Today's blog is a prayer for my friend. A little over three years ago, she was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. After a year of surgeries and chemo, she was given the happy news of "remission" - a great word to someone with cancer.
Today she heard those horrible words that no cancer patient ever wants to hear. "It's back, we start chemotherapy immediately"...
My heart aches for her.
Soon after her initial diagnosis, we got our dog, Winnie. Her middle name is Hope, because the puppy pictures brought a smile to our friend. I gotta find a cute picture, something nice and send it to her right away.
She is looking for hope today....
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
D and S
These are the most wonderful and wondrous grandchildren in the world.... D is the a-typical teen. Straight A's, athletic, Christ-centered, and balanced. No selfishness. No silliness. Her mother did an amazing job- she did not marry my son until this girl was in adolescence! So her mother gets all the credit.
And then there is S. 20 months old... Sweet, unaffected, and all boy. Now I can give my son some credit, as he has my son's beautiful green/gray color eyes.
Yes- Grandma is all so happy. It was an amazing Easter, time with these kids!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Unafraid to be Smart
There was an interesting question posed in church today. Do we know so much that we have become too smart to need God? Have we, in discovering the wealth of the internet, the wisdom of vast ages and sages at our fingertips, moved past needing an omniscient God?
And yet, I feel that God, is not intimidated. He who loved our communication and companionship in the garden welcomes our intelligence. Maybe he has waited for these moments, when he can talk with adult children about things beyond what we first knew. We understand more.
When my children were small we talked of insects and flowers and young friendships. Now that they are grown, we speak of adult things. Marital relationships. Homes, loans and adult things. And we welcome the conversations.
I think God is the same.... He has waited for our growth and increased companionship for our walks in the garden...
And yet, I feel that God, is not intimidated. He who loved our communication and companionship in the garden welcomes our intelligence. Maybe he has waited for these moments, when he can talk with adult children about things beyond what we first knew. We understand more.
When my children were small we talked of insects and flowers and young friendships. Now that they are grown, we speak of adult things. Marital relationships. Homes, loans and adult things. And we welcome the conversations.
I think God is the same.... He has waited for our growth and increased companionship for our walks in the garden...
Friday, March 19, 2010
Blossoms
We moved into this house in October. Little did we know that 2 triple blossom cherry trees were outside in our backyard. They are beside the little balcony porch attached to our bedroom. There is a third tree - just outside the other bedroom window. Starting right about on my birthday (how amazing is that??) they burst into a pink puffy bloom-cotton candy extravaganza.
My birthday is 4 days away. this is one of the first starting it's way out of the bud-cocoon.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Spring - ing
Last week I pruned the heck out of my roses.
Today I saw this bud.
From the pain of pruning, we see the promise of spring...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
to all my friends
I am copying this from my niece, with whom I have recently connected on facebook. This was so good, I had to share it with this community as well.
♥ ~ A true friend doesn't care what you're wearing, if your home is tidy or not, if your car is making funny noises, that you only have $5 in the bank this week, or that you and your loved ones aren't perfect... A true friend just loves you for you! ~ ♥
♥ ~ A true friend doesn't care what you're wearing, if your home is tidy or not, if your car is making funny noises, that you only have $5 in the bank this week, or that you and your loved ones aren't perfect... A true friend just loves you for you! ~ ♥
Monday, March 1, 2010
Why I love gardens
First, Gardens are playful. Even the dirt is fun. We are allowed as adults to play in the mud and be kids.... How fun is that!
And then, Gardeners are creators. We design and plant and plan, and make things grow. Sometimes what we grow we get to eat, like tomatoes and basil, lemons and limes. Yummy!
And Gardens are calming. There's something soothing about working with your hands, seeing the fruit of your labor of love. Smelling the good smells. - unless it's manure. But that has purpose, so it's good.
And maybe the most important is the realization that we started in a garden. The Garden of Eden. Paradise. Whether that was a few thousand years ago, or millions of years ago - it doesn't matter. I think the whole point of that story is that it all started when we had a friendship, an intimate relationship with God. And the whole purpose for this life is to get back to that garden-relationship. He wants to talk to us, walk with us, smell the smells and play a little.... Have a place in our life = and we have a place in his life.
Yes, gardens are good...
And then, Gardeners are creators. We design and plant and plan, and make things grow. Sometimes what we grow we get to eat, like tomatoes and basil, lemons and limes. Yummy!
And Gardens are calming. There's something soothing about working with your hands, seeing the fruit of your labor of love. Smelling the good smells. - unless it's manure. But that has purpose, so it's good.
