Joanne Heim

Photo shoot

I may have mentioned it a time or a hundred, by my little sis is an amazing photographer. You can check out her work here.

I'd asked and she'd already planned to do a shoot for us while she's here in Denver. So last night, we all got dressed in black and white and headed to downtown Littleton to find great alleys full of cool backgrounds to take pictures.

She won't let me see them yet, but she told me that she downloaded them and wanted to cry. So I'm guessing they're good!

I know I could've stood behind her and pushed my button at the same time, but they wouldn't have turned out nearly the same. So I just stood back and took pictures of the action.

It was a perfect opportunity for Audrey to let her drama fly and for Emma to prove that she can hold a pose for ever! I'll be sure to share pictures as soon as I get to see them!

Mani/pedi

I gave the girls (and myself!) mani/pedis in Mom's kitchen sink yesterday afternoon.

I'd found this recipe online the other night, and Mom whipped up a batch yesterday morning. 

I'd been saying how dry and rough my hands have been lately and how I'd like to keep a jar by the kitchen sink to use morning and night after cleaning up the kitchen.

And it made my hands feel so nice, we decided it would be great for feet and toes too!

So I tried it out and the girls and they agreed!

(Audrey chose Mocha Ice and Emma went for Big Apple Red!)

Hanging in there

I'm sitting on the couch at my Mom and Dad's house, the kids (my two, plus their cousins) are all watching Clifford on PBS, Toben's at our house doing some touch up painting and feeding the cats, Kristen just left to take Wade to work, Dad's at work, Mom's starting the Monday laundry.

There, I think that's everyone all accounted for.

We moved over here to my parents' house on Friday, after a day of packing and making piles of stuff in the garage. It was NOT a good day. Moving + packing + PMS = one GIANT pity party. It was not pretty. Got to the point where I knew if anyone was nice to me, I'd fall apart in a big, huge, ugly ball of bawling.

So I did my best to be generally mean and nasty to everyone to keep from crying like a baby. It didn't work too well.

On Saturday, Mom and Kristen came to our house and helped me clean. They are super rockstars and their help meant we got the house pretty well cleaned in a day. Windows, baseboards, doorframes, drawers, cupboards, blinds--you name it, it's clean.

I appreciate them both so much.

We work together really well and decided that as the reigning Queen (Mom) and Crown Princesses (Kristen and me) of Clean, we need to make this a regular thing once we're all back in Denver together. To take a week to spring and fall clean each other's houses.

There are still some last-minute things to be done tomorrow while Toben packs up the trailer, but the house is clean and sparkly and ready for my friend who's moving in. Everything's on schedule for us to roll out of here on Wednesday morning sometime.

(Now in my head I'm hearing that voice saying "Stay on target, stay on target" from Star Wars when they're trying to blow up the Death Star.)

We got to rest and hang out at the pool yesterday, and I'm guessing there may be more of that on the calendar for today.

So many of you have sent me messages and comments and email to let me know you're praying for my family. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't take your prayers lightly and appreciate them so much.

Keep 'em coming!

Memory Monday: Psalm 46:5

(Oops, had to flip back a couple of pages in my journal to check the reference. I know the verse, but often can't remember references. Anyone have any great tips for remembering the "address" of the verse you're learning?)

Psalm 46:5

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

I've really hung on to this during the past week. Because to be honest, it's been a rough one. More on that in another post.

I'm not sure what I'll be memorizing for this next week yet, but I'll let you know!

Did you memorize a verse this week? Leave it in the comments, or link your post to the comments below.

For now, I'm off to have my quiet time. It's been since Friday, I think...the longest stretch I've had without one in a loooong time. 

Hmm...maybe that's part of why things have been so rough. Ya think? I've always said that about two days is the longest I can go. Maybe I'd better modify that to can't skip a single day without disastrous results.

(Makes me think, Well, DUH, Joanne!)

Want to join in Memory Monday? Click on the button in the sidebar for all the information you'll need!

Sweet fancy Moses

I've always thought I liked moving. But I don't think so. I'm totally over it.

Maybe it's the country music I'm blasting this morning that's making me feel all blue-sy, or maybe it's that every time I turn around THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE. Will it never end?

