nostalgic, bittersweet

I was scrolling through some old albums and found these unpublished photos.  I've been nostalgic lately. Certain photos and memories keep popping up. It's a bittersweet feeling. Tres bittersweet. 

But, I like the feeling of good memories.

july 4th

We had a very simple july 4th celebration with family. We ate a delicious meal cooked by my lovely mother, with desserts enjoyed afterwards.  My sister made the triple layered cake and I made the cookies. They were meant to come out red, white and blue, but instead they came out pink, cream and greenish. oh, well. It's the thought.

Thanks to Erin and my brother-in-law for the fireworks and the show!

And a heartfelt thanks to all the brave men and women who gave (and who are giving) all for our freedom!

it's okay to find yourself happy

Have you ever paused a moment of your life to find yourself happy? Yesterday I couldn't help feeling very happy.  How could I not be happy when my one year old nephew gives me a sweet smile and then leans his head on my shoulder.  How could I not be happy when my three year old niece crawls into my lap slipping her fingers in mine. How could I not be happy when my six year old niece compliments my cooking and shows me her wiggly teeth..

I wonder why we often think it's wrong to be happy. Like we're not true and deep unless we're going through some heavy trial.  When you're living for God, there's no reason you don't have to be happy. 

Really, just be happy. 

Quote

"I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking." -C.S. Lewis

pausing those moments

Sometimes you just need to pause the moments.  Instead of flying through days like you're a mouse with a cat at your heels (being a mouse would be so unfortunate). The other day I sat in my darling sunroom and paused the moment with these pictures.  I didn't get the objects all pretty and perfect. I left them in their simple state and snapped.  

I like pausing moments, it gives you something to think about in the busy moments.

my enemy

An enemy I had, whose mien

I stoutly strive in vain to know;

For hard he dogged my steps, unseen,

Wherever I might go.

My plans he blocked; my aims he foiled;

He blocked my every onward way.

When for some lofty goal I toiled,

He grimly said me nay.

"Come forth!" I cried, "Lay bare thy guise!

Thy wretched features I would see."

Yet always to my straining eye

He dwelt in mystery.

Until one night I held him fast,

The veil from off his form did draw;

I gazed upon his face at last

And, Lo! myself I saw.

Edwin L. Sabin

(one of my very favorite poems)