Love never fails.

tucking inside

Once the Shepherd stooped and touched the flowers gently with His fingers, then said to Much-Afraid with a smile, 'Humble yourself, and you will find that Love is spreading a carpet of flowers beneath your feet.'

Much-Afraid looked at Him earnestly. 'I have often wondered about the wild flowers,' she said. 'It does seem strange that such unnumbered multitudes should bloom in the wild places of the earth where perhaps nobody ever sees them and the goats and the cattle can walk over them and crush them to death. They have so much beauty and sweetness to give and no one on whom to lavish it, nor who will even appreciate it.'

The look the Shepherd turned on her was very beautiful. 'Nothing My Father and I have made is ever wasted,' He said quietly, 'and the little wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems that there is no one to appreciate them. Just as though they sang a joyous little song to themselves, that it is so happy to love, even though one is not loved in return.

'I must tell you a great truth, Much-Afraid, which only the few understand. All the fairest beauties in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows anything about, or can only dimly guess at. Every inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower on the tree of Love. Many a quiet, ordinary, and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love's flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the King of Love Himself walks and rejoices with His friends.

Some of My servants have indeed won great visible victories and are rightly loved and reverenced by other men, but always their greatest victories are like the wild flowers, those which no one knows about. Learn this lesson now, down here in the valley, Much-Afraid, and when you get to the steep places of the mountains it will comfort you.'

excerpted from Hinds' Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard

[props to my irish dancing mermaid for her ability to see what others might miss]

found: treasures

found these gems
among a sea of treasures











After awhile you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up
and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.

After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much
so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn and you learn...with every goodbye you learn.

~Virginia Shopstall

then...

After 'after awhile'

You want to hold a hand not to chain a soul but

to enjoy its company,

and you want someone's lips to kiss,

not because you are lonely but because you are

happy, and you want to give presents

and you want to give promises.

After 'after a while'

You begin to accept your defeats like an adult,

but like a child, will want someone to listen and care,

and you want someone who will build roads with you today

so maybe you can pave the way for your future together.

After 'after a while' you want someone's sunshine and warmth,

but also accept the rain and the cold,

and you want to give flowers picked from your own garden.

And when your garden is picture perfect,

you want it to be more than a picture

even if it means having to be imperfect

because you want someone in it to stay and live.

Then you'll see that there is such a thing as love...

and that you were made to live in someone else's garden...

and you'll know that there is more to life than yourself.

AND NOW...you realize that no matter how tightly you hold,

if you're meant to let go, you can

And then you will understand that love gives you reasons

to understand even the most complicated situations

And you will grow older believing that just because

you have convictions doesn't mean you're always right.

You will remember lips because of the smiles that made your day,

the words that touched your soul, not only because of the sweet kisses

And as you graciously accept defeat and absorb the meaning of lessons

learned, you feel that you are finally being the person you never thought you'd be.

So, armed with courage, strength and confidence,
you will face the world head on...with or without an army behind you

Because you know your worth and that alone is an armor.

With more heartbreaks you will cry

But after every heartache, you will rise.

~Hazel

Sweet*13

Monday was Gracie's birthday! Remembering the day she was born and so grateful she is still here gracing us with her presence! Great day! It even snowed, she got cake and a walk~and showed us her gratitude by making a snow angel. She's a trooper~here's hoping she makes it to sweet 16!!

Once lost now found!

R.E.M.

at the cabin ~ for good ~ a year later . . .

The sun is still shining . . .

The bee and tree are still growing (with cousin Haley)

This was Mom and Dad on their honeymoon in July 1961.
Last year began a new chapter in their life as Mom joined Dad in retirement, sold their home in the cities, and moved up to the lake! This is where they most love to be. My sibs all have nearby cabins as well so they get to see their grand children & great grand children even more than ever!

And this is Leeah bee. We snapped this in June in back of the lot where the slab foundation of Grandpa and Grandma's new house had just been poured. I hear it is almost finished so I'll post more pics this weekend.

Then, the bee will repeat this pose every year to see how much she and the tree have grown!

[originally posted 7/16/2008]

animate

Find more videos like this on Woodland Hills Bridge

art ~ live ~ inspired

Paul Young Interview ~ The Shack

For those of you who have read the New York Best Seller book, "The Shack," here is an opportunity to hear from the author. It is incredible. When you access the web site click on 1 (along the left side of the video box). There is praise and worship for the first 1/3. You can put your mouse on the left-hand side of the sound bar and drag the cursor about 1/3 to the right and find when the interview begins if you want to bypass the singing. The interview is close to 45 minutes. Enjoy! The Shack Interview

p.s. You can listen, even if you have not yet read the book; it won't spoil anything for you!

generations of soul

baby got sticks

equality

oh happy day!

Today at 9am Rob defended his final work for his Master's degree in Counseling and Psychological Services [on the Therapeutic Use of Forgiveness] and it is finished! Hooray! Congratulations Rob on this great accomplishment!!