So I grew up with my mother chanting "Do everything without arguing and complaining" to me and my sister. And generally, I agree with the sentiment. In fact, I repeat it to my own girls every single darn day. (I mean, you can't really go wrong with the Bible, now can you?)

Anyway, today I want to argue. And complain.

But I'm all alone in the house with boxes more to go before I sleep and you're all I've got. So...

argue, argue, argue

complain, complain, complain

I'm off to go sing along with Wynonna and heft some more boxes. And not think about the fact that once we get to Phoenix one week from today they all have to be unpacked again. Nope, not gonna think about that.

That's all. Carry on with your day.

I've loved your lists!

It has been so fun to see everywhere you've all lived--and to hear from some of you for the first time. So far, I think Ginger wins for having lived the most places!

So here's a question, where would you like to live? For a month, a year, forever?

At one point, we saw a lighthouse for sale on Prince Edward Island and I have to say I'd love to live there. Like here, maybe...

We honeymooned in Carmel almost 18 years ago, and I'd love a little cottage in Carmel-by-the-Sea some day.

And I've always said that if I could get my whole family to go, I'd move back to Yorkshire in a heartbeat. Perhaps this cottage in Grassington...

So, what about you?

Where have you lived?

Thinking about moving has me thinking about all the places I've lived.

Redondo Beach, CA (until I was 6)

Colorado Springs, CO (until I was 10)

Montgomery, AL (until I was 11)

Harrogate, North Yorkshire, ENGLAND (until I was 14)

Colorado Springs, CO (until I graduated from high school)

Spokane, WA (where I went to college--Whitworth)

Paris, FRANCE (for a summer)

Colorado Springs, CO (until Audrey was born)

Monument, CO (until Emma was 2)

Carlsbad, CA (for 3 years until 4 years ago)

Centennial, CO (for the past 3 years and for one more week...)

What about you? Where have you lived?

Quick linky love

Go take a peek at this post on my sister's blog. See why I'm excited for her to take our pictures?

Memory Monday: Psalm 8:1

I never really picked a verse for last week, just kept waiting for one to pick me. 

The prayer book had me in Psalm 8 last week, and I've been keeping my NIV/Message parallel Bible handy. So I was struck by verse 1 in The Message:

GOD, brilliant Lord,

yours is a household name.

As I've been packing up and feeling really sad about leaving my home (and all of our furniture and treasures) behind, I've been chewing on this verse. 

As I pray for wisdom about what to pack and what to store and what to leave out for the family who'll be living here next year, I've been thinking that what's most important about our home--here and the house we'll be living in in Phoenix--is that it is ultimately God who makes it into a home.

That he is what defines our household. He is what binds it all together. Everything else is just stuff.

All the same, I've been struggling a bit these past few days. Especially at night when I'm tired--and I'm tired. (Walking all the way upstairs from the basement a million times a day--usually hefting a box or two--is taking it out of me.)

Audrey and I were snuggling last night and talking about when our heads and hearts don't match. When we know one thing, but feel something else. 

"Which one do we follow?" she asked. Good question. 

We talked about how God gave us both--head and heart--for a purpose. And that being wise means learning to balance the two--even when they don't match. And that above all, having them in conflict points out our desperate need to ask God to help us make wise decisions.

In my head I know that this move is something God planned. And therefore will be good. In my head, I know that having our friends live here is also God planned--an incredible display of his perfect timing.

In my heart, I've been sad and tired and discouraged.

And the PMS isn't helping.

For next week, I'm thinking I'm going to learn what Michelle sent me the other day. (Michelle, I can't tell you how much your comment encouraged me. Thanks for taking the time to pass on to me how God has encouraged you.)

(Just as an aside, re-gifting encouragement is always a good idea!)

Psalm 46:5

God is within her, she will not fall:

God will help her at break of day.

Having taken hermeneutics this past semester, I know that taking this and applying it to me is taking it out of context. The psalm is talking about Jerusalem, God's holy city. But when we search the rest of Scripture, we can see that it applies to us as individuals as well.

Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God is within me. And because of that, I will not fall. And when I get up at the break of day to meet with the Father, he is always there to meet me and help me with whatever I'm facing.

Oops. This has gotten a little long. Thanks for listening. I would dearly covet your prayers--for my heart to match my head! 

And if you did Memory Monday this week, leave a link. If you want to join in, click on the button on the right--it'll tell you everything you need to know.

