basic

feeling thankful
this morning
and isn't this basic
to
the
walk?
i will give thanks to you, 
Lord, 
with all my heart; 
i will tell of all your 
wonderful 
deeds:
hank home from ten weeks of running and yes, drill sergeanting
a generous gift-that-helps-so-much
jack's wide smile 
husband in the kitchen
tomatoes and squash and cantaloupe and corn
dogs that guard the tomatoes and squash and cantaloupe and corn
sunrise, every day
and
music that points me to the one who 
gives
all
good 
gifts

what are your thankfuls today?

linking with  kelli, laura, jen, jennifer, barbie, sharita

do not destroy

i read psalm 75 yesterday
and
here's the psalmist saying 
we give thanks
because you are near
how?
how does he know that the almighty is near?
and here's the answer
you know, 
in the very next line,
people everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds
recalling his excellent gifts
proves-beyond-a-shadow
that 
he
is
near
and 
i find these wonderful -  
hank home for a gallon of milk
provision for new chickens after fox's visit
blood root buds (hope personified)
voices lifted in glorifying song
learning (again?) that even abraham needed grace
mountains' views
husband's oft-spoken phrase, i'll do it
soccer goals
grounders thrown in
and
laughter, always laughter

by the way, psalm 75 is to be sung to the tune of "do not destroy." in case you were wondering.

for what are you thankful today?

linking with michelle, laura, jen, jennifer

oatmeal hair and concrete feet - a first day of school

the first day of school is a was

and
i'm reflecting on summer's end -
her slumber and stories
her harvest and home-time
i feel the teensiest bit sad that she's gone
washed away like so many waves
but
even though the first day started
with oatmeal in my hair
(i tried to wear it down)
and
despite the ache of my
scurried-on-concrete-all-day teacher feet
fall's possibilities are exciting
and i'm thankful for
the god-work that makes school marvelous
and i'm thankful for
my church's prayers over me and my school
students' excitement
new teachers' successes
locks working correctly
technology's cooperation
husband's early devotion
cream cheese icing on lemon cake
and
french roast coffee

did you have family starting school today? how did it go? 

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, heather for just write,  joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, barbie for weekend brew

fever, australia and a chris mug

a thankful list is in order this morning....

for jack's fever coming down
for chris and team safely in australia
for hank's music
for fox darting roadside in the cool morning
for chocolate-chip-cookie-ice-cream-nutella second breakfast
for squash ready on vine
for forty-seven hours without finding lizard poop near the fridge
for this retro chris chris chris coffee mug
for this word, a david-prayer that i'm feeling today -
who am i, o lord,
and what is my house
that you have 
brought
me
thus
far?

what are your thankfuls this morning?

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

on not lopping the judas tree

hey, tree

i've had my eye on you
since you volunteered for your spot
in the saint john's wort
but
you haven't wanted to bloom,
little red bud
in fact you were very nearly lopped
but something about you
made
me
wait
and this year....one flower!
this is spring's miracle -
she always always
hikes this mountain
(her gait determined)
to bestow her gifts -
the ostentatious show of light green atop the trees
and
the tiny-i-can't-believe-i-found-it ones
tucked low
in the branches of a judas tree
and
again, nature preaches

what is wowing you this spring? 

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

988. new opportunities for worship on the horizon
989. warmth
990. the days i feel like a real teacher
991. running a 5k with a student
992. new recipes
993. time to cook
994. my husband who makes new clothes lines and helps with dishes and thanks me for marrying him

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

word from the word

the day passed slowly

as we sat in pews
under a veritable
cascade
of
words
tumbling from the psalms, the letters
and i found myself caught by
is
for he himself is our peace
the lord is my shepherd
the lord is your keeper
this tiny wisp of a word,
a harbinger of promise,
declares that the lord god
lives - he is
and who doesn't need that
hope
today?

what word from the word has caught you lately?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

