Tales From Summer Vacation

Summer vacation is upon us. This year we actually had to find stuff for Maggie to do. Most weeks she is at the YMCA summer camps, which she loves. Last week, her best friend from school started there as well. She was so excited to tell us about the big surprise she had at camp. She comes home every day exhausted. She'll spend a week at Bible School and Venture Theater Itty Bitty camp, along with her friend Caleb. She told us "I think this summer I will be the happiest girl ever!"

Jessie is also enjoying the summer weather! She loves to go outside and play with her chalk or bubbles. Her newest game is to be the "Mommy" and tell me I'm the "son;" she then heads off to "work."  She is almost completely potty trained, tho she still likes to wear a diaper on occasion.

The house is on the market and we are past the eager stage and on to the anxious stage of house sales. We are headed into week 4 of being on the market.  

Summer officially starts this week, even tho we've been in it for a while. The sun sets are late and beautiful. Sun rises are early and fabulous.  I think this will be a blessed summer for all.

Something Like ...

Something like ... fear keeps me from submitting fully
Something like ... awe that You should care so much for someone like me
Something like ... wonder that You can soften this heart

Something like ... contentment lets me know this is Your path

Something like ... love compels me to submit fully

I'm unable to find the prayer-writing prompt that started this one. As usual, I'm sure it was something from Rachel Hackenberg. Her prompts have allowed me to take my prayers to a different level. This is a season of change in the Dailey house. Rocky has accepted his dream job as an assistant professor at South Dakota State University. Maggie is going to summer day camps at the YMCA and is over the moon at the idea of moving to South Dakota to be closer to Grandmas and Grandpas ("Mom, I don't know why we didn't think of this AGES ago.") Jessie just turned 3 and is no longer my baby but a little preschooler. The house is on the market and we are browsing the internet for our new dream home in Brookings South Dakota. I've given notice at work. And am looking forward to this new adventure (even if I'm not totally excited about it, yet). August will come quickly and this will definitely give me new things to write about. The Lord has shown me over and over that this is His path for us, and so I'm stepping out in faith that he has something beyond my dreams waiting for us back in South Dakota. And perhaps I will come to agree with Maggie that we should have done this "ages ago."

Job 14:7-9

Writing prompt:

"There is hope for a tree: if it is cut down,
it will sprout again and its shoots will not cease.
Though its root grows old in the earth and its stump
dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water
it will bud and put forth branches again."
(Job 14:7-9, adapted)

There is hope for the tree
And there is hope for me.

I am not cut down to nothing
I know the water will come
I can rest now.
I can wait in this hallway
For a door
For a window
I will enjoy this wait
I will fill my time
And wait for You.

Because there is hope for the tree
And there is hope for me.

Jessie's Third Birthday (or Day 1096)

Not sure where the time has gone ... I had hoped to give Jessie the princess birthday party she asked for, but with the house in the market, I wasn't willing to take on the stress of a 3 year old birthday party just yet. Perhaps when we get an offer (and a Cinderella princess costume) we'll have a belated party. Even so, we had a great day!

New Things

Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to

the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: "I am the LORD, that is

my name. The former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth, I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:5 and 8-9, NRSV) 

Write a prayer of preparation for the new things that surely come to each of us, and -- better yet -- for the new things that God has in store for all of creation, the reconciliation and healing that we have not even begun to imagine! I'll be writing my prayer at Faith and Water.

Looking back, I can see

The preparations you began

Many years in the making

And here I am

At the threshold of a new beginning.

Even though I am not sure

Even though I am scared

I hear your call

I heed your voice

I will pack my home, my life

And go where you lead

Fun at Lake Elmo

We had loads of fun at Lake Elmo last night!

Maggie says this hat really brings out her personality!