fresno in spring

A Song

There's a song I've been listening to that expresses my heart for many occasions. It is by The Matt Grungor band.

The lyrics are:

"I’ve tried to stand my ground
I’ve tried to understand
but I can’t seem to find my way

like water on the sand
or grasping at the wind
I keep on falling short

please be my strength
please be my strenth
I don’t have anymore
I don’t have anymore

I’m looking for a place
that I can plant my faith
one thing I know for sure

I cannot create it
I cannot sustain it
It’s Your love that’s keeping (captured) me

Please be my strength…

at my final breath
I hope that I can say
I’ve fought the good fight of faith

I pray your glory shines
through this doubting heart of mine
so my world would know that You

You are my strength
You and You alone
You and You alone
Keep bringin me back home- on the tag"

You can listen to the song here.

gratitude

Today, at this moment, I am feeling thankful. I don't know if you're like me, but I don't think about gratitude enough. I just finished planting some lovely flowers and seeds that I cannot wait to see blossom into flowers. I am feeling thankful I have a place to plant and experience beauty. Over the last few days, I have been blessed to be able to purchase good food, good for me, good for the earth. I have an extra day off which I am thankful for too. I have good books on my shelf. Right now, I am listening to the sound of my fountain in my backyard and feel a sense of peace. For that, I have gratitude. Today I bought some bird seed and filled up my bird feeder, outside my window. Today I am giving to the birds and it gives me a sense of satisfaction. While I am thankful for so much, I am also feeling a sense of anticipation. I have been busy pruning back my roses and planting bulbs (for spring/summer). Looking at the new sprouts and the bareness causes me to anticipate spring, which is around the corner. For me, spring signifies new life and resurrection. Right now, bareness and barely sprouting bulbs remind that lent is almost here. Next week is forgiveness Sunday. I can't say I've been all that faithful in attending church as of late but I am going to try to make it more during lent. Anyhow, the season of anticipation, lent, is about to begin, and I am thankful for what is to come, new life, resurrection. Today I am grateful.

a page in my daybook

Outside my window ~ rain is watering the earth.

I am thinking ~ about work tomorrow.

I am thankful for… my home, my puppy, having a job, my family, a new day.

I am wearing… black pj pants, long sleeved, comfy white pj shirt, and no shoes.=)

I am remembering… to breathe and try to relax instead of stress.

I am going… nowhere but bed tonight.

I am currently reading… my textbook and two books, Eat, Pray, Love and Lucky.

I am hoping… I can learn to deal with stress better and eat better.

On my mind… how dirty my kitchen is and upcoming school work.

Noticing that… when I take the time to go to church I see why I love it.

Pondering these words… "O LIVING always, always dying! O the burials of me past and present, O me while I stride ahead, material, visible, imperious as ever;O me, what I was for years, now dead, (I lament not, I am content;)O to disengage myself from those corpses of me, which I turn and look at where I cast them, To pass on, (O living! always living!) and leave the corpses behind." - Walt Whitman

From the kitchen… nothing but a mess today.

Around the house… messes, messes, and more messes. Can you tell I don’t like messes?

One of my favorite things~ lazy days, sleeping in, English breakfast tea or coffee and sticky buns.

A photo to share~ A photo of the lone Cyprus in Caramel, CA that I took last spring.

Audrey Assad

This advent season I have been touched by a song by an artist I wasn't familiar with. Her name is Audrey Assad. Today I discovered she is a convert to Catholicism, from an protestant background. Her faith journey is inspirational to me. Listen to the song by watching the video below and you will probably find yourself as moved as I was.

Patriarch Bartholomew

I have great admiration for this man. He is a great example of what Christ represented in the world: suffering for his faith which promotes peace, unity, and love.

As the Patriarch shares his struggle, I am reminded of the words of Christ, sung during Orthodox Divine Liturgy:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven" (Matthew 5:3-12)

The video is divided into part 1 and part 2.

kathryn should have won sytycd season 6!