joy-privelege

Each day... not just filled with worries of it's own... but also...
treasures...

Morning came early today... it always does when you have smalls with big needs.  Thankful that as I awoke my Good Pastor was at my side after driving through the night.  It's good to have him home.  We need his leadership and direction.

Marching this past week without him was especially hard.  Our shepherd was missing.  Thankful for his warrior heart.   As we were marching around Ridgegate he too gathered troops and marched.   New grounds were broken in our new church home.  Powerful things have already come from the marching... and more are on the way.
But... we must stay alert, or we might just miss His revelations to the small.

As our home buzzed with the daily I was struck by an offering from our eldest princess.   After our shouting time we were all pretty beat and retired early.  Emmiline shared that at 2:14a.m. she woke up because she heard the doorbell... startled, she ran to the foyer to see who it was... she looked and saw no one.  She climbed back in bed and returned to sleep.  At 2:22a.m. she heard the doorbell again... this time a little more anxious she got up and looked out her window... still no one.

For those of you who don't know Princess Emmiline she is low on drama.  She doesn't often offer things of the deep.  And she hasn't learned the art of embellishing stories.  She was puzzled by the occurrence and  so were we.  We asked "what do you think that was about?"   She surely did not know.   I sensed that perhaps God wanted her attention... as we were processing Princess Eloise chimed in and said, "This reminds me of Samuel's story."  She recalled the important details and how after being beckoned in the dark he finally said, "Here I am."
We are all curious about what God is up to.
He is always up to something.  

We are choosing to be very mindful in regards to 2.14 and 2.22.  Wondering if God has special plans for that day... we think He might.   Emmiline is anticipating more doorbells, and Eloise keeps reminding her of her line..."here I am... speak... I am listening"

Her momma is curious.

Anticipation adds to all that we have to celebrate today... Pastor's back... our family is together... truths continue to be spoken and seen...
God's goodness is all around and obedient marches have taken place.

Today... a day for rest and celebrating victories... and we did just that.

 The hopefuls dined by candlelight and enjoyed sweet blessings brought by generous hands.

A GIANT night of firsts... for the first time in Vaughan history we all had the same dessert...
delicious cookies that were safe and pleasing for all...
even...

This little cookie monster!

Better than eating my own cookie was watching this little one... treat as big as her head... alive with curiosity and delight.

She knows a good thing when she sees one...

She loves the togetherness that the sweet brings... memories and heart knitting...

She takes a bite and savors being part of the big.  I savor the miracle of her ability to take in and enjoy.

Making memories is sweet all by itself... especially when special needs often leave you out...

My heart dances... the quiet that hears bells in the middle of the dark is seen and celebrated today.  He sings His  EL ROI over her.... song of the wild.

The seeing eyes opened wide in playful joy...

From the smallest hands...

To the biggest...

and those in between...

A night for giving... receiving and sharing. 

A time for recounting good fruit...

No matter the season we must faithfully give thanks for the mighty blessings of God...

The riches... always flowing from His hands to fill our deepest thirsts.

He pours in, and we are more than satisfied.  The call to realize what He has done... is doing... and is yet to do is our joy-privelege.  It's our love offering. 

A treasure to Him and the treasures ones.

"We have gathered with one thirst and hunger... here to drink of glory and wonder... here to cry out... COME AND FILL THIS PLACE!"

2.14 2.22

"We wait for you!"