, that when they are engaged in conversation, or are posed a question, they ask themselves, "What am I trying to say?" They added that this internal dialogue resulted in a more concise and intentional comment, which is a much more elegant way to converse.

Now, I love a good chatter session, but so often I find I am jawing but not really sharing meaningfully or listening thoughtfully. Love this advice.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  Colossians 4:6

The Merits of Simplicity

Shells upon a radiator, Aigaliers, France 

 

"The fewer things you keep, the more special they become..."

-Rachel Meeks

A Look Back, Lucette Turns Ten

True, it's February, and Miss Lucette turned ten last May. But I've just returned to blog-land and these photos make me smile, regardless the time of the year.

We do love and adore our dear Lucette. She is a joy to our days and always a reason to celebrate.

 The day of her party was a glorious spring day, with sun and temperatures that sent us outside to happily cavort and cheer on our girl. We love a good excuse to gather together.

We love who you are and who you are becoming, sweet one. Your first decade was a smashing success.

Even There Your Hand Will Guide Me

Reminding myself of God's provisions and bounty. No matter where He has me, my confidence is full because of who He is.

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

Afternoon Light and a Glimpse of a Girl

It Takes Two Grown Men

I had to laugh at these summer photos I just rolled across. Snaps and arm holes are not a man's friend.