CHRISTmas & twinkle lights

Every way I glanced today I saw lovely splashes of crimson among the freshness of winter's newly sprung greenery. There is something strangely exuberant about this sudden change of weather, something intriguing and wonderfully exciting. I love the feel of frigid air upon my cheek, as I gaze above to branches being whipped about in a brisk wind. My mind of late has been wondering off to thoughts of Christmas, I so adore that time of year. Wreaths hug on every lamppost, dancing fires in the hearth, tiny twinkling lights that transform even the plainest of structures into a festive wonderland, and a feast for the eyes of every passerby. It is a time of cheer and thanksgiving, sweet gatherings of celebration and heartfelt gratitude. I have realized that my excitement does not stem from the thought of piles of perfectly wrapped presents, rather it comes from a longing for the innocent beauty of Christmas. Surrounded by family and friends as we sing together carols of that little baby born in a stable so long ago, serving each other with unselfish love, giving gifts not out of obligation but of joy, finding pleasure in the simplest of tasks, and all the while remembering the true reason for this glorious season.


I love Christmas music. It has such a feel of old fashioned romance to it... though perhaps I should not say all Christmas music. Jingle Bell Rock and Frosty the Snowman were not exactly what I had in mind. No, the songs I speak of are as soothing and thoughtful as lullabies. Their words paint pictures of warmth and bring joy to me no matter what the current season may be. They share tales of angles and kings, shepherds and swaddling cloth, cleverly placed mistletoe and dancing ladies. Intertwined in them all is always joy, hope, and love...

Rain at last has come to me

My hands and feet are freezing right now, and I am wonderfully glad. The sky is moody and dark, and the trees are but soft silhouettes swaying in the whispers of a storm to come. Joy is in my heart, and my God has blessed me ever so much in the beauty of this waning day.

Good evening, my sweet October...

Autumn makes me want to dance about for joy! I feel so astoundingly giddy. Perhaps this is because of the weather, though more probably it is because of the massive amounts of Vicodin I have been consuming lately...wisdom teeth are such nasty things, truly they are.

Oh my dearest Fall, I am so in love with you! Your glorious colors have not yet come to my little town, yet a wonderful promise of them is in this crisp breeze that stirs the drooping branches just outside my window. Everyday now, leaves dance about unashamedly around my car as I drive to and fro, weaving paths for themselves in the brisk air. Occasionally one will snuggle itself in my windshield wipers and will stay with me throughout the rest of the day. I enjoy their company so much.

Musings after a long day

Ah, the days of childhood...
When dreams and ambitions seemed so easily attainable. And being an adult was only ever a distant, erroneous thought of fiction. When my sense of fun was derived from a worn out, aged playhouse, concocting mysteriously delicious mud pies, and dressing up in pink frills and plastic pearls. My dreams knew no bounds and my imagination ran wild in every direction possible. Those were the days of innocent bliss, ballet dances around the living room in my tutu, and journeys in a pealing little red wagon through the frontiers of our back yard. Life sorrows consisted mainly of scratched knees or early bedtimes...ah, the days of simplicity and faith as only a child has. Children are such beautiful & amazing blessings. It is so strange sometimes to think that at one time I was one...


I am hoping so much that this movie will be good, and unblemished by Hollywood's wicked ways. If they ruin it...I'll just cry.

watercoloring the day away...

I forgot how much I enjoy painting. It brings such a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment to me. I am reminded yet again of the blessing which art is. God graciously gave me something which I can truly love and take pleasure in. What an incredible blessing it is to be able to do something well. I feel considerably productive when painting and drawing. Art is one of those things which is not needed at all for survival. Without it though, the world would be so different, so strange... Art is only a feeble attempt on our parts to capture the amazing wonders of creation. Our workmanship will never, and could never equal that of the Creator. Yet it is a joy to be able to create something beautiful. No matter how small or insignificant it might be to others.


"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun."
-Pablo Picasso

Songs for the stars

Here I sit, fingers at my keyboard, feet propped up quite comfortable on my little desk. It is late, and I should most definitely be sleeping. But instead, I listen. My window, which sits above the desk, is open; putting me in a perfect position to hear all the fascinating sounds of the darkness outside. Crickets are the most prominent voice to be heard. Their sweet twitters comfort me in a strange way. It is as though they sing songs of romance to the night sky, projecting everything they can from their small bodies. Thousands of them together, united in song, yet each with his own unique part. Every now and then a soloist can be heard. A voice of higher pitch to sing a new melody, and all the while the chorus continues.
How inconspicuous and common crickets are in the daylight. They seem only to hop around, doing nothing of any consequence, perhaps occasionally frightening a poor child suffering from insectophobia or something of the kind. Yet, when darkness comes, their true natures come forth in song. How lovely it is to hear. How rewarding to listen, if only for a moment, to the majestic sounds of the night...

Maple leaves & green tea...

Autumn is just around the corner, and I can hardly wait. Scarves and steaming cups of tea sound absolutely wonderful right now. I miss the rain, the sound of the wind as I doze off to sleep at night, and snuggling under massive amounts of fluffy blankets to find warmth. I am a sap for sweaters and pea coats, hats and scarves...I love fall colors; the crimson, the golden yellows, the deep ochre and beige's , the darkest chocolate brown mixed with a perfect emerald green... they all project such warmth, such feeling and marvelous beauty. Creation is truly breathtaking.

Cannons in the night

I am always reminded of this song when I look up at the night sky...
How small I am, how incredible His creation is, and how blessed I am to be able to see such remarkable beauty...


It's falling from the clouds
A strange and lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder and rain
It's ringing in the skies
Like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays

We're singing, You are holy, great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who you are
I'm so unworthy, but still you love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great you are

Beautiful and free
Song of galaxies
It's reaching far beyond the milky way
Let's join in with the sound
C'mon let's sing it loud
As the music of the universe plays

All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours, forever amen

"To truly love others, we must first love God."

On Friday night, the day after getting back from Costa Rica, my parents & I went to one of the concerts in the Paso park. I was still terribly tired and hadn't planned on going at all, but last minute I went. It was the first time I had been out in society after getting back and it was a bit of a shock. I actually found myself being rather disgusted by many of the people around me. Everyone seemed so self centered, always trying to impress someone else, always taking...
Children were running around, screaming, many of them obviously spoiled. I found myself comparing these people, my fellow Americans, to the Costa Ricans I had just spent the last 10 days with. I found myself wishing I was back in the jungles, in a place that held so little of the daily distractions which accost me here in America. Suddenly though, I realized something...I realized how incredibly selfish my own thoughts were. I had just been blessed with an amazing experience, one that many people would never even imagine. Yet here I was, judging those who I had been called to love. I realized something else; Americans need my love, and more importantly Gods love, just as much as the poor hungry people of Costa Rica. It is so easy to think of missionaries as people traveling to other countries, but really we are all called to be missionaries, and not only to far off areas of the world, but to our own country, towns, and homes. And not only for a week here & a week there, but everyday of our lives. This is of course not something that is in any way new to me. I have heard it before, and have really always known it to be true. It is something that I obviously need to continue reminding myself. Gods word teaches us to love. Not just those who we enjoy, but everyone, our enemies included. How simple a concept this is, yet how incredibly difficult...
Anyway, I really must go to sleep. I'm still rather exhausted from Costa. Maybe it's jet lag...whatever it is I can't seem to get enough rest this past week.


“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." ~John 15:12

Strange to think...

...that only last night I was still in Costa Rica. I miss it very much already. I wasn't expecting to feel such sadness and heartache as I do now. I miss the beautiful jungle(it really was the most breathtakingly beautiful place I have ever been), the amazingly selfless people, the lack of distractions and possessions, the adventures that every new day brought, and the comfort of constantly being surrounded by so many strong christian people. We all worked together, in the rain, under a boiling sun, covered in mud, or venturing through the rivers and jungles of our missions field. Right now I feel so overcome with emotions and memories of the last 10 days of my life. So much happened, so much changed...
Throughout the next few days a weeks I will surely be writing about my travels. At this moment though I still need time to collect my thoughts and catch up on some much needed sleep. All I can say is thank You God. Thank You for giving me this opportunity even though I did not deserve it whatsoever. Thank You for letting me feel Your presence like never before. Thank for working miracles right before my eyes. You are a mighty God!


Costa Rica
Forever in my memory they will be
lives of glorious surrender
love overflowing for God and King
oh how beautiful is the scarcity
of possessions and famed glory
in place of these is found humility
eyes set above, hearts overflowing with love
oh that I might be but a glimmer of these
oh that I would see the reality
of a God so mighty, so pure and lovely
to be free in Him
loving all without a thought of me
this is what my life must be

~a poem written while in Costa Rica, July 27-August 5 2009.

♥

You see the depths of my heart, yet You love me the same. You are an amazing God

Reflections...

"If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than for our own."~Charlotte Bronte