Summer Holiday in 3's

Long car days

Pool play relief

Long anticipated arrival

Unending blue skies

Happy bright sunshine

firm fresh breezes

Rental house exploration

Exclaimed discovery commentaries

Bed-claiming derby

Dazzling white sand

Soft, deep, clean

Buckets, spades, trucks

Turquoise, deep blue

Crashing over sands

Startlingly clear seas

Rustling palm fronds

Springy, spikey grass

Startled indignant snake

Lush unbroken green

Manicured flower beds

color-matched houses

Early morning runs

Expansive peaceful sunsets

Bindweed on dunes

Terns and gulls

Mocking birds, magpies

Lizards and frogs

Sticky sunscreen scents

On salty breezes

Mingling in heat

Sandy bare feet

Browning arms, legs

Sun-kissed grubby faces

Six contented cousins

Colouring on veranda

Piling on Uncle Michael

Lazy meals out

Long, loud preparations

Beautiful family time

Surprise Thursday fireworks

Spicy chocolate bacon

Dolphin daycamp birthday

Sea, sun, sand

Kids deep asleep

Evening adult conversations

Day of lasts

Packing, sorting, laughing

See you laters

Road trip home

One long drive

Tired, rumpled arrival

Welcome home relief

Deep toy reacquaintance

Happy horizontal napping

A Glimpse Inside

You showed me, O Lord,

Gently

Without warning

Clearly

Now was the time 

To plant self fully

I felt

Surprise - here isn't home to me?

Awe - permission? for that?!

Awakening - I never did give fully, did I?

Excitement - God at work in me for more

Fear - once given, heart cannot be retracted

Trembly, tentatively

I walked and explored in me

For what this might mean

Soberly, trustingly

Unfolded my roots

Began to dig in

A living lilac - 

A birthday "surprise" - 

Daily testimony of

This new inner resolve

Transplanted 

Outside my door

What's this?!

Transplant shock?

Isn't this supposed to be good?

Joy?

Freedom?

Growth?

Like the lilac

My budding blooms

Shrivel and fall before fullness

My leaves wilt

My roots hesitate

To take the room given for growth

The things I looked at in hope

Seeing the good of home

Fruitful possibilities

Snatched away

Broken off

Just as they were beginning to bloom

Fear creeps in:

"None can be trusted"

"The pain is too much - not worth it"

Panic blurts:

"I can't do this!"

"What have I done?!"

Classic, I know

But how to bear the pain?

To what can I cling?

Where is my hope?

It is You who brings the pain

Where does that leave me?

Among the many who

Have found God more than enough

In all sorts of tough situations

With a loving God

Who has placed the boundary lines 

For me in pleasant places

Surely I have a delightful inheritance

I will trust in the Lord

And do good

I will dwell in the land

And enjoy safe pasture

(Psalm 16, 37)

Mommy birthday

story written by Jasmin
. 

''Moms birthday is coming soon," I said, "But what should I buy

 for a present?"

"Mom! what would you like for your birthday present?" I yell. 

Mommy said, "I would like a lilac bush, cheese cake, swimming, hiking, and wind chimes."

 "So how much is..a lilac bush?"

"I don't know. Let's search it up..."  =] "So it looks like a small bush is $20 dollars and a big one is $50."

" Thank you, Mommy!"                          

" A lilac bush is $50... Do I have that much? Let me check...I've got $68.78! I'll buy that! =]  

But how do I get a lilac bush  - I can't drive so.............hmm.... O, I got it! I'll set it up.

                                                    THE NEXT DAY 

''Grace how about you buy a cheese cake and I buy  a lilac bush"'' 
"ok "
"You go with mom and look for a cheese cake =]"
"ok"
 "On Wednesday dad is going to a meeting so lets ask dad if he can get the lilac bush. I'll pay. I'm going to ask........."
Jasmin dad wants you to be outside
" OK!" I said when he comes, we dig a hole. Then we plant the bush 
I call, ''Mommy, come here. I have a surpize." Mom comes out.  She is so happy, she loves it=] 

                                       So thats the story of Mommy birthday 

The end