He Called it Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,

    the majesty of a tree,

the warmth of a summer sun,

the calm of a quiet sea,

 (Miss S, 1 year old)

(Miss S, 2 years old, trying on daddy's blazer.)

the power of the eagle's flight,

the joy of a morning in spring,

 (Miss A, 5 months and Miss S, 4 years old.)

(Piano lesson. Miss S, 6 years old.)

(Goofballs. Miss A, 6 years old. Miss S, 10 years old.)

the faith of a mustard seed,

the patience of eternity,

the depth of a family need.

(Tybee Island, Georgia. Miss A, 12 years old . On Mark, that is a seaweed wig.)

(Boogying at a Disco party in our basement cafe', Miss A, 16. That is a real wig.)

Then God combined these qualities,

when there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

and so, 

He called it...

Dad.

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7 Days

On Day 1 of creation, I am sure that I was being thought of by You, God, 
when I awoke this morning to a Southern sky so beautiful and blue.

( That's not dirt on your screen, I need the maid to clean the window). (P.S. I'm the maid.)

Memories of trips to the oceans You've invented, compel me to praise You for days 2 and 3!

(Edisto Island Beach, South Carolina. June 15th, 2009, Sunrise: 6:48 A.M.)

Lord, when You also made the plants and vegetation on Day 3, 

were You thinking of me and how I'd love flowers?

(And did You make cacao trees because You knew I'd love chocolate?)

(Gifts of love from my daughter, Miss A, for my birthday yesterday, June 15th.)

Sunshine to grow my garden by and the moon to walk in the light of with my sweetie:
I am positive that You anticipated that I'd love the effort You made to design Day 4.

(1994 Watercolor titled: "The Moon and Sun Come Out at One" by Miss S, daughter #1.)


I know You remember that Spring day when my girls and I spotted a baby robin 
getting flying lessons!





And I know You recall the May day that we watched the tiny, praying mantis babies 
hatching on my front porch planter's finial.

 Your creativity and imagination stopped me in the aisle at Wal-Mart,
and I had to bring Buster the Betta home.

(When the sun set on Day 5, you were quite pleased with Yourself, weren't You?
You were sure that I'd be pleased with Your gifts for me.)


Each day, I receive so much joy and emit much laughter with these two ferret fuzzies
as entertainment. Okay, Miss A entertains me, too.
Even though she is a teenager.
And even though she's not fuzzy.

When You decided to fashion humans on Day 6, You knew that someday I would need friends.
Were You making sure that I would learn, through them, the definition of love?

They not only extend love to me, they cheer my heart as I journey here.

(My kitchen "Cherish" board.)

When You decided to fashion humans on Day 6, You knew that someday I would need my family.

Were You making sure that I would learn, through them, the definition of grace?

(Outtake. Christmas Eve 2010.)

(A note from my amusing mother (yes, she writes backwards!)

When You manufactured everything we'd need for food, You must have figured
I'd be delighted!

(Abundance from the Farmer's Market, delivered by my sisters Ana and Amy.)

On Day 7, You rested. I don't blame you.

All the wonder and design and ingenuity and intelligence You supplied 

must have taken some effort.

I wonder, if on Day 7, You sat there thinking about all the ways 

that Your achievements would inspire and impress me?

I wonder, if on Day 7, You sat there anticipating my arrival, 

and couldn't wait to see the wonder in my eyes as I discovered each new miracle?

I wonder, if on Day 7, You sat there hoping I would one day understand 

the care You have shown me through Your provision for me?

Well, I am inspired, impressed, and I understand all You've done for me.

And I am ever so grateful for those 7 Days.

I am at Amada's for her Weekend Bloggy Reading Link-Up Partay! Go HERE.

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HONK!

GUESS WHAT?! GUESS WHAT?!

I'm gonna be in a gaggle!!

I entered and won the "Come to the Cottage" Contest at Gina's place:

The Shabby Chic Cottage, near Nashville, TN!!

I was selected to join Gina and four other blogger/decorator/chicks:

Angie at The Country Chic Cottage

Lisa at The Pennington Point

Polly at Make Mine Beautiful

and ChaCha at Sit Relax and Read

to stay in her guest cottage, from July 20-24th, 

and makeover her 2 teen-aged daughters' (Hi, LaLa and Bre!) rooms!

