Wholehearted living somewhere in the middle of all my years.
Aging parents, grown kids, and grandbebes everywhere!
Married to my love and lifelong best friend, Dave for 33 years now. We raised 5 kids and lived to tell about it.
My life's mission is to declare the great faithfulness of God to the next generations, especially those in mi familia!
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Because Rainy Days & Mondays and especially this particular Monday could really use a good song…
The water rose today,
The river with the rain
Memories and picture frames
Are floating miles away.
Through the wreckage and the mud,
The ruins after the flood,
She survived at 91, hmm
Some would have given up
Drowning in their tears
But on her wrinkled face
A smile appeared.
When you face your greatest fear
Losing all that you hold near
Open up your eyes my dear,
Oh how mercy looks from here.
The call I couldn’t take,
Unbearable mistakes
A brilliant mind that fades away
A baby doll beside the grave
When you face your greatest fear
Losing all that you hold near
Open up your eyes my dear
Oh how mercy looks from here.
I would have given up, drowning in my tears
If it wasn’t for your voice all these years
When you face your greatest fear
Losing all that you hold near
Open up your eyes my dear
My dear
That’s when boundless grace appears
Unseen angels hover near
Saints are singing loud and clear
Oh how mercy looks from here.
Oh how mercy looks from here.
Oh how mercy looks from here.
Oh how mercy looks from here.
The water rose today…
I think Tara had Jovan listen to this the other and what a perfect song for our situation. So, for Jovan, but for us all for all we have held dear and lost anyway…
Many times in September, we get a little surprise snowfall, but not usually much. Though I do remember the last day of summer one year, just getting a huge dump and ruining my garden since it had been so beautiful and the snow was unexpected. But September in Colorado is really usually always one of the most beautiful months: sunny, warm days – cooler nights, clear skies. Basically-lovely.
This rainfall ~ Devastating! This from the news accounts on 9.13.13
The National Weather Service issued constantly-updated versions of a local area forecast, and one at 9:41 a.m. MDT reported a dire warning:
MAJOR FLOODING/FLASH FLOODING EVENT UNDERWAY AT THIS TIME WITH BIBLICAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS REPORTED IN MANY AREAS IN/NEAR THE FOOTHILLS
There’s no scientific definition of “biblical” but the flooding has been unlike anything local residents have ever seen before.
{{Um, we all need Jesus. That is Biblical!}}
So each time the meteorologists do the newscast, they answer the question evereyone wants to know, because we aren’t used to this much rain ever, but we are used to snow:
Well-if this had been snow, how much would it have been?
And we are hearing things like this:
In a 48-hour period Boulder got 15.38″ of rain, according to the news last night, so it would have been more than 15 feet of snow. All at once – Yikes!
The numbers keep rising and rising on the amounts and there is so much confusion and reports of this and reports of that, so for the sake of not getting ahead of ourselves, we’ll use numbers from 3 days ago:
Reported by 7 am 9/13/13
Boulder 15.38″
Thornton 8.47″
Brighton 8.44″
Estes Park 8.23″
Aurora 8.2″
Colorado Springs 8.17″
Lyons 7.65″
Louisville 7.62″
Frederick 7.58″
Longmont 6.72″
If you look at what is normal for the Denver area in a whole year, wow! As this article from the weather channel puts into perspective.
“The average annual precipitation (rain + liquid from melted snow) in Denver is 14.92 inches. That’s over three-quarters of the yearly average precipitation occurring in the span of a day or so!”
What really stinks is, though we are arid and always short on water, we aren’t even allowed to keep it. It still gets routed out of state.
Colorado is in crisis.
So many streets are washed out, roads ruined. A friend of mine lost her home and had to be evacuated by helicopter with the National Guard (after 2 days with no phone, no electric) and where will she go now? Rocky and Jovan will have a lot of re-building to do. My niece and great nieces are in Estes Park, where there is only one way in or out for emergency use only. We lost contact with them when the whole city was without landline or cell service for 2 days. This is a crazy thing.
If it had been snow, it just would have been a slow-motion crisis. One good thing, I guess.
One son, urged to marry carefully ~ he got the sweetest one ever!
A black-sky, vicious storm-brewing day was overtaken by the burst of bright-light sun-shining, as you spoke your vows in that window-walled cafe. The light (and the love) were nearly blinding!
Seven years, 3 baby girls, a mean, bow-tie wearing dog named Steve (Steve-Holt), some guinea pigs, a new house, a lot of video-game playing, music and worship and little-girl hair-brushing + one major flood later…
Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alleyways and payphone calls
I been everywhere with you (that’s true)
And here we are. Oh goodness, the years have been blessed. Of all the girls who ever tried to turn my little boy’s head, you were the best choice for him, Jovanie. Congratulations, to you both on such a great decision then and now.
