Day 59 - Project 365

A furry friend and a fun friend day! After enjoying some delicious pesto chicken/mushroom pizza (FREE at Mellow Mushroom today to celebrate MM's birthday!) with Melissa we took sweet little Luna for a walk on the Walnut Street Bridge. We ended the walk by going up to the roof of Melissa's apartment building - what a great view of Chattanooga from way up there! A bird's eye view of this beautiful city!

Hmmmm....this area on top of the world holds many possibilities...not the least of which is a game of Scrabble sitting in these very cute, blue chairs with a great view of Lookout Mountain!

Day 58 - Project 365

We were driving down Dodds Ave on our way to take a walk along the river when suddenly this whole row of blossoming cherry trees caught my eye! I am so thankful I am married to a man who makes U-turns for beauty! The trees were SO pretty! I love love love signs of SPRING!

Day 57 - Project 365

Such a sweet visit with Uncle Harold & Aunt Karen! We gave them a fun taste of Southern culture with a slab of ribs at Sticky Fingers and then some time up at the Mountain Opry :-)

As usual the talent quotient at the Opry ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime - we clapped and giggled and tapped our toes alot!

Aunt Karen is a kindred spirit in many ways. Because they have dial up at home she wasn't able to open up the "One Thousand Gifts" trailer I sent her awhile back. It was pretty special to sit next to her on the loveseat on the Court and watch it together. Aunt Karen takes lots of pictures and really takes the time to notice beauty and record moments. I gave her a copy of the book too :-) Her daughter in California and I are both currently reading it. I love that she has a copy now too.

We squeezed alot of words into our short time together. So many memories of God's amazing faithfulness and providence and grace in the lives of our family. I am so thankful they could stop in and we could reconnect.

Day 56 - Project 365

Perked up the pansies this afternoon! Planted new strong ones next to the survivors. We are preparing the house inside and out for a very special visit at the V.W. B & B. In just a few hours my uncle (my dad's only brother) and my aunt are arrving, enroute from FL to MI!

This is a rare gift and this is wonderful.....because, listen, when Uncle Harold hugs me with his strong dairyman's arms it will be like hugging a piece of my dad. It's always so sweet to spend time with someone who knew and loved my folks as much as I did.


We do not take it lightly when someone takes the time to exit the interstate and spend some time at the Court.....ever.

Day 55 - Project 365

LOVE my new camera! What a huge surprise to get it for Christmas! When we were at the beach right before the holidays I kept whining...."If only I had a good camera!" Little did I know that a few days later my wish would come true! And I was so busy whining I missed the smirk on D.A.'s face :-) Best present ever from him and my amazing kids! Really enjoying it!

Day 54 - Project 365

Survivors.....such a cold winter....four snows.....but there they are blooming and growing. I dote on them. They make me smile every time I go past the old barrel overflowing with ivy at the end of the driveway.

Thankful for a long conversation with my sweet sister in law who's mourning the loss of her best friend to that enemy cancer. Pita was diagnosed just a few months before I was and though she fought it with all her might it took her physical life last week. But she lives on....pain free, full of laughter and song....and the legacy of love she leaves behind will last forever. Our grace-filled Father is already giving glimpses of gifts seen through tear filled eyes.

And today, in the middle of a very ordinary Wednesday, a picture of Henry James appeared on my phone. Brand new Henry James, fresh from heaven, perhaps passing Pita on the way.......

LifeDeathGoodbyeHelloBeginningEndingSurvivingEnduring

Mystery

"It's good to dream about gardening."

Today, a few states away, Crew said......"Mommy, let's grow pumpkins, a peanut tree, corn on the cob, flax seed and watermelons this year. It's good to dream about gardening. We can grow them all. I'll help."

It is good to dream about gardening.

This week the sun invites me.

To comb away the brown tangles and discover bright green spears peeking. To rake the dry, dead leaves and find new growth and life. To cheer on the few brave pansies who survived the winter's blast as they lift their velvet faces to warmth.

The pear tree is within arm's reach when I walk out the front door and the buds are full. The hydrangea is sprouting.

Let's plan the circle garden around the new flowering plum....let's plant State Fair zinnias in the ground this year instead of pots.....let's trim the Knockout roses at exactly the right time so they'll be full and lush.....

Let's dream in color after white and gray and dark.

