Houston, We have Liftoff!

K. - what a great meeting w/ Mrs.M today! So funny to me about the bits and parts that seem to fit together. The shadow, the audit, the off campus living - wow! We now have whittled the list to 4 with a definite Plan A. Whoo Hoo - and I know you want to put the "too emotional hex" on me. You'll get over it.

That's amazing.

Thank you Lord for such an expedient answer to prayer for direction.

Coincidences are spiritual puns.
-GK Chesterton

College for Kiddo

K. yesterday we learned about what we've yet to do to get you in the college application and enrollment loop. Tonight we, at a college faire, looked at addtional options... a few new ideas. Tomorrow we'll have a meeting with with Mrs. M and continue this pressing progression.

As we left the faire, we were both tired, and I, at least, was feeling overwhelmed by it all. The sun had just set, the mountains were black against the redness of the sunset. You commented on the beauty. I thought and said at the same time, "If God can do that, surely, where and how you go to college is no big thing for Him". You kind of laughed and said, "Ya".

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being'. -Acts 17:22-28

So we press on... in adventure to see what God has and how He leads.

Home is Coming

Come, Ye Disconsolate

1. Come, ye disconsolate,
where'er ye languish,
Come to the mercy seat,
fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts,
here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrows
that heav'n cannot heal.

2. Joy of the disconsolate,
light of the straying,
Hope of the penitent,
fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter,
tenderly saying,
"Earth has no sorrows
that heav'n cannot cure."

3. Here see the Bread of Life,
see waters flowing
Forth from the throne of God,
pure from above.
Come to the feast of love;
come, ever knowing
Earth has no sorrows
but heav'n can remove.

This is my favorite hymn right now, it's words keeps coming to my mind. There are so many wonderful gifts that God gives us in this world, however, it is not perfect, never fully at peace.

The sorrow is a reminder, we are meant for a place that is so much more.

5 K

K. - we did it. We finished our first 5K. We had quite a time. You were a great coach today. I was worried and apprehensive about racing publicly, thanks for hanging back and not smoking me. You certainly would have breezed in 15 to 20 minutes earlier had you chosen to fly solo. My thoughts, as you lovingly dragged me in a full sprint across the finish line, hand and hand with you, "This is the good stuff".

I am happy that we finished our first 5K, and doing it together was not only revealing but shoe loads of fun. I'm looking forward to our next. I'm at least a smidge amazed that you want there to be a next one.

That being said, I am so very proud of who you are. You made this day stellar. I hold my breath, tears come to my eyes, as I watch you running towards womanhood, it is lovely, God's faithfulness in your life stops me, astounds me, brings me to that place of wonder and thanksgiving.

Olive Juice!

Daily On My Way to Heaven: In Love for 63 Years

Daily On My Way to Heaven: In Love for 63 Years

K. Thought you would like this - it's sweet - I know how MUCH you love sweet stuff. Wanted you to see this page from my blogger friend, Becky's website. Made me think of Nana and Poppa.(click on the purple link)

Adversity is generally the rule in life, not the exception. Right choices are made amid the circumstances not because circumstances are primarily pleasant. To stay in love and to demonstrate it is a choice.

Mrs. M's lecture on Romanticism and True Romance is very apropos. One more thought on that subject, remember feeling follows fact, in otherwords act in love even when you're not "feeling" it. Where your volition carries your feet, your heart will soon follow.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesian 3:20,21

A Quote from my Big Brother

If you have the faith to pick up the sword, God will give you the strength to swing the thing. -J.S.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Impossible

Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
- Doug Larson,

When you take on a God-sized challenge, self-sufficiency is no longer an option.
-Erwin McManus

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,

But he with a chuckle replied

That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one

Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it";

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure;

There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;;

Just start to sing as you tackle the thing

That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

Edgar Guest

I've always loved this poem, it reminds me of my Mom, who is brillant, talented and by today's standards fairly uneducated as she only finished one year of college. She has spent her life raising 5 of hers, and 5 other children. She always has a new neighbor or friend who hangs around and blossoms under her humor and love. It is a hole that a loving mother might have filled but she is generous and her spirit is quite simply contagious. My Mom is a favorite among her grandchildren and has scores of elderly who love her for her kind words, unceasing prayers and infamous banana bread among her scads of other baked goods.

This poem can easily be taken with a humanistic viewpoint, but I chose to reinterpret the good and view it through the true lense of life. Christ in us the Hope of Glory.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you,the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Why is prayer necessary for the Christian?

Because it is the chief part of the graditude which God requires of us; and because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who sincerely beseech him in prayer without ceasing, and who thank him for these gifts.

Heidelberg Catechism

Grace follows the Law and the Law dies a 1000 deaths to Grace. -A. Munco

If

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

K. copied this into her class notes last week.

Good thoughts as she prepares for college-

We're having college discussions.

Guessing other parents of seniors are having similiar conversations.

How do they grow so quickly? Big step...We hold our breathe.

Resolve to Suggest, Guide, Pray, Trust her in His hands.

Turning Back Time?

Two choices tonight really - blog or read. I might do both. I exercised at 9 pm. Not very smart because I am wide awake and it is now past 11. Anyway, I haven't blogged about Daily Mile or running yet. So I think I will now.

K. you challenged me to the Music City Half in May. I said cool, mostly because I was sad that you worry about my health and you are always inviting me to walk or do something at the rec. I started moving in June, talked with a serious runner friend, E., about a feasable plan to get ready for the Half in April, and discovered Daily Mile through the Grantian blog.