981. my friend, sarah, meeting my twin, carol
982. the sound of my son arriving home
983. holding hands with my husband
984. watching jack fired up at his soccer game
985. my brother's words about our cousin when we celebrated her home-going
986. cousins
987. talking on the phone with my emily

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

word from the word

my favorite word from the word on sunday was
uttermost
it's full and final
and
serves as a humble reminder
that i can't enough myself into
right
with
god
i can't work enough
i can't pray enough
i can't listen to christian music enough
i can't write enough
i can't take care of my family enough
i can't go to church enough
for a welcome at god's throne
jesus alone can save to the
uttermost
and he does
and it's for his glory
and let us celebrate him
to
the
uttermost
in this, his holy week

what word from scripture stands out to you?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

973. two hours of saturday sun
974. photos of last summer's warm
975. making people happy with food
976. baseball
977. excellent coffee
978. mediocre coffee, too
979. holding little privettes on my lap
980. students making connections

 linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

hey, checkis out

bloodroot with trillium peeking through

we have a friend who says
hey, check this out
when he shares the exciting
(here in the southern united states
it is pronounced checkis out
and out has two syllables)
i found this phrase's twin 
in matthew's gospel - behold
he uses it thirty-nine times
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
behold, angels came and were ministering to him
behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him
behold, your king is coming to you
behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two
behold, i am with you always, to the end of the age
i'm taking time this easter season to
behold
the truth that
while we were weak
while we were sinners
while we were enemies of god
he reconciled
us
to him
behold

what are you beholding this season? 

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 - 


967. plants in the ground
968. bloodroot miracle- every. year.
969. laughter at work
970. both sons at the dinner table
971. triple-chocolate cookies
972. first sip of coffee

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

somnolence and hilarity

it's a somnolent afternoon here in room 704
beyond the blinds my sky is gray and foreboding
the hallway lights are already off
the classrooms are eerily silent
and
i'm reading poetry
(giovanni and hughes)
i feel like i could sleep for days....
losing
these
hours
to save them for the sun
i purposefully look for some hilarity so
my son won't walk in from baseball practice
and
find me rocking back and forth in the fetal position
under my desk....
my friend kristen
(she doesn't actually know that we're friends)
is always good for a laugh
she says things like
my teeth have low self-esteem
and
this? is somehow what i needed today

how about you? do you actively seek hilarity? where do you find it?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

961. digging in cold, wormy earth
962. planting
963. daffodils by the road
964. lessons that work
965. hearing from my girl, the one i mentor
966. student-faculty ballgames

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

on goodwill shoes

i believe that

photo credit

goodwill drop-off -
the wrong-size clothes
the already-read paperback books
the toys i'm not saving for grandchildren
is a social responsibility
and
goodwill shopping -
the surprise africa-peace-sign t-shirt
the lined, wool pants (even pocketless)
the unopened hillsong united cd
is a service opportunity
but
the. shoes.
i wandered back there today
(hoping it would feel better this time)
but
the six racks of worn-out browns and blacks
always remind me of the shoe room
at the
holocaust museum
and
i'm a little undone
so i turn around after only a cursory glance
and
hope that five t-shirts are
social justice enough for the day....

what are your thoughts and experiences with goodwill?

i'm so grateful for god's work happening in and around me. counting these thankfuls to 1000-

954. mystery money in elizabeth's account for the dominican school
955. texas pete, ranch dressing, pizza. who knew?
956. spring soccer
957. baseball season-opener
958. blankets and hats and toe-warmers for 956 & 957
959. bluebirds' arrival
960. maple's blush

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

mi amiga

i'm asking why world missions
and hearing jesus answer
that he came to share news (good)
and release captives
that he came to bind up the brokenhearted
and comfort the mournful
that salvation and compassion point to him
and
that his spirit will empower us to participate
in
these
amazing
works
and my friend elizabeth (whose husband's name is welcome)
she gets this
but
she needs help
and
she's praying that the spirit will move you
to join god's work in the christian school
to which she and her husband are devoted
would you sponsor a student?
would you pay for a teacher's staff development?
would you go and help with construction and repairs and witness?
would you?
click here for detailed information

chris and i have supported this ministry for four and a half years. we trust it implicitly. bienvenido and elizabeth's work opens the door for churches and individuals to participate in world missions at varying levels and expense. 

