us, last night

my girl, the one i mentor
click here to check out her new blog:)

i sat at table with four teens
last night
(a walt-whitman-miracle)
the olders reminiscing middle school
while i busied myself with not
worrying
their futures frayed
before they even embark
and
one guest was my girl, the one i mentor,
a college student
wise with words
and
beautiful to the core
i still can't answer all her questions
i still can't advise her every move
but
i can listen and understand
and
marvel at her
jesus-strength

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

886. my family of four at the dinner table
887. my girl, the one i mentor, she started a blog!
888. chickens following me about the year
889. dog following me about the yard
890. cat following me about the yard
891. nieces requesting a privette lunch at bojangles
892. rosemary sprigs in old blue jars
893. anxiety lifted
894. hawk on fence post
895. bluebird alighted on branch
896. husband's calls when he is away

 linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, emily for tuesdays unwrapped,

joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jen for soli deo gloria and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

for my girl, the one i mentor, on her first day of college

writing for five minutes on stretch

em,
it's your first day of college
and i'm undone
for this moment is a miracle of sorts
and perhaps i should have
a thousand worries
but
i don't....
your strength
is beautiful
and my prayer
is
that you are
willing to stretch toward
knowledge
peace
loving yourself
and
him who gave you life
i love you, chick

kp

linking with -

the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday
beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

for my girl, upon graduation

yes, another sunrise picture. i can't help it.
and yes, it's my brother's.

you called me that time
because
your dad wanted you to
and i could tell
that your carefully constructed world of
control
was chinked and threatening to crumble
when you called me that time
i already knew
that anorexia
had the
real
control
but i still wasn't ready
with anything except
i understand
now
you stand
in cap and gown
ready
because the rest of life
rises like the sun
you are my girl
my spiritual daughter
i love you
and
i'm proud of you
for recovery
for graduation
for clinging to christ
you called me that time
and
i'm so glad you did

mentoring my girl has been rewarding, to say the least. how about you? what are your experiences with mentoring?

linking with -

emily for imperfect prose
jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked

what you might not see in a restaurant

eating sweet potato pancakes
in a restaurant
that has rocking chairs out front
and a gumball machine at the register
my girl, the one i mentor,
sits across from me
and the men in suspenders
and the wives with hair freshly done
don't see her struggle
how she doesn't want to
eat it all
how she doesn't want to
eat at all
but for the glory of the lord
but for the renown of his name
she dips each piece in syrup
and forges her path to
freedom
and
i. am. so. proud.

linking with -

emily for imperfect prose
jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked

we all know someone

this week is
national eating disorders awareness week
(maybe you didn't know)
and
my girl, the one i mentor,
was brave enough to
post it on facebook
because she wants everyone
to
know
hope
i'm so proud of
my girl
(maybe you didn't know)



web resources to help with understanding eating disorders:

National Eating Disorders Association
Something Fishy: Website on Eating Disorders

if you know someone who needs help, encourage her (or him) to see her doctor.
and pray for her.
and love her.

linking with:

jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked
kimberly for painting prose

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

writing for five minutes on delight

letter from chris

this week i have taken delight in reading!

a valentine's letter from my husband
i will
love you
honor you
protect you
and
cherish you
as long as i have
life, breath and strength

a text from my girl, the one i mentor
oh yeah. i threw away my scale

a true story about north korean defectors
nothing to envy

a powerful blog post about cutting
write to restore: cutting (the middle)

a god-promise in first corinthians
but thanks be to
god
who always
leads us in triumphal procession
in christ

how about you? what are you reading?

linking with: 

jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked
lisa-jo for five minute friday

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

i just wanted to list....