The door of dormancy is opening and I see spring signs.......

Day 53 - Project 365

Another beautiful day in the high 60's and sunny! D.A. and I went for a long walk after work. As we were coming back toward the dam the sun was hitting the boxcars and dam - really pretty!

Day 52 - Project 365

Love this statue by the Walking Bridge - looks like he's pushing his paw against my camera lens!

Thriller?!

I continue to smile at all the things saying "Yes" to Chattanooga brings into my life. Received the invitation from NCF Women's Ministry to come to New City to learn the dance steps to "Thriller". Gracious, what a stretch for this middle age white Dutch woman who didn't grow up dancing a single bit! But I thought it would be the perfect thing to do with Sherry, Victoria's sister, so I was willing to give it a whirl. Sherry (second on the left in the back row) loved having a night away from her multiple responsibilities and getting some fun fun exercise and I loved watching her love it! Here I am in the picture below, yeah, you can pick me out, gettin' my Thriller on!

Day 51 - Project 365

Beautiful day for a walk along the river starting at the Chickamauga Dam. Lots of gulls were swooping in and out near the dam. I love this mile marker sculpture!

Day 50 - Project 365

Move That Bus! What a fun week! Came to a culmination today when the Sharrock family came home to their new house. Lots of folks were there to cheer them on. So glad we could be a small part of this! Unforgettable experience!

Day 49 - Project 365

Played a little hooky from work today and hung out at the work site for a few hours. After D.A. got home from work we went back and there was so much going on - including all of the cast except Ty shooting some footage dressed as super heroes. Love this picture of Eduardo!

Day 48 - Project 365

Extreme Makeover fever has hit Chattanooga hard and it's so fun! We went to the build site tonight after Sonic and there were tons of folks working and spectating! The house is really coming along now! I'm going to go back first thing in the morning before work when there will be less people and hopefully get some good pictures of the house. The "reveal" is supposed to be at 2 pm on Saturday! We're trying to decide what time we'll need to get there in order to see anything! There's just no way we're going to miss out on "Move that Bus!"

Day 47 - Project 365

What an amazing day it's been! So many theophanies spilling over top of each other leaving me breathless with amazement at God's good gifts. Is counting my 1,000 gifts leaving me more open and aware than usual? Oh, I hope so!

Here was a very fun part of today......Anne with an e and I went to the build site of the Extreme Makeover at 1 am to sign in. The evening turned out differently than either of us had pictured but it turned out beautifully. The very best thing was seeing my friend laughing and making all of our volunteer team laugh! She led us in silly cheers for any skilled volunteer or project manager or security guard that walked past our volunteer "pen". Her humor and great attitude caught the attention of the guys from the local T.V. stations and they interviewed our group.

Anne went through a deep valley time awhile back and it's beyond wonderful to see the old Anne, the refined Anne, back full of smiles and quick wit!

D.A. of course was a skilled volunteer and put in the windows and doors with a team from Hullco. While he was working he got to meet the whole design team except Leigh Ann. It was absolutely God's perfect timing that put Dale's shift on the same day as ours and it was great having him there with us! Gosh, gosh, gosh, I love him so much! Pure gold treasure of a man!

The treasure is currently snoring softly on the couch. Anne and I are texting love yous. JJ Heller sings in the background. Spring is flirting with us.

Gifts

Day 46 - Project 365

This is the friendly feline that comes to visit me periodically - she meows outside the kitchen door and I give her a bowl of milk. We've never seen a mouse in this house since we've been here - an occasional bowl of milk is small payment!

Day 45 - Project 365

More Than Yesterday ~ Less than Tomorrow

Day 44 - Project 365

Such a fun Sunday afternoon! Friends from church came for lunch including Victoria and her two nieces. This is Rhy Rhy hamming it up!

Day 43 - Project 365

SPRINGING!!

Long Story Long

Sometimes.....when you least expect it or maybe when you most need it, an epiphany comes along, and it's not just a singular moment but a series of moments that build off each other, waves, layers....and you don't need to do anything but hang on tight....

after discovering Ann Voskamp's blog and book from comments in passing from friends in Delaware (Delaware of all places) and Michigan, it's been this delightful chase.....I recently went to my sweet little neighborhood used bookstore. D.A. was working late and I had the precious gift of time to really settle in and look for treasure and I wasn't disappointed.

