Morning reflections

I love the early morning.

I guess I've always been a morning person. History states that as a small child I liked to "rise and shine" too early, no doubt at times to my parents' chagrin. Philip hasn't always appreciated my early morning chatter. And I don't recall my girls being too thrilled when I peered though their subconsciousness and roused them sooner than they wished.

There's a song in Spanish that I learned as a child when my parents were attending language school in South Texas 40 years ago. (No comments necessary about that last part...) You've probably heard it even in recent days or months sung by missionaries visiting your church. I have heard the words in English, but don't know them all....so apparently this is for my fellow missionaries today!

Por la mañana yo dirijo mi alabanza
A Dios, que ha sido--y es--mi UNICA esperanza
Por la mañana yo le invoco con el alma,
y le suplico que me dé Su dulce calma.
El nos escucha, (pues nos ama tanto)
y nos alivia de cualquier quebranto.
Nos da Su mano, poderosa y fuerte,
para librarnos de la misma muerte.

Cuando la noche se aproxima, tenebrosa
En elevarle mi oración, mi alma se goza.
Siento Su paz--inagotable, dulce y grata--
Porque temores y ansiedad, ¡Cristo los mata!
También elevo mi cantar al cielo
Cuando a la tierra baja negro velo.
El sol se oculta---¡pero queda Cristo!--
A Quien mis ojos en el sueño han visto.....


This morning my lips and heart move through the many verses of the song, savoring the inspiration and richness of the word picture the songwriter expressed with his pen. I'm awed by the way he expresses his adoration to the Father, encouraged by His faithfulness, and strengthened to meet the challenges of the day. There's no way I could express it any better.

Suffice it to say that today, this very day, God is just exactly what I need.

Happy Birthday, Shari!

Where did the last 26 years go? I will never forget the first time I held you in my arms, red and ruddy and so tiny...such a sweetheart. You were our first little gal, and because you were so much fun, your dad and I decided to stick with girls from there on out! You were always a happy, outgoing little gal who loved to sing in Spanish and play with your imaginary playmate, Rachel. (Remember her? She disappeared not long after Brenda was born.) You've been a wonderful daughter, all down through the years....never giving Dad or I any trouble at all. It's been awesome to watch the Lord lead your life, give you a great husband and two precious babies....it didn't just "happen"---it was all part of HIS Plan for you. Your dad and I are awfully proud of you, Shari.....and may this year be a significantly blessed one in your life. Love ya so much,
Mom and Dad

Remediating.....

I'm holding my head high as I begin a new post, in defense of my "sabbatical"! My daughter Shari tells me that if I blog as a duty or under pressure, it loses its thrill, so I guess she's right. Part of my problem could be the moment in time that I find myself in life right now, with a few extra physical annoyances that I didn't use to experience. Enough said.

It has been a month that has had some beautiful moments though, and I want to share a few pics. (I was waiting for Crystal to post first about our trip to the ocean, before I put up a few of my own.) She and Michael, Michele and Kay invited us to accompany them to the Pacific a couple weeks after VBS ended. Actually they didn't really need a driver (ask Crystal) but they did want a guide...and they got both in the person of Philip! We took off on a Tuesday and had to be back by Thursday evening, but it was great trip, about 8 hours each way.

Over our years of living in Mexico, our family has been able to occasionally get away to the coast of Nayarit (Guayabitos, Los Ayala and thereabouts...), and what awesome memories we've made! This year at the Mason's suggestion we went a little further south and found a typical quaint seaside village that was equally beautiful. The Masons had made arrangements for our place to stay, which was a little ways off the beach but with a gorgeous view.

Crystal, Kay and Michelle....notice the lack of the use of sunscreen on a certain person! Are you still peeling, Michelle?

Yummy menu... a tortilla breakfast dish, Mexican scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs with beef jerky, hot cakes (who wants those???) juice and coffee....all for a decent price~!

La boca del mar....where it empties into the ocean

The view from the patio upstairs

This really is the best of both worlds...a cup of coffee in Paradise....we're beginning to feel a "call" to minister to the beach bums here in this little town...we didn't see any churches! ;)

The landscaping was so natural and breathtaking....

This beach was pretty private, but very stony, and Philip and I wanted to get in past the breakers. Fortunately a little boy came along and told us that if we climbed over the significant outcropping of rocks, we would find a clean beach on the other side. It was a little daunting, but not impossible.....and the beautiful, totally pebble-free beach on the other side was well worth the effort. No one around either, but we did see steps going up to some beautiful mansions. Sorry I didn't get a picture, I left my camera in the car and was too busy jumping waves to take one anyway. We stayed out about three hours, got some good sun and came back soooo refreshed.

Frankly, I think there is no place like the ocean for renewing one's spirits and emotions. I have so many childhood seashore memories in CA and TX. On occasion, after a hard week of work, my dad would pack us all up and head for the ocean, where we would camp out and watch the sunset and sunrise before heading home late the next afternoon. Thanks, Dad....it didn't take much money, just time...and I love you for those memories.

Thanks, Michael and Crystal, Michele and Kay, for inviting us along! I am still pinching myself to see if it really was true.