{ Abide }

This is my prayer today, as I long to steep my soul in truth, sweetened by the comfort of His presence, in the words of this beautiful song:

{ January 10 on 10 }

1. Annabelle's Grannie Annie desk in the morning light, displaying some of the oh so charming artwork of her said darling namesake. 
2. Lucy, bright eyed after her morning nap.
3. she's so cute, that I can't stand to only post one from this set
4. Jack " reading" in the sunlight
5. the master to-do list (mostly home improvement projects). Interesting side note: I love David's handwriting so much!
6. first thing on the list: clean out basement. I can't believe I am posting a picture of my scary basement on my blog. Thank you 10 on 10 helps for keeping it real around here.
7.  a family hike, we needed some fresh air after having been in the dusty musty basement all afternoon
8. Annabelle's all smiles as we race home to put on the tea kettle
9. the only way to drink hot chocolate, learned from the Candy Man ( but you might know him better as Mr. Happily Ever After himself)...who has seriously mastered the art of improving + enhancing among other things: popcorn,strawberries, and hot chocolate by adding the right candy too them. Are you curious now? Sorry but it just wouldn't be fair to give away all his secrets now would it?
10. scrub a dub dub, happy baby in the tub

{ you too can be a millionare }

"  Many people in ordinary circumstances are millionaires of cheerfulness. They make their neighborhood brighter, happier and a better place to live in by their presence; they raise the value of every lot for blocks around them.

The world is beginning to see that people who can radiate sunshine and carry gladness and good cheer wherever they go, although they may be poor, are of infinitely greater value to society than the millionaire of money who pauperizes everything he touches, and everybody who comes in contact with him ,by his close, contemptible methods.

Largeness of the heart and generosity of the soul make millionaires of character who are worth more to the world than mere moneyed millionaires.

The time will come in the progress of the world when we shall not have to depend on rich furnishings, costly tapestries, and gold plates. Character will become so enriched in the upward growth of the world that the surroundings, however costly, will be considered but a cheap setting of a precious life-stone. Cheerfulness is a potent factor of success."

 -Anonymous

{ Bittersweet}

{ source }

    So many thoughts and feelings kart wheeling around in my heart these days. I have been avoiding typing this post up for well over a week now and it makes me cringe and my eyes fill with tears, to type out the words, words that say that Grannie Annie is no longer in this world with us. It seems at times to be both unthinkable and impossible. And our grief is deep and yet tender as our memories of her are such sweet ones. Without her, all feels even less right with the world than it did before. Of course we are so glad for her, as my Annabelle said so sweetly the morning I told her that Granniebelle's was now in heaven with Jesus, " Mommy now there is one Annabelle here and one Annabelle in heaven and someday there will be two Annabelle's in heaven...and how happy it is for Granniebelle to get to be young again."

  Words feel inadequate right now. But if ever there was a memoir that deserves to be written and read
by many, it's hers.  Rachel calls it Grannie's "essence" and to capture that in words would be such a beautiful thing.  I can see here in my minds eye right now sitting in her little chair on Blue Jay Corner, sipping half cups of coffee and snacking on cheese and black licorice, with that sweet sparkle in her eye and something funny and encouraging and wise to say. She'd never let you go without a hug, a kiss and a " I love you honey." She had the gift of loving unconditionally. She was a life giving person. She choose joy. And found that joy in Jesus. She was a beautiful artist, and embodied so many of the qualities that I hope and pray I will over time grow and mature into. Thankfully from what I hear not everything always come naturally to her, which gives me hope. She was lovable in every way.  We even wrote a little book about it. 
And I dearly love what David's Mom said was one of the things she loved about her Mama, taken from the 90 Reasons We love you book: " I love the way you call life bittersweet, and while you acknowledge the bitter you chose to dwell on the sweet. "
It is my wish to pattern my life after her dear heart.
 
2011 most of all was a year to say both hello and goodbye to two who I hold in dearest places of my heart. And to marvel at the beautiful circle of life.  I am in awe of our faithful and good God, as I dance my way into this new year. But more about that later. It has to do with my New Years Resolution, and I am certain it's one Grannie Annie would be proud of.   

{ baby's first Christmas }

She's the sweetest thing under the Christmas tree imaginable.

 This post is especially for Lucy's Aunties.
I hear they are missing her and her chubby, kissy cheeks.

She loves to sit below the Christmas tree and play with the tags on the presents and gently bat at the ornaments just like a kitten would. 8 months is such a precious age to be experiencing Christmas for the first time. Lucy love, you are the Merry to our Christmas this year.

{ Legacy }

Today has been emotional for us. We've had tearful phone calls and cried in Lowes and cried as we held each other and prayed. Lots of tears and prayers for our dear Grannie Annie who is desperate with longing to go home to be with Jesus and her Rogie. We just heard that she was singing " I come to the garden" in the ER tonight. And she told David's sister Deb when she left her side on Sunday, " Okay honey, goodbye. I'll see you in heaven. " It's so hard to know that she is suffering as she begs to go to heaven. My Annabelle is named after her and I pray often and fervently that Jesus will infuse her with the sort of heart for others, for her family,  for Him, for beauty + joy, that our Grannie has. And with her quiet wisdom, her creative eye, her ability to love unconditionally, and listen well to the hearts of her loved ones, for her funny bone, for the sweet gift of encouragement, for her glass half-full perspective on life. I know of no one who is more admired or adored than our precious Granniebelle's. That's what makes this possible goodbye so hard and especially tender...I count knowing and being loved by her as one of the greatest treasures of my whole life. And we can't and won't stop praying for her, crying for her until we know that she is resting in the arms of her precious Lord. Or for a long time after.

  It will be worth it all, just for one glimpse of His dear face. Precious Grannie, soon you will get to hear that resounding sweet " well done"...for faithfully giving God the glory in the good times and the bad throughout more than ninety years of life and for your truly beautiful legacy. And when you finally get to go to heaven, please kiss Jesus, Grandpa Roger, Papa and our angel babies for us. We will miss you every day and speak of you with laughter and the greatest fondness, as we do our best to follow in your darling footsteps.  

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ

  And while we are talking about legacy, this sermon spoke to + stuck with me like few others have in the past year. I think a big part of that has to do with the fact that David's brother Mark spontaneously jumped up from his seat to be baptized at the end of the service. We were so thankful and excited to be there to witness his public confession of faith.

 

If your married, I highly encourage you to take the time watch this sermon. If you are not married but hope to be one day, I highly encourage you to take the time to watch it as well. I walked away from it convicted, challenged and changed by Jesus.

Grannie Annie Update: The latest report is that Grannie has a much rosier outlook on life this morning. That is a huge answer to prayer as we dearly want however much time she has left on earth to be spent as comfortably and sweetly as possible.

{ 10 on 10 December }

Highlight's of the day:

cream of rice with agave + cinnamon for breakfast/o.j.

brown paper packages, tied up with string

bright eyed Lucy, and her two cute teeth

many cups of hot tea

pretty cookies, made with love by dear friends

vintage Christmas packing

birthday soup( that's what we call it...otherwise known as Chicken Tortilla Soup )  made for me by this dear friend + my cozy new slippers, brought home along with a big stack of Christmas cards for me from Costco the view from my front porch looking in

drive thru nativity

Sleeping under the Christmas tree

Not pictured: 

the new back porch and steps my husband whipped out over the last 48 hours

yet another batch of almond roca, which deserves a post all of it's own

piles and piles of tissue 

Jack's face covered in blue food coloring. Did you know that you can scrub away at the nasty stuff with soap and hot water with hours or tooth paste will take it off nicely.