Mundane moments

Hello family and friends who faithfully or intermittently follow!  I am preparing physically and mentally, emotionally and spiritually to head to Ecuador on Friday morning early! I would so appreciate knowing you were praying.  Pray that I would be yielded to Holy Spirit--that I would be an instrument of peace and love and encouragement from Jesus Christ to my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Also that I can stay open and receptive to all God desires to do both in and through me.  I am juggling the talks I had and reworking prayerfully as there have been changes today that impact what God had given.  Pray for the Spirit to make clear how I should proceed, I feel a little uncertain tonight, but choose to trust the One who knows and loves me best! His ways are always good! Amen.  I don't have to know or understand them in order for that to be true. Thanks! I will write more in next few days and hope to be able to blog once or twice at least from Ecuador.  Hope to have pictures as well.

Random Reflections

"Earth's crammed with Heaven,

and every common bush afire with God;

but only he who sees takes off his shoes."
--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I want to be a person who "sees" and "takes off my shoes" aware that I am on holy ground.  How about you?  Do you have eyes to see? Ears to hear?  Jesus often posed this question, or made the statement that if those listening had eyes to see, ears to hear, then they would respond in obedience to His call.  I don't want to be the kind of person that walks unaware of the common things that are "afire with God" who creates so much for us to enjoy, who reveals truths about Himself through nature if we will stop long enough to take it in thoughtfully, reflectively.  I had an interesting thing happen the night before last.  I was sitting in my chair working away on the computer, late afternoon sun streaming in through the curtains warming me body and soul as I worked.  I was vaguely aware of its warmth, and had stopped a few times to revel in the pattern of the sun shining through the curtains falling on the warm hardwood floor, but then I had become somewhat absorbed in what I was about, and I almost missed it.  I caught the glow out of the corner of my eye, and looked out the window to see the whole sky "on fire" with the fantastic colors of a winter sunset with just enough clouds in the sky to hold the color longer, keep the "fire" burning and expanding so that not just the western sky was lit up, but 360 degrees of skyline was burning with exquisite reds, pinks, oranges, and blues that only God can make look spectacular together.  If I were to mix those colors it would be chaotic disaster, clashing cacophony, but God, wow!  In minutes it was all gone, faded to gray-dusk, I had almost missed it.  I sat wondering how many times He has painted sky morning or evening for us, and we have been too busy to look up, too busy to notice.  I wondered how often I have missed what He was cramming, creating, because I am preoccupied with something and my head is down.  Do I miss people that He sends across my path for the same reasons?  I felt He had gently chastised me, drawn my attention to the fleeting nature of life, and whispered, "don't let it pass you by unnoticed."  Then the following morning I came across this Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote which is a favorite from long ago.  I smiled and thanked Him.  Another Eucharisteo.  As this day draws to a close I stop, and I reflect back over the day, the Examen--prayerful reflection, pausing to note and attend to where God was especially present, or where I sense He is drawing me to notice something, or right some wrong, confess some sinful way in me.  One of my favorite questions from this time is "What do I believe that I am not living as though I believe?"  That always gives me pause.  One of my favorite prayers is Scripture is found in Mark 9, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief."  Yes, I say I believe that God has the days of my life numbered, and will provide for me, has a purpose for me.  So, why do I worry?  I am so thankful for His conviction and His grace and forgiveness.  I am so thankful for His Spirit.  I am so thankful that the Living God resides in me!  That is mind blasting!

A Recommendation

http://www.aholyexperience.com/
This last year God has used many things to grow and change me, but there are several that make the top three list, and one of them is a book by Ann Vos Kamp entitled, A Thousand Gifts. I referenced the concept of eucharisteo--grace gifts--throughout the summer and that was from this book.  I just got connected to her blog, and it would be remiss of me not to share with you this truly refreshing, encouraging and challenging resource.  May God use it in your life as He is using it in mine!  And if you care to take the challenge this year, some of us have, and are doing Romans 8---you will have to read the blog to understand that! :)

