Quiet Times

It's been a little busy lately so I am seeking quieter times......like knitting.....

or my garden....

Or flowers on Dog Mountain.....

Or the best soft serve in the Gorge.......

Or my all time favorite....spending time with my sweetie....

Sammy

The rains fell last night after 3 days of beautiful, heartwarming sun. As I was falling asleep, it came on strong, the windows were open and rain started falling. It sounded lovely, putting softley me to sleep. I took joy in that moment of feeling the wind come up, blowing in the clouds and hearing the hard drops of rain hit the ground.

Sunday morning we took a short hike in Hoyt Arboretum and met Gail and Pete at the Zoo. You'll have to see her blog for the photo's of little Sam the Elephant. All my photo's somehow were lost.....I don't really know how that happened. But that's okay, more importanly than photo's was the time spent with people I love. A few photo's from the hike magically made it through whatever I did.

A sweet "Wilson Magnolia". Karl dubbed it the "umbrella magnolia".

Grace and peace to you,

Sammy

Living with Joy

Joy is kind of a loaded word. What does it really mean? Dictionary.com says "a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated." I like the last part the best, something or someone greatly valued or appreciated. Lately, I've been trying to think of joy as not all out elation (although sometimes it is), but more simply pleasure of simple things. Like peanut butter toast in the morning, slipping under crisp clean sheets at night, putting my face up to the sun, coffee with a friend. If we try to "pin" too much happiness on BIG joy, we will be disappointed. Let's en-joy the more ordinary things in our lives. Join Sheri and Shari for the joy+ride for the month of May.

Sammy's find joy list:

1. Have dinner on the patio and catch up with Karl.

2. See friends for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner.....whatever, wherever.

3. Practice yoga every week and soak in the silence.

The first iris bloom of the season.

Grace and peace to you,

Sammy

Sunday Grace

Busy, busy weekend.....but now it's Sunday evening....one of my favorite times of the week. The busyness has settled down and the chores for the coming week are done. It means a time of quiet, reading, knitting......getting my head around the week ahead.

We hosted Mother's Day at our house and had a wonderful patio lunch....the weather cooperated. This picture is so my sister and her fun loving self and I love her all the more for it! Mom (Katy), Sister (Tabitha) and me.

Oh, here's the right one....


I love lilacs....this is one I planted last year.....the white tipping is so soft and delicate.

While Earth herself is adorning

This sweet May morning,

And the children are culling

On every side

In a thousand valleys far and wide,

Fresh flowers; while the sun shines warm

And the Babe leaps up on it's mother's arm-

Then sing ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song

And let the young lambs bound as to the Tabor's sound

We in thought will join your throng

Ye that pipe and ye that play

Ye that through your hearts today

Feel the gladness of the May

W.Wordsworth

Grace and peace to you,

Sammy

Coal Creek Farm

Oh my, what a charming and funny blog. The video's of the family dancing are just the end!

















Enjoy, Sammy

Sunday Grace

I marveled at my garden this weekend, watching the seeds poke out of the earth. Every day they look different. Creation is a wonderous and beautiful thing.

Beans

Spinach

The last sermon in the series on grace was this morning. I'm still unpacking all that I'm learning about grace and I suspect I will continue to throughout my life. I know one thing without a doubt, the grace that God extends to us is so vast and immeasurable that we cannot comprehend it's full measure. I know that I am loved without limits; that I am worthy of His love and free because of it.

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe".

Joshua Abraham Heschel

Sammy