this weekend, visually

Coming to Knoxville has been restful and enjoyable, but funny enough, we still have responsibilities, and decisions to make. Decisions best made at Panera.

A, mom, and dad crafted this puzzle in a few short days.

Micalea Grace and K, glad to be around sisters.

the design.

the creation (first timer at spray-paint, ok?)

Are we related?

Big kid and grandson.

A, K, & Ben...the most hilarious child yet.

project dia: nov 28

nov 28: (photo taken by my friend Cait)
"secret"

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"The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service-I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ...We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God through our own efforts..."  -Oswald Chambers 

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My prayer today for you and me is that we have eyes to see, both our own destitution and hope in Christ. I pray that we would "never begin work till (we) have had a good season with God. The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Word in our life and thoughts." -George Mueller 

project dia: nov 27

A few things that have stopped me lately:

O Thou Who art my quietness, my deep repose,

My rest from strife of tongues, my holy hill,

Fair is Thy Pavilion, where I hold me still.

Back let them fall from me, my clamorous foes,

Confusions multiplied;

From crowding things of sense I flee, and in Thee hide.

Until this tyranny be overpast,

Thy hand will hold me fast;

what though the tumult of the storm increase,

Grant to Thy servant strength, O Lord, and bless with peace.

        - My Quietness, Amy Charmichael

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" When I look at your heavens,

 the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

What is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him? "

-Psalm 8: 3 & 4

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"splash"

november 22

Knoxville, Tennessee

We are home again today, and the first time I have been hit with rest. Real rest, for my soul. I got to have breakfast with a soul friend, and the reunion was long overdue. A warm Chai over great, easy conversation. You know the friends you can pick up with at any moment, regardless of distance or time, really see them, and speak deeply into each other's lives? Ya, she is one of them. I was challenged, to set my hope on Christ regardless of how deep my walk with him seems to be, or how righteous I think I have become. In all of the mess of the past few months, as God has been deconstructing me and surfacing old wounds, and the impressions or chains they have made on my life, I have made it once again about production. Now, the thing I measure my success with is how "different" or "free" I am in response to all that God is doing. Instead of receiving from and resting in Christ alone, I have begun to do this on myself again. Wow, roots grow deep.

Allison reminded me this morning, "It was God who broke your box of glass around you, and now that you are trying to glue it back together around you, do you think it will be you that breaks it this time? Return to Him, and trust Him!" Whew. I want to trust God again to destroy the chains and all the "shelters" I run to aside from Christ. He is my refuge, right?

As the day progressed, I was feeling more and more alive. Austin and I went on a bike ride, conquering this hill near my house that I looked at in laughter before. We jokingly yelled, "Hard Work! Determination!" (all you Biggest Loser fans can join along) as we climbed. I knew it was God's rest in me that enabled me to love that moment, and that was worth way more than scaling some hill.

We came home to see my Aunt's arrival with her children, the youngest of which I have not met yet. I have been longing for this moment. She is gorgeous. And playful, sweet tempered, easy-going. What a delight it was to have her around today, and to visit with my other cousin and Aunt. 

Last night, I asked God to give me eyes to see. A storm rolls in from the North, as it always does over the hill across from my house. The weeping willow, though I cannot see her now, probably sways in the strong gale, reminding me of the one whom we planted her for. Cookies are made, freshly iced by young hands who are blind to pattern and precision. They love to paint. I wonder what else God will give me eyes to see today.

Stillness. Thanks be to God.

(Happy Birthday, Cait)