I am so sorry for the week you have had, for the loss you have experienced – not so much about the “things,” the washer and dryer and hot water heater and furnace and carpet. Not even about the physical “things” that included Rocky’s studio and all his guitars and sound systems and computers and recording equipment. Even that, we know – the guitars represent so many precious times in the Presence, the memory of songs sung to the heavens, we feel that loss. We know The LORD will provide and He is your Provider! But it is what those material possessions have represented – a really good life.
You’re safe, your family is good. But it’s hard. Scary to awake in the night to see the waters rising from the lower level and have to be “rescued” in the dark, by flashlight grabbing everything 3 little girls will need until…who knows when?
I love that you have chosen the song for this day of celebration to be, “Home is Wherever I’m with You,” Jovan. Because that is the secret you know.
Laugh until we think we’ll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you
So while you’re displaced, not even knowing how long until you can return to “the house,” I am so glad you have found refuge in each other, not just for these days but for life and that even today, in such an unsettled moment – you are home.
One four-pack of clearance 20″ x 20″ napkins becomes two throw pillows.
Nice napkins, sturdy cotton, with a smooth finish, but bark-cloth-like quality + 2 standard pillow forms (purchased on clearance a few years back for $2.48 each = 2 pillows in a pattern I can live with for awhile for less than 5-dollars-per-pillow. :)
I needed something charcoal on my family room couches to sort of re-distribute some of my Urbane-Bronze wall color ’round about. I like the fabrics in the Threshold line at Target, especially on clearance! Ta-da!
A sweet, really sweet wedding, so joyous, so full of love.
A wedding I will always recall with great joy. I shared a little about it last week, but my favorite part was when the bride and groom served communion to all their guests. I had never seen that done before or since. The song was, “I Pour My Love on You.” It was amazing.
Like oil upon your feet ~ Like wine for you to drink
Like water from my heart ~ I pour my love on you
If praise is like perfume ~ I’ll lavish mine on you
Till every drop is gone ~ I’ll pour my love on you
I think the fact that you not only speak on dating at youth conferences, but also still {actually date} is a really good thing.
And now your love is displayed in and through your sons.
And oh, how I love those boys, a double scoop of wonder and delight, with kisses sprinkled freely! You’re not only good friends and lovers, but amazing parents, too.
Hunter’s first day of 3rd grade
It’s beautiful~your love and marriage. Many more happy years to come! Love you, my sweets!
Love grows more tremendously full, swift, poignant, as the years multiply. ~Zane Grey
…and you not only haven’t aged in the 12+ years we’ve known you, you may actually be getting younger. :)
But throughout the course of these years and the love that abides and the joy we have that you swept Stephanie off her feet so many years ago (and keep wooing her even now) and how that love has grown rather than diminished even in these days of love so easily let-go and then to see you father so beautifully and carefully the three, well, these things show us that while you look as young as an early summer day, you are indeed growing in wisdom and becoming a man of influence to be admired and emulated.
Weren’t we the lucky ones that God sent you our way? What a blessing you have been, time and again. What a whole new slant you brought with you that has challenged us and grown us and taught us all some new things along the way. How perfect that you were born in Indiana and Stephanie was born there, too, not far away and so you had some common roots, some like values and God was snickering in heaven that no matter which direction you went, and which direction she would go, you’d run right into each other and be a young man destined to be one of us, and us, part of you!!! So fortuitous, so divine.
We thank God for this.
I was pondering the preposterous story of Noah the other day, how one quiet guy (I assume he was quiet, for he quickly got to work on the project God had given him rather than spending time in organizational meetings or trying to gather a crowd to help) caught God’s eye.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6).
And could anyone look at the life you are leading, see the adoration in the eyes of your children for their beloved daddy and the passion with which Stephanie loves you and has become even more dazzlingly beautiful because of and by your love for her, and not know you have found favor? Could anyone doubt that favor when Stephanie’s brothers and sisters look to you for guidance on all things technical, or musically related or raising children, or graphics and web design and on and on (and we won’t even delve in to what the in-law-parents need from you!), and you are seen as a trustworthy and fair and true and honest and faithful man?
Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
So, yes. I see the favor of God on you, His smile on your life. Mine, too. Which doesn’t mean nearly so much, but to have your mother-in-law feel as much love and gratitude as I do, well, not everyone in the world can say they have that! :)
He was a righteous man.
Here are 5 things I like about you
You like interesting food and are not afraid to try new things. And you are teaching your children to like new things – that is an incredible feat in this day and age!
