the hawk

this post has been on my mind

for so long.

I run it over and over in my mind

but, never put it down in writing.

with Father's Day 

being this weekend;

today seemed the day

to put it in words.

I have shared the story

with a few close friends

but, I never want to forget

so I am putting it here.

My dad was an outdoorsman,

a hunter and hound-man.

He grew up in Wyoming

and was a legit cowboy.

We moved around a lot.

Dad, Mom, and us kids.

and we did a lot together, 

as a family.

Growing up

I never really understood.

Never realized, 

he wasn't like a lot of, other dads.

or those other families didn't 

move around like we did.

He would take us kids and mom

hiking, camping, and hunting.

we traipsed through swamps

with dad's hounds.

we hiked up mountains

just to go hunting.

when we camped,

we usually had to hike to it

& if someone was camping nearby

well, we found a different area!

He was always asking us

if we knew the name of 

a bird or

he would ask,

"see that eagle?"

"see that hawk?"

He knew every single

name, of them all...

and would often ask us

if we knew the name of a

particular bird or an animal.

as a pre-teen and teen

I wasn't very impressed.

I am sorry, I wasn't.

I am sorry it took so long

for me to notice.

to appreciate.

My dad died of cancer 

in the Fall of 1989

and a little while later...

I noticed my first hawk.

it was sitting on a pole along the side road

and I could hear dad say,

"see that hawk?"

I drove right on past it

but, I took note.

I remembered.

I could hear his voice, clearly

asking if I noticed it.

that is how it started.

that one day

a year or so after dad had died.

Now, I notice---

 an owl sitting on a fence

an eagle soaring 

a hawk sitting on a telephone pole

and

I think of dad.

I've begun saying 

to my husband as we are driving,

"see that hawk?" 

"Oh, look at the eagle!"

"turn around, I just saw an owl on a pole!"

I notice.

Last November

my husband and I flew to our 

daughter and son in laws home

in CA.

We were in a car driving to spend 

Thanksgiving with his family.

I was in the backseat

and I kept seeing hawks.

I mean, I stopped counting 

when I had seen at least

 6 of them!!

I reached down 

picked up my phone to text my Mom

to wish her a

 Happy Thanksgiving...

when I noticed the date on my phone!

the date was November 24, 2016

My dad passed away on November 24, 1989

I started to choke up

as I told my daughter

who was in the backseat with me,

how I had noticed

 so many hawks in such a short time,

and how I believed 

that my dad, her grandpa

was sending them

to say,

"I love you."

"I am thinking of you"

I still get a bit emotional 

when I think of that day.

It took over 6 hawks for me

to realize the significance

of that day.

but, I noticed!

I still see hawks and eagles.

I still remember.

I will keep

noticing those eagles.

I will keep noticing those hawks.

one day soon,

a hawk or eagle feather 

will be incorporated into a tattoo.

I will always remember

you, dad.

Happy Father's Day!

the sweet voice of God

it happened again.

i have had experience with the
whisper of God
in my life before.

sometimes it takes a while
for me to actually
listen and act on it.

but, every single time
He whispers someone's name
to me and i act on it?

W O W.
i mean, W O W.

the last couple days
i have had this tugging.

a simple tug of my heart
to contact a friend of mine.

and God---
God, whispered her name to me.

this time it only took Him
prompting me twice
before i acted on it!

today, i sent a simple text:
how are YOU today?
how is your Dad?
YOU are in my thoughts
and prayers.
is there anything i can do
to help?

B A M!

just like that i received a message back.
thanking me for reaching out.
saying she has been having a rough couple days
& could she call me this afternoon!

W O W.
God you are amazing.
You never cease to amaze me.

Thank you, God for never giving up on me!
For continuing to use me
and for helping me to not only
listen and hear your VOICE
but, to ACT on it.

I love you, LORD.

Thank you.

above all things

in my daily bible readings...
I have been reading the book of Colossians

wow.
I mean, wow.

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is before ALL things.
Before family, before nice houses
and pretty cars...
before any material 'things'
that I may think will make my life better.

