Of Weeds and Thankfulness

When the rain hits and pelts the parched ground here in the desert, I head for the weeds. Stubborn little hearty pests, they scatter seed and poke their heads in all the wrong places. The assault is useless I have learned, without ample supply of water.

The water drenches the ground and the weeds, unknowingly, soak up, fill up their roots with the precious desert commodity. With roots full and ground moist, one simple tug rids our land of the nuisance. In the past, I dug, ripped leaves, frustrated by the roots that stuck hard in the ground, mocking my kneeling.

In my life as well. A part of me, grumpy fretting anxious flaw, revealed in the mirror. Recognizing it as a weed, sown amongst the wheat, I began to dig, pull with passion, only to hold the leaves in my hand, root in tact, laughingly ready to rear its head over and over.

Living water, the Word of God, soaks down to the root of the weeds. Saturating daily, when the weed I spot, a simple tug of recognition and repentance brings the dangling pest, roots and all, out of my garden.

Weeding in the drizzle yesterday, back bent, heart humbled ... I learned from the master gardener.

And so the count of thankfulness continues, this time with weed lessons learned

rain that pelts and the Word that drenches

the ease at which the baby weeds pull softly from the dirt leaving no hole of remorse

the light of His love that reveals the sins as they creep in slowly, just starting to take root

joy filled success when the overgrown nasty relinquishes its rights on the land and struggles free swinging roots and all in my hand

knowing that the overgrown sins in my heart can be pulled with strength and ease as I soak in His Word and promises.

little hands that pull with me, sharing, giggling, learning alongside

teaching the next generation the ways of the master gardener in our lives

a clean patch of earth and heart, ready to plant seed for harvest

Little Hands Change the World

Our world changers, leading the way on the dirt roads in Kenya, Africa

When the world seems too overwhelming, sometimes children close their eyes, tight. Shutting out the hurt and pretending it away.

When the world seems too overwhelming, sometimes children open their eyes, wide. Letting love sink deep down and spilling it all over those around.

Our boys, ages 7 and 10, have seen quite a bit in their lifetime, passports bulging full with stamps and visas to the nations. Feeding children in trash dumps, tribal jungle treks, AIDS orphanages, inner city homeless ... their eyes have beheld.

Cultivating. Learning. Changing. Loving. Their hearts tugged on by the millions of Dalits, considered the untouchable lowest of lows, of India. We have yet to touch soil with feet. Their prayers have shaken mountains.

They banded together, sorted through their toys, searched through our learning supplies, and radically gave up. Marking prices. Selling favorite treasures. They gave, so they could share Jesus with these children in India.

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." - Amy Carmichael

Continuing to share a thanks moment, say gracias, for little hands that change the world.

hearts of children wide open to give and love and sacrifice

brothers searching through their toys

delightful voices 'lets sell this for the kids in India, Mom'

little fingers pricing treasures

piles of favorites books, cherished toys and games piled high on the dining room table

friends that came to shop, and buy, supporting world changers' dreams

Bridges of Hope, connecting young boys with the nations

reaching their goal, miraculous

lives changed for eternity, in our home and India

and somewhere a water buffalo proclaiming His praise

A new option, be splashed in your email inbox. Over on the right hand side at the top of the page, you can add your email address and Splashin' Glory will be sweetly sent to your email. No fuss. Simple little splashes for your day.

Buffalo Dancin'

We starting singing tonight. Dancing around the house. My 8 year old, my 6 year old, my hubby and this happy lady. We're doing a water buffalo dance because, every body does have a water buffalo (including all of us here at Splashin' Glory) Sing with us tonight, splash around in joy for what God has done ....

To have a crazy dream. To share it with all of you. to watch as God gives His own Christmas presents once again. To imagine the face of a family this year in India, the poorest of the poor, who will receive the message of Him wrapped in a water buffalo. To do a little water buffalo dance. There is a WAY in the manger and this year a water buffalo will be chomping from it.

How can I contain it, the joy, all my Jesus continues to do. He blesses abundantly. He gives us the desires of our heart (even when it is as zany as a water buffalo). He brings us into fellowship, uniting His body for His glory. He wraps His gifts for us, all of them simply waiting for us to pull the bow and receive.

Celebrate His goodness. Share with us something, one thing or a thousand, that you can rejoice in today. Something a God full of goodness has wrapped for you. Here is mine wrapped for India.

When You Have Leprosy

Wrapped hands. 'Unclean' proclaimed from your own lips. Pain and despair. Imagine the untouchables. The victims of leprosy clammering for their voices to reach His ears. My Jesus heard. My Jesus hears.

