Look up.

O heart bereaved and lonely,
Whose brightest dreams have fled
Whose hopes like summer roses,
Are withered crushed and dead
Though link by link be broken,
And tears unseen may fall
Look up amid thy sorrow,
To Him who knows it all

O cling to thy Redeemer,
Thy Savior, Brother, Friend
Believe and trust His promise,
To keep you till the end
O watch and wait with patience,
And question all you will
His arms of love and mercy,
Are round about thee still

Look up, the clouds are breaking,
The storm will soon be o'er
And thou shall reach the haven,
Where sorrows are no more
Look up, be not discouraged;
Trust on, whate'er befall
Remember, O remember,
Thy Savior knows it all


- Fanny Crosby (words)

I'm not feeling too 'bereaved and lonely' this morning, but the promises in this song are such a sweet reminder of our Savior's care and love....even in my petty trials.  Perfect for a Monday morning.  Let's do this!

Tennessee.

 goodbye, Portland.....

helloooo, Tennessee.

 

This past weekend, I got to make a quick (all-by-myself) trip back to Tennessee!  I went to pay a visit to my sweet long-time friends who've all had babies in the last nine-ish months.  We did the usual....eat, chat, sleep, repeat, repeat....and Saturday we got to visit the Clinton Antique Fair (remember?).  It was like pure bliss every time I stepped out of the AC into that warm blanket of heat outside!  

I also got to get in a quick visit to our old church body & some sweet friends there.  It went by too quickly, but I was so thankful for it!  

Things I enjoyed that I wouldn't have anticipated?  

....the sound of the leaves all rustling in the wind. It was like I hadn't heard it in ages....all those big trees nestled up together in the breeze.  Maybe because of all the evergreens here?

....slow, southern middle-of-nowhere accents.  They've just been part of my everyday life....and it felt so familiar hearing them all the time even though I never think about it here.

....meeting an "Edith Catherine" on the street.  So fun! And she wasn't even old:).

....humidity.

...the joy of coming home, especially the kids' responses! (i kind of anticipated that one....but it still blew me away.)

I also got to spend a lot of time traveling....hanging out between the stars & the soil....and thinking, reading, etc.  It's amazing how time alone....even if it's after being stuck on a plane for two extra hours... feels like a welcome little detour.  I thought about motherhood a lot.... & the Lord used this time to show me how weak my mothering efforts are...but how strong He is.  I am so thankful for this vocation He's called me to....and inspired to change and grow to be the mom He can make me.  But I'm so thankful His gospel covers all my failures!  ("My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.") 

Anyway, it was a good 'ole time.  

AND MY HUSBAND IS THE GREATEST DAD EVER.  Seriously.  He texted me the last night and said, "I think I'm having more fun than you."  Spoken like a true servant.  I KNOW our kids were on top of the world.  Thank you, babe.

Celebrating.

(We got to celebrate June's first year together with a some extended 

family on Saturday.  I think she liked it!)  

June, you have been such a delight to us....the crown of our year!  I've loved watching you sleep, hearing your Levi-induced laughs, caring for you, seeing you light up at your daddy, watching you change and grow by the week (even if you are pretty tiny:), putting you in a room with your big sister, and hearing your "mama's."  You're like sunshine in summer.  A squishy bundle of joy!

Can't wait to get to know you even more, goose.  We love you millions. ♥

One Year Ago......

June happened!

Sheesh, I'm feeling like one blessed momma celebrating this girl today.  We all love you, lil June-June!!

Sun and Sabbath.

It was a beautiful, warm, sun-soaked weekend here....

Our pastor preached on the value of Sabbath rest yesterday.  He reminded us of the continual rest we can experience in our hearts because of Jesus and the outward rest that can be beneficial to practice on Sunday.  He reminded us how Jesus obliterated the way the Pharisees sought to enslave themselves to a law of "not working" and reminded them that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  This word came like water to the soul.  I think it put our hearts on an adjusted course.  I can push through the week feeling like my to-do lists never get completed, that I'm behind, that I'm failing my family.  I can forget to rest in my Savior's complete, gracious, precious work on the cross.  I can lack self-control and see Sunday as another day to try complete my tasks and find rest in "getting it all done."  That doesn't tend to work well....

So yesterday, we slowed down.  We sat on the porch.  For a long time.  We chatted.  We didn't clean up the kitchen.  We didn't finish the painting projects.  We went for a walk along the river with beautiful friends and a beautiful sunset.

But we have not yet reached the goal. 
We still struggle to rest from our labors; we still must “strive to enter that rest” 
Consequently the weekly nature of the Sabbath continues as a reminder that 
we are not yet home with the Father. 
And since this rest is ours only through union with Christ in His death and resurrection, 
our struggles to refuse the old life and enjoy the new continue....
Hebrews teaches us that eternal glory is a Sabbath rest. 
Every day, all day, will be “Father’s Day”! 
Thus if here and now we learn the pleasures of a God-given weekly rhythm, it will no longer seem strange to us that the eternal glory can be described as a prolonged Sabbath!
-Sinclair Ferguson

Waking Up.

Nine.

Me and the Mr. got to celebrate NINE years together this week.

Those little years have flown by....and I can barely go for a drive by myself without missing my man. What is it gonna be like when I'm FIFTY, then? or seventy? sheesh.

(oct. 2008)

(april 2010)

(july 2010)

(march 2011)

(july 2011)

You mean the world to me, Dave Mann.

Thanks for being a godly, humble, brave, thoughtful man.

I love you.