Sunday, September 18, 2011

At Water's Edge

I spent this weekend in New Hampshire
for a tri-ward campout.
Very very fun and nice, just to be outside and get to meet and make many new friends.
This morning we held our church meeting in the amphitheater area over looking this beautiful water. As the testimonies were being shared, I found myself having a "conversational dialog" in my head. A small part of me loves poetry and occasionally I find myself writing some of my thoughts down in that form.
I thought I would share what I wrote, because it means something to me, and perhaps it will mean something to somebody else as well :)
At Water's Edge

Dear Savior I’m peaceful, it’s quiet and still.
I’m trying to listen, to learn of thy will.

My child I am calm as you watch me this day
You rest in my palm and there you may stay.
My child I am steady, constant I flow
With patience please watch me, my ways you will know.

Dear Savior I’m watching, please help make it clear
The reason for living and why I am here.

My child I am ready, come unto me
Will you watch, will you listen, will you look, will you see?
My child I see in you an increase much more
I’ll show you the purpose, which you were made for.

At times I’m alone here, dear Savior please stay
When all I can do is to kneel and to pray.

My child I am with you, my presence remains
Doubt not, fear not, my comfort sustains.
My child do you feel me at waters edge?
Do you trust me to keep you safe far from the ledge?

Dear Savior I trust you, but how do you know
Of the cares and concerns of one child below?
For sometimes I falter, my sandals grow wet
As I walk on the water, nearer thee to get.

My child I am wide, I encompass all
Let my arms protect you when you feel far too small.
My child I’m all knowing with stars in my hands.
The moons and my worlds still obey my commands.

I rule ‘or through heaven, the cosmos attend, but
My child from my throne did I once descend
And now with all glory for my Father above
My child do I raise you through matchless love.

For time without measure and space with no end
My child you’re my glory, my treasure, my friend.
No force could diminish, nor power could break
My child from my watchcare, not one I’ll forsake.

So dear child be calm as you watch me this day
And know that I love thee, and am not far away.
Be patient and steady so one day you’ll see
Just how to return and live always with me.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Something to me

...because it means something to me~
When I was home last, I told daddy about something I've always always wanted to do. I love my home. I love Turlock. And I wanted to photograph it.
I was so blessed to grow up surrounded by beautiful things, and I don't feel like I've ever taken it for granted. I have always loved looking at the fields of corn, vineyards of grapes, orchards of nuts and fruits, or rows and rows of whatever else we grow, not to mention all the cows!

But there are certain places I'll never ever get tired of seeing; places that mean "home" to me. Places that even now, thousands of miles away as a desktop picture, can make me calm just looking at it because of the memories and emotions of home embedded in them for me.
How many hundreds of thousands of times have I driven down Taylor and crossed over this canal...
...or taken puppers on a walk and unlatched the gate overgrown with ivy?
How many years has this been my view walking out my front door to go watch the boys play catch at the park, run over to the Falke's for a second, or meet mama as she comes in with groceries or daddy from work at lunch time?
How many seasons of harvest have I watched; measuring the what-seemed-like-daily growth of the corn until one morning you all of the sudden realize, "hey! they cut the corn down today!" (always pretending that some of it ends up at Raley's to buy, even though you really knew it was "for the cows")
And how many times will it take turning down this road...
for my heart to stop aching with that wonderful happy ache that you only get when you turn down the familiar road to home....
for me not to feel like I can suddenly breath deeply and properly again knowing that home is just down the road...
for my eyes to stop soaking up every bit of the land, like if I don't trap it all in my memory I may one day forget how the warm sun looks on the open fields...

Hopefully another hundred thousand times or more.
Because this is my home,
this is where my heart truly forever will be,
because it means something to me~