Miles nor time can separate...

This is my big 4-0 year...can't believe it, actually.  My sweet family allowed me to celebrate it in style even though we were MILES apart.  I've desired for a very long time to see Chris Tomlin in concert, but it just hasn't ever worked out.  This year seemed like it would yet again be a passing year that I'd miss that worship experience.  BUT NO!  Divine providence brought it to pass in way my heart could never have dreamed!  My sweet loving, sacrificial family cheered and supported me on as I flew to Edmonton, Alberta Canada last Sunday.  I was greeted at the airport by my sweet--much younger ;) friend, Justine who promptly treated me to a yummy Tim Horton's coffee!  (double milk, please!)  :)

We spent the next three days together and the night before I was to return home we went to see Chris and the band at Centre Street Church in Calgary!  Thanks to my sweet friend, Janet Reeves, we were able to see Jesse (Chris's bass player) and the guys after the concert {we did meet Chris too. :) Jesse introduced us.}  It was kinda funny...the whole intermission I was so excited!!  I told the girls I felt like I was about to see family.  And well, actually I was...they're my brothers in Christ, so... family for sure.  Janet and Jesse were such sweet friends of ours in Fort Worth many moons ago.  Love them dearly and loved visiting with Jesse.  He's as funny as ever, and it makes me miss them and that time in our lives more than I have in a long while.  If you know me or ever have known me well, I love to maintain relationships as much as possible (holla for FB!!).  Special times pass, but are never ever forgotten.  I am so truly thankful that through Jesus our bonds will Never be broken...no matter how many miles apart.  Jesse's parting words to me were, 'Edie, how bout you come see us a little closer to home next time? *wink*'  ( OK, so I secretly am scheming as to how I can volunteer at Passion!!)  Yeah well, now this story has come full circle.  

While my original intent was to see Chris Tomlin in concert, seeing Justine was the added bonus in going to Canada to see him.  I loved every minute of that hour and half of worship...truly inspiring!!  Seeing my Canadian brothers and sisters praising the Lord that way blessed my soul.  However, those three days of being with my sweet friend in her home and hearing her heart, sharing meals and laughter was by far the highlight of my trip!♥  That sweet hospitality of hers and her man's were precious.  I have my sweet Owen to thank for introducing us last November...he never lets me forget that either ;).  However that friendship has come to be what it is, it's truly a blessing to me.  Thank you, Justine for hosting and chauffeuring me ALL over creation!!

 Never ever underestimate the power of God's hand in who He places in your life...or what He intends to do.  Just love as you have been loved....

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."1 John 4:11

 Wherever you are, be fully there!

deep valleys, lush, green new growth

I've known the Lord for 32 years this last month. It seems sometimes like I'd have some of the hard stuff down.... Not so. Days bring contemplations of all kinds. Some contemplations that seem somewhat trivial...those you can handle on your own. Some days bring hard contemplation. The kind that forces you to act out what you believe even when you (and your heart) may not really feel like it. Do I trust Him? Do I believe He's sovereign even over this--whatever this is? Personally, I don't enjoy those times, but really, in retrospect, they are when my faith grows ever stronger and more personal. Mountaintop experiences are what we all love. Have you ever really thought about the fact the the extreme climate on mountaintops is not conducive to much growth...few trees, small clumps of sparse vegetation. However, the valley is lush and green and flourishing with water to nourish. Hear that? the valley! We all go there at sometime...it's the natural ebb and flow of life. I really don't like the valley, however I love what happens after I've been there. I'm refreshed and ready to climb again...stronger than before. The valley can feel really lonely. I know that I'm not alone, ever, no matter how I feel. The Lord is with me all the time. Sometimes that loneliness comes from too many things crowding Him out. While it's unsettling, it's so good to be alone in our struggles...they are so personal. No one can really understand what the Almighty already knows about me. When the feelings of isolation come for me it's usually because the seen has crowded out the unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18) I hope to be able to shed the scales and SEE with the eyes His Holy Spirit makes available to me...the unseen, the part I need not fear because He has seen it and holds it in His hands. When I am alone in these personal trials and times, He chips away the unnecessary and soothes me with His balm. He speaks to me in the quiet like no other time. His voice is worth the struggle...just to hear that which spoke the whole world into being...spoken to my heart! Amazing...the sound I'll never tire of no matter how many valleys or mountaintops lie ahead! ♥

"Now that I hear you Lord, I wanna know you more. Sing Your song to me...there's no better thing than to listen to the sound of your voice...when I hear your song, I wanna sing along...."

Information vs lessons

I love it when our schoolwork teaches us life lessons, not just information...

The Blind Men and the Elephant
John Godfrey Saxe 1816-1887

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a WALL!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, "Ho, what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a SPEAR!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a SNAKE!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he:
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a TREE!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a FAN!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a ROPE!"

(Moral)

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

Retro active post...

Lots of December action around here.  Christmas activities galore--Open House, piano recital, church caroling,  family coming to celebrate, a birthday girl..... We're no different than any of the rest of our friends in the activity schedules, but are desperate to be different than we've been in the past.  Refocusing on the manger more than ever before is our goal.  Chloe has taken the lead in reminding us to be selfless in our giving.  She has made me proud and humbled me in the same minute.  I'm so thankful for this renewal time and those who challenged my thinking this year.  It's exciting to see God's hand at work in the lives of friends and family.  In trying to live in the moment, I'm soberly reminded of friends who'll be spending what might be their last Christmas with loved ones.  I pray to BE alive and awake this year!  Blessings from the Tolar house this December!

Still around

It's been forever since I blogged...computer issues, plus the last time I tried to change my blog background it all froze up, etc.  I don't do well with 'technology' issues.  I WILL be back... ;) I have tons to post/blog, but life has overwhelmed a little, and living that overwhelming life has been higher on my agenda than blogging about it.... ;)

Recycling my gifts

This year we were blessed with gorgeous pumpkins...even after the drought. I hated the thought of throwing them out just because it's time for Christmas decorations. SO upon the urging of my sweet sis-in-love. Here's what we decided to do!

before

after

my favorite!

Thanksgiving 2011

All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him.

~Ann Voskamp