Stirring Words Profound in Wisdom

"What is this that I feel sitting here, coursing through me relentless, hot, ardent? I have to seek God beauty. Because isn't my internal circuitry wired to seek out something worthy of worship? Every moment I live, I live bowed to something. And if I don't see God, I'll bow down before something else."

"God is present in all the moments, but I do not deify the wind in the pines, the snow falling on hemlocks, the moon over harvested what. Pantheism, seeing the natural world as divine, is a very different thing than seeing divine God present in all things. I know it here kneeling, the twilight so still: nature is not God but God revealing the weight of Himself, all His glory, through the looking glass of nature."

"Why am I out in this evening field, lying under moon? Is eucharisteo opening the eyes wider, the heart deeper? Is this paradox - that giving thanks for what is, creates an appetite for more - not for more things, but for seeking more of God to give more glory?"

"I look down at the stained skirt of my apron, washed in moonlight. And I think I can stand here? I think I can brave this Beauty? Not an empty, tinny beauty but a Fierce Beauty, Flaming Fire who burns through the thick masks and leaves the soul disrobed. I am naked and I am right ashamed. I know how monstrously inhumane I can be. Raging at children for minor wrongdoings while I am the one defiling the moment with sinful anger. Hoarding possessions while others die of starvation. Entertaining the mind with trivial pretties when I haven't bowed the head and heart in a prayer longer than five minutes in a week. My tongue has had a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, an idolater, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had time for the thanks.

'God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God.' (Matthew 5:8) What am I doing out here? I am filthy rags. Is sight possible? I've only got one pure thing to wear and it's got Made By Jesus on the tag and the purity of Jesus lies over a heart and His transparency burns the cataracts off the soul. The only way to see God manifested in the world around is with the eyes of Jesus within."

"I was lost but know I am found again, Jesus, and I know what I want: to see deeply, to thank deeply, to feel joy deeply. How my eyes see, perspective, is my key to enter into His gates. I can only do so with thanksgiving. If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything? And if I can give thanks for the good things, the hard things, the absolute everything, I can enter the gates to glory. Living in His presence is fullness of joy - and seeing shows the way in."

By Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts

Yumminess

Today I tried my hand at baking for the first time at a high altitude. As I watched the brownies cook, I thought they were going to be a flop. But it turns out they were a sweet success!

The 7-Year-Old Theologian Turns 8!

This past Sunday, a few of us celebrated the birthday of Little Miss "A", also known as the 7-year-old-theologian. :) After church, we went out for lunch followed by an afternoon at a very fun children's park.

Mmm - ice-cream!

We're here!

Good to the last lick!

Down the slide with Tía Kati.

Whee!

Every princess wants her own castle, right?

The view from inside a turtle's shell.

Tía Kati with the girls.

For some reason this spider's web fascinated the birthday girl and she asked for her picture to be taken in front of it!

Enjoying my time with the three musketeers!

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Amiga Especial!

Newsletter Update

Dear Blog Readers,

In addition to posting regularly to this blog, I also write a quarterly newsletter giving a missions update and sharing current prayer requests. The last newsletter I posted here, but due to layout and design issues, I've decided to only send them out via email in the form of a PDF document. If you are not currently on the mailing list and would like to receive these newsletters, please let me know by sending an email to: purefragrance99@yahoo.com

Blessings,

Katrina

Everyday Life

Homework Time

How many of your boys learn embroidery skills at age seven?

Showing us her handiwork - so pretty!

Mr. "A" hard at work

Tía Elisabeth is our education tía and is amazing! She takes the children to and from school, meets with teachers as necessary, and supervises the homework of all 13 school-age children!

This little mischief-maker is supposed to be writing her letters...

That's better.

Meanwhile, upstairs, some children are what you might call "sacked out." :)

This creation, by the three oldest girls, is their new changing room where they can change clothes without the boys seeing them...just in case their door happens to be open. They were so proud of their ingenuity!

Well done little ladies!

He Giveth Us Richly All Things To Enjoy

July 21, 2011

121. Cheerios :)

122. Tickle sessions

123. "Love stickers" on Edgar's forehead

July 27, 2011

124. Green trees on the mountainside

125. Sight

126. Fluffy, white clouds against a blue sky

127. Solution to the "flea" problem

128. Yellow apricots hanging from a tree

129. The feel of a flute in my hands once more and the joy of making music

130. Seeing the delight new clothes bring to the children

131. Chores accomplished with good attitudes by the children

132. Goodbye kisses (from children, that is!)

133. Beautiful, refreshing weather

134. Good news about Mom in China

135. The ability to walk, even on sharp, cobbly stones, without having to be pushed in a wheelchair

July 29, 2011

136. Ana Maria's giggles and squeals

137. Child cuddles after nap time

138. Bubbles that don't pop

139. Swinging in the fresh morning air with giggly children

140. A new toaster

141. Stevia-sweetened jelly for toast from the new toaster :)

142. Reminders from the Lord to be patient

143. The joy of giving

144. Dancing through the house in a parade line to happy children's music

145. Finding the right pair of new shoes for the children from our storage bins

Operation Organization!

Would you like to see what I have been working on around here all of last week?

When I arrived, bedrooms had just been rearranged to make room for two new children, meaning that the storage room for extra clothes and shoes no longer existed. For the time being, the mountains of clothes and shoes had been piled up out in the hallway. My roommate, Kaley, began organizing everything before she left but was unable to finish the project. So I did! :)

It was a big job but loads of fun! Another project I tackled was organizing the four little girls' clothes into colorful baskets labeled with their names and type of garment for that basket.

I guess it shows that I am not the world's greatest artist when Belinda thought her picture of pants referred to sweaters! Oh well. We'll have to work on learning the new drawings now :)

This last project was one of my favorites to work on. 14 toothbrushes that used to be crammed together into one tiny little cup (or more likely spilling out onto sink and floor) now have their own special homes in labeled cups. Every child has a personal cup, toothbrush, and toothpaste all their own. No more sharing germs! :)

Their labeled cups coordinate with matching name tags on the shelf system so they know exactly where to put it when done. So far, this new system has worked beautifully! It was so rewarding to see their delight with it!

Who knew brushing teeth could be so much fun???