Friday, May 31, 2019

Meier Boys Birthdays

A Special Celebration in the Meier Household.
Jack turned three.
Charlie turned one.
 A morning of heavy rain
 moved the party celebration 
from the back yard
 to the front yard in Canton. Michigan.
in May 18, 2019.
 It was a DINO ROAR themed party.
Always good when there is water play
 and sand play at a party.
Jack was doing just fine trying out his cake-
until they was a loud ROAR
 close by that scared him.


Always time to get a snuggle
 with Grandma.

There is so much to give thanks
 for on birthdays.
Good health, grace and growing.
Laughter and stories.
Grandparents and cousins and 
siblings.
Loving caregivers and friends.
Oh, give thanks 
to the Lord for He is good.
Happy Birthday Meier boys!

Ascension Day

Ascension Day 2019
May 30, 2019
Luke 24: 44-52

This post is a day late-
 the electricity went out for 14 hours yesterday into today
 with a major storm that came through Northern Virginia.
So just now finishing this up.
This day might have just slipped by on your calendar.
Many churches that used to hold worship
 on this day now observe it 
on the previous or next Sunday.
The resource from the Visual Faith Ministry 
website helped me to stop a moment 
and reflect on the Ascension.
In what could have been a very sorrowful day-
 of losing the presence of Jesus- 
became a day filled with joy and praise.
There was something his disciples 
were beginning to understand about His presence.
Jesus was with them-
 even when his physical presence was not.
They left Bethany 
"and they worshiped him 
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and were continually in the temple blessing God."
How much of my day do I spend in worship
 and blessing God?
Such an outright challenge to priorities.
So fitting that on this rather unobtrusive day
 on the calendar-
that a few moments are spent reading
 this section of Scripture.
I love the section right before the Ascension 
when Jesus "opened their minds to understand Scripture."

Lord, 
this is my prayer -
open my mind.
Take me further, 
push the boundaries,
take me higher.
By the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year printable
childrens-bulletin-luke-2445-53019-ascension
Water colors
Colored pencils
Junk mail cutouts

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Worship into the Week- Overcomer

Worship into the Week-
May 26, 2019
John 16:33

Sometimes when I reflect on this verse
 the only words of response that I have is-
Thank YOU!
Take heart-
take heart-
find ways to secure and 
bring courage to my heart.
Because the overcomer has done just that- 
overcome the world.
For me- for eternity.
As gift.
 No matter what may 
befall my days and weeks
and years- 
no matter what tribulation comes,
and it will,
I whisper 
Thank You
 to the overcomer.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year Resource
childrens-bulletin-john-1624-52619
Colored pencils
 Junk mail words
Scrapbook paper

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Easter 6


 Well, it is Easter 6- 
still officially the Easter SEASON.
Sometimes it takes me awhile 
to collect photos from afar for celebrations.
Then time to edit and compile.
But since this blog gets published
 and printed at the end of each year---
 there is still time for the STORY.
Here is the Virginia crew 
together for Easter 19.
Time to check out Easter baskets 
and find a few eggs in the yard.
Enjoying a meal together
 is always a special treat.
The girls, their spouses and all 6 grandsons.
What a wonderful Easter blessing. 
BIL Buds and sisters.
Corralling littles - even for a bit.
Easter prep time-- oh what fun.
Giving thanks for this day of-
He is Risen.
Each and EVERY DAY.
We are very blessed
with such grace.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Worship into the Week-Perfect Love

Worship into the Week
A New Commandment
John 13: 31-35
Time for a new thing- 
a new commandment.
Why not Now?
This perfect relationship between 
Father and Son has been glorified.
You will have to figure things
 out without me says Jesus.
You can't come where I am going.
Jesus tells them that 
he has shown them how to love.
Not just talked about it-shown them.
"I have loved you, you are also to love one another.
 By this all people will know 
that you are my disciples,
 if you have love for one another."
Sort of like being put on notice-
 the whole world is watching
 how you love each other.
And in that they will see, or not see, Jesus.
Pretty simple, just very hard to live out.
Help us, Lord.

Supplies:
Worship into the Week Printables
childrens-bulletin-john-1331-51919
 Magazine cutouts
Gel pens
Colored pencils
Recycled card front






Thursday, May 23, 2019

Gardening with a ROAR!

