tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35882522011-11-07T11:52:19.225-08:00come,<br>muse with me...<p> let us together discover True Life</p>olsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-27889508888250852192011-11-07T11:45:00.000-08:002011-11-07T11:45:40.527-08:00

In an effort to centralize all our various blogs, T and I are launching timandolive.com!  The contents of this blog can now be found under the tab Olive's blog. Thanks for being part of my journey.  Hope you enjoy the new website!  (It's a work in progress, so please feel free to leave us comments, questions or suggestions!)

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-49283759650658648752011-10-04T16:43:00.000-07:002011-10-04T16:43:10.251-07:00

In our process of clearing space for baby, we have been giving away a lot of stuff. On Sunday after church service, we set up a little table with two boxes of goodies to give away. Let me first explain this: one of the beautiful things about the people in our congregation is the range of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds represented there. So very quickly, various people we did not know

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-21266977016414390652011-08-25T14:47:00.000-07:002011-08-25T14:47:41.799-07:00

T and I had an interesting conversation with a friend last night.  In the course of our conversation, we stumbled upon this question, "Does growing your knowledge of a person enable your love for them to grow?" For example, when I married T, I could wholeheartedly say that I loved him.  But in the last 3 years, I have gotten to know him so much better than the day we got married.  So my love for

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-76965720065668902932011-05-17T16:45:00.000-07:002011-05-17T16:45:05.757-07:00

The Lord's Supper.  The Lord's Table.  The Holy Meal.  The Eucharist.  Communion.  These all refer to the same sacrament that has marked Christ-followers through the ages. I grew up knowing that it was a sacred practice but not really thinking of it as anything more than crackers and juice that we would have every first Sunday of the month to "remember the death of Jesus."  When I moved to

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-76636969872474333022011-05-06T21:07:00.001-07:002011-05-06T21:09:51.041-07:00

Thirty years ago today, you welcomed me into the world.  You probably had no idea what you were getting yourselves into.  But perhaps that was a good thing. Today, as I mark 30 years of being alive, I wanted to publicly say THANK YOU. Mom, words cannot express all the things I have learned from you and all the ways you have influenced me.  Despite the fact that you did not grow up with a mother

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-38523701150944956082011-04-16T20:51:00.002-07:002011-05-07T16:21:43.475-07:00

My husband and I are at the stage now where we are starting to think about starting a family and all the questions that come along with it.  One of those questions relates to what neighbourhood we might want to settle in where the kids would grow up.  Most people would advise us to think about what schools are in the neighbourhood and whether we would want our kids to attend them. We generally

olshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721825234005180472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-54047319156708977322011-01-25T21:22:00.000-08:002011-01-25T21:22:41.181-08:00

In the short span of four months, I was in two car accidents that resulted in the total loss of a car.  The first one was pretty cut and dry: I was rear ended.  That was that.  The second one left me feeling more uncertain. I was hit on a Friday afternoon.  I had to wait the entire weekend before I could find out how much damage had been done to the car.  And I had to wait even longer to find

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-18027757710774814662010-12-24T15:48:00.000-08:002010-12-24T15:48:40.157-08:00

With Christmas just a day away, I have been pondering the various characters found in the Christmas narrative.  It occurred to me that if Joseph was like me at all, he could have had the following conversation with God: [Setting: A stable in Bethlehem.  A few hours after Mary delivered baby Jesus.  Joseph makes sure both of them are sleeping and steps outside for some fresh air.] Joseph [

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-54862374829733359372010-09-18T19:47:00.000-07:002010-09-18T19:47:34.418-07:00

Generally, I don't post about my marriage but today I am feeling particularly thankful.  So in this rare moment, I will risk sounding like a sap and share a bit of what I usually keep private. I had always wanted to get married, but I hadn't truly expected to.  When Tim and I were making the decision about whether or not to take our friendship to a deeper level and explore the possibility of

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-43406141830123893892010-06-07T20:27:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:27:43.762-07:00

I recently watched part of "Entertaining Angels," a movie about the life of Dorothy Day.  One scene in particular moved me deeply and has stayed with me till now.  (You can watch it here.)  In this scene, Dorothy comes home to find her good friend Maggie stealing all her money for a drink.  In a fit of rage, Maggie assaults Dorothy.  Just as Dorothy is about to fight back, she suddenly softens

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-27732906346602178882010-04-17T17:15:00.000-07:002010-04-17T17:15:40.452-07:00

While reading a book about Sabbath last week, I came across this new way of looking at my day.  In ancient Jewish custom, they considered the evening the start of the new day.  So in essence, the first thing they did each day was sleep.  The idea was that while you slept, God would begin His work.  And when it came time for you to wake up, you would simply be joining God in the work He had

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-28354439154684424652010-03-16T19:33:00.002-07:002010-03-16T19:34:25.756-07:00

This afternoon, I stood beside my friends as they buried their stillborn child.  Their son had only lived 24 weeks in the womb and hadn't survived to see the light of day. After a brief but touching service, they lowered the tiny casket into the ground.  For the most part of the funeral, it had been grey and overcast.  The wind would come every so often, reminding us it was still winter.  As we

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-78411750896975216302010-01-07T15:48:00.001-08:002010-01-07T15:48:38.052-08:00

