my favourite things/ kiddies and babies

they just popped out
the morning sun warm
the breeze fresh
the children putting out the horses to pasture
a baby wrapped cozy in my arms
a three day visit gift
from a friend
my heart full

they just popped out
these two like their mama
one boy
one girl
him bigger
preparing the way
for her to follow
a mature mom
calm in her way
relaxed
no fear
nuzzling me
letting the hounds
sniff and bond
contented baa sounds
filling the morning air
as she talks and they listen and baby baa back
already they suckle and stand wobbly
then strong and find the warmth of fresh colostrum
pure milk
comfort
and
belonging

This little baby too
a ransomed little one
known by the Father before we ever dreamed of her
now safe in the embrace
of a community
a mother
and two brothers
and all our love

This village will raise her
because we hold as one together
loving the forgotten
protecting the weak
her birth weight of a few pounds
now grown to eight
her mind clear
her body sound
we her family...

they just popped out
these two baas

yesterday God had me prepare
the birthing stall

He knew

I obeyed

and today
such happy little being alive sounds
these little lives wrapped five months
in hiding
now known
and treasured

this little girl
eyes bright
gooing such delightful alive sounds

these songs
of new birth

so sweet

kiddies and babies
my favourite things

my favourite things/ our kids home again

they all left
like baby robins
finally taking the leap
flight feathers not all quite there
but spring in the legs
and a youthful bounceback
to the bumps and falls of life

they survived
and with their first true flights
they spread those wings
and delighted
in life out of the nest
blue skies
adventure
hard work
dedication
new insights
faith tested
tried

it will...by God's grace
prove strong
and life giving
purposeful
and the only response
in a world
swayed
by wolves

we keep the home fires burning

love held

prayers lifted
for years invested
to see our fledglings
choose a walk
with the King of kings

for grace
to wait for the tapestries
to be complete
offering through the working
threads of love and God's Word
hope with faith
entwined
believing the One who only does good
believing in the One who calls
believing in the One who guides the heart of a King
how much more the heart of a beloved child

O how I love
when these kids come home

they are grown now
all three
all following their hearts
one a mama to orphans
one a mama in the growing
one a young man delighting in the strength of his youth
all  seeing the workings of God's marvelous world
and what life has taught them
all three different
yet the same
with their yearnings
their desirings
their hopes

us waiting to see how God will unfold their days
encourage them through the difficult
strengthen them through the storms
delight them through His beautiful gifts
teach them through His life
poured out
His Word given
His Spirit given

us waiting to see
what these kids take up
to help and guide them on their way

remembering our hope in our youth
our dreams in the beginning
our swaying with the storms of our doing
our falling on our knees
before the One
because there was no other
to give joy
or be our help

Our kids come home
and we delight to see their joy
we pray through their struggles
we know that there is a Father
a beloved Abba Father
that also watches over them with joy
who delights in His children
and guides them
on their way

I am blessed to be on the sidelines
praying and watching

we keep the home fires burning

love held
--------
our kids home again

my favourite things

my favourite things/ He gives us quiet rest

"Finally, as day was closing and the stars of the heavenlies lined up next to a slightly-golden 3/4 moon in a navy sky... "
http://these are words penned by my friend Dawn over at dschondog.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/delight-gets-a-bike/
--------------
she is watching the same moon
the same night sky
from a long ways off

I felt right at her side
these delightful nights
when day touches evening
and it never quite gets dark here...
though
perhaps there...
with her 'navy skies'

then
of a sudden
the sun that just set in the west
will rise again in the east
in just three hours
until then the
quiet darkness hides herself
in a brilliant ceiling
navy clouds
cast lightly
across the eastern sky
rain taken to the mountains
passing us by

I came out at 8:30
and fell into bed at midnight
the hours inbetween
hidden in the night watch
talking to each horse
cleaning paddocks
milking goats
herding them across the evening fields
as long as they heard my voice calling across the pasture
they were settled

Blue dog doing her task
with zeal
Sam resting
his work done

the colours lay rich and warm
in the final hours of day
when one works
the slightly golden moon
bigger than half size
coming up with the night
the sky still bright yellow
the navy clouds still drifting
in the eastern sky

the robins
could not quit their song
it lilted sweet and melodic
from the forest branches
high up
floating with the night air
the flickers' call staccatoing
alongside
the echo joyous
and clear
pure sound
electrifying the night
I lay captive
in its lair
spell bound

leaving... not an option
in the beauty
of this darkening hour

"Even the darkness is Light to Him"

my goats call out
the birds now quiet
the train calling
Good Night
as its soft rumble
far off
in the distance
echoes

I finally go home
down the long driveway
up our hill

above me the Big Dipper
tips out her blessings
angel dust
all about me
I take this quiet rest
and close the door behind me
my steps soft

I lay me down to sleep

I know my soul
the Lord
will keep

He neither slumbers
nor sleeps

the Lord
my Keeper
through the closing of day
and through the night

across the land and sea
and here with me

He gives us quiet rest

my favourite things

my favourite things/ Your love O Lord endures forever

Your love O Lord endures forever
---------------------
What shall separate us from the love of Christ
---------------------
I am holding tight
I dare not let go
what is there in this world
to give hope
when there is death
What is there to give hope
when there is failure
when sickness
and despair
oppress
and sink one down
to the depths

and then these words

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38,39)

