Tuesday, September 28, 2010

She inspires me to…

higher heights.

always be willingly available to HIM.

love unabashedly.

live more greenly.

to be a fool for HIM.

be okay with messes, relationally and materially.

allow courage to squash my fears.

live unhindered by stuff.

not make little stuff a big deal.

laugh a lot.

be flexible.

not miss out on the grand adventure of life.

be sensitive to the voice of His Spirit.

live graciously.

let things go.

live on little or much.

pray.

be content.

have fun.

let your kids be kids.

not be driven by my emotions.

forgive.

play with my kids.

be aware of and stand firm against the enemy’s attacks.

let light shine on dark places.

be who God made me to be.

live victoriously in HIM.

be transparently real.

confess and find healing and forgiveness.

be willing to give it all up for HIM.

to be free in Jesus.

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Got to hold up the arms of this dear friend this past weekend, while God used her to speak into the lives of many women at a conference, to help them find simplicity in their walk with Him. While doing that, I was bowled over by how much she has taught me, well really, that HE has taught me through her (this list is only the beginning), over our 12+ year friendship. Could ya'll just go get one of "her" in your life?!

Looking forward to many more to come too, my dear and precious and inspiring Seren.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Park n’ Pears!

warning…photo heavy postage!
Can’t say I didn’t warn ya by the end! ;)

We had one lil worn out tot by the end of the day today!

While mama went lap swimming, daddy and his crazy girl went to the park…

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And then we all ventured out to the pear orchard where a gracious friend was handing out all we could take!

Yum-to-the-O!!

The photos don’t need much on the comment end of things, so I’ll just leave the little pear-happy-monkey to speak for herself!

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…She even tried her hand at her own tot-photog work!!

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Pure unadulterated love for her daddy…DSC_0206 DSC_0210 DSC_0217 DSC_0220 DSC_0228 DSC_0229 DSC_0231 DSC_0233 DSC_0236 DSC_0242 DSC_0247 DSC_0252 DSC_0256 DSC_0262

And all the way home, all we heard was “mama, I sticky”…

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Um, can ANYONE tell me...

WHAT IN TARNATION HAPPENED
TO THE ITSY BITSY BABY I GAVE BIRTH TO,
JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO??!!!
Because this sassyfrassy with the car keys, her own ride
and the I'm-a-big-kid-now boots and ballcap
is giving me too much of a glimpse into my not-so-distant future.
Anyone? Anyone?


Thursday, September 9, 2010

I see HIM in you...

I have a dear dear friend of whom has allowed me to walk very closely with her lately through some very dark valleys and very high mountaintop spots. I have been deeply honored to be so near to her through it all. I had a write-because-I-must moment the other night after I had been to visit her to run some errands and allow her some respite time for sleep. As I left that day, and was realizing some things about how she was handling it all, in the grip of God's grace, I wanted to honor her in it. Give tribute to the way she is offering up her all, her little and her much to Him, to work in and through her to bring Him glory. It's working. He's been glorified in my eyes through her and it's been quite the sight to behold. She is a true picture to me of the treasure we hold in earthen vessels, being cracked pots so His bright light can boldly shine through. Here's a little glimpse into what I have been seeing with my own two eyes...

I see HIM in you...

