All Means All

 I got to celebrate Mother's Day at Anthony's restaurant near where our kids live.  

This was the view from the window.

Yes, it was a gray day. 

But we Northwesterners  choose to look at the bright side of the weather.

Notice the clouds reflecting in the water.

The evergreen and new-growth green of the slopping hillside.

The boats gently bobbing on the quiet water.

After brunch, we noticed a patch of blue sky and said,

"It's turning out to be a lovely day!"

By contrast, on Saturday our dogwood was glowing in full bloom during a sun break 

as I finished tying  my grandbaby's quilt.

Last Monday I secured  the edges with decorative machine stitching.

It's not perfect, but a whole lotta love went into each stitch. 

True Confession:  I chose Contemporary Christian instead of listening to Country music.

Decided that, as I worked, I'd note lyrics from the songs that spoke to my heart about God's plans for grandbaby's life.  More often than not, lyrics for these songs are based on verses from the Bible.

What better way to pray/sing blessing into his/her life?  

[Don't think that's possible with Country music.]

Yes, it took twice as long to tie the quilt, but it turned my nervous anticipation into peaceful joy.

And, TA DA!

Here's the result:

7 days before her due date!
As close to being a mommy on Mother's Day as a girl can be, without actually holding her baby.

We squinted happily at being together under the patchy blue sky.
Sweet DIL, DH, Son, moi, D#2, SIL
D#1 and other SIL were in Europe

This morning I read this:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

As I anticipate my daughter's labor and delivery, 

Jesus applied His Word to our circumstances this way:

"I will give her the gift of My grace in this, too.

Because I love her and her baby, 

they have My boundless provision of mercy and love to protect them.

For giving birth to this new little life is, indeed,

a good work!

So do not be afraid, O little [Karen],

for I myself will help [them].

{Isaiah 41:10}

To which I reply, "Thank You, Jesus!"

Grace, mercy, and love be to YOU today, too, friend.

Love,

Linking with

Ann at A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Monday.

This is a blog hop I whole-heartedly recommend.

The blogs I visit here are nearly always worthy of the time spent reading them!

I truly wish I could figure out how to add Ann's graphic here without the html code.

Again, I ask for my readers' help with this.

Also linking with

Internet Cafe's Word-Filled Wednesday

Being one flesh

Many years into my married life, I began to wonder what it meant to be "one flesh" in marriage. 
It sure didn't feel like we were one flesh.  I began to ask the Lord about it.  


But I often rebelled at His consistent answer to my query:
You must die to self.  
Life is a series of opportunities to die to your own needs, desires, opinions.  
Your marriage is the first place I want you to practice that.  
You must consider your husband's needs before your own.

That's not fair, Lord!  What about me?  

His answer, "I want you to rely on Me first.  

When your husband does meet your needs, it's by My grace. 

And when he is unable/unwilling to fulfill your needs, I will.  

All blessings in life are from My hand.  

When your needs go unmet, that, too, is my portion for you. 

But I am always with you.

Constantly I provide for you, often in ways you had no idea you needed.  

Ask Me for the grace to meet his needs.  

I will give it

-and the peace and joy that results-

if you are willing to die to yourself.

Today I read here about being one flesh.  

It was another gentle reminder to rely on my heavenly Father first and to die to my self.

By spending time in His Word, praising Him, laying my burdens on Him, listening for His voice,

He prepares my heart to willingly, joyfully meet my husband's needs.

Jesus Christ's lifestyle was one of reliance on His Father first and dying to self 

from conception to His last breath on the cross 

for my salvation.  And yours.

And so I pray:

Jesus, by Your grace, open my heart to opportunities to die to myself today, 

for my husband's sake.  

I ask this, Lord, so that we may consciously experience 

being one flesh:

unity with You first and then with each other.

With Your love and strength, 

may the cord of 3 strands that our marriage represents 

be a testimony to our descendants for Your glory.

Love,

Link to this post:  When You Don't Feel Like "One Flesh."

My Life...A Worthy Project

I've never been one to make resolutions.
I think it's cuz I'm afraid I won't have enough self-discipline
to follow through and keep them.

When I read about Cate's Project 2011 at Moments of Whimsy
last weekend I realized this:
I DO have some goals I want to work toward.

The thing that really struck a chord in me
was what Cate said:
"I need to treat my life as a project-
a project that is worth putting
some time and effort into."

Since I am a daughter of the
King of the Universe,
created in His image,
and saved by faith in His Son,
Jesus Christ,
I need to live as though that makes a difference.
People in my family, at work, and in my community
need to see Christ in me,
experience His love, joy, hope, and peace
when they are around me.

These are the goals I think are worth pursuing:
re-institute my daily quiet time with Him,
achieve my weight loss goal and maintain it,
move more!
pray for reconciliation & harmony within my family,
make plans with my husband to improve our marriage,
learn to be a grandma,
make a quilt for my first grandbaby, due in May,
buy & learn to use a macros lens for my camera,
work at taking better photographs,
grow more veggies this spring and summer,
eat more veggies,
initiate and plan girlfriend time,
call my family & friends more often,
grow into my role as mentor,
post weekly photos for the mcp project 52 flickr group,
post weekly updates-or lack thereof-for Project 2011
about what I've done to accomplish my goals.

Achievement begins with movement toward a goal.
I can move confidently in the direction of my dreams
and make a difference for Jesus as I do so.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Therefore, as God's chosen people...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience....Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...And be thankful...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...
Colossians 3:12-16
What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...it is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24


May God grant you grace, peace, and mercy today!
Love,

Linking with
Cate's Project 2011 @ Moments of Whimsy

and Java @ Never Growing Old

and Mama To Four Blessings