Re-enter the room!

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My words may seem small this morning but at the same time, they are larger than life to me right now!

Have you ever had a phrase come to mind, that just won't shake?

A couple of weeks ago now - I was off on an errand.  I was by myself and so, of course, plenty of peace and quiet in the car.  A few beautiful moments, for me.

  Although, I will have to say, I pretty much always have the radio playing softly, in the background, when I'm by myself... and, this day was no different.   I have no idea who it was speaking, but someone was being interviewed, and this phrase completely took my breath away.  A tear probably trickled...

"It's time to re-enter the room"

/ˌrēˈen(t)ər/
verb
verb: reenter

enter (something) again 

A verb meaning: to enter again?   In other words.  You've been here once...  It's time to re engage.  

Re engage?  I had to think about this and ask, myself: Where do I need to pause, take a step back and or turn around in order to make a proper reentry?  Ahhh.  Do I truly know what God has called me to?  This question is one that I think a lot of people may have... and maybe never voice.  I don't know.   

So, here I am.  Of course, several categories have quickly come to mind for me to consider...  

First, in areas of home making and the ins and outs of being a wife and mother.  

Secondly, interpersonal relationships and all business aspects.  (Because, as it has been said. "You can do a lot of unimportant things well but that doesn't make it important." Right? Right.) 

And, last but not least (perhaps, this should have been mentioned first)... my prayer life and even in engaging the Holy Spirit for deeper workings in my life.

So, here I stand - at the edge, on the edge, of the threshold.  A crossroad, perhaps.  It's tricky.  I could make myself dizzy thinking about which direction to head first.   But!!! My help does come from Jesus.  The Author and Finisher of my faith. And, it is HIM to whom I will always call upon for my strength and my help in time of need. 

Thank you, for joining me in prayer.

***

PS:  How do you like the photos, I found on my camera?   

Credits to: my amazing kiddos!!!!

Strong (and Courageous) - word for 2019

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Here we are, a few days in 2019 and I have yet to share my word of the year with you!!

Funny.  I haven't always taken hold of a word so surely as I have been the past year and now for this one.  If you have been reading here - you may remember my word last year was GROW or Growth!

This year... along the same lines is that I want to keep growing... but the word that comes to mind is 

STRONG!

However.  In order to grow STRONG - one needs courage.

COURAGE is another word that keeps coming to my heart and mind.

I'll take them both!!  

Be Strong and Courageous.

I cling to the verses from Joshua chapter 1 starting loosely in verse 3 and continuing through verse 9.

Not wanting to take Scripture out of context, in the least.  I do, however, see these verses as a message of encouragement to myself as a leader of team.  A business builder.  A woman of influence.  As a wife.  A mother. A friend.

(I encourage you to open your Bible and read these verses for yourself. Perhaps you will reap the encouragement for you - as well.)

I feel such hope.  Such encouragement.  Such confidence - from our Lord... that HE will be with just as he has promised.    They say that things that cause fear to rise up in you are really what is your calling.

I believe that.
There are things that I get white-knuckled about, have fear for and the knees begin a-knocking.  While I want to be and do - all these things... there is something that still holds me back.

I want to have faith for this.

A faith that is unwavering.   My heart cries...

Lord!  Let me faith be marked by these three things.

1. A quiet spirit (no questions asked!)

2. A gentle spirit (no details needed)

3. A sweet submissiveness (no struggling against the unknowns)

** found these "marks" in a book somewhere a long time ago and have had them written in the sideline margins of my Bible ever since.  So, I can't give credit, here.  My apologies.

I believe, Lord.  Forgive my unbelief.  Help me... Slow down and take the time to grow - STRONG!!

Wrangling the courage to go through it and emerge.  Trusting the process.

***

Look out 2019!!

fmf :: Still

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"Where meek souls will receive him still - the dear Christ enters in."

"How silently, how silently..."

These words calm me... as I sing.  Yet, outside of it all the noise and the hustle and bustle are strong.  Loud.  And, overtaking.  My heart pounds.

However, the cry and wanting prayer of my heart is louder in that I would find, in the silence, a desire and a will to prepare HIM room.

Emptying me of me.   My agenda.  My plan.  My aspirations.

That humility would wash over me, Lord I pray!

