dwell on this...

dwell on this...

this and that...

Be prepared for randomness...

1. This is Harper's "I'm trying to make myself cry" face. I see this expression many times a day.

So sad...

2. Look what my dad gave me. It was a gift to him from my Grandmother many years ago...

I'm so excited about it.

3. And finally, this verse was at the end of a book Kane read the boys last night, and I l.o.v.e. it.

All I Really Need To Know.....

...I Learned In Kindergarten. {Uncommon Thoughts On Common Things} By: Robert Fulghum

I'm reading this book right now. I actually read some of the play adaptation for it years ago, but came across it at the library the other day (in the philosophy section, no less) and thought I'd read the actual book. I am LOVING it, just in case you were wondering. Most people have heard/read/seen the book or play, but I thought it would be nice to take a minute and examine the top things Fulghum listed as essentials:

"Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindegarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

{1} Share everything.
{2} Play fair.
{3} Don't hit people
{4} Put things back where you found them.
{5} Clean up your own mess.
{6} Don't take things that aren't yours.
{7} Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
{8} Wash your hands before you eat.
{9} Flush.
{10} Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
{11} Live a balanced life-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
{12} Take a nap every afternoon.
{13} When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
{14} Be aware of wonder."

I wonder what our world would be like if everyone followed these simple rules?

the scent of Mary's worship

I read Angie Smith's "I Will Carry You" a few weeks ago and read something that really stuck out to me, so I thought I'd share.

A chapter in the book was dedicated to the story of Lazarus. Now truthfully, I've read that passage several times over the years and even though I understood the significance of the resurrection, I never really "dug deeper" into the story. 

As everyone knows, a celebration was held in honor of Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary. At one point during the feast, Mary (without regard to the lavish scent or expense) shattered a bottle of perfume, pulled her hair down (which was not culturally appropriate for Jewish women to do in public), and dipped her hair in the perfume, anointing Jesus' feet. Just days later is when Jesus was crucified.

Now heres the part that really stuck out to me...

Angie writes, "the scent of the perfume surely would have been on His skin a few days later when He was beaten and crucified. So, in essence, every time a Roman soilder's whip hit Him, the scent of Mary's worship was released and rose all around him; a reminder of who He was."

Pretty amazing. And theres more...

After Mary watched the crucifixion, she probably wandered the streets in sorrow, mourning the death of her Savior. But here is the part that I have never considered before. 

"Everywhere she went, every step of the way, she was followed. Every person she came into contact with, every stranger who saw her cry, every home she entered was being filled with something intangible, a gift that would be with her for many days to come. It was the scent of love for her Savior, and it was caught in her hair."

I will carry you

We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy.

-John Piper

I decided I would enjoy my summer reading books.

So last week I ordered a book that I heard about.

It is called, "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith.

the only word that comes to mind in explaining this story is profound.


that is it. profound.

the book briefly tells the account of Angie Smith's daughter, Audrey Caroline, who was diagonsed with multiple ailments during Angie's pregnancy that were consistent with being "incompatible with life." Angie chose to carry her anyways, and when Audrey was born, lived for over two hours. The book is more focused on the emotions of Angie and her husband, Todd (lead singer from Selah), and how they managed to maintain their faith in the Lord, even in their darkest hours.

she has a blog that i browse when i have a chance.

she wrote a letter to her daughter that was first featured on her blog, and then again in her book.

Anyways, i just wanted to encourage everyone to please read the letter. It is by far the most beautiful letter I have ever read.

I also would encourage you all to follow this link to hear the song written for Audrey Caroline by her father.

cheers