Saturday, September 29, 2012

On Such a Day

 
 
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
 when sorrows like sea billows roll;
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
 "It is well, it is well with my soul."
 
I very seldom cry and only then on rare, private occasions. Usually, I cry when I’m  alone with my Lord and I’ve fallen on my face again; then there are those moments when loneliness or some other emotion breaks open my depths and tears find themselves trickling down my white face.
Yet, there is another which can make my dry eyes water: beauty. Beauty often takes my breath away and as I kneel to pick a flower and place it in my hair or if I stand underneath a brilliant, star-lit night I find my little soul over-flowing. Sometimes the abudance results in tears.
Today, as the leaves change to scarlet red and sunshiny yellow, as the wind playfully skipped over the land, and as the sky was full of blue and white, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry for this world  we’re blessed to live in, though pain-filled and fallen, is so lovely. Everything speaks of order and life; everything proclaims the power and love of God.
So I shed a little tear and smile.   
What makes you smile?          

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

King David and my Identity


My identity. Your identity. Who are you? Who am I? What is the purpose of our lives, to born at this time, in a certain country, to a particular family?

            Sometimes I feel like my identity is wrapped up in all that I think I am. I mean, shouldn’t I know myself better than anyone else? I sum up my being in a nice six sentence paragraph with descriptive words like, “Coffee-drinker,” “artist,” or “family-lover.” Of course the paragraph isn’t at all close to the truth seeing that it has to be concise (I’ve which I’m never), witty, and cute--three traits which do not naturally flow from my being.  

            Other times my identity is wrapped up in my looks or my job or my degree. But then there are those days when my nose is noticeably big, my hair aloof, my job less than desirable, and my degree . . . . light-years away.

            At this point I’m feeling pretty frayed; who am I, really? If I can’t find my worth in my personality, looks, job, or education then where can I find it?

            The same place King David found his.

I’m planning on reading through the Psalms and really looking to see Who God is to me. I need to know.

Maybe you would like to join me or perhaps you are already reading your way through the Psalms? Either or, feel free to comment on something the Lord has taught you! I’d love to hear!

Friday, September 21, 2012

As a Dog Returneth

            He disappeared into the night—the dog that is. As soon as I had spoken the magic word, outside, his seven year-old body bounced about like a cute, albeit, foolish puppy. After my opening the door, he blitzed out like a quarter back in the 4th quarter, with 5 seconds and the ball in hand. (There are four quarters in a football game, right?) I kid! 
            Fifteen minutes later, he arrives home and in seconds my nose realizes that he happily spent his moments of liberty rolling in death--probably some sort of icky road kill the vultures wouldn’t even touch. I immediately had a new insight into Martha’s dramatic and certain quote, “He stinketh!”
            The worst part? He’s done this three times in the last two months.
            Solomon must have watched a dog a time or two. Proverbs 26:11 reads, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” While walking my shamefaced, smelly dog to the bathtub, while angrily yelling at him, this verse popped into my head. I finally understood it. Why do dogs have to re-eat their vomit? Why, when given the freedom to be outside, do they run to the grossest, deadest thing available? Then again, why do I do what I do?
            Why do I run back to my old habits, the sin, and the shame? Why, when Christ gives me liberty and freedom, do I choose bondage and death? I suppose Solomon also watched a fool a time or two as well.
            I praise God for accepting me just as I was, dirty and stinking with sin. I praise Him for still accepting me just as I am, a child of the King, who sometimes returns home a prodigal son.  I praise Him for looking at the cross with joy (Hebrews 12:2), even though he knew I wouldn’t deserve His forgiveness even after I had gotten saved. I thank Him for faithfully and justly forgiving me and for giving giving me the keys to living victoriously in Him.
            Just so you know, my daddy graciously came and washed the dog for me. What an amazing dad I have! Oh, you should also know that the dog and I are friends again. I just can't deny his big, brown eyes! :)
            Frannie
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Friday, September 14, 2012

I Should be Studying Right Now . . .


