Multitude Monday

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!

Henry Ward Beecher

(79) "I need to whisper in your ear, Mama."


(80) New big girl haircuts.

(81) Blooms from my Beloved.

(82) Kraft goodness in the blue box.


(83) A gracious and very kind flight attendant.


(84) Toddlers playing nicely together!


(85) The kindness of the Noble family - dear, dear friends.


(86) The opportunity to worship with old family.


(87) God's faithfulness in sustaining, and growing, Grace Church West Hartford. There really are no words to adequately describe our joy to return and celebrate with these amazing people.


(88) New friends.


(89) Fire pit - for big men and little men alike.


(90) Reuniting with old friends.


(91) The refreshing cold of New England (it was 9 degrees when we landed!)


(92) Ginza.


(93) Special times with Nana.


(94) Getting together with great high school friends - and feeling like we were 18 again.


(95) My bed.


(96) Kim's home-made doughnuts.

Wordless Wednesday

Multitude Monday

"O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight..."
from The Valley of Vision

I am learning how differently the world looks through eyes of praise. The Father of lights gives such good gifts, O that I would always have the eyes to see...

(66) That first break of light after the rain - dazzling!


(67) a silver wisp of moon


(68) "A rainbow! A rainbow!"


(69) mist in the mountains


(70) little boys and puddles and the necessary convergence of the two


(71) early morning phone calls from friends in different time zones :-)


(72) loving away the tears


(73) snow capped peaks


(74) tender toddler caresses


(75) "derfday" parties



(76) afternoon light through the shades


(77) 13 years of one flesh



(78) the creativity of the Creator

Three

I distinctly remember the day I found out you were coming, amid packed boxes, closing documents, and moving trucks. The dichotomy of emotions - sorrow to leave, joy that you were coming. That summer was difficult as we traveled across the country, like hermits, and we lived without your daddy for weeks at a time. I was tired and sick and anxious about our future.

When fall came we settled in Los Angeles. I slowly unpacked the boxes and smiled when I came across the things for you: crib bumpers, mobiles, and tiny little onesies. I set them aside lovingly to wait for your arrival.

And then, before we knew it, it was time for you to join us. We arrived at the hospital and nine hours later you were born. You came in screaming.


We took you home and you became the prince-ling of the Hoyer home. Four older sibling to love you, hold you, kiss you, smile at you. Life was good.



Not that you were always happy. Sometimes all that attention was downright annoying.



But for the most part you handled it well.


We learned of your penchant for escaping, and acted accordingly, from purchasing a crib tent to burying you at the beach.


You grew into a boy defined by his curly, surfer-dude hair. I cried the day it was cut. It was just so...you.

So now you are a talking three year old, lover of Thomas the Tank Engine, painting, Play-Doh, lollipops, and sausage. I adore you. I can't imagine life without you. I am so thankful that God knit you together in me. What a blessing, little boy. Happy birthday.

Wordless Wednesday

Why Poetry Matters Today

Glynn over at Faith, Fiction, Friends is sponsoring a wee little contest. As a closet poet, I thought I'd take a crack at giving answer to "Why poetry matters today."

Rooted in our shared human experience

In this created space, articulated into being

By holy Words,

Are the empty arms of childless Mothers,

Falling buildings, rising suns,

Hummingbirds and hammered nails,

Corpses lying under rubble,

Dreams realized

and dashed,

Sunsets and mine fields and eyelashes,

Despair, elation , hope, cowardice.

And when human emotions stretch within these fleshy skins

And surge past the walls that we, in our fragility, cobbled together to enclose them,

The animal which escapes its cage is Poetry.

Multitude Monday

My list continues...

(55) Little boys tucked in at the piano, without even having to pull out the bench.

(56) The musky smell of the garden rosemary after a rain.

(57) Eleven heads of lettuce in my garden (the dog didn't eat everything!)

(58) Sweet toddler voice singing himself to sleep.

(59) "When I grown up I want to live next to Kurt so I can visit him all the time." Gabriel (6)

(60) "I'm a yittle boy and Gabe's a yittle boy and you're a big boy." Kurt (2) to me

(61) A little mistake in copying that made this Mama smile: "O, give tanks to the Lord, for He is good." Gabriel (6)

(62) Again Gabriel, "My carcass hurts." O, I laughed so hard my sides nearly split. We came to the conclusion that he meant his ribcage.

(63) The Word of God which directs, soothes, and rights the course.

(64) Desperately needed rain.

(65) The sweet, heartfelt prayers of children for those who need them in Haiti.