Sunday, September 28, 2014

"And He gives the love of life itself"


1) Blue Skies

2) Morning sunshine streaming through the window


3) Healthy food


4) Adventures: like teaching in the dark when the power went out! 


5) Sunsets and country drives 



6) Morton Arboretum


7) Bright smiles :)




8) Fall 


9) Golf (and that sky!!)





10) Beautiful music and powerful lyrics at church



11) Good quality equipment for work


12) The smells and colors and flavors of food



13) The gentle beauty of dying things


14) Sunday's lunch at home





15) Sunshine and ballcaps and long, clean hair and sunglasses


16) Indoor light and flowers and quiet rest at the end of a long long week. 


I'm thankful for these days. I'm thankful for the chance to step back and savor the gift of life itself,  each moment fraught with beauty and danger...rich, mysterious, purposeful. Sometimes at this stage of this new adventure life feels lonely and exhausting, complex and overwhelming. But those feelings are gifts as well because they remind me that I am fragile - but dust - and invite me to lean in hard towards God - his truth, his grace. And in those moments when he teaches my heart to rest, my eyes are opened once again to see that every moment -even the very busy ones, the very tired ones and those soiled by fear and disappointment are full of the beauty of God. This beauty is not dependent on anything future or past or on the actions, thoughts or opinions of any other individual (including our own) but is a divine gift of mercy in the present. I don't have words yet for all of what this means to me, but I'm so grateful for the reminder and pray that I will be more faithful this week in "seizing the day" with zeal, peace, holiness and genuine love to those around me. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

A grateful two-week review

Notes to and from Daniel in High Elvish


Dinner with Kelsey V


This weather!


This song...


Coloring with Emily P


It's official!


Prepping violins and bows for my kids at CODA!!



Shoe shopping! 


A gorgeous sunset


A quiet green to practice on 


Coffee on a rainy day


Time with sweet Clara. My how she loves my sunglasses! 




Beautiful Clouds


Many brand new families, excited to learn and enjoy music together!





Lunches with this man


That smile...


A beautifully remade bow hold!


Golf practice...enjoying my first successful full swing!



Sunday's with Austin and the Brighams









A verse that gripped me this week: 


A lovely student working very hard to straighten out her bow :) 


New Sperrys and the first fall leaves


Adventures with Emily 







A lifestyle shift, including many whole foods and saying goodbye to many old eating habits. It's not been easy but it's a really good process and I'm thankful for a daily provision of courage and for the kind help of Mrs. Brigham in getting started! 








A brilliant young student working very hard on developing a large, rich tone


Personal practice time in my favorite yellow room. 


Library time with Austin. More green smoothie. More carrots. More Water.