“On this June day the buds in my garden are almost as enchanting as the open flowers. Things in budbring, in the heat of a June noontide, the recollection of the loveliest days of the year – those days ofMay when all is suggested, nothing yet fulfilled.”– Francis King
How can it leave so suddenly?
So soon,
when I am absolutely
“knee-deep in June”? *
Oh, it’s been lovely, oh it’s so lush. I love the green, I love the breeze and the June moon has left me weak in the knees. And apparently these luscious summer days are causing me to have a tendancy to rhyme. Which is not a bad thing, right?
Farewell sweet month of June. I never shall forget you…Jeanie
*QUOTE REFERENCE: “Long about knee-deep in June, ‘Bout the time strewberries melts on the vine.” ~ James Witcomb Riley
PS ~ My favorite local, family-owned greenhouse/garden center is closing after Saturday for the season. Everything goes 50% off tomorrow and they have gorgeous flowers and veggies, plus amazing hanging pots left yet. Oh-and lots of gallon perennials! Check ’em out!
Horiuchi Bros Greenhouse 16315 Tucson Street ~ just north of highway 7 (aka 160th Ave) Brighton thru July 3
If they didn’t already both have great parents, we’d just legally adopt them. Meanwhile, since their bio-fams are far away, we have scooped them up and just love the stuffing out of them. It’s a match made in heaven. So, sweet bebe Sawyer is due to arrive on 8.9.10, which is a very cool date and works for me, but if if she should decide to arrive earlier, say July 31 when Heaven Fest is happening? I will have to miss HF for I am serving Stef and Wrex as their labor and delivery doula/keep-Wrex-in-line coach! Oh yeah, baby! I was pretty good at having babies myself and though there are three previous births I was supposed to coach people through, each time something would happen and I didn’t get to (medical or the out-of-town husband would make it back in time or whatever). So this will be FUN! I hope I don’t end up needing Wrex to hold smelling salts under my nose and Stef to fan me while she is laboring. I am pretty empathetic. Haha.
We had a little waiting-with-great-anticipation-for-you-baby-girl-Phipps Shindig.
Tredessa (Stef and Dessa are tight!), Tara, Stephanie, Jovan, Stormie and me threw a little shower in Casree’s backyard not long ago. The day was brilliantly sunny. Which is what we ordered. But exTREMEly windy, which we did not. For you see, we had decided on PAPER decor. We got together and gathered our zany-patterned scrapbook paper and big wads of brightly-colored tissue paper from another baby shower (recycle, people!!) and piles of paper the school was getting rid of and jars of old buttons and old pickle jars and some goldfish and glue sticks and bits and pieces of ribbons from previous projects.
It was all about creating a colorful, vibrant, bright, engaging, fun, delightful afternoon for Stef and her beautiful friends and family, all of whom adore her wholly. And the key words were: Lavish. Recycled. Reuse. Re-purpose. And utilize dishes and serving utensils we already have!
Pictures of the preparation~
Click on thumbnails for a closer look.
We cut circles and made pinwheels, by hand!
We created miles and miles of paper chains. We made accordion-fan circles. We created old-fashioned paper fans with pinwheels on them and fancy tags for all the treats and foods. We used every bright color from the spring pallette, but zeroed in on orange and hot pink. Goldfish swam in a bowl on the treats table, around the orange daisy stems, for they matched the decor. Huge, fluffy tissue-paper flowers hung as garlands from posts. Hot pink coffee-filter roses were woven vines ’round about. No one knew, it is safe to say, they had once been white coffee filters. We also grew some triticale (a wheat/rye-blend seed) for display purposes on the serving and buffet tables.
We ate, drank and made merry.
There was a triple-layer coconut cake made with love especially for mommy-to-be. There were candies and sweets galore, lemon-poppyseed cupcakes filled with fresh lemon curd and topped with mounds of delicious cream cheese icing. There were swedish meatballs and spinach-artichoke dip along with deli meats and cheeses. Fruits artfully arranged on skewers and chocolate, of course, were there, too. All the girlies and me made the food. Bright-colored cookies on sticks were even more incredibly delicious that they looked!
We withstood tornado-force winds. A slight exaggeration, perhaps.
Seriously? It was windy. That was the one tiny, little thing that did not go our way. Kinda messed up some backdrops and wreaked some havoc on having all-paper decor. Had to go to Plan B (devised there on the spot), but it was still lovely because Stef is lovely and it was our chance to tell her so. But the one thing that was nice about wind? No sweat. The wind kept us cool in spite of the heat and brilliant sun.
Thing that made me most happy at the end?
