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“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”
Matsuo Basho

you know you're (getting) old when...

Where to start!

Aches and pains.

Brain like a sieve.

Less sleep.

Less hair.

More chin hair!

More body.

More naps.

Sounds bad?

Married son!

College graduated son!! (Today!)

Engaged daughter!!

College-aged children!!

Successful children!!

25th anniversary!!

Free time!!

God is great.

God is good.

Now I thank Him.

For....

Everything!

God's economy

I try to start my day by praying before my feet hit the ground. Sometimes I'm able to pray over many people and issues that are on my heart. Other times, my heart wanders and the morning's first activity forces me from bed....

Today, as I prayed, I was quite moved by the exchanges extant despite how I begin my day. God has exchanged His faithfulness for my faithlessness, His love for my apathy, His sufficiency for my inability, His thoughts for my thoughts, His wisdom for my folly, His Son for my sin, His "omni-s" for my human limitations, His comedy for my tragedy... You get the picture!

My grandmother used to call prayer - "doing business with God"!

I like the exchange rate!

shake and bake

Today is Sunday.

The Lord's Day.

Everyday belongs to Him but today has special focus.

We worshiped well, sang well, feasted well and "parished" well at "Robertson central" - saying good-bye at the combined parish lunch to yet another fine young man who has been with us for a while .

It was hot today. 100 degrees. We baked.

Then, tonight, while I was talking to Larry who is in Utah on a fishing trip, there was a boom and some shaking. 5.0 earthquake.

Shake and bake.

It brings back Jan. 1994 every time it happens.

“It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily. "So it is." "And freezing." "Is it?" "Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately.”

week 18 adult - laughter

Our friend Steve. He's a good laugher. He should be laughing here - he made these outfits for his daughter (right) and mine! Usually, when you squeeze a grape, you get a little whine, but in this case - you get a little POP!!!!

Hope you laugh, too!! Join the others at iheartfaces and laugh some more!!

he made me a mother

Matthew. My first born. Dark hair. Tall and handsome. Smart. Funny. Musical. Good memory. Creative. Loving. Recently married. Doing well.

When he was little, he was THE cutest boy I had ever seen. Huge eyes. He was so talkative and interesting and sweet - still is. He wasn't the first one to jump into the action; rather, he stayed back with me or sat on the edge of a group and observed the situation, then moved in where he wanted to be. He knew himself and sensed where he fit in. Still does.

He was a story teller. He could repeat a story or dream up fascinating tales of Snoopy in far away places doing heroic things. Story - whether relating one or watching one is still a pleasure for him.

He was a lap boy. He listened to and then read to me many many books in my lap. As he grew, he'd still plop down on my lap!! Sometimes does!

But mostly, he's my first born. My dear son.

they made me a mother again....and again

My girls. My daughters. They are young women now. They are so different. Rachael is tall. Lydia is not. Rachael has long hair. Lydia cuts it often and has shaved it once. Rachael is a home body. Lydia is a social bug. Rachael likes to read. Lydia likes to "art". Rachael relaxes in the kitchen. Lydia hyperventilates with fear in the kitchen. Viva la difference!!!

studying in a fort made with sheets - just like the olden days!!

As room mates at college, the sisters live as friends with each other. They both love to laugh and, when home, make each other laugh all the time. They are both disciplined. They both have messy bedrooms. They are both deep thinkers. They both shower every morning. They are both excelling in school. They are both loyal. They are both a joy to know. Such variety from the same womb. Such blessings. Such love. Such dear daughters and friends to me.

