journey to the other side

When pain is deep and strong, I know God will get me to the other side. Never fails. But I can't escape it or deny it to learn the lessons. We've got to go through it.

Rafting in Ladakh, India

Source: Wikipedia

Although at times the anguish we are feeling makes the distance seem so very far to cross, as I remember reading somewhere.

Today the distance does seem far to cross, but the sun is starting to appear. "Land Ho!" I see the horizon, and I've got a glimpse of the other side. Blue skies. But I've got to go through it to get there.

I spent time at Girl Scout camp every summer as a child -- two to four weeks non-stop, day and night, in the woods. We used to sing the following song and do the actions. It's amazing how children's songs and fairy tales tell so many truths about our lives. This children's song reveals the truth that it takes courage to face pain, truths, and obstacles.

I don't think bear hunts are much fun, but it's nice when you're safe back home.

Click to experience a Bear Hunt.

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Life with Kaishon.

story of an unfortunate bird - an allegory

Early this morning I was sitting by the window.




Everything was quiet and peaceful. The sun was coming over the horizon. All appeared to be right with the world for the happy little bird -- she was chirping and singing at the top of her lungs.

The way seemed clear and she flew and flew, happy as a lark (but she wasn't a lark), then BAM! She banged head-on right into my window. A big bang.

Disoriented all of a sudden, not realizing what was happening to her world, she tried to fly away from the window. "What happened to my world? Where am I?" But after a while, becoming oriented again, realizing she was a bird and it was "in her" to fly, she eventually flew again.

But not in the same way as before. She couldn't fly straight at first and was dizzy from the blow.

The way wasn't as clear as she had thought. Tomorrow the sun will come up. It'll be a new day, and she'll have a chance to fly happily again.

My window needs cleaning.

discovery

Photo of barn by Jimi Ann.

"We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time."

~T. S. Eliot

Sweet Shot Tuesday. For more about photography and breathtaking photos, click here.

Safely Through Another Week: Wrap-Up

I'm totally uninspired this morning. The well is dry. Nothing left.


Waking up with hot flashes and sweating all night does that to you. Four hours sleep tops. And broken up at that. When the children are no longer babies, you think, "FINALLY, I can get some good sleep; no babies to wake me up in the night." Uh-uh. Try again... Now I've locked myself in my room until I can be not so grumpy.

But I guess it's okay to be uninspired some days. If all days were perfect, we wouldn't notice them, because we'd have nothing else to compare them to. Hills and valleys; ebbs and flows. I'm confident that there are special treasures in today, if I only look for the everyday miracles that God orchestrates so effortlessly for us. So I'll keep my eyes open and pray for vision to see clearly, past the muckiness. At times like this, it helps to think of the good things from the past week that I can savor in my thoughts. It also helps to read Posts on Gratitude. It'll help me realize that life's not really as bad as it seems when I'm feeling so yucky.

Well, let's see...Monday I rested from our looooong, tiring weekend. It was so nice to wake up, stay in bed a little late, stretch, and not have to rush out anywhere. I let the children sleep in a little as well. We spent the morning slowly getting the house back in order, then we did school in the afternoon. I love the freedom of homeschooling! It's always nice to change things up a bit, like doing school outside, studying at the library, storytime at the park, or...doing school in the afternoon.

Tuesday night we went on a field trip with our homeschool/church group to the Observatory. We had perfectly clear weather, and got to see Jupiter and four of it's many moons.


It was nice laughing with my friend Lucinda. That was probably the best part for me! Laughter with an understanding friend...

Wednesday was a nice, ordinary day. Predictability and stableness are refreshing some days. (But too much is, well, not refreshing!)

Thursday, my daughter Pauline was in the throes of a full-blown sickness. Kids are funny when they're sick -- the ones you think would be quiet, patient sufferers aren't.

Ever feel so yucky that you follow people around the house all day and go sit near them so they can hear you whimper and feel bad for you? Times like these when a mommy builds lots and lots of character, HOPEFULLY. And, I guess it's easier to listen to someone be sick, than to actually be sick yourself. Or is it??

Then us girls had some quiet moments Thursday night when Drew took the three boys to our cell group gathering (a Bible study with other families). The boys needed to get out and stretch a little, be around a few other children. And, believe me, there were plenty of children to do that with Thursday night. In our little gathering of four families, there are 28 children! (With more on the way...gulp.)

So, it was nice to have quiet time with my sweet Pauline to rest and recover. To recoup from the boy-noise.

Friday. Got up feeling great, lots of energy. Going to accomplish a lot. School, cleaning, catch-up with the laundry, a little sewing, to the park for some exercise, and then maybe to the library. I may even break down and go to the grocery store! Woo-hoo! Feelin' good!

In reality, we got some school accomplished, did one load of laundry when I realized we're out of detergent, and a quick walk at the park for half an hour. I had aspirations of trying to get some great photos in the golden afternoon sun. But by the time we found the boys' shoes and ran back in the house to use the bathroom multiple times while the rest waited in the car, drove to the park, well, the sun had passed it's golden age.

I was very grateful for the meatballs we (really it was Pauline) made last week and put in the freezer. We had a nice Italian meal with homemade meatballs and sauce, whole-wheat pasta and a nice salad. Even a holiday-type cake for dessert! Sonlight, a curriculum we use, sent out a newsletter last week, and there was this very easy holiday cake recipe in it:

Quick and Easy Holiday Cake
(from Sonlighter Bethany W.)

1 package spice cake mix
1 21-oz. can apple pie filling
3 eggs
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
whipped topping

Beat dry mix, pie filling and eggs together. Spread half in greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over it. Spread rest of batter on that. Bake 30-35 mins. on 350. Cool. Serve with whipped topping. Wa-lah!

Looking forward to today, Saturday. And expectantly searching for those little miracles. My mother-in-law sent us a book she enjoyed by Bruce Wilkinson: You Were Born for This, 7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles. Check it out by clicking on the title.

My husband is feeling quite ambitious this morning, as you can see (those are socks, by the way!):

Please share about your week, what you're doing today, or any comments AT ALL... Now go search for those miracles! That's what I'll be doing. Digging for treasures. And remembering to be grateful for each little one.


(Did you notice I finally figured out how to use that Hyper-Linky-tool thing? Well, actually, my husband sat down with me and very patiently instructed me. Check out the Homeschool Curriculum We Currently Use links on the sidebar there. I'm getting a little hyper-linky happy now. It'll wear off soon...)

Five Loaves Ministry

Five Loaves is a ministry our church has to inner-city children once a week. We go to their neighborhoods and pick up the children (approx. 50) and bring them to 5th Street. Here are some snapshots of our weekly times together. We are truly blessed to be a part of these children's lives... (Above is our Coordinator, Jeff, giving instructions for the night).
Drew and some of his favorite girls. (They flock to him!)
George and Daddy
Peter pretending to be mad

Five Loaves - Snapshots from 5th Street

Julie
Jen
Ketura, Pauline, Jayden, Jasmine
Lily
Pauline
Pauline
Caleb, Michael, Jeffrey

Many Activities at 5th Street

LEARNING GOD'S WORD - Drew teaching
SINGING PRAISES - Micah
PLAYING BASKETBALL - Caleb, Peter, Sam and Lily
EATING HOT MEALS - Emily with her group

Preparing Food for 5th Street Children

Sarah Ann busily preparing food -- spaghetti, homemade bread, fresh veggies and grapes, plus homemade whoopie pies for dessert...