Unwrapping my hands. Bandages of past hurts, mistakes, unkind words spoken. They fall in clumps at His feet. New life where disease of my sin left its mark. Restored. No longer unclean. My Jesus hears.

"And one of them, when he saw he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks ..." Luke 17:15-16

In the midst of the clamor. The throngs of people reaching out to Him. He touched and healed 10 lepers, setting them free from the bondage of their situation. In utter joy they marveled, and left. Only one returned to say thank you. I will be the one.

To remember to thank my Jesus for all that He has done, given, shared, loved, lived, breathed into my life .... Cultivating a thankful heart as the bandages litter the floor. I invite you to join me today. With a loud voice glorify God and give Him thanks.

I drop my rough pebbles of thankfulness into this pond. A little splash. Join me today in dropping a comment pebble of thanks to Him. Together we can make a ripple.

(pebbles #86-95)

*His song over my life, setting me free to be more than enough

*Hearing His voice above the clamor

*Pictures of my boys that cling to my fridge

*A hubby that models Abba's grace and love with hands of flesh

*Bandages of fear, insecurity, depression, no longer binding my hands

*Dancing, free to worship, twirling in glory

*Seeing in the mirror a reflection fearfully and wonderfully made, knowing it deep

*Friends to encourage, sharpening me, spark by spark

*Desires of my heart bubbling to the surface, matching His call

*Returning to thank, looking up and seeing His smile over my life

A Year and A Day

A year, since we boarded a plane back to the beauty of the Arizonan desert. A year filled with boys adjusting to a culture they claimed, but never knew. A year of God's faithfulness and refreshment for our missionary family returning. A year of falling more in love with Jesus.

A year of counting thanks and remembering to say gracias to my Abba who made it all possible. (#62-85)

*His miraculous provision for the home of my dreams when we arrived

*furniture, dishes, all of the basics given with love by many hands

*swimming pools and little boys learning to swim

*backyards with grass and swingsets

*bathtubs with hot, running water (will never take them for granted)

*garbage pick up and recycling

*little boys racing and waving as the trash trucks scour the neighborhood

*crossing the line from hope to faith

*a job provided to meet our needs

*being quick to obey His leading and reaping His blessings.

*new friends who speak 'only English' as my boys quickly noticed

*flushing toilets, oh the joy, enough said.

*ability to flush the toilet paper too (squeals of delight)

*learning the power of His Word

*baseball games ... and every other sport as my boys dive into this culture

*Christmas tree lights and wrapping paper

*birthday parties celebrated with family after many years without

* 4th of July celebrations, the first for my youngest

*4 generations seated around a table

*learning the happy dance with my family gathered in giggles

*simply saying a washer and dryer! (no more rainforest line dry)

*Thanksgiving with a real turkey, lots of mashed potatoes and apple pie

*amigas, my pink polka dots of iron, staying connected across the miles

*a heartbeat for the nations still beating strong in my own.

To Build A Stadium

My youngest, the little guy, turning 6. For months they discuss and hash the ideas for their birthdays. Months before, with a sparkle in his eye he chooses sports. You see, this momma loves to get a bit creative, and my boys anticipate Caleb's 'big game' for weeks. Forget the fact that we live in Arizona and well in the middle of August it will be 115 degrees for an outside sport theme day. Now, how to build a stadium.

My boy turning little man jumps into the planning stages. We send out tickets for all of our friends and family. Set a menu to rival any concession stand (hot pretzels, chili dogs, nachos with the cheese sauce ...) and go about fitting some type of water into every wacky game we can create. By the way, lacrosse rackets are perfect water balloon catchers if any one ever asks ...

Our stadium decorated, fans arriving in game attire, ages 3 - 87, all here to celebrate our Caleb, the bold one, who has impacted our world and will impact His. To build a stadium. To build a boy wrapped in our love, celebrated and cherished. A boy learning to run his race, and rejoicing that someday he will cross the tape to a crowd of witnesses that are cheering him on even now. Imagine the celebration. Imagine the stadium.

Counting down my thanks ... (44-61)

* squeals of delight as water balloons burst

*forgetting calories and splurging with nacho cheese jalapeno sauce

*great grandparents in the stadium

*raising our boys with family after many years without

*friends who muscle frozen pretzels with sharp knives

*115 degrees and the sweat that cools a mommy off while running

*a backyard full of friends

*candles aflame with notes of celebration in the air

*big brothers who read all of the birthday cards

*grown adults who come dressed and ready to play

*friends to face paint

*sun tea with ice cubes, glass sweating

*did I mention the nacho jalapeno sauce

*youngest boy bright with life, enjoying his "big game"

*hours of fun with new toys

*Jesus' faithfulness in providing when he gave his toys away on the mission field

*ice cream smears on noses

*our Caleb, my nose nuzzle prince

Words Over Me

Words wrap me in love, hand in hand, around my me. Fingers touch. Syllables linger.

