I Wonder- Leeland

I just had to share a song that I am growing to love.  It's blessed me, so I wanted to pass it on.  Have a blessed day.
  Much Love,
   Candis

Leeland - I Wonder

At the stars in the night, I wonder


At Your lightning in the sky, I shudder


Your glory is a blanket that covers


Every living thing


I’m in awe at the majesty of who You are


Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart


All of the day I want to be where You are


Holy Father


And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me


With all these words, all my heart can sing is holy


You are holy


Jesus Christ


You bled Your love, laid down Yourself


And gave me life


In naked shame You hung and You were lifted high


Here I lay in awe and wonder


I am afraid


For no one’s ever sacrificed and loved me this way


So on my face I fall under Your heavy grace


Here I lay in awe and wonder


And I wonder


I’m in awe at the majesty of who You are


Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart


All of the day I want to be where You are


Holy Father


And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me


With all these words, all my heart can sing is holy


You are holy

Life Happens

  Life.  Happens.  Sometimes the sun shines, and sometimes it rains.  Both are good I guess.  The sun makes things grow, but the rain does too. 
This week has been interesting......and a little rainy.  It's been okay though, I am not stressed.  I have watched the rain from the dry side the glass.  God is good and always will be.
  Our dryer quit last week.  My dryer is a dear friend.....and had served me well for sometime.  We've done many loads of laundry together.   You don't realize how much you rely on something.....until its gone.  But it's okay, its given the kids an opportunity to learn about the "old days".  And...honestly, I think they're enjoying it.   And....since it's raining outside as well, we've been doing this within the comfort of our home.  My kids are in heaven!  Our living room has now acquired a built in curtain (of sorts) for hiding behind, and performing plays.
  Well a new dryer is on its way.  And just in time....because my cell phone just died this afternoon.  One thing at a time.......only one thing at a time.  :)  When it rains, it rains.  But the sun always comes back out.  :)  Just don't try to call me..... come over instead.  I will throw you a box of clothes pins and put you to work.  :)  <wink> <wink>

        Much Love,
           Candis

Bedtime

  Bedtime.  The word conjures up many different thoughts and feelings.  For Tim and I it means alone, quiet time.  A little peace and time to ourselves.  It's time to wind down, relax, prepare for the next day.  In all honesty, I enjoy this time of day.  It's time to sit.......by myself.  Not that I'd ever trade motherhood...Motherhood is one of the reasons God created me.  I AM a mom!  I LOVE being a mom.  But, bedtime is "mommy" time and I need that.
  To my kids,"bedtime" is not appreciated.  I am not yet sure why "bedtime" is so evil in the eyes of kids.  I have a few theories.  Activity ceases.  They're confined to their beds.  It's dark.  They are separated from mom and dad...even though its by 40 feet.  Well, whatever the reason, bedtime is their least favorite time of day.  My energetic kids become suddenly slow.  Slow to put on jammies, slow to brush teeth, slow to remember the "routine".... it's all in an effort to prolong or avoid the inevitable: sleep.  It happens every night.  I don't know why they think its avoidable if they "play things just right".......its never worked.  Sleep.  It's happened every night of their existence.  But....every night they try their best to avoid it....
 
 

Sisters

My girls: women in the making.  Strength.  Compassion.  Tenderness.  Love.  They need each other.  They argue, play together, stick up for each and can't live without each other.  They are sisters.  Forever.

A Glimpse of Winter

I set my camera down for awhile, and I've missed it.  I managed to get a few shots of our mild winter.  I can't say it was that hard.  I am looking forward to summer however.  My fingers are itching to dig in the dirt.  I want to garden!  And...I am ready to enjoy sunshine.  God, thank you for the seasons.

Across The Hill

At The Feed Box

A Little Winter Sunshine

Old Wood Rails

No Snow Men This Year

Lot of Feathers

Ya, I guess winter has a way of making you thankful for spring.  And....I am definitely looking forward to it.

The Journey

  The trail.  We're all on one.  Each trail is a little different, but we're all on a journey.   We are each headed to a destination....whether cautious with our steps or not, our journey will take us somewhere.     The journey has its perils.  There are fields of flowers, but also ledges.  Canyons.  Thorns.  The journey can even be deadly.
 A guide..there is one, and a map.   It leads to a place unimaginable.  A place without ledges, canyons, thorns or death.   A place so amazing its beyond comprehension.   And...a love so beyond anything experienced.  A love, calling you by name.  By name...  This love is waiting for you and knows you by name......
  Where is this guide?  Does He seem illusive? Are you wandering?   Wandering..... tired, sore feet.  Blisters.  Disillusionment.  Cynicism.  Tears.  Being lost....in a wilderness, without a map.  Where is your help?
  He is walking next to you.....waiting for you to ask Him for directions.  He's a gentleman...He will not force Himself on anyone.  He waits for an invitation.  You have free-will.  You also have a choice in life: lead.....or follow.  You can try leading...the only problem: you don't have the map.  And...there is an end to every journey.  Only the guide knows when yours is through, and if He's not leading, you will forever be lost.
What will you decide?  The guide: His hand is reaching out to you.  Your name is on His lips....and the love He has for you is something you'll never comprehend.  Place your hand in His.  Trust Him.  Let Him lead.  He will never leave you, nor will He forsake you.  And you will be safe.
 

