Still Saturday::of such as these...

We have forgotten the God of small things, which is mostly what he has been with us because we are ourselves small, fragile things.

We wait impatiently, sometimes hopelessly, for the burning-bush God, or the booming thunderclap God, forgetting that even a righteous man like Job cowered before the whirlwind of God's voice, that holy Moses could bear only a glimpse of God's backside.

We assume that we would hold up well against a visitation by the whirlwind God, and in our narcissistic longing we forget the God of the still, small voice, the suffering-servant God, the God who said of children that his kingdom consists of such as these.

Tony Woodlief, Somewhere More Holy

I {LOVE} Sunday::to remember the LORD's everlasting love...

But the steadfast love of the LORD
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children
Psalm 103:17

{Photo: 3 of our children's children this weekend on Pollywog Creek}

With the Sunday Community at Lisha's #GiveMeGrace

I {LOVE} Sunday::to rejoice, rejoice, rejoice...

Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4.4

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32.11

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Psalm 40.16

I {LOVE} Sunday::to receive like a child...

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 

Luke 18.15-17

Almost time to party...

I need to clear up the confusion - there's been no disagreement with anyone that I'm aware of, although I must admit that I'm a bit of an airhead and might have had a disagreement that I've simply forgotten.

It's a trend not a person that's caused me grief, and there's more than enough fabulous, God-honoring, people-loving posting out there to make up for what lays heavy on my heart and drags me down.

So I'm picking up the work God has given me to do, along with my camera, of course, and I'm moving on. Those of you who have stuck with me this week are breathing a sigh of relief, I'm sure.

We're driving east this morning to snatch Mason, Austin and Wyatt - three grandlittles I haven't seen in much too long. We're bringing them home to stay with us until Saturday.

I'm grateful beyond words for my beautiful Emily {with 10 month old Tyler a couple of weeks ago} who has taken time off from work at the preschool to help me with the boys. But who am I kidding - she will do most of the work.  I can manage one or two grands at a time by myself, and even three of them for short periods of time, but three at once for two whole days and nights, and one of them still a baby? I need help, and I'm more than blessed that it's Emily.  Kristin, Tyler's mom, says Emily is our family's Nanny 911, and I think she's right. We're all in awe of her natural bent for entertaining and disciplining her neice and nephews.

I will be sad to take those energetic, funny and adorable boys home on Saturday, but the good news is that it will be almost time to party.

Sweet Shot Tuesday::to see rightly...

I'm not that thrilled with my "sweet shot" this week, but it's all I've got. I've been in a season when responsibilities and life's ups and downs consume time, energy and brain cells, and for the first time in a long time, I rarely left the house or picked up my camera. When I did, I had grandlittles with me and I doubt you want to see photos of them, do you. You do?  Okay. You twisted my arm.

Okay...I'll stop now. These two are Nick and Kristin's youngest. Addisyn was two the end of December (don't you love, love, love those pink boots?) and Tyler will be one the end of May. They both LOVE being outside (I love having a pack 'n play for the baby), and on days like this one, I don't blame them.

I'm honored to be posting at Dan King's Bible Dude this morning. I do hope you'll click on over and let me know you were there.

Here's a taste of what I have to say over there...

“It is only with the heart that we see rightly.” She stops reading and looks up to make eye contact with each of us before continuing. “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Closing the book, she gives us our individual patient assignments, and we begin a new experience as compassionate givers of care to those with wounds we cannot see.

To read the rest, click HERE.

Sweet Shot Tuesday::Trust...

My two year old granddaughter Addisyn is fearless. She loves for her daddy to toss her high up in the air, confident he'll catch her when she comes down.  

It's a great picture of biblical trust, Kristin's mom, Trudy, tells me as we watch Addisyn delight in every toss. 

It sure is, Trudy. Perfect. 

On Being Grand...

My middle son Casey tells me that one day he's going to write a book: The Things My Mother Never Told Me. First on the list, he teases, is my failure to prepare him for a newborn baby's first messy diaper.

Sorry about that, I tell him. Some things just have to be experienced - even the most delightful.

My mother could not have prepared me for the joy of being a grand. I wouldn't have believed her if she'd told me that at this stage in life Legos and toys would be at the top of my wish-list, and that I wouldn't even mind sleeping on the too-small, lumpy futon if it meant the grands could come for a sleepover.

Homeschooling and teacher friends? Don't tell me one day that I didn't tell you. If grandlittles are part of God's plan for your life, you'll wish you held onto a few good toys, and lots of books and games, because teacher mamas never need to retire. 

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children...

Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV

Related: Letter from Mimi's Backyard

{Photos from two weeks ago: a Gavin sleepover, a pretty moth, and gathering sticks for our November Thanksliving Tree - made with a bundle of sticks in a gallon glass jar stuffed with raffia, and a tag for each of to record our "thanks"}

A {Grand} Not-Necessarily-Wordless Wednesday...

{and why I've been slow to answer emails and messages}

We've been rejoicing in God's abundant goodness in gathering with family for fun in the sun...







And having grandlittle {Gavin} here for sleepovers...


While his new baby brother {Tyler Brantley Hunter} was born... 


And celebrating our beautiful granddaughter's {Kari} graduation with highest honors from high school...



and Gavin's graduation with boyish impishness from pre-K4...

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house...
Deuteronomy 26:11 ESV

As far as the eye can see...

It's one of my favorite drives through this native state of mine - past fields of corn and sugarcane and through a handful of struggling farming communities without shopping malls and overpasses and multiple exits to fantasy lands.

It's where life is real - where we come face to face with the poverty of rural life and where the consequences of sin can be seen in the wandering souls held captive behind prison's coils of razor-wire...

...surrounded by the beauty of Creation in the rich black muck around the Big O where sugarcane flourishes and thick, rain-nourished carpets of green rustle in April's breezes...

...as far as the eye can see. 

But more than anything else, it's a drive that leads me to people I love dearly - and the newest sweet miracle in all creation...

Wyatt Michael Orin Hunter{Isn't he perfect?}

And now we thank you, our God,
and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13 ESV