Today

Scenes of today, in my space on earth :

Rain falling gently, thunder rumbling, a dim and cozy house.

A new bible study, Beth Moore's James. The first one I've been able to do with a group of ladies since I started college. So happy to be doing this :)

A birthday coming soon for our littlest. Lucky number 7.

Flowers picked by Joshua

and his dollar from the tooth fairy for losing that little bottom front tooth.

And him, napping in the middle of this summer day. The night owl nature comes out in our children when school is out, late nights means for some off schedule sleep patterns.

But that's okay. It feels like the rhythm of summer here in this house.

Mornings

I love mornings...

I so do.

I am off school for the rest of the week, and the kiddos too.

4 whole days of not having not having to run out the door early.

And the happiest thing about that is, getting to savor my most favorite time of the day.

In my favorite morning time spot.

Soaking in scriptures and coffee,

and reviving my weary soul.

"On the day I called, you answered me, my strength of soul you increased."

Psalm 138:3

I so love the way mornings offer promise.

A brand new day, a clean slate.

Sparkling like the morning sun off leaves.

When I make the time to face Him,

I can be like this tree.

Reflecting the light.

Mornings make even Blue's path, drenched in the night's rain,

a sparkling path.

All is green and fresh and bright.

The skies seem bluer and clearer.

And I begin to realize, it's not just because it's morning that all seems clearer.

Could it be instead, that I, like the grass and the trees and the path,

were dry -  needing a good soaking?

That I too needed to clear the clouds and feed this soul?

That when I fill first with Him, in the morning, everyday could be like this?!

New Directions

Now that I have switched majors,

I have had to switch schools.

Technically it's the same school, but a different campus.

I still have to drive to New Orleans, but in a different area

and to a campus I have never been to before.

One where I know no one. 

No friends on this journey with me.

No one to explore this big campus with...

Or to help me as I am nearly freaking out over not knowing

what on earth I am doing in Chemistry and Physics...

I thought I'd be studying science - not math like I've never seen before.

Math with Scientific Notation to the 1000th degree hard,

and vectors and graphing and compasses, oh my!

And yet, even in this, I find peace and beauty.

This big and strange new campus is right across the street from

City Park in New Orleans.

I purposely park farther from my classes, just so I can face this park.

 Magnificent old Oak Trees, lovely enough to calm this fearful student.

I park here under this tree.

Only in New Orleans, do you find Mardi Gras beads hanging like fruit in a tree!

And even on a wire...

And so in between one hard class and the other,

I make my car a sanctuary.

I eat, I read, I soak in the words and the view and pray for strength to do this...

I gather strength from He who is with me at all times.

On a Lunch Break

What does one do on a rare break between one errand and another must do?

One with not quite enough time to go home,

but too much time to arrive early for the next thing of the day?

I choose a quiet spot, near a boat dock, on a cold windy day.

Warming in the sun and sheltered by my car.

And a view of a bayou.

But the view I really want to look to?

Oh, I need to look into the Word.

To spend some time hearing and learning from God.

In my bible and a great bible study.

Over a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich and a Diet Dr Pepper...

A delightful way to spend one's lunch break  :)

I want to be the (wo)man in Jeremiah 17...

"But blessed is the man who

trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in Him.

He will be like a tree planted

by the water

that sends out its roots by

the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of

drought

and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8



My Quiet Time Basket

In an effort to curb the stacks of books from end tables and even my kitchen table

I looked for a pretty basket -

a quiet time basket.

I gathered up all the essentials.

All those items for time alone with God.

A bible study I recently bought.

(Love when I am in a study that has me flipping back and forth all over my bible!)

A wonderful book I have been reading - a great book for new believers, and wisdom when helping those new in the faith.

 Also for those who need a bit of fresh inspiration in their not so new walk of faith.

My prayer journal



A great bible study I want to do next...

My "when I am studying" bible, and my "when I am reading only" bible

In this journal, I write out paragraphs from books I am reading, and don't want to forget,

or meaningful quotes,

or lists of books I want to read,

things I want to go back to.

This, my attempt to be more organized...

Not working - but I did write it all out...

If only I would remember to go back and read it occasionally!



My gratitude journal - is actually left open on my kitchen table. 

Daily counting blessings of life.

And my set of scriptures - for when I need to cling to a verse...

And a bookmark Joshua brought home from school.

The perfect quiet time spot...

What's in your quiet time stack/pile/basket?

January Flies By

Where has this month gone?  Wasn't the tree just up?  The gifts yet opened?

And here it is, January gone. 

I will admit to being happy about that.  Not a favorite month of mine, by any means.

Always the let down after the holidays, the packing up of decorations,

the expectations of new beginnings/changes, the in-between of winter and spring.

February tomorrow. 

My month of love.  Not the 14th, but the 9th.  The day me and my hubby celebrate our

20th Wedding Anniversary

!!!!!!!

Bits of my January:

Green budding flowers.  The anticipation of what will spring up.

Spring semester brings Anatomy and Physiology 2.

We begin with the blood.  It is interesting, but somehow, my old study habits haven't kicked into gear yet.

Savored my time off too much perhaps.  My first quiz is Thursday morning - I need find my study momentum....once again.

Memorizing Colossians this year.  Going over and over these verses -

again, finding studying so hard.   I bring them with me - many carpool moments to practice.

I want His Word in my heart...

Also in those carpool moments -  enjoying one of the many books.

The beginning of the year brought me the challenge of reading through God's Word - finding the right reading plan.  I have tried different plans, and have failed.  I have tried just opening wherever, and have failed.

  

And this time, I find what works, for me. 

I began in Genesis, and daily read as much as I can - lingering over it.  Journaling about it. 

Reading it along with a commentary at times.

Weaving in and out of the Old Testament and the New Testament, checking off what I have done -

seeing what I have left.  Not being too hard on myself, the days I miss - but catching up when I do.

Loving it.

Goodbye January :)