complete in thee

sunset over lake erie

Complete in Thee—each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.
--Aaron Robarts Wolfe

********

This hymn blessed me today... 'tis the reason I can fully rest these weeks. No matter the pull of change, no matter the challenges that await me as I return to the 'non-vacation world.' No matter to-do lists, sewing, my own prayers or weaknesses. He is enough!

beauty of spring

seems we are going by seasons here. =) well, spring is on my mind just now and 'tis the pictures i have to share with you. guys mills is like minnesota in one key way-spring is a long time coming, so when it comes we double rejoice.

all is grace only because all can transfigure. -ann voskamp

winter term in pictures

a view from our sledding hill

1 Corinthians class by David Yoder

good friends...

then enemies?

quietest place of study - the student lounge

These pictures I credit to the yearbook file. =)

redemption

We had a good discussion in the dorm the other night about redemption. It involved the discussing of real people and events, and our inside responses to these disappointing tales.

Dare we believe in redemption? When we hear of a young girl running away from home, then living in a state of struggling rebellion? The young un-wed mother, facing a lifelong consequence of her choice? Our own messy failings?

Oh, my. Hopeless, we think. You have thrown your life away.

I dare say there is real hope. From our discussion, “God can redeem and work in that marriage. True, it may be messier. But He can use that relationship to work what He wants.”

It is only when I believe this, when I stop trying to piece together the why’s and how’s, the many bits of this puzzle of human frailty, that I can see His overarching redemption.

I got a little glimpse of it last night. This story was told with many difficult pieces, many lost dreams. But in it all was a thread of redemption. We talked about how God redeems in small ways, minute ways. His redemption is not always the "glory, hallelujah" I sometimes picture. Although I do believe in His awesome deliverance, it is not always as all-encompassing or immediate as I might hope.

I am praying that my eyes will be open and my hands will be free to receive any picture His redemptive love gives to me.

A few pictures...

...the girl finds shelter in the home of a caring single woman

...the young mother is given a loving husband

...i hear His love in the rhythm of daily life

...a dormie extends love through past hurts in her own way

This is the redemption that God is working in my world. How do you see Him?

much snow

This image says a lot about our weather over the past week. Guys Mills is truly a land of much precipitation! We received over three feet of snow last weekend.

It has made for a jolly evening sledding and some beautiful walks.

one, two...and seven gals

time

It is time to update, I know.

I feel caught in a phase of life in which there is not great demands upon me, but always events and people to keep the pace of life quite full and rapid.

But it is good. I am learning to value how others think about things. How they respond to life and what their experience has taught them about living wisely and truly and honestly. Learning to listen to their dreams, their goals, can be very rewarding.

Today I went out to a little gazebo that Mr. Russell kindly allows us students to frequent. I sat there near the zinnias and the bumblebees, and I read an inspiring book and journaled. That was just a delightful and encouraging way to spend a day off.

Tonight I am thinking about my former students in Virginia...if any of you read this, I hope you are having a very good beginning to your school year. =) And that you are reading good books.

Time to go to bed. Tomorrow morning I am picking up a friend at the Erie Train Station...and I'd like to be there in time to watch the train roll in.

Good night!

thankful thursday

Today I am thankful for...

...a good day in the bookstore and working with staff here at FB

...two friends who stopped by the bookstore to shop and talk

...a quiet morning break

...fresh rain-washed earth this morning

...i ran credit card sales with no bloopers!

...the chance to help with some prep for Teachers Week handouts

...a cappucino

...cheerful people who taught me the routine of dish-washing =)

big sister, little sister

my refuge

I love Scottish castles. Mysterious, ancient, secure, and romantic, they speak of the long ago.

I can picture a kilted laird, his dirk in hand, standing on the ramparts of the castle and ready to protect the frightened villagers who shelter within the castle's walls. I see a clan of men ready to do battle while the bagpipes ring a battle cry over the mountainside. I can imagine arrow and sword as powerless against the massive stone fortress.

Psalms 18 tells me that I have a refuge far more secure and impressive.

When encompassed by Saul and his armies, David writes:

O Lord, You are my Rock, a firm Foundation when life shifts beneath me.

You are my Fortress against attack,

A Shield and Protection from the enemy of my soul,

My Deliverer from all evils, within and without.

God, You are my keen and firm Strength, in You I trust and rely.

You are indeed the Horn and the Seal of my salvation,

A High Tower whereunto I continually resort in my time of need.

I will call upon You, O Lord, whom I love devotedly;

Your praise will be my battle cry.

So shall I be saved.

