Psalm Writing

While cleaning & packing today, I ran across an old prayer journal from 2001. I had taken a Praying the Psalm class at the church I attended and wrote a few. I wrote this one while on a Women's Retreat in Colorado and it spoke to me again today. It is dated April 29, 2001.

I can hear it in the trees

Praise the Lord

I can hear in the bird's song

Praise the Lord

I can feel it in the breeze

Praise the Lord

I can see it in the mountain tops

Praise the Lord

I can feel it in my soul

Praise to the Lord from whom blessings flow

Until my cup runs over

and my heart can take no more.

For Sale

I haven't written much about our upcoming move. I'm still a bit torn about going back to South Dakota, but with every sign pointing to this being the right thing to do ... Well, you can only argue with God for so long. So, once we made the decision to move back so Rocky could start his dream job, we put our beautiful home on the market. We have had a lot of interest, but no offer yet. I believe that God has something amazing planned, but 40+ days of keeping our home show ready is starting to wear on all of us. Ready to try anything, today, I purchased a Saint Joseph icon. This is a tradition started by Catholic nuns in the eighteenth century who would bury St. Joseph medals, asking the saint to bless their search for land for new convents. 

Growing up Presbyterian, I know very little about saints. I have prayed to St Anthony for assistant in finding lost objects (though it took him awhile to lead us to my rings). I have vague knowledge that there are patron saints of a lot of areas of life, but I never thought there was one for selling your home. And for it to be St Joseph! But I guess it does make sense as he moved his family several times during Jesus' first few years on Earth.

So tonight, we will bury the St Joseph statue in our yard and pray for his assistance. I'm very happy there is a chest sheet with this statue as I wasn't sure how to explain all this to Maggie!

Dear Saint Joseph, God the Father chose you from all the men to be the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. You cared thoughtfully and wholeheartedly for them while on earth. It was through you that Jesus first learned of His Heavenly Father's gentleness, compassion, protection, and provision. So close were you that He was known simply as the carpenter's son. We now ask your help in these our requests. Please intercede before our Heavenly Father for His protection, provision, and peace.  Help us sell our home and find a new one, suitable for our needs. Grant us harmony and grace in our home, and may we be ever hospitable to family, friends and neighbors. Finally when our life on earth is over, bring us safely to our heavenly home, where at last we shall enjoy joy with you and all the family of God. Amen. 

Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of a happy home and safeguard of families, pray for us.

Prayer of Unplugging

I need to unplug more, I think! I wrote this on Maggie and my first morning of Girl Scout camp. I was awake before anyone else and just used the time to relish God's beautiful world.

Good morning Lord! I do so love to wake up to this: the birds, the river. I hear you! I want to, need to drink all this in. The morning sun coming over the mountain. The hawk hunting for breakfast. The fog lingering over the mountain, waiting for the sun. The purple and yellow flowers coloring the meadow. I need this. That fresh pine scent covering me, taking me back to other mornings like this in Michigan, Colorado, Virginia, Luccock and now here. The warm smell of coffee (please let there be coffee) that awaits me at breakfast. I need this to refresh my soul. This is amazing. And I am so happy and blessed that You have given us Maggie who also sees this wonder. The clouds drifting, birds perched on the very tops of trees singing to each other. What a blessing to be here.

And starring .... Maggie!!

Maggie had 2 camps she was really looking forward to this summer: Girl Scout camp and Itty Bitty Theater camp at Nova. This past week was theater camp. Maggie LOVED it! The kids were given an overall theme: theirs was Cavemen & Dinosaurs. The kids gave ideas for the story, created their characters, costumes. The counselors wrote the story and the kids put on "West Side Dinos." I'm sure you can guess the story!  Maggie had a couple of lines, they sang & danced and had a great time!

Maggie breaks the fouth wall and gives us a wave as she moves to her next spot.

Maggie & Caleb get into the "Itty Bitty" Song.

Unplugging

Today's prompt for your writing and praying is based on Psalm 24:1.

"The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." (NRSV)

Thank you, Father, for the opportunity to spend some time away from distractions. Away from the things that grab my attention but are not important. Those shiny lights, the squirrels I cannot catch, yet I look to them, regularly. Let this weekend be a renewal for me. My undivided attention to Maggie and to You.

This is my Father's world

And to my listening ear

All nature sings and round me rings

The music of the sphere.

Thanks also to my friend M-L (whom I met on one of my internet distractions), for the inspiration.

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.