Up and at 'em

Are you sick of hearing me talk about packing boxes? Me too! But it helps me to get things down on paper--or whatever this internet/webby thing is made of.

I got a ton done yesterday. Audrey and I got her room mostly done after dinner and our after-dinner bike ride around the loop. The trash! Do your kids hoard trash? Seems like she never throws anything away. And puts things in weird places. And then gets upset when I get frustrated. Not good. But we made it through still talking and feel asleep nose to nose and holding hands last night. (Awww!)

Why are there Littlest Pet Shops here there and everywhere when we have a bin for them? Why?

Must say, there's nothing like moving to convince you that you have way more than you need. Even Audrey gets it after packing stuff up! But we've sorted and tossed and packed and she's getting close to being ready.

I think a year without so many drawers and bins will be good for her; there won't be as many places to hide things!

Up this morning? Emma's room. And then a trip to JCP's for curtains for the dining room since the old ones literally fell apart. And then to Target for sheets and towels.

And then later this afternoon sometime? My little sis and her kiddos arrive in Colorado! That's motivation to get going today so we can have some time to play!

I'm starting to count down the days--I think we have 10 to go. And despite so much accomplished yesterday, so much is still to be done. I woke up way too early this morning feeling overwhelmed by it all (not to mention the PMS that is looming).

So I hit the floor and poured it all out to God. Are you as amazed as I am that he actually cares about all the details that consume our lives? How incredible that God--huge as he is--cares about my cares! But the Bible says to cast ALL our cares on him because he cares for us.

So I did. And asked if I could just stay on the floor for the rest of the day! But after pouring it all out and asking him to keep my eyes focused on him and on what really matters, I'm feeling better.

Another incredible thing--when we give it all to him, our load lightens. And we can actually feel the difference. Certainly not right away every time, but letting go makes a difference.

I don't know what your burden is this morning, but whatever it is, whatever its weight, God is ready to pick it up for you if you lay it at his feet. It may be something you can lay down and be done with, or it may be the kind of thing you lay down, pick up, and lay down again for a while until you've finally let go once for all. 

Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Stuff, stuff everywhere!

I was thinking I'd tackle my desk in the packing plans for tomorrow. But as I sit here and see a pile of magazines by the window, the iron on my coffee table, the breakfast table piled with boxes, coolers sitting by the back door, and so on, I think I need to get everything that's half done totally done first.

It makes me feel stressed to have stuff everywhere. And now that we've arranged the basement for storage and the garage for piles for the trailer we'll haul and for each car we'll drive, I really can finish packing a box and then put it where it needs to go.

There's nothing on the calendar tomorrow, so I'm hoping to make some good progress.

Luckily the dining room is empty and clear, so we can sit down and eat dinner in peace!

Indulge

Last night I went out with Kristin and Yvette--they're the gals with whom I have secret club meetings (staying in our pajamas and watching movies all day while our kids are at school).

We went to Indulge--and if you live in south Denver, you might want to make a reservation soon.

We sat outside on the patio--they have couches and fire pits out there--and watched the sun set over the mountains, drank a glass of wine, ate some yummy food, and chatted. For four hours!

Yum.

While things like chocolate-orange fondue and Brie with a balsamic reduction may be an indulgence, friendship is not. It's a necessity, a staple of life.

I am blessed to have such great friends and have been thinking about that as I've been saying goodbye (or "See you soon!") to many of them. Making time to be a friend and to have friends is a necessary part of life.

As busy women, I think sometimes that we think we don't have time to have friends. To get together, to hang out with our girlfriends.

But having friends with whom to share life doesn't take away from my family, instead it enriches it. My friends challenge me to grow and change, to be authentic and honest, to be a better mother, a better wife, a better person.

So go make some time for your friends today. Send a note in the mail, make a phone call, meet for coffee, or at the park, or for dinner. Call someone who may not be a friend--yet--and invite her to come over for a cup of tea.

And thanks, gals, for a great time last night. I love you both!

A peek at my quiet time...

Pajamas

Coffee

Bible

Journal

Bic crystal

Cat

All the essentials...

Au revoir

Janna and Kimberly threw a party for me yesterday and it was so wonderful. Thank you both so much! They know how to do things well, and it was fun and beautiful and delicious. Full of laughter and a few tears.