Sunsets and Road Trips

 I was attempting to write my Road Trip blog and input pictures but it didn't work the way I was hoping, so I have returned to this tried and true method and will wait for tech support from my bright adult children or someone at the Genius bar at the mac store!  Until then, here we go!  I am back, blogging again, for better or worse.  I found I just loved this method of communicating, but knew that during the past semester I would not be able to keep it up.  It is time consuming, and I needed to focus one last semester, and finish strong.  I completed my course, and now am picking back up doing some things that have had to be on hold while I focused on school.  The last few days was a wonderful example of this.  I got to go up to San Luis Obispo and be with Natalie, our third child, second daughter!  She and Brian are planning a June 22 wedding!  And yes, for those of you that have known our family over the years, she and Brian will be married on the same date that Amber and Derek were married!  How fun is that!  November 22 is Phil's and my anniversary....so if you remember the 22....you will have three anniversaries from our family!  :)  I got to be with Natalie and enjoy time up in this beautiful part of California.  We watched sunsets 2 out of the 3 nights we were together.
The above picture was from a hike that I did with Natalie and Emily from Shell Beach, straight up!!!  Along a ridge and then straight down to the cliffs above the ocean.   We stood and watched God's handiwork from the edge of the ocean several hundred feet above where waves were crashing against the rocks.  Breathtaking beauty that is free for all to enjoy, anyone who will stop long enough to watch another day come to a close, see how God paints the sky this particular night--it is always different, no two sunsets alike.  I loved getting to do this with Natalie and Emily.  The next night, Natalie and Brian and I watched the sunset again, from just a bit farther south, and from the patio of a nice restaurant!  Lovely, relaxing end to the week!

 There might be places that are more beautiful, but for me, sunset over the ocean is impossible to beat.

On our hike, I stopped to catch my breath after a particularly steep uphill stretch, and as I looked up, this is what I saw!  I immediately thought of two friends....Bekah Rollins Rice a lover of trees of all sorts, and I never see a tree without thinking of her; and Mary Kay Esswein--she and I share a love of seeing the sun shine through trees just so....and so as I rested, I prayed for these two ladies.  Mary Kay is in India on a missions trip right now, and Bekah is back east.  I love that on the top of a ridge, far from everything, I can stop and lift up a prayer for friends, and know that the Spirit of God hears that prayer and works in ways that I can't understand, but nevertheless appreciate.  I needed nothing, no fancy shawl, no beads, no head covering, no special prayer room...I was surrounded by the majestic beauty of God's creation, a "cathedral" that is impossible to beat.  How I love that He invites us to pray without ceasing, and gives us access to the Holy of Holies at all times.

 Phil, I miss you.  I miss sharing sunsets, rain, drives, laughter and tears with you.  Phil is in Ecuador, and I will join him there later this month,but for now we are in different countries again.  God has brought me to a place of being able to find peace and joy even when we are apart.  It will never be my favorite thing, not even close, but I am thankful for all God has taught me through this season of being apart so much.  It has certainly made me more appreciative of when we get to be in the same zip code!  I am grateful that after 26 years I am still crazy about Phil, and he is still my best friend.  I am a lucky girl.

 Logan we need to do this hike together some time.  Maybe all of us can do it one evening in June around the wedding!  It is just beautiful at sunset!  I think you and Sammie got to do this with Natalie one time, but this was my first time on this particular hike.  I am done with the Bob Jones trail forever now, this will be my hike of choice in SLO!  I could do it weekly and would do so, if I lived up there, at sunrise and sunset!  The perfect spot to take your Bible and Journal, or just be with God and listen!

 "What can I do but praise you, what can I do but thank you, what can I do but give my life to you..." words of a worship song that this incredible sunset invited.  Natalie's upraised hands, apt praise posture to take in God's wondrous beauty!

 Austin, this is for you!  A latte, with the foam creatively "carved/swirled" into a heart!  I love you buddy, and am praying for you in S. Africa!  Even if you don't see this right now, know when you do that I was thinking of you, loving you and praying for you from San Luis!  It is the simple pleasures in life that bring such joy....a good cup of coffee...creativity in the foam....enjoying it with Natalie, and thinking of Austin so far away...thankful for all God is doing in and through Him right now.

 Road trips!  These are the pictures I wanted to post on my previous, shortest blog ever!  But I couldn't figure it out!  Here they are!  This is just outside of Santa Barbara, I stopped at a Vista Point, to just enjoy a moment, the beauty was staggering.  The hills so green reminded me of Ireland, even to the point that they were dotted with cows!  Again, my three plus hours in the car home felt more like a worship experience than a drive.  At least until I got south of Ventura!  The rain has turned the brown hills to an emerald green, which makes for stunning views of green mountains meeting blue ocean!  God you have given us such beauty to enjoy, give us eyes to see, and hearts that stop to take it in, not missing it as we rush through life.  Give us a willingness to open to you all day, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, to see your presence everywhere.

