Savoring Life

Julia writes – “…the page is a cool cave of consciousness, somewhere to both meditate on life and savor it.”   





Garden Reprieve
I stretch out on quilt unfolded at farm
Toes tickled by tall grass rustled by wind
Sultry breeze caresses both lazy arms
Leaf loaded trees give shade, swaying they bend
Sweltering air makes breathing a struggle
Sweat trickles down spine soaking through t-shirt
Rousing from rest I leave restful snuggle
I watch as children pull weeds from the dirt
Another gust stirs playing across my face
Kissing my forehead with divine relief
Inhaling deep I sigh into cool grace
Enjoy the moment although it is brief
I lean with longing to remember June
Humming a fetching memorable tune
                    --Nancy Kourmoulis

So I practice living my life and writing it.  I carry my notebook wherever I go since the words dance through my head as I go about living.  Julia’s words ring true for me…

“Observed closely enough all of life is interesting…Observed closely, small moments have large impact.”
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HCB Book Club Posts
Laura's Wanted Friendly Reader
Glynn's The Practice of Writing
LL's Julia Found Words for Me
Marilyn’s Sweeping 
Cassandra’s Like Water on a Stone
Lyla's On Coffee and Caves 

Scripture Only Sunday

The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you've been hungry for more. It's as vigorous in you now as when you learned it from our friend and close associate Epaphras. He is one reliable worker for Christ! I could always depend on him. He's the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit. 
                                   Colossians 1:5-8 (The Message)

Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

How does a dad know things are okay with his parenting skills?  To really know you are getting it right raising your children. 

Maybe it is the giggle that escapes baby lips when he nuzzles whiskers across baby bellies…Is it when toddlers race to the door, each trying to be the first to hug dad when he gets home from work…Or the excitement of the child crying “higher, higher” as he pushes the swing…Maybe it is when they rub his neck…Is it seeing teenage sons working alongside as a deck is built or helping to move a house…or just maybe…

One of our oldest boys took his weeks pay to purchase a rather large tool set for this father.  It was something he had heard his father say he needed.  This son presented it to his dad Sunday morning saying quietly, “I thought you could use this.”  His dad opened the tool set and said, yes he really could use it and thank you son.  To which the son replied, “Thank.you.for being a good dad.” 

And I the mom sensed God’s glory and grace Father’s Day morning.  Joy is made from these moments, my heart shouts with gratitude.

Father – thank you that even though our best efforts are inadequate, your power is at work among us.  Thank you for…

601.  Sacrifice – a child giving to a parent

602.  Father’s Day hiking

 

603.  Being high enough to watch birds soaring, gliding with the wind

604.  Son cooking the Father’s Day meal on the grill

  

605.  Vacation Bible School

606.  Ripe plums off neighbor’s tree

607.  Cool water in pool after a hot day weeding the garden

608.  Aunt stopping by for an afternoon visit

609.  No farm animal drama this week (so far)

610.  This little rock – it made me think of the Father’s love that is all around us to enjoy and experience – if we will just look

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Check out Ann’s blog anytime to be blessed, but especially on Monday’s to have your heart refreshed through the sharing of community giving thanks to God for his new mercies every day. To check out what the Gratitude Community is all about click the link below.

Framed

PhotoPlay post, get your camera, head out and find a subject to frame.

  Claire asks theses questions:

• What frames appeal to you most?
• Does this preference reveal anything to you about the way in which you frame people, God, or elements of your life?

I think of picture frames filled with the faces that are most loved and cherished.  

I think of trees that frame the sky and clouds and reach toward their Creator.

My life seems framed by these things - Creator, family, nature.   I like living my life within these frames.  A life framed by the simple, common, ordinary gifts of a glorious Creator.

Stuck

Tangled with rope and barbed-wire this little mule pulls and tugs.  It is to no avail he is hopelessly caught.  He brays loudly, yet no one hears his voice.  Alone in the woods he waits.
With a storm approaching he becomes increasingly agitated.  The efforts to free himself are more vigorous.  All his work only causes him to become more entangled and frustrated.  He is stuck.
A strong, yet gentle hand reaches for the rope.  A reassuring voice speaks words of comfort..  Ye he kicks in fear at his rescuer.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,"
       declares the LORD.”  Isaiah 55:8

Slowly his rescuer frees him from the trap.  He runs wildly – joyful.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:9

How often I feel like that stubborn mule.  Not understanding, I tug, kick, and bray instead of yielding to the one who comes to rescue.