continuing to count his blessings to 1000 -

947. blackberries on my pancakes
948. lunch with friends
949. charlie's (nephew) third birthday
950. hilarious texts from sister-who-has-a-new-dog
951. uncovering periwinkle
952. time away from school
953. students who get excited about learning and hang in there with me


linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

on egg-laying and god's approval

collected three eggs today
my husband announced as i topped the steps yesterday
pretty sure i fist-pumped at that news
and made a mental note
not to eat those black chickens anytime soon
these hens? 
valuable to me for their food-production
(they should live in fear, really)
and is this the heart of 
of the guilt that trails me?
even though i don't believe
in works-based salvation
it's
how
i
live
ticking off acts and accomplishments
in an attempt to
cash them in for
god's
approval
i'm afraid of disappointing
him
for not doing enough
this is a sad spiritual place
but
look at this fist-pumping good news - 
so then it (salvation) depends not on 
human will 
or 
exertion, 
but on 
God, 
who has mercy
amen.

where are you with grace? accepting, skeptical, or somewhere in-between?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

940. one of my sons' songs coming up on my ipod as i run
941. blue sky
942. an egg from a black chicken (she's been on vacation, apparently)
943. blue birds
944. a new bible on its way
945. seeing my house in the daylight
946. baseball

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, the true vine challenge, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

has this always been in the bible?

i wrote this in my journal yesterday
Jesus is manna - 
from somewhere in John.
but he doesn't rot
has this always been in the bible?
because metaphor makes me swoon
so i think i would have noticed it
am i blind to all but the mundane?
when i think of what's coming down from above
it's
rain
stinkbugs
and
dust from the beams
oh lord open my eyes
to the manna from heaven who is
compassion
omniscience
piercing wisdom
sacrifice
amen

what fresh word have you gotten lately?

934. opportunities for learning
935. a running partner
936. anne lamott
937. planning the summer's garden
938. husband sacrificing for me
939. coffee from my favorite mug

 linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, the true vine challenge, amber for concrete words, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

the repetition of days (four short poems)

speaking of repetition, had another birthday yesterday....
happy day, sister!

1
we hiked the mountain this afternoon
and
blustering wind accompanied
isn't she tired?
careening off trees and bluffs
without ceasing?

2
we had another sunset today
rays striking 
the mountains 
(oblique)
so that sun and shadow shared
the
moment
while the camera, a paper weight, rested
on
the
shelf

3
chris made the box i open
twice every day
sanded down to sleek
inside, my earrings, nooked, are ready
and the hinges don't squeak
because he crafted them
from
walnut and maple
but if they spoke it would
be
okay

4
i wait for the lord, my soul waits,
and in his word i put my hope
⁶ my soul waits for the lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning
    more than watchmen wait for the morning
(from psalm 130)

where do you find beauty in repetition?

923. those 1.3 million facebook birthday messages....
924. hyperbole
925. the day after two days of fever
926. twenty-six years of birthday presents from my husband
927. hank and jack thinking of presents for me on their own
928. baseball season so close
929. hearing from my girl, the one i mentor
930. colleagues who pitch in
931. laughing with my sister on the phone
932. snowflakes
933. dean's southern bistro (think collard greens and fried chicken....)

 linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, the true vine challenge, amber for concrete words, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and 
kat for titus 2 tuesdays

view from the rock

when i take a turn about the field

with moses-my-dog
i stop to stand on the rock
flat in the ground
that's not quite atop the hill
the view
is blue mountain distant
and
log cabin tucked 
and
standing there
is
assurance of god's
choosing
and
mercy
(in accordance with his pleasure and will)
moses turns to look
and i step off
to finish

do you have a physical place that provides god-assurance?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