You don’t mind being the occasional male model for Stephanie’s website and even though you aren’t one of those guys who seems to think a lot about his hair products or the latest trends, you do pull off looking like the guys they hire and pay lots of $$ to during fashion week in New York. You might wanna look in to that. Side job.
You are teaching my grandchildren to play music. They always surprise me when they display their talents. Then I’m like, “Oh, yea – they are Stephanie and Tristan’s kids.” Of course!
That you keep developing your craft. I love that you wanted a drum lesson from another amazing drummer when we know you are the most amazing drummer we already know.
You have asked me for landscaping and gardening advice. Aaaaaaawwww….thank-you. I can never imagine that I have much to offer, but thank-you for asking.
He was blameless among the people of his time.
So, I wanted to say I bless you, on the occasion of your 33rd birthday (a few days ago, now). I bless you with continued favor and the smile of God on your life. I pray for increased wisdom and insight into your life as a father and husband. I pray your insight into parenting grows as quickly as the kids are growing. I pray for your business to be increased and for you to be presented with wide, open spaces of time to pursue music and creativity and for unbelievable opportunities (things you didn’t even know possible) to present themselves to you in short order! I am asking God to answer your prayers and send you help when you call and to establish the work of your hands and for all you have sown to become abundance, fruitfulness and plenty right away! I pray this year will be like no other and a surprise and a blessing and a reward for all your steady steps and hard work through the years. Because He does reward those who diligently seek Him!
He walked faithfully with God.
It seems a little crazy and maybe flood-related to be talking about Noah while all of Colorado is battling flash-flooding and an over-abundance of rain, but I had been pondering this and making notes about it last week – while it was still sizzling hot and wearisome. But that is how it is – one foot in front of the other, preparedness, faithful in the little things, day in and day out: these are the things that make you the very cool, trustworthy man you are. Noah built when others weren’t. He built when it seemed futile. He built before it seemed needed…would it ever be needed?
Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
You’re the blessed kind of person that people will always look to when the flood waters rise because they’ll know you have God’s favor and they’ll know you were looking ahead and making ready. I admire you for it.
I thank God for you. I celebrate your life and all the good things to come. You have my love and deep respect. {mom}
We just don’t get much rain in Colorado. So when we do, we celebrate. But I am not sure if I have ever seen this much in just such a short few days.
There is flooding all over the city. Everything is soaked beyond soaked. And it just keeps coming. Businesses and school are closing all over the Front Range. Three of my kids and their families live in Frederick where they’ve lost power and sadly, Rocky and Jovan’s home flooded quickly and they had to leave in the night by “rescue” (brother-in-law with a big truck). His guitars and all his equipment – gone.
I used to tell my kids about “rain days” off of school when I lived in Louisiana and that sounded mythical to them. I’d tell them it was so bad, people would die in their own yards and they couldn’t comprehend it.
Now they can see, I think. It’s like we know, we understand the power of “natural” things like lightening-ignited, raging forest fires or rains so hard dams break and whole cities are destroyed, but we are almost usually just a little ways away, just safe enough…
“Burn scars in the foothills will be particularly susceptible to flash flooding.”
This morning, there is more. More rain. I am safe, dry, good. Water-logged in the garden, yes, but very grateful, so grateful. Heavy-hearted for my kiddos, but soon, we’ll roll up our sleeves…
There will be much loss of material possessions for so many people, when all is said and done. Our true treasure is laid up in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, but still…help us, Father.
Remnants of grandbebes…some one didn’t put the sidewalk chalk away. :)
*Sunday School song I sang thousands of times growing up. Did you, too?
But finally yesterday afternoon, a cool breeze started blowing and an amazing real-life, puddle-making rain fell in gushes. It was wonderful! Here I sit again, listening to thunder roll while lightning flashes and the rain is pouring-pouring-pouring, almost too much for my little gardens to contain, but again n the morning, how they’ll shine.
Ten years ago this week we celebrated the joyous marriage ceremony of Dave & Tara (Rhoades) Powers with a morning snow-spit, followed by a beautiful, sunny day that rose to brilliance shining through the late afternoon stained glass windows at the church, ending in a brisk, chilly evening with an outdoor marriage feast. You had to dance if you wanted to stay warm. :)
Colorado can be that way. I have lost my tomatoes to a freeze on the last day of summer, and I have harvested the last of my tomatoes the week of Thanksgiving. In the Mile Hi City, you just never know!
So, in good faith and lots of hope, I have planted some brand new zucchini and squash seedlings, even though they are quite tender. It really isn’t likely that I’ll get anything from them, but on the outside chance that these deep, soaking rains get followed by some gorgeous sunshine, even these tender plants may thrive.