Before ALL things.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Yes, He is above everything!
He is more important than anything else on this earth.
I need to remember to put Him FIRST.

Colossians 3:14
and above all these put on love, which binds everything together
in perfect harmony

Acting out in love. No matter what the circumstance, no matter
what the person has said or done. I need to act in love.
We are called to put on love. It binds us together.


Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

Do I dwell on His word? When I read His word
do I take it to heart? Do I listen and obey?

Colossians 3:17
and WHATEVER you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Do I seek pats on the back and acclaim from this world?
Help me, Lord to do it ALL for You.
Not worrying about what others may think of me. Only for you. You are above it ALL.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

When I am doing laundry or dishes, may I do it without complaining.
If He was sitting at my kitchen table, would I complain about
the things that need to get done?
I have been given this 'job' here on earth for a short, short time.
May I not grumble.

Colossians 4: 2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Sometimes my prayer life is on FIRE and sometimes it is not.
May I remember to devote myself to praying more often.
Help me to ask for and believe that He will hear me.


Oh Lord. Thank you.

Thank you for everything
you have given to me here on earth.
Thank you for your Word
and that I can learn each and every day.

time does not stand still

a week has past.

it has flown by so quickly
i am still struggling with
jet lag.
after a two week visit
to vienna, austria...
this granny's body
still wakes up between 3-5 am
every morning!
ha.

it's been a week
since we hugged and said, "good bye"
to our missionary family
living overseas.
a whole week already
since i saw those sweet little faces
and held them.

but, oh how i will treasure the
time.
the time i spent in the presence of
laughter and love.

time spent with family and those you love
is never a waste of time.
it is something to be gathered
and held on to.
closely.

i will NEVER regret
the time and love
that i have spent in the presence
of my family.

i am blessed
i am thankful

oh, yes.
so very thankful.

life is good!

life is good

oh yes, indeed.

you see,

i can count on one hand

how many days

until i see my overseas family!

for real!

i have patiently waited

while my husband's work commitments

 kept us home

i have patiently waited 

as 'things' 

kept us home

i have patiently waited

as my six year old grandson

got more and more mature

i have patiently waited

as my newborn grandson

grew and grew

and now...

it is for real.

in less than a week

i will be

 holding & loving

my two beautiful grandsons.

i will be laughing with

 my daughter and son in law.

oh the joy.

oh the excitement.

oh the happiness.

i have patiently waited

and 

i plan to savor and soak up

EVERY single moment of

EVERY single day.

life is good?

oh, yes indeed.

thankful. blessed. grateful.

sigh.

oh yes.

my heart is ready.

this granny's heart is ready!

finding sweetness

last weekend started out wonderful.

i met with a bunch of high school friends
(old friends Ha!)
we did an ugly sweater 5k in seattle.

it was so much fun, we laughed until we cried.
what a journey we have had through all these years.
we have all had good and bad and our friendship remains
stronger than ever.

i am so very thankful for these ladies and for their
friendship.

a few pictures from the ugly sweater 5k. 12/6/14

i also did a jingle bell 5k with my eldest daughter this past saturday, 12/13/14

to benefit arthritis.

we had a great time. 

they had a great turn out with many from our community who came to run.

we wore antlers and red and white striped knee high socks. :) which made the 5k
all the more fun!

but, the biggest and most blessed thing that happend this week...
i am changed forever because of it.

i mean a giant sweet moment indeed. one i will never forget:
you see, i live in the community that  i went to school in.
so consequently there are many 'old' classmates still around this area.

last friday, i was contacted by an upperclassman of mine from high school.
she wanted to know if i would co-chair with her a project. a simple competition
between her classmates and mine. to give back to our community!

i contacted the district office at the high school and found out that
the school district had a giving tree!

we sponsored that tree and with some fun competition between the
two classes we have fullfilled the WHOLE giving tree. over 35 gifts!

when i found out that twin girls were wearing shoes with duct tape
and then that two of my classmates stepped up to buy these
girls some new boots, well....
i was over-come with emotion.
no other words. just tears of thankfullness.
i could not stop the tears from flowing.