Here's the cool thing...except for Janna (who I met through my sis), these are all women I have met blogging. And as I commented on Twitter yesterday, these women are exactly who they present themselves to be--only even better in real life. I am blessed to know them!

(And because we're friends online as well as in real life, we'll all still be in touch over the next year even though I'll be in Phoenix.)

Janna, me

Kimberly, me

Paula, me

Angie (Didn't Janna set up such a cute seating area in her backyard?)

Amy, Angie, Amy, me, Kimberly

Amy, me, Amy, Angie

Holly, Janna, Amy

Paula, me, Angie

Want to "meet" my friends too?

Janna

Kimberly

Angie

Amy

Holly

Paula (not yet a blogger!)

The other Amy (not yet a blogger!)

(And Meredith, we missed you! Been praying for your trip!)

Working hard

While I've been working hard to pack things up, others are hardly working.

But she's so cute, I can't feel upset. I just love those little tufts of fur between her toes!

Memory Monday: Psalm 84:12

Here goes:

O LORD Almighty,

blessed is the woman who trusts in you.

Last week, I shared a little bit about what "blessed" means in this verse. You can see that here.

Here's what I learned about the word "trust." (I love dictionaries and definitions--there's so much to learn from what words mean!)

The Hebrew word for "trust" is "batach." 

to trust, to trust in
to have confidence, be confident
to be bold
to be secure
to feel safe, be care-less

It means "to confide in anyone, to set one's hope and confidence upon anyone, to be secure, to fear nothing for oneself."

As I've memorized this verse in the past week, I've thought a lot about trust. In what do I put my trust? In whom do I confide? What makes me bold? Where is my security?

Because I want to be a confident, bold woman. I want to be secure, to feel safe. I don't want to live in fear. I want to be blessed, to be happy.

Yes, my trust is in God for the big picture. But I'm thinking a lot about the little things that make up my day and what it would look like to trust God in the minutes and hours that make up the big picture of my life. It's in the small things and the smaller chunks of life that the rubber meets the road, that we live this out. And that's where it gets hard.

Funny how this all ties in with what Beth Moore talked about in Laramie. It's going to take some strict training to walk this thing out. Some daily training. But sign me up. Because it's going to be worth it.

I'm not sure what I'll memorize for next week. Nothing's just jumped off the page at me yet. But I'll keep you posted.

Want to join in? Click on the button in the sidebar on the right. Want to link to your Memory Monday post? Leave a comment!

Tired

The past few days have flown by and I'm pooped.

We hosted a garage sale here on Friday and Saturday. Ten families donated items to sell to raise money to offset tuition for a family we all know and love like crazy. They're going through a rough time and we wanted to help them in a tangible way and let them know they are loved.

Lifting, sorting, selling, hanging out, laughing, talking, haggling...it was fun, but tiring. And, oh so worth it. 

Audrey and Emma went camping with their Gran and Papa in Kansas this weekend. They left on Friday afternoon and just got back an hour or so ago. Mom and Dad stayed for dinner and it was fun to hear all about their weekend. Sounds like they had a blast!

Toben and I splurged and went out to dinner both nights the girls were gone--something we haven't done in ages. (Plus, we're trying to eat through what's on hand which sometimes results in some weird meals!) We had some great conversations and came up with some terrific ideas for the new ministry Toben's working on in Phoenix.

And I've packed and packed and packed some more. And moved stuff around in the basement and sorted through stuff. We're getting there.

I'm off to wash my face, take out my contacts, put on my favorite pjs, and hit the hay. I'm beat!

Never say never

Every time I say, "I would/could never..." it happens. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson.

I would never live in that neighborhood. Built a house there.

I would never drive a mini-van. Dodge Grand Caravan. And even loved it!

I would never move away from Colorado. Moved to California.

I would never move to Phoenix. Ahem.

I would never cut my hair short again. Ahem.

I could never homeschool my children. It's official. We're definitely homeschooling next year. And so stinkin excited about it we can hardly stand it.

I'm in the process of giving the girls some placement tests to help figure out some specific math curriculum, but we'll be doing Sonlight next year and learning all about American history together. I love that there's so much reading together in the program. I love to read aloud!

They'll also be learning to plan menus, stay within a grocery budget, cook, clean, do laundry, and a bunch of other things. 

