a beautiful day



grandma jayme & baby marshall



• grandma jayme holds baby marshall, 5 lbs 15 oz. so tiny. 
• auntie shannon works at the hospital and was able to run upstairs to hold her nephew
• big brother and two big sisters get to the hospital to hold the new brother
• derek and christina are the blessed parents
 

 

water! nourishment for the plant. nourishment for my soul.

I am sitting outdoors this morning with my first cup of coffee.  hearing the birds sing - love this orchestra of sound!  a gift from my Creator! 
     yesterday morning - sitting out here, same spot, I wondered why I couldn't hear the birds singing.  sad.  we hadn't bought bird seed in awhile....maybe that was it.  it was so quiet - and yet I knew my trees were full of birds.
     how often is it like that with God's voice?  He is right here but I do not hear Him.  is it because I'm not listening?  distracted with other things?  instead of listening to the most important One in my life? 
     today He is being so gracious:

• birds singing loudly from all directions
• a light wind causing this cool breeze, hear the rustling of the branches, see the waving of the leaves, all bowing to their Creator.
• plant has revived....the one that was in full bloom, beautiful, seemed to withstand the heat wave so well.  and then yesterday morning:  completely wilted.  gone.  drooping down the sides of the planter.
• I had NOT WATERED!!!
• too busy.  too hot. "probably been watering too much anyway".  lazy.
• so a good - loooooong watering yesterday morn.
• drenched
• dripping
• saturated
• and this morning - plant has resurrected!
• where there was no life, now  stalks revived: straight & tall & strong - lots of buds & even blossoms opened.
• alive!  prospect for a thriving season is promising....as long as I
• water
• water
• water
• nourishment for the life of the plant!

now I know there's a spiritual lesson somewhere in this.
my soul was made to thrive!  not to dry up.  limp.  passionless.

as tim keller says:  the bible says your soul needs love!  rapture!  passion! 

keller continues, God says "I am not just a remote force.  let me tell you what I built you for:  I want to be the lover of your sou!  I want to be the center of your heart!  that's what I made you for!"   God says, "I want you in My arms!"

this morning.......watering. 
                           watering. 
                           watering
                           my soul. 
                           running after Him to fill this empty heart
                                                                                          
                           this morning I am in His arms.

Remembering Mom!

Remembering my mom this Mother's Day.  She was pretty amazing! She would be 95 years old if she were living today.  She is far better off where she is dwelling now, with her Lord and Savior,  and I am grateful she no longer suffers, as she did those last years.  I will be reunited with her some day!  And what a day that will be!





So..... a few mom facts, in no particular order:

1. She was a school teacher.  It was always her dream.    
2. She was Valedictorian of her senior class.  And quite put out at her brother for running home and telling her mom the news before she got there to share it!
3. She was one of 12 children.  Her mother's first marriage bore 4 children. husband died.  She met and married a widower with 5 children.  Together they had my mom and 2 others.  A true  "yours, mine and ours" lovely family story. 
4. She played the piano. 
5. She taught school all week and still taught sunday school on the weekend.
6. She taught school all day and no matter how tired she was, she  never missed cooking a full meal for the family that night.....no fast food in those days!
7. She loved her family. 
8. She was  a good citizen.
9. She was a servant.
10. She was a true Proverbs 31 woman.
11. And oh...she was so loved by her children!!!  Happy Mother's Day mom! Miss you!

 

Thanks Jayme, Christina and Brookie!

Jayme, after working until 1:00 p.m. Friday night, still gets up in order to be in Salt Lake City by 7:00 a.m to walk in the Susan G. Komen Race!  Her t-shirt says Mom - Mib - Patty.  Thank you my sweet daughter!! 



Sweet Christina!  Thank you for walking in the race!   Baby Bump is little Marshall - ready to birth any day now!    Her t-shirt say Grandma - Aunt Mib .



Beautiful and precious Brooklin!!  Thank you for walking in the race today!  What a joy you are!  Her t-shirt is covered with pink ribbons!  Love you all!

And thanks to Shannon!  She made the tshirts for the girls.