what these two classees accomplished in one short week
is unbelievable.

there are children who are going to have a wonderful christmas!
their wishes are going to come true.

but, when all is said and done,
i am the one who was really, truly
blessed.

this is a christmas
i will never forget!
the loving and giving of a community.
how team work came together and got it done.

my friend said, her heart felt like the grinches at the end of the book/film,
when his heart grows three times bigger.
i agree. totally.

these were sweet moments indeed.

i am thankful.
i am blessed.

may you find something good
something beautiful in
each and every day.

i challenge you to take the time
to find something lovely.
even in the smallest of things.

there is SOMETHING good about each day.

take the time to be still and know.

linking up to sweet saturdays

                                           sweet saturdays

blessings and more

thanksgiving---

a beautifully quiet afternnoon

spent with our loved ones

visiting and eating 

far too much wonderful food!

yes---

we have more than enough blessings

to last a lifetime!

we came home after

visting and eating...

rested for a few hours

and then my husband and i

met our eldest daughter

in town

and we shopped!

oh yes, we did.

we met at approx eleven pm

and we stayed up all night long!

we did not arrive home

until 10 am friday!

we had a lot of fun.

of course we were a bit giddy

from lack of sleep

and too much coffee! :)

memories were made

and i wouldn't trade them

for the world!

~~~~

sweet moments that i treasured this past week:

receiving text messages from all three of my daughters

giggles with my grandson and his gramps

packaging up birthday gifts for my grandson

 to send to austria...and knowing how excited he will be to receive them!

spending time with family over the holiday

warm fires in the evenings

skyping with family overseas

hearing the wind blowing my windchime and the music it makes

getting out the christmas decorations!!

cinnamon spice tea

twinkle lights going up in my home

scarves, boots and beanie hats

fleece jammie pants. 

every single day.

 fleece jammie pants!

staying up all night long- shopping and laughing

my husband

a warm and lovely place to call home

friends

 love & acceptance.

~~~~

may you have a wonderful week my friends.

and may i leave you with these final thoughts:

smile.

will you?

just share your smile.

this time of year

in the hustle and bustle

it is SO easy to get caught up in it all.

to forget about the people around us.

we can not pretend to know what others 

are going through

and especially during this time of year.

there are

people hurting.

people who are lonely.

people missing loved ones.

not everyone is happy and joyful

that the holidays are upon us!

there is pain, heartache

&

lonliness

mixed in with all

 the cheer

this holiday brings.

so, will you join me?

will you shine your light this week?

all it takes is

just a smile...

smile

one of

YOUR

unique and special smiles...

shine it.

shine it to the:

mail carriers

retail workers

teachers

health care workers

family members

people at church

someone in line at the grocery store

people whose lives you 

touch on a daily or weekly basis...

because my dear friends

we never know what our smile

can mean

to someone.

maybe that simple act

of shining a smile

will be the 

ONLY 

bright and shining light

they see

all week long.

come on

join me

will you?

let's shine!

always.

yours.

mel

i am linking this post to:

SWEET SATURDAYS

join us will you?

link up here:

SWEET SATURDAYS

the day before

i am thankful.

so many blessings

in my life.

more than enough

to last a lifetime

&

i am grateful.

