Thoughts, Prayers

ACTS MONTAGE by Shannon Stainer

24"x60"

Water soluable crayon, Water soluable graphite, art marker on pressed paper in 3 sections

Dedicated to and created during the services at Cascade Community Church

Help me Lord to leave my home to church plant "What? Me a church planter?" "lol"

Leave my closest friends

My heart ache came back today

as I prepare

A quiet place, my enormous church home

A safe place

the arms of my friends protected me

I breathed

caught my breath here

you put me back together in this intensive care unit

how do I leave

except to obey, and to say thank you with my life

how will I leave Frank, God?

through a curtain of tears

the arms of love you are bringing to my city

they love me too

if they were not here too, I would not be able to go

I praise YOU because you have HANDPICKED this expression of You

this church plant

this daughter

externally focused

PEOPLE GET READY, crosswater is coming

we will love you to Jesus.

Jesus

Be loved

Be honored

accept my bravery and service

thank you for holding each and everything I commmit to You

YOU are to be trusted

Thank you for art, music, my family, my church, the Spring, Kevin, and that I can be in today. No where else. I don't have to hold onto my plans. I can be still and content.

Thank you for healing and using me.

You take and make me useful, effective.

Help me strive for excellence and care for my family well in the process.

You've supported me so well over the years.

I am yours.

[[If you need prayer or want to know more about my relationship with Jesus Christ. Please email me: psalm333@comcast.net]]

Springtime Afternoon

Happy Wednesday Friends

Matthew 6:25 (The Message)

Look at the birds

Free and unfettered

Not tied down to a job description

Careless in the care of God

And you count far more to Him than birds

Through Grace I'm taught to see You

With this heart unveiled to know You

God in Your pure light

Open our eyes

See pure light

-Matt Redman

God, I welcome Your presence PSALM 84

But it's YOU who are welcoming

Beautiful Lord Jesus

Open heart and arms

I only have to stop

shan

Applied To iStock Photo as photographer

Hello. . .
I submitted three photos today and an application to iStock photo to be one of their photographers. I also took a quiz, totally adult learning, but it was just points that they wanted you to remember as you submit photos. Here are the photos I submitted. I forgot to submit the Hawthorn News Shop, but we'll see. I may even reapply with different photos if they do not accept me now. I first heard of being able to do this (and get $$ from it) from my friend Heather. Then on Tuesday night my friend Rick mentioned that his son got accepted. So we'll see, maybe it will be good yarn money. Oh that reminds me, if accepted I will submit my picture earlier in my blog of Gretchen and my coffee cups and yarn. FUN! Ok here are the pictures, enjoy:

1:16 a.m.

it's really time to go to bed, but. . .I love this time of night. This house is so incredibly noisy during the day. Given the sounds are really happy alive kids when they aren't bickering. . .but it's good noise, you know. I usually am cuddling with my pooch working on something late, or taking a bath, or watching a show. I love the quiet. It is addicting. I guess it's non fat and non alcoholic, so it must be ok. I cannnnnot for the life of me wake up without an alarm these days. If I know I have messed up and stayed up way past what is healthy for me, I try not to look at the clock as I go to bed. This way I cannot mentally feel tired, all the way, because I don't have any idea how I abused myself. So, here I sit. A little preoccupied with nothing. Over tired and I will go crawl into bed. I slept in my clothes last night, I think just because. Kevin likes the room so stinking cold I think I just forgot to get more comfortable. We are down to our last few pieces of wood. I think I will load what we have left tomorrow, so that I can have some fires this week. It's hard to draw, paint or even want to be in our bedroom suite the 'garage'. . .when it's so cold. Noises I hear at this moment. Pug's soft breath, a snore from down the hall, rain, the blue flower clock that I didn't know had a second hand. . .the hum inside my computer and the furnace coming on? There is actually a chorus of little noises all around me, all soft, but in a complex rhythm. I think I hear my mom's tv, no that is Eli snoring I think. Anyways. . .time for bed.

Kid Highlights. . .

Hi,
Kid highlights. . .

"Sterling, why are your fingers in your nose?"

(a finger up each nostril) "...because I'm picking my nose""

"Mom, Pudges's face smells like a farm"

(Pudge our pug has a flat face with a nasal recess, well that gets funky smelling and his eyes weep a lot")

Sage kicks Eli in the mouth while they are hanging in hammocks they made under their loft bed, kicks his front tooth loose

Sterling removes the 'i' from my keyboard

Sterling decides he was too well behaved when he was 2 and revisits the busy annoying stage although he's turning 5 next month

Sterling rocks the bike with no training wheels

Sage completes devotional Discovering Jesus in Genesis with Daddy

Eli manages to procure an electric guitar from a neighbor boy, and it's now his appendage: touch it and die

Athon Joshua Franklin is here

Darling Athon Joshua is here. Born Wednesday, March 14, 2007 @ 4:40 pm 8.2 lb 19.5 in. long

The proud parents and my sweet friends are Jay and Heather Franklin.

The birth was worshipful, and I was honored to assist as their doula.

Athon's Nectarine Blossom

Our trees were blossoming as Athon was born. . .this photo is one of three of a project I dedicate to the Franklins.

PROUD MOMMA!!! So sweet together! What could be more beautiful?

He totally digs me. And, i dig him! He's delicious!

The Love of a Pug Named Pudge

Enjoy this pic of Pudge and me. He is so awesome. Love this little guy.
I think I will snooze on the couch with him soon, even if only for 10 min