Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Angels and Footprints

As I look at the blank "piece of paper"/screen before me it is as white as the snow outside.  Just waiting to be filled with ideas and thoughts or snow angels and footprints.  Perhaps I should liken the ideas and thoughts to snow angels and footprints on this windy, wet and snowy day.


My snow angel spreads her wings and exposes her heart and thoughts.  This trusting angel opens up to say, "Here I am God.  Use me!"

My footprints dance, twirl and skip across the blank snowy page.  Occasionally alone, but most often in sync with those made by another.

Angels and footprints fill the white space and it is no longer empty.  It is full.... as is my heart.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The New Digs

New breakfast spot
We are in the new digs, casa nueva, a new place to hang our hat.

After the Country House sold, luckily we fell into the opportunity to rent this house while life sorts itself out.  I now have this sweet breakfast spot to watch the sun rise and write inspiring blog entries.  I'm looking forward to watching the buds and leaves fill in on the trees and spring to emerge.

As I gaze out the window, I feel it's a little like my life right now.  The deep roots, strong base, shape and form are in place and ready for the details to fill in.  In my minds eye its faithful, vibrant, joyful, busy and filled with color.

I like it.    

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Bundles of Sweet Baby-Goodness


My grandson Mason arrived a week ago and still I find myself at a loss for words  to express the sweetness of this little bundle of baby-goodness.  I stood in the aisle of the grocery store with tears swelling as MY son described HIS son to me.  The pride in his voice.  The memory of him as a baby.  How wonderful life is.  Today I'll just let pictures tell the story of joy this little fella brings.  


He's a perfect armful!

Grandpa Harry

Oscar and Mason will be great
pals I'm certain of it

Adorable - 'nuf said


Eat, sleep, repeat

KT likes the way he
holds his little arms 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

I'm Alive!

I'm alive and have not fallen off the face of the earth!  We are moving this weekend so every waking moment has been consumed with packing up the entire house, interesting new developments at work, and every day good stuff like.... the birth of my grandson, Mason!

Definitely more on all these topics to come in the near future!

In the meantime my prayers are for strength, clarity and filled with thanks for babies and life always changing.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Essence of Trust

This morning as I gazed out the upstairs window a slight movement  in the woods behind the house caught my eye.  I stood quietly watching as a deer made his (her?) way down the hill, jumped over the creek and walked up hill to the edge of our backyard.  As I studied the trees and the spaces in between, I could see his path was followed by others.  

At the edge of the woods before entering our yard he stopped - fully alert - yet perfectly still looking for danger.  Sensing none he started out across the yard where he was immediately and quickly followed single file by seven smaller deer.   Only the final deer hesitated slightly before entering the yard.  By the time I got to the window in the front of the house the last one was bounding through the brush and into the safe, cover of the trees in the woods across the road.

As their leader he was clearly watching out for their best interests and they had complete trust as they followed him.   The essence of trust is its bond.

Monday, February 13, 2012

An Adventure I Don't Want to Miss!


I read this a few years ago and came across it again today.  I like it!

LIFE'S ADVENTURE
God has a plan, a future and a hope, for each of us, with our own name on it… But we will never discover that life – that adventure! – until we entrust ourselves to His guidance and leadership. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He understands our capabilities and our limitations. He knows exactly what pitfalls we need to avoid and sees the full scope of our potential. He has His sights set high for us, and He is willing to give us every form of assistance we need to live out His perfectly designed plan. But we need to turn to Him and trust Him fully.
Whatever step of faith you need to take, I hope and pray that you will take it. I don't know what God has in store for your life, but I do know that it is an adventure you won't want to miss!
-- Bill Hybels in Making Life Work: Putting God's Wisdom into Action

Sunday, February 12, 2012

The Other Side of the Door

I've been thinking a lot about the future lately and have had various discussions with friends that we wish we could see what's on the other side of "the door".  Then I took these random photos and it really helped it all fall into context.

We think the future has something wonderful to
be discovered.  It feels pretty and colorful!
But what IS it?

As we (patiently?) wait it may lose some of
the appeal, maybe even look a tad scary.

It begins to look brighter and start to take shape. 
As time passes it becomes clearer.
Then suddenly one day we can see
clearly on the other side of the door
and the bright blue skies are welcoming.  



Friday, February 10, 2012

Leaning Into Life

"Joy is a way of leaning into life.  It is a consistent activity that brings light or delight to the journey."

I read that passage several years ago and really like it.  I like the thought of "leaning into life".  I picture myself meeting it, not shying away or being afraid, but eager for it.  Like leaning and stretching over the railing at Niagara Falls because it's so good and so beautiful and you just want to see a little bit more... 




Monday, February 6, 2012

Arrival 6:09...delivery 6:12

My daughter, Lindsay entered this world with a flourish a quick 13-months after her older brother.  Labor was a short four hours and delivery was just THREE minutes after arriving at the hospital.  The staff at Bellin met us downstairs at the entrance with a wheelchair, had the elevator waiting, whisked us upstairs to the delivery room, took one look and said, "Don't push!"  They grabbed a passing doctor, he stuck his head in the doorway and a wonderful, efficient intern delivered her as Lindsay's dad was just entering the room after parking the car.  Naming her took longer than labor and delivery did!  (I liked Rebekah but alas I lost and now cannot imagine her with another name.)    

Lindsay is a brilliant young lady with a finely tuned sense of humor laced with her thoughtful and caring ways.  She has always brought joy to my life and I've loved watching her grow to be the amazing young woman she has become.  Happy Birthday to my sweet Lindsay!

Picking out her wedding dress

A favorite of mine captured by a friend 

At the finish line of her
first half marathon
With Samwise

Friday, February 3, 2012

Brighter Than The Sun!


Harry will be telling me about his rental car and I hear "it's a Saturn Honda Infinity Accord Sonata 27.12 liter with a hemi fuel injected turbo booster charger under the hood" and of course the first question that comes to my mind is, "But, what color is it?"  As a person who loves and enjoys color, I tend to look at and think about color more than some others - for instance someone who loves numbers.  

This week I came across the following question:  "What color is your brilliance?"  

My mind has been spinning around this question ever since I saw it!  Just what does that MEAN?!  Just what does that mean to ME?!  I love all the possibilities it suggests and encourages with its bold, yet gentle nudging.  Suggesting that I should dig deeper into the depths of my soul because surely there is something there still to be discovered that I have not yet unearthed.  I feel it is certainly related to my faith and my love for God and others and yet... the answer is still just a smidge beyond my grasp.  

I will continue to ponder this and let it race around inside my being until the color emerges and the answer shines with a brightness that cannot be squelched.