Kona finds a home

today is the last day these walls

will be merely a house

tomorrow our long awaited addition

will transform our living space

into a true home

as our now eight week old puppy

completes our family

we have food, treats, toys

blankets, collar and leash

a crate for her to snuggle in to

and spaces in our hearts

that she will soon fill to overflowing

meet Kona

and stay tuned for updates

as she grows into herself

slow to change

the seasons are slow to change

this year, uncertain

samples of heat, retreat

as cool returns

two weeks into July

and summer has no foothold

this blood, thinned

by African years, shivers

I see the shrugs, hear

the snickers, loud

from those already awash

in sweat and complaints

leaves me wondering

will I ever be warm

will I ever be home

again

not nomads

hours run into days

days into weeks

we move along, driven

by rhythms uncountable

surely it is time

to settle, pause

end these nomadic seasons

yet the Lord reminds me

your true home is in Me

but I do give your earthly body

a place to settle

a base of operations

a centre from which to reach out

your most important job is love

before all, in all and above all

love Me first

without Me you will not have

the ability or capacity

to love those I place before you

allow My love to work through you

writing room

sitting on our veranda in Zambia
thinking about new life back in Canada
reading writer's books on writing
dreaming, I jotted down the following:

what do I need in my writing space

• a window
• coffee mug - often full
• water
• computer
• pens and highlighters (not sure why if I'm not using paper)
• journals (answer to above)
• comfy work chair
• comfy reading chair
• favourite bible
• books
• dog

in this house, as we settle
no matter how temporary
I have all but the dog

in time, in time

ever in place

the page has turned

we have arrived back in Canada

as I try to breathe

in the strangeness this morning

the Lord was waiting for me

before I could pick up my pen

if you know you are in Me

in My hands

then even in the rapid fire changes

you need not feel out of place

you are where I have you and hold you

in Africa, In Canada, anywhere

your home is in Me

stay here, do not move

without Me

where could you find more safety

or more peace?

Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. 

[Live in Me, and I will live in you.] 

Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself 

without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, 

neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

John 14:4 Amplified

tears soften the view

through the blur of tears

there is the rainbow promise

time to move on

farewell Africa

Canada - here we come.

seeking first

a matter of trust

one day to the next

or moment by moment

as we begin our journey to Canada

in two weeks

we will be in flight

though I have felt mid-air

for months

what to drive

where to sleep

are not yet settled

leaving me tipsy

and grabbing hold

of the only One Who knows

seeking first, last

always

So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom

and the righteousness that proceeds from him. 

Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.

Matthew 6:33 The Passion Translation

peace path

rough and rutted, tires rumbling

this noisy road carries us

to a place of peace

a house that is already home

however temporary

May I live to make Paul's words truth --

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, 

for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point 

where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. 

I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, 

and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. 

I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare 

or going without and being in want. 

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me 

[I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him 

Who infuses inner strength into me;

 I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Philippians 4:11-13 Amplified

unhinged

August is upon us

our last weeks here

in what was

and heart deep

ever will be

home

keeping the rooms of the house

ready for showings

as we pray 

for God to send 

the buyers

of His choosing

nothing really in our hands

open again in surrender

doors to my emotions

swing wide

I am unhinged

in this space

between anchors

shifting

like the evening light

whispering "soon"

 

sifting again

two years ago

we were sifting, sorting

tossing and donating 

pieces of our North American lives

preparing for our African journey

boxes of what we wanted to keep

stacked neatly in a basement room

of our once forever home

there is only one

forever

and it is not now

and it is not here

this house will be marketed

sold and left behind

as we return again

to Africa

today, the things

in those "save" boxes

are being sifted, sorted

tossed and donated

tears falling

as more pieces of our old lives

are stripped away

I stand here bare

trembling

as I wait for new skin

But forget all that—

    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

 For I am about to do something new.

    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT

 

home where?

last night

as we drove 

towards our home

that isn't

home

but for a little while

a reminder of glory

filled the skies

as if He said

home here

home there

home only where I Am

and something settled

deep

new layers of

letting go

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

    and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

Psalm 19:4 NLT

 

pre-spin prayers

from home

suitcases rest on the spare bed

almost packed

refrigerator is empty

our minds are buzzing

as last minute farewells

blessings and prayers

pour in via text 

Facebook and WhatsApp

life is about to spin

as we leave our home

to visit the home we left

to live in the house

that is still ours

to home

how familiar 

will those walls feel

now?

how unfamiliar

will we seem

to those waiting

to greet us?

help me remember

where to hold 

one hand only

provides my stability

the road is His

as am I

For I hold you by your right hand—

    I, the Lord your God.

