These pictures were taken July 16, 2009 at the lunch we attended after the memorial service for Aunt Hazel Helm.
Patrick, Mom, Casey, Leslie, Joe, and Clif
Mary, Elmer, Leslie, Parker, Margaret, Corbin, and Emily
The pictures are inserted, quality isn’t to good.
I have been waiting on the porch, for such a long time.
What have I been doing while I’ve waited?
I have been very busy.
1. I checked the driveway, yes, free from poison oak and stinging nettles
2. I checked the porch foundation, yes, secure and constant.
3. I swept down cobwebs of discouragement,regret and disappointment.
4. I washed the window to keep a clear vision.
5. I kept the steps de-iced with warmth, forgiveness and compassion.
6. I sat on the porch chair and prayed.
7. I washed the steps with tears.
8. I was watchful, even when busy, glancing out the window.
9. I paused often, listening for a knock.
10. As I looked down the road, I looked up.
The best part of waiting on the porch was opening the door and saying,
“Come in! I’m glad you’re home!”
The contemporary suburban human being of a high-strung mature and mediocre intelligence has been force-fed the obvious masquerading as insight for so long that they no longer know the obvious.
—Andrea Richinsen
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, deart Margaret
Happy Birthday to you!
Today Kelsey pledged herself to the United States Army.
As I listened to the chorus of young men and women:
vow to uphold the Constitution of the United States,
vow to defend their country from all enemies, foreign and domestic,
vow to obey the orders of the President of the United States,
and vow to obey their direct commanders, so help me God.
As I watched these young men and women hug with smiles through their tears, parents, siblings, wives, husbands, and friends.
I thought who would have thought that this is what a dream feels like.
Congratulations, Kelsey, Best of Luck, our love and prayers are with you.
It will be gone before you know it. The fingerprints on the wall appear higher and higher. Then suddenly they disappear. —Dorothy Evslin
Margaret
1. Sleeping in.
2. Time to read.
3. Playing with the kids.
4. Blogging.
5. Getting all the laundry done.
6. Not having to eat in the van.
7. Actually having time to do the cleaning that gets put off – like dusting.
8. Long, hot showers.
9. Having time to go through boxes/closets/the pantry and cleaning them out.
10. Having time to breathe.
peace…
This is an exercise in writing. Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do, but always been hesitant, my great fears raise their hoary heads, what will she look like, what will people think, it’s not good enough, others can but not me.
Well, I just took a deep breath, let it all out , holding my nose I’m jumping in……
This exercise tells me to take a quote and just start writing, I don’t know where I’ll end up but surely the journey will be interesting, (the “U” is in journey because this time you are invited.
Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present-love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
What do I have abundance of—in material things—cloth, yarn, books, audio stories. What is abundance; where do I draw the line? If I have more than two towels, one to use and one to wash is that abundance – it isn’t lack for I have some…I guess I’ll have to look up abundance.
I have abundant grace; there is always enough grace, especially if I reach out for it. I am loved abundantly, regardless of me, by my heavenly Father and my husband.
I try to see where is the lack – yes there are things I don’t have, but put on a scale-side by side-I am so blessed. I have more than two of everything, except a husband and one is enough.
Am I tending the secret garden of abundance? Am I nurturing, pruning, fertilizing, weeding or do I take my abundance for granted?
I have a choice, Isn’t that powerful? I can choose to focus on abundance not on what I imagine as missing. Are those things really missing or are they just hidden in a corner of the secret garden where it is sheltered and the most tender of plants grow?
“the abundance that’s present” I have today. What a present!
“The wasteland of illusion” how often I get bogged down in the desert land-the barren land of the “Isn’t”. Lift up your eyes! Don’t choose to try to bring to life a wasteland when a secret garden is right at my doorstep of the present.
Abundance n. – great plenty; more than sufficient quantity (see abound)
Abundant adj. – very plentiful; more than sufficient; ample; rich in something
Lack n. – the fact or condition of not having enough; shortage; deficiency
Whew! What a ride! Are you still there in the backseat? Are you carsick yet?
NO, we are not there yet!
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||
Thoughts of Grace 