We celebrated with good friends while supporting Providence Ministries as NDY rocked the hizouse followed by Kingdom's debut performance.
And now to personally commemorate this day to the tune of Rob's favorite childhood song, here's a toe tappin' mind synapsin' rendition of the
B. J. Thomas hit...

Neurons keep dancin’ in my head
And now that this day has come there’s something to be said
And this song seems to fit
Those neurons are dancin’ in my head they keep dancin’

So I just did me some talkin’ to the Son
And he said good work my man it’s time to hear well done!
The Kingdom’s got your job
Those neurons are dancin’ in my head they keep dancin’

And there’s one thing I know
The blues of APA did not defeat me
It won’t be long till licensure steps up to greet me

Neurons keep dancin’ in my head
But that doesn’t mean my eyes are all done turnin’ red
Now onto MFT
‘Cause I’m gonna help them with their non-stop complainin’
Because I’m free
Well technically on sliding fee

[trumpet]

It won’t be long till licensure steps up to greet me

Neurons keep dancin’ in my head
And that really means my heart has fully come alive
Calling out to me
‘Cause this Counseling-Psychological degree is now mastered
I’m feelin’ free
Nothin’s worryin’ me

future

You have to watch and listen all the way through...I was glad I did.

Merry Christmas!

to you and yours...from us and ours

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

I'm dreaming of a white.... bunny!

[Rob put a carrot out so she just might get to see one]
asking Gracie if she wants to come in

I guess not.

word~rocks

. . . mccabe's creations

and mine . . .

rock-n-around the christmas tree

our first charlie brown christmas tree and we're ready to rock!

inspired by a lovely mermie by the sea

advent conspiracy

Autumn Falls on the North Shore

The Water Song
~ ~ ~
Come, oh come! let us away--
Lower, lower every day,
Oh, what joy it is to race
Down to find the lowest place.
This the dearest law we know--
'It is happy to go low.'
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
'Let us go down lower still.'

Hear the summons night and day,
Calling us to come away.
From the heights we leap and flow
To the valleys down below.
Always answering to the call,
To the lowest place of all.
Sweetest urge and sweetest pain,
To go low and rise again.

Hannah Hurnard ~ Hinds' Feet On High Places

'Much Afraid,' said the Shepherd's voice in her ear, 'what do you think of this fall of great waters in their abandonment of self-giving?'

She trembled a little as she answered. 'I think they are beautiful and terrible beyond anything which I ever saw before.'
'Why terrible?' He asked.
'It is the leap which they have to make, the awful height from which they must cast themselves down to the depths beneath, there to be broken on the rocks. I can hardly bear to watch it.'
'Look closer,' He said again. 'Let your eye follow just one part of the water from the moment when it leaps over the edge until it reaches the bottom.'
Much-Afraid did so, and then almost gasped with wonder. Once over the edge, the waters were liked winged things, alive with joy, so utterly abandoned to the ecstasy of giving themselves that she could almost have supposed that she was looking at a host of angels floating down on rainbow wings, singing with rapture as they went.
She gazed and gazed, then said, 'It looks as though they think it is the loveliest movement in all the world, as though to cast oneself down is to abandon oneself to ecstasy and joy indescribable.'
'Yes,' answered the Shepherd in a voice vibrant with joy and thanksgiving. 'I am glad that you have noticed that, Much-Afraid. These are the Falls of Love, flowing from the High Places in the Kingdom above. You will meet them again. Tell Me, does the joy of the waters seem to end when they break on the rocks below?"
Again Much-Afraid looked where He pointed, and noticed that the lower the water fell, the lighter it seemed to grow, as though it really were lighting down on wings. On reaching the rocks below, all the waters flowed together in a glorious host, forming an exuberant, rushing torrent which swirled triumphantly around and over the rocks. Laughing and shouting at the top of their voices, they hurried still lower and lower, down through the meadows to the next precipice and the next glorious crisis of their self-giving. From there they would again cast themselves down to the valleys far below. Far from suffering from the rocks, it seemed as though every obstacle in the bed of the torrent was looked upon as another object to be overcome and another lovely opportunity to find a way over or around it. Everywhere was the sound of water, laughing, exulting, shouting in jubilation.
'At first sight perhaps the leap does look terrible,' said the Shepherd, 'but as you can see, the water itself finds no terror in it, no moment of hesitation or shrinking, only joy unspeakable, and full of glory, because it is the movement natural to it. Self-giving is its life. It has only one desire, to go down and down and give itself with no reserve or holding back of any kind. You can see that as it obeys that glorious urge the obstacles which look so terrifying are perfectly harmless, and indeed only add to the joy and glory of the movement.'

being a part of the great waterfall

each drop being a necessary part

of a greater whole that together

form a healing flow
Yes!