What is my Life?

 

Clearing out my bookshelves, I take a break,

some tea and crackers with brie, and I sit here,

surrounded by an assortment of organized piles and boxes,

bits and pieces of a larger puzzle of my life in words.

Novels bound with beautiful covers,

notes scribbled and tucked into worn manuals and journals,

books that have transported me, books that have challenged me,

and books that have inspired me - even if I've forgotten.

Have they made an impact on who I've become?

Has my life been affected by what I've studied or read?

Have all those small, lost in time, lines done anything

to shape me, to make me who I am?

As I sort out to take away, to throw out or to keep,

knowing not if I or anyone else may ever read these pages

before the next person comes along and sorts again,

I wonder, will they see my life in the words I've kept?

Someone's Five!!

By now the grands know the drill -

a fifth birthday means a date to the Build-a-Bear Store,

and I don't know who looks forward to it most!

Jade kept saying ...

"there are so many options!"

And how IS a girl supposed to choose? 

 She chose a rainbow panda, because pandas are her favorite animal.

Next she had to choose -

did she want a beating heart put inside ... and a sound?

Obviously! 

And the stuffing lady did a great job!

 I was proud of how she could choose an outfit out of so many!

Papa helped with getting Panda dressed...
she always has something to say.

 And suddenly she remembered that she had a camera in her backpack ...

she wanted to take a picture!

 I think she chose well.

Rainbow Panda got registered

 and off we were ...

Dear Jade,

If only we could bottle your spunk

and your joy and anticipation for what every day could hold.

If only we could write down all your sentiments, sighs and stories,

beginning with "so ..." 

we'd have smiles to last a lifetime!

You are wonderfully made,

a precious gem.

Happy Birthday!

May God keep and bless you always.

Love, Papa and Mimi

♥️♥️♥️

Choices and Decisions

I've said it over and over these days,

any day we make a decision is a successful day.

Who knew there were so many choices?

Most can be quite fun. Some more tedious ...

and I remind myself that in the end it really will not matter.

I had a deja vu moment this past week as we laid things out on the floor,

a reminder of how we built this family home thirty three years ago ...

planning pretty girls' rooms and a little boy's room.

It leaves me in awe and wonder of the seasons of life. 

The colors are more subdued this time around,

but just as fun, if not more.

Thirty three years ago we wallpapered the whole house ...

which was a pain to get rid of over the years.

Believe it or not, we are looking at papering a few walls again.

Tile samples are taking up office space ...

Actually everything that goes on floors ... 

has had its turn on the floor here.

Coordinating old and new.

I keep many pictures (such as above) for inspiration ...

reminders of what I saw, where and when ...

plumbing fixtures, lighting, knobs, rugs and finishes.

I think we're on the home stretch and

so looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!

The inside, the outside, the yard ...

oh ... still more decisions!

I'll be back. 

Ten Years Old

Dear Lacey Danielle ...

Oh, the list of thankfuls I have been reminded of on this special day!

From before you were born, you were hoped for and prayed for ...

this baby girl ... five grandchildren before you and five after you

putting you right in the center of our beautiful bunch!

I remember your daddy's call that morning during my walk,

and getting the details, 

for the first time from a dad's perspective ... 

so excited, proud ...

it still brings happy tears to my eyes. 

In the weeks and months that followed 

we found as many excuses as possible for time to hold you.

You studied life around you in all seriousness;

we had to earn those first smiles.

We got to know each other through weekly play dates at the toy box,

walks to the park to check out the geese or the spiral slide,

 back yard swings and story books.

Precious times, for a season. 

Your move gave us opportunities to experience the prairies,

and to receive snail mail that made the mailman smile.

As good as it was, it became even better

when you moved back, ready for school.

And how you have loved school!

It has shown you to be a conscientious girl,

artistic, musical, athletic, brave, the list goes on

but above all, we love how you care. 

I love to see the joy in your eyes when with cousins,

painting, crafting, stirring at the stove or rolling dough.

We share a love for cinnamon buns and you have taught me that

sharing a coloring book is simply a good time to talk.

Lacey, your tender heart and and easy smiles will take you far

in what we see as a determination to do your best.

We will continue to pray and cheer you on in this, your race ...

just don't run too fast or too far. 

With much love,

Papa and Mimi

♡♡♡

House Blessing

This afternoon we hosted an informal open house for family and friends. 

It was a cold, wet, snowy/rainy day

but still, there were those who ventured out of their cozy homes

to take a walk through this house in progress.

It was the first of, hopefully, many times that these

cousins will be walking through this front door.

Our own siblings ...

and friends came to write well wishes and verses on the walls.

I cannot even express how this felt,

what a gift they gave to us!

These verses I found where our headboard will be.

This one on the posts just off the entrance,

about the center of the house.

There are many more ... 

The kids made their own memories

all over the house ...

verses

art ... scribbles

I think they claimed their territory in various ways ...

on posts, on walls, on steps ...

not forgetting the ones who could not be there.

After everyone left, my H and I went through the house with

a lamp and the flashlights on our phones,

reading these blessings that will always be tucked 

into the walls of this house ...

feeling like it got a great big hug.

In the meantime, wishes and verses from those who could not come

were still coming to my inbox tonight.

Please feel free to add ...

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds ...

Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:18-20

For 2020

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only be first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Dallán Forgaill

This old Hymn has been on my mind, as we've entered 2020. A more contemporary musician, Brooke Fraser, puts it this way, "Open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like You have loved me."

From my point of view the year ahead holds many changes. Good changes, but unknowns as well. Being one who likes to plan and perfect things I am prone to focus on the details and be consumed with wondering how they will work out.

My desire is that I keep coming back to these words. Perfect vision is not a blind faith but a faith that trusts in the One Who has proven Himself to be faithful. Here we see as in a mirror dimly, but one day we will see face to face. So we go into this new year with hope and much joy!