Spa Day

I rarely get to the spa.

I'm serious. Oh, I paint my nails for special occasions like giving birth and weddings, so let's count 'em; 6, soon to be 7 ... and for a space in time,  I took advantage of Aetna's "massage" clause.

There's something so soothing about seeing (if you can) your toes painted when the first pangs of childbirth arrive. Standing at the alter with a handsome groom holding your manicured hand is a pretty special feeling, as well.  But even moreso, sitting in the front pew while the same groom holds your hand at the wedding of the children you painted your nails for the night before they appeared, feels good on a whole other level.

With my insurance card in tow, I'd clear a calendar day in the chaos of raising the kids I'd painted my toes to birth, and head to the massage parlor   chiropractor's office.  I begrudged the drive home, wanting to stay put and relax in the calming music and muscle mode these trips afforded.

Yes, the spa will do a tired body good, but one can't really enjoy the effects of spa day, unless one goes to the spa.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

How can the mundane wear me out?  I don't have to wait up for a wayward teenager, but my thought pattern is tired and grouchy. I'm not facing death or divorce and yet my attitude aches. I'm relatively healthy and my outlook is selfish.

Today I will rest in Him.  I will not worry about the petty. I will not trouble my heart over material things.  I will throw my cares at His feet and drink from the living water. I must get to the spa and lean into the only One who can bring true rest.

God is calling each of us to choose His rest and to cultivate it in all that we do.  He wants the stories of our lives to reflect His presence, which means that they will also reflect His rest. ~ Beni Johnson from "Spiritual Java"

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 
John 14:27

My "to do" list is a mile long but today I rest. I don't know what you're going through, but I do know a day at the spa can do wonders for restless and weary souls.

Meet me there?

Dear Max and Lilly,

I wonder what your first memory will be.

I'm gonna do my best to make it Sept 22, 2012.

Sometimes I kinda get off track and lose sight of the important stuff.  Especially, six weeks out from your Aunt Lissa's wedding.

There's always something on the list to check off and somehow, someway, there remains the constant drone of seemingly endless tasks being added to the list.

You guys help me remember to breathe.  I watched you play today Max, and your cares were absolutely minimal.  You needed a little corner to push Thomas The Train around in a circle.  Exactly as you tired of Thomas and ran to the window to see a kitty or watch the birds, I received a text picutre of you, Lilly, asleep in your stroller. Another wise and precious reminder to stop and slow down. I did.

Your parents aren't going to like this, but I can't help myself.  Life is so short.  Seriously. Soon you'll be sitting around talking about the past.

Even if it's just a photograph which triggers your conversation, I hope you'll reminisce about the family farm wedding.

"Remember when Aunt Liss and Uncle Spence twirled us around on the dance floor?"

"Remember when our parents hit the dance floor?"

"Remember when grandma and grandpa slow danced?"

"Remember when our great-grandparents two-stepped?"

"Remember when grandma made us take all those pictures and we just wanted to chase kitties?"

"Remember when our parents let us stay up soooo much past our bedtime?"

"What were we wearing?"

"Remember when we could still hear the music, tucked in way upstairs?"

"Remember when ..."

You guys help me remember to live.

And Now, August

quin·tes·sen·tial |  Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class: "Clint Eastwood is the quintessential tough guy".


I wanted to use the term on facebook this morning this way: Fountain Park is the quintessential Chautauqua, but seeing as there are only two functioning Chautauqua's in the US, I feel it would be better stated: A twilight golf cart ride circling the Fountain Park cottages captures the essence of a small town quintessential summer evening.


After a quick Tri-Kappa cheeseburger, the cottage residents spill out into the lawn and meander over to the tabernacle type auditorium.  Tonight's entertainment was the best of both worlds; local and flown-in talent. Country girl and singer-songwriter boy, belted out Baggage Claim, When God-fearin' Women Get The Blues, Break-a-way, spirited and inspirational self-written anthems, and closed with Sugarland's "Stand-Up" 


And speaking of locals, we have our Magnificent 7 support crew for 9.22.12.  Families helping families!  Sounds like a non-profit just waiting to be started. Thank-you Don, Denise, Barb, Spider, Susie, Dana, and Darcy!  We want you to sit for a spell at the ceremony and we're saving a spot on the dance floor, too.




