BLUEBONNETS AND BUTTERCUPS

West Texas has been especially beautiful this spring. Thank you, Father! In the five plus years we've been here, I've never seen the flowers look as vivid as they have lately. While the bluebonnets are fading now, they certainly were vivid.

I took the bluebonnet and yellow flowers photos at the Abilene Airport. All that beauty and sky...Wow! I took the photo of the tree and buttercups in our next door neighbor's yard. I remember as a Kindergarten student playing in the field of buttercups with friends and gently putting the flowers up to our chins to make a "pollen beard." We'd giggle with glee as we'd check out each other's yellow beards.

Don't you know God planned that and takes delight in children (and all of us enjoying his beautiful nature?

Our Father certainly shows off his glory. I'm so thankful he does. It's through his beautiful nature that I so often catch a glimpse of him and his wonders. It's through the vast splendor to the intricate details of his handiwork that I'm reminded how much he loves me.

Awed,
Lila

GROW

This is a painting/collage I've completed. It makes me smile. The little girl is extending her arms up to the tree as if to magically mandate, "Grow, by golly!"

The larger girl is embracing the possibility to grow so much so that she is even eating the leaves. A saying by e.e. cummings is at the bottom that says, "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." That's for sure!

I have prints of this and have them for sale. You can contact me at journeysinn@gmail.com if you are interested.

Let's Grow!
Lila

SERGE AND ESPERANCE'S WEDDING

I am so excited about Serge and Esperance's wedding. Serge is our "adopted son" from Rwanda, for those of you just tuning in. He's not legally adopted, but rather adopted by our heart strings. Serge graduated from Abilene Christian University and is now getting his graduate degree there. His connection with ACU is how we got to know him.

Now, Serge is in love with Esperance and they are getting married July 24th. He asked me if I wanted to wear an African dress for the wedding and I said, YOU BET! Katie Lea and Caroline are both wearing African dresses for the wedding. I hope I look as beautiful as Shannon (Lair) in the photo below. That's Shannon and Serge at Serge's brother's wedding a year ago.



Esperance (Espe as we call her) is a love. She is from Congo and goes to school in Abilene, too. She is beautiful, kind and is a lovely Christian young lady. She will be a beautiful bride. I'm so excited for the wedding and even more so for the life Serge and Espe will enjoy together.

God is faithful,
Lila

WHAT IF?

It seems like too many times I enter a situation by saying (or thinking) I can't (won't, shouldn't couldn't...) But what if I said "what if" instead? That would certainly give me more opportunities to explore the unexpected, unexplored and other possibilities that maybe, just maybe God is opening for me.

I love this What If painting. She looks so contemplative and open to the bubbling possibilities that are surrounding her.

Have you ever seen someone and immediately sized them up? I have, I am ashamed to say. I saw this individual last week and immediately sized him up in my mind. It wasn't bad mind you, but how limiting! A few days later I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him and boy, what I wrong about him. My sizing up scale scored a big fat ZERO.

What if I went into life wide open to the possibilities of the day? I think that would be pleasing to God...and more fulfilling to me, too.

What if?
Lila