Flashback

I'm reading through an older journal and I came upon an entry I made before my 46th birthday (April 26 - 2008) and these are words I need to remember.
Declarations that have uncovered the path less traveled.
The one that keeps me in His shadow, by His grace and mercy.

"My last night of being 45 and I know that my life is
RICH RICH RICH.
How can I ever give enough thanks to my Maker,
My Redeemer,
My Friend,
My Deliverer
MY HOPE, MY GLORY and the lifter of my head.

I choose to glory in YOU, my safe place, my Husband.
You are beautiful to me,
You fill up my cup!
You have so much grace with me,
Oh MY, Oh MY!
I am undeserving.

But I open my heart wide and drink in the mercy you unendingly pour out on me.
You have carried me this far, granted me life, a loving family, early salvation, a hungry heart, amazing friendships, so much laughter, pain to broaden my heart, limits to help me focus on you, wild, wonderful worship,
CHILDREN,
oh the unsurpassed pleasure.

Ears to hear,  eyes to see, the ability to enjoy so much colour, music, words...

And a knowledge,
Deep and abiding, of ***MORE***
More to come!
More loving, more revelation.

A greater ability to contain YOU,
To revel in Your delight over me.
Wonder of wonders!

So I thank you for chosing me.
For the miracles yet to unfold.
For the forgiveness that flows minute by minute.
Washing me, keeping me.

You are life.
It's all YOURS.  "

Wednesday Night Prayer

I don't quite know how to write about this stuff on here, cause it's kind of personal and I don't do really personal in this forum.  

However, it's good for me to remember the words that God has spoken over me through others and I just want to record a few things before they fall out of my brain or get hidden under alot of other folders...

One fellow at the Wednesday prayer night said to me a month or two ago that he had a picture of me standing in front of a large group and I think there was an open book (Bible) in front of me and I was teaching, or speaking.

Then about two weeks ago as we were heading out to the parking lot he mentioned that he had seen another picture of me sitting with an open bible on my lap, once again teaching.  

Tonight he suddenly said "Strike Three"!  and he shared how he saw me leading some kind of a group, mentoring, shepherding and there was a dome over me and the group.  A covering.  

So I  put that out before God and trust Him to prepare me and the rest of the picture for the outworking of whatever He has planned in that regard.  

Also, on the same note or maybe on a completely different one, my friend Anita whom I met in Hawaii this past February was encouraged by our Samoan friend Vae to come this winter to do a DTS.  So she invited me along and I thought "FUN!" And then I invited Patrice along!!  

But because of Mom's health and my teaching I don't know how feasible it is.  It's a thought that isn't going away very quickly though so I'm committing that to God as well, thinking it would be sweet to spend some of the winter in Hawaii possibly staffing a school, or attending a school or volunteering over there!!  

Also, when Vae was here with his boys for that patio picnic in our backyard, we finished up our prayer time with him praying over Patrice.  It was such a powerful and beautiful "Father's" prayer and he blessed her and spoke so much life over her.  He also prayed something that touched me very deeply.  

He said, that he, as a Pacific Islander was blessed to be with us here, because Ron and I had sacrificed so much by going to the Islands and incurring the injury there as we ministered in Kona.    He spoke a blessing over Patrice for how she too has sacrificed because of that and prayed that she would be "shocked and surprised" by God.

I just loved those words.  

Shocked and Surprised!

So I have recorded what I remember of that beautiful prayer so that I can look back  at this occasion and remember that "God said...."  

I want to end with another picture that a fellow had tonight after I asked them to pray about the division of assets.  I gave no details other than we are wondering about the orchard.  

The picture was of me kissing a necklace or something small that I then took and laid down in the orchard and it turned into a very huge wooden cross.  It became grown over I believe.  I am not sure of the meaning of this picture, but they said that I have given up much for the cross of Christ.  And perhaps I still need to put something down?  Not sure, but trusting that God will strengthen me to do whatever He has called me to do.  

My prayer continues to be that His Kingdom will Come and His will would be done.  

Amen.

Casting my Bread upon the WAter...

I can hardly believe how kind God is...
He answers prayers that I don't exactly remember praying,
but things get done that I have been longing for and I just know that He's smiling a big pleased smile to give me some more of my heart's desires.