There is hope
marvelous hope
a never dying hope
an unquenchable flame
burning
refining
getting rid of the dross
the imperfections that we don't need
His grace is not hurtful
We will not be separated from "Him" 
In a little while
we shall all be changed

I once saw my life go by me 
all my days in an instant
a twinkling 

Jesus was at my side 

He did not condemn
He did not judge
He did not point to my sin
I stood with Him ... and saw my life
there was no sorrow in watching

He said I just wanted you to see
that I was always with you

I am always with you

I want you to know that
nothing will ever change that

I was fifteen
crashed with a snowmobile
broken but not crushed

in an instant He taught me all I ever needed to know
He will never leave me
I will never be alone
I will always be loved
I may be broken but never crushed
nothing will separate me from His love
not ever
not sadness
not death 

ever

It will all pass
but
Your Love O Lord endures forever 

and in this embrace 
in which You hold me
I will always be safe 

the love of God
 
my favourite things

my favourite things/ Pentecost & May 29th

we celebrate twice

twice every year

and this year marks 35 years
that my man and I have walked this dear earth
together
hand in hand
with the One
Who has glued our hearts as one
though we be different
Who has given us peace after every war
words when no words could be found
no words when just being together was enough
Who has given us laughter
and a shared vision
though sometimes we have to share
how we see it
and wait
for eyes to focus
and hearts to soften
and kindness to flow

always
forgiveness
and a believing

always
pressing on
together
though sometimes we have to
find each other

sometimes love is close to hate
then back again and we wonder how it could ever have tipped so crazy
when 'together' is so much better

it is walking trails
through all seasons
watching babies become young people
with love all their own
dreams all their own
craziness
and adventures
all their own
dreams
unfolding for them
as we remember them
beginning with us

and we smile
and hold hands
and continue
down life's trail...
thankful for the One
who always holds us
and reminds us what Love is

and what Love does

today as the sun shon golden on the forest trees
while we yet slept
early in the morning
I awoke to this man yet beside me
as through most every other morning
of our thirty five years
I traced the lines of his face and hands resting
as he slept deep
I traced over them with my eyes
and realized how I know them completely
by heart
and how I love in these early hours
to waken
and just watch..
to hear his soft breath
and see the gentle and slow rise and fall
of his chest
and the morning light resting golden
across him

so beautiful he is
as he lies in this morning peace
and as he stirs
I slide my hand in his
and he squeezes it softly
though he still sleeps

and with the cat
our old Oliver
calling us up to start our day
with his meows
we join together in heart
and pray our way into this beautiful
new day
we lift all our beloveds
and their dreamings
all those about us who hurt
all those about us who rejoice
we lift them
to the One
who gifts us today
with 35 years

Bethany and Stephen
planned and cooked a banquet
for us today
ready for us as we came in after church
we had earlier phoned with Jedaiah
and Skyped with Shoshanna
and three little grand kiddies
all singing and laughing for us

That was when I noticed
someone saying
through cyberspace
that it was Pentecost

not that we had forgotten
you can't forget love
but that all this joy would fall
on our day
A God gift to us day

all this joy
and a great reason to celebrate
this was the cherry on the cake

Pentecost

our favourite things

my favourite things/ my Father's Love

my Father's Love

a channel Lord
I want to be
for Your Love
to flow
from You through me
to all I meet
along life's way
today
this moment
with each breath I breathe

Your Love through me
I pray
you'll
weave


today
this moment
with each breath I breathe

it's my Father's Love
it's what I need

my favourite things

my favourite things/ Mother's Day

it is a glad saying for those who hold the joy
deep in their bosom

for those with sorrow
it stings as an arrow pierced through

my heart aches
but more it is glad

I have these amazing kids
who show up on early mornings
flowers gracing their flight up the stairs
where I pour my love into body food for all
while they bring soul food for me
to encourage
and lighten
my heart

I float

the joy holds me
like a million helium balloons
I rejoice high above my worries
and cares
a song bubbles
from this fullness
and  a precious son smiles
at a silly mama's tears

he knows I loved
his gift

he knows
it was perfect

as it sits out with hummingbirds
already drunk on its nectar
they do a foxtrot between the hanging basket
of this glorious fushcia
and the hanging bottle of their sugary water
the dance goes on all day
and the buzz of joy
lightens our hearts

a papa breakfast
twice 
a hike with dad and son
a call from South Africa
on Skype
a call from Alberta
two delightful daughters
mother hearts of their own


love you notes and calls from heart kids
lent to me for this season
also forever loved
in my mama heart
our souls all glad
our spirits soaring

because somewhere
at sometime
we have all had a mom

even if we are not a mom

sometime in our lives
a mom has blessed us

so sorrow can be joy
most days!
this day!

Mother's Day
one of
my favourite things

and kitty sleeping with my man

my favourite things