He brings forth beauty, causing us to pause and sit...

to be still and watch creation.

This is my Father's world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world:

I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,

the birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white,

declare their maker's praise.

This is my Father's world:

he shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass I hear him pass;

he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world.

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world:

why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!

This Is My Father's World

We have this plant (???) in our yard that is just going nuts. I have not been able to figure out what it is... So, I'm wondering if any of you might know what this flower (maybe a wildflower or a weed - hahaha -) might be.

summer evenings are for...

twirling

This weekend we were able to get away for a couple of days. We spent some time playing in the pool and exploring the fun sights around us. We also spent some special time celebrating Daddy.

rainbows, gardens and such

:::the amazing beauty of a double rainbow:::

It's been a warm day. A sunny and beautiful day. We spent the morning over at Grandpa and Nana's enjoying the lake by their home. The kids ran and splashed, swam and laughed. We walked back to their house, hoping that their sopping wet clothes would dry a little before we got in the car to come home. It must have helped but still towels were spread across seats.

Lunches to be made, kitchen to be cleaned, a loud of laundry to be done and baby to be fed...

And then quiet time falls upon this home. Time to run out into the garden that we are so excited about this year. We have peaches, pears, plums and cherries growing on the trees, corn is coming up behind the trees and our garden boxes have potatoes, onions, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, basil, pumpkins, and beans. And who could forget the strawberries and raspberries? Time for me to sit and read a little. Time for me to be still.

Little ones wake up and books are grabbed; Lego's are brought out and the noise level in the house seems to rise a little. We sit inside now as the sky thunders above. A warm rain falls. But soon the clouds will move on and the sun will return. It will be time to run outside again.

As that rain comes down, I remember what I read this morning and it makes me smile.

A poet stands by the window watching a summer shower. It is a fierce downpour, beating and pounding the earth. But the poet, in his mind's eye, sees more than a rain shower falling. He sees a myriad of lovely flowers raining down, soon breaking forth from the freshly watered earth, and filling it with their matchless beauty and fragrance. And so he sings:

It isn't raining rain to me- it's raining daffodils;
In every dripping drop I see wildflowers upon the hills.
A cloud of gray engulfs the day, and overwhelms the town;
It isn't raining rain to me-it's raining roses down.

From Streams in the Desert

Our first day of Summer break -

:: going on an early morning run with Daddy

:: using the zip line to drop into the kiddie pool

:: enjoying lunch at the table outside

:: reading the new Kids Of Courage that came in the mail

:: sitting on the deck eating watermelon

:: school reports and organizing of all school books

:: building, playing, working, dreaming...