Psalm 104

It's my favorite time of day.... the evening-time just before the sun slips down to sleep.  The last of it's light provides color through the trees more brilliant than anything I have ever seen captured in man's art.  It's breathtaking.

I like to sit on my little front porch.  Tonight it required a quilt and a willingness to endure the bite of the crisp, cold air with bare feet and short sleeves.  I didn't really mind.

Our "chubby" snowman is now a little nub of ice on the front lawn.  Our neighbor's across the street, in the shade, is still two little nubs of ice.  Remnants of a winter storm where every single flake was intricately designed and dropped to the earth at His command.  

My neighbors hound dog howls at the passing sirens as the birds squawk the last of their song before morning.  Cars whiz (too fast!) up our little street carrying college kids back to their dorm rooms as the weekend draws to a close and everyone readys for a new week.

Everything quiets again.

I opened His Word and read again this Hymn to the Creator.  

Verse 13b.... The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

Am I?

My sweetheart left earlier this afternoon to run a quick errand.  Before he left I noticed that he had on his hunter's orange vest and some sort of "call" around his neck.  I rolled my eyes and said, "An errand?"

He's been a bit under the weather the past few days and I knew He was itching to get out in His Creation.  "I'm just gonna walk the creekbank," he says.

Like the Psalmist, he is good at noticing.  He is good at celebrating the gift of His Creation.  

And I am grateful for the nudge of His Word.

Too dark to read anymore and toes too cold, I got up to come inside.  Something startled me in the tree... 

 ...an owl!

Yes.  I'm grateful for the nudge. 

 Let the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Let the Lord be glad in His works.  Psalm 104:31

 

104 Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
² Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
³ He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot;He walks upon the wings of the wind;
⁴ He makes the winds His messengers,Flaming fire His ministers.

⁵ He established the earth upon its foundations,
So that it will not totter forever and ever.
⁶ You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters were standing above the mountains.
⁷ At Your rebuke they fled,
At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.
⁸ The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which You established for them.
⁹ You set a boundary that they may not pass over,
So that they will not return to cover the earth.

¹⁰ He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
¹¹ They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
¹² Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
They lift up their voices among the branches.
¹³ He waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

¹⁴ He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the labor of man,
So that he may bring forth food from the earth,
¹⁵ And wine which makes man’s heart glad,
So that he may make his face glisten with oil,
And food which sustains man’s heart.
¹⁶ The trees of the Lord drink their fill,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
¹⁷ Where the birds build their nests,
And the stork, whose home is the fir trees.

¹⁸ The high mountains are for the wild goats;
The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim.
¹⁹ He made the moon for the seasons;
The sun knows the place of its setting.
²⁰ You appoint darkness and it becomes night,
In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.
²¹ The young lions roar after their preyAnd seek their food from God.
²² When the sun rises they withdraw
And lie down in their dens.
²³ Man goes forth to his work
And to his labor until evening.

²⁴ O Lord, how many are Your works!In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your possessions.
²⁵ There is the sea, great and broad,
In which are swarms without number,
Animals both small and great.
²⁶ There the ships move along,
And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.

²⁷ They all wait for You
To give them their food in due season.
²⁸ You give to them, they gather it up;
You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
²⁹ You hide Your face, they are dismayed;
You take away their spirit, they expire
And return to their dust.
³⁰ You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground.

³¹ Let the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Let the Lord be glad in His works;
³² He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
³³ I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
³⁴ Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord.
³⁵ Let sinners be consumed from the earth
And let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.Praise the Lord!

Do you wanna build a snowman?

(Press play if you wanna hear the song we've been singing for the past 48 hours.)

 

 

 

We only have each other
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?

Do you wanna build a Snowman?

War Eagle!

Rules

Rebecca’s first day in Kindergarten at New Covenant School was her first day in school….ever.  The only organized classroom setting she had ever been in was her “Sunday School” class at church.  After five years of hearing her every thought and enjoying all things new with her, I was on the brink of sharing her with a new place, new people, and new influences that would affect her thoughts in a new and significant way.  It was exciting and heart wrenching all at the same time.    

On her first day of school, in her first little navy blue jumper, with her first ever teacher, Mrs. Gamble, Rebecca’s whole world changed.  Her fresh little eyes were open to new ideas, words, thoughts, opinions, RULES.   

As we journeyed home after that very first day in a classroom, Rebecca reflected aloud on her day…

“Oh yeah, Mom, and we had these rules…”

She paused for a minute and then said,

“…but I didn’t do them.”

After I promptly responded with admonishment to “do the rules,” she went on to say that her teacher expected her not to talk while she was talking and she confessed she just couldn’t do that.

We have shared that story a zillion times.  Rebecca, now a freshman in high school, eventually learned not to talk while the teacher was talking and she’s learned a few more things too.

She has learned that God is BIG and she is small and all that spins here in His Creation is a direct result of His hand and His purposes. In her little years she was given the absolute truth.  Her mind was not challenged to think critically or negotiate Truth, but was fertile ground for all that is complete and whole and good.  Let’s face it, when you are little you believe every word that leaves your teacher’s mouth.  As parents, we have been blessed to educate our children in a place where we are confident that His truth is taught, not just in the curriculum used, but in the words, thoughts, and ideas of the teacher. 

Rebecca’s grammar years were full of reading, writing, memorizing, and arithmetic in an environment where she was nurtured to love, forgive, recognize fault, enjoy restoration, and appreciate the unique way that God designed each of His children.  Her eyes were opened to the gifts that God has given to her and she was humbly taught to use them for Him.