You can read my entry post, I Dream of Gina, HERE.

Excited can't even begin to describe how I feel!

I have never met any of these ladies, in person, so I am sure there is going to be a lot of honking happening!

And eating, and laughing, and painting, and building, and eating, and laughing, and painting.

Thank you to those of you who left me a sweet comment or emailed me wishing me well!

You know I will be taking you along and taking lots of pictures.

Got any good traveling/packing/flying advice for me?

HONK!

(Just practicing!)

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Less vs. More

Today, I strive for:


Less complaining, more compassion.


Less internet, more interaction.


Less hypocrisy, more holiness.


Less passivity, more prayer.


Less TV, more talking.


Less blame, more blessing.


Less phone, more throne.


Less stress, more simplicity.


Less judgment, more joy.


~






If you haven't yet, please enter my Vintage-Inspired Cottage Giveaway 
through this Sunday (5/29) night.

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Sunday Serenity :: Waiting and Watching

Each Sunday, I will feature a picture or two taken by one of my daughters,

and some words of faith, hope, and love given by our Father.

The Son of Man's arrival will be like this: 

two men will be working outside--one will be taken, one left behind;

two women will be working at home--one will be taken, one left behind.

So stay awake, alert.

You have no idea what day your Master will show up.

But, you do know that if the homeowner had know what time of night the burglar

would arrive, (s)he would have been there to prevent the break-in.

Be vigilant just like that.

You have no idea when the Son of man will show up.

Matthew 39-44

(The Message)

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Blame it on April :: I've been BUSY

Along with my SURPRISE blog redesign,
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
I wanna catch up with you on what's going on around here:

I'm not quite sure when this happened, but I am pretty sure it occurred 

mid-April, when I became missing in action here on my blog.

{I know you are so surprised!}

It's not that I have forgotten about YOU or about writing, in fact I have missed it very much!

You see, April came, and life's divine interruptions with it.

Here are some of my excuses for not postin' reg'lar-like:

April 9th, we were in Jacksonville, Florida celebrating my paternal grandmother's 90th birthday.

What a blessed time of celebrating the life of a woman, my Gram, who has affected my life so much, without her prayers, I wouldn't be me. (Post coming about that...)

Miss S (my college girl) and I stayed in Florida a little longer to help my mom clean out my sister's old bedroom. My mom came back home with us and we got to enjoy her baking!

Then, mid-April, Miss S announced that she no longer wanted to attend Furman University.
This is a longgggggggggg story, but Mark and I agreed.

And so, she started visiting (this involved me as chauffeur) other colleges and universities to attend in the Fall. Final exams were last week, and I fetched her from campus (along with that came the cleaning out of the dorm room that hasn't been wiped down or vacuumed in 9 months proper-like)--FUN! (if you have never tried it, I highly recommend it if you have nothing on earth better to do). With her came all her stuff and I love every inch of it!

Late April, we planted our new organic vegetable garden in the raised beds

outside the basement cafe', like we did last year.

A phone call came out of the blue at the beginning of May from a lady

representing the Pacific Intercultural Exchange. She'd heard that we may be interested in

a foreign exchange student. We were, but it had been a while since we'd mentioned it to a friend

who'd had 7 or so of her own exchange students through the years.

"A girl, from South Korea is what we want," I told her (it felt like I was picking out a puppy).

We were given a name of a girl, our high-school daughter Miss A's age: Hyo-Jin.

The phone conversation led to an email and a visit from a PIE rep, on Mother's Day,

which involved paperwork, a background check, references from friends, neighbors and employers,

 and pictures of our home's exterior and interior (living areas, her bedroom and bath) 

which prompted me to finish up Miss S' room that I started staging months ago.

Hyo-Jin will arrive in late summer, if she accepts us as a host family, and she will live with us 10 months.

We won't be selling our home till she goes back to her home in the city of Ansan.

And we are quite content and excited about this divine interruption!

Another change I desired was the design of this blog.

After an initial unsuccessful attempt with a first designer, on the 6th of May, I found a wonderfully talented and reliable designer, Marina, with Penny Lane Designs, who so totally rocks!

