In the hand of the LORD...

The waiting room resembles an upscale department store more than it does a doctor's office. Make-up and skin care products line display case shelves and the furniture is upholstered and elegant. I feel terribly under-dressed and out of place in my blue jeans, gray hair, and wrinkles. 

It's my first experience with a plastic surgeon and an eye-opening one at that. My other doctors have pamphlets on cholesterol and diabetes and high blood pressure in their examination rooms - not liposuction, tummy tucks, and face lifts. 

On the wall near the check-out desk I see a poster for Care Credit. Now you can have the look you've always wanted, the poster promises, in just 6 monthly payments. 

There are a variety of needs for plastic surgery, of course. Needs that benefit from a plastic surgeon's skills in minimizing scaring and restoration and reconstruction after burns, facial injuries and mastectomies, for example. 

But the look you've always wanted? 

I like my doctor. She's kind and compassionate and does nothing to make me and my wrinkles and untucked tummy feel out of place in her office, but I'm irritated at a specialty that appears to exploit the need we have to feel beautiful and the temptation they dangle before us to borrow money in the hopes of achieving the look we've "always wanted."   

I'm sad for my girlfriends who've believed the lies that the physical adornments and features a fashion and entertainment industry promotes are the standard for beauty, and the lengths they will go to achieve those false and artificial standards.

In the book of Isaiah, God's people are encouraged with the prophecy that the desolation of Jerusalem will one day be restored with the coming Messiah, and they are reminded of the source of all beauty...

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

~ Isaiah 62:3 (emphasis mine)

It is not in the skilled hands of a plastic surgeon that you and I are made beautiful, but in the tender loving hands of an all powerful God Who makes "a crown of beauty" for ashes and in Whose image we have been created perfectly new.

The most beautiful girls I know are girlfriends, like you, who shine radiant in the light of Christ.

{Photo} the uncommon beauty of flowering grass heads

It ain't for sissies...

One of mother's favorite adages was a quote from Bette Davis: Growing older ain't for sissies. Not exactly biblical wisdom, but truth none-the-less.

I could easily substitute any number of life situations for "growing older" and the "ain't for sissies" would remain constant - chronic illness, childbirth, mothering boys, etc.

Mother's quote comes to mind as I change the dressing and repack the wound on this open incision on my neck twice a day. It ain't for sissies, but that's exactly who I am. I dread each step of the process, and my hands shake as I cut the packing strip. 

My choices are simple. I can either be a sissy and avoid the pain that comes with that one small thing, or I can be mature and courageous and work with my doctors to promote healing.  

I choose healing, but I can't pull the courage I need to overcome fear and push through the "sissies" out of thin air.

It may be taken out of context, but God's word and character never change, and when I search for courage in scripture, He gives me this from 2 Chronicles 15:

"...The LORD is with you while you are with him....take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

What about you? I'd love to know how God has given you a perfect word to encourage and strengthen you through a particular trial.  

Weekends {are for} Wanderings...

Weekends {are for} Wanderings on Pollywog Creek 

...looking back and catching up

...and a {to the left of centre} photo challenge from 3 from here and there 

Now that I no longer have little ones under feet and the house is quiet more often than not, my multi-tasking skills have rusted a bit and I work best in silence. This morning, however, I'm listening to music as I continue to wrap up a project that needed to be on it's way days ago, and the music is energizing me. 

Earlier Nicole C. Mullen cleared out the night's cobwebs and got me on my feet {impossible to sit and listen to her sing - unless I'm driving the car, of course} - reminding me that "my Redeemer lives" and that "when I call on Jesus all things are possible".  

Shaun Grove's Third World Symphony is presently spinning round the CD player. I love it more and more with each listening. Have you ordered your copy yet? I love, love, love the work Shaun does with Compassion. With a humble and gentle spirit, Shaun sacrifices much to bring the needs of the least of these before the rest of us that we might respond as the Lord leads, and purchasing his CD is one small way I can do that.