So, this Spring my very dear forever friend asked me if her son could have his wedding reception in my back yard.
OF COURSE HE CAN!!  (just a little embarrassed that I had said no to someone else just a few weeks before this, but, whatever....)
They are FAMILY!
I thought I was doing a kind deed by offering my patchy, weedy lawn with the incredible valley mountain view for them to use!
And I was, thanks to God's great goodness to me.

BUT the other day a whole team showed up in my yard and started working HARD.
Preparing the place for the upcoming wedding.

Before I knew it I had ordered bark mulch (which I have been wanting to do for ever so long) and it was delivered.
The weeds were all pulled and the bark mulch spread out making everything look incredibly clean and lovely and smelling of CEDAR.  AHHHHH!!
So amazing.

My patio was swept, bushes were pruned, the back forty was mowed, and plants that needed transplanting were transplanted.

It looks seriously amazing and my heart is so darn full of gratitude.

Queen Velma held vigil on the back patio.  She says we should have parties twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall so all my yardwork will get done!  Not a bad idea actually.

The night before was the bridal shower and here are some fun pictures of me all dressed up to celebrate.  My dear daughter in law was such a trooper to join in even though she harldy knew anyone.  By the time we left she too had fallen in love with my forever friend Dawn...

This was my attempt at dressing up for a masquerade party and I was pretty  pleased with my feather headband!  Poor Nicole looked like a wall eyed fish because the mask I gave her had holes that were small and very far apart. Like I say, she was a trooper to play along for my sake! 

Here's sweet Amber whom I've known since before she was born!! 

And you will notice that Patrice is missing from the shower photos due to a hair malfunction that caused a small melt down.  My good day kept getting better and better because Becca set her up with the best hair dresser she's ever had and her day and hair turned out AMAZING!

Oh, prior to the hair appointment, and after the yard cleanup, We all headed over to Daniel and Nicole's for a sweet dinner patio party!  

Here they are one day before their 2nd Wedding Anniversary!  Wow, how time doth fly...

Non Stop

Remember how I was FREAKING OUT just not so long ago about this long summer stretching out so empty and long before me?

Well, I have hardly had time to think straight I've been so busy for the past week or so.  It's been good.

There was a lovely family dinner on the back patio!  (celebrating Daniel's haircut and new rats tail...)

There was Lille Gard

Music, Art, Dance, Food, Fellowship, Outside

Under the blue sky and sunshine

With people I love

Outdoor Art! (Sara is painted by Dave Watland as she is painting!!)

And this famous fellow put an orange bit of confetti on a qual expressly for me! 

This crowd was just hanging around and very interested in Moose. 

THEN, on Canada Day, after going to a birthday party, we headed downtown and ran into Vae Eli and his boys who are up from Hawaii for a visit. 

Needless to say Anita felt really safe in this crowd.

First time I've been downtown for the Fireworks on Canada Day!! 

Pretty Spectacular...

  

Today Donara and I took our Moms and Tante Hilda and Elsie out for lunch at the Sparkling Hills Resort.

Amazing scenery from up there.  The drive was also incredibly beautiful.  Green hills with cows grazing, many scenic lakes, poppies on the sides of the road.  Ahhh, summer bliss!

And the Samoans joined us for supper on the patio.  We finished the evening off with a sweet prayer time. 

Well, actually I finished the evening off by taking off for my Wednesday night prayer meeting and leaving my company behind.  

So, no, I haven't been bored.  Yet.  It seems God has plans for me this summer.  And they might not include teaching. 

Which is fine with me.

Meditation

A couple of weeks ago I attended an incredible morning of contemplative worship and prayer. We sat in Anne Dyck's big cozy barn with the rain pouring down on the green fields around us as we focused in on God in a very intentional way.  We were encouraged to listen to His still small voice as we listened to repeated readings of Psalm 147:1-11

It was a beautiful time of being washed by His Word and of hearing afresh the wonder of His majesty and love and His amazing invitation to us to enter in to this communion.

We answered questions such as:

What in my life needs to be healed by God?
How do I experience God as a loving Creator?
How do I experience God holding me?
How do you want to hold me, God?

This is what came to me...

Meditation June 14 – 2013  

Covering my face with kisses

His heart open towards me

A stream of love pours forth

Splashing down over me

Filling me

Washing me

Healing and refreshing me.

