After the Storm

#616 - Every cloud really DOES have a silver lining!

#617 -Velvet green blanket spread across the hills.

Gifts from the past 12 hours...

#610. Road signs that bring a smile.

#611. Mysterious midnight moonlight wash over a darkened world.

#612. Tummy dropping undulating country road taken at speed!

#613. Meadowlark's melodic song ringing in the stillness of late summer grasses.

#614. Velvet nose kisses and sweet grass breath.

#615. Treasure hunt, gifts recognized in the moment--skin-splitting joy embraced!

Still Counting

#601. The Voice found and singing! Words on the page...relief!

#602. Honest people who turn in lost wallets of worried 18 year olds.

#603. Fur free floors and carpets.

#604. Less dust now that "Mr. French" does the vacuuming each day.

#605. Writing space and time and the dependence it causes on God.

#606. Friends' and family members' status updates on Facebook.

#607. Hooded sweatshirts and warm ears.

#608. Soft nickers, a request for a horsie back rub.

#609. Predictability of seasons.

Continuing to Build...

#595. Whisker stubble in the sink.

#596. Bubbles scrubbling my throat and tongue.

#597. Dog cuddles.

#598. Guitar strings singing.

#599. Paths winding around our home--carved by repeated use of so many deer.

#600. Down comforter comforting.

With An Act of My Will ... Continued...

#589. Clean dish towels. They are no longer are all over the floor left to "blot up" imagined drips. LOL!

#590. Music playing throughout the house whenever I want. Nanner nanner MOO MOO!

#591. Space in the kitchen for making dinner. No need to negotiate around someone else making his dinner (since he rarely ate the one I prepared).

Now...in all honesty, even though yesterday and today I have been choosing to give thanks to God for things that I can experience now that the "nest" is "empty," I also have to fill in the gaps left... so I do all the laundry now (there is less of it, true), empty the trash, and do all the horse chores. I do miss those things that the kids did to chip in as members of our family. I miss the DLF lunches we enjoyed, too.

But I am definitely learning to enjoy these other things and I think it is ... ok!

#592. Twilight drives with hubby with the convertible.

#593. Texts from baby-dre.

#594. Activity of "D" man visible on Facebook. :-)

With An Act of my Will...

Note: Since I am struggling so much with this "empty nest" thing, I am choosing today to thank God for any blessings that I possibly can that might be a result of the kids no longer being here. This is one of the hardest things for me to do, as I would love the noise and mess of having the kids here if I didn't have confidence that they are right where they are supposed to be. So, with an act of my will, I choose to give thanks:

#581. Quiet in my home. No TV, games, or YouTube videos playing on laptops.

#582. Counters clean...all day, even!

#583. Empty sink...no new dishes!

#584. Washer and dryer available any time I need them.

#585. Cabinet devoid of numerous almost-empty Hershey Syrup bottles.

#586. No more almost-empty ketchup bottles in the fridge. (There is a theme here!)

#587. Solicitousness  of two canines who wonder where everybody is!

#588. Meals eaten at home.

Continuing the Count...

#574. White egret, regal bird, atop a pine in a Chicago suburb--tenacity!

#575. Baby's sticky waves and smiles: Reminder of young parent joy.

#576. Silken tresses falling over arms: Embracing my woman-child.

#577. "Mommy"--a precious word from the lips of a young adult.

#578. Pipe organ crescendo in Edman Memorial Chapel.

#579. 1000 voices lifted in harmony, asking God to "Be Thou My Vision."

#580. Prayers of Loved-One-For-Life for me and for our children.

Weekend Musings

#561. Top of my head nestled under Man-Child's chin...towering closeness, warm hug.

#562. Deep chuckles, moments of mirth.

#563. Pillow fights.

#564. Homes nestled among meandering rivers.

#565. Railroad tracks.

#566. Powerful crashing of water...a canyon and falls in the middle of nowhere. How did flat land turn to a stunning lesson on the mystery and power of God?

#567. Swinging suspension bridge!

#568. Aspen leaves shimmering in the sun--reminding me of a gently jingling tamborine!

#569. Skipping stones.

#570. Rivers winding in unexpected places.

#571. Football throws and kicks (and catches!).

#572. Men who love the Word of God and who want to pour their lives into younger men.

#573. Fawns in fields of tall grasses.

Evening August 13

#557. Ascending rays of light, heralding day's close.

#558. Golden rimmed  stratocumulus hovering, hushing, quieting the sky.

#559. Cricket symphonies harmonizing with wind -- the canyon with the top down!

#560. Dogs damp from baths, bringing anticipation of delightful softness to nuzzle and cuddle.

#554 - Engine's sound coming down the street, signaling the return of One Loved.

#555 - Wiggle of a golden dog, eagerly heralding the return of the "alpha male" of our home.

#556 - Husband's gentle lips, greeting me this morning. A precious kiss (or 5!).

