Reminiscing...

A year ago today Jenny was just leaving New Zealand after sharing so many wonderful and exciting times together! I hadn't started my blog then so I didn't get to skite about how much that trip meant to me or how much fun we had. It truly was a dream realized! In the beginning days of this month I reminisced at how excited I was a year ago awaiting Jenny, Calicoe, and Dassah's visit to New Zealand.

After our wedding and honeymoon we spent a few weeks in Maryland soaking up time with our Howard family before heading for New Zealand. During this time, Jenny talked of taking a trip to visit. I played along with the wishful idea, hashing out details, thinking it a good way to make New Zealand not seem so far away. I tried to put out of my mind that New Zealand is across an ocean, a couple thousand dollars and a good many hours beyond my loved ones reach. I stepped on the plane with Andrew headed for New Zealand with no expectation or inclination of when I'd see those in my dear family again.

Less than four months later, on Christmas Day, Andrew finished his 12 days of Christmas poem with "And a steel partridge winging Jenny."!!! God even arranged for a little plastic plane to burst forth from the randomly chosen cracker I popped on Christmas morning just before reading the poem. That put a laugh and huge guilty grin on Andrew given his part. Impeccable timing Abba! :) Jenny, Calicoe and Dassah were to arrive on the 3rd of January. It was little short of a miracle that they made it here in one piece with all the ups and down and details of making it happen. They spent a blissful month here and we made so many memories together. Dassah was a trooper at 18 months even camping and boating and watching her mum water ski and fling around on the biscuit.
It means so much to me to be able to share my life in New Zealand with a sister. It's so special that Jenny knows my family here, my friends and the places and sights and sounds that fill my days. Thank you Lord for the gift of sisters and for bringing Jenny to New Zealand last January!

Awakened from a dream

Sunsetting last Sept - Arcadia Nat. Park, Maine.

A 

couple 

random

ponderings 

regarding 

dreams....

Compared to Andrew's dreams - dining with Lions in Africa, riding motorbikes over ocean waves, and such, my dreams are relatively boring.



If dreams reveal something of the heart mine might reveal a fearful heart but perhaps also an expectant heart. I love witnessing miracles while I sleep. I don't mind some traumatic happenings behind closed eyelids if I get to watch bold prayers answered, victorious healings and God coming through once again.

The night before last...Heidi and I were journeying through India. The dream had Papa and Mama in it. Seth, Joseph and Trina played roles as well. Tweety only 2 or 3yrs. My pleasantly uneventful dream was interrupted by small cries. I awoke to find myself in another dream. Manly beside me and the Zekester crying for me from the next room. I'm a Mum now and a wife. Married nearly a year and living in a pleasant land called New Zealand. Heidi's journeying through Tennessee with a heart overflowing with tender love and passion for Abba. Seth and Joseph have tripled from the size they were in the that sneak peek of them I got in my dream. Katrina's off finding house jobs so she can one day visit Andrew and I. I never thought being awakened by crying could be peaceful or pleasant but somehow lying there next to Andrew with fresh memories of ones I love on my mind and a renewed sense of awe at the place I'm in now I couldn't have been happier to answer the beaconing calls from that cute little bundle in the cradle.

Honeymooning - St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

People talk of  their 'dream home,' 'dream job,' or a 'dream life.' What back drop would I choose? What characters would fit into my dream story? What smells, sounds and sights would set the scene? I have only what I know to draw on and I wouldn't want to leave anything out. Each person must fit, I'd like each color to be there and even each taste. God, I'm rather happy with what you've done down here so I can't wait to see what you've come up with for up there!

Highlights of Mama's July visit

                                  

• reading Whispers in the Wind  aloud
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• cooking together
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• hot mineral pools
• 
  
• playing tennis and tying
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• cozy talks on rainy days 
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• a thrilling ocean morning swim
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• watching Zeke and Mama talk ;)
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• walking the farm, beaches and 
• around Hamilton Lake
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• dropping Zeke off for Grandma time on some early mornings
• 
  
• watching movies together and hearing the lesson Mama extracted 
•  

dear Emily,

Andrew's off for a Bible In Schools teaching seminar. Mama may wander over any minute and we'll have breakfast together. Zeke's been crying, tried cuddling and rocking him, tried dancing around. Running out of ideas and energy...put in my favorite cd and sat down. Zeke quieted and looking wide eyed in the direction of his Auntie Em's voice. I took over the job of shedding tears for awhile- happy tears, sad tears, loving tears...I hear the passion and the truth you used to so admire in Kieth Greens music, only with your beauty and gentle love. I see the earnest and genuine heart of the Emily I so love to sit and share hearts with. Now Zeke sleeps soundly and you sing on. I might be guilty of what I gave you a hard time for on our 16hr trip to Atlanta - repeats becoming a favorite button of mine. Thank you Emily! While I'm here enjoying a labor of your love, your off sharing the love and passion God's given you with children in Nicaragua. My heart hugs yours in prayer.

I love you!
~dolly

Musings for Father's Day

Today I caught Andrew gazing at Zeke's sweet sleeping form. I thought of how God miraculously delights to watch over us as the 'apple of His eye.' A son may try and do any number of things to make his papa proud just as we may try to perform for God's approval but even in the nothingness of sleeping we have God's perfect delight.

I love to see our Lord's fingerprints all over his creations and facets of his heart and character etched in each and every area of life. As I transitioned from singleness into knowing and eventually marrying Andrew- God took me on a very romantic and exciting journey into a deeper knowledge and experience of the mystery of 'Christ in you.' I found new joy in Christ's knowing and pursuing me as a groom and husband. God continues to deepen my walk with Him through marriage. My hope now with being a new mother is that God might open my eyes and heart again and again showing me more of Himself. Teaching me how we relate to Him as a Father and how He sees us as his children. I desire to be amazed and astounded afresh by verses like: 

"He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 

Hebrews 12:6

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! " Matthew 7:12

Waking each night at Zeke's small cry teaches me of our utter dependence on God. All we can do is cry and trust he will hear and answer. I once thought my 'cries' were a nuisance to Abba but he tells us to cry out to Him and assures us that he will hear and answer. 

I'm a very sound sleeper. I've slept through many alarm clocks and once even fell off my top bunk bed without awaking. Yet even in the exhaustion following Zeke's birth my ears were tuned to his cry. I'd wake to the smallest squeal, grunt or cry. It makes me feel so very loved and cared for to think this is the same attention the King of Kings, Lord of all the earth gives to us his very own children.

And what a comfort and relief that God doesn't grow weary and overwhelmed as I so easily do in these early days of mothering. He doesn't worry and wonder if his babe's still breathing. He doesn't stand over the cradle with tears wondering how he's ever going to teach this child all that he'll need to know. 

God, 

You're the perfect father! 

You are Love.

You know all things! 

You are the teacher! 

You are the great physician! 

You are God and their is no other! 

In You we live and breathe and have our being! 

In You we rest! 

Kendra, I know you don't get online very often and you'll probably never see this (maybe someone could pass on a word for me and give you a hug) but I have just enjoyed the most splendid cup of chai tea from the last tea bag that you sent to me in your loving Christmas package! ;) I love you so much and am inspired by you every time I miss you! xx