for them all.

~~~~

i sit today....

the day before

 thanksgiving.

and think of the

families that are getting their 

homes ready;

cooking and cleaning

 and so much

 excitement filling the air!

some families will be

reunited with loved ones

they haven't seen all year!

some will be hosting small

intimate gatherings

with their closest of friends...

but, let us not forget the families

who will be missing loved ones.

empty places at the table.

families

who have loved ones

 who are gone

and those who have family

that live far away...

for a hole is there.

laughter is missing.

the emptiness is real.

many families

with an ache

this time of year

i pray for them.

these families

who are missing someone

this thanksgiving.

i lift you up

as i remember

 my own family

who live so far away...

and also families

 whom have family members

celebrating thanksgiving in the

presence of our heavenly

Father.

blessings

be upon you all

this year.

there is much to be thankful for.

even in the smallest of moments

there is beauty and wonder.

thankful.
grateful.
yes, indeed.

may your home be filled with love

this thankgiving.

it's the little things.

life like time

is changing fast.

looking forward to tomorrow

while not forgetting the past.

life like time

just keeps on turning.

accomplishments and failures

turned into learning.

life like time

the big and small.

each day, month and year

i am grateful for them all!

melody-mae. 2014

some sweet moments:

my husband, daughter and grandson visiting my mom in law

in the care center.

receiving pictures of my sweet new grandson

who lives overseas.

drinking coffee by the fire

while it rains outside.

a morning walk.

signing up to run an ugly sweater 5k 

with 5 of my most sweetest 

and long time friends!

my view of beautiful Mt. Baker

it starts to look and feel like the holidays

once the satsumas come out!

&

we eat them like candy around here. :)

a few moments of my past week
caught on film.
the big and small.
yes, i am so very thankful
for them all!!

i am linking up to  SWEET SATURDAYS!!

will you join us?
link up a photo or some sweet moments
that you recognized this week.
the big or the small.
they are all lovely!

link up here: SWEET SATURDAYS!!

surrounded

sweet moments surround me;
yes, every single day.

sweet moments
are everywhere,
in the little things
and
the big things.

sweet moments
 are there
if we only take time
to see them.

*the colors in the evening sky

as the sun slowly goes down-

*crunchy fall leaves piled along the curbs, sidewalks and roads-

*an eagle soaring in the wind

above the fields-

*listening to the wind gust and blow

while sitting in front of a warm fireplace-

*starting a new book!

*grace

*skype dates. (yes, i am allowed to mention this each week...
since my family lives overseas and i have two- yes, TWO grandsons living there!)

*sunshine glistening on snow-covered mt. baker

*the smell of coffee brewing

*a kitty who loves to sleep in my lap

*friday nights at home watching dvr'd shows

*fleece jammies. need i say more? fleece jammies.


i am linking up my post to:

SWEET SATURDAYS 

will you join me?

what sweet moments did you 

take the time to see this week?

link up and share with me!

and don't forget to

shine.

my friends.

shine.

SWEET SATURDAYS

moments

as i sit here thinking about the sweet moments of the past week
i am amazed at how fast the days have flown by!

the family has been in a whirl-wind, as we adjust
to mom living in the care center.
my husband and i have only missed three days out of almost
three weeks of visiting her! (she lives only ten min away)

among the busy stuff...there were so many, many
sweet moments to savor.
truly there are always sweet moments
even amidst the craziness of the day;
beauty can be found.

here are just a few sweet moments this week:

my grandson trick or treating at the Care Center. (seeing his Great Grandma)
a road trip with my bestie. we ate pink sugar cookies and shopped.
seeing amazing colorful trees. (oh, how i love autumn in the PNW)
watching my husband just LOVE on his mom. his kindness is like no other.
lots of coffee dates.
on a whim LATE last night my hubbie and i jumped in the car for icecream!
skype dates with my daughter/family overseas.
baby pictures of my sweet new little grandson.
shopping with my eldest daughter.
texting with my baby girl who lives in CA.
long wonderful evenings in front of the fireplace.
walking on crisp, cool mornings.
music! singing on the worship team and pouring it out.

yes. life is full of sweet, beautiful moments
and i am ever so thankful for them ALL.

how about you?
what are you thankful for?
what sweet moments did you savor this week?

share them will you?
join me as i link up to: SWEET SATURDAYS!

sweet saturdays!

and also joining:

katherines corner for her favorite things!

smile.

the power of a simple

smile.

have you ever thought about

the simple act of smiling

at someone

and 

what it can mean to the

receiver?

this week

i concentrated on offering a

smile;

in the crosswalks, the coffee shop,

 the grocery store, church,

while on my daily walks

 & to my own family! 

the simple act

 of turning UP the sides of your mouth

i believe,

can actually have

 an impact!

we never know

what kind of day

someone may have had

and that simple smile

could really lift their spirits!

i try to look at things with the glass-half full.

it is just easier for me to do.

to not dwell.

i do NOT like to dwell on the ugly---

i just don't.

so i try to see the good.

the good 

in the small things.

the good

in the little things.

the good

in the simple things.

most days it is pretty easy

for me to see at least

 a little something

that is

beautiful.

to savor 

 sweet moments--

soaking in the 

simple little things

that make me happy-

and

 to just disregard the uglies!

it is how i get through the day;

really it is!!

