It's A Heart Rock Life

Are YOU full today?....

2011-07-22T16:17:00.001-07:00

Full…

Is how I feel today.

My heart is full of the amazing blessings of the people in my life. Young, old, and in between. Friends who are like family—some I have known for years and some who are newer in my life.

My heart IS FULL.

But I don’t always FEEL full.

And usually that’s when I’m not paying attention.

Not paying attention to the good things in each day, no matter how small they may seem. The Bible says “every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father…”, (James 1:17) and He does give us so many incredibly wonderful gifts if we will have eyes to see and hearts to understand.

When I go for a walk along the canals

with my three favorite red-head boys,

I feel full.

When I get an unexpected card in the mail

from an out-of-state friend,

I feel full.

When I look out my window at work and see the sun in the bright blue sky and the hummingbird darting in and out amidst the blossoms of the bird of paradise bush,

I feel full.

When I think about the fact that I have gas in my car, food in my refrigerator, clean drinking water coming out of my faucet, clothes on my body, a bed to sleep in….

all these things make me feel full.

Paying attention.

That’s the key.

And remembering…

and recounting…

the many ways God touches us,

provides for us,

and speaks to us throughout each day…

It is then I feel full.

It is then I know what it is to BE FULL.

* * * * *

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

~Psalms 16:11

(ps. I could have come up with many more,
but I was being true to the 5min limit!)

With this post I am participating in Five Minute Friday over at The Gypsy Mama's blog. Today's writers were to write for five minutes (w/o tweaking, rewriting, or critiquing!) on the word: FULL.

Here's how it works: "On Fridays around these parts we like to write. Not for comments or traffic or anyone else’s agenda. But for pure love of the written word. For joy at the sound of syllables, sentences and paragraphs all strung together by the voice of the speaker. We love to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. For five minutes flat."

do you love coffee?

2011-07-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure many of you love coffee in the morning...

as do I.

But, how many of you have coffee that LOVES YOU??

(see photo of my hot water pot below)

“Come, let us drink our fill of love..."

~Proverbs 7:18

(taken completely out of context, I know!!

but tell me that didn't make you smile!)

His love will wipe away all our tears...

2011-07-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

Over the years since I began this blog, I've had friends send me photos of hearts they discover in their worlds. I always love it when I see these reminders of God's love in our daily lives. I especially love that others see them, too... and it's that much more special when they share them with me.

One of my friends has several daughters, and they love to send me photos of the hearts they discover. The photo below is one the girls sent me awhile ago. Unfortunately, on my cell phone's tiny screen, I couldn't tell what it actually was and had to ask...

only to discover it was...

a roll of toilet paper!!!!

They couldn't wait to send it to me, and it definitely made me smile!! God uses the strangest things to speak to us, if we have eyes to see!

...And the Lord GOD

will wipe tears away from all faces...

~Isaiah 25:8

love on the trail...

2011-07-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, a friend and I went on a hike in the southern California coastal hills. It was a beautiful sunny day with a brilliant blue sky. The guidebook promised us a hike on "cool shady trails." Well, we left the guidebook in the car and took instead one of the "suggested hikes" typed on a hand-out in the ranger's station. The directions turned out to be quite confusing, not at all helpful, and we ended up not knowing where we were most of the time. We decided to just hike along the trail as best we could figure it. Needless to say, we never did find those cool shady trails...but we did find miles of hot unshaded sunny trails!!

To make a long story short, we ended up hiking for about 2 1/2 hours in the hills... mostly going uphill. Very uphill. Very, very uphill! Oh, we had a good time...enjoying the flora-- the blue of sky (and ocean when we could see it again), green of bushes, bright bluish purple of giant thistle flowers, and yellow and orange of monkey flowers dotting the trail side-- and being cooled a bit by the ocean breezes. We whined a bit when each hill that we thought was the final one was discovered to be NOT the final one...hiding a bigger one behind it! We sweated, hiked, chatted, groaned, and laughed our way to the top of the ridge.

At the base of one big hill, when we stopped a moment or two for a breather, I looked down at the trail and saw this:

I had to laugh, for these hearts tend to show up in the oddest places. And each one reminds me of the Creator Who made them, and, I believe put them there just for me to discover and enjoy! I laughed and told my friend I was sure God was reminding us that He was on the trail with us... and I think He was enjoying our hike!

It's nice to be reminded, especially when trudging along the difficult parts of life's trails, that you are loved-- by friends, by loved ones, by our amazing Father in heaven.

ttmms... (things that make me smile)...

2011-07-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Most people who have known me more than just a few days probably have discovered that I can be pretty easily entertained and amused. I get a kick out of small things (not like midgets and such!) and enjoy finding quirky bits in life. I'm an avid reader-of-license plates and actually have a list of fun ones I've seen. I love strangely colored or shaped fruit or veges or just things that look out-of-the-ordinary. I have the carcasses of several brightly-colored bugs in a box on my dresser. I see faces on cars, either front end or back.

All these things make me smile and give me joy.

I think it's a good thing to be able to find fun and to take pleasure in the small things in life. I mean, isn't that what our lives are really made up of-- an occasional big thing here and there strung together with many many small things in between? I know I don't wait to wait around for a big thing to enjoy when I can delight in so many other little things along the way.

And that is what this blog is really about-- experiencing the daily life stuff and looking and listening for God's hand and voice in it all. And seeing what delights He has put here for us to enjoy if we will allow ourselves to be easily entertained.

In light of all of that, I present to you today one of the many Things That Make Me Smile...

I have recently discovered ...the happiest cars on earth:

Tell me that doesn't make you smile!! : )

I am grateful for smiling cars...

A joyful heart is good medicine...

~Proverbs 17:22a

gotta love those sweet potatoes....

2011-07-12T23:30:00.000-07:00

As you know, I so enjoy finding bits of love scattered about. Recently I was having dinner with friends-- ham, green beans, and sweet potatoes. When I mashed my potato, this is what it looked like:

I didn't do it on purpose but, of course, I couldn't help but see and appreciate the shape! A good dinner with dear friends....

served up with love.

For this I am grateful...

the joy spread by the kids in our lives...

2011-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

Though I don't have kids of my own, I love the kids and grandkids of my friends. They bring such joy into my life, and I am grateful for them.

This New Year's Eve, my friends had two of their grandkids with them for a few days. I, always in for a good time, was invited to their house for New Year's Eve and a sleep-over. (I think I was probably the "out" so they didn't HAVE to stay up till midnight with the boys!)

The day and evening were full of fun, food, games, and just enjoying each other's company. While cooking dinner, I was handed a pen and an envelope by the 8yr old, and inside the envelope was the following note:

Translation (in case you can't quite get it):

Dear Shree:

[short for Shri-ri, a name they all call me due to boy #3 saying my name that way for a short time]

How are you doing?

(blank box for answer)

and what and when are you going to play with us?

(two blank boxes for answers)

And [till] what time will we stay up?

(blank box for answer)

I responded to the questions with the following:

excellent

after dinner and dishes

games? (uno?) later, a movie?

To which he responded with a note on the back of the original card, stuffed in the envelope again:

The above note was preceded with shouts of delight in response to the "stay up till" answer!

...for these kids in my life, I am grateful!! Thanks, God, for the amazing ways You bless us with others in our lives!

"...their children will be a blessing." ~Psalm 37:26b

2011... day 2....

2011-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

(butter on my cornbread)

He gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

~Psalm 126:35

2011... day 1...

2011-01-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

(strawberry in New Year's Day breakfast cereal)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
~Psalm 107:1

i am...

2010-11-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

These are just simple words... but I'm wearing them around my neck these days. Words are oh, so very powerful-- for blessing or for cursing, for bringing hope or for bringing despair, for causing joy or for causing sorrow. God warns us continually about our words (our tongue) and the harm or the good they can do to others... and to ourselves.

They can also form our attitudes ... or be a reflection of the same.

I'm wearing these words to remind me every time I look into the mirror...
Or when my hand strays to touch the necklace at my throat...