Many of my friends on DailyMile (DM) are moms, like me, several share my experience. They got busy raising and loving their families and just let "me" time things get pushed out because they enjoyed them to a lesser degree. I know and agree with the rhetoric of taking care of yourself helps you better care for your family, but it takes commitment at a time when you are infinitely overcommitted. So here I am, on the other side of raising our daughter, mostly, I have a lot more time, now that she is so independent - no more car pool for me (very sad indeed), she spends hours doing homework, does side jobs to make a little $ and has a bit of a social life. I hang around to wait for those magical moments to appear for her to unload all of her life stuff, and still - I have more time. So I've picked up running again.

I was a runner in college, and enjoyed running when E. and I were first married, we live out in the Santa Cruz Hills, it was perfect for running. We lived by a Monastic Retreat Center, E. would walk with a cup of coffee and I'd run down the road to loop my 5 miles then we'd walk home together. This last week, I walked/jogged 5 miles for the first time in 18 years. I'd stopped running when I went on bedrest with my pregnancy. I tried it again when K. was 3 or 4 but it didn't have enough appeal to actually make me want to leave K. or E. since I worked outside our home. I guess I just forgot I like to run.

Today, K. did half of my strength training with me. It was fun. She is such a cool kid. This age is really fun, it might even top preschooler, which is an amazing admission for me. She and I are going to run our first 5K the end of this month and I have another one scheduled with a friend in October. I am excited and a bit scared, I don't know if I will enjoy running around other people. It's only ever been something I've enjoyed doing alone. I guess I will find out.

So there it is, the reason for the little orange widget at the bottom of this blog. My daughter made me do it, and I'm very glad she did. AND if you want to start doing something you love like cycling,running,walking,swimming, or other fitness stuff I would recommend Daily Mile. It rocks! I have 4 or 5 ladies on there that I message with privately back and forth. We have become friends and training partners. We not only encourage eachother in fitness goals but discuss the joy of families,and also some of the hard things in life.

Fav Photos

Black and Whites are so great!




We love the Santa Cruz Beach line. This was taken at Capitola Beach 10 or 11 years ago, by our friend Dina Jones, who also did our wedding photos. We used to walk to this beach and sit on the benches that overlooked the cliffs at least 4 times a week. K. loved to walk out on this jetty. I always held my breathe as she did. She has never been what you would call a "Girlie Girl". Even at her young age that quiet confidence and determination was shining through.






My friend, Jill Batson, took this after she had done some headshots for work this past winter. We were actually laughing trying to decide how we should pose and she started snapping. This photo is completely unflattering of us both, but alas, it is our very favorite.

Worthwhile

It is easy enough to be pleasant,

When life flows by like a song

But the man worthwhile is one who will smile,

When everything goes dead wrong.

For the test of the heart is trouble,

And it always comes with the years,

And the smile that is worth the praises of earth

Is the smile that shines through tears.

It is easy enough to be prudent,

When nothing tempts you to stray,

When without or within no voice of sin

Is luring your soul away;

But it's only a negative virtue

Until it is tried by fire,

And the life that is worth the honor on earth

Is the one that resists desire.

By the cynic, the sad, the fallen,

Who had no strength for the strife,

The world's highway is cumbered today;

They make up the sum of life.

But the virtue that conquers passion,

And the sorrow that hides in a smile,

It is these that are worthy the homage on earth

For we find them but once in a while.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Perspective on Leaking Water Pipes

BETTER THAN GOLD

Better than grandeur,
better than gold,

Than rank and titles a thousandfold,

Is a healthy body and a mind at ease,

And simple pleasures that always please.

A heart that can feel for another's woe,

And share his joys with a genial glow;

With sympathies large enough to enfold

All men as brothers, is better than gold.

Better than gold is a conscience clear,

Though toiling for bread in a humble sphere,

Doubly blessed with content and health,

Untried by the lusts and cares of wealth,

Lowly living and lofty thought

Adorn and ennoble the poor man's cot;

For mind and morals in nature's plan
Are the genuine test of an earnest man.


Better than gold is a peaceful home

Where all the fireside characters come,

The shrine of love, the heaven of life,

Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife,

However humble the home may be,

Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree,

The blessings that never were bought and sold,

And the center there, are better than gold.

- Abram J. Ryan

I have been looking for a poem the last few days, to have something to replace the water problem thoughts that have been popping into my head. It was a toss up between this one and Ella Wheeler Wilcox's "Worthwhile". Anyway, the point is, it is so much better for the soul, and consequently the mood, to focus on the good things of life rather than the trials, however insignificant they might be. (A water pipe, is in the "stuff" category of life- relationships, health and stuff - in that order)

C S Lewis Quotes

The following quotes are from C.S.Lewis', not GK Chesterton, The Joyful Christian, a collection of Readings. It is always good food in a funk.

Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man and fable tells us about a million men.

I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor, act as if you did.

If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

The most precious gift marriage gave me was this constant impact of something very close and intimate yet all the time unmistakably other, resistant-in a word, real.

Now Faith,... is the art of holding onto things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. ...That is why Faith is such a a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods "where they get off," you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but jsut a creature dithering to and fro, with beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion, Consequently, one must train the habit of Faith.

He is that Object to admire which is simply to be awake, to have entered the real world; not to appreciate which is to have lost the greatest experience, and in the end to have lost all.

The process of living seems to consist in coming to realize truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes. They cannot sound otherwise to those who have not had relevant experience: that is why there is no such teaching of real truths possible and every generation starts from scratch...

I have seen great beauty of spirit in some who were great sufferers.

Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already. That is why children's games are so important. They are always pretending to be grown-ups-playing soldiers, playing shop. But all the time they are hardening their muscles and sharpening their wits, so that the pretense of being grown-ups helps them grow up in earnest.

Joy is the serious business of heaven.

This last bit from Mr. Lewis' reading reminds me again of the Song, "Come to the Feast of Love, here ever knowing - Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." ("Come Ye Disconsolate" My Cry Ascends New Parish Psalms, G.Wilber)