Friends are friends forever if....

Heading over tonight ... I guess to say our official goodbye to dear friends who are moving. My girls & I are "losing" three of our closest friends. Not losing in the sense that we won't be able to see them again but in the sense that we won't be able to see them anytime - as we pretty much do now. Our families have become so close that we're almost like family now & things just won't be the same w/o them nearby.

Who's gonna:

- fill "their pew" in church?
- play the drums in the praise band?
- be willing to chat if I stop over w/ a Dunkin Donuts coolatta unexpectedly
- be willing to chat & offer me tea if I stop over unexpectedly w/o a coolatta in hand
- fill their slot in the food pantry team
- drive for youth group events bc they have the biggest car
- fill their spot in the coffee time ministry
- practically provide a second home/home away from home for my girls
- play in the rain & walk to the store to get a snack, & skateboard & laugh & play & play & laugh w/ my youngest daughter
- talk "boys" (two in particular) w/ my oldest daughter & go on double dates w/ her bc she's not allowed to "really date" yet
- etc. etc. etc....


Praise God that - as Michael W. Smith so eloquently said ... (& it's a good thing it's him saying it bc I'd blubber my way thru' it & probably clean out a box of kleenex in the process) ....




note: the only part I beg to differ w/ is the part where he says "it won't even seem you've gone".

The natural tendency of everything....

edited...bc after re-reading it myself, I'm not sure it even made sense on my first try :)


The natural tendency of everything is to move from order to disorder*. We are, in a manner of speaking, a dying universe - everything not specifically being protected & upgraded is in a downward spiral - aka the law of disintegration &/or entropy (my note: if you read/viewed this recent post, this may be tho't provoking in & of itself). The only way to postpone/temporarily combat its influence is to invest creative energy and intelligent design in that which is to be preserved*

Dr. Dobson said it so well in answer to a question re: marriage. I just summarized it even further (above) bc it struck me as simply profound & applicable to every aspect of life... work, relationships, environment, church, education, etc:

My tho'ts: Hmmm......

...Interesting - that in order to postpone/temporarily combat "the law of disintegration" we need to do, to the best of our ability, what our Creator did perfectly the first time/at the beginning of time - using creative energy & intelligent design.

& ....it seems SO obvious that the theory of evolution (continual improvement) makes no sense. Perhaps it's the only conclusion - even tho' it's illogical - when creativity & intelligence (God!) are excluded from the process to understand the universe (science) & instead we attribute it all to "random chance"?

All I know is that in my quest for answers to the really big questions of life I see incredible order, pattern, purpose & beauty that is undeniably obvious from the microscopic to telescopic (ie. have you ever considered how much a single cell resembles the solar system?!) which implies design (& therefore a Designer!). The nature of a/THE Creator (good!) is revealed & allows so much to make so much more sense - to me. In turn, I'm inspired to invest creative energy & intelligent design in every aspect of life (home/family, politics, business, etc.) to attempt to preserve that which is good. So - please excuse me while I go do just that...

via

note: This could take a while ... bc I find contemplating the universe while at the same time feebly trying to combat/postpone the law of disentegration in my corner of it - to be time consuming & exhausting at times (as I tho't this cartoon illustrates so well :) but I'll try to keep ya posted :)

*Focus on the Family Magazine Aug/Sept 2009 - Issue Pg 28

Picnic w/ a view....

We decided to picnic for dinner. Wanted a "table" w/ a view - but it was quite a hike.

Going UP!

It was worth it though!

WOW!! - would you look at that sea of trees!

These two got into quite the philosophical discussion....the question at hand was
"Does Science prove anything?" Hmmm..... pretty heavy stuff for table talk - but I must say it does look like she knows what she's talkin' about ... doesn't it ? :)

Going DOWN!

And ... what is this?!
... combined w/ the coolness of the evening I'd say that's some early signs that fall is just around the corner.

Quote of the (my) day

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."
— C.S. Lewis

Today

Ooohhh Mr. Beaver....... anyone home????

Wild Blueberries - Sweeeeet!

We saw a family of Canadian Geese, a strange fish, a beaver dam & Hubby saw a big Heron we think .... but this (above) was by far the wildest of the wildlife I saw :) I think he's pretty cute. :)

Yesterday

Aug 10, 2009

Super soft sand,
NO traffic,
CLEAR water
not a pebble to be found on the beach or in the water
plenty of sun... & a ton of fun :)

Cape Ann

us & them

his & hers

me -n- him

him -n- her

one of a kind!

HI MOM!!

Larry, Curly & Mo

Hidden (in heaven) Treasure

Today was our annual church picnic & baptism at a nearby lake. Out of all the "special" things our church typically does, this one is extra special. So much of what we do is done indoors & just the fact that this time of fellowship & fun is spent outdoors in a beautiful corner of creation makes it extra special - & I love that adults & kids PLAY TOGETHER :) Love it! But - this church picnic was extra-special for us bc one of the girls (I'll call her "Happy") getting baptized asked our youngest daughter to be her prayer partner. It meant praying "publicly" during the service for her (which takes a lot of courage!) & it's a commitment to pray for that person for the rest of their life - ie... it's a BIG commitment for anyone - but esp. for a 12 yr old. I was touched that Happy saw something in Strike that caused her to choose her ... I'm not sure what that was - but inherent in the request was a sense of trust & confidence that turned the simple request into an honor to be asked! :)

Since Strike agreed, I tho't it would be nice to get a special gift for Happy to commemorate such a special occasion. Together we picked out a butterfly necklace & discussed a Bible verse to share along w/ the gift. Strike sweetly wrapped it up & wrote this note to go with it.

Shhh... listen to her heart...

Dear ______,

Thank you for picking me to pray for you at the baptism service. It meant a lot to me. I’m so glad that we are friends. Were both a lot alike. We both like having a good time and we both are pretty goofy but that’s just who we are :), but the most thing that we have in common is that we both LOVE the Lord. And that’s pretty special. :)
I’m glad God made us friends.

This verse below represents the little gift that I have given you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:15

Love Your BFF,

__________:)

Tucked somewhere deep inside all of that - the request, the gift & the note - my husband & I found another one of those rare & precious jewels we find once in a while but often when we least expect to ..the kind I've mentioned before that shine so bright (seen in the smiles they create), & sparkle (in the eyes of the beholder), & are SO clear (in the understanding they convey) .. and they look like --- well - like ... perhaps we're doing somethin' right :) ... priceless.

***

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20