...to remind me that I AM well and truly blessed...

and that I AM (to be) thankful and grateful...

Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. ~ Proverbs 6:21-22

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. ~ Proverbs 3:1-4

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ~Deut 11:18

love eggs? ...or, paying attention...

2010-11-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

I've been in a bit of a funk the past couple of weeks, and when that happens, I tend to question God... and doubt His love for me. And, I don't pay attention very well either.

This morning when I was eating my breakfast (frittata), I did notice a little something there... (come on... you know what you're looking for!)

And, in case you're like me and not very good at paying attention sometimes,

here's a closer view...

OK. Call me crazy if you want...

but we do have a Father with quite a great sense of humor!

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:21-23

my favorite word...

2010-05-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

The other night I was out to dinner with some friends of mine. Eight-year-old B said to me, "Hey, Sharilyn! What's your favorite word?"

I paused for a moment to ponder the question... there are just so many good words out there! I decided upon one, and just as I was about to tell him what it was, he said, "I bet I know what your favorite word is...."

"What do you think it is, B?"

"AMAZING!" and amazingly he was right! That was the word I was going to say!

I said, "Hey! That's what I was going to say!"

He said, "Well, I knew it was."

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"I knew it because you like exploring and finding cool stuff!"

I laughed and told him he was right. He smiled, quite pleased with himself, and I smiled, quite pleased that he would know that about me... from our shared adventures of discovery-- searching out bugs in his yard, closely examining flowers and leaves, discovering hearts of all types, playing on the beach together, and generally being AMAZED at God's truly amazing creation!

I decided a couple of years ago that I wanted to use words that were really worth using-- big words, not necessarily big in size but big in their descriptive powers. Words like --"fantastic" and "wonderful" and "magnificent" rather than just "good" or "cool" or "nice." And "amazing"... because that's what it's truly like to live in this world our Father created for us, and I never want to stop being amazed by it... or by Him!

...just something to think about...
what's YOUR favorite word, and what does it speak about you?

the heart of a tomato...

2010-05-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

The other day I was cutting up tomatoes for a batch of salsa. The phone rang, so I laid down the knife and left the kitchen for a couple of minutes. Upon returning, I picked up the knife and was about to finish chopping the tomato, and this is what I saw sitting on the cutting board:

I love it! :) One of those surprise moments of seeing God's love for me in the shape of a random heart in my daily life. They never cease to delight me!

When thinking about a verse that might go with the photo, I automatically thought of Galatians 5 and the fruit of the Spirit. But I decided to do a little digging and see if there was any other reference to fruit and love I could find. This is the one I discovered:

Sow for yourselves righteousness,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the LORD,

until He comes

and showers righteousness on you.

~Hosea 10:12

I love the likening of our pursuit of God to the process of planting -- sowing righteousness, breaking up the fallow ground, reaping love, being rained upon.

It is about preparing our hearts for God, for the harvest He grows within us! It is about seeking Him and receiving the showers He pours upon us... and it is about the harvest He brings about through us when we are obedient to His call to the fields in our hearts and lives!

All this good food for my soul from the heart of a little tomato...

taste and see that the Lord is good!

God is...

2010-05-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Before me,
Even as behind,
God is,
And all is well...
~Whittier

we shall soar on wings like egrets...

2010-05-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

...but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles...

Yes, I am aware this is not an eagle. It is, instead, a great white egret. But, for some reason, this photograph keeps bringing to my mind the "soar on wings like eagles" verse. I think it's the beauty and majesty of the flight. Really... look at that great big gangly body, and yet, the bird lifts it gracefully and majestically from the earth and takes to the sky!

One would think it would require great effort (and, not being a big bird, I cannot be sure what effort is required to lift it from the ground!). Yet, the bird is doing what it was created to do. And in the verse above, God tells us that when we do what WE are created to do --to hope in and wait for the Lord -- we will have the strength of a bird in flight. We will have the sustaining power of the Wind (the Holy Spirit) beneath our wings to cause us to soar -- to lift us and carry us at great heights --like an eagle!

For He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak... that we may soar...

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:28-31
(photograph taken at Bolsa Chica wetlands, Bolsa Chica, CA)

love in the parking lot...

2010-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

Parking lot love.

No, not as in "parking"....

Just a bit of love I found today in the parking lot at the bank. It was pouring down rain (which, by the way, I LOVE!), and I was hurrying into the bank when I spotted this lying on the rain-soaked pavement:

...and me without my camera!! :)

So, when I came back out of the bank, I grabbed my handy cell phone and snapped these wet photos of a wonderful bit of love! (I'm sure the folks in the parking lot were wondering what in the heck the crazy chick was photographing on the pavement in the pouring rain!! but some things just MUST be done!)

Last time, it was aluminum foil... this time a wet towel (or a wet blanket??)...

May we continue to see God's love in our daily lives...
And may we stop and give Him thanks...
even when it's raining...

crickets...

2010-01-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Shhhh. Listen.

Do you hear that sound?

Crickets...

I think that's what you've been hearing at my blog the past few months.... the sounds of silence broken only occasionally by a surprise post here and there.

Well, I'm still trying to work out the discipline of fitting blog-time back into my schedule, and I do appreciate those of you who still pop by to see me! I think I'll get there eventually...

For some reason, the month of January is usually a bit difficult for me. My job is always extremely busy in January, so I feel like I work a lot. And, also, I think it's the let-down after the busy holiday season of spending time with friends and loved ones. The combination usually results in me struggling with being emotional (negatively) and having to work at not being "down."

As you know by now, I love "happening upon" God's little reminders of His amazing love for and thoughts of me. And in January, it's extra special to find them.

Tonight I made a quick stop at Costco (one of my very favorite stores!!) to pick up a couple of photos I had ordered. When I went to get back in my car, I discovered this delightful little message right next to my car door...

...a shimmery silvery message of love...
Thanks, God, for remembering me today...

Thank You, my Father, for reminding me...

...note: the circle around the heart is from my flashlight as I was taking the photo...

HE has arrived!!

2009-12-25T00:11:00.000-08:00

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

(Luke 2:8-15)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

There He is... the newborn King.

The Savior.

Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Shhhhh.... I think He's sleeping!)

...with the Shepherds...

...with the angels...

...with all of heaven and earth...

REJOICE!!

ttmms...

2009-12-09T17:41:00.001-08:00

Today I was at work enjoying a snack of raspberries and almonds.

I was happily munching along when this little character showed up...

Who, on earth, was this?

A strange little "person" whom I could possibly call

Mr. Raspberry...

or, perhaps, Little Orphan Almondine?

What a silly, happy little face--

I couldn't help but giggle every time I looked at it...

and, yes, even laugh out loud!

Yes, I do realize I have yet to grow up...

and to stop playing with my food...

but, tell me, what fun would THAT be?!

I like to think it's just a bit of that

"created in God's image" piece called

CREATIVITY

and

DELIGHT.

...yes, this is one of those

Things That Make Me Smile...
(go ahead...you can laugh at it, too!)

let it rain!

2009-12-07T23:02:00.000-08:00

Today it rained!!

In Southern California, that's not a common occurrence, but most times it is a very welcome one. It seems we are always in a drought anymore...never seeming to get quite enough rain...lakes and rivers and reservoirs growing ever lower.

We need the rain for drinking and for crops--for sustenance.

We need the rain for cleansing--for washing away the dirt and grime that builds up on everything.

We need the rain for growth-- for new life and renewed life.

Whenever we get a good cleansing, drenching, thirst-quenching rain, I think of how we need God in such a similar way...to pour out Himself upon us like the rain pours from the clouds. In much the same way that the land thirsts for the rain, our souls thirst for the rain of God... and for the same reasons-- for sustenance, for cleansing, for growth... for LIFE.

Lord, pour upon us this day...

Wash us clean.

Quench our thirst.

Help us to grow.

Give us LIFE...

We are grateful for Your rain...

to God be the glory...