The weekend before Christmas, Tim and I went up to Whistler to spend a day with my brother-in-law and his girlfriend.  Our plan was to go snowtubing on the first day of the snowtube season.  For those of you unfamiliar with snowtubing, it's essentially sliding down a 1000 foot long slide made out of snow in a giant rubber tire (the tube).  I had never done it before, but it seemed less physically

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-12727120977900782302009-12-24T14:16:00.000-08:002009-12-24T14:16:11.975-08:00

I am standing in a stable.  They tell me the Son of God was born here tonight.  I stare.  I am shocked.  The baby!  The baby is so small!  This is God?!? Mary invites me closer.  "Would you like to hold him?" she asks.  I nod. As I cradle him in my arms, I am mesmerized.  All the hope of the world, all the good, all the peace that exists, all these and more were contained in his tiny features.

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-9579830470410030302009-12-10T17:25:00.002-08:002009-12-10T17:26:29.793-08:00

Work pressure has been slowly building up lately and I've been fighting to see myself as valuable apart from my work.  One such morning, I sat there desperate before the Lord.  I prayed that He would help me see myself as He saw me. I was surprised when the text that came to mind was Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again,

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-7374429261677511232009-11-29T20:06:00.000-08:002009-11-29T20:06:24.472-08:00

This past Wednesday, I went to an aesthetics school for a girls' "spa day" in celebration of my friend's birthday.  Since one of the gals was getting a haircut, I thought to myself why not?  I know how to do my own nails but I can't cut my own hair...  plus, I'm way overdue for a trim.  The last time I had it cut was way back in February! Big mistake. Well, for me it was anyway.  My friend got

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-7890806245379667552009-10-30T21:57:00.000-07:002009-10-30T21:57:54.450-07:00

Living on the West Coast, I am constantly surrounded by "Green" messaging.  Bring your own reusable cloth bag to the grocery store and get bonus points.  Bring your own tumbler to Starbucks and get 10 cents off.  Buy local.  Buy organic.  Use less paper. Last Sunday, our sermon was about what our attitude should be toward creation.  Interestingly, the early church saw people in relation to

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-20523888119602762192009-10-26T14:11:00.001-07:002009-10-26T15:27:36.597-07:00

Mondays are my clean the house days.  On top of dusting, I do the floors, the bathroom and the laundry.  I find great satisfaction at the end of it all: to look around and see that all is clean.  I especially love it when the sun is out and light fills the house, confirming that dust and dirt are thoroughly gone. It tires me out, but I really am very satisfied. I suspect that God has the same

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-43548673479477062802009-10-01T19:13:00.000-07:002009-10-01T19:13:14.624-07:00

A most curious incident happened at dinner last night.  Tim's parents are in town and they wanted Greek food, so we tried out a place nearby.  The ambience was quite nice and we decided to go for some lamb and some seafood.  We were pretty much enjoying our dinner and joking about who would take the last oyster when Tim decided he would just take a tiny piece of it to try.  No sooner had he

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-705228497568635542009-09-08T14:38:00.003-07:002009-09-08T14:50:42.785-07:00

I have had the pleasure of being introduced to a very fine writer, in my opinion. I haven't met him in person, but I have enjoyed the characters and insights in his novels. His name? Wendell Berry. I came across the quote below in his novel Andy Catlett. Andy is an old man, writing about his adventures as a 9-year-old boy. Ponder, and enjoy."Time is told by death, who doubts it? But time

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-21255545238487542912009-09-07T18:39:00.002-07:002009-09-07T18:45:48.212-07:00

"God, cajole and nudge them, draw,delight, and dream them close,drift them along love's eddy, dare them,inch them to yourself and with each inch,yield them a yard of joy. Touch them;with tears teach them.Tangle their thoughts in yours"- adapted from Luci Shaw, God in the Dark

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-34698842845168593112009-08-17T15:08:00.002-07:002009-08-17T15:28:05.107-07:00

I don't know what it is this summer, but it's been full of weddings and funerals. The wedding part was expected. The funerals, not so much.Over the last couple months, nine (9!) loved ones of people I know have died. They have either been spouses, parents or children of my friends, coworkers or people at church. And quite a few of them battled cancer in their last days. It's gotten to the

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-44416860589278841712009-07-13T12:09:00.002-07:002009-07-13T12:30:54.374-07:00

I am working out a theory: To enter into the deepest place of pain in others is to enter one of the most sacred spaces possible.When someone trusts you so much as to allow you to look into the open wounds of their heart, it draws out of you a response of quietness, respect and gentleness. You recognize the need to tread softly, to be unhurried and to accept the mystery. And suddenly, you are

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-12106800159421454972009-07-07T14:40:00.004-07:002009-07-07T15:11:30.375-07:00

Even though I'm an 80's kid, I've never been a follower of Michael Jackson or his music. But something prompted me to log in to CNN to watch the public memorial service this morning. I caught the tail end of the extravaganza. What moved me most was that I was watching the impact that one artist had on the lives of millions of people.I was affirmed in my belief that the arts has a powerful role

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-56763763968440150632009-07-06T16:56:00.006-07:002009-07-06T21:13:11.707-07:00