The funny thing is, every time I say "I'd never..." I end up loving whatever it is.

Just so y'all know: I would never win the lottery. (Think it'll work?!)

Moving update (or don't you want to come help me pack?)

I grew up in the Air Force, so moving is not a new thing for me. In fact, I have to say I'm a pretty efficient mover. It only takes about three days to have everything unpacked and put away and pictures on the wall and to be all settled.

The packing up? Well, that takes a bit longer. A lot longer.

We leave three weeks from yesterday. And, oh my, is there a lot to be done. (My to-do list is four pages long.) If I think about it all, I get just a teensy bit overwhelmed. Make that a lot overwhelmed. But then I think, Just do the next thing and it starts to pass.

Since the house we're renting is unfurnished, we're taking more than we planned. But we're still leaving most of the furniture behind. A friend of mine is moving back to Denver the third week in July, so she and three of her daughters will be living in our yellow house for a year.

Closets, cupboards all need to be totally empty. Beds stripped, towels down, family pictures off the walls.

I have to say, it's a good chance to purge.

We're having a garage sale tomorrow and Saturday with a bunch of friends and as I look at stuff I'm putting in the pile, I wonder why I ever bought some of it in the first place. There's nothing like a garage sale plus a move to make you get rid of stuff you don't want or need and to resolve not to bring stuff in the house in the first place!

So I'm packing stuff to go to Phoenix in paper boxes since they're a uniform size and don't get too heavy (Note to self: Stop by Kinkos today to see if they have any more empties) and stuff to stay in the basement here in clear totes.

I went to the Walmart the other night and bought 25 huge clear plastic totes. Seems like a crazy thing to spend money on, but they are water-proof, see-through, and will protect the stuff that stays. And when we move back to Denver in a year, I'll use them to store seasonal decorations and stuff.

Janna's coming this morning for a couple of hours to hang out. We're going to head to the basement and pack up my crafty/sewing stuff. She'll be a great resource to help me decide what to take to Arizona and what to store. I could ask Toben for an opinion, but he's not much help with stuff like fabric and yarn and such :) She'll also be a great person to help me decide what knick-knacky stuff to take, that stuff that makes my home mine.

Okay, I gotta get moving this morning. A very happy Thursday to you all!

Locks of Love

The girls and I decided to donate our hair to Locks of Love back before Christmas. And with moving to Phoenix--in July--we decided to go ahead and cut it short before we move rather than wait till back to school as planned.

Here's them staging their big reveal. They had a ball spinning each other around on the chair, pretending to be on What Not To Wear.

They can't stop looking in the mirror. :)

Before:

After:

All told, it was about 3 feet of hair, which weighed half a pound!

Memory Monday on Tuesday morning

Better late than never, right?

After another week, I've got my passage from Ephesians down! And I'm ready to move onto a short one for this next week.

O LORD Almighty,

blessed is the [wo]man who trusts in you. 

Psalm 84:12

Here's what I love. Blessed here means "happy." Want to be happy? Trust God. That's the secret. With trust in God, we lose fear, we gain courage, we're free to obey, we find happiness.

A lot of truth packed into a little verse!

Back in my little yellow house

After 11 hours and 40 minutes of straight driving from Osage Beach, Missouri to Centennial, Colorado, we're back home in our little house, bellies full of bowls of spaghetti, and getting ready to jump in the shower until the hot water runs out. And then crawl between the clean sheets in MY bed with MY pillow. Heaven...

(When I was a kid, my dad timed our showers. If the timer went off, so did the water. I'm still making up for it! I so LOVE a good, long, hot shower. As Toben says, I embrace the shower.)

So what's your favorite thing about coming home from a trip?

Ozarkland

We all headed out the door earlier for a trip to Ozarkland. I love this place!

Here's just a sampling of what you can buy here:

Plus tee shirts; Betty Boop, John Deere, and Coca-Cola home decorating items; a whole range of hillbilly supplies, and lots and lots of candy.

The girls spent their money on candy and pet turtles. 

On the way home we swung over to Bagnell Dam for a quick game of skeeball for Emma and a couple of rounds in the batting cages for Audrey.

Time for some lunch, and then we're headed to the pool for the afternoon.