2009-12-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

For some reason this song keeps running through my mind today...

Truly, great things He has done...for us... and highest on the list is sending His Son... for us...because He loves us so very much. What better song to sing this Sabbath day?! As we begin to prepare ourselves for Christmas--for the very coming to earth of our Savior-- may we sing loudly and from the depths of our hearts in praise of Who He is and what He has done!

To God Be The Glory
by Fanny Crosby

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

it's time...

2009-12-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

it's time
to get back to this blogging about living a heart rock life.

it's time
to get back to living a heart rock life.

it's time
to remember why i started this in the first place...

...to share thoughts about everyday life--

with its joys and sorrows and oh, so many mysteries--

about opening our eyes

to see God's hand and HEART in the details of daily life

and about learning to hear His whispers of love

in the midst of a shouting world...

it's time...

i've missed you whom i've met and become friends with here in this little place in cyberspace.

i've missed me here --
who i am when i'm here: grateful, thinking, looking, searching...

it's time... for me to be here again...

i hope you'll join me...

(and, if you've never left...thank you...)

a slice of the pie...

2009-11-11T09:34:00.001-08:00

A friend emailed me this little clip the other day, and I couldn't help but share it with you....

A very thought-provoking visual, isn't it....

Don't forget from Whom all things come to us...

ttmms... (things that make me smile)

2009-10-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

(Ok. The next time I post someThing That Makes Me Smile, I shall just use the initials.)

I love to travel... to go to new places, see new things, eat new food! (oooh. mmm! eat new food!) I don't get to do it as much as I would like, but I probably am blessed to do it more than some folks. I am grateful for the times I get to go away from home, to stay in a hotel.

One of the things I love most about staying in a hotel is... (are you ready? you may think I'm weird after seeing this, if you don't already!)...

Yes, I'll admit it! I love toilet paper with the little points folded into it!! I do!! For some reason, I just love it when I am in the bathroom going about my business, and I discover the points on the toilet paper!! Oh, what joy!! :) I smile and smile!!

I'm not sure what it is about it, but I love it!

Maybe it's because it makes me feel so special-- I mean, someone actually took the time to fold my toilet paper into cute little triangles!! my toilet paper!! Just think about it for a minute and let the amazement sink in....

(And if one can be amazed and delighted by such as this, just THINK what it's like to ponder the fact that the Creator of the very UNIVERSE has chosen me-- ME!! -- to be His own treasure!! Wow!)

I am immensely grateful... for both!! :)

celebrate the Sabbath with joy...

2009-10-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

Joy

is the echo

of God's life

within us.

~Joseph Marmion

heart on the pavement...

2009-10-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was having kind of a hard morning -- bad news at the dentist followed by a flare-up of a painful and frustrating eye problem. I needed to run an errand for work, so once my eye stopped watering enough so I could see to drive, I set out for the office supply store.

When I was leaving the store and walking back to my car, I was looking down at the ground (due to the sun irritating my sore eye) and I noticed something shiny..... (oooh! shiny object!!)... and this is what I saw at my feet:

a shiny piece of foil pressed into the pavement in the shape of a heart!!

God is so good!! I love it when He addresses the weariness of my heart...or just a frustrating day... with a special bit of love just for me!!

God's amazing creative talent in us...

2009-10-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

We, as humans, are created in the very image of God. (Genesis 1:27) I believe a very special part of being created in His image is that we, too, carry the creative spark of the Master Creator! What an amazing concept! We see this demonstrated in so many ways around us from artists to musicians to writers to inventors to problem solvers to cooks... to each and every person's unique abilities to create, build, fashion! Within us is that piece that makes us want to make something with our hands or our minds.

I discovered an incredible creative artistry recently that I just had to share with you. A woman who won the 2009 Ukraine "Who's Got Talent" show does this amazing work called Sand Painting. The videos are a bit long, but if you have a few minutes, it is well worth it to watch one of them! I found it absolutely spell-binding and fascinating....

"Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII." (1st video below)

God, You truly are amazing!! Thank You for placing within us Your creative spark that we may share the joy of creating!

ttmms (you know--"things that make me smile")...

2009-10-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend two of my young friends were in town visiting their grandparents. On Saturday I went over to spend the day with them all at Mimi and Poppa's house. The younger of the two, B (age 7), loves to help with whatever we may be doing in the kitchen, so Mimi, B, and I made lunch together.

We sat out on their balcony in the lovely Southern CA fall air to eat our lunch. After his older brother said grace, B asked if he could pray, too. Mimi and Poppa said 'of course!' The following was his prayer...

"God, thank you for this day and for our lunch and thank you that I got to help my two best friends, Mimi and Sharilyn, make it. Amen."

Talk about things that warm one's heart and make one smile! Who could ask for more??

...for this I am grateful!...

the delightful heart of a friend...

2009-10-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Sean (age 9) sent the following photos to me today. I was so delighted by his heart and his eyes-to-see...
God's amazing love is everywhere if we will just open our eyes and let Him show it to us...

Thank You, Father, for Your incredible love for us...

Thank you, Sean, for being able to see a glimpse of it in your daily life!

precious in His sight...

2009-09-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

God gave me this passage this morning for myself, and I thought I would pass it along to you. It brings encouragement to my spirit and my mind, and I hope it does for you as well... just insert your name into the brackets, as I'm sure God already has!

Isaiah 43:1-5
But now, this is what the LORD says—

he who created you, O [your name here!],

he who formed you, O [your name here!]:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
you are precious and honored in my sight,

and I love you…
Do not be afraid, for I am with you...

things that make me smile...

2009-09-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have always loved abbreviations and acronyms. Long before there was texting, I was using "bcs" for "because" and "thx" for "thanks." I have always been an avid note-taker, with as much detail included as possible, and perhaps, that is the reason I've always loved abbreviations.

Well, I have a new post abbreviation: TTMMS!. It stands for "Thing That Make Me Smile!" I have decided to do some posting of random things that make me smile...bcs, after all, that's what living a Heart Rock Life (HRL??) is all about, right?--finding joy in the little things, in the daily discoveries, in the many ways God shows us His presence and His love in our daily lives... if we will have eyes to see and hearts to understand...and mouths with which to show our delight!

And so, today is the first TTMMS! posting because this totally made me smile!

This was a chocolate cupcake from The Sweet and Saucy Shop--chocolate with kahlua frosting!--and it originally looked like this:

But, after I had taken a bunch of bites out of the bottom, I was left with a bit of the top and some frosting... and this delightful little smile!! :) (no, I did NOT make it into this! it really was all of its own accord!)

Definitely TTMMS!

here am i....

2009-09-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

So, a few of you may have noticed that I have been away... at least from my blog... for a few weeks. I did not intend it to be so many days, but for the suddenly undisciplined, each day passed into another and another, and well, here it is, three weeks since my last post.

Since I don't have a giant readership, I felt that I probably wasn't all that missed from the blogosphere and didn't push myself to be here. Over the past two days, however, three of my readers emailed or checked in via Facebook to ask if everything is ok in my world. I sheepishly say, 'yes.'

I have been 'away' for a few reasons... a couple of good ones, and (the reason for the sheepishness) a couple of not-so-good ones. The good reasons are that I have been helping a sick friend with her kids the past few weekends, and I have been away from the computer and/or not really able to blog on those days. Another ok reason was that, once I passed my one-blog-post-every-day-for-one-year mark, I decided to allow myself some leeway to not necessarily post every day.

The not-so-good reasons are that I have become very undisciplined--and, as I said, as one day turned into another, it became easy to skip it for a night...and another...and another... This was also a sign of the lack of discipline in seeking those "heart rock life" moments and encounters, and I found myself not really looking for those little, but meaningful, God-moments in my day. I've allowed myself to be "busy" with less important things in the evening, such as too much Facebook time or game-playing time on the computer--rather than sharing God-encounters.

And, so, with my confessions... and with my heart of gratitude toward those of you who sought me out... I say, as Samuel did, "Here am I, Lord."

"Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity." ~Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

they're heeeerrrre...

2009-08-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Last week they were budding....
this week they have arrived!!

The crepe myrtle trees are bloomin' all over the bloomin' city right now!
These are shots of the tree right out in front of my office window...

pretty in pink...

...and still more buds waiting to burst forth into
glorious pinkness!

I love the frilly edges of the dainty petals!

* * * * *

Thanks, God, for such beauty this day!

love, sweet love....

2009-08-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was munching on some blueberries today, enjoying my day's supply of vitamins and antioxidants.... and look what I found!!!!

I do LOVE blueberries...
...and I think they LOVE me, too!!

(and tell me, how can that NOT make you smile?!)

celebrate the Sabbath...with baptism...

2009-08-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

What a great way to spend the Sabbath! I was honored to spend today with friends and to join with them in the celebration of baptism! My friends' two oldest boys --ages 9 and 7-- and their two cousins from back east, and one adult friend of my friends all were baptized today!

There were about 30 or so friends and family members who gathered at the beach for the baptisms.... we started it off with an explanation of what baptism is-- symbolically joining Christ in His death and resurrection and bublically proclaiming to the world (and all those near us at the beach!) of one's decision to follow Christ, prayer, and then each of those being baptized waded into the water.

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ~Romans 6:3-4

Each one proclaimed his or her decision for Christ and was baptised there in the ocean... buried with Christ and risen to a new life.

(no, the bird was not baptised!)

After the baptisms, we all played at the beach for an hour or so and then went to a friend's house for bbq'd ribs and chocolate cake! What joy to celebrate life in Christ on the Sabbath!

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ~Galatians 3:26-27

a lizard's big heart...

2009-08-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a friend found me on Facebook, and we became "friends" once again. She had recently taken a little photo journey to a botanical gardens in Quail Canyon near Encinitas, CA and had posted some of her photos on her profile.

As I looked through her beautiful floral photos, I came across the one below and just had to share it with you...

That's one big-hearted lizard!!!

(Isn't this the BEST photo?!?!)

**big thanks to Diane for letting me use her photo!!

here they come...

2009-08-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

If you were one of my readers one year (and one day) ago, you would have read my post about the glorious view out my office window. Gorgeous pink blossoms on the tree right in front of my office.

This year the tree is a little behind schedule, but.... here... they... come...

...anticipation....
...anticipa-a-tion...
(think of the old Heinz ketchup commercial tune!)
They're making me wait...
They're keeping me wa-a-a-iting!
...but they're coming!!

2009-08-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

What says "CALIFORNIA" better than a blue sky and a palm-tree-lined street?!

Here's to a California evening yesterday... (yes, that IS the hood of my car, and yes, I took this on my cell phone camera while driving!)

And this was the sun setting as I arrived at my Bible study group...
Lovely, don't you think?

Thank You, God, for yellows and blues...

and crazy Dr. Seuss-looking trees!

Thank You, God, for another day of life in You...

cell phone vs Bible...

2009-08-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

One thing you should all know about me is that I AM that most-dreaded of emailers-- the "chain email breaker"!! Yes, I admit it. If you send me a forwarded email, I WILL delete it without passing it along. (especially if the sender included all of the previous forwarded emails in the body and all of the addresses to whom it had been sent --shame on you!! help protect your friends and their friends --use the BCC, folks!)

No, I'm not terrified--or even nervous, for that matter--about the 'bad luck' I may receive as a result.

And no, I don't believe I will be tremendously blessed or lucky within a certain number of minutes/days/weeks/months/years if I forward it.

Nor do I believe I am "ashamed of Jesus" if I don't pass a God-oriented email along to all of my address book.

The above disclaimer aside, I did receive one that made me pause and consider. Even though I did not forward it, I thought it was worth sharing with my blog readers...

Cell phone vs Bible
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if....

we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
we flipped through it several times a day?
we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
we used it to receive messages from the text?
we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
we gave it to kids as gifts?
we used it when we traveled?
we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing--unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill! [Praise God!!] ...And no dropped calls!

Though these are all simple little comparisons, they did make me pause and consider... and to also pose the question: Which would I miss more? ...something to think about...

fitting in...

2009-08-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

I ran across this photo one day, and for some reason I was struck by it...
Yes, it's definitely cute. And fun.

But, it also reminds me what I feel like sometimes... like I'm trying to fit in, trying to find a place where I belong.

No matter how I hard I try to be like the others, I'm still a cat...not a raccoon. I can put on a mask... but it doesn't change who I am.

This applies to our Christian life-- we are not of this world. We will never completely fit in here. We will never be completely at home here.

It also applies to my own life and how I see myself. Sometimes I feel so out of place, so not-belonging... and I want to wear a mask to fit in. I want to belong. I want to be a raccoon and fit in nicely with the other raccoons. But, I'm not a raccoon. God has made me unique...in just the way He wants me to be. He has made me just as it pleased Him... and I must remember and delight in who He has made me to be!

"For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. "
~Psalm 139:13-14

I will praise Him... for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that full well. Thank You, Father, for creating me as I am and for loving me as You have made me!

celebrate the Sabbath...with a little humor...

2009-08-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

This may be a bit unorthodox, as we don't normally think of the Sabbath being a humorous day or concept. But, I do believe our amazing God has a good sense of humor (let's remember the platypus and the anglerfish!), so I couldn't resist sharing this little "funny" today...

Sabbath -

a weekly festival having its origin

in the fact that God made the world in six days

and was arrested on the seventh.

~Ambrose Bierce

take a walk in the woods...

2009-08-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

...something to think about today...

If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day,
he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer.
But if he spends his days as a speculator,
shearing off those woods

and making the earth bald before her time,
he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.
~Henry David Thoreau

...and while you're taking that walk in the woods,

don't forget to give praises to the One Who made them...

the green leafy boughs above your head

the brown earth beneath your feet...

the clean earthy smell of nature...

the sounds of birds in the trees...

mmmmm... Creation!

Thank You, God! You are good to us!

2009-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oooooooooh!!

Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

Wooooooooooooowwww!!

No, your calendar is not wrong. It's not the 4th of July.

Nor is it Chinese New Year.

But, it IS a special day for me today...

It's the ONE YEAR anniversary of my blog!!

My blog's 1 year birthday!!

I am celebrating today, a year of (& 365 posts celebrating!) ...

God's amazing grace
opening our eyes to see God's hand and HEART in the details of daily life
learning to hear His whispers of love in the midst of a shouting world
encouraging words and heart-felt comments left on my blog
amazing people who have visited me here
new friendships with cool people from around the world
God's incredible faithfulness
His unbelievable unrelenting inexplicable love for you and me!
finding things in daily life for which to be grateful!

For all of this, and for all of you who have been here with me...

I am incredibly GRATEFUL!!

Thanks for joining me in this HEART ROCK LIFE!!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21

a fun way to end a year...

2009-07-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? This is my 365th consecutive post! For those of you who have persevered and plodded along this journey with me, I am grateful!. For those of you who have dropped in along the way, I am so glad!

I thought I would wrap up the year of blogging with a fun "God has such a great sense of humor" post starring a few delightful food items which have crossed my path...

There's a great line in the movie "The Matrix" where they're all sitting at the table eating some highly nutritious runny grey glop that is their staple meal. One of the characters complains about it, and another character says something like "...vitamins, nutrients, everything a body needs." And yet, it's so very unappetizing in its greyness and goopy texture. It definitely doesn't look like something I'd want to eat every meal, day after day!

Isn't it wonderful that God has given us such a variety of foods to eat?! I mean, it could all just look the color and feel the texture of cooked oatmeal! Sort of blah and uninspiring! But, no! He gave us colors and shapes and textures... and even a few silly ones, too...

I present to you --for your enjoyment and entertainment and for God's glory--four of my favorite (non-heart-shaped) food discoveries...

a blue potato chip!!!

