Psalm 42:1-5

As a deer pants for flowing streams,

     so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

     while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

     how I would go with the throng and lead them 

     in procession to the house go God

     with glad shouts and songs of praise

a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

     and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

     my salvation and my God.

Deep Calls to Deep

I love to body surf.  I grew up on the beach and had plenty of opportunity to practice, and I'm pretty good at catching a wave.  However, on occasion the wave would catch me.  Then down and round, and round and down you tumble in the wave, till you don't know which way is up until your face lands in the sand.  The power of a wave when you're in it's grip is awesome in the strongest sense of the word.  You realize who you are and what the wave is.  And sometimes that's how the power of God rolls over you.

"Deep calls to deep

     at the roar of your waterfalls;

all your breakers and your waves 

     have gone over me.

By day the Lord commands his

          steadfast love,

     and at night his song

          is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life."    ~ Psalm 42:7-8

The beauty of these verses has long haunted me, but it is only lately that I began to understand what the psalmist was saying.  There have been (indeed, are) occasions in my life when I've had no idea what is up, what is down, what is anything.  I only know that I am not (never were?) in control, and the best I can do is not swallow the mouthful of sand.  Or maybe I do.  But even as those waters break over me and I've lost all control of the situation, I'm not cut adrift.  I am indeed in the grip of God, and by day He commands that His steadfast love be with me, and by night He sings over me.  Therefore, I - and you - can have hope.

"Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."  ~ Psalm 42:11b

Unlikely Beauty

Springtime in South Texas where I grew up is just glorious!  Texas wildflowers are an amazing sight to see along the roadsides, in fields, and stretching forever across prairie land.  You'll see Texas Primrose, Indian Blankets, Indian Paintbrush and of course, the famous Bluebonnet, among many others.  The citrus trees are blooming, too, along with gardenia and jasmine - absolutely filling the air with perfume.  But one flower you may not expect to see is the sunshine yellow bloom of the cactus.  It's always a surprise and delight to see them, because you just don't expect a cactus to be beautiful!  Even if you've grown up with them.  I am thankful for my Father's sweet reminder that beauty comes even from prickly, painful places.

So, I was surprised and delighted once more to see these cactus blooms in an email my brother sent this morning.  He found this beauty near Gregory, just northeast of Corpus Christi.  I hope you enjoy their beauty, too.

More High Meadow Creatures

High Meadow has been overrun!  In our 17 years here, I've never seen soooo many caterpillars!  They are everywhere.  You can't take a step without encountering them which is really, really gross.  They're on fence rails, gate latches, door mats, you name it.  They seem especially drawn to water, so I guess they're at a very thirsty stage of development.  Fortunately, the organic pesticide I've used has kept them from my garden.  Time will tell whether they'll be butterflies or moths, but if they're butterflies we're in for a spectacular summer sight.  

                                              Caterpillar-go-round.

                                                     Marching, marching, marching.

                                                      Caterpillars with ladybug and spider.

It's tricky getting through the walk-through without getting caterpillars on you.  

                                             Horses and caterpillars.  

What Is It?

Something lurks beneath our feet.  On some days it's more apparent than on others, so on one of those more-revealing days, I captured the creatures with my camera.  Can you guess what they are?

Prehistoric fish nosing their way up to the surface of a murky bayou?  Mummified road-kill?  A gaping, large-mouthed sea serpent?  The remains of an antelope's head?  Images from a previous time left stamped in our own time?  

You tell me.

Easter Fun

On Easter Sunday afternoon, the boys arrived looking all springtime fresh and ready to hunt MORE EGGS!  It doesn't take long to learn that those colorful plastic eggs contain CANDY!  Here Gilbert stops to open his first egg and see what's inside.

While Gilbert has learned that you must go looking for the eggs, Patrick still needs an assist from Uncle Justin and Dada.

Gilbert politely asks St. Francis if he may take the Easter Egg from off his cowl.

St. Francis was agreeable on this most Holy of days!

Patrick has found a blue sucker, and you can see from his expression that he's very pleased!  You'll be seeing more of this blue sucker, trust me.

Patrick brings the blue sucker over for Mommy to unwrap while Gilbert checks it out.

                              Lookout!  Ladybug has entered the picture!

Aww.... she only wants to help clean the sticky off Gilbert.

See, I told you!  The blue sucker shows up again.  Shall we title this photo BLUE BOY???

God's Servant Made

"Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing,

                    Nothing but bones,

       The sad effect of sadder groans:

Thy mouth was open, but thou couldst not sing.

For we consider'd thee as at some six

                    Or ten years hence,

       After the loss of life and sense,

Flesh being turn'd to dust, and bones to sticks.

We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short,

                    Where we did find

       The shells of fledge souls left behind,

Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.

But since our Saviour's death did put some blood

                    Into thy face,

       Thou art grown fair and full of grace,

Much in request, much sought for, as a good.

For we do now behold thee gay and glad,

                    As at dooms-day,

       When souls shall wear their new array,

And all thy bones with beauty shall be clad.

Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust

                    Half that we have

       Unto an honest faithful grave;

Making our pillows either down, or dust.

Death by George Herbert

Death by George Frederick Watts