 So we are learning a few new
 things about gardening.
Gardening with grands that is.
Gardening with grandsons. 
They have introduced a degree
 of experimental ROAR to our endeavors.
Last summer I began the process
 of turning some of the container gardens
 into usable play space for toddlers.
Took some containers that had perennials
 planted and added a few more.
Added some "structural" things 
for hideouts and vantage points for look outs.
This year we planted lettuce in one 
of the gardens on Easter Sunday.
It is coming along nicely.
Then added some moveable "plastic succulents"
from Michaels than can be moved around
 as needed by the little gardeners.
Papa has also taken on vegetable gardening
 with his helper.
A just turned three year old plants one row of seeds
 and then is off to run and play.
They planted radishes on Sunday late afternoon
 and on Tuesday by 10 am they were through the soil
 and parading in a green row.
Unbelievable!
 even the guarding dinosaurs are amazed.
We plan to make a growth chart 
and measure the changes.
 So some other things around
 in the garden right now-
Top left clockwise-
oenothera- evening primrose, centaurea,
 campanula and late azaleas. 
Top left and clockwise-cranesbill, honeysuckle,
 spirea and baptisia.
 Top left and clockwise- Spiderwort, Oriental lilies, 
 catmint and the last of the peonies.
Some containers planted and gathered 
and just hanging around.
Loving begonias this year!
Always something to water 
around here in the summer.
And they say 95 degrees 
and humid again by next week.
Guess we will just how fast the garden grows!

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Worship into the Week-To Be Known

Worship into the Week-
I Am the Good Shepherd
John 10:1-18
Psalm 23

The Shepherd who cares for HIs sheep.
We the sheep who listen for His voice
The Shepherd who welcomes the children.
We the sheep live protected in His hands.
Because His goodness and unfailing
kindness shall be with me
 all the days of my life.
Because I am known by my Shepherd.

Supplies:
Worship into the week resources
childrens-bulletin-john-1029-51219
Colored Pencils
Junk mail
Worship bulletin cover
Assorted found ephemera


Sunday, May 19, 2019

Enduring Word Bible- Whoever Believes

Enduring Word Bible- #47

I am the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:17-44
Bethany near Jerusalem 
and the drama of the death of Lazarus.
A personal friend of Jesus.
A bit of misunderstanding 
by the disciples thinking that Lazarus
 was sick and asleep.
  Then Jesus tells them that he had died.
They had been hanging out across the Jordan,
 because the Jews wanted to arrest Jesus.
Time to head to Bethany.
Jesus reminds Mary and Martha- 
that no matter what- 
"I am the resurrection and the life. 
Whoever believes in me, though he die,
 yet he shall he live, 
and everyone who lives 
and believes in me shall never die."
Jesus was talking about more than earthly life- 
He was giving them eternal perspectives. 
Sometimes words need a visual picture.
Jesus was setting the stage.
We see in this story the deep feelings
 that Jesus had for his friend.
Jesus wept.
They roll away the stone.
Lazarus had been dead for three days.
Jesus raises him from the dead- 
in order that others may believe
 that the Father had sent him.
Lazarus comes out of the tomb-
 still wrapped in linen strips.
This was not going to make life
 any easier for Jesus.
The Jews were going
 to take notice of this event.
This Easter season- 
I keep coming back to this story.
Wondering about the part two here.
What do you say to others 
when you come back alive?
Take a first breath of aliveness-again.
What do you do the next day?

Lord, help me not to take for granted-
aliveness breaths.
For I am here for a purpose-
to pour grace and love into the world-
 because of the ONE who rose from
the grave as the conqueror over death.
Let my days be filled with 
Lazarus breath-reminders
 of His goodness.  Amen.

