In the last month I have heard from friends in several different states & the call that made me pee in my pants, my far away friend in Thailand which affirmed to me that I needed to post on here & say helllooo out there & yes, I am alive & well!!!
I am up to my elbows in Chicken Tractor designs & gardening ideas & incredibly stoked about the keyhole garden I designed to host my cooking herbs, a butterfly bush & bird feeders to enhance our drawing & identifying of birds in our nature journals (nothing like drawing them sitting on your den couch!). James & I interviewed the Agriculture teacher at the local high school who is also a landscaper yesterday and we are eager to get a little jump start on making our acre of land a thriving environment. He has 4 kid-o's himself & knows we will be out there alongside him asking questions, digging & learning along the way...you know us avid learner freaks gotta be in the thicket of it!
Kid's flew kites in bare feet last week...we ate up the sunshine, even took off to explore the Biltmore House one afternoon with a friend. We went inside the house for the first time ever- the boys were all over the mid evil decorated dining room with 3 fireplaces & boar & elk heads all over the walls. But of course most of our time was spend roaming the land, picnicing,visiting the barn- petting sheep & rabitts & holding chickens.
I can't say I have missed this outlet of writing because as I have disconnected from being online I feel a deeper connectedness to my own kids, the folks in my neighborhood and occasional friends that I get to chat with on the phone. In an age of always being available I think we are loosing the beauty of presence, of the habit of attention to eachothers souls and the ability to enter eachothers stories in meaningful ways. Yet, I know especially for us busy Mamas it is such a cool way to stay in touch. And yes, I do want to do a better job at that dear Wenatcheeites & fellow travelers that I don't get to see in person.
Much is marinating deep inside as my own marriage has walked a rocky path this winter. We are all so darn broken yet at the same time so darn beautiful, aren't we?! Forced to face the chapter of our story that was being written, we grieved where we had gotten and groaned many deep groans. If you've seen the new Chronicles of Narnia movie- it's as if the green midst took us away & the Enemy lulled us to sleep like never before. Yet, Gandalf showed up & returned hope to us mainly through the ministry of a friend in WA who flew out to be with us for a few days, to listen, to pray & offer deep hope..(some great meals & a night in a b & b along with a long coffee date went a long way)
I will leave you with a recent treasure of a little book I just finished
Mystical Hope by Cynthia Bourgeault
Trusting in the Mercy of God
On the back..."This is a grace-filled book for those who are learning to swim in the deep waters of God's mercy and love-waters in which we already swim but hardly know it. Cynthia shows us the road to a deep and lasting hope." Alan Jones
I have to say Julie & Julia is a pretty great read as well & Flannery O'Conner & Mary Oliver are on my nightstand as well. Oh, and The Core by Leigh Bortins is totally challenging me about the way I educate & offering some good insights.
Onward and upward,
Abbas Warrior Princess
For as the heavens reach beyond earth and time, we swim in mercy as in an endless sea. Psalm 103:11
Go jump in some puddles with your crew this week...celebrate the good things...open your eyes to TRULY see the gifts around you. May you have all the grace & peace granted to you as you need it. Yes, Laura I still remember your story so well offered...God will not give us that ticket for the train till it's time to get on....please keep writing, sharing your journey...loves, mj