“Writing may express the self, but it also quiets the self.  It siphons off the busy chatter of distraction and points a way to hear the larger currents moving more deeply in ourselves.  In other words, writing allows both the small and the large to have their place.”  Julia Cameron

When I am tangled, stuck, I write because “it siphons off the busy chatter of distraction and points a way to hear….”

“As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:10-11

In the middle of the words I “hear the larger” and allow the Rescuer, Jesus, to have his place.

I run wildly – joyful.

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HCB Book Club Posts

This week the discussion is Dailiness, Voice, and Form vs. Formula.

Related posts:
HCB Post Laura's First Words: Feeding the Horses
Cassandra’s Dailiness

Glynn’s Voice, Get Over It
L.L.’s An Accidental Post While Watering the Garden

Scripture Only Sunday

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,
       he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:11-14

Saturday Sketches

 

Happy Father’s Day

 

Thankful Thursday

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”  C.S. Lewis

Counting God’s blessings I find joy and He gives a piece of heaven right here today. 

“I (Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”  John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)

I learn, one day at a time, to enjoy the life God has given – no matter what.  Father, thank you for…

591.  Blessing me with a Godly father

592.  Youngest one’s quick recovery from stomach bug

593.  No one else caught the bug

594.  Growing through conflict – learning empathy and concern for another

595.  Meeting a new neighbor at the farm who called to let us know one of  our animals needed help - so nice since we are not living there yet

596.  Catching this stubborn little guy before the thunderstorm fully broke and he did too much damage to himself on a barbed-wire fence

597. End of the year grades finally done – now I can enjoy my summer 

598.  Summer vegetables from our garden

599.   Mimosa trees and Queen Anne’s Lace blooming

600.  Bathing and shaving Lady with Sensitive Son

A Godly Example

Consider sharing in community: As we approach June and the month of anniversaries --- and the month of Father's Day --- let's consider for the next four weeks: The Spiritual Practice of Holy Matrimony. Over the next four weeks, let's share any aspect of marriage/love you feel led to explore... 

I remember the example of a Godly father being a Godly husband:   hugging mom every evening when he came home from work, picking up flowers and gifts on special days, staying faithful through the years. 

Dad: Thanks for always loving mom and setting a good example of a loving husband.

TO HONOR MY DAD:

Happy Father’s Day

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...
                  - Unknown

It has been almost two years since my dad passed away.  I still miss him, a lot, especially those times when I am doing things that he would normally do or that he was really good at doing.  Things like: keeping the pool clean, growing a garden, grilling out, cutting the watermelon, fixing the plumbing, mowing the lawn (mowing others lawns).  There are times when I am flipping the TV channels and I see a NASCAR race or perhaps it is Braves baseball – I think of dad. 

Dad:  Thanks for all the times you let me find my own way.  For giving me the courage and security to even go my own way to begin with.

No Matter What

I am attached to the trees in our yard.  Most of them have been there since my great grandparents lived in this house.  There are two cedar trees in the side yard.  Our eldest three children would swing from its branches many times until my dad cut the limbs down.  Safety first.  Next to them stand an elm and a white oak in the front yard.  Our youngest three children now climb the white oak.  My father is not here to cut the branches.
A very old hackberry tree stands guard over our deck.  It has been there as long as my mother can remember.  I remember our oldest playing in the shade of this tree when she was less than two years old.   We have dipped way to many of the trees leaves out of the pool.  Yet it continues to give refreshing cover. 
Last year we were concerned that the tree would fall.  It had two  splits in critical support areas of the trunk.  Precious husband and helpful son drilled holes and put rods through to hopefully hold the tree together.  There is also a lovely orange tie down holding up two limbs. 
When spring came this year I was afraid we would have to cut this tree down.  The crack in the upper trunk was more visible and I thought perhaps the tree was dead.  But as spring has moved into summer the tree is full of green leaves.  Despite the injury to its trunk it continues to shelter our deck. The tree has stayed rooted and strong.  So we continue to skim the leaves from the pool.  I am glad it is still here.  It gives me hope. 
No matter how vulnerable, broken or scarred there is still the potential to offer life. 

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  Colossians 2:6-7

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This week at the High Calling Blogs book club we read the chapters entitled, “Making It”, “Honesty”, and “Vulnerability”. 
The lessons I took away from Julia this week are:

“…we need to decide that we will, one, write no matter what and, two, share that writing no matter what.”