917. cream cheese icing
918. snow days home
919. church
920. playing boggle with the guys
921. husband in the kitchen
922. my girl, the one i mentor, feeling happy

 linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, amber for concrete words, jen for soli deo gloria, my freshly brewed life and 
kat for titus 2 tuesdays

if you say marvel enough times it starts to sound weird

another one of my brother's great shots

i word-searched an
english standard version 
and found that all kinds of people
marveled when jesus was around...
the men
the crowds
the disciples
the pharisees
jesus's father and mother
the jews
everyone
including...jesus
jesus. marveled.
which makes him more human to me,
that he could be astonished, taken aback
he encountered a centurion-whose-servant-lay-dying
and jesus offered to walk with him home
but the centurion answered
just say the word
and
when jesus heard this, he marveled 
at the man's faith
but when jesus-son-of-god
returned to his hometown to minister
he was met with scoffs and questions
and
he marveled because of their unbelief
and
i want to be that centurion answering
just say the word
that jesus might marvel
at
my
faith
(lord help my unbelief)

where are you with faith these days? with the centurion (just say the word), with the scoffers, or somewhere in between?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

899. single daffodil snubbing her nose at winter
900. spring's scent, if only fleeting
901. doe bounding over trail
902. work friends
903. imitrex
904. nutella on a spoon
905. wrestling tournaments
906. lunch out with friends
907. promise of husband's friday return


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, my freshly brewed life and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

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

notebook envy

my friend michelle has a
notebook
tattered, stained
and, well,
i am envious
of
this
worn-out notebook
she started counting her 1000 gifts
on actual paper
whereas mine
are on my computer
and, well,
i want the notebook
i guess i could steal hers
but she lives far away
and is thankful for her dish rack
and i don't even have a dish rack
so....
i will take the opportunity
to start one. a notebook.
at number 885
and 885 will be....
a notebook for counting gifts....

i cannot more highly recommend counting gifts/blessings/thankfuls. a life of gratitude for god's gifts leads to joy. are you counting gifts? where do you keep your list?

linking with -

the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

studio jru for sneak peek friday
grace for FYBF
beholding glory for faith-filled friday

meet my right-now best friend, anxiety

my sister-in-law captured the sunrise
through a barn window....

4:14 am
and
my right-now best friend anxiety,
glad to have awakened me,
began bombarding me with questions -
what if hank misses the scholarship deadlines?
what if milk really goes to $7 a gallon?
what if we run out of money this month?
what if dad falls and no one knows it for hours?
why haven't you worked on lesson plans?
don't you have a game and a meeting on thursday?
how long will chris be gone to jamaica?
sigh
i tossed and turned and tried to mute
this harbinger of doom
by reciting bible verses
but
none
would
come
to
mind
and in the light of day
i find this disconcerting
how can i not know a single bible verse in the dark night?
so
i sent myself a few text messages -
bible verses i can access in the
scary irrationality of the wee hours
in this world you will have trouble
but take heart! 
i have overcome the world
and
this?
it pierces the dark

so, what do you do with your middle-of-the-night irrationality?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

878. jack-built fire in the fireplace
879. nip in the air
880. it came upon a midnight clear
881. cadbury chocolate at christmas
882. hank's song for our family
883. a husband who calls me beautiful
884. new jacket for running that, when the hood is up, makes me look like an olympic speed skater

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 shanda for on your heart tuesdays, joy for life unmasked,  missional women and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

877

i've been counting thankfuls for months
counting one to one-thousand....

i'm at my sister's house
in the city
and
we have the same dishtowels
because we have the same mother
but
carol has a
hedgehog-that-runs-all-night
and
a daughter-who-is-thirteen
and
a snaggle-tooth-kinder-boy
i'm at my sister's house
comfy
and
relaxed
and this is 877

how about you? what are your gifts other than those under the tree?

linking with:

grace for FYBF, michelle for caffeinated randomness and studio jru for sneak peek friday