Mandy asked if she could have the decorations for her daughter’s upcoming birthday party. Yes. Yes! YES! Recycled yet again, which I LOVE! Because I am sort of becoming a greeniac. {I may just have invented a new word again} I kinda like that whole waste-not-want-not idea. I am so happy Sawyer will see these pictures someday and know that the real value of the day, the place most of our energy was spent? Was on the love for her parents, on our delight in the creating, all because she was going to soon arrive!
Etc.
The people. Are the real decorations. And everyone of us? Love Stef and co. Something to celebrate!
This is making the rounds today. And I love it. Though when I honk it usually isn’t about loving Jesus.
NOTE: Brother, Joe, left for Peru today with 9 others from his church. They’ll spend the first week doing ministry off the YWAM base in Iquitos and then take a 15-hour boat trip up the Amazon River to a jungle village for a week of totally-out-of-contact ministry time. Pray for him when you think of it, will you? {He is Elise’s dad}
“Celebrate the little things in life, appreciate tomorrow, love your neighbor…never condemn yourself to a life without cause to celebrate and be thankful for what you have. Never forget the people you love and love them when you have an occasion to do so. Celebrate their life and celebrate yours.” ~Unknown
Feu de joie, a French term meaning “fire of joy,” is actually a gun salute, described as “a running of the guns” as they are fired on occasions of public rejoicing and celebration. It can also reference a large bonfire being lit as a token of national joy.
But we have just navigated our way through our very own rapid-fire of joy and celebration. For during a 12 week period between Dave’s birthday (March 23) and Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June), we do a whole lotta shaking! There are 9 family birthdays during that time…no wait! Amelie was born a few days after Dave’s birthday, so now 10! This is immediate right-here-local family, people! Plus, there was a HF fundraiser, a big baby shower or two, the aforementioned birth of a new grandbebe, some travel among us, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a couple of theater productions for the patriarch, a holiday, tax-day and some end-of-the-school-year plays and programs. Oh. And cakes.
I think I feel a summer cold coming on. A little worn out, but whew! Still, mostly intact.
Jubilate
Oh, how Averi loves her little Flintstone-esque car; Gemma said of her big sister, “Guini is so nice.” Hunter is a great big-cousin to the girls!
“That it will never come again
is what makes it so sweet.”
~Emily Dickinson
Dave with original 5, and with the 6 grandbebes. On Father’s Day.
Make merry
Scenes from good times: Jovan and Aunt Dessa with baby Amelie. Gemma and the cone.
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck
Dave with grandbebes, left-right: Hunter (5), Amelie Belle (almost 3 months), Gemma (3), Guinivere (almost 5), Averi (2), and Gavin (7)
Celebrate ~ a LIST of reasons:
Birthdays, anniversaries, firsts, promotions, making the yellow light, getting the good parking spot, your husband’s first novel getting published (buy here!), a moist spring, summer arriving, a full moon in an azure-blue sky, the first sip of amazing morning coffee, a grandbebe tying his own shoes and riding without training wheels, tomatoes ripening on the vine, and a new granddaughter. Also, achievement and success, failures we made it through together, a good movie, really green freshly-cut grass (that deserves an ice cream cone at the very least), a completed project, an upcoming festival, finding out some one is praying for you, healing for dad and brothers in light of heart junk, first teeth, first lost teeth, seeds that sprout, weeds that pull out easily. Moms. Dads. Brothers, sisters, neices, nephews and grandbebes. Aunts and Uncles and family in the faith. Growing love and re-ignited passion. Good times. And even hard times with people who won’t leave.
For these and many other reasons, throw a party. It can be filled with lavish decor and a seemingly endless buffet of tempting tidbits, or as simple as a blanket on the grass with milk and cookies as the stars come out to dance. Find your reason.
Can you over-do on celebrating?
I guess that remains to be seen. On our deathbeds, when total clarity and perspective comes to us, we may realize that some of the extra fancy cakes or over-the-top decor wasn’t themost important thing, but I doubt I will ever regret using every possible chance I could to show the people I love the most their great worth to me by planning, scheming and finding ways to celebrate their lives and existance. And if it should disrupt “normality,” or be a little taxing, so be it. I’d rather know I did it because I loved them. And not regret missed chances to say so.
My family always complains that when I take pictures, I never count and give them warning. See left. Well, when I FINALLY did a one-two-three count, this is what I got (see right). Improvement? Not sure. My photographic philosophy: just snap away and hope for the best.
“Love your life and prove it.” ~You may quote me on this, actually
Nehemiah 12:43 (New Living Translation)
Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.