Help me receive...  

"the wondrous gift is given".

 Come, Christ-child!  Enter in.  There is STILL room!

***

Joining up with this community from Five Minute Friday.  Our thoughts in five minutes.  Today's prompt was: Still

fmf | anniversary

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An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow.

When I pondered what and where I might start with this prompt word... anniversary... I went to a moment that happened just yesterday afternoon.  

I found myself in a really deep funk.  It's been a crazy, busy week (by our own doing)... lots of activities for the kids.  Things like camp, school functions (yes! you read that right!  - My 11yr old, son, is heading into middle school and so there is a lot of "training" and getting comfortable with a BIG school... as a newbie - young man!) and an evening VBS that our kids were excited to attend - again.   They remembered how much they enjoyed it last year...and wanted to go again.  But.

We're heading out to a family vacation - leaving early, early tomorrow morning.  I'm excited and ready... but, again... I've been in this deep funk and "dreading" the process of making this all happen.  Anybody, know or relate to what I'm saying?

So... yesterday afternoon.  I took a half an hour and sat out on the back porch, rocking away - totally taken away by the beauty of the skies with the colors and the clouds...

With thoughts swirling of, "I can't believe we've lived here already for over a year"; "we've talked about doing such and such - wonder when that project will ever get done?"... all while the to-do list that I should have been doing was getting done (in my head!) but not actually.   I needed to pause...

A storm had just rolled through, so the trees and plants and flowers were glistening with rain droplets that shimmered like glitter in the now filtered afternoon sunlight.  I was mesmerized.  Thoughts of everything just piling up... dreams of yesteryear... and hopes for tomorrow... all of this, collided as the screen door jolted me "awake".  I almost got rattled at the seemingly interruption.

It was my nine year old.  My beautiful girl.  The epitome of all my thoughts into one.  She was growing up way to fast.  We sat there together; on our porch rockers.  Me on one and she on the other.  The one that was all wet, but she didn't care... she would dry.  She said, with a smile! (Oh! to be so carefree... at nine years old with little to no worries or cares.)   Wasn't it just yesterday - I rocked her in my arms?  That little one, always alert and capturing everything...never missing a beat to anything.

As we talked of all the pretties, of the moment, within our view... I asked her to run in for my camera.

Together we captured, on lens, what we saw.  Of course, a teaching moment... in the how-to's... for her of using the lens (what little I know!)... and me "letting go" - of the way it should be done and letting her learn...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

***

Happy Anniversary!

***

Here is to some creativity, with the camera, from both of us. 

Enjoy the photos of our lovely few minutes of yesterday afternoon.  

PS: Its hard to stop once the creative juices start flowing... 

If only we could have captured the clouds... the way they captured me, in the first place.

***

Linking up with Five Minute Friday Community.  Today's prompt was: Anniversary

Coffee and White Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

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This recipe deserves - I mean, DESERVES - some serious raves!!!
 My kids couldn't stop eating it, but... I had to make them stop!!  lol.

So, over on Facebook, this week, I've been part of a 7-day black and white photo challenge.  
And, loving it!!!  It's been fun to dust off the camera skills...and shoot some frames.
This photo though - didn't turn out to be a favorite - but let me tell you, as I have already said it.....  This is one yummy coffee cake!!

Here is the recipe, again!!

:: Coffee and White Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake ::
 1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. instant espresso
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour (I used reg. whole wheat!)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

STREUSEL
1/2 cup all -purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup quick oats
4 T. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375*.   In a medium bowl, mix the buttermilk, oil, sugar, espresso and vanilla together.  Stir in the flours, baking powder and salt.  Fold in the white chocolate chips.  Pour batter into an 8x8"  baking pan.
For the streusel: In a small bowl, mix the flour, sugars, oats and melted butter together.  Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top of the batter.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.

***
I think it deserves a more delicious looking photo, don't you?   
So, here you go!!!  :)

I hope you get to make this and that you and yours enjoy it much as our family did - over here!!

Changes Marked with Gratitude

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You know how they come up!!  Sometimes too fast, sometimes slow.

Changes.

Here we are facing some "new" ones, all - in our face - again.

Oh, they've been expected.  It's just that when it's happening - you don't always feel as ready as you'd like to think or hope.

