CELEBRATING LIFE!

7/15/13 Headed to the mailboat early this morning to "ferry" over to Isleford, the hamlet located on Little Cranberry Isles.  Isleford is the home of our dear friend Ashley Bryan and though he's visited our home in Memphis several times and daughter and I have visited him on the island, today was hubby's first visit. Larry was just as enthralled with our time as I was. Plus we got to meet Ashley's Sus, (Susan V.) who is sort of like the island's chamber of commerce welcoming gal, as well as running the general store and handling all of Ashley's schedules and "tech" stuff. He doesn't even have an answering machine.
Ashley showed us new art work and shared his upcoming book, "Can't Scare Me" from memory. He's a great story teller so that was a real treat. His book should be out  by the end of summer.

Ashley, an animated storyteller brings his words to life----can't wait to see his illustrations for his new book, "Can't Scare Me."

What a glorious day! Time visiting and chatting with Ashley and soaking up his "wisdom" as well sharing his gourmet Dean & DeLuca passion fruit and coconut birthday cake. In celebration of his 90th. What a delight to while away the hours with such a special friend.

Because Ashley so embodies the essence of Psalm 90:12, that's the verse for meditation today. Ashley understands "numbering of days as he lives each day with gratitude and has not only a heart of wisdom but also one of the kindest hearts, I know.

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:12-14, 17)

Ashley celebrates each day as a "birth" day. He celebrates living and he does it well.

In one of Ashley's studios---this is where he is using sea glass to create the stained glass image of Paul, the apostle. He has already completed Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Peter with glass he finds along the shore. With the apostles bookending his creations, he depicts the life of Christ and florals in his panels as well.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: LONG ISLAND

7/14/13 Long Island: North Fork---the quieter more rural side. Perfect for time with little Lucy and family---lots of open spaces, a beach just down our walking road, outdoor shower experiences, horses and goats and ducks and chickens, picnics, dinners at the open air pier, outdoor grilling w/ fish, scallops & shrimp, lots of ice cream, roadside stands and thriving flowers. A vacation very much an answer to prayers!

Lucy mailing postcards to her 6 cousins.--all boys

As if we had our own private beach

Lace-cap hydrangeas--almost indigo in color

Porch Time

What does the horsie say? Lucy knows.

Fields of sunflowers 

Organic berries & veggies & goat cheese at KKs

Chickens and ducks and goats, oh my!

Lavender on steroids!

Certainly shoes must match sunsuit.

Snuggletime for Daddy &Lucy

Last morning "cuppa" with Shug, in a china teacup, no less!

SATURDAY SADNESS

7/13/13 On our last morning with Josh, Megan and Lucy, the sadness begins to creep in---"so much felt, so little said" syndrome. Hard to express the "tearing away" feeling of the heart when one has to part from loved ones. But God....has brought to mind that we'll see them in October. They're coming to Les and Ashley's wedding.....and it's in Memphis. YEA!!!

At Lucy & Dixie's (the dog) favorite "rock beach" at Orient Point where we'll catch the ferry later this morning as we head up toward Maine and they all head home to Brooklyn.

Lucy "talks" to Daddy. She's only 21 mos. but  is a real chatterbox---and  you should her her sing!! She has quite a repertoire!

S'MORE SWEETNESS.....

7/11/13 S'more Sweetness found on Long Island from Lucy. Posting will be sporadic as time is spent "at the shore" with family and at on Isleford in the Little Cranberry Isles in Maine afor Ashley Bryan's 90th birthday celebration.

Lucy checking out Shug & Pop-Pop as they arrive on Long Island, the North Fork area.

S'More

7/9/13 S'more--one of the first contractions that children instinctively learn when their marshmallows are toasting over a campfire. S'more means they want some more of that sweetness. 

That sweet food that is made by putting a melted, (or charred) marshmallow & a square of Hershey's chocolate bar between two graham crackers. Some more sweetness. Isn't that what we all want?

As David reminds us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good;" (Psalm 34:8), Jeremiah prayerfully reminds the Lord, "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;" (Jeremiah 15:16). 

I've found that the more I know Him and his word, the more I want to know Him and His Word better.....so sweet are His words to my life. Addictive. Just like kids with their s'mores. I want some more of Him.

HURRIED FORGETFULNESS: A Meditation

7/8/13 Recent post had me pondering some questions about worrying and hurrying. Pondering those resulted in some guided meditation. (Allen Bible Church, 7/5/10) Pondering brought focus!

Listen to His will: Focus. Pray. Rejoice. Give thanks.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Lord gives His will but also gives His warning so that hurry & worry won't result in low-grade joylessness---aka as a life more filled with "blahs" than "ahs."

In David's Psalms (his journal, of sorts) he reminds us to remember all that God has done for us. 

Remember His warning:

Bless the Lord, O my soul and FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS. (Psalm 103:2)

It might take a little time to recall God's benefits and to say thank you. But....as author Timothy Jones states, "As I take time to enjoy God, I find myself lifted out of life's littleness."

Hurried people become forgetful & ungrateful, which can lead to lives of irritation & "demandedness." One demands more from God & others in order to serve self.

Grateful people don't forget to say thank-you. 

Our forget-filled lives: Hurried.Worried. Ho-Hum.

His will: Be Thankful

His warning: BEWARE OF HURRIED FORGETFULNESS!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Long Island

7/7/13 Man versus animal continues----but more luck this week. Hubby finally caught his "coon"---actually 2 of them. Will post when they "arrive"---via L's iPhone. 

That's okay though because I have a picture of Lucy at the "shore"

---the anticipation of our upcoming trip has me packed and ready to go!

Hurried Forgetfulness

7/6/13 With more than "our normal number" of  upcoming summer trips, excessive planning has been creeping in to my mindset. Forgetfulness has been rampant. But God....showed me a 7/5/10 Allen Bible Church post that I had printed off 3 year ago. Is there a "July" pattern here?

Hurry, Worry and Ho-Humness too often mark the lives of Christians. Notes that followed indicated that, too often, we describe ourselves by how busy, frenzied and time-squeezed we are. It's as if busyness is a badge of honor. Worry means our lives are significant. In truth, as one man said, "When I listen to myself, I'm coming to realize, I'm too much laced with discontent?"

Questions popped out at me:

Despicable Me 2, a family treat

• Are you worried and hurried? 
• What would God say to you? 
• God has spoken, without stutter, concerning His will for life. Am you listening?

As I pondered these questions, I began to heed those underlying warnings.

Then, I got an offer I couldn't refuse.

I decided not to hurry but to forget all the to-do list items and enjoy the moment.

 I went to a "kiddie" movie.

A Fun Filled Fourth

7/4/13The Brooklyn Liles started the day with a swim at the shore and a parade. The Memphis Liles/Kennedy clan continued the day with lunch and beyond. Now I just need the Texans to send a picture.

Thanks Soozee for the pic

Owen and his neighbors Hailey and Lizzie.

Friendly Farewell

7/2/13

How does a group say good-by to a leader? To one who has been such an inspiration and mentor? Whose life is a “living out” of the truths she believes? Betty Ferrell, a faithful leader of our small “Prayer for Revival” group is such a woman. Beginning a new season as a widow has Betty moving to North Carolina to be near family. It’s bittersweet.  

Excited for all that is ahead for her, we talk, laugh, reminisce and hug because she will be sorely missed. Yet, we don’t really say farewell to such a friend. It’s sort of a substitute for farewell---more of an au revoir---implying hopes of seeing again. 

Besides she’s taking all of our prayers right along with her. That’s what prayerful friends do; they send you off with prayerful farewells.