P.S.

The screen porch experience just got better!

Anna is now practicing piano. The piano is up against the screen porch wall, and there is a small window above it which allows fresh air from the screen porch into the living room. At this moment strains of classical music are filling the porch.

Anna is torn between nursing and piano performance as college majors. For the moment she will proceed with both. Thus she has a big audition on September first, and my summer promises to be music filled. Her three audition pieces are by MacDowell, Mozart and Brahms. Contemporary, Classical, and Romantic respectively.

Happy mama.

Eden

When we went house hunting four years ago, I had a list. (I always have a list). Screen porch was not on the list. But God knew better.

Here I am, still jammie clad, feet up, third cup of coffee (decaf now) sitting in our own piece of Eden. This is a delicious way to start a week. Oh how I love our screen porch, nestled in the back of our house, surrounded by my "secret garden." I have my routines... Journal, then Bible study, with a bit of email and Facebook thrown in...all interspersed with clipping and digging. Am I the only one who accomplishes much in teeny increments? Just now I went out to dead head a plant, and twenty minutes later I am back on the glider, ready to continue with my study. Thankfully the back flower garden is fairly private, but I'm sure by now our neighbors know my sleepwear, and they are used to my puttering habits.

The birds are singing to me, the fountain is gurgling, drops of rain are falling here and there. All is very well.

I have a long long list for the next two weeks as we anticipate the big graduation party on July 10. It will all get done, one putter at a time. Just about over a sinus infection (although my head is still under water) I am hopeful that great surges of energy are just around the corner. But for today, I will embrace a slower, yet thoroughly productive, pace.

I love love love our screen porch.

En route

Riding in the back of our inherited 1998 Camry, our two daughters in the front. Anna is driving, and we are en route to her soon to be college...UW Eau Claire. Tomorrow is freshman orientation. She and Emily are chatting away...warms my heart.

Child number three to college. Two have graduated, one yet to go in three more years.

Although there are blurry eyed moments, I am too grateful to be sad. Anna excels at everything, and had a fun filled high school career. Number nine in her class of 230. An accomplished musician. Sweet too. How can I be anything but elated at how well she is prepared to head off on her own?

And yet...

Well, for now I am enjoying being a passenger. I am reading three books for my July seminary class, The Cultivation of the Intellectual/Spiritual Life. They are:

J. P. Moreland, The Kingdom Triangle (Zondervan, 2007)
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart (NavPress, 2002)
Klaus Issler, J. P. Moreland, The Lost Virtue of Happiness (NavPress, 2006)

Each one is fascinating. I need to write a one page opinion paper on two of them...I will post those when they get done.

Also reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. A*M*A*Z*I*N*G book which has me listing the gifts in my life in a separate journal. When we stop to count our blessings it changes everything.

And finally I am working through Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. This version has a devotional worked in it, so our Saturday morning study is reading it for a lighter summer read.

All of these strangely weave together perfectly. His timing of course.

Time to listen to girl talk, unfamiliar music and delve into some wondrous reading.

Be Holy

1 Peter 1:15 NLT
15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

This morning as I finish my time with God, I feel unease. I awoke early, feeling antsy. Went to my spot, and have spent time with God searching.

In First Peter I am sensing anew how we are called in gradual increments. And as I am honest before God, I feel He is calling me yet farther. More holy.

1 Peter 2:1. NLT
1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

ALL. Kind of an inclusive word. That is the word I get hung up on this morning.

Do you ever feel like you have a long ways to go?

Just do it.

Been contemplating blogging. Where to start? Have decided to just do it. Start.

Hoping I am back. One reason for this blog is to record a bit of me for posterity. While I cannot likely recap the missing months, I can start back in and end the gap.

I'm reading One Thousand Gifts and have begun my list of simple gifts for which to be thankful. Tonight I recorded the name of four friends with whom I had dinner, air conditioning, and the smell of late blooming lilacs surrounding our screen porch. Simple gifts. Luxurious gifts.

It's late and I'm tired. But I'm back.