good friends

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Shanda

Thought I would share a few pictures that I took last night at our closing night of VBS.

These first pictures are of my friend Cathi, wife of Josh and mom of 2 gorgeous little girls. We’ve been friends for a few years now. We go to the same church and share a common love of the written word. . . . .she’s my loyal xanga pal, too.

Cathi is so sweet and I love sitting right next to her in choir (we both sing alto). We’ve had lots of fun together and our friendship has also been made sweeter by tough times–we’ve been there for each other during church turmoil and personal loss. There’s just something about tears that cement a relationship.

I remember the first time I really noticed her, all absorbed in her firstborn baby girl. And now here she is with her second.

Somehow I just loved the look of black and white for these pictures:

Frankly, I can’t decide who’s cuter–mom or baby!

These next pictures are of my friend Karen with her son, Leo. Leo and my David are good friends and they remind me of each other–especially because of their many facial expressions.

Karen is a “deep thinking” friend. She grew up reading C.S. Lewis and would love to have her own “inkling” club. As soon as we get together we dive right into deep conversations about life and death. . . . . and other important matters.

I guess I should explain why New Englanders are wearing cowboy hats. It’s because our VBS theme for this year was “Calvary Junction”.

One of God’s beautiful blessings—friendship!

Posted on July 25, 2007 by Shanda

More excitement at my house

David (my almost 5 year old) has learned to ride a 2-wheeler,

thanks to the excellent teaching

of his sister, Grace. This little bike has been in almost constant

use for 5 years and has been run over by the truck.

It is missing a pedal.

However, it is the bike of choice because it is so little that David isn’t afraid to fall.

I love his expressions!

Enjoy the pictures of his first day of riding his bike on the driveway:

Milestones

(I also found out yesterday that

Jacob’s feet are now bigger than mine.

!!!)

Posted on July 24, 2007 by Shanda

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Caleb James (my baby)

(He’s belting out “Jesus Loves Me” in this one:)

Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
~William Wordsworth, “To a Butterfly”

(Singing again:)

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

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“Love your babies today, say ‘yes’ a lot, read, hug, laugh and smile, praise more than correct.”

~Shanda

Posted on July 23, 2007 by Shanda

Homesick for Heaven

Yesterday evening I sat outside while Caleb was playing in the sand box. I had magazines with me but I never touched them because as I looked around me at God’s beautiful world, I was filled with longing for Him and for heaven.

My eyes filled with tears as I thought about it. What an awesome thought that I am actually going to go to heaven someday. I will be there.

“What if it were today? Glad day, glad day, then I shall see my friend. . . . .” (from a hymn)

After I put Caleb to bed, I read in one of my books these quotes from Richard Baxter:

“Christian, believe this and think on it: you will be eternally embraced in the arms of that love which was from everlasting and will extend to everlasting. .That love which was weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, butteted, spit upon, crucified, pierced. . .that love will eternally embrace you.”

“The noblest of Christians are they whose faces are most direct for heaven. . .What makes such frozen, uncomfortable Christians, but their living so far from heaven?”

“The diligent keeping of your hearts in heaven will maintain the vigour of all your graces, and put life into all your duties. The heavenly Christian is the lively Christian. . .We run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize.”

“The heavenly man will be speaking of heaven, and the strange glory his faith has seen, and our speedy and blessed meeting there. How refreshing and useful are his expressions! How his words pierce and melt the heart, and transform hearers into other men! That is the Christian of the right stamp, and all about him are better because of him. . .For my part, I had rather have the company of a heavenly minded Christian than that of the most learned disputants or princely commanders.”

“What a pity that Christians should ever meet together without some talk of their meeting in heaven or of the way to it, before they part. Pity that so much time is spent in vain conversation and useless disputes, and not a serious word of heaven among them. . .Should not Christians be delighted in talking of Christ, and the heirs of heaven in talking of their inheritance?”

Wherever thou meetest a Christian, he is going to heaven.

~William Gurnall

Just An Ordinary Day

Sometime some ordinary day will come,
A busy day like this — filled to the brim
With ordinary tasks — perhaps so full
That we have little thought or care for Him.

And there will be no hint from silent skies,
No sign, no clash of cymbals, roll of drums;
And yet that ordinary day will be
The very day in which our Lord will come.
–Author unknown

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

Posted on July 21, 2007 by Shanda

my daughter Grace Lillian

7 years old

happy girl

cat lover. . . .

my little reader (she talked about her book the entire time I was taking these pictures)

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Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Posted on July 20, 2007 by Shanda

I found this poem recently and loved it because is it my heart’s passion in mothering. . . .I hope it encourages you as much as it did me.

