Showing posts with label Independence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Independence. Show all posts

Monday, July 4, 2016

Independence and a Birthday

She sits on my lap. 
She's so long.
She tries to curl in a ball. 
Those legs are not letting her. 
The youngest;
is 11. 





The 4th of July a fitting birthday. 





Her eyes twinkle and sparkle like her dad's;




though, the color of mine. 
She reaches first for babies. 
Soothes them like no other. 
A gift. 
A beautiful sunset will not escape her notice. 
She will attempt to capture the beauty.
She can teeter on the edge of wrath one moment and love 
whole heartedly in the next. 


She is fiercely independent. 






Like the holiday of her birth. 





Her faith working itself out. 
Softening the edges as she lives. 
A tender heart;
Explosive temper. 
Learning to accept and extend grace. 





She is growing. 
She creates beauty through music. 





She is the last. 
The next generation begun. 
And I've tried to learn from the others. 
To sit longer. 


To hold the moment. 
I don't want to miss anything. 





We get so busy living we sometimes miss that which is in front of us. 
I've tried hard. 



With the encouragement of our children I began to write
 down my streams of consciousness. 
My thoughts. 
It has become a life line for me as I work through deep grief,
a challenging farming season, and our young ones flying the coop. 

This will also be the last blog on this site! 
Stay tuned for new and exciting things to come!!
Check our face book or this site for a new and improved look!

Our prayer for you all this Independence day is that you know sweet Freedom. 
Freedom from all that can weigh you down. 
That you know that you are loved beyond anything that you could ever imagine. 
There is a hope so sure. 
A plan set in motion before time began. 
Your life has purpose. 
Your life has meaning. 
We all can help to make this journey here on earth a better one. 
One day we will be called home. 
But until that day, there is much work to be done. 
Seek. 
Ask. 
You will find. 

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; 
knock and the door will be opened to you.




Saturday, July 4, 2015

That 10 Year Old Firecracker

Firecracker. 
That was Nana's nickname for her. 
She came into this world in a flurry of emergency. 
A whirlwind. 
And has remained that to this day. 
Our baby is double digits. 


The last baby I carried; held within my womb.
A surprise. 
A gift. 
But they all were. 
I was always surprised with the news of "the child within". 
Awestruck at the beauty and holiness. 
And now the youngest of these is 10. 



This wee one that gave me quite a scare 2 weeks ago. 
Who caused me to fall to my knees again. 
Reminding my self that these children of ours are a gift;
 on loan from the King of all Kings. 

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, 
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 
who does not change like shifting shadows.

This child that has reminded me to slow down. 


To pay attention to her. (She is the youngest you know) 


She works hard.


She is independent and silly. 


She is inquisitive and sensitive. 
(an interesting combination)




She has known deep grief and heartache for one so young. 
Her wisdom and perspective is a joy to my mama's heart. 

She loves fiercely. 
And is so loved in return. 







I don't know where life will take this bundle of energy with such a sharp mind. 
I do know she is carried on the wings of grace of her Savior. 
I know that no matter what direction she takes she will be held. 

Today we celebrate double digits.

We celebrate Independence. 

Which gives us the Freedom to be dependent on a Holy, 
Righteous and loving God. 

A dependence I am grateful for. 

Happy Birthday Eleanor. 






Monday, July 7, 2014

Betrayal And Thanks, In The Same Sentence

The house is so quiet.


Our new family have settled in their home. 
The past week and a half has been non stop crazy with 12 people under the same roof. 
But it was community. 
Learning to live with another. 
Sharing chores. 
Helping. 
Bearing one another's load. 
A practice long abandoned in the name of independence. 
Families drifting apart. 
Help seen as hindrance; dependence. 
I enjoyed the help. 
The common desire to serve our families.
Pooling resources.
Dinner cooked.
More time.
Laundry switched.
I think if they had stayed longer we would have worked a nice system.
Dependence; leading to Independace.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
 he will never let the righteous be shaken.

We are the strongest when we are the weakest. 
When we feel weak. Look up. Give thanks.

Max Lucado says in his book, "You'll Get Through This",
Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. 
Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. 
I Corinthians 11:23-24 " On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it."  Not often do you see the words betrayed and thanks in the same sentence, much less in the same heart. In the midst of the of the darkest night of the human soul, Jesus found a way to give thanks.

Our dependence on God, leads to our complete independance in Christ.
In our hurt and pain, let us find a way to give thanks.

I am Thankful for:

Days of sunshine and warmth
Cool breezes
Books
Coffee
Days spent with my family
Grace as we learn to live with a new family structure
Hope
Encouraging cards in the mail
Clean sheets
Front porch prayers
Visits from friends
Birthdays and celebrations
Our Nations birthday
The Freedom to gather and worship
Moments of sustained Mercy; deep and holy
Being held when I feel like I am falling
Strength for the moment
Living fully to fully live