“We write because something “touches” us.  We write because we want to “touch” someone else.  We write to “get in touch” with the divine or because the divine has somehow “gotten in touch” with us.”

This place is where I write and share, allowing myself to be vulnerable.  I have been touched so often by God and I wonder if through writing it here someone else might also be touched.  The biggest benefit, perhaps, it would bring God glory.
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Related Posts:
HCB Honesty's Shy Younger Sister
Joel’s Confessions of an Ex-Secret Keeper
Marilyn’s Getting to the Story You Need to Write
Glynn’s Telling It True
Cassandra’s The Edge of Glory

Scripture Only Sunday

“Our prayers

for you are always

spilling over into

thanksgivings. We

can't quit thanking

God our Father and

Jesus our Messiah for

you! We keep getting

reports on your

steady faith in Christ,

our Jesus, and the love you continuously

extend to all Christians. The lines of

purpose in your lives never grow slack,

tightly tied as they are to your future in

heaven, kept taut by hope.” 

              Colossians 1:3-5 (The Message)

Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

“Thanksgiving stirreth up

thankfulness in the heart.” 

Richard Baxter

It has been a different kind of week as children come and go around here.  Helpful son spent four days hiking the Appalachian Trail with his youth small group.  Two youngest have had a partial week of church camp.  Fun son has worked with Precious husband and then spent the night with Darling daughter and Dear son-in-love to work with the horses. 

Summer has truly begun as we are scattered in many different directions.  And still …

When the soul is stirred the fragrance of grateful heart rises and becomes a sweet smell before God’s throne. 

Father – keep my soul stirred, thankful for all your blessings…

581.  Two youngest enjoy church camp

582.  Godly adults to pray and watch after children at camp

583.  Live web-stream of camp

584.  Dancing in the dining room to the live web-stream worship

585.  Hydrangeas in bloom – pink, purple, and blue

586.  Helpful son hiking 70 miles in 4 days with youth pastor and  small group

587.  Hearing youth pastor giving a kind witness to Helpful son’s being, helpful, on hiking trip

588.  New bridle and saddle straps for Fun son

589.  Craft shopping with Darling daughter

590.  Picking out material for a baby quilt

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Check out Ann’s blog anytime to be blessed, but especially on Monday’s to have your heart refreshed through the sharing of community giving thanks to God for his new mercies every day. To check out what the Gratitude Community is all about click the link below.

What Causes Desire?

He takes the children roller skating

Leaves me to read, to write

Desire rises because he plays

He calls during his 24 hour shift away

Cracking a joke our laughter erupts

Desire ignites because he provides

He cuts boards and hammers nails

Creating living space for others, for us

Desire builds because he is talented

He listens, lets me vent frustrations

Lends his caring, wise words

Desire comes gently because he is thoughtful

We have history together. Through twenty-six years and six children the desire only grows stronger. Through better and worse, in sickness and health. 

Every act of kindness,

                                                    Every minute of patience,

                             Every word of encouragement,

Work together to cause me to desire him more.

I Lay

I lay
listening
head on his chest
his heart beats strong
his breath ruffles my hair
my arm rests gently
across his waist
his arms surround
embrace form fully
I lay
lingering
legs entwined, my toes
stretch to touch
caress tops of his feet
desire satisfied
I lay
peaceful
silent, still the darkness
slumbering together
side by side
a deep sigh escapes
wistful smile plays
I lay
dreaming

--Nancy Kourmoulis

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Since the subject of marriage is so important to me, I have been pondering Ann’s encouragement…

Consider sharing in community: As we approach June and the month of anniversaries --- and the month of Father's Day --- let's consider for the next four weeks: The Spiritual Practice of Holy Matrimony. Over the next four weeks, let's share any aspect of marriage/love you feel led to explore...

Makin’ a list

Lists … Julia seems to like them - “list a full one hundred things you are proud of” … “list every single place you have ever lived” … “list fifty things that make you happy”. 
I make lists also: to do lists, grocery lists, gratitude lists, books to read lists, chore lists.  These lists keep me focused on the task at hand, items that are necessary to live life, or moments that are important. 
I’m beginning to see Julia’s lists as alters – places where something sacred has happened  or is happening in life. 
Whether it is a list of places lived or accomplishments to be proud of or things that make one happy, the lists give credibility to life.  The lists remind of happy right now moments, days long gone, and I can even see how the lists could carry through difficult times (I think of my gratitude list). 