Why do I talk about this so much?

Because, it's where we're at.  The challenge of change.

{I'm so glad my kiddo's got a chance to see the Supermoon of 2016 - this morning!}

However.  Here is what I'm learning - through these changes.

If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you!!


It's amazing... 

When you choose gratitude in the moments that are hard... then, the changes that come aren't so severe in the making.

Here is what's going on.  My Mother-in-law has found a place to relocate to.. so she is moving from her little apartment, beside us. She is a ball of mixed emotion, and rightly so.  Missing us and yet longing to feel truly settled "one last time" (she swears she's not moving again!).  

The thing is.  We'll be moving, too.  Though we don't know when or where.  We think we'll ride it out until we absolutely have to move... but, the days are ticking down for this.
We've got word - about this land (property), that it will be developed...

and, that too is change.  The kind I don't like.  The process will still take time.  So, a lot of unknowns... for sure!

Back to gratitude.  We're just grateful for God's timing.  That we can trust HIM.  Because, he never changes.   We're grateful we can count on his blessing.  His goodness.  And, he knows...
He knows our need before we even ask.

This is what He says.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord,
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you a hope and a future."
~ Jeremiah 29:11

**
In the meantime, Life goes on.  It must.
But, my challenge is to keep my days focused on HIM.  Being ever thankful... grateful for his blessing that never ends!!

Thank you for your continued love and prayers!!

The Black Dot

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There is something to be said about grabbing the camera, early in the morning, and really taking note of the bigger picture.  I hope you enjoy the photos, as you read along today!!  I found this piece, this story, which I am sharing with you, to be rather fitting and appropriate for my heart... in the season, in which I find myself, today.  I hope it encourages you, just the same.

I read the story of a professor who entered his classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test.  They all waited nervously at their desks for the exam to begin.  The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual.  Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over their papers.  To everyone's surprise, there were no questions - just a black dot in the center of the paper.

The professor, seeing the expression on everyone's faces, told them the following: "I want you to write about what you see."  The students were confused momentarily, but eventually they got started by writing a few things down.  At the end of the test, the professor took all of the exams and started reading each one of them out loud in front of the students.  All of them, without exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet.

After all had been read, the classroom grew silent and the professor started to explain: "I'm not going to grade you on this," he replied, "I just wanted to give you something to think about.  Nobody wrote about the white part of the paper.  Everyone focused on the black dot -- and the same thing happens in our lives...

We insist on focusing only on certain things -- the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend.  The dark spots are very small when compared to everything else we have in our lives, but those few issues are the ones that permeate our lives."

That story raises the question: What are you focusing on?  Are you allowing yourself to see the whole picture, or are one or two things robbing you of peace and contentment?

The more we narrow our focus to that one thing, the bigger it becomes, crowding out the pleasant and desirable.  

When a child hurts themselves, we often try to get their focus away from the pain and onto something pleasant.  That doesn't mean the pain goes away but at least it doesn't get all of their attention.

Somehow, as adults, we forget to use this same formula we have used with our children, an instead of trying to keep the pain in the background we insist on bringing it to the forefront and sharing it with all who will listen.

You can probably repeat almost verbatim the aches and pains of the that coworker or family member who insists upon telling you how much everything hurts.  It seems they have the mindset that if they can repeat it over and over often enough it will lighten the load.  And, it should... that is what friends are for; but when you hear the same pity party enough of times it eventually becomes a black dot for even the best of listeners.

 I believe the professor saw something that we all need to grasp.  Life consists of many different experiences and circumstances.  We can't ignore the difficulties and just sweep them under the rug, but when we give them undue regard and allow them to control us, we lose some of the joy other situations could bring

Perhaps we could liken the black dot to things and the blank sheet of paper to quietness and  and stillness.  When we focus on the quiet stillness that God brings in our lives, the other things become less noticeable and lose their importance.  Allow your eyes to rest on the white space, the beauty, the joys and the blessings.

This doesn't mean that the black dots will completely disappear, but your focus and attitude about life will be greatly enhanced.  ~ M. Gingerich (the fishwrapper, October 2016)

***

Life is like a camera.  Focus on what is important and you will capture it perfectly every time. ~ unknown