I belong

I am covered

Protected and Safe

So Connected

He in Me and I in Him

Amen.

**********

A GRACE

This time, set apart

I see more clearly

The clouds have lifted

Allowing revelation

Of how loved, covered and safe I am

Even though the physical is wasting away

His daily strengthening is deeper

And more profound

Thru daily leaning in

And praise

And trust

Through daily communing

The roots grow down

Reinforcements against the onslaught of life and the enemy’s attacks

-to dissuade and uproot.

The “issue” (at present) isn’t ever the issue

Don’t  focus on that

His Lovingkindness surrounds me!!

Freaking

I am amazed at how quickly I can move from being so busy with all those fun activities I just posted about and feeling "settled and content" to freaking out because I am afraid of this incredibly long summer that is stretching out before me.  Afraid of the fear that lurks around too many corners when my days are too empty and I am too unmotivated to make plans with people on daily basis.

As I pondered these two calendar blocks full of mostly empty squares I tried to think of fun things to do. Like TRAVEL!!  I love to travel!!  And now I have all the time in the world!  (just not so much money due to many big expenses this year).
But I digress.  I realized quite quickly that I need another person to travel with if I am going to drive somewhere. Because it's almost impossible for me to get gas on my own and I can't put the wheelchair in the back of the car after I get out of it if I rent one to go visit my friends in Ohio or Iowa!! (those are VERY tricky words to say in rapid succession.  Or just once in my case.) There are potentially innumerable places which are inaccessible to me and traveling is just ridiculously uncomfortable for me now that my back has become so unstable.

My kids are grown and working and having their own lives and I'm just feeling a little off kilter as I ponder my paralyzed future.  My friends are busy with their husbands and kids and all kinds of other activities so they can't just drop everything and come awandering with me!

I have done a bit of advertising to get some students this summer but then I am tied down doing the same thing all year... when it might be nice to have a break. Oh, decisions and conundrums.

But then I remember that I am not my own, and God has a plan for each block of the calendar.  He will make a way for me to be where I need to be.  I just need to be actively seeking Him to fill my days with what brings Him pleasure and then I will be filled up, "settled and content" again.

One day at a time.
Trusting, waiting, trusting.

Peeking Into June

Already June 20!
The days long,
So much light.
So much life.
So much rain.
Wonder-full!!  

It's been a lovely Spring.
This season has felt settled.
My heart not so anxious
New norms, routines, and contentment.
Trying to live in the moment,
or at least the day.
Grateful for so very much.

Respite.
Sweet fellowship with Jesus,
wherever, whenever.
Always available.

Learning to breath out those prayers.
Stretching faith muscles.
Speaking out words of life.
Calling forth what is not yet...

And here is a peek into my days of June, so far.

I had the privilege of holding vigil with a dear "new" friend Anita as her mother went from this earth to her heavenly home.  It was an amazing time of healing for me and of witnessing the most beautiful kind farewell a daughter could offer her mother...

Sad to see Becci & Martin move to Calgary, as our gatherings will be smaller and quieter, but knowing the Lord will provide for them and for us!!  Esther and Matthew joined us for the good bye BBQ!

Walk N Roll to Raise Funds for "Hands In Service" - Such FUN!! 

God provided a free ticket so I could watch STING live, from the fourth row. 

Lunch on the patio with my kids.  LOVE & GRATITUDE. 

A few raised garden beds were planted and we're excited to see what grows!

Lunch at the lake with our daughters...  

Precious times with extended family.  A hallway prayer meeting was held to pray for Dad's salvation.  Such dear people who BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

Still enjoying our "Saturday GagEnZeit Nights" even though they're sometimes small and cozy. 

Butterfly Night with dear friends who walk through the seasons together.  My camera phone doesn't take "timer" photos so I don't have the group shot!

Another Saturday "GagEnZeit Night" with a few extras added in! 

Father's Day Fun.  What a good Daddy I have!

Since Rosie's too far away I find siblings of hers and their kids to hang out with!  A YWAM fundraiser in Oliver!

Sweetest people on the face of this earth..

Patrice giving Moose Sitz bath's to heal his hind end problems. She fed him popcorn and fresh water to make the experience feel like an exotic spa.