21 words on my new(ish) church

where i least expected blessing
compassions avalanched
and
i am grateful
for
my small group community
that studies the
word
together

how about you? what is your favorite part of church?

linking with -

daniele for 21 words
emily for imperfect prose
jen for god bumps
joy for life:unmasked

and those three words

watching sons and daughters

my brother's photo of the big picture

walk
away
showing only their backs
and
kicking up dust
as
they
leave
will break a parent's heart
and when our hearts are
broken it's so hard
to know what love should look like
i think that's one reason
jesus spoke stories
he gave us life-scripts
for when we don't
know what love should look like
and
the dads who cried at
small group this morning
are playing out the father's role
in the prodigal son
watching their sons
walk
away
showing only their backs
and
kicking up dust
as
they
leave
the prodigal son?
he came to himself
and
those three words
are
hope for the dad
who
stands
watch

what words offer you hope during trying times?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

512. middle school athletes
513. happy birthday notes from my husband. 15 of them!
514. the red letters
515. my girl, the one i mentor.
516. my boys and their coupon for taking me out to eat
517. nutella. i know i say it a lot. but....
518. and while i'm repeating...french roast coffee
519. wal-mart at 2:00 on super bowl sunday. a chance to practice patience.
linking with

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, l.l. for on, in, and around mondays

joan for sharing his beauty, richella for grace imparted, laura for playdates with god

jen for soli deo gloria and shanda for on your heart tuesdays

on what really matters

talk in

sunday's small group
zeroed in on difficulties
financial ones
honesty
and her sister
vulnerability
joined us in our semi-circle
and i came away
certain
that money can't buy
faith
the reality of christ
peace
love
or
joy
and i came away
certain
that more than a pair of
cowboy boots
i want
these
and isn't this why
i have been counting
his gifts
to one thousand?

469. my girl, the one i mentor. so proud of her
470. chris, my husband. he refills my coffee cup. and cleans coffee beans out of the drain
471. hank, my older son, who reads to his younger cousins
472. jack, the younger, who elicits smiles from all around him
473. sunrise
474. living as a family of eleven for a week
475. grandparents for my kids
476. catching up with friends
477. time to read
478. new-to-me, old-timey recipes (might cook pig's feet tonight?!?!?!)
479. my family seeking joy
480. a new, made-for-me-by-my-husband shadow box
481. a cornhole tournament with the family. i came in 2nd! (pictured, with papa. the winner.)

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
emily for tuesdays unwrapped