the theme of {my} story

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There is a song which we sing at church, every now and again, with a line of lyric that recently has captured my attention.

It talks primarily of God's faithfulness... and of it being the theme of the stories that we read throughout God's Word.

Now...

On this one particular Sunday morning - as we were singing... the thought came to my heart and mind... and immediately took me for a loop.  I struggled to keep singing... because of that so-called lump that formed in my throat.  You get those, too!  Don't you?

Granted this wasn't about me.  But the question was...

What is the theme of my story?

You see.  I have hurt a lot of people.  People have hurt me.
I am human.
I'm not fully able to deliver promises...

Keep my word 100%.

I have big goals.

Great ideas.

Good intentions.

I make suggestions.

However, I rarely ever fully follow through.

Completely.

Or - I do it half-heartedly.

I just can't.

I can try - however - but is is  never enough.

This is, more often than not, the theme of my story. And, I can so quickly get stuck here.
  I'm humbled over it.

I think you know what I'm talking about.

Perhaps you can relate.

We let people down - all of the time.

But... the lyrics of this song are so vibrantly full of truth, life changing and wonderfully full Of HOPE!

Speaking of the faithfulness of our God, I want this to be the constant theme of my story.  I want HIM to be the ever-abiding source and foundation of my story.
JESUS!

 He never fails.  He never will.
His Word... says it.  I believe it.  And, that settles it! 

The theme of HIS story is constant. Faithful. Steadfast. True.

Doesn't it bring you to chills?  I does, me!

Peace - is more like it.

We can have deep-rooted confidence...in the ONE who goes behind us and before us.

HE IS FAITHFUL - to you and to me!!

I'm so encouraged, now, whenever I sing this song.

And - as well - the lump in my throat is now formulated more out of gratitude rather than of condemnation.  Here it is.. take a listen, if you'd like.  Be encouraged!

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So - back here in the beginning of May - you might remember I attended a Women's Retreat...with quite a few ladies from our church.
The theme of the weekend was basically this...
To See like Jesus.
Have compassion - like Jesus
Act like Jesus.
All weekend - the phrase "the theme of my story" was on autopilot...on my mind.  On my heart.  Rather heavy at times.  I was encouraged... to know... God wanted this to be on the forefront of my "hearts pondering"....
Hence the photo/quote I designed at the top.
People. Friends... I fail at this all of the time.  I need a reminder!!
I can't do it.
Not in my own strength - at least.
But...I want to cling to His Faithfulness and know that HIS example of seeing; of being compassionate, and the followed-through action he lived out - be the continuing theme of my stories.

I promised a few photos of our fun time together...

The gentleman, here, was our speaker.  Richard E.  He is the father of the gal sitting next to him.  She is also the one sharing an illustration in the left bottom photo.  Great time - in these meetings!

 The material used and theme of our weekend was "See Jesus" - the content mostly taken from the book, written by Paul E. Miller - Love Walked Among Us.

What a wonderful, wonderful weekend - getaway!
Very refreshing indeed.
**On a side note:  My hubby did a fabulous job of holding down the fort and keeping home - while I was gone.  It was good to come home to the family and have the blessing of Mother's Day with all its love and sweetness... continue. :)  I'm so blessed!
***
I hope I made you think a little bit - today!
What is the theme of your story - could you say?

Celebrating Ten

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Ten years ago, today, we said " I do".
Happy Anniversary - to the love of my life!
 Here are three of the best blessings- ever!- that came, because of it.
We are so blessed!

 

***

Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, 

it has to be made, like bread:

remade all the time, made new.

~ Ursula Le Guin

***

If you ask, I would say yes!!  Yes, I would.  I would do it all over again. 

And, I'm looking forward to many, many more years of standing by my man!

A loving and faithful husband..

A handful of lively and loving kiddos..

A place to call home..

and then some.

Wow!

I'm just basking in the blessings of my loving Saviour, today!

** Permission was requested, and granted, in the use of these photos ~ thank you, Kaitlin!  These were taken on our vacation time in Canada on Easter Morning!