Last Sunday, Tim and I went to our church's evening service, which is a little more "off the beaten track" than the morning ones. As the offering baskets were going around, Tim and I couldn't help but smile when the basket that passed our hands contained the usual envelopes and one big shiny granny smith apple. What a concept! To offer God not only our money, but our other goods as well, right

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-4863998388008568302009-07-03T13:56:00.002-07:002009-07-03T14:08:42.405-07:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of my move to Vancouver. Coming to a point of calling this "home" has been a slow one. But I think that out of all the places in the world that I have been, I'm happy that God brought me here to sink my roots. I still can't get over the fact that beautiful beaches, amazing mountains and the USA are all about a half hour drive away. And our apartment is now

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-63090911778441496412009-06-24T20:55:00.003-07:002009-06-24T21:10:29.874-07:00

A friend I met recently told me this story about her time in Africa. I think it's an excellent illustration for what our attitude toward the Scriptures could aspire to. I know I'm not quite there yet but I'm discovering the value of sitting in a section of the Word and letting it soak. Ruminating, if you will.Anyway, here's the story. Hope you enjoy it!AFRICAN CHICKENDuring her time in Africa

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-38223736110948106112009-04-25T14:28:00.002-07:002009-04-25T14:35:17.366-07:00

In general, I am glad when God points something out to me and reveals an area where I need to change. But sometimes, it feels like there are too many corrections in too short a span of time. It's moments like these when I wonder if I'm really accepted and I struggle to see His love.No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-44472353621682937222009-04-21T13:40:00.003-07:002009-04-21T13:59:41.130-07:00

Mealtimes in our home often fill both our stomachs and our souls. Tim and I love having meaningful conversation over food. Last night was no exception.As we talked, I got to thinking about how I often expect myself to get every little detail perfect or not to mess up anything small. I wondered out loud why I had such high expectations of myself.After a brief pause, Tim said, "Too high? Or too

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-68450621776894100432009-04-09T19:03:00.003-07:002009-04-09T19:28:28.255-07:00

Last week at church, Darrel Johnson gave a message on Palm Sunday. He unpacked the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem on the donkey, explaining that Jesus' actions were completely different from the people's expectations of the Messiah. They were hoping for a political saviour but He saw their deeper need of a saviour from sin and death. One of the conclusions that impacted me the most was this

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-6982632721103738492009-04-01T12:56:00.001-07:002009-04-01T12:58:18.254-07:00

I've had this post incubating for a while now and I have finally written down what's been on my mind. Those who know me might be surprised that I'm writing about the topic of sex. But I think (and hope) what I have to share here might be of help to someone out there. It's so commonly addressed in the media, but so rarely among friends - at least among the people I know.Anyway, growing up in a

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-75543056913036312312009-03-20T12:50:00.003-07:002009-03-20T13:35:33.301-07:00

I find it interesting that scripture tells us that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. Scripture doesn't say that God's justice leads us to repentance. It makes me wonder whether the phrase, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!" means not so much "Repent, for your judgement is near" as "Repent, for your LOVE is near"? Perhaps the motivation for repentance comes not from a

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-29471060046673544452009-02-08T21:51:00.002-08:002009-02-08T22:00:18.940-08:00

Once in a while, when I flip back and re-read past journal entries, I come across some gems. Tonight was one of those moments and I couldn't help but post this excerpt. Enjoy.I used to think that sin wrecked us. But now I see that even sin, though ugly and horrible, did and does not have the power to destroy the inherent noble qualities of God in us. So it is appropriate to pray that HE

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-62595190915900260232009-02-07T15:32:00.003-08:002009-02-07T15:35:02.977-08:00

Just for fun, I'm taking a six-class course in introductory belly dancing. This past Thursday, as I stood there with about a dozen other women, I was suddenly aware of the presence in Christ with me in that room. And the thought came to my head, "Jesus is here belly dancing with me!" It made me chuckle.

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-42594870768401404742008-12-05T16:27:00.002-08:002008-12-05T16:40:08.347-08:00

I don't watch TV often, but the other night, I caught an interesting show called The Secret Millionaire. Over the course of an hour (with too many commercials for it to feel like a worthwhile use of my time), the show followed a wealthy businessman and his son as they left their cushy lives and lived on a welfare allowance among the poor for a week. Their goal was to find out who needed it the

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-77034573330146651832008-11-21T15:48:00.001-08:002008-11-21T15:48:57.873-08:00

I realized recently that many in my community of friends are weary jet setters who are so used to the transient life that they are having a hard time "landing." In one humourous conversation with two of my friends who'd just returned to Canada, one of them said she had a hard time grasping the idea that she had just signed up for a 3 year phone contract. My other friend piped in and said, "Yeah

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-10297592219897082962008-11-08T14:40:00.007-08:002008-11-08T15:07:31.592-08:00

Last night, Tim and I watched The Devil Wears Prada. I see similarities between myself and Andy, the main character who cared nothing about fashion yet found herself working for one of the biggest personalities in the fashion industry.I have a husband, a home and a secure place of work. And I live in a beautiful city with many good friends. While many people I know have asked for this kind of

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-2492149471430986772008-11-06T15:35:00.003-08:002008-11-06T15:45:10.636-08:00

