wind chime wishes

the wind chime sounds a baritone clang as the breeze pushes metal against wood, dangling from a string. the oak leaves  outside the living room window sit like green christmas lights aglow from the summer sun. the still pond of august rest reveals movement as the water slaps through the run off drain, splashing in rhythm to the creek below. traveling time approaches and the need to get stuff done presses against my desire to just be. the knowledge of a disorganized house, need to clean, packing looming overhead, are all very apparent. stress energy replaces my inner screaming, shouting "i want time!" i want time to be with my family in play, rest, reading, sleeping, laughing, exploring, simply living. the wind chime sounds. the day lingers on. my writing is interrupted by the songbird sisters chirping, "pool please?" and i relent and close with a wind chime wish come true. my desire to just be is now. the laundry will be here later, but my family will be gone for a month in less than a week. so we choose to just be together. time to splash in and be swept away in summer play.

summer drive

the end of summer camp came quickly. i was not ready to say good bye to noise. the quiet pond once raged with laughter. i heard a stellar for the first time since june.

as i drove my way back to camp. i found myself wishing for more weeks. it would be nice to have one more day. the weeks fly by and we change. in a day you can make more friends.

while i chugged up the winding road i slipped into an amazing daydream. all of the summer inhabitants of camp were having a dance party at the pond. as i pulled into the driveway i snapped to and realized the season of relishing had arrived. oh, how sweet it is to rest in the memories of laughter, play, and good friendships found in the forest.

* D * E * P * O * T *

take me to the river.

let me soak in the sun.

let me sink in the deep.

may my day be refreshed by play.

another * SUMMER * together

photo taken by: sarah jean s-d

every summer we face new adventures together. somethings are easier than others, regardless we stick together. this summer i was the guest speaker for the evening talks, one week for junior high and one for high school. i was stretched and grown through the exhaustion and exhilaration of sharing life story and truth. sj(my wife) shared her voice through song and worship, assisting others into God's presence. she helped me close off the week with high school campers by singing a solo about love at the fire circle. our life together is wrapped in the true meaning and commitment of unconditional love. another summer together and we can full-joy smile at the life we have been given to share.

lavished

How great is the love 

the Father has given us so freely! 

Now we can be called children of God. 

And that's what we really are! 

i am blown away by God's amazing love for me. there is nothing better in all the world than to be fully sunk in His brimming over sweet love. it can be so easy to walk through the day unrecognizing all the little ways God loves us. i encourage you to look for them. they are there. sink in and be swallowed up by His free love. you are a child of God. walk in that truth. live as a child. know love.

she changes my world

she was born on August 5, 1975 (36 years ago today).

Psalm 42:1

"As the deer pants
for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you,
O God."