And maybe the most important is the realization that we started in a garden. The Garden of Eden. Paradise. Whether that was a few thousand years ago, or millions of years ago - it doesn't matter. I think the whole point of that story is that it all started when we had a friendship, an intimate relationship with God. And the whole purpose for this life is to get back to that garden-relationship. He wants to talk to us, walk with us, smell the smells and play a little.... Have a place in our life = and we have a place in his life.
Yes, gardens are good...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Manna
We had a very interesting message at church today. It was about the Israelites, newly escaped from Egypt, just having crossed the red sea. They were hungry, complained, and God gave them "manna", a non descript bread-like substance that just appeared magically each morning.
Here's the interesting part.
For 400 years, these people were slaves in Egypt. They did not have a past that would allow them to trust other people. Understandably then, even after seeing the passover where their children were spared a certain death, and after walking through the red sea on dry land, they were miserable when hungry in the wilderness.
They did not know how to trust God. Manna was God's way of showing them, every day for 40 years, that they could trust Him. Each day, every day they had enough food for that one day. They needed to take little steps in learning who God was and that He could be trusted. And for 40 years, He was just that. The provider of their daily need, no more, no less.
Sometimes God understands that we have trouble trusting Him. Then He goes to work and puts us in a place where we can learn trust. One day at a time, one meal at a time.
Interesting....
Here's the interesting part.
For 400 years, these people were slaves in Egypt. They did not have a past that would allow them to trust other people. Understandably then, even after seeing the passover where their children were spared a certain death, and after walking through the red sea on dry land, they were miserable when hungry in the wilderness.
They did not know how to trust God. Manna was God's way of showing them, every day for 40 years, that they could trust Him. Each day, every day they had enough food for that one day. They needed to take little steps in learning who God was and that He could be trusted. And for 40 years, He was just that. The provider of their daily need, no more, no less.
Sometimes God understands that we have trouble trusting Him. Then He goes to work and puts us in a place where we can learn trust. One day at a time, one meal at a time.
Interesting....
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Internet
I just love the internet. It's an amazing thing to stay so connected. When I was a little girl, we had a party line. You had to count the rings to see if the call was for you. We were the last home on the block, so we had 3 rings - the longest one.
And when I got married and moved away, I wrote letters to my mother, a few states away. It look weeks to have a conversation. Then phones got to be less expensive for long distance calls, so I could call her.
Tonight I am chatting with my granddaughter. Instantly conversing online, and she is also states away. In fact, she lives where my mother used to live, near where I grew up in the Seattle area. Life is so good.
I have heard people who wish for the "good old days." Not me. I like the technology. I don't understand how it works, but I like it. I like texting, chatting with my family, paying bills automatically online. The other day, I used my blackberry to check a friend in for a flight while I was walking through Home Depot.
This is a wonderful world indeed.
And when I got married and moved away, I wrote letters to my mother, a few states away. It look weeks to have a conversation. Then phones got to be less expensive for long distance calls, so I could call her.
Tonight I am chatting with my granddaughter. Instantly conversing online, and she is also states away. In fact, she lives where my mother used to live, near where I grew up in the Seattle area. Life is so good.
I have heard people who wish for the "good old days." Not me. I like the technology. I don't understand how it works, but I like it. I like texting, chatting with my family, paying bills automatically online. The other day, I used my blackberry to check a friend in for a flight while I was walking through Home Depot.
This is a wonderful world indeed.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Firsts
Hello to Blogland. Today is my first time here. I have come, with invitation, and read a blog before. However, this is my first post. I am not sure what to say, and am just a little nervous. But I think I am among friends. So maybe I will just leave a little poem.
The sun was warm this afternoon.
A welcomed visitor after days of rain.
The warmth and light fell across my garden,
Brightening the greens and yellows that were grayed
From the days of rain and gloom.
I saw the blue flowers of the vinca minor,
Early blossoms laying against the shiny leaves.
It made me smile to see them.
And I looked at the trees, some tiny buds
Little leaves straining to come to life.
The garden will be in bloom again soon.
When it does, I will take time.
Time to nurture, to take out the tresspassing weeds.
Time to fertilize, to nourish the growing plants.
And time to invite you to sit with me.
The sun was warm this afternoon.
A welcomed visitor after days of rain.
The warmth and light fell across my garden,
Brightening the greens and yellows that were grayed
From the days of rain and gloom.
I saw the blue flowers of the vinca minor,
Early blossoms laying against the shiny leaves.
It made me smile to see them.
And I looked at the trees, some tiny buds
Little leaves straining to come to life.
The garden will be in bloom again soon.
When it does, I will take time.
Time to nurture, to take out the tresspassing weeds.
Time to fertilize, to nourish the growing plants.
And time to invite you to sit with me.
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