I don't know if anyone is even reading this blog anymore. My posts have been very slow as of late. The interesting thing is, it doesn't concern me anymore whether anyone reads.Now that my wedding is over and I'm relatively settled, I want to write again. I miss my times of thinking and gaining new insights.I'm longing for a new rhythm for my days. I feel like I've been living on the surface

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-62017743423778715002008-09-10T21:55:00.003-07:002008-09-10T22:02:52.836-07:00

The reason the vine and its branches are such a true parable of the Christian life is that all nature has one source and breathes one air. The plant world was created to be to man an object lesson teaching him his entire dependence upon God and his security in that dependence. He who clothes the lilies will much more clothe us. He who gives the trees and the vines their beauty and their fruits

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-29092639325203903552008-08-06T20:40:00.005-07:002008-08-06T20:52:43.076-07:00

I'm amazed at the grace God extends to me. I had been wanting to meet up with someone today - no person in particular, just any friend - but my attempts in contacting my friends weren't successful. I didn't even want to talk to God about it because I felt like He'd already given me so much and I'd just be like a whiny kid pestering Him. So I resigned myself to a day at home by myself. Then I

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-23462955350692844252008-07-17T10:26:00.003-07:002008-07-17T10:35:34.437-07:00

I woke up this morning with a feeling of anxiety. Actually, back track a little: I went to sleep last night worried. And when I woke up, I carried a huge weight of responsibility for certain things I hoped would happen today (but really weren't in my control). As I chatted with the Lord, the conversation went something like this:Jesus: Olive, what are you wearing?Me: Worry.Jesus: Who dressed

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-23381851620817820412008-07-01T18:25:00.001-07:002008-07-01T18:25:00.785-07:00

A young girl explains the world to her newborn brother.I'm your 5-year-old sister, Lori, and you're my baby brother, Alex. Since you're only 2 weeks old, I'm going to 'splain life, 'cause it's not easy for you. I know. I was young once, too.Grown-ups can't make up their minds. First they want one thing and then another. I know what I want. I want a cookie, but Mommy said, "No, how about a

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-13324453432070723172008-06-30T18:21:00.002-07:002008-06-30T18:25:03.132-07:00

Tides of surf roll on the sandWipes the marks of many handsThus the one thing that survivesBears the truth of many triesSand does not give way to wavesOnly through the day to daySteady workings of the waveOnly then are beaches madeVisible this work is notTrades these waves are never taughtGod's the only one who seesHim alone our waves should please~Author UnknownAm I now trying to win the

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-49177762089730537082008-06-21T18:33:00.004-07:002008-06-29T20:05:16.386-07:00

Out of all the heartwrenching stories I've heard so far about the survivors of the China earthquake, this one touches me the most. I actually didn't see the photo myself, but my mom told me about it and even in my mind's eye, it's a devestatingly beautiful picture.Apparently, in one of the rescue efforts, workers found a baby still alive in his mother's lap. The mother had used her body as a

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-77099014088971452352008-06-20T18:14:00.009-07:002008-06-29T20:04:40.326-07:00

We are finite, God is infinite.Our sins are finite, God's grace isinfinite.~ Bruxy Cavey It's so comforting and encouraging to know that there is a limit to the sins, mistakes and failures we can make in one lifetime. And that in contrast, God's grace is limitless.(On a tangent, did you know that the word "forgiveness" is only mentioned once in the Old Testament? That's the difference Christ

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-41983318141419680842008-06-13T12:59:00.003-07:002008-06-13T13:25:22.970-07:00

I really detest moving. Maybe it's because I'm a deep feeler or a sentimental sap, but letting go of familiar people and things is just really difficult for me.After lunch today, I decided it was time to take some photos of my set design models (otherwise known as maquettes) and say good-bye to them. So I went downstairs to the basement, retrieved them from their dusty little corner and brought

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-14482396631577559522008-06-12T21:21:00.002-07:002008-06-12T21:26:18.604-07:00

Tim: I think you need some inspiration, Olive. To help you dream again.Me: Yeah... I dunno. I think I'm afraid to dream. Because I feel like all my past dreams have been laid aside. Like what's the point of dreaming yet another dream if it doesn't come to fruition?Tim: So do you feel like you've had a choice in it, or that God has taken your dreams away?Me: Well, I feel like I've been

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-19757785747703784882008-05-31T19:50:00.003-07:002008-06-01T11:43:58.013-07:00

Exerpted from No Wonder They Call Him Saviour - by Max Lucado.Before we bid good-bye to those present at the cross, I have one more introduction to make. This introduction is very special.There was one group in attendance that day [of the crucifixion] whose role was critical. They didn't speak much, but they were there. Few noticed them, but that's not surprising. Their very nature is so silent

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-39962219030200216542008-05-29T17:08:00.003-07:002008-05-29T17:18:04.994-07:00

I learned something new today: grief is not the same as mourning.Grief is a sudden wave of sadness. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, you can be walking along, turn the corner, and run smack into it.Mourning, on the other hand, is like a garment that your soul wears. It's understated but constantly there. And once in a while, you catch glimpses of it. Sometimes, I wake up these days and feel blue for

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-45521766666686072552008-05-28T16:48:00.003-07:002008-05-28T16:54:15.618-07:00

