My day began with a three and a half hour drive through some of the most beautiful countryside in Michigan. The rolling hills and colors of fall were spectacular and I was thankful to arrive at my destination early enough to unwind for a few minutes before jumping right into the busy day that was planned.
As a newbie to the conference, an orientation was held to better equip us with info that would help us navigate the the full schedule that we held in our hands, and it was full, let me tell ya. Serious brain overload folks, but the substance that was delivered by many brilliant authors, was full of wit, joy, and wonderful wisdom shared with ease. Everyone has been delightful, open, and approachable and the attendees have been thoroughly blessed indeed.
The scripture that comes to mind to me for this conference is Habakkuk 3:19, "The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places."
I will surely need the strength of the Lord, each and every moment of this incredible journey, but with Him I will ascend to heights unknown with a confidence that I am never alone, because He loves me.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Longing
Deep within is a longing for paradise,
a craving for
Eden.
At every turn seeking to enter glory
in a vastness beyond comprehension.
Beauty and splendor I try to create, blissfulness,
wonder, peace, and rest.
Yet Eden eludes me, ever close but always distant.
The secret garden of my soul, I can not recreate.
Birds, blooms, and bumblebees.
Benches, weeping boughs, and running streams.
Still these do not satisfy the longing within.
Works of iron, stone, wood, and clay
do not quell the
souls ache.
Perhaps it's not paradise, nor
the secret garden with
its key.
What is this longing, this desire within?
Have I been misguided in my quest?
What are those words of ancient days
about a garden in the cool of the day?
A presence among the trees and those hidden away.
Naked and afraid I hide myself.
Running from, “Where are you?”
Can it be a One, and not a place or a when,
a connection, and not a notion?
A moment when all was right, indeed it was very good.
Oh my soul is your true longing, not for a garden,
but
for Him?
Deep within is a longing…
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Misty water colored memories
This time of year has an essence to it that brings to mind special memories from days gone by...
Touch football and Kick the Can, picking mushrooms with my dad, raking leaves into piles of fun, what a joyful time we had.
Loaves of homemade cinnamon bread, rising in their pans. Carmel apples and popcorn balls, the best we ever tasted, with seven kid and lots of neighbors, nothing was ever wasted.
Grown up now, with children of my own, making lot and lots of memories for us to behold. Treasure hunts in the woods with brown paper bags, to hold all the plunder that was to be had; acorns, pine cones, maple leaves, and just for good measure, salamanders that were, extra good treasure .
Scouting with daddy the best place to hunt, roasting hot dogs on sticks, and learning deer grunts.
Our annual visit to the Apple Orchard for some doughnuts and cider, hay rides for picking out pumpkins to carve, and purchasing black plastic spiders.
Hikes on Snake Island and long Sunday drives, hard salami and crackers, dill pickles to buy. Road trips for ice cream and visiting friends, bicycle rides on trails with no end. Geese flying south and wine for the cellar, fall is a banquet of fiery color.
River of Time, Root-beer and campfires, Scottish in kilts and roasts on the fire. Abraham Lincoln speaks the Gettysburg address, Kettle Corn and Sassafras, perfume and fancy dress. Spinners, Sweet Annie, dulcimers and hymns, the smell of the river flowing within.
Marching Band and football, Pom poms and dances, parades and pictures and memories to last us. A September wedding on a beautiful day, two became one and sweet memories were made. An October Bridal Shower caused my heart to flip flop, our daughter however, was over the top.
Our children are gone and have long moved away, but the memories we have are with us today. My love and I have begun anew, learning those things that we like to do. So as my memories appear on a breeze, I will savor them thankfully and always believe, that with each year as new memories are made, they will join with the others in my own sweet bouquet.
Touch football and Kick the Can, picking mushrooms with my dad, raking leaves into piles of fun, what a joyful time we had.
Loaves of homemade cinnamon bread, rising in their pans. Carmel apples and popcorn balls, the best we ever tasted, with seven kid and lots of neighbors, nothing was ever wasted.
Grown up now, with children of my own, making lot and lots of memories for us to behold. Treasure hunts in the woods with brown paper bags, to hold all the plunder that was to be had; acorns, pine cones, maple leaves, and just for good measure, salamanders that were, extra good treasure .
Scouting with daddy the best place to hunt, roasting hot dogs on sticks, and learning deer grunts.
Our annual visit to the Apple Orchard for some doughnuts and cider, hay rides for picking out pumpkins to carve, and purchasing black plastic spiders.
Hikes on Snake Island and long Sunday drives, hard salami and crackers, dill pickles to buy. Road trips for ice cream and visiting friends, bicycle rides on trails with no end. Geese flying south and wine for the cellar, fall is a banquet of fiery color.
River of Time, Root-beer and campfires, Scottish in kilts and roasts on the fire. Abraham Lincoln speaks the Gettysburg address, Kettle Corn and Sassafras, perfume and fancy dress. Spinners, Sweet Annie, dulcimers and hymns, the smell of the river flowing within.
Marching Band and football, Pom poms and dances, parades and pictures and memories to last us. A September wedding on a beautiful day, two became one and sweet memories were made. An October Bridal Shower caused my heart to flip flop, our daughter however, was over the top.
Our children are gone and have long moved away, but the memories we have are with us today. My love and I have begun anew, learning those things that we like to do. So as my memories appear on a breeze, I will savor them thankfully and always believe, that with each year as new memories are made, they will join with the others in my own sweet bouquet.
Note to self
Make sure you SAVE periodically as you blog...just inadvertently deleted all that I had been working on for the last hour...sigh...will try again tomorrow...
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Fragrance of Autumn
Wow...I have started a blog...partly spurred on by my daughter-in-law's starting one this past week, and my son's know how, I found myself thrust warp speed into the 21st century world of the "weblog" which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information, as defined by codex.WordPress. I'm a little anxious about the whole thing as I consider myself not very techy, but I do believe the time of year is fitting for me to do so...the beginning of fall...a time of great change here in Michigan...the days are growing shorter, the leaves are turning, the nights are cooler and the air has a fragrance to it that is, in my opinion, one of the most aromatic of all our seasons. No perfumer has yet to capture the essence of autumn in a can, however, I do believe that "Leaves" by Bath and Body comes pretty close...how did I get here? Anyway...I was saying that I felt fall was the perfect time to begin this chronicle...Fall is all about change...and things are changing...
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