POV on motherhood

Sarah’s baby shower
May 9

Quite some years ago, I heard a talk, the basis of which was that a happy marriage requires a bloodless martyrdom. Only then do we know happiness.The phrase and the concept have intrigued me ever since that hour aired. I pondered it for some time and realized that this is a very Scriptural idea. I have also tried to view motherhood as a life of bloodless martyrdom. It has lead to happiness but even more, it has lead to knowing Jesus more deeply. I put it out here today for your consideration, Sarah.
Not all of us are called to martyrdom in the classical sense of the word. Not all of us are called to follow the footstep of apostles and the like and acutally shed blood and die. But all of us are called to become consistent witnesses of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Each time we elect life over death it is a bloodless martyrdom. Each time we opt for good over evil, it is a bloodless martyrdom. Each time we practice grace over sin, or choose heaven over hell its also bloodless martyrdom. Each time we choose others over self we choose a bloodless martyrdom.
For some, this may just be a paradigm shift – an adjustment of perspective on life. For some, this may sound a bit melodramatic or extreme. I think not. Martyrdom is defined as suffering and death. OK. That sounds extreme!! But motherhood is an extreme relationship. It requires a certain kind of death. As mothers, to what must we die?? …..
None of us shed blood over the things to which we die. in We die to our need or desire for sleep. Time is not our own. We die to privacy. We die to our ideas of what motherhood will be like! We die to our ideas of what each of our children will be like – and this is a big one! God has His own call on our children’s lives – His plans for them. As mothers, in partnership with our husbands, we need to help them know that. We must not make them “LITTLE US’s”. We die to the kind of freedoms to which we are accustomed. We die to the way we spend money. There are many other deaths to die as a mother.
What is the reason for the martyrdom? It is not to look heroic and inspire others to pity us. It is not to ingratiate our children to us. We do not parade our martyrdom in front of others.
Rather, martyrdom furthers the kingdom. The saying goes – the blood of the saints waters the seed of Scripture. What you will do for Guenivere and her siblings must illustrate Scripture in flesh and blood; you must bring the kingdom of God to them in word, deed and very often, in sacrifice.
How is this concept Scriptural? Romans 12 opens with a discussion of us getting up on the altar and offering ourselves as sacrifices to God – which is our REASONABLE service!! I once heard a speaker on this passage. He said that the failure of the Christian is that we are always crawling OFF the altar. Stay on the altar!! The writer is describing a bloodless martyrdom. In the end, what you are already doing and will continue to do for Guenivere, you are doing for God in real time.
The chapter closes with a series of imperative statements. Each imperative tells us to DO something – by definition, we are also being told NOT to do something else – we are to exchange one attitude in favor of another. In some cases, he even states the opposites. My definition of martyrdom a few minutes is an echo the exchanges we make in these imperatives. I highlight a few – look up the text for the whole idea:

Love one another. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another, Honor one another above yourselves… Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony…. Do not be proud, but …. associate with people of low position. Be humble. ...

Most of these are counter-intuitive. Each of these illustrates an exchange of one attitude, one behavior, for another. Therein lies the martyrdom. You must die to what you think you want now to get what you really want now - and later. You will exchange your life as you know it now for a different life. You have already begun this. You don’t drink “adult beverages” now because little Guenivere depends on you to keep her healthy. You have given up space in the house for her. You already have a different view on how to spend the money you have today and the money you will have in the future. You have already given her your body as her first home. You will continue to give her your body as you feed her, as you hold her when you are tired and she is not. You have already given up hours of sleep and will continue to do so for yet a little while. You have already begun to sacrifice yourself for Guenivere.
You will have the joy of making many other sacrifices for her. YES! There is a joy in sacrifice because it comes from a place of willingness (or it should!), from love. These sacrifices, these deaths will bond you to her. They will cause you to be grateful for your own mother who did much for you. They will illustrate Jesus to all who live in and visit in your home - did He not give His riches to us, give up His home for us, give His body and His very life for us!! These sacrifices, this bloodless martyrdom will draw you deeper and deeper into Himself. Done well, this life of bloodless martyrdom will make you more beautiful.
Don't look to me or anyone in this room or anyone you know as a measure of whether or not this is worth it or whether or not it works..... Look to Jesus. He is where all questions are answered, all doubts are settled. His life well illustrates the point.
Without developing a whole other talk - don’t sacrifice Aaron along the way!! He must remain your focus. It will be tricky but God will give you the grace and creativity you need.
But that is not where my thoughts took me for today. It is, however, part of that martyrdom – to increase the sphere of giving of yourself.
God bless you Sarah.
and thank you for the pictures - again - Sarah R.

iheartfaces - week 17 - hats - adult: Now this is what hats are all about

My son and his wife like hats.

Early in their dating days, they got matching hats.

Just a bit on the fabulous side of way too cute, don't you think!!

See the other hats - and faces at iheartfaces.