A recent image that has given me strength is a picture of a banquet table, laden with lots of dishes, platters and bowls. They're filled to overflowing, but not with food. In one vessel, there is "joy", in another, "peace". Another plate has a heap of "strength," another dish has "perspective" and so on. God is the Dad who has prepared this lavish meal and has called me down to eat with a

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-43634950344198988922008-02-29T18:21:00.003-08:002008-02-29T18:48:51.710-08:00

That's right, I'm a closet addict and I'm coming clean now. It might not be the kind of addiction you're used to hearing about, but it's sapping the life out of me and I need to get out. I'm an approval addict.God has exposed this stronghold in my heart and I'm going into a period of rehabilitation. I've been using my writing, my blogs, my updates and newsletters as a secret way of feeding this

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-18505839536837626702008-02-27T15:09:00.002-08:002008-02-27T15:22:18.338-08:00

Having spent at least 2/3rds of our courtship so far being long-distance, Tim and I have rather enjoyed the wonderful invention of the webcam. Not only do we get to talk to each other (and for free, too, thanks to another wonderful invention called Skype), we get to see each other while we talk. It's as if all those miles and timezones between us melt away.Almost.The rare occasions when we've

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-90427113353715402662008-02-19T17:46:00.003-08:002008-02-19T18:14:46.489-08:00

You know when you've truly forgiven and you're ready to "forget what lies behind" when you can talk about it.~Pastor Mark DriscollBut one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.~Philippans 3:13-14~

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-9602202042664675332008-02-12T11:34:00.000-08:002008-02-12T12:58:20.048-08:00

Last week I had a dream about receiving a red pocket for Chinese New Year (yah, I enjoy getting money ;p)... In my dream, no matter how many times I tried to count how much was in it, I couldn't get my numbers straight. It didn't matter which bill I started to count with, I would get lost partway through and I'd have to start over. In the end, I gave up trying to know how much was in that red

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-17559554894058230212008-02-08T17:50:00.001-08:002008-02-08T18:43:46.587-08:00

I've been told (and I have seen) that it's very common for people who come back from serving overseas to have a difficult time re-adjusting to church in North America. Personally, I find it true of myself. In a sense, I'm glad for this difficulty because it's forcing me to examine my beliefs about church and dig into the Word - instead of just going with what I've been brought up to accept as

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-70476931638616502282008-01-29T17:19:00.000-08:002008-01-29T17:38:40.167-08:00

I'm not sure why, but the recent violence in Kenya has touched a tender spot in my heart. Perhaps it's all the unnecessary killings and seeing the futility of trying to use violence to bring about change. I don't know. But I read the news and my heart weeps as I imagine all the displaced people who are living in such terror day and night. All that chaos with no where to turn.And I'm halfway

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-50254592092599105802008-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:002008-01-23T12:07:18.876-08:00

For as long as I can remember, I'd wanted to be a wife and a mother. On my sixteenth birthday, I asked God for a boyfriend (seeing as that was the logical first step toward attaining my heart's desire). In His grace, He let that request wait for another 9 years. In those years of waiting and hoping, I grew in my experience of God's personal presence and gained a deepened passion for sharing

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-32184068945010832342008-01-11T19:21:00.000-08:002008-01-11T19:25:10.855-08:00

Thinking about direction in life, Tim often reminds me that it's not about what we want to do or accomplish in life, but who we want to become. He told me about a conversation recently where he realized that what we build our lives around a) we need to be intentional about and b) really make a difference later in life.We need to be intentional: Each of us is born into an environment where a

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-23140184397200104812008-01-10T11:52:00.000-08:002008-01-10T15:36:51.829-08:00

Olive, for an introvert, you sure know a lot of people. Why is that?Um... good question.I really think that all the people I know have been placed into my life by God. I'm not one for big parties, intentional networking or lots of socializing, so it is at least a small mystery as to how I've gotten connected to so many people. I see my friendships as a collection of sorts. It's like each time

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-36108720751848737972008-01-04T17:53:00.000-08:002008-01-04T18:25:52.395-08:00

Let him who walks in the dark,who has no light,trust in the name of the LORDand rely on his God.But now, all you who light firesand provide yourselves with flaming torches,go, walk in the light of your firesand the torches you have set ablaze.This is what you will receive from my hand:You will lie down in torment.~Isaiah 50:10b-11~Flipping through some old journals last night, I came across this

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-38055756825812115942008-01-01T19:18:00.001-08:002008-01-01T19:40:07.375-08:00

The Word for today in Streams in the Desert is from Deuteronomy 11:10-12: For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden. But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-69434272375572451202007-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:002008-01-01T19:42:27.264-08:00

In the last 365 days, here is where the good Lord has brought me (in order):• Toronto• Vancouver• Panama• Vancouver• Toronto• Vancouver• Colorado• Vancouver• Whistler• Vancouver• Toronto• East Asia• Toronto• East Asia• Toronto. A lot of people travel more than this, I know. I suppose travelling needs to be differentiated from moving though. For me, I've moved at least four times in the midst of

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-334279729637078462007-12-26T15:39:00.000-08:002007-12-26T16:18:27.165-08:00

How is it that the grandeur and splendour of a natural wonder like Niagara Falls has attracted such an odd assortment of businesses? It is sad to see that so many "attractions" that have sprung up in the downtown part of Niagara Falls are really distractions from life: Ripley's believe-it-or-not, wax museums, haunted houses, tatoo parlours and more recently, the much celebrated casinos. It's

