The Cousins

The cousins were here yesterday.  We've always been close, but life has gotten busier for all of us, and so getting together is definitely a treat.  We always have a grand time.



On the left: Ben.  Valedictorian of his high school class, now a mechanical engineering/material science major, etc., etc., etc.  A brainiac, in other words.

On the right: Sam.  Down-to-earth, ridiculously funny, musically inclined, etc., etc., etc.  Definitely has a streak of his mother's creativity.

(Okay, so I like bragging about my cousins.  It's kind of hard not to.  But I'll stop here lest I bore you with their awesomeness.  ;))



The totally awesome Aunt Jayne and Uncle Craig



Clowning around



"Are you sure you want to mess with me?"



A snake story (hence the expression on my face)

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Ah, yes. Grand times indeed.

Well, it's been awhile since I've had the time or inspiration to do much blogging, so I've accumulated a number of pictures. Here we go...



This is what happens to fabric scraps.  I had such fun!


























This is because I simply love picking fresh flowers.

Maybe it sounds silly to say...but I'm so glad God made flowers.  They make me think of how He's so big and yet gives those little flowers exactly what they need to grow.  And He does so much more for me.

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From the morning strolls...



 This is a gloriously bright July morning, perfect for walking the dog.  (Actually, the sun was out for most of the day, just not when I took the picture.)



This is Tephra.



 This is Tephra after a 30-minute walk - happy and tired.



This is a "just because" shot.


This is stopping to smell the roses...only I just snapped a shot and didn't actually smell them.



This is an exotic flower blooming right alongside the roses and poppies and hydrangeas (it's a passion flower, in case you're wondering).



This is an excessively elaborate receptacle for paper correspondence (otherwise known as a mailbox).  There are even lace curtains in the windows.  Serious decorating skills!



This is California, baby.



This is one of God's reminders to me - life isn't about avoiding the tight spots.  It's about blooming where you are.

...That's what I want to do.

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And this is one of my favorite lines from an email this week: "Is it bad to be thinking of the coffee that one will make upon arising the next morning???"  :)  Ah, what kind of question is that?!  Of course not...

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Life is good.  Because God never leaves my side for even a moment.

Quotable

"I could devote my whole life to doing 'the work of the Lord', but if it is done in my own strength, it means nothing to the Lord.  He wants my surrender, not my conquests."

- D.K.

Kept by the power of God

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.  Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls."

- 1 Peter 1:3-9

What blessings are ours!!!

A dear friend wrote this last week:

"He looks beyond our plans to meet true needs."

Superbly said, Carla.

What's Cookin'?

Or baking, as the case may be.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread.  For kicks, here's the recipe.  It's one of only two chocolate things I enjoy.

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3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini (firmly packed)
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
4-5 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder (more or less, to taste)
1 cup chocolate chips

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Got the ingredients together? Okay...

Combine dry ingredients in medium mixing bowl.

In an electric mixer, beat eggs until light.  Add oil, butter, sugar, and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add dry ingredients and zucchini and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour into two greased loaf pans.  Bake at 325° for 45-60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Easy enough, yes?  It also freezes beautifully.  You could, of course, make muffins (2 dozen) instead the loaves.  In that case, you'd have to bake them for about 20 minutes (ish).  Yum!

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It was a good, relaxed, productive Saturday.  Coffee, sewing, baking, vacuuming (call me crazy, but I enjoy vacuuming), going for a quick walk with dog, posting on xanga...

Even if life were the bottom of the trash heap (which it isn't - not by a long shot), I'd still have this to be thankful for: "Blessed is the man [or woman] to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity..." (Psalm 32:2a)

Yes. I am blessed beyond measure.  Thank You, Lord!

Wouldn't it be awesome if Jesus came back today?

My cup runneth over.  With coffee, of course.  :) :)

"Are You washing my feet?"

In preparing for my Sunday School lesson, I was reading John 13, the account of Jesus washing His disciples' feet.

Jesus...rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  Then He came to Simon Peter.  And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?"  ["Wait, Lord, are You sure You really know what You're doing?  You aren't actually going to wash my feet, are You?"]

Jesus' reply: "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

Peter responds forcefully: "You shall never wash my feet!"  ["Uh-uh.  No way, Lord!!"]

Can you believe it?!  I'd be happy to condemn Peter's audacity except for one thing: I'm often like that.  Questioning God.  Doubting His ways.  Trying to convince myself that I know better than He does.  And yet He patiently reminds me over and over again, "What I'm doing you not understand now, but you will someday.  Just trust Me!"