Memories

  Memories.  (this stuff is not for the faint of stomach)...lol
 During a recent visit with my mom (discussing memories), I was reminded of an incident that happened a while ago.  An incident that I am sure every mother can relate to.   While sharing our stories, I didn't realize how funny it actually was (time has a way of making some things funnier).  At the time of this incident, it was NOT funny...but you know...I am sure if God didn't laugh initially, His angels were.
  My husband is a hunter.  During a hunting season, he left for a short hunting trip.   His trips don't bother me.  The kids and I watch a couple extra movies and eat pot pies instead of spaghetti.  Not a big deal, I don't mind.
  Well, on a specific day while Tim was gone, we had a rough day...and I was TIRED.  Supper time came and I loaded the kids in the truck....we decided on a local drive-thru.  I DID NOT want to cook...and the kids were wound up.
  We drove through the drive-thru, and headed to a local playground.  Eating...and expending energy....(multi-tasking)...check, check.  Good plan.  BUT, we FORGOT to go potty...HOW did we manage that?
  This specific playground is wonderful.  Lots of tall leafy trees and grass.  Very pretty.  However, the parking lot is a distance from the playground (making a speedy retreat difficult).  There are also no public restrooms.
  We hike to the playground, sit down at the lone picnic table and spread out our food.  We pray...and the kids run for the equipment.  I am TIRED, but glad to have food and entertainment for the kids.
  "Mom!", one of my kids frantically yells.  "I have to go poop!!!!!"   "Oh no",  I think to myself.  There is a certain pitch to a child's voice when "something" is seriously wrong.  And...I detected that pitch.  And...there are NO bathrooms.  We're in a public park.   The food is on the picnic table...we are a ways from the truck...and trying to drag my other two from their coveted perches on the monkey bars in the attempt to drive back to the restaurant would be too time consuming.  ARGH!  What do I do???  Well, I will only say one thing..."praise God for restaurant food bags"....and napkins.  Ugh....and hand wash.  A little TMI...sorry.
  We had conquered it..and found a dumpster.  I wiped the sweat off my brow.  Wow!!
I sat back down, and applied my second dousing of hand sanitizer.  All was well.  Until.........
A minute later, a second child frantically yells, "Mom!!! I have to poop!!!!"  Are you kidding me????  Fatigue and weariness had established themselves and I decided to allow one tear freedom.  How am I going to handle this???  I have no more food bags!  "Lord, please show me what to do!"
  My frantic child comes running to me, expecting me to know what to do.  "Mommy, I gotta go poop!!!"  I knew this needed dealt with timely.  It's funny how God, when you feel out of resources, shows you He's got more.  He's the "Provider"...of EVERYTHING...including toileting necessities.  Yes, we were out of food bags, but not totally without hope.  I'll skip details, but say we dealt with it (with tidy cleanliness even)  And I have to say creativity was not exclusive to Pinterest.  God heard my small plea for assistance, and answered me.  I was again so thankful for the extra napkins.
  I finally sat back down at the table...with a much smaller appetite, and a half bottle of hand sanitizer.  Life was back under control...sigh.....Until....
  "Mom!"  My first child hollers (I lose it)..."I gotta go pee!!!"  I can handle pee better than the first...but still.... Seriously???  "Why couldn't you have done it all at the same time??"  My child flies to me as I sit crying at the picnic table..."Mom, why are you crying, I gotta go potty!"  I snap out of it, and get creative once more.  This time things are slightly easier.  I really don't cry often, but provoked by fatigue I found myself wallowing in self pitty.
  Afraid to sigh relief, I sit at the picnic bench and wait (my hand sanitizer bottle only a third full now).  I dare not ask who else has to go....I know better than that.  My recently sanitized children laugh and play while a table full of food sits before me.  I am somehow not hungry...but I am happy.  I am reminded that even when I am tired, my husband's not home, things look impossible and I am out of resources, God isn't....And, my EVERY circumstance is important to Him (even my children's toileting needs).  Its sometimes funny to me the situations in which God teaches us things.  He brings us to the end of our "rope", to show us its really not the end....and He's capable of immeasurably more.   
 The rest of our evening was great.  The kids played. I even hauled out my camera and took some memory shots.  Our tiresome, stressful start was forgotten.  All ended well.  And....no one would ever even know we'd been there.  :)