"Being rich of heart makes you wealthy beyond compare." - Rodney Williams

Simple things can give me such profound pleasure. Whether it is holding a clicky, inky pen and a piece of scratch notebook paper or walking through the dewy grass barefoot at 6:30 in the morning; I enjoy finding the hidden gifts each day in an ordinary life.... 


Making someone smile, waltzing with your pretended partner in an open field (hoping no one is watching), cooking in the kitchen with the inspiration of Julia Child (*note* this "inspiration" is not fool proof - you're still liable to burn your souffle), laughing off an embarrassing moment, re-arranging a cluttered space into an organized, accessible and aesthetically pleasing area, reading such an incredibly inspirational and profound Scripture passage that you want to share it with the whole world!, sitting at the piano composing a ballad which you'll soon forget, cleaning the house with vigor (*hint* for those of you who lack motivation, just pretend all your in-laws are coming over in 3 hrs - that should do it!), writing a letter, laying in the damp grass on a clear night and marveling at the LORD's beautiful stars (all of which are named and accounted for by Him) and the list goes on and on......

For me, home is the place where most of this takes place. It is the warm, inviting glow of the kitchen chandelier which is a bit too dim because only two of the light bulbs are currently employed; the rough, unfinished hardwood floors which turn my bare feet two shades too dark; the sunlight shining through the south windows onto my desk; our creaky steps (after skipping the third one to the bottom, take two at a time and you'll reach the top without waking the whole house), etc... 


A small house is actually a blessing. The five occupants of it are forced to get along and enjoy each other's company. After all, it would be foolish to be enemies with someone you run into every four minutes. But that's where the great outdoors come into the picture - I often escape to the barn loft or take a walk down "lover's lane" (My version of Anne's dubbed path). Perhaps it's my Father coming out in me. He'll say that the woods are calling him and then he's off, on what he calls, a "walk-about." I often get the same irresistible urge.

Some may think me a strange, sentimental fool for treasuring such things.... but then again, "If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~Audra Foveo

beautiful scripture

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. 

The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 

They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

~ Pslams 19:7-11

* Praise * Thankfulness * Gratitude * Joy *

PSALM 34:
"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us ezalt His name together."

PSALM 89:1-2
"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth I will make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, mercy shall be built up forever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens."


PSALM 92:
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To delcare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on  an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonies sounds. For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
O LORD,  how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this, When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever. But You, LORD, are on high forever more. For behold, Your enemies, O LORD, for behold Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered, but my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; My ears hear my desire on the wicked who rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a ceder in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."
PSALM "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. He will choose out inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves. God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding . God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne."

PSALM 99:5
"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool - He is holy."

PSALM 103:1-5
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."

Psalm 94

 ¹ O LORD, the God who avenges,
       O God who avenges, shine forth.

 ² Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
       pay back to the proud what they deserve.

 ³ How long will the wicked, O LORD,
       how long will the wicked be jubilant?

 ⁴ They pour out arrogant words;
       all the evildoers are full of boasting.

 ⁵ They crush your people, O LORD;
       they oppress your inheritance.

 ⁶ They slay the widow and the alien;
       they murder the fatherless.

 ⁷ They say, "The LORD does not see;
       the God of Jacob pays no heed."

 ⁸ Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
       you fools, when will you become wise?

 ⁹ Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
       Does he who formed the eye not see?

 ¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
       Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?

 ¹¹ The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
       he knows that they are futile.

 ¹² Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
       the man you teach from your law;

 ¹³ you grant him relief from days of trouble,
       till a pit is dug for the wicked.

 ¹⁴ For the LORD will not reject his people;
       he will never forsake his inheritance.

 ¹⁵ Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
       and all the upright in heart will follow it.

 ¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
       Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

 ¹⁷ Unless the LORD had given me help,
       I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

 ¹⁸ When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
       your love, O LORD, supported me.

 ¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
       your consolation brought joy to my soul.

 ²⁰ Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
       one that brings on misery by its decrees?

 ²¹ They band together against the righteous
       and condemn the innocent to death.

 ²² But the LORD has become my fortress,
       and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

 ²³ He will repay them for their sins
       and destroy them for their wickedness;
       the LORD our God will destroy them.

Under The Stars...

After watching half of Sense & Sensibility, the four of us grabbed our blankets and headed out the door to the side yard. After spreading our blankets and laying down at 12:45 am, we saw God's sparkling, magnificent creation - a beautiful night sky filled to the brim with shining stars. We lay there for an hour and a half watching the meteors stream across the night sky. We never knew where to watch, they were coming every which way from the north, south, east and west. We would yell "WOW! Did you see that one??" We even contemplated sleeping out there under the night sky, falling asleep while watching God's glorious work of art.... It sounded so dreamy and it was quite tempting! It seemed as if we were so close to God. He was right there showing us his creation. And we did a lot of marveling! How anyone can argue that it happened by chance without an Intelligent designer is crazy! Anyways, we finally decided to go back inside to our warm, dry, comfy air mattresses in the living room. If we had been in the country....I would have slept outside. I actually was planning on doing that tonight, but a thunderstorm has come up so the ground is wet and the sky is cloudy. Oh well. I'll never forget last night.....