Making sense of Scripture

I'm a pretty visual learner and even with looking at my Bible, there are times I read something (especially by Paul) and think, What did he just say? Paul loves big long sentences with lots of clauses that are just packed full of information.

In my quiet time this morning, I read Colossians 1:9-14. I love passages like this--prayers I can pray for others. But in true Paul fashion, this paragraph is made of only three sentences.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may life a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving things to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

So as I go through it, I tend to write it down in my journal in a visual way that helps cement it in my mind. I ask questions that Paul answers through his various clauses and compound sentences.

Here's what I mean:

For this reason, 

WHAT REASON? (Their faith and love Paul talks about in verse 4)

since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you 

WHAT DO PAUL & TIMOTHY PRAY?

and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will 

HOW DOES GOD FILL THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL?

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

WHY DO THEY NEED SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING?

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: 

HOW DO THEY LIVE THIS KIND OF LIFE AND PLEASE GOD?

• bearing fruit in every good work, 
• growing in the knowledge of God, 
• being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might 

WHY DO THEY NEED THIS POWER?

so that you may have great endurance and patience, 

• and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, 

FOR WHAT?

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 

HOW DID GOD QUALIFY THEM?

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 

WHAT HAS THE SON DONE?

in whom we have redemption, 

WHAT IS REDEMPTION?

the forgiveness of sins.

Today...

...Emma and I took a ride down to the dock on the back of Dad's truck to go fishing.

("You take a lot of pictures of your feet, Mom.")

This is Dad's boat. It folds totally flat and can fit in the bottom of their fifth wheel. It takes about 10 minutes to go from flat and about six inches thick to being a boat. Pretty cool, huh?

It's called a Porta-Bote and you can learn all about them here.

Emma helped get everything stowed:

Dad chose to go with the Princess fishing pole today. This one and Audrey's Tweety Bird fishing pole catch the most fish. So he went with what works--and caught a fish!

We met some locals:

This mama duck had 11 babies!

And drifted way back in this little cove:

I love how the woods come all the way to the water's edge here. It's so wonderfully lush and green! I'd love to have a little cottage just up a stone path from here, wouldn't you? 

With deer that would come early every morning and again in the evening and maybe a pet turtle or six. And a raccoon. And a garden filled with tomatoes. And maybe some wisteria. I don't know if it grows in Missouri, but I'd love to have some draped over an arbor with a little stone bench underneath. Oh, and a sundial. 

And there'd be lots of red and white gingham in my cottage and some geraniums in pots all over the place. And a black and white cat. And it would always smell like scones. And there'd be a pitcher of fresh lemonade always ready. And a bowl filled with strawberries waiting to be dipped in powdered sugar.

Oh, and a hammock. Definitely a hammock.

You totally want to come over, don't you?!

Anyway, after drifting some more and having a big fish eat the whole thingy-ma-jigger on the end of my line and completely disappear, we headed back up the hill on Dad's tailgate...such a great way to spend an afternoon!

Hanging out at the dock

The girls ride down to the dock on the tailgate of Dad's truck--something they love and will always remember!

While everyone fished, I finished my fifth book:

And Toben caught a fish!

Vacation Monday

Sleeping in

Floating in the pool

Floating in the pool and reading books

Laying out by the pool

Laying out by the pool and reading books

A trip to the Walmart

Reading more books

Finishing another 1000-piece puzzle

Playing tennis with Audrey

Eating chocolate custard

Staying up late

Sorta beats a regular Monday at home of cleaning house and laundry, huh?

Memory Monday: Ephesians 3:14-21

I printed out my verse cards last week and tucked one into the mirror in the bathroom--blow drying and curling and memory work go well together. I put the other in the console of the car. Having a little card to hold and look at made me buckle down and get this passage memorized.

(Where do you keep your verse cards? Kitchen, bathroom, laundry room? Do share!)

Anyway, here goes Ephesians 3:14-21:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love which surpasses all understanding--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations for ever and ever! Amen.

Okay, let's see how I did--I haven't really studied this today so far so it'll be a good test of how well I really know it...

I left out some of the best parts. I think I'll keep working on this--again--because I really want to know this one word perfect and be able to recall it.

Leave a link if you did yours! (And for more information on Memory Monday, click on the box in the sidebar.)

(And now Audrey and I are headed out to hit some balls back and forth on the tennis courts.)