October 29, 2012

(bit from my journaling)

First day of schools closed as a teacher!!! Though I wish it weren't due to an east coast hurricane. 

This morning I am reminded of the many blessings in my days as I watch the rain fall. 

We are all scattered in the midst of this storm, yet I feel so intricately connected.

From my dear friend nestled in Haiti with sixty some others in the hovering of a shelter,

To my little munchkins curled up, maybe even with a good book? in the arms of ma's and pa's 

who fight the storm with strong words of comfort, just like mine did, and still do,

To the scattered and networked friends of prayer I have spoiled but grateful access to through the internet,

To the One whose hands are all over this seemingly mess. 

I sit here with iced coffee, a challenging read, reminiscent pictures, a bundle of conference forms and envelopes ready to be filled with reminders of love. All to the tune of some of this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INiITvrKIIc&feature=related

In my devotions this crested morning, I was reminded of a truth I often let slip away.

He was. And is. And is to come.

What hope comes alive in the windows of our past, climbs directly in to our now moments and presses contagiously into our tomorrow. 

As the storm approaches and people 'prepare', I am spoiled by the arms of safety that welcome me. 

The many homes that have my nomadic spine and restless feet. 

I age into the day, beautifully I am learning, and am content in the abundance of love I may run to, and most importantly now, into The Arms of Rest I choose. 

with hands learning to love,

M

The first day

The first day of the rest of my life, 

Father, I pray that you might make this work complete in my heart and be-ing.

"And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit." Ephesians 2:22

If you ask anyone that knows me, they'll tell you that I handle many things well...thunderstorms, strange animals, babies, mudsliding, poor nicknames, nomadic travels... 

That being said they'll also tell you that there's one thing, among many, that I do not handle well...that is change. And that, my friends, is the story of the last many months. Good things, unexpected things, difficult things, lovely things.

Bring it life. What joy God must find in His curious plans.

Here are some of my joys recently, 

What are yours?

Love, m

But Miss Emmy...

Friday at work, today at work, and most days at work,
the children I am with try me and my spirit,
but boy do they build up my soul.


I can truly say that I love who they are,
unique sons and daughters of some amazing Maker,
and the ones that I learn from each day.


So many times throughout the day I hear,


"But Miss Emmy" with heavy sighs and eye rolls and sometimes, snaps.
"That's deep Ms. M, that's deep"
"Why ya gotta be so mean"
"Oh my gosh, you're ruining my life"
and my favorite,
"That's trifling"


(from 6-11 year olds)


But more times throughout the day I get
hugs that light up my day, little girls calling me beautiful, questions seven feet under surface, stories opened wide and bug eyes that make me melt.


And they build my faith and light that hope even when stress balls and reminders of His love are totally needed.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

-Isaiah 40:30-31

Have a lovely evening,

M

the stranger at the river

and sometimes we have to recall where we come from, 

that thick part in our veins that reminds us where we get our oxygen and reason and footsteps to 

just go.

Last night I found myself down at the river.

And happenstance found me writing a letter full of pressed tension and heart.

It was nights like last night that God and I play tug-o-war. 

Snot falling from my nose, beauty mixed into the pink sunset, and the calm of my pen.

Interrupted 

by the scent of a stranger.

"Good evening, madam" -said stranger

"Hello" - said I

and the conversation continued unexpectedly for the better part of an hour.

We talked about the meaning of life, found ourselves in the small world of old rival high schools, 

and expressed notions of seasons both changing and undone. 

Then our feet and the darkness took us to our own corners

but I'm certain of this, 

that stranger at the river might have saved a moment in my very small, but eternally beautiful life.

Thank you,

M.

summer winds

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

(ps.139)

I love that there is a secret place.

I love that God has a book.

I love that curiosity drives the day.

Today I spent time running in sun, under shade, eating fresh strawberries from our garden and craving community. #thanksmessiah.

I needed to step back and be thankful for these moments of slowing down.

Whispering, take your time go slowly.

And here is what I found.

(creepyblindlovebugcat.thanksbub)

 

(whitegeraniums?somethingdelightful)

 

(homesownseedsmadeberries)

 

(eyesfromourcourt)

love,

momo

happy

as of 8:37 am this morning, I am officially done all academia-related-ness with my undergrad experience.

and now, I celebrate with these happy things.

take a peek at goodness.

 

thankful for today,

m

Fancy that

Today was a homemade dinner kind of day.

 I find myself restless in the odd hours between four and eight because people that are 

important to me don't get home until much later than I.

 And so, I get handsy.

Making crafts, writing letters, clicking stumble and cooking yummy things.

This evening's meal consisted of: Turkey burger with lettuce, tomato and spicy mustard, cucumbers, baked beans and potato chips. Scrumptious.

Also, I fancied this dress from a friend. 

I twirled endlessly today and felt like I was in the 60's.

How was your day?

affectionately,

m

Nickel Creek - Sweet Afton

Dear God, we lay our hands in yours.

peelit

Getting ready to hit the road,

heading home, to the arms that know me best.

Last night though I was an old person and went to bed at 10:30 on a Friday night. I slept like a baby and woke up feeling so rejuvinated. Sometimes the body knows better. This morning I was mindlessly sifting through the blogs I daily surf and Tyler Knott put words to what God and I have been working out together.

With this,

Peel back my skin and you too will see the foundations that I am built upon.