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-59820595116911818332007-12-14T19:22:00.000-08:002007-12-15T06:14:13.063-08:00

WORD OF THE DAY: FRANGIBLE(from dictionary.com)frangible \FRAN-juh-buhl\, adjective:Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.me.But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.~2 Corinthians 4:7~

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-5774471655160759262007-12-03T03:58:00.000-08:002007-12-03T04:14:56.048-08:00

ALL THINGS NOT EQUALI bought a bunch of bamboo a couple months back. Since they were too long, I cut off some inches from the bottom before I stuck them in a vase of water. They have now happily grown a healthy entanglement of roots. The short bits that I cut off, I stuck in their own little glass container with some pretty white pebbles to keep them standing straight. I'd seen a friend do

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-48706894631291197152007-11-20T05:27:00.000-08:002007-11-20T05:55:33.960-08:00

WHO DOES GOD TRUST?At a retreat this past weekend, in one of the prayers, the person thanked God for trusting Himself to the care of a teenage girl when He came to earth. That's a pretty incredible thought. That God would trust humanity to take care of Him. That the Creator would trust Himself to the created. Then it dawned on me that God not only trusted Mary, He trusted many other people in

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-58692115445786142762007-11-10T22:23:00.000-08:002007-11-10T22:32:06.135-08:00

REMARKABLE!Yesterday, a friend and I had lunch on the 12th floor of a hotel by the beach. Looking out over the rhythmic waves as they washed up along the shore, we prayed for each other. She thanked God for His love and that His thoughts about me outnumbered the grains of sand. After we finished praying, we both looked at each other and wondered, "What could God possibly be thinking about us

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-71124407621498839102007-11-09T04:20:00.000-08:002007-11-09T04:24:37.557-08:00

MIRACLEI think I'm finally starting to believe that I really am loved.I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.~Ezekiel 36:26~

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-82407277604571298082007-11-07T01:21:00.000-08:002007-11-07T01:30:14.098-08:00

BROKENToday, The water isn’t running,Our apartment smells like sewage,The internet is temperamental,I was fortunate to have a seat on the bus one-way,It’s taken me almost 2 hours to make a simple soup,And all I want to do since I woke up is go back to sleep.This soldier is broken.I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-56589037681057197982007-11-06T03:57:00.000-08:002007-11-06T04:11:52.353-08:00

FRUIT-LESSThis post has been rattling around in my brain for a while now and I thought it was about time to set it free...In my devos one day, I read about a gardener who was asked about his abundant and lush grape harvest. He explained that when he first acquired the vineyard, he pruned all the plants and for two whole years he had no harvest. I saw a parallel in my own life. I've been

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-34800966267916539012007-10-28T03:09:00.000-07:002007-10-28T04:28:58.714-07:00

WHAT AM I DREAMING?!This past week, my sleep has been full of really strange dreams consisting of many, many people. I'm not sure what's going on, but if you think of me, please pray for undisturbed sleep. Sleeping is making me tired.This morning, I had the weirdest dream I've had in a long time. Curiously enough, I think God had something to teach me through it. I'll try to narrate it here

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-52861831396361815342007-10-12T21:02:00.000-07:002007-10-12T22:38:09.885-07:00

RISKA couple weekends ago, I had the pleasure of an after-dinner hang-out with a few of my favourite people. Over some blended coffee drinks and tea, the conversation turned toward the topic of risk. The question posed was, "What are some of the biggest risks you've taken in your life?" We took turns sharing our stories. It was my turn. As I opened my mouth to speak, I began to realize that

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-56428493207751156652007-09-20T03:19:00.000-07:002007-09-20T04:00:45.117-07:00

A COUNTRY CALLED BROKENA couple weeks ago, I was on a "long distance" bus taking me from one city to another. I sat in the far right corner of the bus in a row that was raised by just one step. As such, my sightline included the air vents above every seat in front of me, all the way to the very front. Having 8 hours with not much to do, I observed that most of the vents were broken (it didn't

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-36695557458132902272007-09-07T06:09:00.000-07:002007-09-07T07:03:11.109-07:00

WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?Recently, I've been reading the Word with the question, "God, what do you want to teach me about yourself?" I've discovered it to be a rewarding way of reading the Word. It takes my eyes off myself and teaches me more about the One whom I love most.Being overseas again has brought me back to a place of emotional vulnerability - all my "normal" support structures aren't

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-32584848195836152782007-08-15T04:54:00.000-07:002007-08-15T05:07:07.704-07:00

SIGNPOSTI read a quote recently from John Townsend's book Hiding From Love that gave me some encouraging perspective in the face of moving away from my friends and loved ones. I meant to post this earlier but I haven't had a chance to until now. [Side note: I've arrived here safe and I'm dealing with the jet-lag full force]The extent to which we attach deeply to God and others is the extent to

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-15593078716372282512007-08-03T15:10:00.000-07:002007-08-03T16:05:51.325-07:00

TWO GOATSLast week, I heard one of the best explanations of the gospel. Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill church in Seattle) spoke about the double nature of what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. He related it back to the old testament Day of Atonement, which was the bloodiest day of the Jewish year.[As a side note, he explained why he thought God used blood as a symbol for sin. He