And I say to you,

    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV

 

bringing forth

In my quiet time yesterday morning, 

the Lord shared the following word with me:

You have been carrying that which I planted within you --

Just as a woman carries a child for nine months 

before bringing it into the world

so too shall it be with you

I called you from your home 

almost nine months ago

your time of birthing is near 

and you will be surprised 

at what We have brought forth

for My glory –

you have been through all the uncertainty 

like morning sickness

the heavy slowness 

the fatigue and wanting to give up –

but I tell you as a warning

the hardest is yet ahead

the pains of labour

but push through, push through

to new life!

 

holding Canada close

one of the things that drew me

to the lake

was the opportunity

to drink in the sight

and sounds

of our common loons

at once peaceful and eerie

a wailing song of Canada

I allowed it to saturate

my heart, deep

anther bit of home

to carry on my journey

 

morning walk

the morning rose clear

bright and fresh

perfect time to take a walk

around the bend

soaking in images

of the land I am leaving behind

turning back toward home

the house nestled in the trees

that soon will be home to others 

while we are away

the Shasta daisies

reaching to the sun

wild, invasive beauties

tended by the Master gardener

our water source

man's design to draw

what the Creator provided

may our hearts ever be open

to receive His promised

Living Water

if that is all we have

it is much more

than we will ever need

 On the final and climactic day of the Feast, 

Jesus took his stand. 

He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, 

let him come to me and drink. 

Rivers of living water will brim 

and spill out of the depths 

of anyone who believes in me this way, 

just as the Scripture says.”

John 7:38 The Message

 

taking wing

when we learned that this house 

I had quickly grown to love 

could be ours 

we changed 

from renters to owners 

we settled in deep

and I perhaps may have said

only wild horses could drag me

away from here

now the horses are running

on the prairies I call home

wild in their beauty, and though

they are not dragging me

the flights are booked

and we will soon

be taking wing

much of my heart already 

dwells across the seas

the remainder, I leave here

both broken

and whole

and wholly His

 

from home to house

four walls make a room

many rooms make a house

empty or filled

a house is a house

furniture begins to personalize

staking a claim

but still a house

just furnished well

the splashes 

art, pillows, collectibles

is what we use

to begin creating home

our insides displayed

in an external manner

this house has been home

a picture of who I have become

layered with sheep

pictures of Jesus holding lambs

crosses, candles

needlework done by my mother's hand

plants that thrived at Rick's touch

these are the things

I am packing with love

storing away

like memories safely filed

we have found people

who love this collection of rooms

and pray that they will splatter them

with new life, their lives

while we plan to learn

that our true home

is where ever He takes us

wrapped in His plans

His purposes

and His unfailing love

we shall move on

Yes, because God’s your refuge,

    the High God your very own home,

Evil can’t get close to you,

    harm can’t get through the door

Psalm 91:9-10 The Messsage

 

focus blurs

focus blurs, there is

a softening

ice crystals suspended

mid-air, perhaps

a weariness of the eyes

thoughts of wandering

cease, this is

a time for home, hearts 

settling deep in 

unexpected surrender

hanging out at the pub for the last time until the new year

 

the corner tree

when I try to catch the changing light

or the wind in photos

the variable texture of life here

the tree on the corner is there

posing, announcing home

there, where the road curves

where we begin to leave our land

it stands 

sunrise to sunset

almost, but not quite hidden 

in fog

branches waving goodbye as we go

and welcoming us as we return

not very large

or particularly beautiful

but familiar

the day is coming

when we will take that curve

a final time

moving toward trees of a different sort

baobabs, palm, African teak

and I will be grateful

for photo memories

digital eternity

I'm linking to Lisa-Jo to talk about the word tree

 

baby steps

I am coming back to my life in baby steps

taking longer than I would like

I feel I was gone for months instead of days

for each hour stretched endless

anxious, aching

I curl into the arms of my husband

drawing on his strength

and this, right here, is my place in the world

called here, I belong here

part of what God created, one from two

I've come back to my life

home

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”  Matthew 19:4-6 NLT

walking with the broken redeemed at Emily's