Wednesday, March 28, 2012

silly trees

by Alanna
Today was similar to many
I went to work
and took the twins for a walk
I love to point out the trees to them
because I remind them every time, that God made that tree
first He created just a tiny seed
and then He grew it into that big huge tree
and in the same way, I tell them
He will grow them to be big and strong
(I remind myself too)
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ"

The trees are beginning to blossom
and there were some beautiful ones
we noticed while walking today
and then, rounding a corner
two ridiculous trees
side by side
with their old dead leaves from last year
still clinging to them
they'd been stubborn I guess
just didn't want to let go
they didn't look beautiful, even empty like some of the others
they just looked silly
i laughed at those trees
and i wondered at myself
when i pulled at a dead leaf, it didn't come off easily
the trees were still holding on
to a whole bunch of old dead leaves
when all around them was new life growing
didn't they know?
that to live, they'd have to die?

how quickly i forget
how tightly i cling
only the Father can bring new life
we can't hold on to life, or gifts, or blessings
they wither and dry up
like yesterday's manna
every day has to be a surrender
every fall has to be death
every gift has to be given back to the Giver
in gratefulness
in worship

'Do not call to mind the former things,
or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
now it will spring forth;
will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness
rivers in the desert.'
-God

Friday, March 9, 2012

togetherness

By Alanna AND Mary
cookie dough
marble staircase and cobblestone streets
smell of spring
70 degrees of sunshine and blue skies
wind off the Chesapeake Bay
safe driving after not quite getting lost
baby smiles and coos
Allie guilty
prayers on the couch
pictures old and new
our songs
God's timing


God gives us so much to be thankful for, though this week it is easier to see than others. God gave us this week to live life together, face to face, side by side, to laugh and eat and pray together, to learn and explore and be.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

life around here lately

By Mary
We're home in Maryland, with spring slowly creeping in, with the songs of birds, tiny wildflowers crawling across the greening grass, and the sheer red mist of new buds on the twigs of every tree.
My family's been and gone, a sweet week of reunion, relaxation and seeing the sights. My parents got to be with all their kids and their two granddaughters for the first time ever.
Our little baby Gia is two months old already, the early stress more of a memory and being up in the middle of the night just a routine. She gets sweeter every day.
My husband started a blog of his own to update between all his work travels and the time we all spend as a family just enjoying each day. http://learninglessonsinlove.blogspot.com/ --check it out sometime.
We're reading through the bible together this year. A small ladies' bible study is meeting at our apartment on Wednesday mornings. And maybe one of theses nights we'll manage to make it back to our small group.
AND tomorrow in too-good-to-believe fashion, Alanna and I will finally be hanging out again, talking face to face, enjoying the blessing of simply being together. God is so generous. And life is good.