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-63682024522315772552007-05-13T16:46:00.000-07:002007-05-13T17:00:13.072-07:00

NO IDEA A prayer by Thomas Merton. My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-4456838942348147462007-03-04T12:54:00.000-08:002007-03-04T13:10:08.647-08:00

STILL HERE i know i've kinda fallen off the blogworld lately. blame it on a job that requires me to be staring at a computer all day, no internet at home, going to Panama and yes, being in a courtship. :) two very unrelated thoughts to post today... 1. i heard a cool analogy about sin this past week. imagine two guys flying a plane. the pilot looks down and sees a scorpion on his leg. he looks

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-13597997008433352112007-01-26T22:26:00.000-08:002007-01-26T22:29:00.416-08:00

I, A THIEF(!) I had a most interesting dream yesterday. In my dream, I robbed a house along with somebody else. I don’t know who that other person was, I only know I left that house with a black duffle bag containing stolen goods. I don’t know what goods were in the bag, I only know they were valuable and I would be in big trouble if it was found out that I had stolen them. Anyway, this other

olsnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-52382427913061060882007-01-08T19:35:00.000-08:002007-01-08T20:01:33.213-08:00

OH HOW WONDERFULi've been thinking about heaven recently. about my life here on earth in relation to heaven. about my 70 or 80 years and how they are really just a speck of time and yet God allows me those years so that i can make a difference in eternity. so i've been asking myself whether every aspect of my life is being impacted by this awareness. and evaluating, will this (whatever it is)

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1165536496040183082006-12-07T15:07:00.000-08:002006-12-07T16:08:16.056-08:00

BEING HUMANit seems to me that one of the reasons why God brought me back to Canada at this time is to teach me (re-teach me?) what it means to be human. from things like eating properly - not just what kinds of foods, mind you, i mean the actual act of eating properly (ie, chewing 20 times before i swallow) - to breathing every day (ie, not just shallow breathing, but deep inhaling/exhaling),

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1164169326112588652006-11-21T20:07:00.000-08:002006-11-21T20:22:06.130-08:00

TRUSTOlive, have you ever had acupuncture before?looking at my naturopathic doctor, i emphatically shake my head, NO!she looks at me, are you scared?i emphatically nod my head, YES!do you trust me?how could i not trust her? we've grown up together.so ten minutes later, i'm lying on my back with needles poking out from various points of my body. unexpected and weird, to be sure. but thankfully,

olsnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1162857605338782952006-11-06T15:27:00.000-08:002006-11-08T09:38:53.936-08:00

SEE THE MORNINGthere are two reasons why i love the new Chris Tomlin CD. the first, is that it's a great CD both musically and lyrically. the second is because it carries much meaning in my life at this point. allow me to explain...last year, my time overseas was THE hardest year i've experienced so far in this short quarter-century of life. ministry was slow, my health wasn't the greatest

olsnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1162418004110243392006-11-01T13:37:00.000-08:002006-11-01T13:53:24.126-08:00

F I Z Z L E . . . so i woke up this morning with a huge headache and a dull aching pain throughout my body. this is what happens when i push myself too hard. God, in His loving grace inflicts me with something that keeps me home, makes me cancel all appointments and causes me to sleep and sleep and sleep.a wise friend exhorted me to read Hebrews 4 today - a chapter on entering God's place of

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1161448432381687282006-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:002006-10-21T09:33:52.396-07:00

CONNECT-THE-DOTSin my mind, i'm standing on a page. surrounding me are lots of dots. my goal is to connect them all somehow. i draw a straight line from the dot i'm standing at to the nearest one on my right. so far so good. i draw another line. but as i'm drawing, anxiety rises in my heart - how exactly is everything going to link together? where does that dot fit in? what about this one?

olsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1161229589071299562006-10-18T20:24:00.004-07:002006-10-18T20:46:29.073-07:00

DEPTHSthis morning, i was reflecting on a very familiar psalm when some new insight broke through. (don't you love it when that happens? it's like you're reading something you've read a thousand times and even memorized when you suddenly see a phrase in a new light and it reveals a new dimension you've never thought of before.) If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide meand the light become

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1160851575204203462006-10-14T11:19:00.000-07:002006-10-14T11:46:15.226-07:00

EMBRACING THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF GODa friend and I were musing over dim sum yesterday about faith and art and missions in Asia when out of the blue, she said something like, "until you embrace the ridiculousness of God, you don't experience the fullness of all He wants to bless you with." that's probably one of the best descriptions of how our relationship with God works. not only is salvation -

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1160087717797234592006-10-05T15:24:00.000-07:002006-10-05T15:35:17.816-07:00

THE TESTIMONY OF LEAVESAn Exerpt on God's Faithfulness from "The Holy Wild" by Mark BuchannanA leaf. Behold a single leaf. So fragile, it tears like paper, crushes in your hand to a moist stain, sharply fragrant. Dry, it burns swift and crackling as newsprint, pungent as gunpowder. Yet a leaf may withstand hurricanes, stubbornly clinging to its limb.Hold it open in your palm. It is perfect as a

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1157667132673700792006-09-07T14:28:00.000-07:002006-09-07T15:14:51.806-07:00