(courtesy of Jet Blue Airlines,

made from blue potatoes)

...on the table, next to and inside the 3rd box from the front--

SWAN GOURDS!!

(discovered at a farmer's market in Northern California)

RAINBOW CHARD!!

...and last, but most certainly NOT least--
what I like to call...

CUCUMBERS GONE WILD!!
(these crazy curly worm-looking cukes were grown
here in a front yard garden in southern CA!)

God truly is good at filling our days with delighful and fun things

if we can open our eyes to see...

2009-07-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you remember that I love dandelions...

For some reason, these partial fluffs struck me as very artistic and beautiful...

...so perfectly designed...

...so intricately detailed...

...so lovely in form and design...

I give thanks to the Designer and Creator of such magnificence!

accentuate the positive...

2009-07-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I seem to be in a constant battle to keep my thoughts on positive rather than negative things. God's Word tells me I need to be keep my thoughts focused on good things, on His perspective, on truth.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

And it also instructs us to "take every thought captive to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I don't think it's about being a Pollyanna but I do believe we are to be obedient in these things in order to develop hearts and lives of gratitude...and lives that bring joy to others and glory to God.

I was reminded of this song the other day, and I thought I'd share the words with you for fun...

Accentuate the Positive
Words and Music by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer

Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me while I'm preachin
'Feel a sermon comin' on me
The topic will be sin and that's what I'm ag'in'
If you wanna hear my story
The settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?

(Man, they said "We'd better accentuate the positive")
("Eliminate the negative")
("And latch on to the affirmative")
Don't mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)
(Bring gloom down to the minimum)
(Have faith or pandemonium's)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)

You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, don't mess with Mister In-Between

That's it... accentuate the positive... eliminate the negative... and LATCH ONTO the affirmative! What wise words for living a grateful life!

from a foundation to a house to a home...

2009-07-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

A bit about our Mexico house-build trip... and you can see the transformation from a cement foundation to a house...to a home!

When we arrived on the site, this was what greeted us: two small pieces of property each with a reinforced poured concrete foundation, and all of the framing and wall lumber, dry wall, and other materials needed to build two houses, and two eager and ready building project managers. (oh, and a wonderful view of all of Rojo Gomez, a border town "home" to thousands of poor families in shacks with no running water) Just add our two teams of eager builders (about 50 total)...and ...the building begins!

...10:45 am Friday...

(yes, that's me...not very flattering, I know!)
It was amazing to watch these two houses being built from the ground up and a privilege to be a part of it!

I helped build the frame of our house and then spent much of the rest of the day hammering on the outside wall boards... then hanging dry wall inside!
(all new skills for me!)

Windows and a door had to be cut and the roof put on.

This is Pablo, the project manager for House #1 (our house!).

He and Hector (HM for House #2) were AMAZING!

They knew how to do every needed task and how to teach us

unskilled labor how to do them as well....

all with cheerful attitudes and smiling faces!

Me hanging dry wall...

POWER TOOLS!!! COOL!!

The inside of the house looking into the "loft" from the largest of the three rooms.

(Oops. This came before the drywall photo!)

Me demonstrating my awesome and well-honed hammering skills!

(Please pardon the lovely look...it was HOT!)

"Charlie's Angels" pose

Two of my life group buddies (Kristen and Anita) and me.
Powerful girls with tools (and toolbelts!!)!

* * * * * *

...And this is what our house looked like 6 1/2 hrs later at quitting time...

I couldn't believe it.

House #2 was just as finished right behind our house.

* * * * * *

Day 2

full of dry wall hanging, mudding, putting in the windows and doors, trim on the outside, building a ladder for the loft, tar papering and shingling the roofs, sanding the inside walls to prep for painting, gathering tires and building a stairway into the hillside out of the tires, entertaining the neighborhood kids with games and fun, wiring the houses for electricity, working together with one another and with the families as they joined in the building of their houses

* * * * * *

Day 3

Because we had large teams, we were able to finish our houses mostly on Day 2. That allowed us some extra time to paint the interior of the houses as well.

This was the happy peach color in House #1 and the ladder to the loft:

And these are the finished products,

all ready for the dedication ceremony:

We dedicated each house to its family...

and prayed over the family...

There were tears of joy and excitement...

And very very big smiles!!

This was the family of House #1--

Flavio, Luz Maria, and their two little children...

a "mural" was created for each house, and this one says:

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

~Joshua 29:15b

...and the house becomes a home...

To God be the Glory!!

celebrate the Sabbath... in Christ alone...

2009-07-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

In Christ Alone
by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my all in all--
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid--
Here in the death of Christ I live.

Ther in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine--
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death--
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home--
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

unsatisfied...

2009-07-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.
~C.S. Lewis, "The Weight of Glory"

curiosity...

2009-07-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I am the curious type. I like to know things... to investigate... to explore... to discover! I love to use my macro lens to see into the micro world. I love to look under rocks and logs and behind trees and into the center of flowers. I pick things up and put them in my pockets. I've always been that way. My mom said I was always curious as a child. I guess it's the way I was designed... with an extra measure of curiosity.

So... what does one do when one is created with a huge amount of curiosity and one finds a hole in the ground?? Questions fly faster than Mercury.... what made the hole? what lives in there? I must know!! I must investigate! I must find out!!

My nephews found this hole while I was visiting them in Georgia, and they were as curious as I. They patiently stone-still and waited by the hole... and waited ... and waited...

...and waited...

and then...

there it was....

...the inhabitant of the hole!
...so fuzzy...

...so leggy...

...so many eyes!!

...and curiosity satisfied...

{sigh of contentment}

God made the wild animals according to their kinds,

the livestock according to their kinds,

and all the creatures that move along the ground

according to their kinds.

And God saw that it was good.

~Genesis 1:25

giving thanks...

2009-07-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Following my recent mission trip to Mexico to house-build, I decided it's time for another post focused solely on being grateful... we (I!) have so much and take so much for granted....

for running water
and indoor plumbing
for a toilet that flushes (and handles toilet paper!)
for electricity in my house
for fans to circulate the warm air in my apartment
and fresh air not full of pollution
for carpeting and linoleum rather than dirt floors
for a shower --with hot and cold water
for a kitchen with a refrigerator and stove
for food in my cupboards
and dirty dishes in my sink
for a roof that doesn't leak
and solid doors and windows
for a comfortable bed
and a closet full of clothes
for shoes to wear
and teeth to brush
for a car that runs
and money for gas to run it
for medicine when I'm sick
and good health most of the time
for friends who care
and kids in my life to play with
...their peals of laughter
and eyes sparkling with mischief and joy
for sand and sea and splashing in waves
for making it to adulthood
but still being able to be a child
for a Father Who loves me beyond what I can imagine

...for these things and so many more, I am grateful...

quote Matthias

2009-07-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems like God is difficult to find and impossibly far away. We get so caught up in our small daily duties and irritations that they become the only things that we can focus on. What we forget is that God's love and beauty are all around us, every day, if only we would take the time to look up and see them.
~Matthias

a special treat while in Mexico...

2009-07-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

While I was in Mexico last weekend, I was given a special treat! There are some cactus flowers that only bloom for one day--actually only a morning--and then the flower wilts and dies. One of my friends has one, and one must be there by at least 10am, or there will be no photographing it!

Well, the first morning I was there, I discovered the Ranch had a different kind of cactus with the same type of wilting flower. The cool thing was that I "just happened" to be there on the day it was in bloom!!! What a treat!! It was huge and so very beautiful!!

And, so I share it with you today...

A local honeybee was already hard at work gathering pollen from it!
Look at the amazing detail inside...

...and the gloriously white petals...

What a special treasure to behold!

God has a heart for Mexico...

2009-07-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

While I was on our house-build mission trip in Mexico this past weekend, I was reminded of God's love for the people of Mexico.....

These hearts of love were in the fence around the pool at "The Ranch" where we stayed in Tecate--Rancho La Paloma.

And, for those of you who prefer to see non-man-made declarations of God's amazing love...

