The Portion of my Inheritance

It was worrisome at first. 

The colder spring, the lack of rain, and the excessive wind all took its tole on our little strawberry patch. It didn’t look to me like they were going to make at all.

But just after a couple of rain showers they began to flourish immensely!                             

A bumper crop of the sweetest, most succulent, mouth watering little bite size strawberries ever! And Aniyah is the recipient of these little morsels and she knows it well.                             

She can not contain herself as she runs from the house with her little berry bucket. Giggles and laughter escape her as she heads towards the strawberry patch with one purpose in mind.  STRAWBERRIES!         

Since Aria is in school at this time, Aniyah has taken over her older sister’s job of strawberry picking and she know it full well and we keep the secret from sister, knowing that it may not go over too well.

She has learned the art of picking and she is not too particular about the color, red or green, makes no difference to her.   

And she squeals with delight as she waits for the washing up and the cutting of the fruit.

She cannot shovel them in fast enough, and mama cannot cut them up fast enough, and mammy,

well.  .  .  she cannot take pictures fast enough of this wee little one that brings so much joy to her heart.       

Tomorrow will bring another strawberry picking day, just like today, and just like yesterday for it has become a daily routine for us of late. 

And we do save some for sister, and she is just as happy to retrieve her treat as if she had picked them herself.                            

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  James 5:7

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When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

There is no life – no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

~~~~JOSH GROBAN~~~~

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:40

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And so it begins again.

This new generation of stretching and growing.

And time, well it moves so very quickly and it is out of our reach. We cannot hold onto the moments that slip through our fingers. We are powerless and we have no control over the ticking of the clock.      

Change continues to take shape over the expanse of time and there are these still frame moments that stick in your head, engraved deeply into your mind, like a branding into the folds of your brain. And these images are what shape your life and gives hope and joy to your heart.     

This is not the first time that I have had the great honor to witness this beautiful sight. And once again, my heart is torn and I grapple with all that goes on inside of me.       

I love these very precious moments and I desire desperately to hold fast to them, and yet, I love being witness to the miraculous transformation that takes place in the life of His created. The awakening of life and living takes place and I marvel at His work. Yes, I can see clearly that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” as I watch the metamorphosis take place before my eyes.                      

It’s not always something you catch, it’s a slow process and sometimes we glaze over it, but it happens nonetheless.

Then, there are other times that catch you by surprise and you are left astounded and it’s always the little things that meet your gaze and melt your heart.                    

The miracle is not just in the conception and birth. The miracle goes on and on and how precious of our Lord to allow us to be witness to it. He allows us to be participants in His most amazing miracle of all. We are made in His image and we get to see it take shape in our children and grandchildren, and let’s not miss it.                                      

I am so very grateful to my Lord for allowing me these glimpses into His heart and showering me with His blessings through our children. Our “children are a heritage from the Lord” and He intends for them to “be a delight to our soul”.

Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father. Proverbs 17:6

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It was Thanksgiving night. The stores were open and the deals were just too good to pass up. So mommy and daddy ventured out and gumps and mammy kept the girls. It was the opportune time for Christmas music to be playing at our house and it flowed out of the speakers and filled the house with the warm feeling of CHRIST~mas!

Our dimpled darling baby was in her high chair feasting on mum mums when I heard gumps ask Aria to dance and I quickly grabbed my camera.

“O.K gumps, pretend that you are in love with me and we are going to be married.” she said in a very serious, grown up voice as she lifted up her chin and proceeded to hold out her arms to him.

The dancing began and she squealed with delight as he twirled her around and around.   

She pirouetted around the room gracefully, toes pointed as she and her gumps danced a pas de deux.             

And baby watched from her seat, and I watched from the end of my camera and the laughter became louder than the music.      

I grabbed up baby and we joined in the dance and we whirled around and around, the merriment exploding from within the walls of our home.          

And what joy we felt, here with these two precious girls of ours. 

And on this Thanksgiving day our hearts were bursting with the true meaning of thanksgiving.

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.       Psalm 26:7

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Every year Mrs. Harveson’s pre-school and Kindergarten participate in the St. Jude    Trike-A-Thon.            

The bike course is roped off and the children ride their bikes around and around, getting a mark each time they cross the starting line.    

They have collected money that will go to the St. Jude Hospital research. 

Mrs. Harveson has received an award for being the longest supporting person to participate in this fund raiser.    

This is Aria’s third year to ride in this event.  

Family members come and watch and celebrate the children and their efforts in supporting such an amazing cause.    

The children work very hard as they peddle on and on. 

But . . . . sometimes, they need just a little rest.     

And sometimes . . . they have a hard time turning the corner.   

Sometimes . . . they need to make a pit stop because of technical difficulty.   

And sometimes . . . . they are just ready to give up altogether.         

But we urge them to keep on going.    

And soon the acorns are calling to them,  and they leave their post to collect acorn treasures.  

And after the Trike-A-Thon is over, and their lunches are all gobbled up, they load up and go home with great satisfaction, a full belly and with treasures in hand.    

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Jesus) Matt. 6:19-21

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Many wonderful things happen when you turn five.

You get to go to Kindergarten.

You learn to read.

You get to help do chores all by yourself.

And the bestest of all . . . . 

You start losing your teeth!                  

A time to gain, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away. Ecclesiastes 3:6

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After spending eleven days in Hungary and over 20 hours on the airplane, I was anxious to get home. Gumps told me that my girls were there, waiting for me and that Aria had a surprise for me.

As I walked into the house, she sat on the chaise, her long hair that stretched down her back, flowing freely to her bottom had been cut off at her shoulders

At the beautiful sight of her, my heart overflowed and burst forth in joyful screams, and she screamed and we ran to each other, arms held open wide. And we embraced and our screams turned into the laughter of joy and love. We lavished hugs and kisses upon each other, for the time that separated us was long and painful for us both.

And I loved this new look of hers. It suited her well, this short and sassy look.  

Gumps cooked and we had dinner on the patio and we pulled out the sidewalk chalk and I drew a hopscotch for her.

 And gumps played too. At the sight of them my heart was full of home, and I felt a peace and a happiness to my core.     

And life felt just about perfect, here in my little corner of the world, with the ones I hold so dear.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:2

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I can hardly believe that it has been six months!

185 days of being captivated by the deep chocolate brown eyes and excessive kisses on her soft, plump cheeks. There is no restraining ourselves.

Her laid back personality adds to the allure and we are drawn in by her sweet charm.

And how could we have gone on so long without knowing her? These 185 days have held so much joy and the blessings are poured out upon us through her. 

We are so grateful to our Lord for this precious one.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

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She was about to bust when her gumps loaded her up in the truck and took her to town. She wanted to know what his surprise was.  But gumps wasn’t telling.    

And soon they returned with a blow up pool in hand and ice cream on her lips.  

Gumps could not blow the pool up fast enough . . .  or fill it up fast enough. Her excitement was too much for her to contain. 

He sat outside with her and we could hear the squeals and the laughter and the splashing from inside. Her great delight could be heard throughout the whole neighborhood.  

And she drew us in as we too went out to join in the fun, watching her and laughing at the sight of her joy and fun.

Soon, she had worked up a thirst and a hunger and I picked her some garden fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.   

And she feasted.     

She drank fresh squeezed lemonade until she could hold no more.   

And does it get any better than this?  

Can I be any more blessed?    

“For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev. 7:17

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