Getting caught up

I wrote this a week or so ago, I need to get back in the routine of posting because I keep on getting more things that I have to share. If I don't share them, I'll forget them forever!

about 9-15-2004

Well yes, the year has gotten off to a busy start! Technically, I did pray for this in one way or another, so I'm not complaining. I've been improving on my bible reading, too! It's so good to get back into it. Reading the bible always surprises me with neat stuff. I wish that I could devote a lot more time to it, and study and to writing too, but that's not my current calling. I've been enjoying my work, both at home and at the Photography studio, although there are whisperings from deep down inside me wanting to be back at home only. There is a sadness about coming home to a messy house and knowing that it will just have to be that way, because there is so much more work to do.

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about 9-1-2004

Darling Husband and I were out picking apples from the tree. We got an amazing crop! It was so pretty out there that late afternoon with the golden sunlight streaming through the tree's branches. Like a Maxfield Parrish illustration. How bittersweet this time of year seems. I love the weather and the bounty of the harvest, but everything sings of the leaving of summer and coming of winter, the crickets, the birds, the thump of apples to anxious to leave their home, even the air feels like the passing of time. This year I'm looking forward even more so to next spring ;)

As we were picking apples, I noticed a branch that I'm familiar with, as with most of the tree's branches. This particular one is one that used to be two, but over many such autumns, has twisted together and grown sometimes as 2, many times as 1, always never far. That day I immediately thought of that old story about the footprints in the sand. This tree branch is like my Christian life. Close to Jesus, at times more so than others, maybe someday we will be so fused we are inseparable! It's my turn to make a twist again and start growing closer because I'm starting to feel to much myself.

about 9-7-2004

Just one week after we had picked apples, my "d-buddy" - accountability partner - quoted the scripture that he had memorized for the week. Of the several verses Psalm 1:3 "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."

My mind was immediately refocused on my apple tree, which season has come and is bearing 3 fold what it did last season. I pray that I will drink the living water - God's word and prepare myself for when my fruits will be in season again, yet more bountiful. Winter although it may appear dead and lifeless on the outside is a period of storing up energy and contemplating the burst of growth in the spring, its the slumber that is needed for the next growing season.

10-5-2004

My darling son was wanting to play basketball with his dad. But like so many nights this harvest season, my darling husband was working late. The sun was already disappear and dusk was upon us. I said, 'come on, lets go out and play before it gets too dark.' We went outside in the cold night, we could almost see our breath. Both of us in our jackets and sandals, in our rush to get outside. Oh well, we are just going to play to 15 baskets between us, it won't take long. How good my son has been getting with getting the ball up into the hoop! Before we knew it our fingers and toes were warm with the exercise and we had made it to 15. Still his father wasn't home. He wanted to practice with the kickball. So we head out to the back yard in the dark of the night, illuminated by the house's lights, we practiced until he got 20 good kicks. OK, its time, we've got to go on inside. As soon as we got inside and got our feet cozy in our slippers, we heard the familiar sound of my darling husbands truck pulling in. Before I knew it my son's sandals were back on, stocking cap pulled down over his ears and was out the door. Honey, we already practiced basketball, its dark and cold, and close to bedtime. His reply was, yea we did, but I haven't practiced with Dad.

While they were outside shooting baskets and talking about the day, I started heating up the cocoa. I need to remember to be as determined to spend that 15 minutes with my spiritual Father.

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I hope I didn't overwhelm you!
Selah!
A.