Pin Prick

After a two week trip we are home. When we got out of the car last night and took a walk around the house I could not believe how the weeds have taken over. I felt like my yard was growling at me. It seems funny but if you look at it you'd want to run from it too.


There has been a moment on our trip that I have been wanting to write about for a while now. Here goes! When Tim and I were at the Grand Canyon (it was my favorite place) I had this idea that we should stay in the park till after dark and find a good spot to look at the stars. I could only imagine what the stars would look like over the canyon. So we asked a worker in one of the shops the best place to go. He told us to drive up to a certain point, far away from any of the visitor areas but be sure that we bring a flashlight or two or we would not be able to find our way back to the car. So off we went, driving around the winding road, and me of course was keeping my eyes peeled for any wildlife. None, oh well. We finally found "the place." We had a blanket and a couple of pillows and after we had watched the sun set (beautiful) we got ourselves all situated.


As the sun disapeared, stars began to pop out. The moon was partly out this night so it wasn't as dark as we thought it would be. The stars became more and more thick and then I would see many planes lights. One after another the planes would fly in different directions. - Then is struck me - I told Tim - Think about all the people in those planes, traveling from different places to different places. The number of people in this world - then look at the expanse of the universe, the stars and planets...then I think about me. Little me in the great big world. I am just a little pin prick in the world. That little - and the creator of the universe thinks that I am worth sending his son to die on a cross to rescue me from my sin. The creator of the universe LOVES ME! It just blows me away. Think about the size of a pin prick. So small and even unnoticeable yet Jesus notices you/me. And when we stray away from him he looks for us and beckons us to come back.


We may be a little pin prick in this world but Jesus knows exactly where we are.

Psalm 8:3-9

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [a]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Quite the day

So I really wish that I would have had time to blog these past days. By the time I have gotten to my computer I've been way too tired to blog. Tonight I wanted to write a little before bed.

Today was one of those really long travel days filled with a mix of things. First we left from Bryce Canyon in Utah heading toward the Denver area. We spent last night in our small pup tent and it was a pleasure after feeling awful about hotels, and the cost of them and we loved being outdoors and we were looking foward to spending tonight at a campground in the Rocky Mountains. We drove - and drove - through the most amazing scenerly I have ever seen. From red rock, to white rock, to areas that looked like you were on the moon and into the green lush Rockies in Colorado.

Ok, so getting near Denver we started to look for a campground to stay at. First stop, Vail, CO - saw a sign for camping 1/2 mile - no campground - asked employees at a local hamburger place, they had no idea, or probably didn't even care. Called daughter Nicole who looked on the computer and found a few - she got us there. Crap, no showers there and you can't park your car by your tent (bad for us since we need the car adapter to blow up our air mattress which has to be in the tent before you fill it.) Moving on - hopped back on the freeway and go off at the next exit, asked a local (very small town) for camping - she said go to the next exit to the visitor center and they can tell you where to go. "You don't want a ticket for camping in the wrong place." Back on we go - visitor center - "There are some campgrounds in Mt. Evan, but I don't know what their facilities are. It's right in the woods in the mountains." Hmmmm, Tim didn't feel that were prepared for bear. I so would have gone but the whole bear thing and the fact it was 12 miles up in the woods and we were starving, I mean starving - Tim said "Let's just find a hotel."

(Nothing in this town. :)

We drove to yet another exit/city that we were told has hotels. Pulled off the exit - SAW NONE - they are usually right off the exit. Oh great! Saw a lady walking her dog and stopped to ask her if there was anything in town. She directed us to a few local ones and to a bed and breakfast. Pulled up to he B & B and here we are tonight.

The owner came back shortly after we got here and was so sweet. I told her that I had been craving spaghetti and meatballs all day, anywhere that I could get some. (It was 9pm on a Sunday night) Without even a word she was on the phone and told us we could walk 2 blocks around the corner, this restaurant has the best meatballs. By this point I felt like I could breathe again. Out of the car and we don't even have to drive to dinner. We ended up with the best dinner of our entire vacation and I would totally come back here in a heartbeat. The owner told us about the waterfall and the hiking that we can WALK TO! Oh my goodness - tomorrow is going to be a great day.

Wow, I'm glad I got this all down so I don't forget this. I love God's work in his creation. It blows me away what his hands have done.

Still California

So today is our last day in California. It has been soooooo great to be here but we must begin our travels home and emily and jon will get back at the life and the work that they have. I am sitting at the table while Jon does some rehearsing. He has a number of songs that he has to learn and we find it so enjoyable to listen to him practice. He is playing with Alana Grace and Mitchelle Musso for those who may be interested. The other night Jon gave us a tour of his sound equipment. That was pretty cool, Tim even tried fixing his foot petal. Almost had it too!