1. i don't really feel like writing tonight.
2. but i am (writing) because i feel like i need to stay in practice. for what? i don't know.
3. i think i grew two new gray hairs today. not a terribly stressful day, but these hairs. they are new.
4. i am becoming increasingly intolerant of noise after 4:00 pm.
5. my girl, the one i mentor, lead worship at her incredibly hip warehouse church tonight, and i felt proud. really proud.
6. i wish we had a way to water the earth other than rain. because rain is so...gray. like certain new hairs.
7. going out to dinner with my husband, just the two of us, is still a treat, twenty-five years after our first date!
8. i love to read isaiah 61 because it is just so hopeful. unlike gray hairs.

linking with:

jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked
emily for imperfect prose
beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

seven letters

my girl, the one i mentor
my girl, the one i love inexplicably
is a fighter
with little strength today
battle-weary and worn
she came to me
and
i hugged her hard
and
said i understand
and she
said a sentence i want to keep forever
it's okay -
i'm going to go to church
and
get some prayer....
not ask for prayer
but
get some prayer
i laughed a joyous laugh for
the strength
of those seven letters
i laughed a joyous laugh
for the hope
in those seven letters
and my girl?
she
will
win

linking with:

emily for imperfect prose
jennifer for god-bumps and god-incidences

a happy day in november



one of my brother's pics

my girl, the one i mentor
was at the door
when i arrived
at church today
a rough week behind us
and
i was sure she wouldn't come
but she was there with
a hot pink journal
and fall flowers in hand
gifts for me
gifts for me
when her presence was
gift
enough
a rough week behind us
and
i was sure she wouldn't come
but
there she was in the metal chair
beside me
singing
oh, my god, he will not delay
my refuge and strength
always
i will not fear, his promise is true
my god will come through
always
always
yes.
he
will not
delay

and for these i am also thankful:

397. my husband. he washes dishes. and loves me. a lot
398. hank, my older. he lead me in worship today
399. jack, my younger. he didn't let anyone out-hustle him today
400. stinky socks. it means all three guys are near
401. mrs. adams in her house dress checking the mail at 10:00 am
402. compassionate, enthusiastic students
403. chili
404. maple trees
405. papa gone to montana to pick up my sister-iin-law and children for the holidays
linking with:

michelle for hear it on sunday, use it on monday

ann for 1000 gifts

l.l. for on, in, and around mondays
richella for grace imparted
laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria
shanda for on your heart tuesdays

what's left



photo credit

9:32 pm and what's left is
ironing, rinsing the sink,
saying goodnight
but i don't move
from my corner of the couch
laptop perched on my
crisscross applesauce legs
because
i want to say something
wise
maybe profound
but
the screen stays white
while i absently braid a strand of hair
and finally
what i have to say is
i. am. thankful.
for
husband advertising free wood
on the local swap shop
and then delivering all day
for
students raising money
to provide clean water
for those without
for
my girl, the one i mentor,
she's smiling these days
10:37 pm
and what's left is
and what's always left is
praise
who am i
and what is my family
that you have
brought me this far?

for some great reads today, check out these ladies:

emily at imperfect prose

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

on catching



and this is the sloppy truth of the catching
i worshiped with my girl wednesday night
this is what i scrawled out in the dark
because i didn't want to forget

writing for 5 minutes on catch
i've been catching lately,
my thoughts, in a journal
and this isn't my
standard mode of operation
i like my thoughts
in new times roman 12
i like my thoughts
tucked away into folders on my computer
a hand written journal
is vulnerable
i've been carrying one lately
and not just for
grocery lists
directions to soccer fields
doodles
and
lesson plans
but for
observations
snippets of conversations
rough drafts
thoughts
and it's scary,
this catching,
but....
end of five minutes!

what about you? do you journal? if so, handwritten or computer?

for great read today, check out these ladies:

lisa-jo at  the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday

emily at imperfect prose

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

one hour

my husband in the pulpit
speaking of wycliffe and treasure
my girl, the one i mentor,
beside me on the pew
my son, jack,
sharing a hymnal with me
karrie's baby girl, addie,
sleeping on my lap
son, hank, across town
playing lead guitar
at a church plant
and
i am so full
i am close to undone
for where your treasure
is
there your heart
will be
also

and for these i am thankful-

343. rain that kept us home from soccer for a day
344. fun for my students at a block party
345. husband who volunteered to help at the block party
346. hot peppers and new recipes
347. messy kitchen
348. a new writing opportunity for me

linking with:

michelle for hear it on sunday, use it on monday

ann for 1000 gifts
l.l. for on, in, and around mondays
richella for grace imparted
laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria
shanda for on your heart tuesdays

you're my girl

i mentor a young lady who battles anorexia. she comes to church with me these days, and as the pastor spoke about relationships today, i couldn't help but look to my right. she sat, cross-legged, sketching a tree in her journal. and i wrote for her:

red dress
white polka dots
and
elephant bracelet
you sit beside me
at church
and
i want to hug you
i want to ask you how you are, really
i want to take away your fear
i want to instill in you a hope that perseveres
i want
i want
i want
you're my girl
and
i love you, chick

and for these i am thankful:

336. quiet
337. unbroken by lauren hillenbrand
338. sweet potatoes from the garden
339. yellow flowers in brown bottles
340. husband. he knows me.
341. seeing sisters at soccer games and brother at football
342. pound cake. even if it falls apart.

linking with:

michelle for hear it on sunday, use it on monday

ann for 1000 gifts
l.l. for on, in, and around mondays
richella for grace imparted
laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria
shanda for on your heart tuesdays

5:56-6:01



 writing for five minutes on joy:

husband's face lighting up when i walk in the room
jack's team scoring a goal
hank playing guitar
students asking, learning, connecting, thinking
worshiping in church, car, home
mom coming to soccer with a walkie-talkie to stay close to dad
my girl, the one i mentor, sitting across from me at the table
the art teacher giving me 622 glue sticks
these are joy
but
there
is
more
in this world you will
have trouble
but
take heart!
i have
overcome
the
world

looking for more to read? check out these ladies:

lisa-jo at  the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday

emily at imperfect prose

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

the spoken and the written



note my girl passed to me in church today

her words tumbled
and
stirred
and our eyes weren't dry
in bible study today
her words
tumbled
and
stirred -
i had been praying for
god to change him
because i was right
and he was wrong
but one night i prayed
for god to change me
and i woke up the next
morning with
a
new
husband
oh, my dear friend
your words
your heart
the tender looks your husband
reserves only for you
melt.
stone.

and for these i am also thankful:

310. bible study on sunday mornings
311. my girl, the one i mentor
312. the last vestiges of summer
313. scrabble with the family
314. hanging out with teenagers
315. papers to grade
316. a new principal
317. the smell of sourwood branches littering the drive
318. middle schoolers who come to bible study
319. a husband who makes me things - a new stool!
320. cream cheese icing
321. 65 degrees

linking with:

michelle for hear it on sunday, use it on monday

ann for 1000 gifts
l.l. for on, in, and around mondays
richella for grace imparted
laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria
shanda for on your heart tuesdays

conquerors

my fear this week? a monstrous rattlesnake in.my.yard.
my husband took six pictures of it before he killed it
and then he took this one of a butterfly which i posted
because the snake pictures make me cry. i thought i
could never, ever go outside again. but today, just one
day after the snake, i went out. and ran. and it was ok.

fear was loosed on this world
in the beginning
and i've seen it this week
in my girl, readying for the first day
of school and lunch in the cafeteria
in a mother sending her
only child to middle school
in a young lady choosing
choosing to say no despite an uncertain future
fear was loosed on this world
in the beginning
but not without promises
god is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging
fear was loosed on this world
and i have seen it this week
but courage, she stands us up
and the recovering eat
and the mothers let go
and young ladies step up
and
he
is
ever-present

the thursday-friday links:

emily at in the hush of the moon for imperfect prose

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday

on beauty

my nephew and me
beach trip 2011

writing for five minutes on beauty

my husband calls me beautiful
all
day
long
even yesterday when he
found me running
sweaty
panting
hair running amok
he stopped the tractor and said
you are beautiful
this is treasure
and
losing ed
has allowed me the  freedom
to like myself
inside and out
and i'm praying for my girl
the one i mentor
the one who is losing ed
instead of weight
i'm praying for her as
she continues her journey
toward freedom
toward liking herself
won't you join me?

even if you have never commented on a blog before, will you try today? i would love for my girl to read your words of encouragement today. just click on the word comments then scroll to the box and write what you would like. then you may either click on anonymous or name/URL. if you click on name/URL, simply type your name in the appropriate box. you may leave the URL box blank. then publish your comment.

linking with:

lisa-jo for five minute friday
casey at the wiegand's

beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday