Dew-sy ~

when

the

ordinary

is

adorned by grace

strength and intricacy

are

revealed

Stored ~

is

treasure

meant to be stored

or

is it

meant to be used?

~ ~ ~

how do we guard

what

we value

without becoming

hoarders

of

time, wealth, possessions,

relationships?

Her Quiet Side ~

autumn slips

her

gown of scarlet

 spreads her cloak

prepares

for flight

then quietly

she

wisps away

 

unadorned

yet

whisper soft

 

she

captures

light

Imaginings ~

to think

that

what lies

ahead

is even better

~ ~ ~

it's hard to imagine

A Dream Broken ~

We sat, parked, listening to the rush of the river in the black of the night. Not park-ing as some would suppose, just sitting, listening, wondering. Finally he spoke. His words were direct, focused. “I’ve been thinking. We could be married in another year ... I’ll only have two years left of school. You would have to work.” A little thrill rose from the tips of my toes spreading upward to the top of my head. We’d been dating for 3 years ... since I was 16 and he 17. A romantic he wasn’t, but honest and true.

Wedding vows were spoken in the autumn of the year with one gone by. The leaves were changing, our hopes and dreams were colorful and bright. We walked, hand in hand, through those last two years of college. There was little money for gas. Long hours were spent at the lab, him studying, me working, money so tight that we sold a used textbook to buy a loaf of bread only to realize it was just enough to cover the price of two tickets to the movie, so we fed our souls instead.

With college graduation came new dreams, new goals. The summer was spent apart from one another with him working one place, me another. And a new portion of the dream grew in my womb, tethered with love before his departure.

More vows spoken ... another leaving. He would serve Uncle Sam in the USAF for the next four years. These were the years of ‘Nam ... of loss of friends .... of uncertainty. As it turned out, I became the injured through the war on the highway. The war of youth wanting to rush through life and hurting others in the process. He was only 18, the young man that struck us almost head on. His life just beginning ... mine now changed forever. Ending in ways I didn’t realize.

A beautiful piece of the dream was birthed six months later. Birthed in the form of a healthy baby boy. A father beaming with pride, a mother filled with gratitude ... two hearts overflowing with love. And fear. Now 22, and 23. Old beyond our years in such a short time.

The dream took on the appearance of “normal,” whatever normal is. The daily walking out, only in circumstances far beyond our control. There was no accounting for the grace that covered those days. But the presence of the Lord grew. The hunger to know Him bringing us closer together ... to Him.

Days turned into years. The dream began a slow fade. Major chips began to take their toll. Too many losses. Too many griefs. We struggled ... hard.

One moment what was a dream morphs into a nightmare and catches you unaware. Leaves you broken, wondering, listening, the rush of the river carrying you where you didn’t want to go.

The rush of the river, the black stillness ... and you’re alone, sitting.

Broken.

~ ~ ~

He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

photo by Joanne Norton

 This is a late link to the blog carnival on brokenness

hosted by

Bridget Chumbley

Apple Kissed ~

True

to

their word

Apple

has replaced

Mr. Mac

as it was still

under

an

extended warranty

~ ~ ~

it is taking me some time

to

get everything

up and running again

Going Where? ~

"We're so busy

watching

out

for what's just

ahead

of
us

that we don't take time

to enjoy

where we are"

Calvin

&

Hobbes

Autumn ~

how beautifully

leaves

grow old

how full

of

light and color

are their last days

John Burroughs

Rural at Heart ~

I've

been away

looking

up

a lot

seeing

new sights

with my son

celebrating

the completion

of

numerous

medical tests

rejoicing

in being home

~ ~ ~

hope to visit you soon

Light ~

Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.

William Shakespeare

The Little Things ~

Life

is

a great bundle

of

little things

Holmes

Grounded ~

broken winged

he

watches

created

to

fly

waiting

for

her return

longing

forever grounded

~ ~ ~

his mate

and their "kids" have remained faithful

to him

all summer

migration is imminent

which

will she choose

Green Hope ~

Romans 15:13

in

The Message Bible,

has

such an air

of

anticipation in it.

 " Oh!

May the God of green hope

fill you up with joy,

fill you up with peace,

so that your believing lives,

filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit,

will brim over

with hope!"

The color green denotes life and growth.

So it should be with hope ... continually growing, producing more life. 

~ ~ ~

Please visit Bridget Chumbley's

blog carnival

for

more about hope

Grace ~

strong as iron

His

weightless presence

enfolds

and

carries me

while

Heaven whispers

grace

grace

grace

be unto you

~ ~ ~

Zechariah

Nuts ~

folklore

has it

that

an abundance

of

acorns

predicts

a hard winter

~ ~ ~

there appears to be an ample supply

~ ~ ~

[mac is back in the same condition in which it left]