I like to look through the Gift Book section....those books that people give others and the others usually smile and say thanks and never read and eventually get rid of them, all of which I am very thankful for because.....I like to buy them for next to nothing and then cut out the words and add them to the back of an envelope for an extra surprise!!! This particular day I went through every single gift book, even the ones on the bottom shelf, even the ones in the second layer behind the ones in the front....I found "Words to Live By" by Mary Engelbreit....lots of my favorite ME drawings and quotes in one book...NOT going to cut this up, allowing myself to keep it intact and in the GTCA....also found "Giving Thanks", a beautiful little book of pictures and thank you words by MJ Ryan....

In "Giving Thanks" there are tons of delicious quotes including some by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I had also noticed that Ann Voskamp quotes her in "One Thousand Gifts" and I had written in my "Books to Check Out" book her name as an author to check on. Well, long story long, I went to McKays (aka used bookstore heaven) and found a TREASURE TROVE of SBB's books!



And do you see the price sticker? And can you believe it? .25 each...25 cents....25 pennies....I scooped them up and held them close...I always do this at McKays as if I expect some other crazed woman to come and grab them out of my arms :-)

And now they live in the GTCA and they are home and they're feeding into this theme of........
JOY
THANKSGIVING
GRACE
EUCHARISTEO
CONTENTMENT
SIMPLICITY
WONDER
AWARENESS

I'm just enjoying the path......not sure where or if the journey ends.....

Day 42 - Project 365

love love this by Steven James......

"King of the Path,
Lamb of the Cross,
Sacrifice of Heaven,
Prince of Fools,
Wonder of the Stars,
Weaver of Eternity,
remind me how
wonderfully,
awkwardly,
frighteningly,
gloriously
I am made,
and how alive
and in love with you
I can actually be."

Will you be my Valentine?

I just love Valentine's Day. What a concept - a special day to say "I love you." I am not cynical about this Hallmark Holiday - I am crazy about it!

And though I try to remember to say it often in the other 364 days to those I love, it's been fun to gather pink and red and books and music and hearts and ribbon and chocolate and words to say it again on this certain day. The Anne of Green Gables room was upside down with all of it till I think D.A. wondered if I was trying to make sure everyone I have ever met has a happy Valentine's day. I am actually.

When mail with real ink and a real stamp, arrives in the Court's mailbox I do a happy dance all the way up the sidewalk and it's hard to even take my coat off before I tear into it. How I hope snail mail doesn't become obsolete in my lifetime!

Usually the words are full of happiness and hope but the other day we received the saddest letter I've ever read in my life...... "As my loneliness deepens I sometimes lose sight of what is true and real. But then I remember your love towards me was both true and real. If you're not too busy sometime drop me a note."

My heart aches. I have alot of joy, plenty to share, but the loneliness and sadness are so deep, I don't know how to make it penetrate into her heart and life. I want her to have her own joy not watch mine wistfully from a distance as if it's something remote and unobtainable.

I want to know how to show her to live life waiting and watching and recording theophanies, to believe there's even an epiphany or seven still ahead. Can I suggest making daily lists of "thank yous" as an exercise in gratitude - that even in her circumstances there is so very much to be thankful for or will the words ring hollow and trite?

I want her to love the discovery of how beautiful she is in the eyes of her Creator and to revel in His love right up until the minute she is fully known when she sees Him face to face and loses herself forever in His completeness. To walk with her head held high, to believe the truth about herself, no matter how beautiful it is.

When her mailbox reveals her Valentine from the Court, covered with stickers and quotes and love, I hope she'll dare to believe, this time, for all time, that she is truly loved and cherished, not just by the sender, but by the One who rejoices and sings over her His intimate, one of a kind song of Love and Grace.

Day 41 - Project 365

I finally took the time to climb up to the military park on Orchard Knob - a very important site in the history of the Civil War. What an incredible view of the city, the mountains, and Missionary Ridge - easy to see why it was such a strategic vantage point for the Union army. Definitely want to go back when the weather turns warmer - beautiful spot for a picnic!

