93/366

gratitude-

to the praise of His glory,
early morning text,
friends faithful beyond measure,
voice message with prayer better than I would know how to ask,
beautiful girls and handsome guys,
hand in hand with my groom,
my grands,
Christian moving to the front row,
the grace of our pastor who knows us well,
my sister and her sweet tunes,
my kids all weeping,
that gaze and those smiles,
a prayer of 22 years answered today,
so many beloved faces in the crowd,
the embrace of dear ones,
those who stay 'til the end and put away tables and chairs besides,
the tasks completed and I don't even know who to thank,
a house-full,
a deep breath of thankfulness at the end of the day,
blessings all mine with ten thousand besides.

92/366

final preparations and all the details falling into place.

91/366

oh so grand!

90/366

I want to believe my faith in the gospel of grace is not limited to the “spiritual” things but is exploding onto every single mundane moment in my life. I want the shrapnel of this explosion to embed itself in every enjoyment, and failure, and celebration, and tragedy coming my way.
- Matthew B. Redmond, The God of the Mundane

89/366

Last go around on drivers ed. Times two.
((deep deep breath))

88/366

Midday prayers at Isaiah 55 ministries-
prayer for the neighborhood of Aquilles Serdan, for the city of Reynosa, for the state of Tamaulipas, for the country of Mexico, for the world...

Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

87/366

M&M malt eggs.
Watch out Robin Eggs.
You may have been replaced.

86/366

what is it about a puppy?

(ps- the pup is NOT ours. I am the Iron Lady when listening to any pleas for puppies. We only were loving on him for a bit...)

84/366

ok.
maybe NOT with the MOB dress.

83/366

I wasn't even wearing my Adventure shirt, which is good, except that it just goes to show that I can get a flat tire any ol' time...

(and I'm not ashamed to say, MAN. Am I thankful for the men I work with?!)

82/366

Comfort food.
alas.
not "I'm on a healthy living" food.

81/366

Morning looking east is bright. Except when you know even a hint of what is through that tiny door at the end of the street.

I am ever praying those who are in darkness will walk in the Light...

80/365

I really did plan on going home this night. But the bridge line was long. And staying put was just fine.

79/366

Team Arrives Day-
vans. check.
pick up. check.
narrative of life in south Texas/northern Mexico on drive home- check.
first dinner. check.
new friends for our kids. check.
ever thankful. abundantly so.

78/366

So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
- Matthew 10:31 (NLT)

75/366

"Love has its own exigencies. It weighs and counts nothing but expects everything. We know only too well that the gospel of grace is an irresistible call to love the same way."

- Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel 

74/366

Pi Day

73/366

Abide with me; falls the eventide; 
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. 
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee, 
Help of the helpless, abide with me.

Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile; 
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile, 
Thou hast not left me, though I oft left Thee, 
On to the close Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence, every passing hour. 
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter's power? 
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? 
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me.

- Abide with Me by Henry F. Lyte (1847), Justin Smith (2007)

72/366

Hours fly,
Flowers die,
New days,
New ways,
Pass by.
Love stays.
- Henry Van Dyke (as quoted in Betsy's Wedding by Maud Lovelace Hart)

71/366

Her name fits her perfectly, a precious one and ever intense. We knew it on the day she was born and its true now too. What a privilege, on this wandering pilgrim road, to share life with these folks (even if it means neon lights and loud music on a Friday night...((grin))

70/366

On this evening the after dinner chatter overwhelmed, and we snuck out the door, me and my pup, for a hike around the 'hood. I heard the parrots; I knew that I heard the parrots. We turned the corner and they launched from the tree, winging back and forth across the dusky sky. I will never tire of parrot sightings!

The mantra continues-
more parrots, less grackles.

65/366

Oh my God hear my cry 
From the depths I call out to you 
You give your mercy and light 
In the dark, in the wilderness 

Chorus 
My soul finds rest in God alone 
My salvation comes from him 
My soul finds rest, God is my home 
I will not be shaken, I will not be shaken. 