The Legacy
She could not give her children gold, So she gave them faith to have and hold. She could not give them royal birth… A name renowned throughout the earth. But she gave them seeds and garden spot And shade trees when the sun was hot. She could not give a silver spoon Or servants waiting night and noon. She gave them love and a listening ear And told them God was always near. She could not give them ocean trips Aboard majestic sailing ships. But she gave them books and quiet time, Adventures found in prose and rhyme. She could not give them worldly things But what she gave was fit for kings. For with her faith and books and sod, She made each child aware of God. —attributed to Alice Leedy Mason

The Legacy

She could not give her children gold,
So she gave them faith to have and hold.

She could not give them royal birth…
A name renowned throughout the earth.
But she gave them seeds and garden spot
And shade trees when the sun was hot.

She could not give a silver spoon
Or servants waiting night and noon.
She gave them love and a listening ear
And told them God was always near.

She could not give them ocean trips
Aboard majestic sailing ships.
But she gave them books and quiet time,
Adventures found in prose and rhyme.

She could not give them worldly things
But what she gave was fit for kings.
For with her faith and books and sod,
She made each child aware of God.
—attributed to Alice Leedy Mason

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Shanda

Happy Anniversary

to these lovebirds!

(my parents)

*32 years of marriage*

winged delights

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Shanda

” . . . .and yet they never bruise their Master’s flower, but leave it, having done, as fair as ever. . . .”

From the poem “Providence” by George Herbert (1593-1633)

I went for a walk with the kids yesterday and we came out of the woods into a hot field, hot from the afternoon sun. The smell was wonderful, like dry sun-tea, and it was soothingly busy with the hum of insects.

I sat down with Caleb to rest a minute and then noticed this little moth on a black eyed Susan.

I hate to tell ya . . . . . .I made poor Caleb cry when I took this, ’cause I had to ~~hold~~ push him away at arms length. It was quite amazing that I actually got such a clear shot.

And oh what a lovely dazzling one she was! She arranged herself so perfectly on her flower.

Now, this afternoon, while the children were ~~resting~~ playing upstairs, I sat outside and wrote a letter to my friend Joanna. It was hard to write because I was quite distracted by the sights around me. So much so that I went back in the house to get my camera. I was glad I did because I soon saw a beautiful butterfly.

I thought it was so interesting the way she had to get right down in the flower. So pretty.

This next one was the only one that I actually chased. It was worth it, though. She was beautiful as well and even color coordinated nicely with the purple clover. (yes, from my lawn lol)

I went all over the place after her before I got this photo:

Which one is your favorite?

The rest of the day was fun. The kids had their last scrapbooking class and I bought a few little scrapbooks to work on for fun. I am tired, though, and don’t think I’ll be up very long after the kids go to bed. Rich is working extra long days this week and still isn’t home. Every time I hear a vehicle I expect it to be him.

“Be ready to discover His divine designs
anywhere and everywhere.”
Oswald Chambers

Have a blessed evening!

Sincerity

Posted on July 16, 2007 by Shanda

“The wound religion receives from hypocrites is far more dangerous and incurable than that inflicted on it by the open and scandalous sinner. For religion is never brought into question by the enormous vices of an infamous person; all see and all abhor his sin. But when a man shall have his mouth full of piety and his hands full of wickedness, when he shall speak Scripture and live devilism, profess strictly and walk loosely, this lays a grievous stumbling-block in the way of others; and tempts them to think that all religion is a mockery, and that the professors of it are but hypocrites.” Ezekiel Hopkins (from A Puritan Golden Treasury of Quotes)

Do you ever have a certain word jump out at you as you read your Bible? Lately, the word SINCERITY has been on my mind. Sincerity is sometimes overlooked. For example, think of love in 1 Corinthians—“if I have not love, I am nothing”. The focus is on “love”, however, what SORT of love are we to have?

“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth” Joshua 24:14

“In godly sincerity, and not with fleshly wisdom” 11 Cor. 1:12

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” Ephesians 6:24

“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. . . . ..” Titus 2:7

(Sounds like a command to me!)

–the quality or state of being sincere : honesty of mind : freedom from hypocrisy

Sincere means: wholehearted, heartfelt, honest, pure, true, unfeigned

With the command in Scripture to be sincere, I think it is safe to assume that there are pretenders in the midst of our churches. . . . .let’s pray today that we are never numbered among them.

Christ is the One who does the work of sincerity in us, we need Him desperately! Get close to the Savior today!