~~~~

now,  let's be honest,

some days

when the world seems 

dark & the uglies

feel so BIG 

well, let's be honest

it is a lot harder to do!

but, i try to remember to

look around me.

to see the beauty

that i know

is in every single day!

and. i. smile.

so how about it friends.

did you share a simple

smile with anyone?

did you notice

something sweet

as you went about your day?

did you take time

to soak in a sweet moment?

did you laugh?

share a kind word?

maybe it was something small

or 

something simple 

that made 

you stop and smile.

as for me?

here are a few of my sweet moments

this past week:

salted caramel mochas. (with whip!)

completing a super-hero 5k. (costume and all)

 scarf weather!

colorful pumpkins in my yard.

coffee dates.

dinner dates.

worship music.

scented candles.

laughter.

starting a new book.

a warm fireplace.

 smiles shared

&

for daughters and son in laws who are 

raising their children to know & love Jesus!

yes.

i. am. grateful.

yes.

there are reasons to smile.

yes.

sweet moments,

indeed.

i am linking up to:

 SWEET SATURDAYS

Please join us
link up
your sweet moments

by

clicking on the link underneath the button!!!

http://tawnimarie.wordpress.com/sweet-saturdays/

Sweet Saturdays (a link-up!)

hello my sweet friends!

today i am announcing a link-up 

that i am going to co-host 

with my daughter!

she has aptly named the link-up

'Sweet Saturdays'

you can read about her heart

& 

more about the link-up

here!

and of course the link-up

which starts THIS friday!

here!

up near the top of my blog
i have a new page
with the link to

sweet saturdays!

and on my sidebar
i have a
sweet saturday button
that you can also click on!

i myself will be sharing

things that i find

that bring me joy.

the little things.

maybe a photo or a verse.

something that reminds me

each and every day to find beauty.

because, i truly believe

there is something

 beautiful

in each and every day!

something that brings you 

joy.

that makes you

smile.

it's the little things

my friends.

join me this friday

will you?

oh, and please use the hashtags #sweetsaturdays and #sweetmoments
if you post on instagram or twitter!

finding my way-

years and years ago

when i was in junior high...

i discovered the joy of

hiking solo;

i would get home from school

throw on a backpack 

stuffed with my journal and a pen---

and off i would go,

stopping along the way

to jot some poetry 

in my journal.

usually i didn't get home

until dinner time!

being up around the

trees and fresh air

always cleared my head,

helping me cope

with the social anxieties

that every junior high kid

experiences!

hiking 

comes

 natural for me;

growing up in a home

where my dad thought 

camping meant

''backpacking' 

with all our own gear---

and heading somewhere

 no one else

would ever, ever

 imagine going!! :)

(thank-you, Dad!)

my husband and i 

hiked when we were

dating-

and then later

we hiked as a 

young growing family;

we

took our daughters

 on many, many hikes

as they were growing up.

we continue this tradition

with at least one

hike a year as

a family.

this year,
so far

i have been lucky enough

to go on four hikes...

two hikes with family

and two hikes with friends.

the last couple hikes i did,

were so crazy beautiful...

it was easy to see why 

my dad 

used to say, 

hiking was where he

 felt the closest to

God.

it was impossible

 to look at the beauty around me

and not

thank our Maker for it

all!

God's handiwork was

 evident everywhere

i looked!

in the trees that sloped on the hills,

puffy clouds floating above me,

clear blue skies,

the sunshine glistening off the 

icy lake,

the meadow bursting with flowers,

a bubbling brook,

rock formations that just begged

 to be climbed.

in it all,

everywhere i looked...

abundant beauty

surrounded

me.

thankful. blessed. grateful.

always.