Camping Notes

July 3, 2015

   I sat on the large rocks of the lake edge, my toes curling into the sand and stones of the bottom while I dried in the warmth of the sun.  My family was scattered about me, each one of us enjoying the beauty of our surroundings.  In the quiet my thoughts tumbled over themselves.  I pondered the scene before me and had to smile as I considered the moments.  Just this morning I had watched as my Daddy had patiently taught little sisters armed with small fishing poles how to cast and reel.  I had thought back so many years to when he had taught me the same thing.  I watched little bodies splashing about with masks and snorkels in place trying to catch tiny fish that teamed along the shoreline and swam among the rocks.  I had awoke to the glow of sunrise through the yellow canvas walls of the tent I grew up with and smiled to see my sisters snuggled in sleeping bags near me.  My family loves camping, in fact it never really felt like summer until we had spent a couple weeks living in the tent, cooking over the open fire, carrying water, and finding the perfect spot for fishing just as dawn was breaking. 

 

 I had to smile to myself as I was being pulled along behind the boat on the inner tube that this really did look like how my life was going.  I was simply along for the ride, God directing, pulling, choosing the direction and I need to just hang on especially when there was a wake, of the boat shifted direction and speed.  I needed to have my life jacket fastened tight, and my eyes focused on the craft before me so that I could follow without flipping and flailing about- oh if life were only as easy as being pulled behind a boat!

Memorial Day

May 25, 2015

  It is Memorial Day and I stand in the midst of row upon row of round white grave markers, small American flags stuck into the ground stand waving in the gentle breeze before each one.  Names and dates carved into cool marbled stones catch my attention as the resonance of a 21 gun salute and Taps fades into the quiet of the crowd standing to honor those we have come to remember.  The sacrifice of their very lives given in the struggle for freedom through the years- We are most richly blessed.

Happy Chinese New Year 2015

February 19, 2015

Dear Ones,

  The package arrived and as I pulled back the wrappings a well of emotions had me struggling to sort them out as I held the beautiful red porcelain lamb and the package of New Year’s napkins, the sweet gifts of a friend to remind me that I am thought of and loved.

  A little lamb, well actually it is a ram, for you see today is Chinese New Year the beginning of the year of the Ram (Sheep/Goat- there are areas of debate within the Chinese culture as to which) but I cannot help consider the significance of a lamb, sheep, for my year.  The past twelve months have been a year of following, a year of moving about from one pasture to the next; learning to listen and obey when I do not understand or know what is ahead.  At times the way has seemed narrow and dangerous as we climbed a trail cutting through the rugged cliffs to reach high pasture where I am able to rest and be quiet in My Shepherd’s presence.  I have followed Him ever so closely as He has marched me off the sun drenched heights into the Valley of the Shadow where I have had to say hard “Goodbyes” some for a season, some until I reach eternity.  All this time I have had the opportunity to grow closer not only to the Shepherd I follow but the precious flock that I am in, developing relationships that will stretch through the years as we mature together in this body.

  As I thought through this year, I began considering that last year on Chinese New Year I had no idea I would be in the States when this year’s celebration time arrived.  In the past year I have travelled a good deal transporting children both inside of and outside of China.  I have spent long periods of time at each of the various locations where Hope units operate.  I have held babies, wrapped arms around friends and family, held loved ones and cried, laughed, been dry and refreshed.  I have considered so many of life’s hard things and been delighted by those moments when my Heavenly Father has taken His staff and with it gently guided and directed my heart into a better understanding of His.  I find with each day a longing to follow closer and closer, to hear His voice and to be near Him.  I pray this New Year brings the same longing from your heart as He pours out upon each of us His Grace unending.

His Grace Alone,

Mariah

Nations, Deserts, Battles, and The Victor!

October 1, 2014

     It is National Holiday time in China a celebration of the founding of a government.  I stand at the window listening to round after round of fireworks going off in rapid succession making all hours sound as if there is a war going on.  My I-Pod shuffles and I hear the strains of the “Desert Song” begin to play.  I listen to that one a lot…

This is my prayer in the desert

When all that’s within me feels dry

This is my prayer in my hunger and need

My God is the God who provides.

  How often this land feels like a spiritual desert with fellowship so sporadic, and the needs of the multitudes so great, I look around at the war raging around me and wonder in my human weakness how and when the “Springs of Living Water” will flow here?

And this is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain

There is a faith proved

Of more worth than gold

So refine me Lord in the flames.

  The flames are hot the dross floats to the surface, this place, the work , the hardness of it, the beauty that it brings out from the heat, the reality that it will take flames to burn away the extra, the “me” that wants to get in the way of the Refiner’s work.

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here.

And this is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on its way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm on His promise I’ll stand.

  So often I am reminded that this is a battle, a war that is being fought, this is the trenches where life and death are a daily reality but He has given us armor, He has given us provision, He Is the victor, He is the One who will topple governments, the One we will listen to for troop movements and care of the wounded, the One who will continue to provide the supply lines so that when we dig in and stand fast, we will stand firm in His promises, in His Victory- the battle has been won, now the world needs to hear it and see it lived out in our lives.

Let the fireworks continue!

Mooncake Festival- September 8, 2014

 We usually do not do a whole lot at the Big House for Mooncake Festival however there are usually some exchanges of various flavors of mooncakes which to be honest are not on the top of my favorite Chinese food list.  So this year just for the fun of it and for something special while I was passing through Beijing I bought a special assortment of Starbucks Mooncakes to share with the office staff.  They were excited to try new flavors as they had never seen mocha or coffee flavored ones and we all had a fun time sampling the various new flavors.