You are my shield and my strength 
Train my feet for this battle 
Our God is mighty to save 
I will wait, I will wait for him (Chorus) 

O my strength, I sing praise to you 
O my strength, I sing praise to you 
In joy or pain, I sing praise to you 
Night or day, I sing praise to you (Chorus) 

- "My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62) by Sandra McCracken

64/366

Many eyes go through the meadow but few see the flowers in it. 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

63/366

We finished dinner and I called the dog. Always willing, he shakes when I take the leash off the hook. We take a trot around the 'hood, just as dusk slides to dark. We hear echoes of barks and see dark eyes of the neighborhood cats shine as we amble on. The ups and downs of that day slip away as well. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 

62/366

Some hearts are built on a floodplain

Keeping one eye on the sky for rain

You work for the ground that gets washed away

When you live closer

Closer to the life and the ebb and flow

Closer to the edge of I don’t know

Closer to that’s the way it goes

Some hearts are built on a floodplain

And it’s easy to sigh on a high bluff

Look down and ask when you’ve had enough

Will you have the sense to come on up

Or will you stay closer

Closer to the danger and the rolling deep

Closer to the run and the losing streak

And what brings us to our knees

Some hearts live here

Oh the river it rushes to madness

And the water it spreads like sadness

And there’s no high ground

And there’s no high ground

Closer to the danger and the rolling deep

Closer to the run and the losing streak

And what brings us to our knees

Closer to the life and the ebb and flow

Closer to the edge of I don’t know

Closer to Lord please send a boat

Some hearts are built here

- "Floodplain" by Sara Groves

61/366

I have said it myself, the days can be long but the years are short. Until now. The days are too short, too.

59/366

My week was heavy. I heard stories of darkness and brokenness and honestly, evil. They seem bigger than I even know how to help, longer that I even know where to begin. How easily could I be Jonah, tempted to run and hide? 

But the weekend brought rest and encouragement, the sweetness of friendship, the fellowship of community, the joy of worship, the peace of prayer. A few well-pointed questions set me right for the week ahead.

from "Jonah's Flight," She Reads Truth:

Ask the Lord where He has called you and you have not obeyed. Repent of your disobedience and be forgiven. 

Consider the places and people to which He has called you and you have responded with obedience. Praise Him for His direction.  

Ask the Father where He would lead you now. Who needs to hear His message of mercy today? 

May we go in obedience and by His grace. May we have the courage to joyfully share the message of God’s salvation — a message that is just as much for the rest of the world as it is for our own souls.

If I take the wings of the morningand dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,even there your hand shall lead me,and your right hand shall hold me.If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light about me be night,”even the darkness is not dark to you;the night is bright as the day,for darkness is as light with you.-Psalm 139:9-12 ESV

58/366

gratitude-

who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places...,
"door's unlocked!,"
two handed coffee and prayer,
field of sunflowers,
Saturday cleanup,
wedding cupcakes,
leftovers for lunch,
kitchen table conversation,
a hug for the road,
community,
kicking a pink ball with a girl in pink,
"go long!,"
lingering long after dinner,
email catchup,
promise of tomorrow.

57/366

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

- Pablo Picasso

55/366

At the end of this day, it was Panda Pop and pup.

53/366

Girls basketball playoffs in our 'hood. It was the Cardinal gym tonight, but my thoughts were all Eagle. We know something about state basketball championships, don't we...

51/366

A day spent with these characters (and a couple more not in the frame) painting fences, working hard, getting dirty, laughing a lot.

I needed that.

If in doubt about the future generation, be encouraged.

49/366

My friend looked at me and asked "The twins are 17? Can you believe that?"

well...
(fast forward film reel of life- delivery room ordered chaos, pink/orange baby left-green/blue baby right, sharing bed never clothes, everything times 2, "are they twins?," "they are TWINS?," double the love, double the blessing...)

just barely.

48/366

I love surprises.

47/366

“Do you understand how there could be any writing in a spider's web?"
"Oh, no," said Dr. Dorian. "I don't understand it. But for that matter I don't understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place. When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle."
"What's miraculous about a spider's web?" said Mrs. Arable. "I don't see why you say a web is a miracle-it's just a web."
"Ever try to spin one?" asked Dr. Dorian.” 
- E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

46/366

“The ragamuffin who sees his life as a voyage of discovery and runs the risk of failure has a better feel for faithfulness than the timid man who hides behind the law and never finds out who he is at all.” 
- Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel 

45/366

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

44/366

MOB dress possibilities-
Madame Blueberry,
Lady Grantham,
The Cruise Ship,
Purple,
The Nightgown,
and others which shall not be remembered...

followed by a well-deserved reward for the consulting team at Red Mango.

Phew.

