Momentous May

May has been a scramble so far. On the 15th we moved out of our house temporarily for the summer so it can be a movie set! It was nearly as much work as a full on move as we had to pack up everything, while contemplating what to take with us on our various summer travels. But we've done it and it went pretty smoothly, all told.

Right at the beginning, Grace turned 20: we ate some Asian food mom cooked up, and a cake of course. Then on the 13th the kids and a friend went out for more Asian food and took in a cross-cultural concert (Innuk variations on classical music!) together.

In the middle of packing, daily life, and a few extras, we also took time to notice God's precious love gifts: while we won't get to watch the fantastic progression of blooms around our house, we did get to discover and enjoy may flowers, daffodils, and forget me nots - some of mom's favorites.

 

And then, to top it all off, at our temporary place, much closer into the city, we still have flowering bushes, forget me nots, and even lilly of the valley - and still we get to watch birds and deer our our front window! 

Our first week settling in is being super busy: 

• Monday the kids took the dogs out for a walk that got longer than expected becuase they got a little turned around and did a fair bit of backtracking to find the way home. Jasmin got stung by a wasp on her foot that swelled so much she has been since hobbling and hopping around the house.
• Tuesday Mom drove Grace to three different medical tests - one that we had to go to Truro for and get groceries.
• Wednesday Mom and Aiden are out all afternoon and evening for a homeschoool youth meet up and youth group - with some time in libraries (yes, more than one library: the Sackville one had to close because of a heat policy - it got too hot inside - so we went down to Bedford) in between to save round trips to Sackville.
• Thursday Mom, Dad, and Grace will spend the whole morning at church for prayer, a Bible study, and a meeting with the pastor. And in the afternoon Imma will come for her dogs and hopefully time for tea and talk.
• Friday we all have to go meet our new family doctor (Yeay for getting one finally!) in the morning and then in the evening EncounterEquip conference starts so Mom, Dad, and Grace will be out again!
• Saturday Mom, Dad, and Grace will be at church all day for EncounterEquip again.

Whew! Not much true settling in has been happening, I guess. Hopefully we get to stay home a bit more next week!


 

Spring!

 Creeping green mist over the fields

(the green on th trees still is only moss)

Spring rains offering wild beauty:

Misty hills, jewel drops on twigs

Tulip leaves piercing up through leftover Fall leaves

Crocuses reaching up to yell loud yellow and purple joy to the sun

Crinkly dark green and purple leaves

Unfolding close to the ground

Sounds of rain in the gutters

Robins and phesants (mostly) in the grass

Peepers loud and numerous in the pond

Cries of delight as we discover yet another growing thing

A few other spring things:

Another week of a borrowed dog to train for Jasmin's course

Jasmin and Aiden in full tilt year end study crunch

Took time one evening to catch our stubbornly resident porcupine - without quill adventures this time!

And news that our summer travels will begin 6 weeks earlier than expected:

An in-town move prompted by our house requisitioned for a movie!

He is Risen!

Lenten Sundays fasting then -

Palm-sized sundaes for Palm Sunday

A once tried and loved edible pun

Thursday Tenebrae

Ten candles, songs, and readings

Walking us from palm waving to His death

Friday evening Passover

A special meal with a neighbour

Introducing and commemorating

the true meaning of Easter weekend

Easter service on Saturday evening

Making room in the church for Easter attendees

Rejoicing in resurrection power

And those who are newly resurrected

Despite the oddness of evening Easter

 

Easter Day celebrations with family

An "Emmaus walk" -

Only we didn't walk because of rain

Instead broke bread together (fondue!)

And worked our way 

Through the post-resurrection story

Yet another format of celebration

Traditions and hopes

Bent by locale -

Breakfast on a Nova Scotian beach in April?!

And yet woven throughout

Looking different but carrying meaning and continutity

All the same proclaiming - He is Risen Indeed!

Psalm 91 Dwelling in Rest

 We all seek rest in many ways

Striving to “arrive”

Aiming to please God so we will be blessed

Paying off tormentors

Drowning our fears, our woes, our restlessness in whatever addiction fancies

Psalm 91 shows us the right way

Starting off how we might expect:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Do your eyes roll? Glaze over? Hurry on?

But here is step one: dwell

Dwell near/in God

Determine to trust in Him

Run to Him for all needs of refuge

A strong fortress where safety is always found

It is followed by six verses of description

What does God’s protection look like?

Deliverance, covering, shield, no need to fear

Snares, disease, terrors, war, death, destruction

At all times safe from them all

And another five verses of description

The fullness of God’s care for those who dwell!

No evil. No plague.

Attentive angels.

Victory over those things that can harm

And then step two: relationship

 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; 

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” 

Dwell with God

Not as an empty but safe tower

A place devoid of personality and warmth

Nor as a comfy, light-filled safehouse

Know Him and love Him

Do you see just how pleased He is with that?

Just how many ways He says He will care for you?

The overabundance of description? 

How utterly protected those who dwell are?

Rest indeed!

And then, a crowning joy: reciprocal relationship

He shares the treasures of His salvation

Not simply saving you or handing you a book

But like a newly trusted friend showing secret saved up treasures

He shares Himself!