Dear Kaitlin, Dave and family ... {and, for whoever else wants to read about our recent family vacation}

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UPDATED To ADD:  After you're finished reading here, you may just want to take a few moments and go read Kaitlin's version of our time together, as well.  Her post is ... well.... simply amazing! Her photos, her words, her heart - all of it are awesome! Click HERE!
****

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe it's been a week since we arrived to your home, in a different country (Canada!), to spend our family vacation-time, with yours.  I'm sitting here, tonight, in the quiet of an Eastern PA, Friday night, sipping on what seems like really "weak" coffee in my memories of our time together and I'm missing you.  I can't tell you - how many times we've mentioned your names since we're back home!

Our kids are all in bed, as I type - as yours probably are, as well!  Sound asleep - hopefully.  You smile at the memory of that first night - our kids so super-duper excited about spending time at friends they've just met and to have a sleep-over, for five sleeps in a row. :)  They could hardly settle - nor, when morning came could they stay sleeping longer than 6 - 6:30AM. 

The time was pure bliss for everyone.  Your humility... your selflessness through this whole time... simply amazing!

So many fun activities were planned.  And, some were not.  The weather played a HUGE factor on the events of our days.  Sunshine, MUD, Rain, SNOW!!  We had it all.  We spent time.. and oh the fellowship was sweet.  Hours of visiting.  Repeated and I mean back-to-back cups of coffee. Table games to be played and lots of laughter.  Gifts to be exchanged...

Did I mention the meals?  No - I haven't.  UHMMM...  DELICIOUS - in every way possible.  Wow!

Among the best of our memories were the interaction of "expressions"... meaning, What do you call this or that -and, oh!... well... we say it this way.  Etcetera.  And - our son - positively SURE that he was going to learn to speak Canadianese by the time our visit was over...  He didn't do too bad, eh?

We went shopping - fun!!!.  Toured the countryside; sightseeing historic places.  We found a Maple Syrup farm, to tour.  We helped put up firewood...splitting and hauling it into your basement.  We attended your church for Sunday (Easter!) Service and met some of your dearest of friends.  Discovering a doppelganger of one of our own dear friends - here in the states! Ha!! How crazy fun was that!?!?!  I just want to add... that meeting these friends of yours - was just an added depth to knowing you.  Another level of who you really are.  That was really neat to see!

We were so glad to have thought to bring all the snow clothes and winter boots for the kiddos.  Can we say - LIFE SAVER!!  - and thank you, thank you, thank you for the multiple usage of your washer and dryer.  Can we say, yet again, another LIFE SAVER?  Wow!!

Your home was such a sweet place of rest.  We felt so relaxed and at home.  Kaitlin and Dave! You both have a beautiful gift of hospitality. And, it was evident - the moment we walked in your front door.  We didn't want to leave.  You didn't want us to leave - either!!

It still seems so surreal that we were there - in your home, and with your family!  We are so glad we've made the journey...a friendship path that hopefully will come round full circle and that one day - you'll find you and your family, here in the States, visiting us!!  We love you!! and again... you are being missed greatly!!

These cups of coffee and bowls of ice-cream (with pretzels) just don't feel the same as we sit in our living room, here this evening...  :(

((sigh)) How to wrap this up...??

The hardest part of this whole thing is to now look through the many, many photos we took, on our vacation - and to figure on how to condense them to make this a reasonable length of post and to not overwhelm any other person reading this.

So - to be fair.  There is nothing left but to tell you I have a TON of photos... to browse through.  Don't say you haven't been warned. :)

I have tried to keep some semblance of our time spent with our dear friends - true to time and in order... but, really... that was near next to impossible.

Enjoy!!

Here is Kaitlin of Homemaker Design...

Holding a "welcome sign" that the kiddo's made for us... :)

We tried to get family photos...and this was our intent.  Kaitlin - took ours!  But - I can't find the photo - I'll update here, when I can!!

A typical moment ...in, of and during our visit.  GREAT FELLOWSHIP!!!

My most favorite of photos - but the saddest one, ever.  Saying Good-bye...

Heading home... stopping for some of that Canadian $5.00 and change per gallon of gas.. :)

So, we left Canada in a snowstorm and arrived home, seven hours, or so, later - to 70* weather, and kids happy to find their bikes.

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There is still nothing quite like home!!!

What a wonderful, wonderful time!  And, I'm truthfully still at a loss for words on how to end this post well...

It's not a "Good-bye" - rather, more like ... until we meet again!  Thank you, so much, again... for sharing your hearts and home with us!!  You are loved.

{Scott, Bevy, Caleb, Aubrey and Jayne}