Psalm 18:2,3 (a paraphrase)

family picnic

Cousins on the boat ride to a Minnesota island

Erika, Caitlin, and Chelsea

Myself and Grandma

Us girls-the cousins-and Grandma

Dad and Mom

Thankful Thursday

Today I thank God for...

...Health and strength for a new day

...His presence wherever I am

...The gift of music

...Waking up to a powerful thunderstorm

...Egg salad

...Friends who are only a phone call, email or text away!

...Memories to treasure

...A Christian heritage

...Pencils and notebook paper, hands down my favorite writing material

...Smell of fresh paint

...Little people

sunday's hymn

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear;

And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.

The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,

But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.

My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.

His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim,

He knows the way He's taking, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.

Bright skies will soon be o'er me where darkest clouds have been.

My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free,

My Saviour has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

-Anna Waring

And a beautiful recording of such heartening words.

dryden trip

At long last...some pictures of our family's time in Dryden, Ontario. As a family getaway and a chance to help the NYP mission, we spent four days in Canada doing work projects. The pictures tell more succinctly. As a credit, many of these are not my own, but my sister's snapshots.

A reminder of God's promises...in particular, His presence and purpose

for this wayfarer in her transitioning.

Caitlin with Connor and Erika on the dock. What beautiful scenery we saw as we walked, or boated on the lake, or experienced in the view from the kitchen window!

A fun game of...hmmm...Swing the Triangle?

Instructions for Fun Use: 5 people hanging from triangles, 5 pushers to give extra momentum, and a strong grip as you swing and fly!

We were introduced to Indian bannock via our friends. Delicious in a blanket around a hot dog. I hear it is also great fried in oil. Thanks to Letha we have the recipe, and we'll give it a try.

Caitlin, Chelsea, Cameron, Brooke and Megan waiting for the next assignment.

We cleaned apartments, shampooed carpets, stained playground equipment, washed windows, and many other things. It was good to work as a family again.

An evening treat at McD's. Letha, Jen, Kendra, and Morgan.

This picture shimmers with evening glow. Three of my siblings surely enjoyed their rides in Norm's two-seater. What a thrill!

Sunset at the point was just as much of a treat to me.

So, a good trip with many memories.

I'd do it again in a jiffy! =)

tuesday tidbits

Want to see heaven through the eyes of a five-year-old little boy?

I took Connor with me to McDonalds today. We got into a discussion on heaven. "In heaven," he said, quite enthusiastically, "when your big brothers bother you, you won't even be sad!"

Poor little guy. =)

But, really...I like this definition. The trials we face in our own little worlds will vanish. Petty annoyance, weakness, or painful experience, in heaven nothing will hurt or make us afraid. The One who understands all things stands ready to wipe each sorrow away.

And even big brothers will cease to bother.

true evangelical faith

True Evangelical Faith

"True evangelical faith cannot lie dormant

It clothes the naked.

It feeds the hungry.

It comforts the sorrowful.

It shelters the destitute.

It serves those who harm it.

It binds up that which is wounded.

It has become all things to all people."

-Menno Simons

learning lately how faith is an active thing. it cannot grow unless it is practiced, stretched, and lived out...

comes down to the little questions, little duties, daily opportunities for faithfulness.

i hear the call to deeper faith all around and everyday.

in the plaintive wish of a stranger that God would come through for her and soon.

in the need for serving in the home duties.

in the loneliness of a friend.

in the willingness to hear the struggles of another.

Lord, please grow my faith and deepen my surrender of self.

wonders of a cave

Our class went on our half-day field trip to Grand Caverns two weeks ago...it was so exciting! We saw all of the formations we had learned about in our Science book, plus a few more. The wonders of God's creation are truly amazing!

the land of snow and ice

We have finally had our winter these last two weeks...

what a beautiful world!

Ruth and I both ventured down to the nearby river

for a photo opportunity.

We saw this!

Quite picturesque!

Virginia storms still amaze me...truly snowed in. =)

Home is the little blue house on the hill...

I've decided an eastern storm can be messy. You might be out of electricity for ten hours, miss nearly five days of school in two weeks' time, need to park a quarter mile from your house because of the icy hill. =) But this one was a picture not to be missed!

quote for '10

"When there is a deep restlessness for which we find no explanation, it may be due to the greed of being what our loving Father never meant us to be. Peace lies in the trusting acceptance of His design, His gifts, His appointments of place, position, and capacity."
--Elisabeth Elliot

winter wonderland

In Virginia we've experienced the wonder of snow! A beautiful first snow, and since, a humdinger of a winter storm with two feet or so! Here my class poses with the first snowman of the year.

L to R: Darla, Natalya, Kaylene, Cheri, Alicia, Patrick; (front) Charla, Christine