One Word Wednesday

sojourn

The definition of a sojourn is a temporary visit or stay.

(noun)

Last week someone said this word. It stuck with me, as I pondered it's greater meaning. A derivative of the word journey.

It made me think about our temporary stay here.....as sojourners.

how what I do here should have eternal significance,

how the sorrows and joy here will some day be made perfect.

A sojourn ,here.    Friends who were here for a month fly back to Africa today.

We say good-bye with the hope of seeing them in two years, but no one knows....

                                  We stand on the brink of vast eternity, 

                                       Life is vapor, compared to what will be.

                                          Hope this final day of July treats you well.....

        

Simple Summer Serenades

Can you believe that we are almost at that half way mark of summer?  
Hopefully that list of things you want to do in the summer
                     is also half done....:)

                                  I thought I'd share a few pics of what I'll call
                                                  Simply Summer...

                                                         country roads,

                                                     daydreaming...

              gardens...it's nice to have them established and enjoyable

    Daisies, don't they evoke serenity? I love them. This flower bed around my birch tree has only white flowers in it. I am partial to white flowers.

            picnics...in the company of sheep and horses

                                    colourful laundry always looks happy

remember my blue chair? that's okay, recently it was reunited with the table.
people decided to also get rid of the table...I'm glad my son cuts the grass close to this house:)

                                                 I see a lot of potential in this table...

                                                and in this...

I laughed sooo hard when I saw this. They are trying to make a hammock:)
   I'm sorry, but I can't help but see a metaphor here.....effort counts too right?

Well, the door is ajar as if it is inviting me in, the breeze is moving the curtain
as it seems to signify the haste of the season. 
I am off to see what notes the second half of summer's composition has to offer.

                                                               

                                                      please listen to the song....

A Heavy Topic

I had been thinking about this and then this happened,so burdens seemed rather appropriate. This is all that is left of our cherry tree. Yesterday as we were picking my daughter heard it crack and another limb came down. Thankfully she was able to jump out of the way.

        Burdens. Do you have one?
 Or maybe a few. If you don't, you will. I'm sorry, but that's the way life is. They will not always weigh you down like they are today. Sometimes you won't even remember it is there, until there is a painful trigger and the weight of it presses anew. But don't let that burden break you and crush the joy that is yours. 
Take that burden, learn how to walk and run with it.
Let it make you stronger. Let it make you gentle. 
Let it make you laugh until you cry, because you can. 
The burden is still there, but you are not defined by it. You are free, only now you see others carrying burdens that look bigger than any you carried. 
 You feel compelled to come along side and offer a hand, a word of encouragement perhaps,and you pray.
 For burdens are not meant to be borne in stoic silence. 
They are to be shared with others, who have an arm to spare.


Carry one another's burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ.
                            Galations, 6:2


         God gave us two arms. One to carry our own burdens.
                   One to help someone else carry theirs.

                                    admiring last weeks rainbow...

Of Destiny and Destinations ( Bike Trip Summary)

My husband and I have returned from a week long hiatus.
This was our first road trip like this..and it felt like a journey to get here.

I will admit I was nervous, not only leaving my kids,( whom I know are quite fine without me,for a while at least )but new things tend to unsettle me.
As we travelled  with three other couples, (more seasoned bikers) we had good company at all the rests bikers do ,and shared the beauty of the elements and nature. 
.

                    Although I love flying freely down the highway,

                        

       I love my van filled with chattering children -more.


             And although it is a treat to order my meals from a menu,


 I love eating food from my garden, with my family around the table-more    


Although it feels lavish to sleep for a night in a nice hotel room.

                                               
          a cute B & B we stayed at......source

                I love my own comfortable bed- more.


        Although I am awed at God's artistry and creation far from home.
                           

                      I marvel at the beauty right around me every day- more.



         And though I love to get away from life's daily grind for a while,

                                    I love to come home - more.

                     Oh how good to go away for a while.....
                  but oh how much better it is to come home.

the above sign is a sentimental signature of a few years ago...my daughter made it. I treasure it and have put it out for her too at times, to welcome her home.

                                                Do you love coming home too?

Backyard Buffet

           Come with me to my backyard,
                              we'll have ourselves a feast...

     this sweet cherry tree which had never really been noticed before surprised us with loads of cherries that were ever so yummy! I have a new respect for it now....
                                                                    

                      here is our sour cherry tree...so burgeoning with fruit a branch broke off...
                                          these are tangy and tart but make great pie!

mulberries from our weeping mulberry tree...birds love them as do my kids

raspberries....smaller patch  now, makes them more special

These apples need a few more weeks, then they will become applesauce. Great with grill cheese by the way!

and the dreaded job of these two; currant picking. My youngest said with a sheepish grin today, " I think ONLY the people who actually like currants should have to pick them." 

Oh little girl I once was you...how I understand your point of view.

Oh dear mother, now I know...what those patient years have scattered and sown...

juice or jam- which will it be? maybe both....

thank-you for strolling with me in my back yard,

please come inside for a glass of ice tea.

I wish you all manner of prosperity,

with a little more taste.

Alain-Rene-Le Sage

joining here today...

Here and There

I am still here....
                              but I'm not here.

I am in that spot between reality....
                                    and a week's holiday with hubby 
                          minus kids.:)

I have much to catch up on...
                                      but sooner or later,

I will return:) thank you for understanding.

Moments hurry, and I do not want to wonder where they went.

         

And Then It Was Summer

It flitted in lightly, and as I flipped the calendar to July, I thought about all this month was to hold. I breathe a prayer and think about all it really holds, those things that are still unknowns. 
There is a hush here before the plunge. 

                                           a favorite from the archives....(nine years ago)

The first week of summer vacation was my favorite when my kids were little.
Somehow it would catapult them into countless creativity, and imaginary games.Things change as they get older, but my two youngest certainly still revel in the newness of summer vacation.
 They are currently counting down the days when they get to stay at their cousins' house for almost an entire week! I remember cousin sleepovers and all the fun of living there as a part guest, part family member.It was a pleasant conundrum indeed.

speaking of conundrums, we went berry picking...note to self...6 people picking berries
                    produces many berries. good thing we like jam.

                           children aren't the only thing to grow quickly.....

                       
                                     here (above) is my garden a week ago...

 here it is today...(corn field behind)

   and speaking of blue....recently I found this chair,
                             and thought it would be a great addition to my porch...

reading this....

                             
I'll admit it was the title that caught my eye, and persuaded me to buy this book....
it is an honest look at the authors search for a genuine encounter and relationship with God. Interesting and thought provoking...
authors note in the front....
I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theatre in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way....

      Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,

                       according to the power that worketh in us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.  Ephesians  3:20