Armed with cheese chowder, wool socks, and a mug o’ coffee, she attempts to prepare and eliminate her foe, the CBASE.

            Will she succeed? Will she gain victory o’re her opponent?

           Time will tell.
 
 This is my, "Uuuh! I can't recall my algebra figures" face. Painful.

My Recent Trip and all its Adventures


It was a lovely weekend.

Timeline:

            9:00 a.m.- Leave to pick up Mom and (quickly) go to car rental

            11:00 a.m.- Leave Mom’s work later than expected

            12:30 p.m.- Pick up car (which was a cute, red Kia Soul!), fuel up, drive

            2:20 p.m.- St. Louis traffic diverts efforts by ½ hour

            7:00 p.m.- Arrive at G+G’s home! Woot woot! Discuss interstate with Grandpa, quickly chat with Grandma, hug Momma goodbye, fuel up, take off (first solo trip)

            7:40 p.m.- Call friend waiting for my arrival and explain approximate arrival time as 1 a.m. (as opposed to original hope, 9 o’clock)

            12:00 a.m.- Visit the potty room and jump back onto interstate

            12:50 a.m.- Call friend and squeal! Only 10 miles to destination (spoken in robotic GPS tone)

            1:00 a.m.- “You have reached your destination.”            

                        Wait . . .  really, Mr. GPS? My friend lives in a big scary barn? Or in the house with a lightning bolt mailbox? I think you maybe a little confused . . .

            The next hour is filled with a no-serviced cell phone, a full bladder, exhaustion, driving up Wildcat Mountain (which is closed for the observation of true, blue wildcats. Can anybody else say, "eeek!"?), talking to oneself, flashing headlights on all houses within 3 miles, and driving frantically. . . oi.
 
(Though the situation appeared bleak, I must say, Wisconsin has a lovely view of the stars and constellations . . .)  

            Eventually, after having to receive directions from a very kind (and sleepy) father, I actually, finally reached my destination. What a joyous sight it was to find four bed-headed, blanket wrapped girlfriends bouncing around me at 2 in the morning; what a wonderful, dear sight it was to be greeted by bare feet and pajamas. I am so blessed (and incredibly embarrassed). :)

            The rest of the weekend proceeded wonderfully. My dear friend and her Beloved were married. The wedding was so encouraging—full of simple, tasteful beauty—and a couple who love the Lord even more than they love one another. A real testimony.

            One good point given during the wedding was that this time, this wedding, was a celebration of both the Bride and the Groom. For years, they have waited patiently for one another, fighting the battle their flesh and the world has waged. They have had failures but they have conquered. This was a victory feast celebrating the end of one time and the entry of another!

            It was a very good weekend. In order to not disappoint, we made sure to make the drive home memorable by arriving at 4 in the morning, falling into exhausted slumbers (in the car) till 6:30 a.m. at which time both Momma and I dazedly walked into our respective work areas. Needless to say, it was a very

l o n g day.

            I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

            I found God’s grace totally and wonderfully free and flowing as well. How was your weekend?

Friday, September 7, 2012

Poking Along

 
Mr. Elephant abides here



On the road again
and I am so excited.
 
Isn't this elephant cute? He represents me perfectly . . . not because I'm so squished, either.

It's just that, well, I'm a bit clumsy, a bit distracted by beautiful bridges and fields; and I love to drive a red car.
 
Blessings to you as your travel your weekend!

Frannie

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Intelligence is not Enough



 
"Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character."
Via Pinterest
 


It hurts, to kick against the pricks.

 My previous college experiences have been, odd enough, like stealing candy from a baby. Professors ranged from difficult to pleasantly easy and the classes have been good dusters—prohibiting any proverbial dust from settling on my brain--but never mentally draining.

So, when this semester (full of elementary education courses) began I thought I was about to take another walk in the park, a gentle stroll with a few bumps here and there. Was I ever wrong.