I mentioned yesterday that I might explain that "pain in my neck", but I'm much better this morning and ready  to move on. If you are a saint who lifted a prayer on my behalf, I can't thank you enough. You and your sacrificial prayers are precious to me.

I'm always amazed at how the Lord goes before me in a multitude of ways. I only stepped out into my backyard with my camera once or twice this past week, but every time I did, God met me there - opening my eyes to His grace and mercy, and I discovered several "through the window" photo ops on trips to the doctor. 

The High Calling featured one of my photos in the High Calling Focus Photoplay - Rust this week. The High Calling community is rich with gifted artists, writers, and poets, who desire to glorify God in all of their work and inspire others to do the same. It is an honor to be featured. 

While watching college football later today, I hope to dust off summer's decor, store them for next year, and bring fall's oranges and reds and yellows out of storage to replace summer's greens.  

What about you? What are you doing this weekend, and have you decorated your home for fall?

{Photos} hibiscus and dragonfly "left of centre" photos from my backyard and a "left of centre" fence post out my car window this week. 

It's fall y'all...

...almost.

The calendar on my kitchen wall says today is the "Autumnal Equinox", but our Pollywog Creek weather remains resolutely summer and laughingly says to the calendar "not yet."

I'm still working my way through those commitments to others - between out-of-town medical appointments, pain meds {for the open incision on my neck - another story for another time - maybe tomorrow} and the naps those pain meds demand.  

All that to say, I'd hope to post the first "Yellow is the Color of September" today, but my life away from this little speck in the blogosphere says "not yet."

As I prepare to head out this morning for the surgeon {a literal "pain in the neck"} to change the dressing,  a multitude of past "not yet"s come to mind -  times when I prayed for, hoped for, expected life to unfold a certain way and God had other plans.

Knowing that His ways are perfect and mine are flawed gives me peace about what I'm not able to get to yet and an assurance that I will eventually accomplish those things God has planned for me. 

What about you? Can you think of a "not yet" time when you either struggled with or rested in God's "not yet" for you?

{Photo} a look back at October 2010 on Pollywog Creek

When there's no one else...

“You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

I pray that it doesn't come to that for you or me - but it's the truth.

Yesterday afternoon, over turkey sandwiches and iced tea, we talked, my dear friend and I, of how needy we are for our husbands to encourage us.

They just don't seem to get it. We agreed - while acknowledging that there's things we probably don't get, as well.

So should we continue to expect them to give us the encouragement we think we need?  We wondered.

 I don't think so. I think that's probably the biggest problem in any marriage - expecting our spouse to meet our needs when Jesus is our all in all.

{Photo} an abandoned building near Pollywog Creek

The pathway of love...

He did not die to make this life easy for us or prosperous. He died to remove every obstacle to our everlasting joy in making much of him. And he calls us to follow him in his sufferings because this life of joyful suffering for Jesus’ sake (Matt. 5:12) shows that he is more valuable than all the earthly rewards that the world lives for (Matt. 13:44; 6:19-20). If you follow Jesus only because he makes life easy now, it will look to the world as though you really love what they love, and Jesus just happens to provide it for you. But if you suffer with Jesus in the pathway of love because he is your supreme treasure, then it will be apparent to the world that your heart is set on a different fortune than theirs. This is why Jesus demands that we deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him.  ~ John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, p. 71 (emphasis mine) 

It's all I have time for today...and it's all that is really needed, and it reminds me of our beautiful sister Sara - whose heart was clearly set on Jesus, the Supreme Treasure.

HT-John Knight {Works of God}

{Photo} what else - my backyard swing

Walking in my daughter's footsteps...

...I've over committed myself this week.

Though I'd hope to start sharing the "Yellow's the Color of September" series by now, it will likely be next week before I can properly begin. I'll have to see how the rest of the week unfolds.

