17 July ... eh?

How did it get to be half way through July? My Colorado-programmed body keeps waiting for the 90 degree temperatures, and keeps waiting, and keeps waiting. Then it will feel like summer. Incidentally, our pepper plants are waiting too! I wonder if I will keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting for snow in six months to mark the winter season, only to be drowning in the grey fall-ish (made me think of "small-ish" which made me think of Dr. Seuss - happy thoughts) rain of the pacific northwest. Will be strange come Christmas time. But ... certainly no complaints. The coolness of the days is such a blessing! I'm loving the fact that I'm still wearing sweaters inside the house. Perfect!

Meanwhile, the days pass so quickly. We've enjoyed a week of VBS, filled with exciting science experiments and great music (which we keep listening to day after day on the CD that was a gift at the end). I spent my days toting a puppy and trying to be the VBS photographer. In spite of our Shadow, I was able to get some pretty good shots. A great week.

And Shadow ... well, I didn't realize just how much a puppy can turn your world upside-down. We're beginning to settle now, and I'm getting about 6 hours of sleep at night. A major improvement. It is much like having a newborn. Okay, not really. But the sleeplessness isn't fun, regardless. No sleep makes for a VERY grumpy and unproductive me! Thus ... a rather silent blog, among other things.

Over the weekend, we ventured up into the mountains. It felt very much like home. Rocky. Lots of evergreen trees. No aspens, oh well. The river was much larger as well. We all needed a dose of the mountains.

This week, we've been going through the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills to determine whether or not I've been doing my job as Nathan's primary educator. He's a whiz! No issues with standardized testing here! We'll see in a few weeks when they return the scores just how many things I haven't gotten around to teaching him yet. Boulder Valley School District will be happy to receive the test scores and find that I'm still fulfilling my part of the bargain, since we are registered there until September.

That's the current update. Not exactly the kind of post I'm hoping to write on a regular basis, but an update for those who love us and like knowing what is going on. Happy Summer!

Rain

Check out Kristi's post

Akiru: rain

for the story of how they began Akiru in Uganda, and where they are today.

Kristi's sister and brother-in-law are dear to me, and the reason that a part of my heart is in Karamoja.

Guitar ... Why didn’t I learn to play when I was younger?

Sometimes I think about the things I regret. Honestly, not often. It just leads to this period of self-pity over things I can’t change. We really can’t go back and re-do life. I have to remind myself to stay focused on one of my favorite mantra's, “Do the Next Right Thing!”

But when it comes to the guitar, I do find myself pining away for the girl I meant to be, the one who could pick up a guitar and play. Just play. For me. For family. For gatherings of whomever, whenever. Just play. That girl may never exist. But then again, she might. You’re never too old to learn. That’s what they tell me. And here I am trying, once again, to learn something new and change myself to that girl I dream of being. The one who can play.

But alas, why didn’t I learn to play when I was younger? Seems like it would have been easier, although I’m not sure why. Maybe an attitude change is in order. Maybe it wouldn’t have been easier when I was younger. Maybe this is the perfect time to learn. YES! It is the perfect time to learn.

So instead of typing, which I won’t be able to do for a few weeks until the tips of my fingers get their feeling back, I’ll play.

Just play.

Morgan Freeman and the Declaration of Independence

I came across this short documentary yesterday on Facebook. It has been around for years, and is usually circulated during the Independence Day celebrations. It seems that 6 months of studying the American Revolution with Nathan in school has elevated my interest this year. As a result, I'm still mentally focused on the Independence Days celebrated in Canada and the United States last week.

There's depth and beauty in Morgan Freeman's eloquent comments, especially as he talks about the ideals of the document, and the challenge that the nation faces when striving to meet those ideals. Well said!

Hope you enjoy! Hope you're prompted to ponder!

http://www.schooltube.com/video/c58324fe0a80a0175750/

A last post on the topic, at least for this year! Time to move on!

{this moment}

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

with Amanda @ SouleMama

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Happy Independence Day!

It is the 4th of July. In 1776, a group of brave, slightly reckless men signed a document declaring freedom from tyranny, freedom from king and country. They sought the freedom to rule themselves, and in their wisdom and courage, they created a nation.

The story that followed was one of men and women choosing sides. They determined where their hearts and consciences were leading them, and fought to the end. For some, the end was their final breath. Some knew victory. Others saw an end of defeat. But ultimately, a country knew its freedom.

What about today? Do we still live in freedom, or have we given ourselves over to a new and different tyranny? It is not a new question, yet one that still deserves thought. Whether you live in the "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" or not, are you truly free?

Regardless of the rules and regulations that control my body, I know my mind, my heart, and my soul can forever be free. Easy for me to say. I've never lived in bondage. It is not my goal to diminish the experiences of those who have.

My point instead is that I make my own bondage of spirit sometimes often.

• Suffocating under too much stuff
• Succumbing to the "SHOULDS" (I wrote about this long ago. You can read it here.)
• Living for a nod from mankind

These things I often allow to steal away my freedom. True freedom is simple, although rarely easy.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

In that saving moment, we are set free.

Then Jesus said:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know that truth, and the truth will set you free. ... So if the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:31-32,36

And what was Yeshua's teaching? Love God. Love People.

So where does my freedom rest? Firmly in the arms of my loving Heavenly Father, who teaches me what it means to love Him, and to love people ... more so each day, if I'm seeking Him. There I find freedom from the world, freedom from myself, freedom to love, freedom to live.

As I think of how our forefathers fought the freedom fight for me, I'm brought to my knees acknowledging Yeshua's fight for my freedom that has truly set me free. I am grateful. Today, I choose Christ. I choose to Love God. I choose to Love People. I choose to live free.

Happy 4th!

My Heart in Karamoja

How can a part of my heart be in Karamoja? I’ve never been there. I have no desire to live that close to the equator. I'm more of an Alaska kind of dreamer. But in the quiet of the days, it is there my thoughts dwell in a continuous state of prayer. Uganda. Hmmm ... Uganda.

On the laptop, my background is a photo of several Karamajong women who make journals. It is called The Akiru Project. Click over and read about them here. They make the paper by hand, and assemble the most beautiful, earthy leather journals, symbols to me of a woman’s strength in the midst of great hardship, of their courage and strength. Check out their Etsy shop as well! 

My heart cries for them, rejoices with them, and rests with them in the quiet of the day.

No, I don’t want to live there. I don’t want to live the rest of my life with malaria. I don’t want my son to either, or my husband. I don't want to live on the other side of the world, away from our older sons, away from family, away from friends. I don't want to have to change and stretch that much.

But in a little hut, with a kitchen hut just a few feet away, live two people whom I love dearly, pray for often, and live vicariously through. And SHE PLAYS THE GUITAR (more on that later)! I had a dream the other night that they built another bedroom/living hut, and we moved into it. We lived simply, squatty potty and all, with no electricity, no running water, no conveniences, no daily commutes, no phones ringing off the hook, no hundreds of emails a day. Just us, living in community with them, sharing our lives and our faith under the next tree.

A part of my heart rests in Karamoja. I wonder if my body ever will?

Added 13 July 2013: 
Take a look at this link to find out more about Akiru, which means ... rain.