I discovered this one in the road at the work site where we were building the houses for the two families. What delight!

"...he sent the people to their homes,

joyful and glad in heart

for the good things the LORD had done..."

~2 Chronicles 7:10 (in part)

celebrate the Sabbath...serving...

2009-07-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD."

~Joshua 24:15

serving the King...

2009-07-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

"The King will reply,

'I tell you the truth,

whatever you did

for one of the least

of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.'

~Matthew 25:40

with all your heart...

2009-07-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do,

work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men,

since you know that you will receive an inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

~Colossians 3:23-24

in His name...

2009-07-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

Early tomorrow morning I am off to Mexico with a group of about 35 folks from our church. We are spending the next three days in one of the extremely poor border towns where we will be building two houses. Each of these houses is to be given to a family there in great need. Along with the houses, we also are providing various "house warming" gifts such as towels, dishes, pots and pans, and some toys for the children.

When we arrive on the site tomorrow morning, there will be a poured concrete foundation. And we will take it from there, starting with building the frames for the walls. Over the next two days, we will raise walls, put in windows, add drywall, and everything else that goes into building a house! When we leave on Sunday, each house will be wired for electricity, plumbed, painted on the outside, and finished to the point of painting on the inside. (We will leave them paint for the interior as well.)

While we are building the homes, there will be games and activities for neighborhood kids as well as folks going out to visit with others in the community. The purpose is not only to build a couple of houses but to continue to build relationship with folks who live in this little town. (our church sends several teams down throughout the year to follow up on previous families and to make connections in the community. We partner with a local ministry to serve in this area.) And, of course, we pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus whenever and however possible.

It's supposed to be very hot while we're there, so if you have a spare moment, please feel free to pray for our team--for physical stamina, for hearts to serve, for unity in the teams, for opportunities to share love, for safety, and for that the name of Jesus would be glorified!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

~Colossians 3:17

the deep...

2009-07-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

I know God has a great imagination! If you have any thoughts of doubt about that, just take a look at the platypus...or the ostrich... or the venus flytrap...or so many other strange and wonderful creatures that can be found on this earth...or under the earth...or in the sky... or, as I saw today... IN THE DEEP!!!

I watched an amazing dvd today of THE DEEP (BBC's The Blue Planet, "The Deep")... some of the very deepest parts of the ocean. There were incredible and strange worlds down there that only the greatest Creative mind could have imagined and designed! Creatures adorned with beautiful colors and lights, wild and wacky toothy creatures, and entire ecosystems existing--living, growing!--without any use of sunlight whatsoever!

They said that more people have been into space than have ventured into these worlds in the deep sea. What an incredible thought! And, to me, even more spectacular is that God created all of these unusual and crazy and lovely creatures knowing that very few human eyes would ever see them--for His own delight and pleasure!

" So God created the great creatures of the sea

and every living and moving thing

with which the water teems..."

~Genesis 1:21

These photos are of just two of the wild and crazy fish found in the depths of the sea! Look at those giant eyes and that glowing "fishing lure" (on the head of the Anglerfish)!

I found a short clip from the dvd, and it is well worth watching just to whet your appetite for the strange and wonderful world of THE DEEP!!! (I especially love the amazing red jellyfish in this clip!)

(if you would like to see more incredible discoveries, watch the other clips on Youtube or order the dvd on Netflix! it really is amazing!)

He is here...

2009-07-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.
~Psalm 139:7-10

remembering... a key to gratitude...

2009-07-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I ran across this in my Women's Devotional Bible, and it made me think of our adventures in gratitude. As we travel the path of being grateful for the many gifts and blessings in our lives, we must continue to remember... remember what we have been given and from Whom these many blessings come....

Remember

~Judith Couchman

"A warm letter from a friend. A compliment from my boss. An unexpected refund. A comforting Scripture. These arrive as God's good gifts to me. But they usually get overlooked while I'm focusing on what feels like--at least to me--insurmountable trouble. Always, it's trouble that God hasn't solved yet. Often, I complain about His delayed response. But really, my myopic vision isn't fair to Him. If I lift my eyes off the problem, I can spot God's gifts all around me. They may not be the answer I'm searching for at the moment, but they're good and continuous gifts that say, "I still love you, my child." They remind me that God doesn't stop caring for me, even though I live with unfulfilled expectations. Now during the hard times, I remind myself to hunt for God's small surprises while I'm waiting for His big solution. It takes my mind off the problem. It helps me to trust Him...It encourages me to know that God still cares."

And this is just what the heart rocks are for me: "...good and continual gifts that say, "I still love you, my child."...God's small surprises while I'm waiting for His big solution(s)."

celebrate the Sabbath...singing for joy!

2009-07-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Give thanks to the Lord,

call on His name;

make known among the nations

what He has done,

and proclaim that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord,

for He has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy,

people of Zion,

for great is the Holy One of Israel among you!"

~Psalm 12:4-6

a plan larger than our own...

2009-07-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

In pain,

we learned the value of joy

-- in falling down,

we learned the value of standing

-- and in trust,

we will learn the value of a plan larger than our own.

~Laura Teresa Marquez

beautifully flighty creatures of Georgia...

2009-07-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in Georgia, I was treated to seeing some of the little creatures that live in that country. Some of them even were kind enough to sit still long enough for me to photograph them! Like, this fuzzy little baby butterfly: (well, it IS, you know!)

I have no idea what he will look like in his adulthood, but I thought he was quite lovely in his "worm" state! Look at the patterns...and that wonderfully red head!!

And, here are several butterflies I was able to capture...

This little guy below sporting the black and white and yellow was especially calm and cooperative!

He was hanging out on a stick, and he let us hold him up close for examination...I think he may creatively pose as a bee to ward off predators. God gave some of his creatures the best camoflage tricks!

I especially love the shot below...

it looks like this one is ready for take-off!

...and here is one that has just come in for a landing...

My absolute favorite little butterflies, however, were very small and very fast-flying blue ones we saw in one of the villages in the south part of Georgia. It was a small village out in the country, and we saw the blue butterflies flitting all over the place. I tried and tried to get a close-up shot of them, but they would NOT hold still! (I think they were a bit overly-caffeinated or hyped up on some sort of super-nectar!) They weren't very remarkable-looking on the outside of their wings--sort of a pale brown with just a hint of powder blue.

And then,

finally,

one landed

and sat still

for just a few seconds....

just long enough

to capture these...

Isn't it beautiful??

(and especially against the dusty brown backdrop)

...lovely, lovely blue...

...the fuzzy white body...

and look at that adorable face!!

Ah, isn't traveling delightful?

acceptance of life...

2009-07-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

The wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting the hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things

right if I surrender to His will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

~Reinhold Neibuhr

Hmmm. I don't believe I've ever seen this poem in its entirety before. We usually only hear the first part quoted--as an acceptance of life as it is, the good and the bad. I really love the last half ...so powerful...so very true...with the focus being not on ourselves so much as it is on Him.

lost in translation?

2009-07-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

I love it when I find signs that are either unusual or a little "off"...

they tend to make me smile!

While I was in Georgia, as my nephews and I were traipsing up a long, steep hill on the way to an old castle high above the city of Tbilisi, we passed a work crew of men tearing up the road. There was a wonderful sign I saw doing its best to warn us of the potential danger in our path...

Love that Georgian writing... it's so beautiful and unusual...

and speaking of unusual...so was, I must admit, the translation into English!

Hmmm.... be sure to watch out for that WHOLE in the road! It's a deep one! :)

things that make you go "hmmmm????"

2009-07-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in the Munich airport, I saw something I hadn't seen before-- smoking lounges. They are completely enclosed areas in the middle of the airport with places to sit --couches and chairs, desks and stools -- and to just leisurely "hang out" or work while you do your smoking in an otherwise-non-smoking place. Though I cannot imagine what the air-quality must be like INSIDE the smoking lounge, it is wonderful to us non-smokers that they have a completely sealed container in which to do it!