ADAM'S JOBit seems that lately, i'm on a Genesis kick. :)i was talking to a friend one night about how God made Adam wait for Eve and gave him the job of naming the animals when the full weight of the responsibility hit me. as an artist, i usually name my works. and it bugs me when people get the name wrong. what baffles me is that God would make all these fantastic creatures and then let Adam

olsnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1157045524850421312006-08-31T09:59:00.000-07:002006-08-31T10:34:06.490-07:00

THE COTTAGEi've discovered that i'm a very angry person. surprised? yeah, so am i. i finished reading Delighting God by Victoria Brooks last night. in it, she tells the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan during the initial stages of their relationship. knowing that Helen's well-meaning parents would interfere with her teaching, Anne Sullivan takes Helen to a cottage for two

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1156900281876094042006-08-29T17:59:00.000-07:002006-08-29T18:11:21.906-07:00

MORE ON ADAM AND EVEso recently i finished reading Donald Miller's "Searching for God Knows What" (which i found to be a refreshing look at the meaning and relevance of the gospel story and highly recommend it to anyone). in it, he writes an account of his imagined story of the time between Adam's creation and Eve's creation. he reasons that it probably took Adam a hundred (lonely) years of

olsnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1156564141349867932006-08-25T20:19:00.000-07:002006-08-25T20:49:01.430-07:00

REFUGEwhen God decides enough's enough and He orchestrates events and circumstances to break my pride and wean me off my self-reliance, my old self raises a lot of stink. like waves crashing violently and mountains hurtling into the heart of the sea, turmoil fills my soul. this week, i was finally forced to come to terms with the possibility that i might be sick. *gasp*, i know. but it's not

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1155154179091555822006-08-09T12:07:00.000-07:002006-08-09T13:09:39.203-07:00

WONDERever wonder at a sunset? brilliant hues and shades of orange and red slowly shifting into pinks, purples and blues as the light slips away and the sky is blanketed with darkness. trees slowly become silhouettes and the faint song of the stars grows louder and clearer. we sit in our cars, or homes, or, if we're fortunate, on a park bench or somewhere in the wilderness, watching the drama

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1154644475126580032006-08-03T15:19:00.000-07:002006-08-03T15:34:36.360-07:00

THOROUGHNESSone of my favourite passages, i've discovered, is Genesis chapter 2 - God's creation of man and woman. it's the way things were supposed to be, life in its completeness before the fall. and maybe because i'm a woman, i especially like this passage. because it really tells the story of how woman came to be.recently, i re-read this passage and i was struck by a detail i'd read before

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1154485584639158112006-08-01T18:07:00.000-07:002006-08-01T19:26:24.736-07:00

A TIME NOT TO DANCEan excerpt from a recent journal entry:I am a sheep grazing in Your pasture. My eyes meet Your gaze. I am filled with a flood of Your love and kindness. I want to love You back. I want to dance and eat grass like a good sheep and be pleasing to You. I do not, however, amble over to You and let You hold me or stroke me. Why? I am still highly performance driven. Why do I

olsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1153178146756664282006-07-17T15:34:00.000-07:002006-07-17T16:15:49.966-07:00

HOW BLUEBERRIES GLORIFY GODleave it to the hottest day of the year, but my parents and i spent the afternoon yesterday on a berry farm, picking blueberries. as i crouched next to the bushes with the hot sun beating down on me, i eagerly lifted up each branch to see if there were any giant, plump, ripe blueberries hiding under the leaves. somewhere in the silence, i started thinking about how

olsnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1151728187721301402006-06-30T21:04:00.000-07:002006-06-30T21:29:47.796-07:00

PROCESSING THE CHANGEIt's been four days since my flight touched down in YVR. I'm realizing more and more that even though I thought I'd been away for one year and then another year, reality is that I've been away for two years. It might not seem like such a big difference, but it is. I'm grateful that I decided to delay my return date to Toronto by a few days, grateful, too, for my friend

olsnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1149314854928807402006-06-02T23:02:00.000-07:002006-06-18T21:42:44.183-07:00

WHOOPS... DID I SAY THAT?So I was having a deep conversation with my friend yesterday, telling her about how God has been encouraging me lately. I shared with her my moment of insight last weekend as I sat on the train staring out the window at the railroad tracks. I told her about how even though there were two iron tracks and small rocks filled all the space between them, there were still

olsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1148441642590247532006-05-23T19:54:00.000-07:002006-05-29T06:26:42.103-07:00

FRAGILEme.a fight broke out across the street last night. five minutes later, i happened to be checking on how my laundry was drying when i looked out the window. nurses were lifting a man on a stretcher into an ambulance. fragile. life.an email from my mom: "your childhood friend has cancer. call her asap." i'm rattled. every fiber of my being wants to leave here and be there with her. with

olsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588252.post-1146060367556164662006-04-26T07:04:00.000-07:002006-04-26T07:06:07.566-07:00

PLAYGROUND LESSONSWritten Sunday, April 23Today, I had the luxury of spending the day at a teahouse, overlooking a playground. As I gazed out the window, here’s what I wrote in my journal…I’m sitting here watching a little girl play with her dad. She is about 5 years old and her pigtailed hair bounces in the wind as she runs over to the swing. Eagerly, she climbs onto it and begins to

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