True, zucchini and straightneck squash are tenders, meant for summer only in this northern zone. So besides the summer crops which will still be producing for a while now, God willing and I tend well (things like cucumbers, green beans, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, herbs, various peppers and tomatillos), fall is great time to grow so many other things that will actually thrive in the cooler evening temps.
In fact – here is a short list of why gardening in autumn is so wonderful that even if you didn’t garden this past summer, you can and should go ahead and make a 4 x 4 box (Square-Foot Gardening) and garden this fall!
The growing season will be short, so the time investment isn’t a concern and you probably won’t be on an extended vacation because the kids are back in school. There went those excuses.
If you’re planning to learn to garden in the spring, you’ll get a successful head start now and a few small success will charge you up for spring 2014!
Seeds will germinate pretty quickly right now because there is some warmth in that soil.
The crops will mature more slowly because of the shortening days, which will make it less overwhelming.
My son-in-law Tristan swears my home-grown kale is waaaaaaaay better than any store-bought, even organic. As are almost all homegrown things, really. They don’t always look so perfect and pretty, but they aren’t full of chemicals and pesticides.
My current philosophy: start small, but start!
Here are a few of the things you plant in your fall garden that will keep on feeding your family for a few months:
Kale! Easy to grow and 2 plants this last couple of months just kept producing more and more leaves all summer. I’d give a bag away to one of the kids, 2 days later another bag to a different kid, plus all I needed! I have 4 new kale plants started (2 weeks ago) to keep us going and since it can even withstand a snowstorm or two, I plan on (hope-hope-hope) to have my own kale surrounding my roasted turkey come November. 1 kale plant per 12 x 12″ square. Plant seeds immediately or check the garden centers for seedlings that are established.
Radishes. Plant now. They germinate in a couple of days because of the warmth of the soil, but prefer this cool nights. Word to the wise, only plant 16 radishes per square foot. How many do you actually really eat weekly? Want more? Plant another foot of them next week, and the next. You can plant them safely each week until close to final frost. I’ll keep going until late September for sure.
Lettuces, spinach, mesclun mix, carrots. These germinate quickly in a Dixie-cup for later sowing outside. Fresh salads!
Beets, broccoli, Swiss Chard, cabbages – all great choices, too, if you have seedlings. Our garden centers don’t carry much by this time of year and I didn’t start new ones in July when I should have.
I plan to keep sowing seeds for at least another week. When these rainy afternoons pass and that sun gets blazing hot again, my garden will be bountiful and fruitful even as the leaves start changing colors!
You can’t submit to a personality-lobotomy to gain approval from others. It won’t work. It will be ill-fitting, uncomfortable. Nor should you hate who God created you to be because you don’t always fit in or have experienced pain in your humanness (God knows you’re human, you know). Every single personality type has its strengths and weaknesses.
We just think we’re the oddball.
Meanwhile in two separate conversations on this exact subject, but at the opposite ends of the spectrum (self-hatred vs people-pleasing), the movie line below still cracks me up.
Preface: John Cusack is quite possibly the most underrated actor in America today. And by underrated, I just mean he should be paid more per movie than – almost any other actor -alive -anywhere. Because in my book (and among really intelligent people the world over, I am sure) he is just awesome! So try to imagine him (or watch the movie)…
From Must Love Dogs (2007)…John Cusack’s character, Jake, has hand-crafted a boat using time-honored skills and much work and is speaking to a possible buyer…
Boat Guy: Man, this is absolutely gorgeous. I love this. I can’t believe you built it yourself.
JAKE: Yeah, handcrafted. Hand-carved. I hope you’ll find that it’s more than a boat. It’s a time machine.
Boat Guy: I love it. I want it. I’ll take it.
JAKE: Great. Did you race a lot in college?
Boat Guy: I don’t plan to race it. Could you cut it in half for me?
JAKE: Excuse me?
Boat Guy: Yeah, cut it in half lengthwise. I think it would be easier to mount on the wall that way.
JAKE: You want to mount the boat?
Boat Guy: Yeah. I thought I’d put it in the den. It’d look great above my big screen.
JAKE: You know, I think maybe you should go to IKEA and buy a canoe. It’s not for sale in that way.
Boat Guy (to Jake’s friend): He’s kidding, right?
Jake’s friend: Wouldn’t that be nice.
JAKE: I’ve had this dream that it’ll end up wet. It’s just not for sale in that way at this time. Ever, really.
Boat Guy: Okay. Well, if you change your mind, I really do want it.
JAKE: Yeah, if I change my personality, I’ll let you know what I become.
Don’t try to change your personality. But you can work on renewing your mind. Romans 12.2…then you’ll be the best version of you, the one God had in mind when He created you. That will be comfortable skin to be in!