They are very well-appointed and look like a delightful place to pass the time while waiting for one's flight...

But, wait a minute...

What is that in the "fine print" on the sign?

Those words right under the cigarette brand name...

Uh.... that's not so subtle!

and I must admit that I LOVE it!

That's something "more" to "discover"-- Smoking Can Kill.

Hmmmmmm....

i'm lovin' it!

2009-07-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

My cousin posted this wonderful heart on my Facebook wall today!! It's a chicken mcnugget!! and I love it! What a great reminder to be on the lookout for delightful surprises...you never know where or how God's going to give you some lovin'!

celebrate the Sabbath...at the Cross...

2009-07-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

At The Cross

~Randy & Terry Butler

I know a place, a wonderful place

Where accused and condemned

Find mercy and grace

Where the wrongs we have done

And the wrongs done to us

Were nailed there with Him

There at the cross
At the cross, at the cross

He died for our sin

At the cross,at the cross

He gave us life again

*photo taken at Georgian Orthodox Church near Tbilisi, Georgia

independence day

2009-07-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

This morning, in celebration of Independence Day, I decided to read the words to several patriotic songs. So many of them are so very good--full of love for country and love for God! Contrary to what many liberal folks would have us to believe, our nation truly was built on the foundation of God Himself... and His principles. I was especially moved today by the last verse of the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. I had never heard this verse before...

The Star Spangled Banner (final verse)

~Francis Scott Key

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Let us never forget to praise Him Who is the very Power that made our nation and has preserved it thus far! If we are to stand strong as a nation, we must continue to proclaim--"In God is our trust."

Dear Father... thank You for our country! Thank You for our freedoms! Thank You that in You we may place our trust!

God Bless America!!

wisdom...

2009-07-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

The first step to wisdom is silence.

The second is listening.

~Anonymous
Be still, and know that I am God... ~Psalm 46:10

more love from georgia...

2009-07-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

...just a little bit of love from Georgia...

fruit-ful lessons...

2009-07-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

When I was in Georgia, we went one day to visit the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) students and staff in the village where they were staying for their ministry outreach. While we were there chatting with a couple of them, a local village man stopped by for a chat. He brought with him a large bag of home-grown cherries as a gift.

While he was in the "visiting" room enjoying a cup of turkish coffee and conversation with one of the students, my sister and I were in the other room chatting with another, D. D had brought in a bowl full of the cherries the visitor had brought, and we began to happily munch on them as we talked. They were juicy and sweet--very delicious! I think I had eaten six or seven when suddenly D discovered that one of hers had a small white worm in it!

So, to play it safe, we started opening each cherry before eating it, only to discover that EACH and EVERY one of those cherries had a live worm in it!! Uh, yeah. That means I probably ate at least six or seven live worms!! (I must admit I wasn't so eager to eat any more of the delicious cherries!)

Also while in Georgia, I kept seeing a strange round yellow fruit at the outdoor markets. Always game to try new foods, I ended up buying some. Each fruit had a couple of large seeds inside and the flesh was sort of soft and sweet, tasting kind of like a pear and a pineapple. They were yummy though they weren't very beautiful to look at:

As I was looking at my photos, I ran across these two photos of fruit-- one looking very delicious and pretty and the other not so pretty and even, perhaps, a little unappetizing. It was interesting to me that they were actually the opposite of what they seemed to be-- the pretty ones had worms inside (though still tasty, if you don't mind the added protein!) and the unattractive ones were sweet and yummy.

The thought came to mind that this is a great example of the "things of the world" vs "the things of God." The things of the world--wealth, success, possessions, even sin--seem so lovely, so appealing, so desirable. Yet, they are not what brings us health, peace, and true joy--there is a wormy core to them. Whereas, many times the things of God--sacrifice, obedience, suffering, service--seem so unattractive to our eyes; they do not cause us to eagerly reach out for them or to embrace them. Yet, these are the very things which bring us closer to God Himself...and give us peace, joy, and life!

I want to be eager to taste the things of God--even if they don't look so wonderful or tasty on the surface! I know they are what will bring life to my soul and joy to my heart! I pray that we may hunger for more of God, however that may be packaged!

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

~Galatians 5:22-23a

difficult circumstances

2009-06-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Often times God demonstrates

His faithfulness in adversity

by providing for us what we need

to survive.

He does not change

our painful circumstances.

He sustains us through them.

~ Charles Stanley

before and behind...

2009-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

When I was in Michigan last month, we were driving past a pond, and I was treated to the sight of a family of Canada geese. There was a mom and a dad and about 8 or 9 babies as well as a few other adults here and there around the pond. I enjoyed watching the way the parents were caring for their young--leading, following, watching out for them. The parents led them into the water to cross the pond--one parent in front leading the way and the other at times behind them all or in the middle of them.
Then when they reached the far side of the pond and waddled out of the water, one parent took the front position and one the back. They were always aware of where the babies were and were continually on the look-out for any signs of danger. One parent led them through the tall grass and one followed behind to be sure none fell behind.

Once they reached the grassy meadow area where they were going to feed, the parents (and another solitary goose) took up guard positions. They watched the various directions for any danger while their goslings were deep in the grass intently looking for food. The babies didn't have to worry, as the parents were on the look-out for them, protecting them and watching over them.

Watching them, I was reminded of how God, our Father, is with us. He goes before us to show us the best path to follow. He walks alongside us on the journey. He takes up the "rear guard" and watches behind us --He is always on the lookout for the enemy and stands guard over us.

"...for the LORD will go before you,

the God of Israel will be your rear guard."

~Isaiah 52:12

And, just like these geese parents with their goslings, He cares for us with attentiveness and concern for our best. With the geese, it may be God-given instinct which causes them to care for their young in such a way. With us, it is God's intent to guide and to protect and to care for us as we waddle through these lives of ours. "As a hen gathers her chicks" and as these geese guide and protect their young, so our Father cares for us... what a beautiful example.

Before me,
even as behind,
God is
and all is well.

~Whittier

celebrate the Sabbath...with living water!

2009-06-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Whoever believes in me,

as the Scripture has said,

streams of living water

will flow from within him.

~John 7:38
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. ~Revelations 7:17
...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. ~John 4:14

joy is...

2009-06-27T22:29:00.000-07:00

Joy is what happens

when we allow ourselves

to recognize how good things are.

Joy is not necessarily

what happens when things unfold

according to our plans.

~Marianne Williamson

(A Woman's Worth)

pure joy...

2009-06-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

...pure joy!...

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

~Psalm 126:2

If you laugh a lot,

when you get older

your wrinkles will be in the right places.

~Andrew Mason

hello, georgia! (საქართველოს)

2009-06-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

...and so it begins...

My blog will probably read like a travelogue for the next week or so, but I do hope you will enjoy the photos I share of this lovely country I was blessed to visit!

Today is just a small beginning... and Welcome to Georgia ... or, as it is in Georgian: Sakartvelos (საქართველოს)...

(photo by Anya Polozkova, as I didn't cross a border by land)

This is a beautiful OLD church we visited on my first day in Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia). Let me introduce you to my lovely sister, K, and my nephews, S and J, and my niece, T. They live in Tbilisi and run the Youth With A Mission base there.
I wanted to start the Georgian photo-logue here because it was the first day I was there... but also because God gave me a very special welcome to this land on the very first day:

(sorry, Blogger is up to its old tricks and refusing to post this photo properly rotated!)

God loves Georgia and all its people!
And, I believe He also wanted to make me feel right at home!

Note to all digital photographers:

Perhaps you are already aware of this, but I learned a valuable lesson with my sd memory card this trip! I purchased a 16GB SDHC (high capacity) card for the trip. The package said not all devices can use the high capacity cards so to verify that yours can. I thought "testing" it by taking a photo would be the way to verify the usability since there was nothing in the camera's owners manual. WRONG, I was!! It tested fine before I left, so I joyfully took ALL of my photos on that card. When I got home and tried to download the photos to my computer, none of my photo programs nor my computer itself would recognize and download the photos!!! I ended up taking it to Costco and paying them to download all my photos to cds just so I could get them on my computer!! I'm glad I was able to resolve it, but it's not an ongoing expense I want to have to deal with (especially since I took about 2000 photos... yeah, I know I'm obsessive!!!) :)

happy anniversary to my friend!