Sunny Summer...

The first part of July between changes in my work location I was blessed with a couple of days off to just rest, read, soak up some sunshine by sparkling blue water, and spend some sweet time with this precious friend!  We had the most wonderful "outside Beijing" experience finding a hidden Lavender farm with just acres of flowers to wander through and since we had tons to talk about it was the perfect setting for away from traffic, blue sky talk time! 

Mariah and Kelsi

Mother's Day, International Nurses Day...Construction Day!

Love these Nurses!

To Celebrate Mother's Day, International Nurses Day...and all of us being back in country once again we were able to spend a few short hours all gathered at the Big House!  What a sweet time it was!

Eds and I- Roomies... well at least for the time I was in ZZ!

 The Show Hope Construction team arrived to the announcement that their first full day would be a day without outside power- we would be running on the generator and working on the roof!( yes, that is correct 14 flights of stairs from the 1st floor:)  My Southern nursing self knew this meant lots of sweet tea and ice...
  I can tell you that I have a whole new respect for the Genesis story of Rebecca watering camels and carrying jars of water from the well as I made multiple trips up and down those many flights of stairs carrying tea!

Living Water- Hosanna

 

April 13, 2014

Dear Ones,

I have been back in China right at a week, my little charge and I safely arrived after some adventures and we are ever so grateful that he is doing well.  Now I look around and it seems so long ago as I see the dishes are piled high in the sink, there is extra laundry in the bin, and I follow a fresh trail of splashed and sloshed water drops to the large red bucket in the bathroom our house doesn’t usually look like this.  We have been without running water for 4 days so we won’t even mention the unique smell or the fact that I actually resorted to using some of the bucket water to semi-wash my hair yesterday afternoon.  I am considering all of this as I once again dip water from the larger buckets into a smaller one to be carried into the bathroom to use for flushing toilets and another for the kitchen to be used for washing some of those piled dishes.  I am grateful- we are blessed that even though it is not flowing through the pipes we have water available.  We still have bottled drinking water and we are all grateful that the neighbor is selling us water from their well.  That is where the large red holding buckets are being filled from. Onto carts, rolled next door, filled, and rolled back.  I smile and say a prayer of thanks that the power is not out so the buckets can be brought up to the various floors in the elevator and not up the stairs.  There are even more bottles of instant hand sanitizer sitting out all over and we are using wet-wipes by the hands full.  Water- we all realize the importance of it, the need for it, the problems created when there is a lack of it, and the disease it brings when the source of it is contaminated.  I reach in to dip another bucket though I cannot drink the water flowing into my small bucket it is clear, it is cold, pulled from deep in the well, and it will care for the needs at hand.  My mind drifts to stories of Rebecca drawing water for thirsty camels, of young women waiting for the stone to be rolled away so that they can water their father’s flocks, a Samaritan woman at a well meeting with the source of eternal Living Water…It is Palm Sunday, the well spring of Living Water flowed through the streets of Jerusalem.  “Hosanna- Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”  He is waiting, ready, expectant, willing, “Drink, that you may never thirst again.”

Grace in all things,

Mariah

Twinkling Treasures- Moments that Sparkle

 Twinkling Trees- Tiny Toes

Twilight with Treasured Friends

Time to tell the True Christmas Story to my precious little ones

 It has been a month since I last shared with you all- it has been full and blessed and honestly if my flights had not all been cancelled related to ice and cold for my return trip to China you would have had to wait another week for this little picture update.  I pray that each of you were blessed with Twinkling Treasures of moments and memories during these past weeks- know that you are all precious to me!

 Sisters Sweet and Family Gatherings

 Setting the Star- adding more twinkles and lights to sparkle

Twinkles and fairy dust- lights and 

LOTS of LOVE...Christmas Memories for the Child in all of us!

A New Puppy adds squeals of delight and keeps us all on our toes!

 Twinkles and Ice- who couldn't go ice skating after little Princesses watch Frozen

 New Year's Eve- Birthday twinkles and a time to share with friends some blessings in my life

 And of course let's keep the celebration going- Christmas in January is so much fun add precious friends, and pre-made cookie dough to be decorated by little hands and of course more Twinkles and Treasured Times will be talked of for years to come.

Christmas is Coming!

With all the Christmas spirit decking the halls of our Big House I just had to break into my little Christmas box and give my little Haven some Christmas sparkle!  I am a very happy girl now during my mid-night wakings as the Christmas lights twinkle- I think there should be Christmas lights up year round in my room! mmmmm it's a thought!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 November 28, 2013- Thanksgiving day in China

This was my 5th Thanksgiving away from Home (4 in China and 1 in India)  Each one unique, nothing but the fellowship of friends, and the fact that we once again take special opportunity to verbalize some of the blessings that overflow in abundant Grace on this day.  Each year there are different people present, different food is prepared, and tradition becomes the non-tradition of it all...

This year I made a turkey- and if you look closely you will even notice that he began to cry when we placed the platter of chicken in front of him- no it was not on purpose but it brought ripples of laughter as we all took lots of pictures.  

With a grateful heart for each of you!

SIngles Day- 11-11

Our medical assistant came in this morning wishing all of us nurses a "Happy Single's Day"

11-11

We had to smile later when we were out getting groceries for the Martin family when this sign was prominently displayed at a photo booth- you just have to love "chinglish"

Happy 4th of July!

 Happy Independence Day...

A time to celebrate, to remember, to pray for mercy, to protect-

We have been given a precious gift- 

May we never forget...

July 4, 1776-  

A Declaration of Freedom!