I know you say you're worn to the bone,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE "never faints nor grows weary".
I know you say you have no words,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE said "I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say".
I know you say that your light is almost burned out,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the "Light of the world" and a "smoldering wick, He will not snuff out".
I know you say you have no fight left in you to handle one more attack,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Victor over all battles.
I know you say your knees are weak and you can't even lift up your arms,
but I see HIM in you...
anad HE "strengthens the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees".
I know you say there are moments you are scared beyond sanity,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the God of all reason and peace and a sound mind.
I know you say your heart is cracked in half and broken by the pain,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is whole and complete.
I know you say your tank is completely empty and dry,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Living Water that fills you right up.
I know you say that you are so very very weak,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is oh so very perfectly Strong.
I know you say you can't brave one more storm,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Calmer and Authority over all the wind and waves.
I know you say you wish you had multiple clones of yourself to take care of it all,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is more than enough to cover it all.
I know you say you can't even seem to form your prayers,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Great Interceder on your behalf.
I know you say you don't think you could even cry any more tears,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Bottler and Storer of all you have shed.
I know you say you've never been so tired in your life,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE never slumbers nor sleeps, so you can find rest in Him.
I know you say you feel completely overwhelmed,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Great Overcomer of all overwhelming things.
I know you say you can't go on,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE will be the Finisher of the good work He began.
I know you say you are so deeply sad,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Joy Maker and Laughter Giver.
I know you say it seems like the grief couldn't get any deeper,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the great Comforter.
I know you say it seems you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Resurrector and Life Giver of all.
I know you say you feel completely helpless,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the great "Helper".
I know you say the hurts ache too much,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the Distributor of the healing balm of life.
I know you say you don't know or understand the reasons why,
but I see HIM in you...
and HE is the God who knows all.

HE is all of this and more in you
and I see HIM, the Great I AM,
shining bright and true.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12...
But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,
so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

When did you get big enough???

When did you get big enough...

to look into the depths of my soul with these deep blue gems and already know me better than I know myself sometimes? And then ask me the most cavernous of thought-provoking questions already when I didn't even know you were aware of that part of our existence?!

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When did you get big enough to dress like SuperGirl?!

When did you get big enough to start packing YOUR own baby around on YOUR back?!

When did you get big enough to have color draping time with "the girls"?!

When did you get big enough to hold your very own six-shooter and point it at my face?!

When did you get big enough to delight in feeding your own baby her milk?!

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When did you get big enough to start chillaxin' in your own recliner?!

When did you get big enough to start stealing mama's Ipod to play your own games?!

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When did you get big enough to start dressing up with the big girls in the photo booth?!

When did you get big enough to start helping daddy with his woodworking projects?!

When did you get big enough to start lounging on the couch, ordering your mama maid around when you're feeling mighty sick?!

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When did you get big enough to hold your own rind and start eating melon like you're just big stuff?!

When did you get big enough to start drawing attention to yourself at a party by doing acrobatics on the chair and cracking yourself up over it?!

When did you get big enough to start picking apples in the next door mini-orchard?!

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When did you get big enough to start delighting in yourself on the mini-screen video cam?!

When did you get big enough to start mimicking mama's cheesy grins?!

When did you get big enough to start watering the yard in your mini-pink-Converse high tops?!

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When did you get big enough to start sharing silly giggly secrets with your dear friend?!

When did you get big enough to start sliding by yourself?!

When did you get big enough to start going to five-day-club next door and start hearing about Jesus' love?!

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When did you get big enough to start picking the garden's first fruits?!

When did you get big enough to want a girl's first pedi?! And then know how to blow on your own toes to dry them?!

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When did you get big enough to start hangin' with the girls (and boy)?!

When did you get big enough to start helping other babies out?!

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When did you get big enough to change your own baby's diaps?!

When did you get big enough to have your very own backpack?!

When did you get big enough to start sharing snacks with friends?!

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When did you get big enough to start helping babies walk?!

When did you get big enough to know how to pose a cheeser pose?!

When did you get big enough to sass your mama so much?!

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When did you get big enough to steal your mama's bday cake when she wasn't even looking?!

When did you get big enough to educate your daddy in baking rules?!

When did you get big enough to start licking the after-baking spoon?!

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When did you get big enough to get a big-girl cut?!

When did you get big enough to throw your own pacies away?!

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When did you get big enough to start asking for daily trailer rides?!

When did you get big enough to be daddy's belle of the ball?! Or a wild flower-tossin' girl?!

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When did you get big enough to swing poi balls like your mama?!

When did you get big enough to hold the boat from drifting?!

When did you get big enough to start showing love to friends?!

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When did you get big enough to start delighting in babies too?!

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Oh that's right, it was all just before you turned TWO!!!!

Although, I still can't believe you're BIG ENOUGH.