I know, I know! Need to update about our Soul Sister and Wedding Family Work-weekend!  We've got our non-quintessential  bride, we got the groom and company, and now we have the gift and guest book table.  

All the lonely people crying

It could change if we just get started

Lift the darkness, light a fire

For the silent and the broken hearted

Won't you stand up, stand up, stand up?

Won't you stand up, you girls and boys?

Won't you stand up, stand up, stand up?

Won't you stand up and use your voice?

There's a comfort, there's a healing

High above the pain and sorrow

Change is coming, can you feel it

Calling us into a new tomorrow?

When the walls fall all around you

When your hope has turned to dust

Let the sound of love surround you

Beat like a heart in each of us

Won't you stand up, stand up, stand up?

Won't you stand up, you girls and boys?

Won't you stand up, stand up, stand up?

Won't you stand up and use your voice?

Shalom

I am intrigued by Hebrew words and their meanings. For instance, most would associate 'Shalom' with the word 'Peace' ...and yet Hebrew words convey so much more than one word. They convey feelings intent and emotions.  In the case of Shalom, Strong's concordance adds these words to the meaning: wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. 
So shalom is more then just simply peace; it is a complete peace. It is a feeling of contentment, completeness, wholeness, well being and harmony.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us there is life or death in the power of the tongue. So I speak and employ the word "shalom" into your (and my) life today, adding all the wonderful things that shalom means!
BibleGateway lists 249 verses (Old & New Testaments) which mention peace. Here are 7 ... read them with a fresh understanding of what it really means to be at peace.


You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
My peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 1 Cor 13:11
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philipians 4:7




Today I pause, 

Pause to speak over you the peace that only God can give

Pause to listen to the singing of the cicadas and the passing of summer 

Pause to pray covering and blessing over young people preparing to follow God in marriage

Pause to ponder the love and happiness two little grandchildren bring into my life

Pause to contemplate what's important and what is not, in life's daily plans and decisions

Pause to share shalom with you

Born To Mom

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once ~ Albert Einstein

On 7.1.79 my life changed forever, as I became a mom for the first time.  Once again, on 7.1.03, my timeline states, 'began writing'.  


Of course, I'll always remain a mom, but as I sit and contemplate my life this morning, 7.1.12, I realize just how drastically my job descriptions have changed over the years.


The labor pains are long forgotten.  The babies have all been pushed from the nest. The prayers, concerns, hopes, dreams, and joy continue, as the blessings flow.


I wanted to insert here, the letter I wrote to Ben in 2003, but alas, as of June 30 most of my "online" journals have gone to the big mac graveyard in the sky, and I'm not talking about iCloud.


It's just as well, Ben's best work, wasn't even a twinkle in his eyes back then.  Husband and Dad are where you shine, son! Happy birthday and many many more.


Even though 'mobile me' is no longer...they can't touch my scrapbooking.

Go Or Give

I've heard it said, the best way to fight depression, sadness, or the "blues" is to get your mind and thoughts off yourself.

This post and link is meant to do just that.

Before And Africa

It's time.

Linking up today with:

It Is What It Is

Melissa is getting married ... Chelsea is having a baby, and Greta graduates! Having a great time, wish you were here.

We also hosted family camp over memorial day, Melissa and Spencer graduated from their Revolution class, dinner on Reed's lake with the groom's parents, a whole wonderful day with Ben, Annie, & the lovely Lilly, but alas I have no pictures to post. At times, the heart, should be the viewfinder through which I see my life.

~ ~ ~

I'm writing you to

catch you up on places I've been

You held this letter

probably got excited, but there's nothing else inside it

didn't have a camera by my side this time

hopping I would see the world with both my eyes

maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm

in the mood to lose my way with words

Today skies are painted colors of a cowboy's cliche'

And strange how clouds that look like mountains in the sky

are next to mountains anyway

Didn't have a camera by my side this time

Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm

in the mood to lose my way

but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

just no more 3x5's Guess you had to be there

Guess you had to be with me Today I finally overcame

tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to

lose my way but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

no more 3x5's

just no more 3x5's

John Mayer

Color Commentary

Live Like That

I can not believe May is 1/2 over. I can't believe how far into 2012 I find myself. I also can not believe how living in the quiet and quaint of a small town is such a blessing in my life right now.  I need milk, orange juice, or toothpaste and in less than 10 minutes I can be having cereal or brushing my teeth. The birds sing all day long, and I can hear them. 