Supplies:
Enduring Word Bible
Colored pencils
Micron pens
Washi tape





Thursday, May 16, 2019

The Lost Oenothera


So...  I don't know where the Oenothera went.
About a 7 year hiatus.
And now they are back.
I never replanted them.
They just showed up.
The Showy Evening 
Pink Primrose-Siskiyou       
 Here and there.
Randomly mixed in willy nilly.
But, that is a bit how 
I garden anyway-- willy nilly.
So I will welcome them in the lysimachia.
And hovering by the Oriental lilies.
And I won't ask if they are 
just visiting or staying around.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Enduring Word Bible-Sufficient


Enduring Word Bible - #46

2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul's Visions and His Thorn

We don't know what the thorn was for Paul.
He states that it was significant enough
 to keep him from becoming conceited
because of the greatness of the revelations.
It is hard to understand just what a messenger
 of Satan could be for Paul.
"a thorn was given me in the flesh"
Paul pleaded three times with the Lord to 
remove, take it away.
But the Lord said to Paul-
"My grace is sufficient for you,
 for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Paul saw this as a way to 
give credence to the power of Christ.
He pledges contentment with weaknesses, insults,
 hardships, persecution, and calamities.
"For when I am weak, then I am strong."

So many days it seems that I am so weak.
Even with the strength of Christ, 
I still feel weak.
But, then I am reminded that anything
 of strength and goodness is not of me-
 it surely must be Christ.

Lord, may I remember that in all ways
and at all times that my power
 is made perfect in weakness
 because of Christ.

Supplies:
Enduring Word Bible
Washi Tape
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie pen











Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Here and About- Galesburg, Illinois

The important thing to remember 
when traveling about from state to state--
with an intended place for adventure-
write it down.
Somehow I had the name Geneseo in mind.
As we drove through this small Illinois berg-
 I realized my mistake.
So- on to the next G town.
Galesburg.
Well, it was getting late -
so this is where we got a room
 for the night and decided to rest up 
and explore a bit in the morning.
Our meal at the local redone Packing House- 
was good and in an interesting venue.
The Packinghouse Dining Co
There were some places that fit the bill-
like the A Word- Antique.
The Junk Drawer 
was well organized and fun to poke around.
Found a vintage Star Wars item 
on the 50% off shelf that will go in
 the Christmas stash for a grandson.
The Junk Drawer

Loved these signs made from license plates-
Saylor's Sign.
Now I have the contact person
 to make these for all of the young boys.
In travels around I have found -
Hey Jack! and Charleston.
  That took care of one family. 
Now for the rest of them!!!
A newer spot but right next door
 was the Attic Antique Shop-
also clean and organized.
Attic Antique Shop
All of that made us thirsty- 
 so on to the Beanhive
 for a good cappuccino.
BeanhiveCoffeehouse
Oh---- to not be gluten-free.
 I tried to explain Instagram
 to a couple of shop owners---
the free marketing part- you know.
Not sure that is gonna happen.
As we drove out of town,
 I finally remembered the name of the town
 I was hunting for-
Galena.
So guess that is NEXT TRIP.
 Adding the photo of the cards 
so I have them when I can't find the cards.
Oh- this memory stuff is no joke!
So if you are in the Illinois area and need a G town-
Galesburg isn't all bad.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Mothering Grace

                                                                                                               (non-relative- but now "family")
I have collected old photos 
of women for a long time.
Discarded, dusty and forlorn 
stashed in boxes in antique stores.
I am always intrigued by the story possibilities 
and wondering about the stories lost over time.
The mothers and the daughters-
love shared and lives entwined.
The stories....
The gift of days spent mothering 
in the face of challenges. 
 Filtering through the heartaches
 with outstretched hands
 to the days of more golden rays.
Loving the littles gathered
 as weeks bring them closer to bigs.
The exploration of a a world yet without words
 but only a point of the finger.
Moving to unceasing conversations 
and questions.
Oh, mothering is so full of grace.
Apologies for harsh words
 and lost tempers.
For moments when a bit of respite
 seems almost selfish.
When one more "tuck-in"
sends you near the edge.
These little copycats
are watching so closely.
 As we laugh and pray
 and sing together.
For all the joy that rocks this generation, 
 and explores the readiness of the next,
there is awe and wonder.
May the Lord grant you
grace beyond measure little mommas,
in days of ease and days of stress.
My blessing is watching the unfolding of 
a story that is part mine and part yours.
For the Lord is good and faithful.
And as the story is lived in your little families,
 may you remember:

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
 forgiving one another,
 as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Love, 
mom

And today we remember all 
those who have lost mommas,
wanted to be mommas,
 lost little ones, or live with 
significant challenges
for mothering.
May His abundant grace abound in your lives.