Broken Down Wall With Boards Below BW (by Tyler Knott)

Have a blessed weekend!

M

the creek

“It has always been a happy thought to me that the creek runs on all night, new every minute, whether I wish it or know it or care, as a closed book on a shelf continues to whisper to itself its own inexhaustible tale.”

― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

We all have our stories. We all have our mess. We all have our books on the shelf.

And we all have our creeks.

My creek is in relationship with the world.

Today the creek was full and swift,

Of:

-the low beeps at 7:14 to wake me up

-misplacement of my keys

-check-in call(s) from mom

-the spit up of goldfish from little blue's mouth

-passion tea, shaken with iced goodness

-the click, click, click of paper writing

-surprise hugs and taste bud bursts

-the cross cultural anomalies buried in literature

-the hello of rain on the windows

- the interruption of silence by songs too near

-texts with bub about hearts and fears

-beats of prayer and stranger smiles

-coffee whipped with light

-another "due date" prolonging inevitible

-knocks that make you snap back in

-cards tapped twice for good measure

-seeing lys come home again

-writing for sheer purposed joy

-and tomorrow we will do (a variation) again

I think there is comfort in the creek.

love,

m

Don't Tremble

"I will never stop doing good to you."

-Jeremiah 32:40

If your pilot light should die

Do not quake and do not bark

You will find the spark

If your tree should bare no fruit

Do not turn and do not spill

You are beautiful

If your clarinet should break

Do not cry a million lakes

Do not cry a million lakes

When the winds surround your house

Do not twist and do not shout

Wait it out

If your hand should lose its grip

Do not tremble do not sweat

For where then would you get

You have got the looks my dear

To make a mountain shake

Imagine me

You have got the voice my love

To melt a lake of ice

Imagine me

If your heart is unemployed

Do not rush but do not stall

For I am waiting

Lovingly,

Marg

Still my soul

To the one that knows our hearts best,

we pray for peace.

In my conversations today I heard how many people are struggling, being hit with impressionable and hard news and wrestling with how to trust our God in these moments. As I am learning myself, we have to hold fast to the things we know to be true and the love He carries for us each moment.And sometimes too, you need to lend yourself the grace to be weak and let those around you keep you close in prayer and thought, and maybe even hand a borrowed smile over for your keeping.

-m

Hoppipolla

this weekend was swell.

thunderstorms. friendships. cold glasses, of tea. taste of new.

hoppipolla.

smiling and spinning in circles,

m

apples and things

Had a beautiful weekend.

Hunger games. Epic. I will now pursue archery as a life skill.

Then NYC with my aunt, uncle and cousin Kenzie for a graduation gift and celebration of Kenz' 18th birthday.

We did so many things, like--carriage ride through central park, madison square garden, chinatown, wore out some toms, picture with the best movie characters, saw a great show, ate yummy food, and slept wonderfully.

And finale-ed with a surprise visit home to see hunger games again. So proud of dad for reading it and narrating the entire movie. Cool points to him for knowing his stuff.

I am blessed by good company in my heart and days.

and this is just fun.

when you love, you love hard :)

"Do not let anyone steal your happy"

-m

guiltypleasure

Right now I find it unbearably necessary to pay due respect to what will happen at midnight.
The most wonderful trilogy I have ever read (and you probably should)
comes to the world through little dust particles we like to call film.

The Hunger Games.

sdaksdkajeamSCMasdsahdkasesZ

describes the feelings I am experiencing.

However due to adult responsibilities I must put the viewing on hold until tomorrow night when I will indulge myself along with my best pal, Alyssa. Please do not spill the goodness to me : )

Yes, I am an unashamed fan. [Though I will probably peer my head over my shoulders and tell the screaming, raging, hormonal teenage girls behind me to pipe down a wee bit].

Is anyone else a fan?

love,
m.marie

The Head and the Heart - Rivers and Roads (LIVE VIDEO)

thankful for this life given me.

sometimes, words runs thin

and you hold the sky you know.

to live in hearts you leave behind, is not to die
it is to live.


thoughtfully,
margot

I smell spring

no one wore red quite like you.

calloused hands and a fire like blue.
that's what we get for remembering true.
that's what she gets for loving you.


Today, my friends, lends itself to many things good...

singing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F2zl4LqSlg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4QQ7HYYdWw&feature=related in sunshine windows down spring clinging weather, driving home to a pretty roommate who brought flowers in for healing and a head and a heart that is much less congested than days before.

and among good things i found my favorite pen.


love,
m

bliss

Zeek's Coffeehouse.

(do,go)

A new delight to my senses,

makes me happy,

thankyoumoreplease.

This weekend I have had needed time to sit, be and kind of figure out what I am doing with my life. Have I come to any conclusions? Clearly, no. But, with a little help from Grace, I've found some lasting peace. And encountered unbelievable oodles of bliss, laughter, taste, noms, mojo, gifts and sight.

sing to me local natives,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob6kXOGfHPE&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Happy Saturday!

M

my man

the very best.

no less. always in our hearts.

blowing kisses in your face from here.

RIP Skyler, 2/15/12

My right hand man this past year and a half, skyler went home to be with Jesus today. No one compares to the love of your dog, the best friend to listen to you cry and scream and talk to yourself and laugh...doesn't feel the need to say a word. He just lifts his head and wags his tail and lays by the feet of those who need it most. You will be missed buddy.