I haven’t been asked yet to walk the hard roads
Still there’s a sense of deep loss in my soul
In the middle of a party, I’ll just want to go
Home.

But ooh,
My bow is on the strings,
I’m beginning to learn where to find the words
To the song that emptiness sings
Ooh, bow is on the strings:

Glory to God! Glory to God!
This is how emptiness sings, oh,
This is how emptiness sings
Hmmm, hmmm

[fifteen/fiftytwo]

[fifteen/fiftytwo]
while she lay sleeping

Brokenhearted I come,
My cup is empty;
My mouth is dry.
Burdened with darkness,
Heavy it lies.
I wanna cry but I can't
I try to stand but I fall down again,
I need You to carry me,
I need You to carry me,
I need You to carry me,
When I am weak.

Jenny & Tyler, Carry Me

Baby I was naive, got lost in your eyes
And never really had a chance
I had so many dreams about you and me
Happy endings, now I know

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to come around.

[songs]

I only watched thirty seconds into the second video, so... I don't know what's in it. Probably nothing, but you never can tell with music videos, haha. Great songs.

[song]

Bre, this is for you!! You have to listen to it, you'll love it :D

[i choose grace]

"All alone in my own self will, old familiar story
So determined to try until I fail, You've been waiting
As I learn again, straining to the pressure
And You offer me a better way, hear me pray, hear me say


I choose grace, I choose mercy
I choose love and all it means
I choose grace 'cause I need the power
And I need to walk in humility

Just how often have I let You down and all the hope around me
Break a gentle heart along with mine, You keep holding out
Your arms again just the way you found me
And You carry me across another line, hear me cry, no more pride


I choose grace, I choose mercy
I choose love and all it means
I choose grace 'cause I need the power
And I need to walk in humility


I am growing weary of this foolish independence
I reach out for grace and I will reach out to extend it
I will reach out, I will reach out, I will reach out


I choose grace, I choose mercy
I choose love and all it means
I choose grace 'cause I need the power
And I need to walk in humility
Teach me to walk in humility."

[two thirty]

[two thirty]
5.6.11

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more
And the morning breaks eternal, bright and fair
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
On that bright and cloudless morning, when the dead in Christ shall rise
And the glory of His resurrection share
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Please listen to the video. I never thought this was a particularly pretty hymn until I heard her version.

Shaina

P.S. My best friend is graduating a week from today!!!!!! Ahh... Can't believe she's ahead of me ;)

Tried to get some hair whippin'
action in.. didn't work out so well.

..So I gave up.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

Annnnd, a spidey web. They are so delicate and beautiful!!

[two twenty seven]

[two twenty seven]
5.3.11
muah.. I  wuv my pupup.

This is a wonderful, though little known hymn that's been on my mind lately. Read the words, they're really great.  

Let it be said of us
That the Lord was our passion
That with gladness we bore
Every cross we were given
That we fought the good fight
That we finished our course
Knowing within us the power of the risen Lord

Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song
By mercy made holy
By the Spirit made strong

Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song
'Till the likeness of Jesus
Be through us made known
Let the cross be our glory
And the Lord be our song

Let it be said of us
We were marked by forgiveness
We were known by our love
And delighted in meekness
We were ruled by his peace
Heeding unity's call
Joined as one body
That Christ would be seen by all.

I've been reading "The Unselfishness of God," by Hannah Whitall Smith these past few days. It's really easy to get into, and I've been enjoying it. She writes very well. It's a sort of an auto biography, telling of growing up a Quaker. When I finish it I'll definitely do a "book completed" on it :) Here's a quote from it.
"To one brought up 'within the fold' it is no light matter to approach so awful a subject as the Quaker bonnet. There was a solemnity about it that was born of terror. Whether it presided at the head of a women's meeting or ventured in the winter storms, protected by its satin or oilskin case under the Friendly umbrella, or even lay alone in splendid state upon the bed of the welcome guest; anywhere, everywhere, it was a solemn thing."

Haha.. she is humorous and writes very well, don't you think? Overall, however, I think she is glad she grew up Quaker, and though she recognizes the cons, she brings to light some of the pros of their way of thinking. Never knock a thing down that you know nothing about :)

Off to clean Sylvia's barb wire cut.. got gashed pretty good today.

Shaina

[two twenty five]
5.1.11
I've always wanted to wear a tie.. and when Levi
abandoned his at church today, I thought, "Now is as
good a time as any!"

"Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day"
~Seize the Day, Carolyn Arends.

[one fifty two]

[one fifty two]

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?

I'm just going to say... it's windy out today. =)

To get the full effect you really should

click on the picture :)
2.16.11

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home;
ye who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me?

Went on a photo shoot with Sami today.. yes, I know *again*.

And while I was at it, I snapped some shots of the creek :)

 [one forty four]
Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.


"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
1 John 4:16
With Valentine's day coming up, all I could think of was the love of God for us. His is the only pure and holy love. He is the dictionary definition of love!

2.8.11


Ok, random quotes from the family time.
Me:  "What in the world?!?" Dad: "What?" "Someone decided to drag all the coats out of the coat closet and put them on the floor!" Dad: "Wasn't me." "Likely story." (something Dad says ALL the time.) Dad: "Ah, you learn well, my young grasshoppah." Hahha. =D
And then earlier when the kids were playing, Sylvia was piercing everyone's ears with her well.. piercing scream, and Micah said, "Sylvia, stop screaming! You sound like a maniac!" Haha. That boy. I can't remember if I already posted these verse pictures.. I don't *think* I did. If I did, just read them anyway. They're so tremendous. I have more of these coming, believe you me :)

 Cheerfully,
Shaina
P.S. Catherine, keep your chin up girl! Moving is always tough, I know! Looking forward to hearing from you ;)