Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day


Seattle-ites soaking up the sun

The natives also soaking up the sun


 Beautiful
"White Way of Delight" as Anne would say


I love water...have I mentioned that?

 My first dip in freshwater - 2012

Barefoot in the grass - at last!


Whether you love by birth or you love by heart...there's always someone to "Mother"

Friday, May 11, 2012

Gifts from Yesterday

Miho and her smoothie
(So nice to have her here)

My favorite flower
(Thank you, God, for reminders of home)

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Fly Straight


"A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly."
-Oswald Chambers

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Captivated

Turn on your volume and push the play button below.
When I look into the mountains
I see Your fame
When I look into the night's sky
It sparkles Your name

The wind and the clouds and the blue in the sky
The sun and the moon and the stars so high
That's what draws me to You

I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated

When I wake unto the morning
It gives me Your sight
When I look across the ocean
It echoes Your might

The sand on the shore and the waves in the sea
The air in my lungs and the way You made me
That's what draws me to You

I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated

'Cause I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated

The wind and the clouds and the blue in the sky
The sun and the moon and the stars so high
The sand on the shore and the waves in the sea
The air in my lungs and the way You made me

The blood in my veins and my heart You invade
The plants how they grow and the tree and their shade
The way that I feel and love in my soul
I thank you my God for letting me, letting me know

I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated

'Cause I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated

©Shawn McDonald

Friday, May 4, 2012

Fog, Hollows, Found


Somewhere a dog barked loud.

She looked across fields.

There's always something barking loud in you that you need a bigger field.

A better job, a bigger house, a greater life, a grander point.

There's always a part of you that wonders if anything you do matters enough.

And there's always someone who makes sure you know how much smarter and wiser, bigger and better, known and greater they are.


There's always someone who snatches the horn to sing too loud of their own tens of thousands.

She had to remember to tell herself that: The ones keeping tally in life just want to know they count.

Everyone wielding their own horn just wants to be held.


And Jesus, He stretched His arms out to the whole world.

Who wants the love of a Messiah more than the lauding of men?


She could do this: When the world strives - the wise still. It's the only way to feel God's embrace.

The whole world could compete to be heard and esteemed and known and get ahead. She didn't have to. She could breathe deep and feel all of her filling with this calm sea of peace.

You can give up the need to compete in the world - when you accept being complete in Christ.

Sometimes the way to win is to never enter the race.


She stood there listening to the frogs croaking, song filling all the spring sky.

She just stood there...

She needn't be heard...because she was known.


The fog settled down in the hollow, a veil hiding the woods away. Behind it somewhere the frogs sang on...

She was found.


 (from Ann Voskamp's "A Holy Experience," with pictures by Indie Grace)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Success!

We made these paints using egg yolks and pigments. The kids had soooooo much fun and feel very proud of themselves for being able to paint the frescos with a medium they created. Aaaahhh, these are days it's satisfying to be a teacher.