There's a crack in our driveway that we pass every time we come up or go down it. It's gotten slightly larger recently, and apparently, it's now the environment for vegetation, as you can see below.
This isn't all that impressive, unless you've actually seen our driveway. It's a steep climb, straight up. Amazing, isn't it--the least likely place for growth is sometimes the most fertile.
On the hike back up, I passed some beautiful flowers. Enjoy! :)
A couple evenings ago, we went blackberry picking with our friends, Mark and Jackie and their children, Ella and Eli. Though I did not bring my camera with me for that excursion, I did come across a tiny bush that, as far as I know, has not been discovered. If you have never tasted berries right off the bush, they are an extreme treat--sweet, and soft, and melt-in-your-mouth good!
"...But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season,
And whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
Do not let the title fool you for I have always been antagonistic towards the “Finding God In…”series. Namely because I believe if one has to write a book uncovering Christian principles in a secular work then Christ-centered spirituality was probably never the intention of the author/artist.
However, at times, there comes a piece of music or art that we as Believers can come to appreciate simply because it features His Creation. I was raised on The Discovery Channel (you know, back before it became “The Macho Programming Channel”) and my father insisted that we watch the ‘nature’ shows, which, as a young tyke, was a great sacrifice because this was before Steve Irwin made nature shows ‘cool’. Even though the producers of these programs never meant to explicitly glorify God with their productions, it was clearly evident that “His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20).
This week I happened by chance to come across the 2008 version of the Internet phenomenon Where The Hell Is Matt? Though I thought the title was a bit unnecessary, I had a little time on my hands so I clicked on the 5 minute video to see what it was about. After the film was finished, through tear-filled eyes I could not help but glorify God.
As the creator of this film answered the frequently asked question of “What is the point of your videos?” with a very post-modernistic “It is up to you. I’m just dancing,” I could not help but be reminded of the importance of The Great Commission, the beauty of God’s Creation, and some subtle similarities that all of us who are Created in His image share—we love the camera, we can all smile, we can all be a little goofy, and we all have a Creator who sacrificed much for us.
Though you may not have the same spiritual experience as I had while watching this film, I encourage you to keep the following two scriptures in mind while you view this film:
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” –Revelation 7:9
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. –Revelation 15:4
We suggest that you let the film load as much as it can before you start watching so you will not be interrupted by lag time. Lydia and I hope you enjoy this beautiful film:
Never mind the fact that I was in Hobby Lobby earlier today and, yes, they are already stocking the Christmas ornaments. The gentleman who was stocking informed me that there are hundreds of thousands of these little guys--and that's only in one store!
Never mind the fact that the first official day of summer was only two weeks ago--our leaves are already changing! Or at least one of them is--and, boy, is he pretty! Bright red among so much green and brown. :)
And, as I looked a little harder, I saw a few more, but they were very few and very far between. Praise the Lord who has given us the seasons in which to enjoy all the colors of His Creation!
As previously mentioned, it's summer here in good ol' Tennessee--for those who didn't already know or by chance happen to live somewhere where it's not actually summer currently. :)
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a particular liking of shoes. It's always been there, and it probably always will be. One of my favorite parts of summer are, in fact, the shoes--er--sandals that we're able to wear.
I have also, conveniently enough, made some friends at work who just so happen to share my shoe size (couldn't have planned that one ;). Recently my friend Shauna gave me a pair, and they're just so darn cute, I had to share them with you (notice the pink toenail polish!).
And, as I was outside photographing, my Kevin came outside to watch, so I now have to share with you the actual picture of my two favorite parts of summer: my husband and my shoes (in that order, of course!).
So....it's that time again. Time to slather on the sun screen and bake underneath the rays it protects against. That also means it's time to shop til we drop in the store for a suit to swim in.
Here are a couple things I learned my (finally!) successful excursion yesterday:
1. Colors are wonderful--especially patterns.
2. Size matters. It was difficult to find a suit that did not closely resemble the coverage area of one's undergarments.
3. I miss having my mom with me to hang up the suits once they were taken off their hangers to be tried on. (I miss her for other reasons too, but that was the most prominent in my mind yesterday. :)
4. Along the same line as #3, I think I've arrived at an understanding of my mother's insistence of a modest bathing suit--although the selection of modest bathing suits seemed much bigger back then.
5. "...a prudent wife is from the LORD." ~Proverbs 19:14
Finally, some pictures gathered to show what women of a time not too far removed from our own wore to the pool or beach. :)
The above picture was taken at our rehearsal dinner (almost a year ago!). Lydia has kept it around the house because she plans to scrapbook it--I just love laughing at it. Doesn't it look like Rachel and Kate are having a good time? I told Lydia that it reminds me of one of those old pictures from The Great Depression era--that's why I spruced it up a little with Picasa's black and white feature.
Credit: Dorothea Lange/Corbis
To catch up on Rachel, Kate, and all of the Wilkersons' Nebraskan adventures, check out their blog.
This isn't all that impressive, unless you've actually seen our driveway. It's a steep climb, straight up. Amazing, isn't it--the least likely place for growth is sometimes the most fertile.
"A bathing beach policeman measures the distance between a woman's knee and her swim suit, Washington, D.C., 1922. He is enforcing an order that women not wear suits that fell more than six inches above the knee.".jpg)
