The Tulip

If you are not familiar with The Tulip Tale, you can find some background here. (The first post is from last year and will help you understand where I'm going with today's story.)

I haven't felt the same heaviness this year, but I did find myself thinking of her this past week, my beautiful salmon colored tulip. She not only survived despite the odds against her, but she was the prettiest tulip I have ever seen. She taught me about life, survival, and God's amazing ability to heal. I caught myself glancing across the yard last week, knowing I wouldn't find her yet hopeful just the same, but she was not there. She is gone now, never to return, her purpose in life complete, and yet the lessons remain.

I almost didn't go to church this morning. I know how that sounds being Easter and all, but I haven't been the last two Sundays (I was in Florida) and sometimes it's hard to go to church alone, especially on a Sunday so geared toward families. It can accentuate the loneliness of being singular, especially in a group of people I don't really know. In the end I decided to go anyway, because I knew I'd regret staying home. Diana greeted me in the sanctuary and invited me to sit with her and God provided the gift of not being entirely alone.

There was a children's moment during the service where a woman invited the children forward and she read them a book, Good News by Glenys Nellist. I smiled when on the first page there appeared a tulip praising God. There she was, my beautiful tulip, smiling at me from within a board book. "I once was lost in darkness, but now the sun I've found!"  The voice of God whispered in my ear and I knew He heard the unspoken cry of my heart. I smiled silently.

A woman gave the Easter message as is the custom of this new fellowship I've been attending. It was the women who followed Jesus and attended to His needs who were the first to proclaim the risen Christ and so a woman is given place to share the Good News on Easter morning. She delivered a beautiful message of God's love.

After the message and sharing of the Lord's Table came two final songs, words on the screen above so we could follow along. The last song, Beautiful Things, had a picture of beautiful, red tulips blooming in the background. If I ever needed confirmation of the Father's love for me, and my lost tulip being an unmistakable gift of His love... And to think I almost stayed home. I left with tears in my eyes.

A Long Line of Love

Been listening to old country songs. This one breaks my heart. How could it not?

 

Sleep, a Storm, and a Song

It's not late, but I need to go to sleep. I haven't been sleeping well and I have to be at work a half hour earlier now. Our baby room was overflowing this morning and we must stay in ratio. There were six infants by the time I punched in this morning. Theoretically, starting a half hour earlier means I'll get out a half hour earlier, but realistically, that ain't happenin'.


We're having another "winter storm." That means it's snowing and driving is nasty. I am still scratching my head and wondering why this is big news. Ever since I can remember we've had winter weather in the winter. We drove in the snow if possible, and stayed home if it was too dangerous. Okay, sometimes we stayed home.

If my praying friends are reading, we still need your prayers. I know I need to turn it all over to the One Who Holds All Things, but I don't always know how. The burden is bigger than I can carry alone and your prayers help. Thank you for lifting us up.

The song? It touched my heart many years ago. I came across it this evening and found myself touched all over again. I once sang it for a child, and today I wonder if it's really sung for me...

Little Boxes

Little boxes on the hillside 
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes all the same

There's a pink one and a green one 
And a blue one and a yellow one 
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky 
And they all look just the same

Pink, green, blue, and yellow... but there isn't much of a hillside here... unless you count snowbanks. Most of these houses don't have basements, except the blue one, and maybe the yellow one. Only the first houses built were blessed with basements, the rest are on slabs. There is so much rock and clay in the soil that the builders had to use dynamite in order to make a big enough hole in the ground. According to my mom, they gave up and instead added a foot or two to the living rooms of these little houses.

Some houses here have higher roof lines. In time the builders lowered the roofs to save on building costs. These are things most people probably don't notice. I only know because Mom told me. We were blessed, not with a basement, but with a taller attic, tall enough for a small bedroom. Dad built it for my brother Dan when he was about eight years old. Tucked up under the rafters, accessible by a fold-up attic stairway. Kind of like a tree fort.

It's much too late for me to be up typing, but it's hard to let this old habit go. I only wish I had more time to visit all of you my friends on your blogs. It's been such a grand adventure.
:0)

Believing...

I believe the sun still shines even when clouds block the view.

I believe that God is bigger than the beliefs that you and I may or may not hold.

I believe He hears the prayers moms pray.

And here I am reminded of a song... (It doesn't necessarily define my beliefs, but it did come to mind.)

ABC Wednesday- Letter L

L is for "Little Kid Television Shows..."

I am feeling rather lazy and lethargic this evening. I hope you don't mind one of my wanderings down memory lane...

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

I Am Smiling Now

"Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He turned 90 in February. The song is Old Grey Bonnet."

My darling daughter will appreciate this video that I found on my friend's Facebook account this morning. (Beth, I think this is the "real" Silas and Miranda...)

It is good to know that growing old can be as much fun as being young. Makes me wish all the more that I could play the piano. Do you think it's too late to learn?

Sprinkles

"The candy man can cause he sprinkles it with love and makes the world taste good."

Thirteen things about sprinkles...

1. They're colorful
2. They're tasty.
3. They go with everything.
4. They look like little pills.
5. They stick to wet fingers.
6. We call 'em "Jimmies".
7. They're made of wax (maybe).
8. They make cookies beautiful.
9. Sometimes they're chocolate.
10. I buy them in bulk.
11. They make birthday cakes special.
12. They're good for what ails ya.
13. They put the smile on top of a cupcake.

The Love Of Calvary

The Love of Calvary

Your love is greater than the heavens You created,
Farther reaching than the universe You made,
Touches deeper than a heart could ever hunger,
Oh, the love of Calvary!
-Jim Sitter
(I wish I could share the music with you, but it is locked into a CD and I don't know how to post it here.)

A friend is on my heart today. She is too far away to hug, too far away to offer a shoulder to cry on, too far away to sit and cry with... We are so helpless on our own. Today I pray that she would feel my love and the prayers I offer up for her. I pray the peace of God would fill her heart, put her mind at ease, and give her rest. I pray she would know the love of Christ in a fresh new way and entrust her precious child into his care. It is easier said than done, I know this because when my heart was broken for my own son, I had to give him back into the care of my Lord over and over, only to find myself taking up the burden once again. "I love you, my friend..."