TreasuresInTerraCotta

 My dad and sister are in Jerusalem today.  Let Us Go to the House of the Lord A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me,      “Let us go to the house of the Lord !” 2  Our feet have been standing      within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3  Jerusalem— built as a city      that is bound firmly together, 4  to which the tribes go up,      the tribes of the Lord , as was decreed for Israel,      to give thanks to the name of the Lord . 5  There thrones for judgment were set,      the thrones of the house of David. 6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!      “May they be secure who love you! 7  Peace be within your walls      and security within your towers!” 8  For my brothers and companions' sake      I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9...

Just a quick note to say Happy St. Nicholas Day! We love St. Nicholas Day! We celebrate it a bit differently each year, but it is still so refreshing, even after almost 10 years.  It helps us to focus on giving instead of getting.  It helps us find ways to serve.  It helps by focusing our gift-giving to our kids on a day other than Christmas.  By default it also requires that shopping be finished by December 6 (more-or-less), which frees up a lot of my mental energy that tends to ruminate on "What are we going to get for...?" It's also super fun to leave shoes outside doors and watch the Veggie Tales St. Nicholas story.  And my boys love leaving St. Nicholas gifts.  In years past we have left little packages on the doorsteps of friends.  In the spirit of St. Nicholas we leave gifts in secret (except when mama's would be creaped out by anonymous gifts with their children's names).  This year we're doing something different.  We wil...

A few weeks ago I ran across a comment that went something like this: What if the next time you thought of texting or calling or writing if you instead earnestly and expectantly prayed. I've been trying to put that bit of wisdom into practice, especially during these lazy days of summer, that somehow are also full of visiting and going and doing, and late nights with the kids and early morning sunshine.  So if I've missed your birthday or neglected to write a proper thank you... If you've moved to a new place or are searching for a new church... If you've been having plumbing trouble or marriage trouble... If you've had a breast lump or are traveling a bumpy road... If you've had a funeral to attend or a baby you are expecting... If you've flown out of the country or been on a road trip... Know that instead of calling or emailing or writing, I have (at times) been earnestly and expectantly praying. And I pray that you, being rooted and est...

This week I listed my one-thousandth gift!   After reading the book I started my list.  As you might expect I wrote ferociously for a while.  I would work on my list intentionally and somewhat methodically.  Then days would pass and I would realize my gratitude journal was on the table...at the bottom of the stack.  But my heart and my attitude kept missing the presence of gratitude and thankfulness, so I would pick it back up again.  And this week I wrote 1000! Since the beginning I wondered what 1000 would be.  Whether I would choose it intentionally or whether it would very naturally be something fabulous.  As it turns out, it was both.  I sat and pondered the "gifts" of the day and started writing.  A comment kept rolling around in my mind and I decided that it was a gift.  Just a little comment, posted on a blog, a sort of challenge, that had me pondering and writing.  Yes, I think it's a gift....

Sometimes when you go on a mission trip you pray for God to go before you.  Sometimes you pray for the people you are going to encounter.  Sometimes you pray for safety.  Sometimes you pray against Satan. Sometimes you pray for partner ministries.  Sometimes you pray for endurance and diligent hands.  And sometimes you pray for wildflowers. My first picture on the first day at the work site!  Mexican Poppies.  Up the hills... Down the hills... Across the valley... You can see the golden yellow on the opposite hill.   And if you look closely, you can also see the purple lupine on the top of the hill. The poppies about to open with the morning sun.  Clustered together...   Raising their faces in the afternoon sun. Lupine at the edge of the road, at the edge of a cliff.  Tucked safely beneath prickly pear cactus. Sometimes when you pray the answer is easy to see! Thank you to all you pray-er...