Summer Hike

Mood

The sky was gray this morning, yet a light shone on the world and the colors of spring were vibrant. The sun shone for a while, then the clouds darkened. In the distance, thunder's speech was deep and solemn. The clouds cried a little, but with no relief; the sky is still troubled.

The darkness persists.

Um, guys... that's a parking lot...

Destination:

Scrabble!

Puzzle using all but four letters! Do you see anywhere we could have added them?

Courage

February 20-26 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Courage

What is courage?
     What is beauty?
          What does it mean to be an example?

Is it being fearless?
     Is it being flawless?
          Is it never making a mistake?

Or--

Is it doing the right thing even when it terrifies you?
     Is it recognizing your immeasurable worth, finding strength and
     confidence in how much God values you?
          Is it trusting God enough to walk forward, knowing you will misstep
          sometimes--and being willing to backtrack and start again when you
          do?

Oh my friend, how can I tell you how I feel? Watching you struggle and break, unable to fix what's wrong, unable to ease your way--only to listen, to tell you I love you, to tell you I'm here if you ever need anything. This is something you have to do, but I will walk with you. I will cry with you. I will wait with you until the day God heals and restores you. We will see that day together, and then we will rejoice! Until then, never forget:

You are courageous.
     You are beautiful.
          You are an example.

And you shall be victorious.

Beauty From Pain

I love you.

Under the Eaves

Written June 2010

The heavens are sympathy today,
Expressing my feelings just the way
I wish I could.

Under the eaves I find my chair,
Breathe in the darkening air
And sigh.

My heart is wild; so is the wind.
Direction and drive cannot be reigned in
By any hand but God's.

Thinking, wishing; dreams and fears--
I gaze up through the clouds' tears
So often like my own.

But today my heart is worn.
Feelings abound but the drops won't form.
So I lay my head back on the chair;

I close my eyes,
Cry inside,
And let the rain soak my skin.

Thick and fast comes the downpour
Like blessings from the hand of my Lord
Even in the midst of my stormy heart.

Thunder rolls around the sky;
The clouds begin to dry their eyes.
I am soothed.