And here is a crazy part of my story - oh, the situations Project 365 gets me into sometimes! Below is one of the big monuments up on the hill and it has this cool opening in the bottom of it that you can go in. As I was heading towards it I suddenly heard voices and laughter and saw a bit of clothing. All of a sudden a man came walking out of the opening and then I saw a woman in there. Awkward for all involved :-) I mumbled hello and he mumbled something to the woman about the historical significance of the site, I guess to explain the sudden appearance of a woman with a camera slung around her neck in the middle of the day - yeah, pretty sure they weren't Civil War buffs. Made the outing less than stellar knowing I was interrupting something when I thought I was all alone on that historical windswept hill - this is one for the books :-)

Day 40 - Project 365

Taking a picture of the warm from the oven, yeasty, melt in your mouth rolls from O'Charley's is almost as good as eating them.....NOT! Is there ever a good time to be on a low carb diet?! The words on the very cute paper liner express it perfectly :-) After this picture was taken D.A. ate all 3 with relish!

Day 39 - Project 365

"Friendships do not die. They simply wait awhile. They quietly remember. In the absence of the beloved they age like good wine. I am happy to say in spite of the distance and infrequent letters, you are good wine in my life, always willing to be poured out again when the sacred moment returns." (Macrina Wiederkehr)

Very appropriate to put a Macrina quote on with my Jessica picture since we spent alot of time quoting her to each other "back in the day", including impromptu sessions sitting on the floor of the Young Life office. What a gift to my heart to have an unexpected visit from her today! Several years have passed since she last walked through those doors.....graduation, going on Young Life staff in another area, marriage and in less than 2 weeks, motherhood!!

People leave but they come back sometimes too! She hopes to move back to Chatt sometime in the near future - yahoooo!! There's been a hole here since she left that no one has been able to fill.

Love you, Jess!

"You will always be a part of me, for you were present during so much of my unfolding." (MW)

Day 38 - Project 365

I look forward to making my own sweet little bouquets from the Court's gardens in a couple of months but until then I'm treating myself on a regular basis to the very best cut flower (in my humble opinion) the Alstromeria, also known as a Peruvian lily. It comes in SOOOO many different colors and it lasts SOOOO long....I'm talking weeks not days! Buy them when they're closed up tight and they'll open soon after you get them home and give you long term bloom time. They're pretty in a bouquet or as single bloom in a bud vase. I really like them in my little ivory Ikea vases!

Fresh flowers are not a luxury - they're a necessity!

Day 37 - Project 365

Today I got my ducks, well, my geese, in a row!

Hanging Out

D.A. helped Corey & Sherry move today - my job was to keep the little guys out of everyone's hair :-) We had a fun time hanging out at the Court...they made these cute thank you notes for BBBS for the great seats we had at the Mocs game last week. We played Yahtzee, Uno, Jenga, and Bananagrams - they love to play games! We also baked and cooked a bunch so we could bring dinner to the hungry moving crew. Cold, mostly cloudy day outside so it was a good day to stay inside with a couple of good friends!

Day 36 - Project 365

Through the grace of God (and Facebook :-) I have stumbled on an epiphany. It's been awhile since something has impacted my heart this deeply.

I heard about Ann Voskamp and her book "One Thousand Gifts" from a couple of different friends last weekend and I started exploring her website, her book, her photography....I've basically obsessed over her work all week and I absolutely love it. Her website, "A Holy Experience" is so beautiful....from the piano music you'll hear the minute you enter her site, to her simple but profound entries, to her photgraphs of every day life (hence the inspiration to stick the Nikon in the oven and capture freshly baked Cinnamon Streusel muffins). I shared her website with a homeschooling friend after reading yesterday's post and my friend said the website just "sucks you in". Yes.

I ordered Ann's book last Sunday through Amazon and held my breath every day toward the end of this week when I'd open the mailbox hoping it would be there and it finally arrived today! I just love the cover and though I've only had a little bit of time to read the first chapter it looks delectable. An online book club starts tomorrow and I'm so excited my book arrived in time for that!

The trailer for the book is amazing - I posted it on here earlier this week. I think I've sent it to every human being I know and I've watched it every day - just a great reminder that life is a gift and every moment matters.

One more thing to share and then I promise I'm done gushing. A very fun discovery on her website was the "Word Strengtheners" I found under "Free Gifts for You" I printed these out on cardstock and look forward to tucking them in cards as an extra piece of love.

All right....I'm done....but I hope you'll click on one of the links and I hope it blesses your heart and if it does I hope you'll pass on the gift! And I hope for some of you it's an epiphany :-)