It's the simple things...

Like...

a new handmade bar of soap
a crisp sweet apple
the smell of clean sheets
the warmth of the sun on my face
freshly painted toes
a rose in bloom
birds singing their songs
a good ending to a good book
a creamy nutmeg candle
an encouraging word
a friendly smile
an inspiring conversation
a home cooked meal
a freshly brewed cup of coffee
a pair of soft slippers
a walk by the lake
a handwritten letter
a cuddly puppy
...

Lord, let me never take the simple things for granted. I am blessed beyond measure.

God will not let you go...

"O love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thy ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be." George Matheson 1882

Why I am looking forward to the summer (a brief summary).

Why I am looking forward to the summer (a brief summary).

*going to farmer’s markets of all varieties and buying fresh produce and flowers

*FRESH flowers for a good price (I think everyone should buy themselves flowers once a week)

*walks around any body of water with my husband

*caring for plants on my patio (this essentially means making sure they get enough water so they don’t wilt away-this is harder than it may seem, at least for me)!

*healthy eating (with the abundance of fresh local produce you can’t go wrong)

*picnics at the como zoo

*ice cream cones on a hot summer day

*walking around lake Calhoun and then grabbing a slice of whole foods pizza

*sitting on the dock reading a good book at Wayzata bay

*grabbing a lick’s cone and exploring Excelsior

*spending time out on the boat and feeling the water spray on my skin as we speed around the lake

*walking along the river in Stillwater and discovering treasure in all of their antique stores (and of course stopping at the candy shop)

*buffalo, mn (if you know me I don’t need to explain)

*and last but not least (this one’s for Aj), soaking up the sun while watching my favorite baseball team play

To be continued…

My favorite song at the moment...

Shadowfeet by: Brooke Fraser

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumors of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

I love you!

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Dear Aj,

Once upon a time there was a boy

he was graduating from high school
and it was time for him to

decide
what he wanted to do with his life...
he chose to go to a school called
Bethel
and he was to major in business

This young man was assigned a dorm
room in Edgren Hall where he would
live with his best friend Caleb

It was an exciting time in life
new people to meet, new experiences to have

memories to make

and girls to befriend...

He was an attractive young man
the girls flocked to him due to his
huge heart and warm smile

but there was one lucky girl that caught his eye...

She didn't realize then how much she really liked him
so they became great friends spending almost every
vis hour moment together hanging out...

and making memories

The year flew by rather quickly
a lot faster than they thought it would

as the school year drew to a close
they had time to reflect on the wonderful

memories

they had made together.

It wasn't until that summer
that the girl began to realize
her true feelings

She began to really miss

that special boy...

They spent many summer nights

together again...

making memories.

It was one very special summer night
on the dock of a friend's cabin

...watching shooting stars...

making memories

that the girl realized that she was in love with the boy.

The next few weeks flew by
and the boy and girl were
inseparable.

They were in love...
and soon the boy asked the girl
if they could begin dating

and continue to make

memories...

together.

Time flew by again
as it always seemed to do.

They spent three wonderful years

together at Bethel

making memories

and soon it was time for the boy
to graduate from college

and become a real "man."

The boy had worked very hard
and the girl was very proud of him

very very proud.

The girl knew that God had a plan
for her boy

a wonderful marvelous plan.

And so she smiled knowing they still had a lifetime together

and they would always have

their memories.

If the world were a village of 100 people...

Something to think about...

The village would have

60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 people from the USA and Canada and 1 person from the South Pacific

51 would be male, 49 would be female

82 would be non-white; 18 white

67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian

80 would live in substandard housing

67 would be unable to read

50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation

33 would lack access to a safe water supply

39 would lack access to improved sanitation

24 would not have electricity (and of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night)

7 people would have access to the internet

1 would have a college education

1 would have HIV

2 would be near birth; 1 near death

5 would control 32% of the entire wealth; all 5 would be US citizens

33 would be receiving and attempting to live on only 3% of the income of "the village"