I would say our neighbors, based on what has been “heard far away” would think we have!…Jeanie
*NOTE: Hunter’s shirt, a gift for his poppa on Father’s Day, references Dave’s main character in his first novel, Altar, which is available on Amazon. CLICK HERE.
All this in the wake of ridding himself of Type 2 Diabetes and about 50 pounds. He is getting younger and more prolific by the day. Two more novels almost done. Very proud of him.
If you could dream the perfect man for a daughter you love, if you could order up qualities you’d want your daughter and the children they’d have to enjoy their whole lives through and a personality that was made to bless and challenge and delight the whole family, if you could choose a man of character and one with as much wit as wisdom, if God would have just written across the sky, “Oh yes. I created him to be in your family,” the choice could not be more perfect than Dave Powers.
[Picard, Data and Worf are attacked and pursued by Kolaran natives]
Picard: I think it’s time to try some unsafe velocities.
Dave Powers. I still remember the first time I heard your name. It echoed around in the halls of my heart along with a spark, me wondering, “Would Tara ever be interested in a guy like him?…” {WOULD SHE EVER!!! was the answer!} Before ever even meeting you, before ever even laying eyes on you, your name just sort of plopped into my mind and if wishing you’d love Tara could have had anything to do with it, then no wonder it happened. I still love that you were born the very day Dad was proposing to me. As you said yesterday, in the way only you can, “God was hookin’ a sister up!” He was. He was looking down the road, knowing what we’d need.
For I am of the persuasion that the children we get are as much used by God to form us and train us as we are in their lives, And you, son-of-my-heart, are a shining example of it. You are courageous and bold and have invited to me to go places I never would have gone, didn’t even think I wanted to go and sometimes have been crazy-uncomfortable. Most of it, I wouldn’t trade. Some of it I am waiting for the day I can say, “Oh we can laugh about that now…” Haha.
I wouldn’t trade you for anything, though, Dave and since the day I met you and for the months we spent getting to know you before you and Tara met and then after, I always knew you were meant for greatness and that I would one day say, “I knew Dave Powers when…” I just didn’t know I’d get to hang out near the path you are walking so closely. You were born to make an impact and you are blowing up the universe. You were born to terrorize the devil and you annihilating his strongholds. {throwing in some DP-talk there}
[In the attempt to find an alternative exit, Picard intends to blast with a shuttle through the inner shuttle bay doors and fly through the Scimitar]
Data: Do you think this is a wise course of action, sir?
Picard: We’re about to find out, Data
I love you fiercly. I chose that word very purposefully.
&
I believe in you to inifinity and beyond.
Picard: Captain’s personal log, supplemental. We’re heading toward Federation space at maximum warp. The crew has responded with the dedication I’ve come to expect of them. And like a thousand other commanders on a thousand other battlefields, I wait for the dawn…
I’d stand to the death with you. Because you have done that with me.
You are such a great daddy to our little Hunter Magoo!
Praetor Shinzon: Were we Picards always warriors?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I think of myself as an explorer.
Praetor Shinzon: Well… were we always explorers?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I was the first Picard to leave our solar system. It… caused quite a stir in the family. But… I’d spent my youth…
Praetor Shinzon: …looking up at the stars, dreaming about what was up there; about…
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: …new worlds…
And for all your giftings, for the strong anointing on your life, for your natural abiliies and Holy Spirit-empowered insight and works, for the sensitivity you have with people and your way with words, because you can capture a conversation with one or with hundreds, though you have a voice that does not quit and the power of God rides into a room on it, and you can lead and protect and empower thousands of people, and even because I believe God is calling you to not only bring the Church together in unity, but He is making a way for you to impact governments and jurisdictions, and because I will never ever forget 2 years ago when He told me He would not let your foot slip – for these and many other reason, I know you are a great man, destined for amazing opportunities.
But I am most thankful and love you best for loving my daughter, for raising Hunter to be what God has called him to and for joining this imperfect family and calling us your own. When you’re just “ours,” it is lovely.
Lt. Tasha Yar: Captain, so far we’ve obeyed every order, no matter how far-fetched it might have seemed. But if we’re to risk the safety of the ship and crew, I think we have to ask you for an explanation.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I understand your concerns, Lieutenant; and I know that if I were in your position, I would be doing the same thing – looking for answers. But you’re not gonna find any, because I don’t have any to give you.
I know it is difficult for you to understand, but we have to take the ship into the very center of the phenomenon and create a static warp shell. Now this will put the ship at risk.
Quite frankly, we may not survive. But I want you to believe that I am doing this for a greater purpose, and that what is at stake here, is more than any of you can possibly imagine.