For now, I'm struggling to move one foot in front of the other and I need to put my personal writing on hold while I fulfill commitments to others first.

Thank you for grace.

{Photo} found on my backyard swing

And could it not be the hand of the Lord that allows it?

It begins with a need - an empty place that we fill with "things of this world " - anything - anyone but the One for which the need was created. 

And like all idols - it demands a sacrifice. It takes from us something of greater value - time, peace, contentment....fellowship with the Father.

It's Pastor Eric's message this Sunday morning, and we examine our hearts for the "things of this world" to which we cling...and as we gather in our circle of kindred spirits bound together in the love of Christ, Sam reminds us, "All of it {those idols of our hearts} could all be gone tomorrow."

And could it not be the hand of the Lord that allows it? I wonder. A hard eucharisteo to peel my hands off the good when my heart becomes attached to the gifts - the good things for which I am grateful, but they are not the Giver?

And still He seeks the fellowship of His people and will send them both joy and sorrow to detach their hands from the things of this world and to attach those hands to Himself. ~ J.I. Packer

Overflowing with thankfulness, I count good gifts with Ann in community this day - holding the "things of this world" loosely that I might cling to the Giver - for He alone is worthy.

• The  Grace that saved a wretch like me
• The Body of Christ at my church, in my small group, in my community, in my home, in Australia, in Japan, In Venezuela, in Canada and Texas and Colorado and New York and Georgia and Michigan and Illinois and........
• Iced lattes on my backyard swing
• A husband who notices the little things and sacrifices much {for me}
• Glorious, breath-taking, burnt orange sunrises
• Yellowing, fallish leaves in ninety-degree weather
• Bacon and egg sandwiches and the love that made them
• Hugs and kisses
• A beautiful daughter who carries a heavy load {for me}
• Access to health care and the medicines I need
• Strength and grace for the moment
• The encouragement of friends

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness.~ Colossian 2:6-7 NIV

{Photos} my backyard swing

Turning toward the sun...

"What are you doing?" I asked Louis as he began slowing the car down out in the middle of nowhere.

"So you can take a picture of this," he explained as he turned onto a side road toward the east - toward the sun blazing orange over the river at dawn. 

May today be a day we all turn toward the Son and gaze upon His glory and fame.  

He alone is worthy.

Weekends {are for} Wanderings...

Weekends {are for} Wanderings on Pollywog Creek 

...looking back and catching up

Though there have been a few teasers that she's on her way, autumn has yet to fall here on Pollywog Creek. Mid-day humidity remains oppressive and mosquitoes greedily dine on bare ankles dare I venture out for a dawn or dusk walk, but it's college football season and we're nearing the homestretch toward MLB playoffs, so I hold onto the hope that we'll soon be taking out those comfy sweatshirts and turning off the a/c.

This week was probably the most active one I've had in months, with two trips to Ft.Myers {as well as church on Sunday}, a day at home alone with Gavin, AND I drove. Just into town and to deliver flowers to a friend on her birthday - but for me that was huge. I discovered, however, that driving is the easy part - it's what I'm able to do when I get where I'm going that's tricky.

I was determined to drive myself to Ft. Myers yesterday for appointments, but Louis insisted otherwise. I was humbly grateful he'd been so demanding. We shopped for groceries on the way home and somewhere between the fruit and vegetable displays and the dairy aisle, I could barely put one foot in front of the other. By the time we checked out, the thought of walking out to the parking lot appeared as challenging as climbing Mt. Everest. When Louis drove the car to the store entrance to pick me up, he reminded me why he'd insisted on not letting me go stubbornly off on my own.

Before I put on mosquito repellent and wander outside with my camera to watch Louis clean the roof {a possible photo op, right?}, I wanted to post a link to a short article I wrote for the American Virtue Magazine that was published in their blog yesterday. Hope you will click on over there, comment, and tell them I sent you.

But before you do that, please tell me - where are you and your family wandering this lovely September weekend?