She only takes select clients throughout the year, so, if you need her,

stop and say hello (and "help me"!)

She is a home maker, too, that works from her home, during her son Owen's nap, I guess!

This is Marina and her 21 month old son.

Precious.

Thank you, Marina, for taking time for me and my little space here in blogland!

Our college girl is home for another week, then I take her up to North Carolina to work

for 9 weeks at a church day camp....must stop at Ikea on the way through.

Speaking of Ikea, coming next week, I'll be posting a review, by my very own sister, of some of Ikea's cookware.

I don't mind a few pauses and timeouts from the routine,

interruptions and sidetracks are pretty cool, too,

since the TO DO list can get tedious, can I get an AMEN?

But, sometimes, when even our daily intentions can't be accomplished,

we get tired and overwhelmed and employ a too oft used word:

BUSY.

And so I have been. Busy.

And I'm grateful for it.

I blame it on April.

Oh, alright, I'll go ahead and blame it on May, too!

Wouldn't you, Mr. Bean?

In other news... on Monday, I am joining this like I did last year:

I have some beautiful Vintage-Inspired Parisian Cottage goodies to give away!
In addition, an etsy friend of mine is offering her art to the winner, here is a sampling of her designs:

Please come back and enter!!

Well, that's all for now (not really), but maybe you're about ready to fall asleep?

Let's remember:
It's not how busy you are, but why you are busy -- 
the bee is praised, the mosquito is swatted.

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What I Want for Mother's Day

Every year, about a week before the blessed event of the second Sunday in May,

I get asked a question by my 2 daughters.

"What do you want for Mother's Day?"

I usually tell them that I don't need a gift, I already have all I need: them.

They then tell me: "Sure, you SAY you don't want a gift, but you really do."

And they could be right.

Past tokens of affection have included breakfast in bed including freshly squeezed orange juice,

a rose bush, 
cards made with folded construction paper and markers declaring love and devotion,

kisses, hugs, cleaning, lunches at Mimi's Cafe'.
Today, my college girl begged me stop so she could buy me some lilies 
from the back of a roadside vendor's pickup truck.
 And truthfully, each year, though I expect nothing; 
the day usually holds a sweet surprise or two.

But this year, as I ponder the blossoming of my daughters into young adults,
it isn't that I don't appreciate their past offerings,
it isn't that I want to diminish their heart-felt gratitude.


No, I adore each scribble, sticker and bit of yarn bookbinding.
Precious, is each spoken and unspoken expression of their fondness of me.

However, this year, as it becomes more evident that these baby bundles 
have become beautiful young ladies, I now solicit more enduring offerings, 
and hope to be presented with more valuable and recurrent souvenirs of their respect.
I really do want a gift that is indeed, simply and truly them.


And I petition this gift from them every day. Not just today.


I desire them to give their whole lives, as offerings in submission to the Lord,
I long for my daughters to extend their hands to dispense service to those in lack, 
and I expect my young ladies to administer compassion to souls that anguish.
I wish for a lineage that puts others first and offers grace.




This is what I want for Mother's Day.

Listen with respect to the father who raised you,
   and when your mother grows old, don't neglect her.
Get truth—don't sell it for love or money;
   buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.
Parents rejoice when their children turn out well;
   wise children become proud parents.
So make your father happy!
   Make your mother proud!


Proverbs 23: 22-25 (The Message)

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I Found The Fountain of Youth

This week we took a trip to St. Augustine, FL, in search of something new.

We came to find the Fountain of Youth, as many often do.

We wandered around the intracoastal city, marveling at its past,

Until we the spotted notorious, ancient landmarks at last!

We discovered Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest fort around.

But this wasn't the only piece of history we found.

An 18th-century schoolhouse, hand-crafted out of wood.

A lighthouse with a breathtaking view from the top where we stood.

Then to St. Augustine Beach, to sink our toesies in the sand,

and cherish the sun and surf, hoping to get tanned.

I found the Fountain of Youth, fascinating as it was back then.

But, it was the searching for it with my family that made me feel young again!

{I am on blog leave through Sunday night. Enjoying sunny Florida!

See you on Monday!}

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