“It is my belief that writing is a way to bless and multiply our blessings.  … Writing is a form of cherishing.  Counting back over the tiny marvels…”  Julia Cameron

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Related posts:
HCB Book Club Posts

HCB Post At Least the Potential for Happiness
Glynn’s Writing in Place, Writing to Place
L.L.’s Happiness Beyond Writing
Marilyn’s What Were We Waiting For?

Melo’s Days 12-16, Slip, Slip, Slipping Away

Scripture Only Sunday

“Yours, O LORD, is
the greatness and the
power and the glory
and the majesty and
the splendor, for
everything in heaven
and earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”
                          - 1 Chronicles 29:11

Saturday Sketches

Thankful Thursday

“People see God every day,

they just don't recognize him.” 

~Pearl Bailey

Dear God – when life seems overwhelming and things don’t seem to be going the way they should.  When we see others we care about hurting and have no ability to provide comfort.  When the tears flow and stay close to the surface.  Open our eyes to see you – to notice your presence not just with us – but in us.

Thank you Father that we can rejoice and be glad always because…

571.  You hear us when we pray

572.  Jesus is close to the broken-hearted

573.  The Holy Spirit is our Comforter

574.  That You are Emmanuel, God with us

575.  You never leave us or forsake us

576.  You are the same – yesterday, today, forever

Father – for the fun times we are grateful.  Thankful for the joy you lavish…

577.  Bowling together, family and friends

 

578.  A holiday spent playing tag at the fire station

579.  Back massage…given by a goat

580.   These growing bunnies are too cute

 

 

Keep your eyes open for God,

watch for his works;

be alert for signs of his presence. 

Psalm 105:4 (The Message)

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Check out Ann’s blog anytime to be blessed, but especially on Monday’s to have your heart refreshed through the sharing of community giving thanks to God for his new mercies every day. To check out what the Gratitude Community is all about click the link below.

It’s the Little Things

Ann’s encouragement to share…

Consider sharing in community: As we approach June and the month of anniversaries --- and the month of Father's Day --- let's consider for the next four weeks: The Spiritual Practice of Holy Matrimony. Over the next four weeks, let's share any aspect of marriage/love you feel led to explore...

        Since the subject of marriage is so important to me, I consider.

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“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”   Ecclesiastes 4:12

Yet a cord can be broken.  All one has to do is look around and see countless marriages floundering, failing.  Cords unravel, are worn thin, break daily.

How can a cord be kept strong?  Little things matter. 

A phone call to say - I love you, how is your day going? 

                              Sweet words whispered between the sheets. 

                                    A hug when he comes through the door. 

                                            Fingers that slowly caress my hair. 

“There is no such thing as a no-maintenance marriage, but energy and time devoted to this holy enterprise will reap lasting, valuable dividends every time.”  Ed Young

In the process of raising six children Precious husband and I make time to maintain our connection with one another.   Date nights have been a regular event – a quick break from the normal routine.  Dinner and a movie or a walk around a mall - just the two of us – talking and laughing. 

Sharing silly jokes,

    Sharing memories,

              Sharing thoughts.

We build a life together, little by little, every day.       Daily we seek the Father’s heart.   In the presence of God we look to Scripture to get instruction on how to love one another.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Listening to these words of wisdom…

“Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral excellence. I want you to be the first in generosity.”   - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our pastor encourages, “Live to out give your spouse.” 

I have found that when I am looking out for Precious husband and he is looking out for me, both our needs are met and God is honored.  It’s the little things that matter.

Snapshot

I stand beside the dryer folding eldest son’s laundry.  This is something I rarely do.  Our children were taught at around age nine to do their own laundry.  But I need the dryer – now - so I fold his       t-shirts and cargo shorts. 

snapshot

from the shadows
they silently peek
small round faces
image like ours
snapshots captured
a memories time
they were little
these boys of mine

 

with superman capes
handmade wooden ramps
slingshots and bb guns
baseballs, mitts, bats
boys chosen tools
growing limbs wield
set to conquer
their world, mine

now are the days
pickup trucks, power tools
ladders reaching high
learning a trade
alongside their dad
hands set to task
reaching beyond
surpassing mine

--Nancy Kourmoulis

 

 

Not that they were ever really mine.  They are only on loan.  For we all truly belong to Father God. 

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”- Psalm 103:17-18