Wonder Woman

Chalice and I have some history of attacking rooms together for the sake of transforming them. When Sienna left for Africa, we ransacked and transformed her room so it could become Chalice's room. Another time we teamed up on the laundry room. There is nothing subtle about this mood that hits us. It usually involves painting the room and heaping up bags and bags of stuff to be hauled or given away, and buying new room accents at Wal-Mart. Well, we got that gleam in our eye a few days back regarding Pax's large bedroom. We saw in our mind's eye Pax's bedroom becoming a sort of den for any family member wanting to read, write, nap, or just be alone. We'll need to have a giant jalopy piano removed and hauled off.
Mission was accomplished single-handedly this time by Chalice since I was recuperating from not feeling real well. I am convinced Chalice has major talent in design, physical strength and determination to get a job done really well. A girl after my own heart. Thanks a million Chalice. Picture is forthcoming.

Sunday School

I had a surprisingly refreshing time 2nd hour with a class led by Tim Harr on 2 Corinthians, chapter 4. The small group of adults were talking about numerous verses with excitement and sincerity - mainly about how hard times draw us near to God and that we should see affliction as coming from His hand and that He brings good things from it. Anyway, I loved being with friends who are older than me in that setting - hearing what they had to say and listening to their desire to grow in their faith. I was sitting with Joanne Greer sharing her Bible and seeing it all marked up with underlining and her notes on the pages - that was just such a wonderful thing to see. It felt like a time of real fellowship. I was refreshed and inspired.
After my 3 hour nap this afternoon (!), I sat up on the couch and had a great time reading my Bible for about an hour. It had been a long time since I had done that. I read a little from Genesis, Isaiah, Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Matthew and took notes on what I read. My hope is to make that a daily priority.

I said to my husband...

"Be romantic for this picture."

But that amused him for some reason.

Pretty Bridesmaids

We waited and waited for this wonderful event that took place last Saturday evening in a beautiful setting overlooking the Nanticoke River. Our pastor's beloved daughter Linnea became Ben Taylor's wife. Our big church family (including special guest Thomas Prettyman all the way from Chattanooga) partied and danced and ate cupcakes until the groom politely told us to go home at the early hour of 11:30 p.m.
Summer can end now. The girls can return to Covenant.
Sienna and Kyrie have flicker pictures.
Pictured (left to right) are Sienna, Kyrie, Linnea, and Rachel (groom's sister).

Viko

This is my handsome nephew Vincent Howard and his beautiful wife Kiko who have been married for almost a year. Kiko lets us in on their life together by blogging often and putting lots of pics on Flicker that make us ooohhh and aaaahhh.

A Chariot without wheels...

In the early morning Damien reads to me from the Valley of Vision prayer book. We see eye to eye on these prayers. They are basically saying we are weak but He is strong and all things unfold from His mercy and wisdom. God is highly exalted and man is put in his proper place -the posture of bowing down might convey that place. Anyway, I have lagged behind in zeal, fervor and energy for God for so long that I honestly wonder if I know Him at all. I trust that He knows me and has anchored me to Himself so when Damien read this line of a certain prayer it almost made me laugh: "My soul is often a chariot without wheels, clogged and hindered in sin's miry clay..." yep, that's me and I guess I feel comforted that others have felt this way and have written about it and like I said it is He that holds us and will not let go. That is soooooooooo wonderful...but I do need to get the wheels churning somehow.

MORE KIDS!

Ida and I went to the community Summer Drama Club presentation of Guys and Dolls. It was at the high school. Ida LOVES plays and I hung in there with a real smile for 3 hours. So amazing to see neighbor kids acting, special ed kids on stage, kids with little talent, kids with a lot of it--all together having a ball. Levi was in a suit and a great little gangster, Posie (star quality) as a loose woman, boys filling up the stage belting out songs (all in their own unique key!) A particular high school girl (Chalice's close friend from ballet) stole the show with her beauty and talent.