I know you have your doubts about me, about each other, about this ship. All I can say is that although we have only been together for a short time, I know that you are the finest crew in the fleet; and I would trust each of you with my life.
So, I am asking you for a leap of faith – and to trust me.
NOTE TO HF LEADERSHIP: You can trust him, his heart. I do.
Jovan posted this picture of Averi on Facebook recently. Love this little girl and her pretty blue eyes. And it made me laugh, too, to remember her new pediatrician asked if her head had always been this big. It is her gorgeous HAIR, I tell ya! Or perhaps her extraordinarily tiny shoulders. Seriously.
This has been one of my all-time favorite songs since I was 14 (“My eyes adored you”). So pretty. So…sweet.
You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful to Me
So beautiful, so beautiful to me
And the fragrance of your love it is so sweet to Me
The fragrance of your love anoints Me
And I will pour it back upon myou
I will pour the oil of My love upon you
This is the song I am hearing for you, sweet Dess. It’s a song of love from the Lord to you (Laura Rhinehart, Isa’s Song). I can hear God singing with delight over you, I can hear Him singing strong. I am humming along.
From your birth, you possessed a quiet serenity, a sure confidence. From your tiny beginnings, the blessing of God and His call on your heart have been apparent. Deep calls to deep…even at three, your main topic of conversation was “And the Bible says…” and your love for God and for His word have been the hallmark of all the days of your life so far. How pleasing it is to me to see how strong that remains in you. You are woman who is to be admired. You have my awe and respect.
And it’s through your love and through your life
I will pour my anointing out over all the nations
I have not forgotten you
I have not forgotten even one tear
I have not ever left you alone
And I am showing Myself strong to you
Tredessa at 4, Tredessa at 6
And you’re my little girl, too. Sometimes I hear you giggle and I get to see that ornery twinkle in your eye. Your ultra-wry sense of humor is so fine-tuned, yet not often what you are known for, as capable and gifted as you are and sometimes maybe you hide it a little, fearful that it is a frivolous part of you. But I think you crack God up and when you are lighthearted and a little silly, when you set out to make God smile and wind up making the rest of us laugh? You are in your strongest place. You will never be considered a silly airhead, my sweet. Not possible. The fact that you could run a small nation – or even this nation (Obama would be wise to offer you a position) is what makes it OK for you enjoy some frivolity and cause some laughter. Your joy is a strength to us, as it flows from above. You are so plugged in to the Source!
Today is the day of My love poured out over you like you have never known
Today is the day of my love being poured out all over you
And you will see all the desires that you have had
You’re going to see them fulfilled!
It‘s your birthweek!
O, baby number three {thus: Tre}, I know God is dancing over you, but I am so pleased to see His delight dancing through you. You are in your groove, yet, it is only the beginning. God is the Writer of your story, the Author of your very faith. We all wait with eager anticipation to see how the grand drama will progress. What will the finish look like, I wonder? What plot does our Father have in mind for one Tredessa Christine, a true heroine of the faith?
It is hard to say because I think it will be beyond what any of us could even imagine, but certainly, when you were three and we were dirt-poor and would buy one drink at the drive-through for you and your older sisters to share after church – we saw an inkling. When you’d ask, “Can I be in charge of the drink?” in that raspy little voice – your giftedness and call were already at work and you are a woman in charge. You, darling and amazing woman, are a Grace Kelly ~ without a doubt! You are Arwen Evenstar (Liv Tyler) from Lord of the Rings, a grace and strength giving warrior-princess.
Arwen: Do you remember when we first met?
Aragorn: I thought I had wandered into a dream.
Arwen: Long years have passed. You did not have the cares you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?
Aragorn: You said you’d bind yourself to me, forsaking the immortal life of your people.
Arwen: And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.
[hands him her pendant]
Arwen: I choose a mortal life.
Aragorn: You cannot give me this.
Arwen: It is mine to give to whom I will. Like my heart.
Tredessa and her sister at HF Sunday at NHC; Tredessa addressing the HF leadership at Union reservoir recently; Tredessa during a video shoot for HF. She dies a lot of HF. {smile}
All the dreams of your heart, all the dreams of your heart
They will be fulfilled, they will be fulfilled
As I dance over you, as I dance over you
they will be fulfilled
As I dance through you…
My love is increasing…
I am breathing on the fire
The desire in increasing…
I love you, I will love you, love you*
What I know about you:
You are wise beyond your years. You are thoughtful and kind. You are deep and strong. You are intelligence and ability, capable and giving. You are grace and vision and worth much trust. Wildly lucky, deeply blessed will be the man who wins you.
