Coffee and cupcakes

There are some that come into my life and I know they are a gift to me.  It reminds me of two friends from the deep past.  One the son of a king, the other a shepherd boy (1 Samuel, if your interested in the whole story, chapter 18 for these more specific thoughts).  My Missionary sister-in-law is like that for me.  We met just days before my wedding.  She flew over seas to attend.  We were instant friends.  In many ways I give credit to the foreign missions, a life style we both have lived.  However the more I know her the more I think she's just a gift.

Last night we sat down in an almost empty restaurant with a very friendly waitress, enjoying some tasty cupcakes and warm coffee.  We talked.  We talked for hours.  First me as she wanted to know about my depression and those two precious nephews of hers.  Second of her life.  Both of us currently living on the same soil, only a days drive away.  Now very different lives, callings, fulfillment's. 

It's beautiful.  A Joy.  A pure gift really.

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.

Psalm 26:7

844.  Coffee & cupcakes.

845.  Conversation that pauses for months without a beat skipped.

A small victory

This drawing hangs on my bathroom door, my "breakdown" room.  It's there so that as I go in I can remember that I am loved and I need to continuously accept this into my life.  I need to accept it like one who' gushing blood to the point of death would accept a transfusion.  I desperately need this flowing through my life veins.  Not only through but also out of my life to those precious men that love me as there queen. 

In the near past I would see this sign through tears daily if not more often.  This is where the victory has come in.  It's been a week since I last saw the sign with tears in my eyes.  Now as I spot this poorly drawn picture I smile at the reminder.  Still starving for more, but isn't that healthy, can one ever have enough of God's beautiful Grace while on this diseased earth?

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

~ Proverbs 3:34

832.  A week without tears.

It's in the blood

Fishing runs deep in the Hill Defenders blood.  As the season for black flies has gone, it was time for an introduction to the youngest of the clan.

As I was stopping midway into the brook to take this snap shot a spider, the size of a coffee mug, decided my leg would be a nice resting spot. That was until I screamed and began the rest of the way across the brook trying to escape giant sized Spidey.  Having gotten a safe distance away from him I began keeping an eye out.  Of course I did not want to entertain him again, but a photo would have been nice.

As we guessed our fearless son of Laughter loved every minute of the trip.  Even when Daddy was armpit deep in the broke.

That is when I opted to climb aboard ship with my Man of the woods rather then swim down stream.

At one point it was easier to use an old tree as a balance beam with my son on my back then walk through the brush.

A great first experience.

You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.

~ Exodus 34:21

778.  Quick fishing trip.

779.  Raft for my man of the woods to play in.

780.  One on one time with each of my small boys.

781.  Fishing as a family, with an Uncle and Grandpa.



Another day in the neighborhood

Usually if we're home for the day as Daddy leaves for work my two littles and I snuggle down to watch some kind of cartoon.  I'll be honest here I do this with purely selfish motives.  We do this so I can drink a cup of coffee along side peace.  However often times, such as today, I end up wearing my coffee because the boys feel the overpowering urge to give me a tackle hug.  Even though I have told them a gazillion times to warn me before the hug if I have coffee in my hand, they always forget and immediately repent of there boyish love that I don't have the heart to discipline.

 From there we head outside to play in the water, blow bubbles, ride bikes, whatever the day brings.  Adventure has been calling us all day and we have bravely answered the call.  First by battling chalk monsters and hungry dinosaurs in our driveway.

Followed by catching a dirty, nasty looking beetle that both boys were convinced was a bee.  Even with this strong conviction of there's they continued to hold this bug. (This made me wonder if they even hear my advice on bees, and what they would do if they had the chance to catch one.)

 Off to the park we walked.  Only a ten minute walk, but always a fun one.  Usually the only time they look for me is when they want to swing, but this day was different.  More adventure is what they heard in those four small ears.  The picnic table became a massive sea boat that rocked in the gusty winds and crashed into the high waves.  Only to have my Man of the woods protect us from the sea dragon.  All the while my son of laughter was catching us some fish.

We were interrupted by Time and forced to leave our ship.  Our adventure continued.  We hiked through the forest of shade, crossed deep rivers and pushed through the Rockies, and Volcano Mountains (leaving those innocent by standers on the front porches in belly laughs as we went).

 A joy to be the Momma of two hoolies full of adventure!

Praise Him sun and moon; praise Him all stars of light!

~Psalm 148:3

801.  Man of the woods telling me repeatedly, "You're so cuddly today." as he covers me with hugs.

802.  Tackle hugs.

803.  Chalk monsters drawn and valiantly faught.

804.  Bugs found.

805.  Family walks.

806.  Big imaginations.

807.  Our life bringing belly laughs and smiles to those that catch a glimpse.

808.  Pop tarts and bananas for supper.

809.  Worm soup and blueberry mud pie.

810.  heartfelt laughs as my three men play together.

The joy of gardens

It doesn't matter if it's the "flowy" kind, as my son of Laughter says, or the eatable kind, it's all brings joy.

Maybe because even though we tend the garden each day, it really has nothing to do with us.

There are so many factors that we do not have the power to manage.

Sun, temperature, bugs, drought; all of which we can not control.

Yet it grows.

Every bit of it pointing to the Maker of the vast heavens and the secretive earth.

A gift!

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.  He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.  let all the ear fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast.

~ Psalm 33:6-9

795.  Dreaming of large gardens with my friend on the hill.

798.  Gardens of all kinds.

799.  Watching all creation grow. 

Another word for relationship

Bond a connection between two or more things or in this case two or more people. 

Super glue is only effective if the dirt and junk is cleaned out of the cracks and hard to reach places.

The glues needs to be pushed deep into those knocks and crannies so it will have a lasting hold.

I'm finding that to be true of bonds of the emotional kind.

Friendship in not merely having coffee with a person, but allowing them to help carry our troubles along the way.

The best way to bond is to simply live ALL of life together; the nitty gritty right beside the glorious.

Two are better than one because the have a good return for their labor.  for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

791.  Spending the day with my Beloved friend and her hoolies.

792.  Emotional bonds.

793.  Dreaming of living life with friends.

794.  Sharing values with others.

Motherhood

This is the most difficult task I have ever taken on.

Some days I wonder what it is that God sees in me that I could possibly give to them.

I trip and often fall. Still in my failures I am doing my best to love 'em in every moment.

I openly talk about my broken imperfections.

For now that's all I have to give. 

I think it is enough.

Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their Shepherd also, and carry them forever.

~ Psalm 28:9

778.  Fishing trips with lots of action.

779.  Raft for my Man of the woods to play in.

780.  One on one time with both of my littles.

781.  Fishing as a family with a favorite Uncle and Grandpa along.

782.  Strong man to rescue my Man of the woods and I as we have a battle of the wills.

784.  Littlest boy asking God to see more airplanes.--God answering yes.