43/366

The best part about teaching the art class is watching the kids create.
The second best part is that I can too.

42/366

They managed to surprise their teacher, bringing an early birthday party to class today. Each of the girls had a gift to present and a sweet word to say and their teacher cried. "I knew that she would cry!" one of the girls furiously signed to the rest. "Joyce cares for us so much and she always starts to cry when we are doing well!" We laughed out loud, because it is true! And it reminded me again, how important these relationships are. The girls are learning to sew and making great progress, but to see and know such an example of love through their teacher is equally as important.

(and that candle! what a wonder! it opened and turned and played a birthday tune!)

41/366

When I get honest, I admit I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I am trusting and suspicious. I am honest and I still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer.

To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark. In admitting my shadow side I learn who I am and what God's grace means. As Thomas Merton put it, "A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God."
- Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

(photo from a hazy day in Aquiles. They were burning trash over at the dump and I could see the heavy smoke over the neighborhood several miles before I even crossed the border. And even so, again this day we experienced the goodness of God.)

40/366

A long day ends catching up on the computer, and I am thankful for the reminder that His grace is sufficient for me.

(screen saver from Hand Lettering Co.)

39/366

The view on this day included sugar cane smoke to the north, and a bustle of activity right below me. A short-term team in for the week and no one lacks for work. A landscape architect student eager to serve means cleaning up the yard and the trees and general beautification. Maybe even in Aquiles there is room for some curb appeal?

38/366

Not so super picture of a really super crowd to hang with on a Super Bowl evening...

36/366

"She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next." 
— Beverly Cleary, Ramona the Pest 

Life is so interesting.

I started the day with a group of homeschool moms. How did it happen that I was (at least nearly was, nah, I'm pretty sure I was...) the oldest still-homeschooling one in the room? I got to share about art and draw lines and color and create with super creative and very fun 4th-6th graders. 

I borrowed money from a friend for the toll (a friend in need is a friend indeed!) and picked up a box-full of basketball trophies and drove down the road. I crossed into Mexico. Traffic backed up immediately. I got the red light (and so did seemingly everyone crossing into Mexico today). The guy looking in my car examined every trophy, even called over a supervisor, and then told me to have a nice day. 

I dodged pedestrians and cars and dogs in the street and wound my way back to our neighborhood. I spent the afternoon translating English to Spanish (which was then translated to Mexican Sign Language) for a class of girls from the deaf school learning to sew. I crossed back over to the States after being asked to buy peanut patties and pottery and snacks and jewelry, after offers to have my windows washed, after appeals for money and more appeals for money. I dropped off friends, and drove back down the road, talking about ESL with a friend in far-away-Nebraska ready to start Bible studies with Karen people. 

I picked up cupcakes for the end-of-the-year basketball banquet and chicken for our dinner and headed home, 10 hours later. 

What is going to happen next?

35/366

If I were in kindergarten, today's report card might read:
Needs help wiping nose; doesn't play well with others. 

34/366

Dillon chillin' with some tunes...

(have I mentioned, he's a patient one...)

33/366

I walked into their room and time turned back and then flew forward, all in the blink of an eye.

32/366

I recently read about a ceramic art form called kintsugi, when artists use gold dust and lacquer to attach broken pieces together. Somehow the broken pieces become useful again, and even more beautifully held together than before the piece was broken.

After years of praying and months of waiting and weeks of planning, we spent this day focused on trafficking issues on both the Mexican and US side of the border. My heart broke into pieces over and again.

Our time together today was just a start. We have few specific answers and no concrete plans. But we move forward in hope, knowing that He who calls us is faithful, knowing that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He can make the broken beautiful again. Would you pray for us and our teammates as we, broken people, go and live and serve in this broken world, and speak and show and love in Jesus' name?

31/366

I headed toward the entrance to get my bulletin and her smiling face greeted me. Even though it had been many years, I recognized her immediately, and returning the grin came easy. We exchanged greetings and hugs and started to make our way to our pews. But then they stopped me and invited us to breakfast after church.
Invited us to breakfast after church!

We are rarely, rarely, invited to join folks to eat after worship. And so, that invitation came as an unexpected grace. But even more, what a treat to share a meal with this special couple. All five of us grinned ear to ear, from sitting down and squeezing into the booth to eating and on the drive home.

Our hearts and our bellies are full. You blessed our socks off, Dottie and Charles! Welcome to south Texas!