2009-06-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

This is my dear friend Andrea.

Today is a special anniversary...
a sad one
yet a joy-full one, too.
One year ago today,

Andie traded in her earthly home for her heavenly one.

The sadness...

for those of us who knew and loved her

and had to say "good-bye"

far too early...

The joy...

for she who has now enjoyed a year of celebration in heaven...

dancing, laughing, singing,

"hanging out" with Jesus

and worshipping the Father with the angels!!

What an amazing thought!

We miss you, Andie!

But we rejoice with you... and can't wait to see you again!

joyful living...

2009-06-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Learn to enjoy what you do;

rather than do what you enjoy.

It is not always possible to do things that one enjoys.

But if you learn the art of joyful living,

even seemingly boring chores can bring you joy.

~author unknown

...and so today I return to work after a two-week vacation...
it is with a joy-filled heart that I return...

I pray that I would learn to always walk in joy
that all my tasks may be joy-filled!

(I was intending to begin to share my Georgia trip with you today, but for some reason, I am unable to download my photos! : ( Hopefully I will be able to remedy the situation soon!)

heading for home...

2009-06-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

No soul is desolate

as long as there is a human being

for whom it can feel trust and reverence.

~George Eliot

...as I sadly say good-bye to my beloved family in Georgia and head for home, I am truly grateful that I have loved ones to miss... I am grateful for time spent with them across the many miles... and I am grateful for a Father Who keeps us in His tender care while we are apart...

celebrate the Sabbath... worshipping His Majesty...

2009-06-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

"Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, unti they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."

~RC Sproul

Majesty (words & music ~Jack Hayford)
Majesty, worship his majesty;
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
Flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

2009-06-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

"Learning to live in the present moment

is part of the path of joy."

Sarah Ban Breathnach

...for our Father did not say
"I WAS"
nor did He say
"I WILL BE"...
He said His name is
"I AM."
...May you find JOY in your day today
as you live in the present moment
of God's grace and beauty...

mess? or masterpiece?

2009-06-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful little community on the south east side of our city which is located by and on some canals. It is technically an island and it is well-known for its lovely luxurious homes and beautifully-landscaped yards. Recently I was driving down one of the streets and my eye was caught by the yard of one of the homes. It was totally unlike any of its neighbors and was filled with riotous and chaotic beauty...
Here was this lovely yellow house ...but the yard was completely unkempt and overgrown with "weeds."

...beautiful pink and fuschia "weeds"-- flowers in my book!

tall, overgrown, unsightly? beauty!

dotted here and there with brilliant orange California golden poppies...

...so, I ask you...

crazy, untended, chaotic MESS?

...or, as I find it...

a glorious MASTERPIECE of color and design?!

trust...

2009-06-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Trust the past to God's mercy,

the present to God's love

and the future to God's providence.

~ Augustine

beauty in white...

2009-06-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what kind of tree flowers these were,

but I think some kind of fruit or ornamental....

I loved the whiteness and the textures...

Beautiful, don't you think?

as a hen gathers her chicks...

2009-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

"...how often I have longed to gather your children together,

as a hen gathers her chicks..."

~Matthew 23:37
(in case you miss the connection, this plant is commonly known as a 'hen and chicks' plant)

looking dandy....

2009-06-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

I love dandelions.

I don't think I've yet told you how much and why I like them, but that is fodder for another post another day. Today I share with you this photo I took of a couple of dandy dandelions...one in bloom and one in "seed."
Funny, but I was with my mom when I saw this and laughed together. We both thought the same thing about it... this is what it made us think of:

That's right! US!! : )

(can you see the resemblance??!)

celebrate the Sabbath...going away to a solitary place...

2009-06-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

When Jesus was tired and the crowds and the 'business of His Father' seemed to become a bit overwhelming...He sought time out with the Father.

He took time to pray.

And to be refreshed in body and spirit...

with a little Sabbath.

"...He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place..."

~Matthew 14:13

kissing toads...

2009-06-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

I've been told that a girl has to kiss a lot of frogs to find her Handsome Prince...

Is that a volunteer I see?

Ummm...yeah. It looks like a toad to me...

...a toad with a purpose...

...and determination...

Hmmmm. I just don't know if I'm ready for this kind of a commitment...?

Pucker up??

look who's chive talkin', too...

2009-06-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

And, I think she's lovin' the chives, too!

(I wonder how many steps it takes a lady bug to travel down the length of one long blade of grass or one chive stem??)

who's that buggin' the garden?

2009-06-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

...and here we have another garden creature...

A lovely little "lady"...

We love seeing these in the garden...
they're one of those wonderful "good" bugs!

Quite a little beauty, isn't she...

munchin'....

2009-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ok... Blogger made this post a bit strange, but it rotated my photos sideways. You'll have to look to the left side at the bottom of the photo to see the little muncher in the flower garden...
This was the only flower of this type in the garden, and it seems to have been the tasty treat of someone... ah.... the culprit below...

I think he was quite pleased with his lunch and with himself!! : )

bloomin' chives!

2009-06-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

These amazing chive flowers were blooming in my mom's garden when I was in Michigan a couple of weeks ago.

I think they are wonderful ...

...with their big purple onion-like shaped buds...

...popping open into beautiful blooms!

Marvelous beauty!

chive talkin'...

2009-06-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Not quite ready to burst into bloom...

Their onion-dome buds reaching toward the warm spring sun...

...soaking up the sun, preparing to burst forth...

(I know it's a bit of a strange picture, but I love this one with my mom, the giant, in the background tending her flowers.)

...it's almost time...

celebrate the Sabbath...worshinping the Lily of the valleys...

2009-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am a rose of Sharon,

a Lily of the valleys...
~Song of Solomon 2:1

He is the Lily of the valley...

i'm likin' these fairy cups...

2009-06-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

I remember these little cup-like formations from when I was kid.

I used to call them "fairy cups."

I found these in my uncle's yard while I was in Michigan.

I think they're some sort of lichen or growth of that type...

but I could always imagine little fairies of the forest or brownies drinking dew from them!

I love God's crazy little creations!!

i'm off to a faraway land!!

2009-06-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Blogging Buddies and Cyber Friends,

I know I haven't mentioned it until today, but early tomorrow morning I am off to a faraway land!! I've been crazy busy packing and gathering requested items to take with me. I am going to the nation of Georgia (you know, by Russia) to visit my sister, brother-in-law, two nephews, and niece who live there. They are missionaries with Youth With A Mission and are currently in the capital city of Tbilisi.

I will be there for two whole weeks, and it is my very first visit! I'm very excited, as you can imagine!! My travel there will be very long (because I'm using awards miles and, therefore, must go via Moscow and Munich...which is quite a bit out of the way)--if I've figured it correctly, with the 11 hour time difference, I will be traveling 31 hours with 4 flights and various layovers along the way. So, please keep me in prayer as I travel...and as I get to visit with my family.

I probably will not be posting much from Georgia, but in my preparation to leave, I have scheduled some auto-posts of some of my favorite photos and thoughts. I will try to post a few times from Georgia if I can--maybe to share some photos of my adventure! I'm sure I will be inundating my blog with travel photos when I return.

Thanks for making this blogging thing such a blessing! I enjoy your comments and your blogs so much!

And, I'm off! : )

Sunday brunch...

2009-06-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

My last Sunday in Michigan, I went with my sister to her little country church. It was a small congregation but everyone was very warm and welcoming. It was a great message, and I enjoyed the service.

I loved that this was the view when we came out of the church after service: Just some happy country cows eating their Sunday brunch...

"Hey! Where's the champagne??!"