Love&Grace

Monday, January 4

bounty of blessings

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

this afternoon i sit, refreshed .. no, revived.

i was slipping away, drowning, and could not fully grasp the extent until my soul found rest. real rest. eternally grateful, my heart rejoices anew at the overflowing love He shows us daily.

our family enjoyed a whole week of uninterrupted, total togetherness. bellies aching from laughter (and too many sweets), bodies releasing tension/worry/busyness/anguish of the past months...oh, how we breathed deeply of the peace, lungs filled with air releasing slowly and completely. what a lovely, intimate blessing to experience. holding these treasures of memories in outstretched palms, i release what was and look forward to today and tomorrow and what is to come.

thinking over the past year, here are some of my favorite treasures:

101. every moment with him

102. watching the bond of sisterhood deepen and grow

103. experiencing my child reading

104. watching my baby grow...so sweet, nurturing, friendly, happy, funny and oh-so-strange

105. family trips to sea world

106. all of the ballet

107. overcoming hardship

108. knowing these moments are precious and only for a short season

109. everything having to do with summer + water

110. our family vacation to san diego

and so. much. more.

lyrics from a worship song spill from my mouth today as i reflect on the bounty of blessings in 2009...

what can i say?
what can i do?
but give You my heart, oh God,
completely to You.

Monday, December 28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29

91. girl time with papa at our favorite annual christmas party (crafts, live music & food!)

92. running into old friends at live nativity and marveling over our savior's rescue plan

93. seeing "growing up" and "work" through a child's perspective ...excitement & anticipation!

94. healing with stitches

95. time with family

(photos: mom & dad, brother & my girls, mom-in-law & nieces with kindergirl, bro-in-law & girlfriend, mom-& sis-in-law)

96. time for crazy antics

(photos: interpretation of holiday blur, kindergirl with whipped cream on top, kitty in a drawer, big kid - little bike, cat set play by kindergirl and gentle thinker, sister balloon toss/wrestle, caricatures of us, sister reflections of christmas, mid-wrestling sisters)

97. photos by kindergirl

98. morning light in the kitchen

99. images of christmas morning ... quiet, simple & content

100. rest from the storm

Monday, December 21

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:6-8

last week a storm arose. reckless waves crashed one after another. in the beginning, toes dug into thick sand and eyes focused resolutely on hope ... each day the water rose higher still, waves closing in relentlessly. then, the waves reached out, threatening the safety of my little ones. no longer were these eyes focused. no longer were these toes dug in. gulping for air, i slipped under and gave way to the churning sand, disoriented and unable to stabilize direction. desperate and blinded, i cried out to El Roi, the God Who Sees. the Rock of Refuge. because He was there all along. i couldn't see the way, but He could.

tonight i breathe deeply of His presence, comfort, and peace as He continues to work things out. amen.

81. opportunities to give time, hope, comfort, money, food

82. peaceful, creative, child-inspired, Christmas crafting