{Photos} Just a few snapshots from Pollywog Creek this week

I can start from today...

"I wish I could have a do-over." 

My wise, smart and beautiful daughter is having a rough week - the culmination of too many math oriented classes in one semester for someone whose gifts are anything but math (what was her advisor thinking?!?!?), a major scheduling conflict, a new job, a month long sinus infection, and simply too many overall commitments. 

"How far back would you like to go?" I wondered. 

"About three years," she lamented. 

I know how she feels. There's much I hope I would do differently if I could turn back the clock. 

I'd take back those hurtful words, wasted time, and squandered opportunities. I'd be wiser in my choices, more loving with my words, and a better steward of my resources. 

But starting over, turning back the clock and do-overs are not possible, and wishing for them is only more wasted time. 

When I'm having a rough week like Emily's and wonder if I'm too old and made too many mistakes and maybe I should just retreat to my Pollywog Creek backyard swing and call it done, I return to this quote from Andrée Seu that I tucked away for such a day... 

I can start from today - with today's time, with today's skills, with today's health, with today's grace. I can do this trusting, even at this stage of the game, that God is still sovereign and still good.

What about you? Ever wish you could have a do-over?

What are you going to do today - with today's time, skills, health and grace?

{Photos} Odading (like "birding" only dragonflies instead of birds) in my backyard this week...and I posted them here today because what else am I going to do with them?

Iridescent wonder...

I have more then enough dragonfly photos for multiple lifetimes, I tell myself, but they are "photo magnets" - and I can't resist the way light illuminates their lacy, gossamer wings and how they seem to smile for the camera. 

So I chase them through the backyard, around the pond, and along the creek hoping to capture a bit of their iridescent charm. 

Not only are they one of my favorite photography subjects, their place in the food chain - as a predator of mosquitoes and food for birds - makes them a most welcome inhabitant here at the rim of the glades on Pollywog Creek.  

Like most insects, dragonflies innately live to eat and reproduce, and they seem to excel in both endeavors, but they also exist to inspire wonder and reveal glimpses of an amazing Creator. 

There's likely a lesson in that for me, as well - that I focus and excel at what I've been created to do, that my "wings" reflect the Light, and that my life would inspire others to say, "What an amazing God."

On My Backyard Swing::"God's Heart for You"...

As I was taking these photos, it occured to me that I need a new category of posts entitled: On my Backyard Swing.

It's no secret to Pollywog Creek readers that I think sitting on my backyard swing with a basket of good books, my camera and a cup of coffee is a little taste of heaven. If it's on my backyard swing, it's a sure sign that I think it's something good.

Holley Gerth's God's Heart for You - Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman is no exception. I'm thrilled to feature it in my first "On My Backyard Swing" post.

It doesn't matter how old we are or how mature we think we are in our walk with Christ, the world's definition of beauty and success can easily work its way into our minds and hearts, and before we know it, we've forgotten the truth about who we really are in Christ and embraced the lies.

If we want to live fully in God's abundant love and grace, bearing fruit to His glory {and what woman doesn't}, then we must know and believe our true worth.

That's why Holley's book is such a treasure. In forty short lessons that reinforce forty truths about who we are in Christ according to Scripture, Holley encourages us to reflect and respond in ways that can sow those truths deep into our thoughts and protect our hearts from the lies that keep us from being who we truly are.

As I read through each chapter, I'm journaling - making notes, writing down passages of Scripture that speak directly to me, and answering the reflection questions that help me identify beliefs I've embraced that are contrary to Scripture.

God's Heart for You is one of those books that will likely stay in my basket of good books for the backyard swing.

Before reading God's Heart for You, Holley asked us how we would finish: In God's heart I'm___________? ... and to create a way to display that in a photo. As I wrote here, I referenced this passage from Psalm 34:4-5...

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

...and wrote: "In God's heart I'm Radiant".