Her “middle school” years gave her an opportunity to see the world through all that she had learned so far and she began to understand how all of that affected her personally.  We began to see her relationship with her Heavenly Father become personal and her desires were to please Him more than her peers or even her parents.  Her love for Him motivated her choices, drive, and diligence.  Her confidence grew and she became more comfortable with who God made her to be all in a season of life that typically brings insecurity according to the world’s observations. 

This year, as she has moved into the final stretch of her grade school career, high school, we are enjoying new conversations with Rebecca about life and God and hopes and dreams.  Academically, I often joke that she is “way smarter” than me.  I didn’t know half the stuff she knows when I was her age.  She’s smart.  She likes to learn.  We don’t take that for granted.  Schoolwork is easy for her and she likes to do it.  About halfway through the summer, she is ready to go back.  I know she’s not your average kid.  These are gifts God has chosen to give to her and we thank Him for them.   I can’t help but believe that New Covenant School has had a tremendous impact on her “smarts”, her diligence, her drive…. and most importantly, her growth in Him. 

 

At New Covenant School, Rebecca has actually NOT learned to “do the rules.”  She is learning to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.  Her little sister is too.  For that we are incredibly grateful.

Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

 

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

 

I hope you dance.

 I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

 Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean taking chances

But they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake

 But it's worth makin'

 Don't let some hellbent heart leave you bitter

 When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out

or dance...

I hope you DANCE.

(You never have been one to sit it out.)

 I love how you DANCE through life. 

("I Hope You Dance"  Lee Ann Womack)

One Word

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be STEADFAST, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.  

1Corinthians 15:58

Just one word.  Not a list of resolutions.... things I do for two months and then they fizzle.  I can't really handle the list.  Andy makes a list every year.  He checks it twice and lives up to it...for the most part.  I love that about him.  I hate that about me.

For the past two years, I have just chosen one word for the new year.  You can read about those here and here.  In my life, I am learning the secret of resting in Him...whatever comes our way.  And boy, do those things COME OUR WAY.  On this blog, I share the happies.... the moments in life that bring joy.  I suppose I could share the hardships and the disappointments and the things in life that stink.  But I don't.  That's why it's called "Joy Making Days."  This life is temporary. The older I get, the more we face, the more I understand that, and the more grateful I am of it's truth.  SO this year I choose a word that He's already been sowing into my life:  Steadfast.

I long to be steadfast in my prayer life... going to Him with every step.  I long to be steadfast in my service.  I hope to be steadfast in the endeavors He turns my heart to.  I wish to be steadfast in my devotion to my husband and marriage.  Steadfast...immovable, always abounding in His work, His plans, His purpose.  Grateful for the promise that when it's for Him, it's not in vain.

Steadfast.

Happy New Year, Everyone!   

 

Sisters

On December 27, 2000, these two became sisters.  Rebecca was just 18 months.  I can distinctly remember her kissing Caroline at the hospital and saying, "I wuv you, Tarowine."  It was the beginning of the sweetest friendship.

Caroline has just joined her sister in this new season of "teenagerhood."

They do things now like close the door to one of their rooms and tell secrets.  

Secrets that I don't get to be a part of.

Although they have their momentary scuffles, they really don't like to be at odds with one another and don't waste much time before they apologize and make things right.

They take up for one another and try to convince their daddy 

and I to give grace when the other is in trouble.

They pray for one another, and encourage one another, 

and hug each other when they part ways.

They are invited to the same parties now and have the same friends.

They are goofy and drive us batty in the car with hysterical laughter and loud, obnoxious songs.  They curl up together on one of their beds and watch teeny-bopper movies on the teeny-tiny screen of the iPad. 

Thirteen years ago, God gave us these sisters.  

I'm glad.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Caroline!

Christmas 2013

 It all started with our annual Christmas Eve-Eve feast of Thai Spice Take Out.  

And then Daddy opened his gift 

with which he found great delight!

 

 The girls exchanged their gifts to one another 

and then it was off to bed so Santa could come.

 But not before one last gift of new pajamas and boot slippers.

 The girls woke to a few fun surprises...

And then we opened the stockings...our favorite!

 Daddy snuck one last Christmas treat on their beds.

 And Rebecca found the pickle ornament 

for the third year in a row.

 Then it was off to Uncle Duke and Aunt Viki's 

for a scrumptious Christmas Eve feast with family.

 We all enjoyed every bite!

 Then we exchanged some gifts...

 ...and took the annual cousins pic.  

 When we arrived in Birmingham, 

this little chick came running for me and jumped into my arms.  

(Be still my heart.)

On Christmas morning we went to the nursing home to see Granddad Lamb 

and to sing some carols for the residents.

 

 It was a favorite time of this season.  

Sweet and fun and beautiful all wrapped into one.

 Then we came home for more presents at Nana's.  

I made quilts for a house divided.  War Eagle!

 

 And then there were more stockings.  

While we waited for lunch everyone curled up with their "devices"...

 

...much to Nana's dismay.

 

And later on we had some visitors.  

(Rosie was the life of the party.  That cutie!)

 

 And the big kids played some games.

 Nana made salad bar for Caroline's birthday (Her favorite!)...

 ... and we all sang "Happy Birthday to You!"

 Joining the crowd, the littlest cousin gravitated to her Uncle Andy.  

 Nana took Caroline for her first French manicure!

And then it was off to have lunch with some long time friends!

 

So much fun to see all our little ones piled in together.

 

Then it was off to Steel City Pops (our fave!) 

for Caroline's birthday treat.

 

 Yummy-lish!

 En route home, we got a call from our sweet neighbor 

that our tree had fallen and she had pulled off all the ornaments and propped it up.

When we arrived, the girls and I pulled off the lights and Andy drug it to the road.

 

 And just like that... Christmas was over.  (But not really.)

The End.

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10