Thank you, moonlite987

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Here, there, everywhere...

There was a weed in my garden. Right there in the middle of everything, with it's big, spiky, grey-green leaves and spirally stems....I meant to pull it up, but was curious about what was going to show up when those buds finally popped.

On my morning garden walk, this is what greeted me--a glowing poppy, looking like angels had gone skinny-dipping in the birdbath and left their wings behind in their hurry to not be seen.




Emma is one of our bonus kids--she's been around for so long that she's part of the family. (Josh is another, but this isn't about him.) Most summers, Emily and Emma stay with Emma's aunt and uncle in Delaware, South Carolina, and, last year, in Florida. I haven't had a summer with them since they were 12 years old. This summer, however, Emma lived with us--so I got both Ems all to myself!

Emma recently met Jesus--after years of being skeptical and being judged, she met her real, true, living Savior. And let me tell you, there is just nothing like being with a newly in love Christian who asks a lot of questions and has a solid gold foundation of faith. Seeing the Word thru her fresh eyes made it come alive again--(as a matter of fact, I am convinced that there are some chapters that mysteriously appeared in my bible that were not there before.) This led to some interesting mealtimes--which are interesting at the very least, and more often than not, chaotic around here, as we all have very different food personalities--a vegan, a raw vegan, a junkfoodaholic, a carnivore, and a sometimes vegetarian. (Emma has been eating college food and LOVED the raw vegan recipes we tried.) Meal prep seemed to be the only time all of us were in the same room at the same time, and we all have something to say about everything and I couldn't wait for all us girls to be in the kitchen chopping, boiling, tossing, and dancing around each other while MrP pretended to play solitaire in the next room---Anyway, back to Jesus--well, that's another sermon--and the missing parts of my bible:

I have read the Gospels before--haven't I? I have been to enough Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, Sunday services and Wednesday nights that of course I've read the Gospels--haven't I? The first five verses of John are my anchor. But, truly, no, I don't think I have ever read a Gospel from start to finish--and hopping around from verse to verse during Bible studies with the Christmas and Easter stories thrown in once a year doesn't count.

So I started reading John. And it stayed beautiful after the first five verses.

Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? Right there in the Gospel of John, chapter 17. I didn't know that. And still, every time I read that chapter, when I hear Jesus Christ praying for me to carry happiness, to be safe from the Evil One, to make me sacred by the truth, that His love will be within me--well, how does it make you feel to know that the Savior, the Lamb, the Bright and Morning Star is praying for you?

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not suppress it." John 1:5
"Make them sacred by the truth: your Word is the the truth." John 17:17

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Meet Tommy

Mr P met Tommy when he was 14 years old and Tommy was six years older. When Tommy got saved, so did Mr P. He tells me that no one can outscripture Tommy--he knows his bible backward/forward/inside and out. When tragedy came to Mr P and took everything, Tommy was right there until MrP found his way back to life on a dirt bike. He and his wife were the first persons Mr P introduced me to when he believed I was the one: "This is my future." For 36 years, they have shared that bond of absolute unconditional love and comfort. When Tommy's teen-age son died, MrP didn't have any words of comfort--he stayed close and promised Tommy that he would take him dirt bike riding.
That was 13 yrs ago. Tommy has had some health issues--when he visited last week, he told everyone,"I'm not drunk, I've had a few strokes!" He's unsteady, keeping his cane close. He can't read his Bible so well anymore. When everyone settled in for a great Tommy sermon, his most fervent words were spoken directly to each person: "GOD LOVES YOU!" As if we hadn't heard that before--but the way he said it, well, I don't think anyone had believed it quite so much until then.

Mr P and Tommy went outside to sit for awhile--like they do---and MrP rolled his big dirt bike right up on the patio and started it. Tommy didn't ask, just made his wobbly way over and got on the bike. And stayed there until life felt right again.

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One of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite artists.

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Welcome to my garden!

Every morning I find something new--and wanted to share some of the best---

The first ripe tomato

Good day sunshine

Yes, this is edible!

Garden Angel

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Have you ever heard Jesus laugh??

Given that I'm further away from 18 years old than it took to get there, I feel blessed that I can still recall some of my dreams at that age. Getting married and having children wasn't a dream, but a responsibility-one that I took very seriously. I think I've done a pretty good job, even if some days I have been known to send out smoke signals: "SEND HELP!" And of course those days that every mother has when she knows that there will be a Greek tragedy played out RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW if I don't get a break! All mothers have those moments...right?

The Dream was planted in my heart when my pastor stopped in the middle of a sermon and set his gaze on the young people (all 5?6? of us). With great tenderness and tears, he spoke a blessing: "You can change the world. You can change the world."

And then continued with his teaching.

I believed him.

A safe place, a haven, a soft place to fall for those who have been wounded. A place to heal.

It didn't occur to me that this is exactly what I needed, or how long it would take for healing to take place. The seed was planted. El Tosors de la Vida --Treasure of Life.

The decisions, choices, and circumstances in the next few years (years!) took me far away from that safe place, that haven for the wounded hearts. Apparently, someone else was going to change the world. My sin had cost me the chance to change the world, to bring Light to those in the dark the way I had dreamt about. My dream was dust.

Emily has spent the last year since graduating high school struggling with her head vs her heart: What do I want to do? What do I want to be? Who am I? What is my purpose? Do I follow the money or follow my heart?

My tender-hearted girl, chasing one butterfly after another--which one will make me happy? She has struggled with school so much that she asked me to take a few classes with her--she needs the companionship.

And then she decided she wants a degree in psychology.

And then she wants a Master's so she can be a grief counselor.

I've been watchfully waiting for another butterfly to catch her attention, but this is no butterfly.

On Mother's Day, she gave me a book--"One Nation Under Therapy--How the Helping Culture is Eroding Self-Reliance." Her note inside: "We'll be battling ideas when we're both psychologists!" Why, she believes in me as much as I believe in her!

We were researching colleges last week and she started describing what she wants to accomplish: her purpose, what she is meant to do---her dream:

" I want to have a place where hurting people can come and be healed. I want them to feel safe and loved so they can be everything they are meant to be."

Jesus, Jesus, did You hear that ?

Have you ever heard Jesus laugh?

Have you ever had a dream that had turned to dust suddenly come to life right in your face?

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

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While we all need prayer all of the time, some have opportunities to receive an immeasurable amount of grace. Go and see Emma Grace and her mom, Heather.

Update: Happy Birthday Emma Grace! Her smile makes me feel like it's my birthday!

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