Believing the Inconceivable

I wrote this Bible Study for The Mennonite.

It was published on March 1 - in print and online.
Which makes me do this this:

Like happy and freaking and maybe I just peed myself a little....while at the same time mortified because what if it's shitty and now its out there for everyone to critique.

Its my first time being edited.  And they made me write in complete sentences and sound adult-ish.  They also took out every last exclamation mark and you know how I love my exclamation marks!!!!

Its a lot more bible-talky than I usually am on this blog.  We can have a long conversation about scripture and its literal/not literal-ness.  But the idea of resurrection showing up in our own every day humdrum existence, and my desire to so fully EMBRACE it...that's the real stuff I really really REALLY care about. 

And you've heard me talk about the unicorn doctor here before.  So you can say you heard it first! 

But the point is, friends, I hope today YOU grab onto the inconceivable and believe it, own it, and thank the universe for throwing you a bone.  Stop holding your breath.  Once in awhile, life really is just that great!

sunshine

"The best sermon I ever heard
was the sun."

- Mary Oliver

Despite superwoman efforts, its fact... I am chronically - and worse than ever - behind. On pidly stuff.  You know, like turning in library books and cleaning the bathroom and buying bananas.  Every day lately is reminding me that I just plain do not have my shit together.

But this little girlie is bound and determined to blow sunshine into every corner of everything lately, and I can't help but sigh way down to my middle and breathe a thousand thank you's for this chaos that is life.  And especially for this little three year old sermon-sender.



She has lots of tea parties lately.  And today she got all three - we always have an extra one or two around - all three bigs lined up in a row for her impromptu, but oh so well orchestrated "tea party in the park".

Patience.  Each candy and cracker so carefully counted.  Serving.

Refills granted.

Lots of WAIT YOUR TURN!!ing.

Its communion, really.

Sunshine all over my insides.  Best sermon yet.  Fact.

garden goodness

 

Last week was open windows 24/7.  It bumps me up at least 7 notches of happy when I get to fall asleep with the night air and wake to breeze coming in the windows.  Kansas, you were so good to me that I promise to try hard to wait a few days before being mad at you again.

And this is happening in the garden.....

Love.

 

 River's one lone sunflower.  He is SO proud.

My beloved basil...

River's apple tree has about 10 this year!!

About to be lunch...

running over...

Just a few things reminding me on this Monday that despite those extremely pesky irritable notions on my insides, this life is indeed grand.

My cup runneth over...

my rugby boys

When a girlie puts on her dress-up clothes and decides to hit some balls, its best to Get Out Of The Way, Chuck!!

The focus is all off in the picture, but I had to include it b/c she looks a lot like pics of when I was three.  Don't you think, Aunt Charlie?

 We are babysitting our neighbor's rescued kitties.  Nothing quite like syringe feeding and cuddling these 4 babies to make my uterus ache!

 Oh my worrrrrrrrrrrrd!

 Its so sweet to see each kid relate to them in their own way.  

 He just lays on the floor and lets them snuggle all into him.  So gentle.  He's going to be such a great man someday.

 She squeals like they are mice instead of kittens if they come within a foot of her. She plays with them by "Mama I will run around their box and sing and dance la la la and hop and whooooie that's how I play with them!"

Books in his fort.  Libraries are the best.  I've been thinking lately....we need libraries for things like dishes and fun shoes and sports equipment and nail polish.  Wouldn't it be fantastic if every week we got fun new bowls and cups like we do books?!  Someone get on that!

Last, have you made the edamame dip yet?  We can't stop.  The Chachi Band recommends it with garden mint tea in the company of a chia pet.  Side note:  Have you ever grown a chia pet?  They are absolutely sick and disgusting to have on your counter til they get big leaves.  Ew.

thank you, God, for rain

It has been raining all day.
Its as though my soul is being tended to.
I.love.the.rain.

There was a brief two hours of drizzle light enough to play outside this morning.

If the garden has a soul, its being fed too....

Ryan is growing hopps for beer brewing.  They are giving shade to the chickens too.

Phoebe...

Ryan says we can put this in tea and smoothies soon.  

We planted this apple tree the month he was born to mark his birth.  

He takes tending to it's first two apples quite seriously.

This will be popcorn from a farm in Michigan - from our beach vacation last summer.

sage...

Their favorite thing to do outside lately is what they call, "trimming things with scissors".  

Today, Riv said he was making "chicken salad"...as in salad for the chickens!

Now that we're back inside, they have several times said, "Thank you God for rain." when passing by the window.  With a quiet reverence.  It made me realize they are echoing a phrase I've murmured aloud all day.

Yes, indeed.  Thank you, God, for rain.

Gooooooo Wingnuts!!

There are 21 days until school starts, but who's counting?

We are checking off the last few things from the summer To Do list.  This one we had to do, if for no other reason, because they are the Wingnuts.  Wingnuts?!?!  A team with a name like that is a must see, right!?

I thought we would maybe make it through 3 innings, but we lasted until the very end.  I used to go to these games with Dad and loved listening to him explain and analyze the game.  My miniscule memory capacity is a true gift in so many ways - including that every time he explained the game it was like the first time hearing it.

I attempted the same thing with our kiddos....."See, right before the pitcher throws, the catcher gives him signs on what kind of pitch to give."  Oh I felt SO smart.  I know exactly three things about baseball, then I have to turn it over to the dad.

Ever the quiet observer...

And when did she turn 14?!...

They got along for 3 days to earn money in a jar for snacks at the game.
Every hour with no fighting = $1.
Every fight = loss of $1.
Magic.
They ended up with $15.
I'm going to bribe them with cold hard cash for the next 16 years.  Yes I am, because yes, money does indeed buy happiness if happiness is peace, love, and understanding in the Bartel house for three days.

Sorry for the selfie, but when I give the camera to the kids, I don't get it back.  The last time we went to a game here together, we had been going out for 3 months and I was in a frozen tshirt contest (which I won, thank you very much!).  My word, I love this man more than ever!

Sage's favorite parts were when they played music as the batters took the plate so she could dance.  And eating peanuts.  Except we didn't buy any peanuts.  But she ate a lot of peanuts.  Oops.  Idle parenting at its best.....

We got to go on the field after the game and run the bases.  Did you know that its not real grass and sand?  That makes baseball fact #4.  Go me.

Super happy that a Wingnuts game was on the list!