Lord, I believe...help my unbelief.

French toast and coffee (with milk).  Ahhh...what a way to start the morning. :)

Happy Tuesday!

It's Monday

Yup, it's Monday...again.  Where has the time gone??

Howdy!



I'm always amazed at how something so simple - like flowers from the front yard casually placed in an old jelly jar - can put a smile on my face and remind me of God's goodness.  He has showered life with beauty in so many ways.

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There was actually a headline this weekend – "U.S. Hiring at a Standstill".

I thought, Well, my experience certainly validates that.  Seriously, all things considered, who wants to hire a girl with less than three months available and absolutely no experience to offer?!  But then I smile and remind myself that my God is capable of overcoming all odds.

I also remind myself (and the smile sometimes fades at this point), that just because He can doesn't mean He will.  His answers don't usually look the way I expect them to.

Right now, there seems to be no way around "waiting", so the question I have to ask is, "What am I doing while I'm waiting?"

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One of the things I love about being home is the spontaneous sisterly trios that break out as we go about our tasks.  Three-part harmony in some of our favorite hymns.  Love it, love it!

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"And I think of You who shines with endless light through broken jars of clay…" - I Think of You

I am joyful in the privilege of being one of those broken jars.

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And thus begins another week to see God's grace.  Until next time...

More Summer Goals

Summer goal #4 (but who's keeping track, right?): Read 10 Books.  Completed.  Here's the list, along with my commentary.

1. Unplanned by Abby Johnson (Gut-wrenching but insightful story about one woman's journey from "Pro-Choice" to "Pro-Life".)

2. The Friendship Gap by Tim Stafford (Deeply insightful book on cross-cultural ministry.  Loved it!  Sadly, it's out of print, but I got my copy through Amazon.)

3. Our Witchdoctors are Too Weak by Davey and Marie Jank (Snippets of everyday missionary life and challenges.  Very well written...I found myself laughing through most of it.)

4. The Church Before the Watching World by Francis Schaeffer (Maybe I'd have gleaned something from this if I were more intellectual, but it just wasn't written on my level.)

5. By Searching by Isobel Kuhn

6. Spiritual Junk Food by Cathy Mickels & Audrey McKeever (Thought-provoking.  I'd recommend this for anyone hoping to work with American youth.)

7. Green Leaf in Drought by Isobel Kuhn (Encouraging accounts of how God cared for Isobel and her husband as missionaries in China.)

8. Stones of Fire by Isobel Kuhn

9. Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace (Excellent, excellent, excellent!  This book was so encouraging. As I was reading, a certain person kept coming to mind, and I'd think, "Yes! I know someone who is like that!" Very cool to have a real flesh-and-blood example of the Titus 2 woman.)

10. Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately by David Wilkerson (Another highly recommended title.  Very straight-forward counsel for someone facing discouragement.  Wilkerson has a down-to-earth way of bringing Scripture into his writing, which I love.)

And a bonus: Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo (If you know a missionary...or are one...read this!)

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Summer goal #5: Make a quilt for my room.



On Tuesday - all 48 quilt blocks sewn together.



On Thursday - top completed!  (It was rather difficult to get a shot of the entire quilt.  As you can see I wasn't too successful.)  Hurray!

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Thus ends another week.  Until next time...

On the Geography of Ministry

In a conversation with Mom the other week...

"I'm all for seeing people serve the Lord overseas, but if no one stays here to disciple and teach them, exactly what kind of people will we be sending to other countries?  Somebody needs to be willing to train the next generation of young people."

I think she said that pretty well.

I have no idea if/when/where God will lead me overseas.  But I, for one, am very thankful for those who have chosen to follow the Lord by staying here in the States.  My life has been deeply impacted by many faithful Christians who serving the Lord here.

As one of my favorite teachers would say - Hats off to you.

After all, ministry is simply living in faith wherever God has us at this time.  It doesn't magically happen by flying across an ocean.

Why Not Me?

This past week C.R. (one of the college kids from church) got a job offer.  He'd asked our Bible study group to pray for the interview, etc., and on Sunday he praised the Lord for providing a job for him.  I couldn't help but think of my own search for work.  I could ask, "Lord, why him and not me?  I could use a job just as much as he can.  I'm glad You answered his prayer.  But why didn't You answer mine, too?"

