Bounding (carefully) up the porch steps in nothing less than a deluge, and standing in the middle of the kitchen floor while water puddled beneath me, all I could think was,

“I said drrrenched, and I meant drrrenched.”

Oh, I love that movie!

P.S. Speaking of movies, thanks to our lack of television, and the fact that we currently have no movies at the house, I am forced to read and quilt on this rainy afternoon. What lovely things to be forced into!

Waking up before my alarm to raindrops and cool breeze…
Propping my pillow and reading another chapter of Anne of Windy Poplars…
Dozing off again…
Sipping coffee, reading my favorite Book…
Cleaning in my pajamas…
Enjoying a sparkling kitchen sink…
Eating peaches and blueberries in cream for breakfast…

These are a few of my favorite things.

One year.

Hard to believe it’s almost been an entire year. The First Year was so thought through, so talked about, so focused on. And now it’s almost over. On June 26th, we’ll officially have moved into the rest of Forever. (…Forever, of course, being a slight exaggeration, and only meaning the rest of our finite lives.)

I’m thinking this week, and for the last little bit, about this year that we have under our belts. What did we learn? How have we changed? What made it a successful year? So many questions I really don’t have a clear answer to. I simply know that the bride I was twelve months ago is not the same wife I am today. Can I put my finger on the lessons learned? Well, maybe, when revelation strikes and I suddenly understand the subtle mysteries of transformation. But mostly, the progress was made below the surface. Like any structure that is built to last, there must be digging and strengthening far beneath what will eventually be visible. A foundation, laid carefully, intentionally, ready to carry the weight of what will one day rise.

All very poetic for something that seems anything BUT on a daily basis. But days string together, and, when each is surrendered to the Master’s hands, become something none of us, living from moment to moment, could have foreseen.

So, we’ll celebrate one year this weekend. There was the hemming and hawing and leaving it until the last minute, but at last we decided.

We’ll spend the whole weekend here, strolling and eating and enjoying the things that I’ve never really taken time for. This lovely spot will be home for three days. There won’t be any of these (maybe next time around), but there will be him, him, and all the rest. And of course, plenty of this. Gotta make sure we support the local roasters!

I’m excited. I’ll take the camera and savor every sight, taste, and note.

And look forward to the rest of our Forever.

Thinking about the focus of our faith:

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” —luke 10)

Only one thing…shall not be taken away.

Jesus, I am like Martha. I invite you into my home so eagerly, but then forget the one thing: You are here! And the nicely set table, the freshly baked bread — all of those things will amount to a pile of ashes someday. Only You remain.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ . . . Not that I have already obtained or have already become perfect, but I press on . . . but one thing I do…—philippians 3

All things loss… knowing Christ.

I forget, Lord, that there is only one thing I must do: press on to You. I convince myself that there are so many other things I should strive for when really, You are all. I often wonder how Paul continued with such fervor for so many years. This is how: he kept it simple. He just loved You.

Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…—hebrews 12

I can almost hear You when I read this: “Danica, Danica, why are you so encumbered by so many things? Look to Me. I am every answer, every need fulfilled. Me.”

Be Thou my wisdom
and Thou my true Word.
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father
and I Thy true son.
Thou in my dwelling
and I with Thee, one.

Thy true son.

I don’t just want to do the right things, Lord. I want to be You to the world I live in. I want to sit at Your feet so continually that I am eventually transformed completely. Be my true Father; I’ll be Your true child.

Ryan found another picture of a baby at 25 weeks. Hard to believe that our little one is already so perfectly formed–10 little fingers and toes, a face that bears our resemblance… It’s pretty amazing that God can create all of that in only a few months. Amazing.

This baby is the same “age” as mine.

Makes me wonder what my baby looks like.

3.5 months, and I’ll know.

Crazy.