This was a fun panorama shot--ocean for 180 degrees.  I was just a few minutes away from Dan and Dee Dee Underwood at this point on my drive.  I stopped in to see them and enjoy a cup of tea together.  There is something so rich about being with friends who go back a long way!  When we moved to Lake Arrowhead their son Casey was a year old, and Austin was two weeks old!  I was at Amanda's baby shower, she is half way through her freshman year in college now!!!!!  In a few weeks Dee Dee and Amanda will come to Amber's baby shower!  Amber was four when we moved to Lake Arrowhead, and the Underwood clan have watched her grow up, prayed for her, and been an important part of our lives, even when we were in Ecuador.  God has richly blessed us, me, with deep, enriching friendships that reflect Him and His love.  At the beginning of 2013 I am taking inventory, and saying thank you to God for all of you who have walked through so much of life, prayed with and for me/us, and cared about what God was up to in us.  Thank you for walking out life's journey, it's joys and it's pains alongside of us.  We have walked side by side, in the same towns or cities for some of that journey, and at times it has been through phone calls, emails and visits on summer home assignments.  I am learning to relish and savor those times however short and I treasure them all up in my heart.  Thank you God for giving me friends that help me see different parts and aspects of you.

Road trips

I had the most lovely drive home from San Luis yesterday! The California coast is so gorgeous at any time of year but right now it is breathtaking!

slo children at play!

This has always been one of the signs that make me laugh! And up in San Luis obispo where Natalie went to college and now lives and works this twist is especially clever--slo for slow!!!!  Makes me laugh every time.  I have had a wonderful time up with Natalie helping with some wedding things, working in her classroom, hiking, watching sunsets, and hanging out with Brian, her fiancée in the evenings!
Phil is in Ecuador and I will be joining him on jan. 18.  I am getting to take a deep breath after a busy busy semester.  It is great to be able to be with Natalie for a few days up here in her stomping grounds.  I will enjoy a few days at home getting some projects done and prepping for some talks that I am working on.  It will also be good to have some time to rest up and be refreshed in body and spirit.
It is a strange feeling to have no homework, papers or exams to be working on.  Thankfully I have lots to be reading and I will continue to learn even if informally.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  Welcome 2013!  It has been five months since I blogged.  The gap was due to an extremely intense semester at Talbot School of Theology, where I took on an additional class on top of a full load, by arranged study so as to be able to graduate in December of 2012.  A few weeks into the semester we found out that Natalie and Brian would be getting married in June of 2013, and Amber and Derek would be having a baby in April of 2013, and for me to be in class, having homework etc. was just not going to be the best thing.  It made for long, long days and weeks, but it was a wonderful semester experiencing and learning about living empowered by, and trusting in God, rather than being fueled by anxiety, and living in my own strength.  I have always been hardheaded and strong willed, so it usually takes extreme measures for God to teaching me life lessons, this semester was no exception.  It is only through God's grace that I was able to make it, it seemed impossible, and would have been on my own.  I stand amazed by all God did in and through me, and am so very thankful.  I graduated on December 21, 2012.  It was a time of great celebration with Phil flying my dad and brother, Stephen in to surprise me; my college roomie and dear friend Wendy Batz, flying down from the Bay area, friends from Ecuador, Clines and Stephanie, friends from Arrowhead days, Gail Russell, Lopez's, and Jim and Linda Underwood, friends from ISF--Blair, Janice, Cindy, Mark and Donna Vaughn and Marla, a special prof who has mentored and really poured into me--Dr. Judy TenElshof,  friends from Simi Valley--Parkinsons, new friends from church--the Bensons, family, kids and spouses and their friends all joined in throwing a party for me to celebrate this huge landmark in my life!  I now have a Master's in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, and what the bottom line is with that?  I am more convinced than ever that my life is hidden with Christ, and In Christ alone is my hope, my identity, and in His love I have life and that very abundantly.   I was richly blessed by my family throwing me such an extravagant party to celebrate and make much of this mile marker with me.  I will post pictures once I get them collected from iphones and onto my computer!  I have basqued in the outpouring of love from family and friends, and find myself stopping to say thank you to God over and over.  It is with a sense of awe and gratitude to God for all that He has done over these last 2 1/2 years that I am starting 2013.  Thank you to each of you who have prayed for me from afar or from close by.  For those who have patiently waited for me to complete this program and done without homecooked food--Phil, my wonderful husband who has sacrificed so much for this dream to become reality--Thank you from the bottom of my heart.