I'll hold onto you...

I've just come back from Samuel's room. He woke up crying because his water cup was making "an awful squealy noise that made me cover my ears, Mommy."

He asked me to lie down with him, so I did - and received that special smile - do you know that smile? Anyway, we were chatting and giggling and he said, "Mommy, you can sleep here in my bed tonight if you want to. You can sleep and sleep and sleep all the night right here with me. I'll be sure to hold onto you so you won't fall off."

Once again - loving that precious heart :)

calling all who sew

My friends Kimmie and Randi are organizing a sewing project! They are asking us to join with them to sew skirts to give to the women and children of Temuco, Chile.

It's an urgent need, and the deadline is very near. If you can help, visit Randi's blog here for more information. Thanks so much :)

Have a most blessed Wednesday!

classic Mr S

Overheard at the table during lunch...

Q: Samuel, how are your crunchy carrots?

S: GREAT! is the Lord...

Loving the heart of my little man :)

reading this week ~ Psalm 9

I am reading through the Psalms. Would you like to join in? This week, we are reading Psalm 9...
.
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
.
3 My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.
.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
.
7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.
.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.
.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
.
16 The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.
.
18 But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
19 Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men. Selah
.
Have a lovely week!

reading this week ~ Psalm 8

Our reading this week is Psalm 8...
.
1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
.
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
.
Have a lovely week!

Meredith's colors

A week of quiet here. So many things running through my mind. I struggle, and as is often the case, there are just no words.

Until today. Tonight.

Meredith came in from playing outside bringing a bouquet of fall leaves. A heart-song of joy. A love-gift for me.

Little does she know. So often the Father uses her gentle heart, her beautiful seeing to bless me. He reaches out with hugs and kisses and peace and hope through her.

Tonight love and hope and seeing is a leaf. It is not the bright, sassy red that you would expect (if you know me well enough to know that it's always the reds ;)

Yellow. Bright yellow, yes. But covered with brown spots. Dying. Visibly not vibrant any more. And yet, it's the "beautiful one I chose for you, Mommy!" It's the "see Mommy? Isn't it going to be a lovely fall season?" one grasped gently in a little hand. And offered with such joy.

This yellow one. I took it from her, and He whispered, "Sshhh. All is well. I Am."


A prayer. A praise.
For today :)

reading this week ~ Psalm 7

Are you reading along? Psalm 7 this week...
.
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands-
4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or without cause have robbed my foe-
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust. Selah
.
6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you.
Rule over them from on high;
8 let the LORD judge the peoples.
Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
.
9 O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.
.
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day.
.
12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
.
14 He who is pregnant with evil
and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.
15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit he has made.
16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his violence comes down on his own head.
.
17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
.
Have a lovely week!