Yesterday we went and had lunch with emily at her work. We had the LA famous "In and Out" for lunch. Hamburgers and fries that don't make you feel gross. Fresh potatoes, yum. Problem here is that there are so many inique places to eat that they want us to try. Not complaining at all but Tim made his family famous chili for dinner here last night. Working out would be a good idea right now. :)

One of the things that I love about blogging is that it records life and memories. I've never been good at writing in a journal, most likely because I type so fast, but also when I blog I find myself just writing more free and I get my thoughts our more complete.

This afternoon brings lunch again with emily, returning a pair of shoes I bought. (Nicole, you should be happy) Probably laying out by the pool and packing up the car. Sounds like hard work huh?

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice."

California

Dad and Emily standing on the pier in Santa Monica. Love this picture.

I am so blessed to be in California with Tim to spend time with Emily and Jon. It has been great to get the tour around - Jon knows where he's going, and if he asks Emily about what street to take she simply replies "I don't know why your asking me" in her emily way. It's always cute! Yesterday I asked her what time in the evening it gets dark here. She and Jon went back and forth a few times - she said "hmm, it's not dark when I get off work at 6" - then said "Mom, I just really don't think I know the answer to that question." She just makes me laugh. We just returned from Malibu, Emily crashed next to me on the futon and Jon is amazing me on his big screen macbook desktop working on some music mixing. He has written some incredible music. He is a gifted musician. The song that he is working on definitely belongs on the radio. It's awesome! It's just been a gift from God that we could be around to see where they live and have some quality time with them as a married couple. It is so beautiful here. Mountains all around and houses built right in the mountains. Crazy beautiful. We went to Cafe Audry for coffee before church this morning, headed to Santa Monica and Yougurtland on the way home from the beach. It usually takes Tim a few days before his mind is clear when we start vacation, but not this time. We got right in to vacation even though our flight here landed at 2:45 am our time.

God is just so great that he blessed me with this family. He was so great how he gave us four daughters. I am enjoying every minute with them. What more is there to say than "thank you Jesus!"

Wits End

Psam 107:27 "...they were at their wits' end."

Sound familiar anyone? All of us have had times when we felt like this. Whether it is in our parenting, relationships, struggles, job...etc. Sometimes we just get at our wits end. But I love what follows.

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; (isn't that cool?) the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it gew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." Does this part sound familiar too? How many times in my life have things gone like this. Distress in life - bring it to God and he stills it for me. God is just so great like this!!!

Then hear this next, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for me. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders." Really, don't keep this to yourself. Praise the Lord to others. In the assembly of people and to those in spiritual leadership. It is through your story that someone else will see Jesus. I can't tell you how many stories that others have shared with me of what God has done in their life and how it had a great impact in my life, and sometimes I even felt like it was meant for me. Awesome!

Psalm 107 ends with "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord."

Let's live today in thanks to the Lord and really think about how much he loves you and me. A beautiful day in the Lord!

Within Me

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes I don't know what to do next. Sometimes I have no idea what God wants me to do. Where he wants me to go, who he wants me to speak to. Sometimes I feel insecure, scared, and filled with doubts. I could tell you that I always have it all together, but that's not the truth. I face challenges and doubts that hit me like a ton of bricks sometimes. I lead our women's group and sometimes feel so unworthy, so unprepared and wonder if I will screw it all up. Right now I feel like I have too much to do, that I have taken on way too much and letting some things go is something that God wants me to do - NOW. I can't worry about whether or not it will get done, just obey God NOW and let it go.

God has been speaking to me a lot today. First through Watershed this morning (with the ladies) as we heard a word on "fear", then again through my husband, and then again through a blog that my daughter wrote - mind you, one she got very "real" and vulnerable in. I am a work in progress and I always will be. I have awesome days in communion with God and I have days that I would rather curl up and cry. Whatever day it is God has it all. He is my creator, my friend, the one who will never leave me or forsake me. He is the one that I run to when all else fails. He is the one who always rescues me.

So today, I thank Jesus for being my friend who has promised to never leave me or forsake me. He has promised that he has plans for me, that he loves me. He has commanded me to be "strong and courageous" and to "not to be afraid". He promises to walk before me wherever I place my feet. He promises to guard my life and he promised to send the Holy Spirit to live within me. Within Me! Can it get any better than that? His spirit within us. And as Paul writes "My grace is sufficient for you."

Father God, be with each of us today and draw us ever closer to you. Rescue us who are in any pit of any kind and fill us new and fresh with you Spirit. Thank you for your faithfulness to us, even when we are unfaithful. Thank you for loving us - for loving me.

Makenzie

I was not sure what to write on my blog today. Then I read the following blog by a friend of ours from seminary years. We have been praying for this family often at the loss of their daughter Makenzie. Please pray for them. Copy and past the following link into your browser and read the words from her dad. Facing a tough time in your life? We all do, and each of our trials look different. I pray that as you read this you will reach for the hope that is in Jesus.

Makenzie wanted everyone to know Jesus and his joy!!!

http://toddstocker.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/handling-the-anniversary/