Remembering....

I started this blog four years ago today, tough I'm not always consistent about blogging I'm still here. I remember my first post as if it was yesterday and being very emotional about it, as it was and still is close to my heart. I find today that its emotion and heart is still real, I still have the same emotions and thankfulness. Though, now it not only includes my brother who has served two tours in Iraq, but also my sister who is serving there now.

"I have spent more time thinking about Veterans Day today than I ever have before. I've always been grateful to the men and women that have fought for this country, cried during war films, and read books telling of their daring deeds. But today as my brother is on a plane heading for Iraq, I'm humbled by those that would count the cost and go to a foreign country to fight for my freedom. Because of them I can each day get up and lead my life as I feel led not having to fear for my safety or fear a government that tries to dictate what I believe or where I put my faith. What I see today is a little red head boy that I've played with and fought with all my life on a gray army plane going to continue the fight for me, just like he did when we were little and the neighborhood bully (yes, every neighborhood has a bully) would try to pick on us. Because of him, I feel like I have come to a better understanding of this day. It's no longer a date set aside for faceless soldiers fighting wars I don't remember, because my soldier has a face and this war I will remember." November 11, 2004

Thank you Jon, I love you!

Thank you, Salome (and Kaitlyn for not having your Mommy around all these months) I love you both.

Thank you also Daddy for serving so many years in the Air Force and setting a wonderful example of what is to love ones country.

Naomi

Where is your Muse hiding?

Today at church my Pastor commented that my Muse must have left me, because I haven't posted in so long. It's true that it has been a VERY long time, but like I told my pastor I have had homework. My Muse has been busy helping me to write an essay on the effects of Cholera in the cells of the gut and the body. Not very nice I can promise you and will spare you all the grisly details. While I have stuffed my head full of the organelles of the cell and their functions, read and re-read about electrons, protons, and neutrons, always marveling at the incredible way that God created our body; it's been there.

As I struggle with variables, factors, polynomials it teases me with word pictures, dancing around me with words while I work. It won't let my mind rest only on numbers, but pesters me about all the stories that are waiting to be written. Then we wrestle with me coming out the winner as the alarm buzzes at a 5:40 am and I'm out the door by 7 am with my book bag. Leaving my Muse to watch from the window as I drive down the road to the place called Higher Learning.

Still here,

Naomi

Don't Give Up

I am going to blog again! Keep checking, because I will return soon. Summer is always a struggle for me. We get so busy living and I don't write about the things that we have been doing or are doing. It's a time when I don't want to just write about life, but want to be out there living life. Hope that makes sense..:)

Getting ready for a come back,

Naomi

Life Is A Gift

" Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Meeting Kaiser Simon

Last Monday we drove to Montrose to meet our newest nephew, Mark and Tamara's little one. We have been waiting and waiting to meet Kaiser and he was worth waiting for. Such a precious treasure.

Meeting Uncle Terran ( i love this picture)

Melting Auntie's heart (look at his red hair)

A sweet little bundle

Waving bye bye

Naomi

The Constant Gardener

I look around in the garden I live in at all the other rose bushes beautiful and full of blooms of life. All so similar yet so unique, each carefully tended by the Gardener. I look at my own bush, bursting full of color and beauty, then I see a grafted branch and I waver, questioning it's need and the scars it's going to leave. I don't see this graft on many other bushes, yet the Gardener is carefully tending this spot on me. He coaxes life into this intruding branch that is so different from all the others. I see buds on it that look to hold a different color from all the blooms on my bush. I struggle within asking should I allow the sap of my life to continue in this area or should I cut it off, allowing it to wither. Then the Gardener comes applying balm to the tender spots of the graft, promising it will all be okay, that He knows the beauty that those tiny buds hold. To cut them off from life giving sap would destroy some of the greatest beauty on my bush. Though those flowers will burst into color with some pain and heartache it will be good, not just good , but the best that He has.
I look to the bush next to me, so closely entwined with mine that there are no longer two bushes, but one and wonder at the pain and joy this graft will bring him. The Gardner gently works the ground around the roots and asks for trust that though these buds will be so different from others, and looked upon at times as lacking or not quite right, they will the most fragrant.
How can the plant tell the Gardener “No”? When He knows what each bud holds, the weather that is coming, and sees the whole garden, not just the few bushes I do. How can I struggle against the Creator when He has promised “ All things work together for the good of those that love Him”? No, I must embrace the graft, even though I don't understand it and all that it may mean. Take the pain and joy it will bring and give Him the glory.

Naomi

Star Crossed Lovers

All morning I've been watching this little sparrow and robin together. At first I thought that the sparrow was following the robin for the worms the robin would catch and maybe drop. Talking to my neighbor she told me that they have had a little romance going on all last week. After she told me that I saw the whole relationship with new eyes. Take a peak and see what I mean. (You might want to enlarge the pictures to see more details.)

"I'll take care of you, Sweet Wings and find a worm."

"Yep, you and me togther, that's the way its got to be."

"I will follow you wherever you may go."

Enjoying a Spring Romance,

Naomi