Sometimes I wish I could drink grace, mercy, and compassion (or at least a little verbal discretion) the same way you'd drink a morning cup of coffee. I have a feeling it might make the day a little smoother...

Weeks ago, when he was so very ill, she began.

Sitting at his bedside, she read to him for hours. The sound of her voice, the characters brought to life, distracted him from illness as nothing else could. He began to look forward to the ritual, even as he began to heal.

Nightly he asks, "will you read tonight?"

Nightly, as I sit in the kitchen, I hear their voices echoing down the hall. Laughter fills the room.

I think she looks forward to the reading as much as he does.

They converse, he and she, about things other than the book they are reading.

Talking about school, friends, life. Nurturing the roots of their relationship.

I wonder if they both long for this time together as the day of her leaving grows closer.

And perhaps not just my mother's heart recognizes the swiftly passing days...

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 17

anybody else want or need a heart to know Him? I'm claiming this one as a promise I want to see fulfilled...

There's something bittersweet about watching your man-child head off to school with all the usual "guy" stuff--sideburns he hopes no adult will notice, shirt tail hanging out, backpack tossed carelessly over one shoulder--and a big yellow gift bag with artfully arranged tissue paper (courtesy of his sister) concealing carefully chosen birthday gifts for his girl.

Where does the time go?

Sunday

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word,
Ephesians 5:25-26



May each of us allow the Word to cleanse us this day...

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 16

Remember this?

Now she looks more like this...

last time I saw her, she slept. And slept. And slept. Apparently all that sleeping is good for growing tiny puppies into much bigger puppies. She's still a doll, though.