Summer Version: Poem of the Month

 The Summer Day 
 Mary Oliver 


 Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?












 

I am still thankful.

It's been awhile...but I am still counting my blessings.

274. graduating
275. the way God worked out all my classes during a very stressful time in my life.
276. the support of very generous friends who provided the menu for my graduation party.
277. the fact that I have never been homeless.
278. I have never been starving.
279. God's provision.
280. encouragement from unexpected places.
281. gift cards for a special treat.
282. fine point pens for journalling.
283. Target clearance aisles.
284. the diligent prayers of prayer warriors.
285. car insurance.
286. being able to afford this month's car insurance.
287. a car accident that had minimal damage.
288. grace under pressure.
289. God's gentle character training.
290. meeting new sisters in Christ.
291. a home full of love.
292. a heart full of love.
293. tears.
294. a camera on my phone.
295. brownies.
296. a son who is a fine young man.
297. a heart of prayer.
298. fresh strawberries.
299. freshly bathed children.
300. free parking @ the beach.
301. close parking spaces.
302. giant inflatable inner tubes.
303. God's unconditional love.
304. that God is the same yesterday, today & forever.
305. cheap dog food from Winco.
306. Winco. period.
307. my preschooler's smiling face greeting me every morning.
308. Joann's fabric coupons.
309. lovely printed paper.
310. long term friends.
311. my brother & his family.
312. the fragrant scent of jasmine.
313. that I'm finished w/ school....for now.
314. vacation memories.
315. friends that always bring the focus back to our creator.
316. that I was the only person in my car for the accident yesterday.
317. that the car seat was not in the car during the accident.
318. that the Mr. happen to drive by when he did.
319. that he was able to stop & pull over to assist me.
320. being broke.

I am truly thankful for all that I have. My heart is full to over-flowing w/ gratefulness. I am blessed to see God's hand moving....& even blessed when I can't see it but still believe He is at work in my life.

What are you thankful for today? When I am at my lowest...I seek to be thankful and through the process of thanksgiving...it takes me out of that low place. When I am patient in the dark moments--the light reveals itself and the dark passes. I need not give in to it. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.















 

In Christ Alone

Songwriters: Getty, Julian Keith; Townend, Stuart Richard

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
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til 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 a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand

I adore this sweet song.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing~Robert Robinson

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Life's a Beach!

Right!?! Today was such a gorgeous day, I saw NO reason why we should stay inside. After picking up oldest form work, I decided we'd go to the beach for a little while at least.

It was really nice. It wasn't crowded. We didn't have to tote around a ton of gear. It was cool enough to wear jeans. Actually, there were quite a few families, dressed casually, just hanging out. The sky was clear blue. A nice reprieve from the storm showers a few days ago. The ktbunch enjoyed playing in the sand....until they decided to get their feet wet.

Oldest commented, "First their feet, then their butts." He was right. It wasn't long before Birdy walked up soaked to her rear--by a rogue wave. Behind her came Kurtis, dripping, head to toe, thanks to the same wave. He had salt, sand and snot coming out of his nose. He was trying to run away from the wave when he tripped, face first and was over taken.

This picture was taken before the wave incident. Isn't the sky gorgeous?

I knew, as soon as I saw him, it was time to go home. Which was fine. It was enough time to soak up some vitamin D and then head home to get ready for the cousins...who are spending the night tonight.

I made chicken pasta primavera for lunch. I think we'll just have hamburgers for dinner.

Weekends like this are such a blessing to my heart and soul.