heavenly yearnings

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy , the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." -c.s. lewis

We are made for another world, for eternity. 

The imperfections of these present days are going to pass away, and someday - "soon" - we will be in the perfection of eternity. The heaps of dishes, of laundry and projects waiting to be fixed are, at their core, reminders that we are created to glorify God forever. 

Long ago there was sin and temptation and we are dealing with the sin and "brokenness" that came from that everyday. But, Someday .........

We can start practicing for it today.

an old and favorite poem

"Trees" by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree ...

something pretty

I just posted a pictorial tutorial for how to make the little fabric flowers that I wear over on the market blog. :) And you can buy them here, if you'd like.

this afternoon

in the midst of all the ice and snow I find myself yearning after a yard and a garden of my own.

One of the things I used to do each year in California was, after Christmas and all the bustle that came along with it was over, head out into the yard to prune back the verdure that was ever trying to take over Dad and Mom's house. Here, though, nothing grows in the winter. Except for the occasional snow drift that is.

flower photos taken last spring

rainy day & scripture memory

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
-philippians 4:6-7

12 weeks old yesterday

Emma and I walked about 1/2 a mile to the soccer complex down the street yesterday. The soccer fields have a small grove of shade trees off to one side, and, since it was over 80 for most of the afternoon, the shade felt wonderful.

Yesterday was the first time that Emma and I have gone to a park alone and we just laid on the ground, enjoying the outdoors. Even though the busy street was close by it still felt quiet and peaceful. All that was missing was a hammock and a glass of lemonade!

Emma really enjoyed laying on her back and looking up at the leaves, branches, sky and the light playing off of it all. It was like one giant green mobile. She would get excited when the breeze picked up, "talking" and waving, sputtering bubbles and kicking vigorously.

500th post

WOW!

I've officially blogged 500 posts ......... wow. I skimmed back through some of those posts, and enjoyed a few moments remembering what was happening around me when I wrote them. Some of them are funny (or are now), some not, some short and some long, but all of them were relevant to me at the time. Kind of nice to look back at where I've been, a bit like the Israelites and their stones of remembrance (Joshua 4:1-9). But enough about that.

I picked up a book at the library yesterday entitled a child's garden by Molly Dannenmaier. Such a lovely book filled with photographs of yards and gardens planted with children in mind.
The blurb on the cover says "60 ideas to make any garden come alive for children" and the photos illustrate just that: vibrantly inviting living play areas. There are three sections of the book starting with the introduction where Ms. Dannenmaier makes her case for complex natural play areas. The other two sections are titled, "home territories"and "how children really play" with subsections of water, creatures, refuges, dirt, heights, movement, make-believe, nurture, and learning. Some of her ideas are elaborate, but some - such as dumping a pile of sand in the shade or growing a tepee of sunflowers - are very simple.
It's a beautiful book, and a calmingly inspiring read. :)

mother's day 2009

family of three, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

'Twas a lovely day. I felt so loved and honored all day long.

John made me breakfast in bed and entertained Emma so that I could sleep another hour (not sure which gift I appreciated more!). They gave me a bouquet of roses, a gift certificate for a pedicure and a frame for a picture of Emma.

Emma had "encouraged" us to start our day a few hours earlier than planned, so we had time to leisurely enjoy our coffee together before heading off to church.

Afterwards we hurried home to make put the furniture back in place (John cleaned the carpet yesterday - thank you Darling!) and make lunch for family who had phoned to let us know that they would be arriving slightly ahead of schedule - by two hours!

Lunch turned out great, and we had a wonderful afternoon visiting with them all - John's mom Teri, sister Sarah and brother Brian, brother's fiancee Leah and her sister Esther. They were returning from a road trip for Brian's graduation from Liberty University with a master's degree in (international?) business.
John and I finished the evening by reading together as the light was fading ... and finishing off the rest of the cheesecake. :)

Here's a sweet tribute - of sorts - to motherhood that I heard on NPR: At My Place, Every Day Is Mother's Day

I hope you all had a beautiful day celebrating your own mothers - or being celebrated!

happy may day

may day, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

the flower bloomed a day late, but it did bloom!


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
- I Cor. 10:31

new life

I know that it was there all winter, but really, everything seemed so dead. The yards, parks and roadsides were beginning to seem as if they were populated by skeleton trees and a remnant of brave but lonely evergreens.
And then one day last week, we went to the park. The Bradford Pear and tulip trees were blooming. The first of them all to bloom and leaf out. The rest of the trees and bushes almost seemed to be waiting for them to take the lead, for now there is a hazy green film everywhere. Just in time for Easter. How appropriate.


As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease. -Gen 8:22

If those words have proven true, these will as well:

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. -John 14:3

cute clothes make the day better

Emma and I have been having a ...... trying day. We have been bothered by what seems to be some very uncomfortable gas in her tummy. Nothing I have done has been able to calm her for long. So, knowing that a cute baby is harder to be upset with and to reduce the likelihood of frustration on my part, I put her into one of her adorable outfits. I'm not sure if it made her feel better, but it helped me.

She did enjoy putting it on, though.

Emma finally settled down for a long nap ...

... and her bow slipped down over her eyes. I was not about to move it because 1) she might wake up, and 2), it was really cute!

Did you know that tulips smell like honey? I didn't either, until John brought these home the other night. Their scent has been wafting by me pretty much all day long. A nice bit of spring when it's 7 degrees outside.

pictures from an october walk

:: a little "friend" we found ::

I love fall. I love it almost as much as I love spring.

I love the intensity of color, how inviting it is to take an evening walk, the sound of the leaves as they crunch underfoot. I love the cooler weather, the crispness. I love how the grey days make me want to bake and clean. Or snuggle up with a blanket and a book.

I love fall.