For a Friend

Three seemed appropriate. 

darden road asks, have the stars all left your eyes?

Lack. 

I saw this sunrise the other day. It happens, and wasn't really happenstance, that I happened to be driving down a back road. The kind that's paved, but only just. The farms were nestled in between the hills, and the fields were all layered in snow. Light has a special way of moving at morning. A bluish caressing that lights upon the surface and seems to sink in for a moment before evaporating into clouds, and leaves it with a softening glow that waits and lingers, just to make sure you caught it. 

As one saying, blessing I will bless thee. Go on. 

An hour before, there was naught but the dark, and it was the heavy kind, that weighs your lids and your heart down. I could barely sustain. But then such a curious thing came Glowing brightly in the east. It was small, single and slender. But it came as a promise and sign. Night does not last. 

Soldier on, soldier. All the stars are shining on you, hope is coming and you will make it through.

...

Still don't know? Try 1526.

Lining

Storm clouds are the sliver lining of my life. I love all they bring. I love wind, the way it feels, the way it sounds. I love rain drops wetting me through, or watching them drip. I like watching them drop from branches and race down window panes. Thunder, like the deep voice of a good friend, calls out. And lightening, well it's like god has made a fireworks show that puts our independence day attempts to shame. I even like the power outages. Candlelight and whatnot.   

Some people don't like this kind of weather. They only like it when it's sunny. I like that too, but too long in the sunshine and  even the most resilient shrink and shrivel. 

I'm just saying, those stormy bits let you see the silver, the hope of what grows after you battle it out and show nature you are equal to the task.  

mid-sentence

Best quotes from this Christmas:

-"I'm playing Mary, but my real name is {insert name here} and I'm with child." 

-In his mock angry yelling voice, "ALRIGHT! Everybody sit DOWN and have a NICE time!"

-"Flying helplessly through the air...like a piece of baloney."

-"I don't want to go. You can't MAKE me! ...I wish there WERE such a thing as super glue, so I could glue myself here."

Best moments: 

After taking captive a very amiable hostage, we spies set aside our guns to play Loot with the ransomee inside our pirate cave. We even had a candle. 

Reading a Christmas carol out loud, and doing the voices. 

Ever sketchy, always instructive and interesting lock picking lessons. 

A family Christmas pageant. We were short handed, so I was both a shepherd and wiseman. The donkey was especially brave since our family has a long established tradition of urging the donkey forward with good solid spanks.

Music time with the trumpet players. 

Trampoline time and tickle torture: standard play.

Listening to old songs being played on a harmonica, echo over the dam and down the river canyon. 

Pow-wow on grandpa's bed, with daddy, the grandkids, and the kitten, to watch old movies. 

Games: from giant checkers to banana grams and much stacked in between.

Food so good and in such abundance we set up a dozen people to hibernate for the rest of the winter. 

Prayer and Hugs each night before bed. 

Fires in a wood stove. 

Christmas songs played on the piano. 

Presents wrapped with Sunday Funnies

Presents wrapped like modern art. 

Silly pajama ..(and silly people) ...time. 

Merry Christmas Kids. 

I hope you all had fun with your families. If you need some more, come get adopted into mine. 

They say beautiful is something...

Certain things stick with us. Everyone seems to pick something different, but we've all got something we carry with us. It makes you wonder, would mom approve of what you've been putting in your pockets? What are you carrying with you, what have you left behind? Is that really where you want it to be? 

Which kids are you keeping as company, what character are you keeping as self?

Let me tell you something boys, I don't mind that you're bringing home the snakes and snails. I'm all for trouble. But maybe I need to be filling my pockets with something of a different style. 

The picture is one of my high places. I think we each need at least one. A place with personal significance. A closet to pray in. You, God, and His sunset.

Faith

I'm used to the idea that no one really reads this (except for Michelle and Amy, love you guys). It's usually just a place for me to put up random vague thoughts, or pictures that I have loved taking, but will probably never be used for anything else.
But today it's more about this: I know there is a God. A God that loves you. If you've stumbled onto the random little blog, from a rather random girl, I think you ought to know, I know He lives.

New

Fresh, curious, playful, excited, energetic. People new to this world have the best approach to life.

The Sunshine

I've been thinking about the colors. It happens more in the winter with me. I'm craving those blues and greens, yellow, oranges, purples, dark browns. Wonderful. 

Don't misunderstand, I'm looking forward to winter with all my usual vigor. Christmas keeps me cheerful all year long. But I've got summer in my soul kids. 

I think it's staggering, and a bit overwhelming, all the chances we have to find joy in life. I know it's got hardships a plenty for everyone. But I'm not about to forget my colors. 

More what I'm trying to say is, there's so much good to put into your life. Art, music, games, rhythm, laughter, flowers, fall leaves, new acquaintances, old friends, water, dance, cousins, comics,  prayer, parents.

That doesn't even scratch it. 

God places hope in your life so you can find it. don't push Him away. keep praying, Hope comes from knowing and understanding Him.