On the other hand, driving to Lafayette affords me some Julee time, K-Love, an unbelieveable farmer's market on Wed afternoon, and a plethora of churches ... I found these guys---Sidewalk Prophets--alongside US 231 & State Road 18.  You know what I mean.

Don't get me wrong, I'm achin' for a Max & Lilly fix. I long for a quiet evening laughing with family, talking of nothing in paticular, and everything important. I miss Michigan in the summer. I miss my porch. I miss the big lake. I miss the scent of pine trees and my neighbors. You know what I mean. 

But I have learned am learning, from Paul and Phillipians 4:11 (Sometimes the King James Version is the only way to go)

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

I wanna live like that.

Sew

Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so.  Psalm 107:3  or as the New International Version says; Let the redeemed of the Lord, tell their story ... that's all the prompting I needed.


So in my spare time, I'm going through pictures for a Melissa & Spencer wedding slide show.  


What can I say about this one, except they were pretty excited about these skirts in 2008. Alert: New blog, I'm following ~ Before And Africa 


Also keeping me entertained and living in the past these days, is whether to induldge in paying  a server which will let me one click my iWeb stories to yet another domain name.


Technology.


Do you have defining moments, I did last night. While sitting alone with the window's open and the fireplace going, I tuned into the Grand Ole Opry radio station (online, of couse), to hear Ricky Skaggs celebrate his 30 years as a G.O.O. member.  


Before Ricky and all the guests concluded their 2 hour bluegrassy, old-time country show, he preached.  He preached the gospel. Straight up, no chasers.  Then they (The Getty's, Josh Turner, Ricky Skaggs, and Alison Krause) sang. 


I fell on my knees in worship.

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

Fulness 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 every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There 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 power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Today I wanted to let the redeemed of the Lord say so. 

RSVP

Originally posted May 15, 2011

According to some, the world, as we know, it is going to end this Saturday.  5.21.11.  

"Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made." Genesis 7:4  

The “End Of The Worlder’s” loosely based theory is all about numbers and goes something like this:

#1. God referred to seven days, he meant both seven days and seven thousand years, because "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." The flood occurred in 4990 BC. Seven thousand years later is 2011.

#2. looks at the significance of the number of days between the Crucifixion and May 21, 2011.

There are 722,500 days between these dates. 722,500 is a significant number because it is composed of the significant numbers 5x10x17x5x10x17. Five signifies redemption; ten signifies completion; and 17 signifies heaven. The numbers represent the day of redemption (5) and the end of the Christian era (10) and the ascent to heaven (17) -- and these factors are doubled for added significance.

I know, confusing, right?  I’m not real worried about next Saturday, but they are right on one account: the world is gonna end.

In Jewish tradition, when a couple became engaged, the bridegroom’s family would give a gift to the bride’s family signifying the intent to marry.  Then, in essence, the marriage contract was signed at that point in time.

Then the bridegroom would go away for one year.  It gave the bride time to prepare, not only for the big day, but to fix her heart on her bridegroom.  She would concentrate on no one and nothing else, but making sure she was ready when the bridegroom came.  

The groom would work the whole year to build a house for his bride and keep working for his father in preparation for starting his own home.  

No one knew when the wedding would take place except the bridegrooms father.  When he deemed it appropriate he gathered his son and headed out on a wedding march to the bride’s  house, collecting family and friends along the way.  

And here-in lies the analogy. Jesus is the bridegroom. The church (body of believers) is the bride.  Jesus has gone away to prepare a place for us, if it wasn’t true, he would have told us.  “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. St. John 14.

The bride should be getting ready.  Not searching out other bridegrooms or wasting her time on other lovers (pursuits), but  preparing for her wedding day. Preparing her heart to meet her bridegroom.  Preparing a feast and inviting everyone to get ready themselves.  Inviting all to come and taste and see that the Lord is good.  It is he who love us.  It is he who made us, and not we ourselves. ~ The Psalms

And guess who knows when this great marriage feast will take place? 

God the (bridegroom’s) Father. 

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids from St Matthew:

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.  Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you! So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Accept the invitation for the free gift of salvation ... or give your regrets. It’s your choice. And it IS a choice.  If you’ve already already responded (believed) then what are you doing as far as preparations go?