#539. Great time early this week with Kathy and Bob...my cousin and his wife. Daniel, Michaela and I enjoyed visiting with them so much. There is something about family that is precious. Refreshing.

#540. For a pastor who cares.

#541. That I have been invited to attend and to speak to the women at our Church's women's retreat in September--and that the date was available on my calendar!

#542. Last Sunday I had the joy of leading worship at my church. God has made me so incredibly desperate for him and because of that, I sense his presence SO powerfully. It is a joy and delight to stand in his presence.

#543. The clear blue sky that I enjoy living under in Cool, California.

#544. For my husband's job and apparent stability. Lord, let us never cling to anything but you, our only true Rock, but thank you for his job!

#545. On Tuesday of this week, in my journal at home, I thanked God for both of my children being under our roof. That isn't the case right now--nor will it be for months to come. I am grateful that in spite of my helicopter parenting, my daughter has chosen to spread her wings to an amazing Christian college. The adventure is beginning!

#546. On Wednesday of this week, I had an amazing day with my daughter. Watching recorded Olympic events, cuddling one another close, and having a cry-fest together. "Mommy, I don't want to leave." Words precious to my ears, but even more precious is the mature, wise decision of a young woman to go regardless. Oh, how proud I am of you, Michaela!

#547. That everything on the shopping-for-college list was purchased! We CONQUERED!

#548. For this bittersweet season...that Michaela and I enjoy one another that parting is hard. I am so thankful for my relationship with her.

#549. For new seasons and adventures.

#550. For a husband who is willing and able to schedule time needed to lovingly travel with Michaela all the way to Illinois (from California) to deliver her safely to her new home.

#551. That upon arriving in Wheaton, Michaela's heart was filled with humble gratitude.

#552 For sweet time with my son eating dinner out, talking about the "What ifs" of life ahead for him as he launches into his new adventure, too.

#553 That even though my son has been propelled into this adventure by default and has been less than enthusiastic, nevertheless his heart seems to be stirred by the hope of new experiences apart from mom and dad. This is as it should be!

528. The smile on Daniel's face as he describes events during his work shift at McDonalds.

529. Two sleeping puppies (ok, so they are dogs). There is something that is so peaceful about a sleeping canine (especially our golden retriever dog!).

530. For the joy of getting to play some more this season with the folks, kids, teachers and parents who will be enjoying 49er Fun Programs at Rock-N-Water. I get to pretend I am a woman in 1854! Such fun!

531. The laughter, joy, and heart connections last night with the worship/AV team at Cool Community Church. I am so blessed to get to lead this team this week...and blessed when I am a participant only--following the primary leader!

532. For the group of women that joined me last night for our Thin Within chat. What a joy it is to remind them and to BE reminded of such important truths. God has given us what we need to think differently so we can act differently and be different. It infuses such hope into us when we really focus on these facts!

533. I can have hope because it doesn't depend on ME. It isn't even *about* me! YAY!

534. Though my joints are showing signs this won't always be the case, I still am able to play singles (tennis) on more teams than any sane person needs. I love that I can laugh at myself in the middle of a match as I hit a nice, "juicy" ball that I have all the time in the world to plan...long, wide, into the net or just plain ol' badly. LOL!

535. That Michaela and I will play together for communion this Sunday. I don't imagine there will be many more times when we do that before she leaves for college. (sniff!)

536. The heart connection with women who love and study God's Word at Bible Study Fellowship in Auburn with me and the wonderful teacher we have...both in our small group, but also the teaching leader, Peggy, who is a gifted communicator. She never pulls her punches, but lets us know precisely what God has to say about all kinds of things!

537. Oreo cookies and vanilla ice cream. Need I say more? :-)

538. A Yukon XL full of tennis playing crazy women...all 8 of us tonight heading out to Natomas for a match. I love being the "bus driver!" LOL! SUCH fun!

524. For the sun trying desperately to make an appearance here in Maui.

525. That I am in Maui for my first time ever!!!

526. Bob is grateful we got here. :-) That we found the place where we are staying at midnight Maui time last night instead of having to stay in the car overnight. (It was 3am California time when our heads hit the pillow!)

527. To have the music of the waves all night long. (Even if the night was short! LOL!)

514. Deep sleep when it comes.

515. The joy of hitting a tennis ball well.

516. The camaraderie I enjoy with a tennis doubles partner...and even better when we thrill to a VICTORY over our opponents!

517. A pastor who demonstrates authentic joy in the Lord.

518. A daughter who is my biggest fan.

519. A son who gives me so many reasons to laugh (and cry!) but who still loves to hug me--even at 19 years of age.

520. The wonderfully encouraging words of a literary agent who is the best in the business.

521. The anticipation of a new season of life.

522. New friends who become prayer partners.

523. The privilege of praying for and preparing for a retreat with women in Washington State. I can't wait to see what God does with us at the end of March!