Date Archives → May 2007

walks, visits, and priorities

Today I took a long walk. Ryan had a conference call, and Jameson had a bit of a fussy afternoon, so we walked to keep the fuss out of the house. Jameson loves walks (for the most part, right Mom?). So up North Street we went, and around the cemetery. Feeling adventurous, I turned left. Past the Walker’s, past the Calahan’s, on we walked. Soon the houses were behind us, and instead, fields of sweet-smelling grass, fragrant woods, and freshly-turned rows of yet-invisible corn.

And it made me miss Louissa. Once when we went for a walk, it turned into a 7-mile jaunt down country roads we’d never seen.

It made me think of how many walks I’ve taken in Madrid. It made me wonder how many more times I’ll find myself walking through farm land.

****

Tonight was dinner at the Nordberg’s. It was “simple fare” and oh-so-good. The best part was just visiting, though.

I’ll miss that. I’ll miss sitting with people from my parent’s generation, and having the secure feeling of just being loved.

We said goodbye in the driveway, where the rainy afternoon had brought out the fragrance of first flowers. Mmm, it smelled amazing. As we drove away, I said goodbye to Liz’s wedding garden, too. I’ll miss seeing it in full bloom this year.

****

I played piano for a few minutes today. There was a song stuck in my head that had to come out.

“I want to hear You say the words to me, Well done…”

Psalm 90 says, “Teach us to number our days.”

Too often I number them, find them to be short, and cling ever-more fervently to family, friends — things I don’t want to miss a moment of.

And I’ve missed the point.

Teach me to number my days — that I might seek You with passion, live only for Your Kingdom, and not squander a moment on anything not from You.

The brevity of life forces us all to make our priorities evident, to wear our hearts on our sleeves. What’s on your sleeve?

I want mine to say Jesus. He’s the only thing that matters.

I want to hear You say the words to me, Well done.
I want to hear You say, Good and faithful servant.
I want to hear You say, I’ve prepared a place for you.
Let all the treasures of the earth fade away…

Jesus, You are my reward.
To hear Your voice on that day
is all I’m living for.
Jesus, You are my reward.
To see Your face on that day
is all I’m living for.

our nest.

The scent of a Yankee candle lingers in the air.

A small lamp illuminates the now-empty “baby’s” room. Projects are done for the night.

Ryan is on the couch, working. De-bugging. Laughing. Coughing.

Jameson is in his basket, soundly sleeping.

And I, I am noticing it all. Thinking how much I love, love, love this apartment. Thinking that this little home, with its cute eaves and sunny rooms, will hold the fondest of memories for us.

I’ll miss it.

smorgasbord*

I know I haven’t updated in awhile.

Life’s been busy with musicals and friends visiting and sunny days in the garden and life changes.

I’ve been

:. thinking about how different truth spoken in love is than truth laced with sarcasm, cynicism, and negativity. And thinking about how blogs need to abide by the Ephesians 4.29 rule, just as much as our mouths do. I want to do more than declare what I believe to be the gospel truth about the issues of life. I want to impart grace while doing so. (And I want to also understand that I don’t always know. In some things I may be the strong in faith, in others, the weak. I certainly want to always exercise my measure of faith with the understanding that someone out there is probably weaker — and that’s okay. May my life be used to strengthen the weary — not be just one more burden to weigh them down.)

:. praying for a baby that I love dearly. Dearly. I mean, how could you not love her baby? Look at how cute the others are!

:. visiting with a friend. She’s on her way back south right now, but she’ll be back. I was glad of that when I said good night last evening, to the tune of a screaming baby. My attention was a bit divided, but a quick peck on the cheek and a promise of soon being together again was enough. I’ll cry next time.

:. checking out this site every evening. Want to join in the fun? Email me if you find anything fabulous. (Fabulous: 2 bedrooms, under 2G/month [cue choking north country girl], and near pricey menlo. Good luck! :))

:. yes, I’ve been processing a move. A far-away move. Huh. Exciting and sad. Change tends to be that way, I s’pose. More on this in upcoming posts, I’m sure. (Your 2 cents on how to make a transition easier is appreciated!)

:. thankful for the Body of Christ. People voice concern about me being lonely in a distant state, at home with a baby all day. Sure, I’ll be lonely, but I’m not going to lose sleep about making friends. I already know that there are believers where we’re going, and the Lord will knit our hearts. That’s His plan, and that’s my confidence.

:. making myself fat just looking. I’m going to live near this bakery, you know. Fortunately, it’s too much money for me to make such delicacies a regular habit!

:. praying every day for my husband. Did I tell you I really like this book? Yeah, I think I did.

:. slacking off when it comes to my nice little chore schedule. My sewing machine has lured me in again. I go through spurts, and I’ve had one recently. I’ll try to post some pics, at my husband’s urging, of the fruits of my labor. I’ll just say this: it’s a good thing I don’t have a baby girl. I can’t even fathom how many dresses I would have made already!

*How on earth did a Swedish word make its way into our vocabulary? And does anyone else always think of Kirsten whenever they use that word? Is that normal?