What word would you use to complete the phrase: "In God's heart I'm__________?

 Disclosure: DaySpring© Inc provided a copy of God's Heart for You and those beautiful magnetic bookmarks in the photo above in return for my fair and honest review. All opinions regarding these products are my own. If they aren't good, I promise you I would tell you. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I abhor dishonest or manipulative marketing. I simply won't do it. 
The book and bookmarks are part of the God's Heart Collection from Blessings Unlimited. You can see the entire catalog and make a purchase by locating a consultant in your area. 
You might also want to visit Facebook's In God’s Heart I Am… page  and (in)spired deals from (en)courage for more reviews of this product. 

Blessings Unlimited DaySpring© Inc, a subsidiary of Hallmark® Cards and the world's leading producer of Christian greeting cards and gifts. The name Blessings Unlimited comes from the NIV version of John 1:16:

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. 

Gathering blue...

...a photo challenge from 3 from here and there

Many years ago, in a house not on Pollywog Creek or in this community where we now live, a realtor walked into our house for a showing and one of her first comments about my home was, "The lady loves brown." 

It was true, though mostly I loved {still do} dark natural wood and muted earth tones that gave an overall impression of "brown."  Were that same realtor to walk into my home today, she would be more inclined to say, "The lady loves blue."

Recently we bought a new couch. For weeks we lived without one. I have a hard time spending money on furniture I don't think we need, but we had given our couch to one of our boys and Louis, Emily and I were constantly playing musical chairs with the two lounge chairs left in the living room. When we found a couch at a significant savings from a store going out of business, I agreed we should buy it.  

Emily instantly loved the new couch covered in a rich, dark brown linen - of course, she was usually the one who lost at "musical chairs" and at that point would probably have loved any new couch - but it took me a while to warm up to it. There was no blue anywhere, only a red trim on the throw pillows - a situation I will correct as soon as I am able.  

If that same realtor walked into your home today, I'd love to know how she would fill in the blank...

 "The lady loves _______."

{Photos} Shades of blue: a new blue bowl on my blue checkered tablecloth, a blue heron at the edge of the rim canal around the "Big O", a pond reflection, a collage of summer blues - clockwise: blue jay, blue-tipped damsel fly, early morning reflections on the Caloosahatchee River from the Ft. Denaud Bridge, a mockingbird silhouette against the cloudy blue sky  

Perspective...

In the quiet place that was once a pastor's study, we bring a week's worth of laughter and tears to our small group of brothers and sisters, and the strong among us lift up the weak as we lay it all down at the cross. 

Trapped in sticky webs of tangled emotions and sin's tenacious grasp, we come scalded by life's pressure-cooker and stooped by burdens we're not meant to shoulder alone. 

For we are one.  We rejoice with those who rejoice and grieve with those who grieve. 

Our hearts love-knit together, we bend our knees in prayer and praise, and our focus shifts and we brush off those webs and rise together to leave lighter and untangled and free. 

The pressure-cooker world remains unchanged, but not the way we see it. It's perspective and it's grace and it's free.

As I count gifts with Ann in community this day, I am grateful for...

...brothers and sisters in Christ - who love and pray for me - tangled webs and all

...the good medicine of a merry heart and those who laugh with me

...adult children who love God and His people

...grocery shopping with Louis and Nick {a hard eucharisteo, yes?}

...baby soft skin - on Addisyn, of course

...fresh-mowed grass

...lovely, nourishing rains to fill the pond and creek before dry season

...hanging the bird feeders for my feathery friends flying south

...praying with a friend for another we hold dear

...grapes and watermelon

...baking muffins for collegiate scholars

...apple/cinnamon candles that bring the aroma of fall into our still summer home

...tall glasses of sweet tea for backyard swinging

...perspective and grace

What about you? Are you grateful for the Body of Christ - for the brothers and sisters in the family of God where He's placed you to grow and serve? 

{Photos} flowers long gone, but different perspectives left in a draft just for today. 