Also on Sunday, Mr. R was praising the Lord for healing his back.  I believe God can and does heal.  And I believe He answers the prayers of His children.  So He healed Mr. R - yet I still struggle with very frequent headaches.  Not too long ago, I would have been tempted to ask, "Lord, why haven't You taken my headaches away, when You can so easily heal others?  I've prayed with faith that You can.  Why haven't You answered?"

But He has answered my prayers – with a "wait" for now.  Not because He loves me any less, but because He knows that "wait" is His absolute best for me at this time.

It reminds me of a snippet from my favorite poem:

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still…Wait.

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And so I wait.  Not always patiently.  Still fearful and faltering at times.  Yet rejoicing and clinging to the assurance that my God has something far more excellent in mind than I can dream up for myself.

I am so very glad He is the One who directs my steps.

New every morning

Oh Lord, Your love

Is new in every morning

Your faithfulness

It gets me through the night

You bid me come

You know that I am weary

Your yoke is easy

Your burden is light

- playing right now ("Oh Lord, Your Love")

So true.  His love is here every morning.  Experiencing the many different ways He shows that love makes me excited to see what He's going to do today.

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Yesterday was a somewhat un-traditional Fourth of July.

To start, we had burgers.  Very American, right?  Actually, these weren't your typical American fare.  They were Applebee's-inspired quesadilla burgers.  Quite tasty, in my opinion, but not exactly what the occasion calls for.  And we didn't have watermelon - it was cantaloupe.  Horrors!  Who ever heard of a Fourth of July without watermelon?!  But we did have homemade vanilla ice cream (along with peach pie).  At least we did something right!  And yes - we did go outside for awhile and "ooh" and "ahh" over the fireworks.


It was a good day, though.  The quilt project is coming along well.  I definitely enjoy working on it.

My idea to take some nice Fourth of July pictures for xanga didn't happen.  Sorry.

Quite a large chunk of the day was consummed with working on a (long overdue) newsletter.  I'd planned to use Proverbs 16:9, since it's been the story of my life this year.  I guess I have a tendency to mentally check off lessons I believe I've sufficiently learned, and lest I make that mistake again, God gently redirected my steps yesterday.  It wasn't anything big, and maybe it seems silly, but it was another proof that my Heavenly Father is deeply interested in my daily life.

Wow - burgers and quilts and God's faithfulness is kind of a crazy combination for a blog post...or is it?  I don't know.  That's life, and I firmly believe God is involved in our entire lives.  I also believe faith isn't something just for Sunday mornings, Wednesday Bible studies, or personal quiet time.  Life was meant to be lived every moment in the awareness of GOD and who He is.

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I sometimes stop long enough to ask, "Why, Lord?  Why do You shower me with all these blessings and love me so much when I'm wretchedly undeserving?"  But rather than try to understand it fully (which is impossible), I will simply rejoice in the love He shows me.

Hurray for another day!!!  Happy Tuesday, friends!

Musings on a Summer Day

Goodbye, June and hello, July!  Where has the time gone?!

Just a few things I'm thankful for right now...



Nothing says summer like fresh strawberries, eh?  Mom made her famous pound cake to go with them.  Tasty!



Flip-flop days...love them!



Summer fruit (Can you tell I'm excited that summer is here?)



Yay for quilting!  A delightful summer project.



Coffee. :)  (No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you very much.)

In case you can't see it, the mug says "God's love is reflected in the heart of a true friend."  I heartily concur.



God's faithful promises.  Yes, He is my light, my salvation, and my strength.  I see that more with every passing day.



Dear friends.  Good times.  Fun memories.  (A snapshot from last week's visit.)  Was it really only a week ago that I woke up to the sound of goats at Michelle's?  And fell asleep to the sound of a tractor discing the adjoining field?  Or that the three of us were sipping coffee together after dinner?

A few days in the country can do wonders for a person.  Hot days and warm nights.  Fresh blueberries.  Just-harvested wheat fields.  Almond orchards.  Horses across the way.  An abundance of lovely flowers.  Quiet country roads.  The delicious rays of evening sun falling across the fields, creating long shadows among the trees.  The invigorating morning air.

Ahhh...

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As I write, this song is playing.  I love the line from the chorus - "We delight in the Son who was perfect from birth, we delight in the day He's returning to earth - Hallelujah!"

Hallelujah for a God who is perfectly faithful!  It may not be easy, but life is so worth living because of His love.  Thank You, Jesus!