Words bless us or curse us. The words I hear in the morning, linger with me through the day.

Today I pause amidst the bustle of words, to write mine of thankfulness as I continue to count ... (32 - 43)

*a husband looking to soul and speaking "you are an amazing woman"

*the words I spoke to ask my Jesus in my life so long ago

*a phone call every afternoon filled with his words

*my handwritten name written on an envelope in the mailbox

*giggles where words dissolve into laughter in the air

*revelation today to create a sweet atmosphere in my home with my words

*three simple syllables 'I love you' spoken over me

*Faith filled words that charge me and encourage me to soar

*sweet notes from friends afar

*'Good morning sunshine' as he awakens me each morning

*'mommy' being spoken straight to my heart from little lips

*His Word, to wash me, teach me, refresh me, and drench me in His goodness.

Friends, take a moment. To be thankful. To share a word spoken over you that lifts you high.

When You Dance with the Broom

When the day dawns and sun kisses your morning. Wipe sleep from your eyes to prepare for the task ahead. Momma slips into well worn rags decorated with bleach prints, cloth awaiting the adventure. Cleaning begins. The deep kind that scours corners, unearths dust hiding from sight, shines floors, bans clutter. Room to room, leaving a scent of fresh accomplishment. To be keeper of this treasure, my home. Dancing with well worn corn broom.

In my life, much the same. Cleaning continues. The deep kind. No longer hiding the dust that clings to unused talents. Cobwebs of fear swept away by growing faith. His Word, washing away the dinginess and stains on my heart. Each room, leaving His fresh scent. We truly are the aroma to this world. Dancing with Him and the corn broom.

Continuing to count my thanks in praise ...

20. toilets to scour that flush (living in places without, I rejoice now)

21. the smell of fresh laundry off the line

22. fingerprint smudges everywhere, wiping away I will someday miss

23. little boy treasures unearthed from secret hiding places

24. a house that almost overwhelms me to clean as His abundant blessing

25. stairs to sweep (my youngest has always dreamed of stairs)

26. bathtubs to rinse (my oldest longed for a bathtub for years on the mission field)

27. one word, a US washing machine and the memories of scrubbing boy dirt by hand

28. dust bunnies under a marriage bed

29. a corn broom handed down, perfect for dancing

30. our Bibles, all 4 dust free

31. the power of God's Word to clean away the grime of lives

Fearfully, Wonderfully Me

Simply me.

I could post a great pic of me, all dazzled up, makeup hiding blemishes, smile perfected for camera. Not today.

Today a shot from my 6 year old's angle. His mommy, fearfully and wonderfully, hanging laundry on the line, wearing comfy pants, hair tossled and tucked.

As I count towards mil gracias, tackling a truth and proclaiming thanks. Choosing to rejoice and return to Jesus and thank Him for making me, every part, in perfection, fearfully and wonderfully me

9. slightly curly slightly straight hair perfect for tucking on rainy days

10. stretch marks in places only we see, reminder of the blessings sleeping down the hall

11. height of tower, tall enough to reach things for strangers in stores, smiling thanks

12. eyes blue and filled with dreams

13. slivers of gray peeking, a crown of wisdom

14. girly shape shifting a bit, not noticed by love of my life

15. uniquely bent smile, showing the spunk in my personality

16. noticeable birth mark, always helped me to remember right from left

17. dainty size 10 tootsies, that can still out race my boys.

18. TRUTH wrapped in Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. "

19. fearfully, wonderfully me

Join me this morning in starting our week in thankfulness. On this Monday, what part of you can you wrap in fearfully and wonderfully thanks?

Painted Thanks

In the midst of barbed wire fences and muddled gray skies, His promise prevails. Dappled in color, each a brushstroke, a reminder for all to breathe gracias.

2. Red cherry stained lips giving popsicle kisses to mommy

3. Orange bounces, shooting hoops on a basketball court in all places our backyard, teaching the goose neck to boys reaching for stars

4. Yellow post it with 8 year old penned words "I love you" stuck straight to my heart

5. Green snuggle chair throne room entrance, a place my own with my King.

6. Blue boyhood eyes sparkling with joy and hint of mischief.

7. Scarlet paper scraped crayon, the chosen favorite in budding artists box

8. Black sweetness wrapped up in puppy fur