Remembering...

   Ground Zero June 2008  Ground Zero September 11, 2004
L-R Top: Cross at Ground Zero June 2005, Lights at Ground Zero September 2004, L-R Bottom: From the Kings Point Waterfront Sept. 11, 2001 (Photo by Nick), Cross at Ground Zero September 2002

Weekends {are for} wanderings...

Weekends {are for} Wanderings on Pollywog Creek 

...looking back and catching up

"Looking back" takes on an entirely different meaning this weekend as nearly every one I know is looking ten years back to one of our country's most tragic defining moments. Our family is no exception, but I'm saving those thoughts and comments for a post that will be published elsewhere. 


Though I have no intentions of making this a "Remembering 9-11" post, it seems disrespectful to those who were most intimately affected by the indescribable horrors of that day and the days that followed to write about anything else. When tragedy or loss brings us face to face with evil and overwhelming grief and the remembrance brings fresh pain and grief, we question how life can go merrily along for others.  


That's why I remember and hold onto these truths and the hope of Heaven and the assurance that though I likely will not be able to see it in the moment, God will make all things good and right and just in time.


And because a merry heart truly IS good medicine...


Four year old Gavin was here for a sleepover last night, and after bedtime prayers and we cuddled in bed to go to sleep, Gavin started coughing and turned away from me.


"I don't want you to get sick," he explained as he turned his face away from me toward the wall, "because you are old." 


Truthfully, I'm already a bit insecure about being the oldest of all our grandchildren's grandmothers and I was crushed that Gavin had reached this conclusion. "You think I'm old?" I foolishly asked.  


"You look old..........and you smell old." 


Great.  


Hoping I wasn't the only person in his "looking and smelling old" category, I asked, "Does anyone else look old?" 


I expected he'd say "papa", but my heart did cartwheels when he included "minna" and "Lala" - twenty year old Emily and his young and energetic grandmother Lara - in his response. 


I figured I'd leave the "smelling old" question for another time and stop the questioning while I was ahead. 


{Photos} a bit of summer and fall in my Pollywog Creek backyard

"When it was finished I was free..."

Several weeks ago, Charity Singleton graciously featured Pollywog Creek in her "There and Back Again" prompt for the The High Calling community of bloggers. In my inaugural "There and Back Again" post today, I am excited to feature Charity's Wide Open Spaces. 

Charity is an excellent writer whose wit and wisdom is always insightful, but even more so as she faces a cancer recurrence and recovers from major surgery. Her "Life is a Highway" post from yesterday is a perfect example. I hope you will click on over and read it for yourself. 

Charity writes about a recent experience with being tempted to make excuses after being pulled over for speeding. Though I've yet to face that particular circumstance, I'm well acquainted with the temptation, and several experiences from the past come to mind. 

Years ago, as a professional nurse and administrator for a hemodialysis center, I worked hard to set a standard of excellence for the staff as I trained them in both chronic and acute hemodialysis. Motivated by my own tendency toward perfectionism and the praises I received from the medical staff I worked with, even a minor mistake that did not affect patient care in any way was not an option. 

Making rounds in the chronic outpatient center one day, the medical director noticed something about one of the patients that I had completely overlooked. He didn't acknowledge my oversight, but I was embarrassed that I had failed to notice something I'd repeatedly taught my staff to be aware of. I was crushed.   

I could easily think of a multitude of excuses for my lapse in observation, and the rest of the afternoon I either tried to console myself with those excuses or mentally beat myself up for not being perfect. Though I remained stoic in appearance, I was an emotional wreck.

That day, I had the wisdom - or maybe I was just too miserable - to not go home that way. I walked across the parking lot to the hospital where the medical director was seeing patients, and though he had never thought to blame me, I told him I was responsible and I apologized for my mistake. 

And like Charity, when it was finished I was free.  

{Photos} Around the pond one late afternoon this week.