Mary's Heartbeats

"For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants. . . " (Isaiah 44:3) Why didn't I see it sooner? I'm reading in one of Daddio's commentaries and noted throughout the pages faint pencil underlying. There were also scattered x's highlighting certain paragraphs. Initially, I realized that Dad always marked in fountain pen blue ink, so maybe he got this book second hand. That was until the other day, for then I saw her writing, my Mom's, in the margin of the page. Oh, that made sense, Mom would study with a pencil in hand and mark those special passages with x's. It was a reminder that I especially needed this time of year. . . August has become a bittersweet month. It's the last month of summer, my favorite season, that I never want to say good bye to. It's a month of birthdays for young nieces and nephews, along with...

I pedaled faster down the hill splashing directly into the morning cool breeze. It was as refreshing as that first jump into the ocean blue. I breathed deeply the fresh new air, filling my lungs with all that they could hold. The wave of air seemed to bring fresh blood to my tired legs and quickly wiped away all my hard earned sweat. Oh, this is what it means to swim in waves of grace! Every move I make, every step I take, lands me in the benefit of God's grace. That grace has washed away my failures, my mistakes, my inadequacies; all the things I should have done and haven't, all those attempts at being right when really I was wrong. I live now with just a thankful open heart to bask in waves that God has brought to me. So many times, I just don't get it. I wonder if my faith has even grown, because seemingly the slightest thing that happens in my day can make me spin and feel like doom is just around the corner. But because God has already provided for my sa...

Too often, I have viewed these current days as a mighty sea determined to storm against me. Life hasn't swept by smoothly this year. Instead it's been a year of great extremes. Driving to our son's wedding brunch, I mentioned to my husband that life has really turned out so very different than what I ever thought it would. He answered with a question, "Why do you even have such preconceptions?" I had to think, yes, I often find myself comparing true reality to my own "mind reality." Maybe that's the source of a raging sea within . . . Somehow, I guess I thought that those preconceptions would be better than the present. But when I find myself holding on to them, I lose my present joy in the moments set before me. I realized that day that I no longer want to miss out on life as it really is. The fact being that I get caught up in using my preplanned ideas to try and control circumstances. In that process, I end up feeling used and disapp...

I love going to the beach. I had forgotten how much I love the hot sand, the salty breeze, and the beautiful blue Pacific. Each time that I have been there this summer has reminded me again how much I enjoy it. I can never get enough of watching the pelicans fly overhead in their perfect "check mark" formation or of looking out to see dolphins jump and frolic in the waves. Yet, the best part is getting in the waves . . . The ocean's warmth first bites you with surprise. Just when you think you're hot enough to finally take the plunge, the cool water splashing against your feet reminds you still that it will take at least a moment to get use to it. It's often easier to take the plunge and jump right in. After that initial shock of cold, you don't seem to mind it any time after. It was that kind of day that I enjoyed so much with my sister-in-law. The waves were just my type, easy and predictable to read, really very gentle and inviting. We had s...

I'm back! After months and months of empty pages, when I excused myself by saying that I had no time to write. No, I could not bring myself to write. But today, I'm ready to overflow the page with my heart and soul. It's always interesting to me how there is a definite season to write. Writing can never be forced, even if you want to express something at least for relief. It just won't happen, until it's time, just like you can't hold back the ocean tide. . . For months, I have ridden in the waves. Or rather, I've been drowning in the sea, tossed and driven in the rough. When I thought that things were calmer and I was ready for the shore, another gigantic breaker would hit that forced me to dive directly into it or be pounded into the sand by my foolish self reluctance. Especially, in these summer weeks, I have felt caught in the rip tides of life. If you ever have been in one, there is no easy way out. You often have to go with the current ...

For me 4th of July is always the "smack dab"middle of summer, and a wonderful time to enjoy all that my favorite season brings. This year was no different. I woke up early to the birds that try to out sing one another in the morning sun. The heat is already a bit heavy when I start out on my morning ride, but the breeze is absolutely delicious when I hit the downward trail. I love the summer food that I prepare. The ribs grill so slowly that the meat easily falls off as I take them off the grill. The potato salad is perfected with my fresh dill that is growing leaps and bounds in its herbal bed. The biscuits turned out the best, especially as they came from the oven piping hot, and the beans were yummy too as they slowly baked in their peppery brine. Even the watermelon fit right in with its red juicy fruit. And of course what summer barbecue is complete without homemade ice cream? Yes, there was strawberry cream and Daddio's favorite and ours too, the wonde...

I'm waking up to a glorious day. The morning air is cool is like a refreshing frosty drink pouring down my throat. It's a great day to ride up the hill, and I have packed my camera because I want to capture the hidden beauty that I found the other day. I should have known that wild flowers would be in full array after all the rain we've had this year, but I forgot how that beauty truly captures my heart and soul. So off I go pedaling, I'm having to push against a pressing wind, but I'm determined to push on through. I have come to relish my solitary bike rides, it seems it's there I find companionship with my Creator Lord. Through the muscle strain and striving that the journey takes me, I seem to hear his voice much clearer. Today is no exception, in fact I hear myself joining in a chorus of singing praises to my Maker, and for a moment I even have the blessed memory of hearing Mom play octaves on piano keys. I see her radiant smile as she joins to sing ...