We’re three weeks into the semester and already I am struggling to keep up with the homework, the papers, the schedule. I can’t even keep the classes straight: Emergent Literacy, Children’s Literature, and Formation of Education . . . which one am I taking a seat in now?

Needless to say, I’ve been taken aback, thrown off my easy (admittedly lazy) course. I feel so small and inept.

My options? Shrink away from the challenge or step up. This morning I happened upon Letter From Christ. Allison wrote on her recent experiences of teaching in China.

She wrote, “There were several days, particularly in the first week, that I felt overwhelmed. I reminded myself that God was able to make all grace abound to me, and that He was sufficient to meet all my needs. On my class schedule I would write things like “Needy and Dependent” to remind myself of this.”

Needy and Dependent. I am earning a degree so that I can teach on a mission field where the work will be hard. I’ll need to be dependent on Christ then and funny, but I need to be dependent on Him now.

Now when I am desperately looking for work. Now when my schedule is already overflowing. Now when money is tight. Now.

I know it’s small; there are so many more BIG problems out there. But this is my current struggle and I am learning to be needy and dependent—and find that His grace is sufficient.

Making coffee and conquering homework,

        Frannie

Sunday, September 2, 2012

5 Ways to make Fall *Fall* Sooner

 

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

 --George Eliot

September has gently crept upon us here at Copperhead Ridge, our home’s temporary name. The weather is slowly cooling and we have been blessed by a few days of rain. (I think I’ve seen various stoic farmers throw their dusty hats in the air and dance a little jig . . . or maybe that was just a windblown scarecrow? Hmm . . .)

 Despite all my yearnings and wishings, it isn’t quite autumn yet . . . a very hard fact for my heart to take in. I’m used to Alaskan falls; by August the weather is dipping down into the 40’s and the Birches begin to turn yellow. By September we could have snow.

So, to see strong, green leaves and to experience weather in the 80’s is a difficult experience for a girl who loves all things fall and winter related. (Newsflash: Christmas day is only  3 months and 23 days away)

In order to fight off my summertime blues and encourage the foliage to change quickly I’ve made a list of autumn time activities which I hope to complete. (Do you think Mr. Frost will see my earnestness and come earlier?)

Frannie’s List for Making Fall *Fall * Sooner

1.      Begin Fall Cleaning: A time of mopping, organizing, wiping, and dusting. This also involves the pulling out of autumnal décor such as maple leaf garlands, a variety of scarecrows, and the scattering of hard, warty gourds.

2.      Attack Homework, manfully: Typically, this word is associated with various guttural sounds such as uhhs and umfs and furrowed brows. However, this term is, in all truthfulness, a sign of great blessing—homework = school = kind parents who bless. 

3.      Bake: Exactly what it says! Spend time baking yummy fall items such as Frosted Zucchini Cookies, Chocolate Chip Apple Sauce Cake (subsitute canned pumpkin, yummy!), and on especially cool nights, hot chocolate.


4.      Wear Sweaters: Nothing will encourage Mr. Jack Frost to make his entry faster than watching various (ahem, silly) girls dawn sweaters, especially green, purple, and orange colored ones.

*Dawning one’s knee socks will also encourage Mr. Frost; however, one should remember that he or she may be thought absurd by the summer-loving, flip-flop wearing public.

 
5.      Light, Listen, Snuggle: As in: light pumpkin candles, turn on Christmas music, and snuggle into one’s sofa with a source of good literature.


*Need a few suggestions? Wind in the Willows, Bud, not Buddy, and Jonathan Edwards Sermons all make for excellent moments of reading.
 

These five items are quite simple and thoroughly enjoyable! Although I am sure one silly, Missouri girl’s (sincerest) efforts will not bring fall about earlier, I am certain they will produce full days and happy moments.

What does your family do to prepare for autumn? I’d love to hear about it!
              Cuteness! Find his proper owner here!
 
With warmest wishes,
 Frannie
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