to 500

495. the deep, strong, and visceral kind of love I have for my children even as it is different for each one
496. Kate's report of a tiny baby radius, ulna, tibia, fibula, brain plates, stomach, long fingers, and spinal cord with vertebrae as seen via ultrasound today- another nephew (or maybe a neice) is on the way!
497. a beautiful and strong ACL as seen via arthroscope (wow!)
498. a smiling orthopedic surgeon who told me the prayers over my knee worked
499. technology allowing pictures and videos and messages to connect us when we can't be together in person
500. neither death nor life being able to separate us from Your love

Kate and Patrick's big announcement!

a prayer for Oklahoma

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) 

Lord, thank you that nothing can separate us from the Your love as revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Even in the midst of great loss, we pray that the people of Oklahoma would know that love and be comforted and strengthened by that great, unstoppable, power-full love.  The spirit within groans as we don't even know how else to pray.  Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen. 

A birthday blessing in Psalm (95)

¹ O come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

² Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
³ For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.

⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

⁶ O come, let us worship and bow down,
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
⁷ For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

Asher Adam, may you always have a thankful heart, singing with joy to the rock of your salvation.  May you know Him as Creator God who made and sustains all things.  You were made to be a part of his flock, precious and valuable in His eyes.  May you always listen for His voice.  What a joy you've been these past three years and I can't wait to see what else the Lord has in store for you!  Happppy birthday, Asher dude!

stained glass and crawfish

489. stained glass windows
490. Psalm 95 (and the tune I will always hear when I read it)
491. slip-n-slide and crawfish in our neighbor's back yard and the time spent with people who aren't just like us
492. Verdis' momma- her smile and her warmth
493. Jamie's efforts and perseverance to gift us with a night just to plain worship You
494. a long day's end and the hope of a new day without any mistakes in it yet (as Anne would say)

whew

484. a happy birthday kitchen dance party in our pajamas
485. the amazing blessing of three years with Asher
486. my brother and sister-in-law moving to Shreveport! (and within 2 miles of my house and mom's house no less)
487. bubbles and balls and the delight little kids find in such things
488. Karen and Will and a little time with Karen and Will

filled with joy

479.  children's Tylenol for a pesky neck cramp
480.  a gaggle of kindergarten kids singing a loud rendition of "Praise Ye the Lord"
481.  Zeke's big day representing his big year when he grew so much and in so many ways
482.  Friday night Pie Works, table for eight
483.  laundry detergent for a pesky stench

beauty for ordinary places

474.  the privilege of being curator of my laundry room art gallery

475.  Zeke's hand in mine- just us for an hour
476.  Sharpie hash marks on the door frame measuring children growing
477.  pajamas after a long day
478.  Zeke's prayer request in the storm and all our friends and family's safety through it
 

tasting and seeing: the Lord is good

469. our park expedition
470. Meg and her baby bringing lunch and a side of laughter (she's always with the laughter)
471. the nervous system that gives me five different ways to experience Your world
472. doctor and nurse friends, caring and consulting
473. Jason Greer cuisine delivered (amazingly delish as usual)

An Expedition

Our expedition began early- first thing in the morning.  We looked over the waters below, peering down.  There were alligators, fish food, and sharks eating fish!  Wow!  We hurried to the bridge and looked again.  There it was-  the neon green fish food.  The arrows on the pavement directed our next moves.  Hurry! We hurried.  My leader, my blonde Diego, was running fast now.  I couldn't keep up.  It's ok.  He could wait.  There was another bridge and more water and other sojourners along the way.  We were explorers, wild and free, exploring under the morning sun with great speed.  Ok, I was a little slow, but still, my leader, with a rubber band around his head and a look of fun in his eye, was quick and he was showing me a whole world full of adventure.

 

It was as if we had never been to Betty Virginia Park in our whole lives.  Of course, having grown up going to Betty Virginia, I'd been there hundreds if not thousands of times.  But that's the thing about kids.  They'll turn things on their heads for you if you pay attention.

As for the rubber band on the head, I don't know.  He wanted to do it and it made him happy.

deep dark praise

464.  Jonny and Amber's duets- memorial blessings over her grandfather's life
465.  a sit down chat with a neighbor
466.  an encouraging message
467.  finding just the right thing for Zeke
468.  the deep dark blue of the 8:29pm sky

"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise."   Robert Robinson

they see it

Asher's interview

Zeke's interview

Anna Grace

One of the many things the kids brought home from school or church (I don't know which) had a quote on it from Charles Spurgeon: "Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."

This is both an inspiring thought and a terrifying one.

Inspiring because we have these blank slate hearts to encourage and mold and grow into the men and women God created them to be.  Terrifying because we have the opportunity to make a big mess of things.

So when you get report cards like this from your children that don't include all the times you've fallen short of being the "perfict" mom they think you are (God bless them), it makes you so glad.  So glad.  All the parenting advice in the world doesn't measure up to what is actually going on in the heart of your child and there is nothing like a glimpse inside of it.  So when Asher says he likes to play with me and Zeke says that he thinks that I LIKE to cook and Anna Grace describes me as "eger" to help, my heart is so encouraged.  It reminds me that this important work of motherhood is not lost on them- not at all.  Even when it seems small and unnoticed or unimportant, it is not.  And not only that.  All those times you've messed up and fallen on your face and done the wrong thing- somehow they've forgiven you and you rejoice even more because of the mercy and grace and forgiveness that has fallen over the hearts of your family. 

I don't know if you got any of this kind of stuff for Mother's Day, but if you didn't and if you're fighting the fight every day to feed your children's hearts, souls, and bodies, be encouraged.  Not only do your children see it, your Father in heaven sees it and it honors Him.

So happy belated Mother's Day especially to my own trifecta of mothers who have fed my own heart, soul, and body, for so so many years.  Love you!!!  xxoo

Kathy, my momma in Jesus

Barbara, the woman who birthed and raised my awesome husband and who loves us all so well

Camille, the woman who birthed me, changed my diapers, sacrificed so much for me, and even now holds my hand when I need her

braving it

464. food and medicine and food that works like medicine
465. the wonder of the digestive system (nuf said)
466. the look in Asher's eyes when he saw his mail
467. Marcia's homemade guacamole
468. Jack braving the baseball field despite his allergies (that's Father love)

quiet

459. the warm sun on my skin
460. a change of clothes and a head scarf
461. church bells- I can hear them from my backyard
462. the privilege of being called mom
463. so much still and so much quiet

Saturday again

458. so many kindnesses- more than I can count

miracles and all grace

451. a miracle in my very very prayed over knee (You are so kind!)
452. Mom's hand-holding and completely devoted service to my every need (momma love sure is singular and strong)
453. Barbara's taking care of the kids when I couldn't
454. my husband braving things because he loves me
455. the spunk You gave my grandmother and how You're with her in her recovery
456. pain medicine
457. how You're always with us and You never leave us