Welcome Autumn!

There is so much pain and sorrow in this life. . .  this past week has shown clear evidence of that.  But, there is also so much beauty.  As a "romantic realist" I know that we must live in this world of pain and tragedy... but at the same time we can still find exquisite beauty.   Whether it is in the faces of people who are suffering or who are trying to alleviate the suffering... or in the prayers lifted before the throne of God on behalf of those who are suffering... or in the beauty of God's creation and plan unfolding yet again in the changing of the seasons... or in the faces of your own family and friends who bring light, love, and laughter to your life... there is beauty in midst of pain and there is light in the darkness.

After some weeks away with family (and also currently recovering from a nasty cold), I am ready to embrace the beauty that Autumn brings. The HOPE that I have does not come from government to give me things, law enforcement to protect me, or even from the love of my family.  My Hope is the LORD, the Maker of  heaven and earth.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare NOT trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name!

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand,

all other ground is sinking sand."

- Edward Mote 

Hebrews 6:19-20 

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, 

firm and secure. 

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,  

where our forerunner, Jesus, 

has entered on our behalf. 

He has become a high priest forever, 

in the order of Melchizedek."

As always with my original scripture images, you are free to use this graphic by right clicking and copying or saving.

milestones in life

What a great month it has been! (unfortunately, it has left little time/energy for blogging!) As a pastor’s wife, and worship leader, the Palm Sunday/Easter season carry a lot of responsibility.  It fills me with joy to know that HE LIVES not just on Resurrection Day, but EVERY day.  As a board member of our art association (but thankfully no longer president!), we have made it through another Spring Show without major incident or cancellation.  It was a gorgeous weather day, even though the sales were down quite a bit this year.

Another new website is up and this one is for a local chef who is starting his own restaurant!

I just love getting to birth new babies like this one.  If you ever think it is too late for you to try a new thing, let this inspire you.  This man has been a chef for years always working for others… but he has always dreamed of having a restaurant of his own.  At 60+ years-old, he is now seeing that dream come true!!  So exciting to be a small part of that.

And this happened last weekend…

Another tremendous milestone in our lives …our middle son graduated from College with Summa Cum Laude honors!  We couldn’t have been prouder of his hard work and attention to excellence.  He wants to teach on the college level, so he has quite a bit of school ahead of him – next on the docket is his master’s degree and then doctoral thesis after that.  A lot of prayer went into homeschooling him and his brother and sister. God has answered every prayer above and beyond what we could’ve asked or thought.  We are grateful for all the blessings in our lives!!