Mountains and Moons

The moon was so beautiful this morning as I was driving to work @4am. It was just a sliver but you could see the outline of the rest of it as the sun started to come rise as I drove to work. It was a beautiful picture to me of how God reveals just a bit of our future at a time. We can't always see the whole thing but just see that sliver of something beautiful being lit up by the Son.

As I dunked my pink hat in the cool water's stream on Saturday and put it on my head the water ran down my back and I smiled. It reminded me of summers when I was a little girl scout hiking. I went on the longest and most challenging hike I have ever been on to Duckabush Trail Saturday. It was a grade 3+ 9 to 10 mile hike. There was the little hump and the Big hump to go the full length of the trail.

As we started off on little hump I listened to the trail talk. One of my favorite joys of hiking is the fellowship of fellow hikers. For some reason it seems that being out in the middle of the forest makes people feel free to say anything at times. The conversation flows from the botanical to personal gut wrenching truths of the goings on in the lives of the hikers. The awesome thing is that the conversation doesn't stop with just those you came to hike with.

Maybe it's just me who can talk to anyone but people seem friendlier out in the forest meeting them on the trail. Maybe it's our dependence on each other if something goes wrong. Maybe its feeling so small looking up at those trees with the sun shining through. I guess the one thing that binds us beyond everything else is a love for nature and being there.

I listened along the way to Eric who knows so much about the trees and the growth of the forest we were in. He told us all about how old this forest was by looking at the trees and how it was replanted after being logged about 25 or so years ago. Later on my way up little hump I saw some white flowers that I am not sure what were called. One of the fellow hikers on the trail who wasn't with our group and I chatted about them. We both took a picture hoping to identify it later.

Little hump wasn't quite as little as I thought it would be. It was a long rocky somewhat straight curve up and down the hump. There were a couple of stream crossings that had little waterfalls that were beautiful.

When going down little hump one of the gals who was with me said "if this is little hump I am never making it up big hump". I have to admit I was thinking something similar but when we reached the river and I felt waters cool mist I was inspired. I decided I could make it up the big hump. What I didn't know then was the huge challenge ahead for me. It was a 1000 feet of elevation to climb up the wall face of the mountain with narrow switch backs and gravel under foot in some areas.

The steep climb was a bit of a challenge even for some of those seasoned hikers in my group. I didn't give up even though about halfway up I was looked down and had a bit of fear about that climb back down. The narrow parts just made me all the more aware of how I needed to be careful of my footing. It was a huge workout for my legs and my thigh and calf muscles were throbbing and feeling quite stretched by the top. It was all good.

As promised there was a sweet lookout at the almost top. It was worth conquring big hump to see it. Dennis or fearless hike leader was there taking photos and shared some of his trail stories up there. After big hump I went back down to the valley between the big and little and put my feet in the river. It was cool and quite refreshing to put your feet in on a 90ish degree day. I got my hat wet again and was loving it.

I decided to head out a bit ahead of the group on the way back from the midway point we were resting at by the river. Madison who was the only child on our hike decided she wanted to go with me. At 8 years old she was a trooper and had no trouble keeping up and heading us out. She was a fun little trail buddy as she hiked with me. She talks endlessly and is such a joy. When she got tired she didn't look for a log or rock to sit on. She just sat down right there in the middle of the path and said "I'm tired". I laughted and sat down with her. Earlier we had been hanging out by the river and she bravely got her feet in too. She also climbed up on a big rock nest to the river and pointed up. I got a photo of her up there.

It was a great trip and I am so amazed at how beautiful and big God feels everytime I encounter Him in nature. Seeing the moon this morning was just another picture on a piece of the puzzle of the mystery God can be at times. I couldn't see the whole moon this morning just like I can't see all of God's plan sometimes but I can trust that He is all there and loves me.

Fruit: Gentleness & Patience

Song in my head: If you didn't love me - Phil Stacey

Verse: 1 John 3:1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Valley girl

"Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me

He will help me carry on

After all that I've been through

Now I realize the truth

That I must go through the valley

To stand upon the mountain of God"

I was feeling a bit like I needed some encouragement today. What astounds me about God is that so many times when I am going through a "valley day" I find the greatest joys there.

I decided a long time ago that my "valley days" are going to be a like a field of wildflowers. It is all about how you choose to see your "valley days" that makes them what they become. Even when I am feeling down I can always look around and see the wildflowers. I just have to remember to look for them.

They are in smiles and joys that grow wild and unpredictable bringing the sun on in with them. Sometimes they come in a song or the laughter a stranger brings to me. God is so faithful to bring me those wildflowers of hope on a tough day. It is amazing how God works.

A good friend calling me out of the blue just to see how I was. Things like laughing out loud from an email @work. Visits from vendors @work bringing us freebees. Finding a great old CD and singing along to the song. Feeling good about a awesome workout @ the gym. Taking a little joy in doing something nice for someone even though you know they will not even know it was you who did it. Or just a smile.. which reminds me of a favorite song by Nat King..

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, youll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

Youll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

Thats the time you must keep on trying

Smile, whats the use of crying?

Youll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

Choosing to smile :)

Fruit: Kindness & Joy
Song in my head: Mountain of God - Third day
Verse: The kindness of a stranger... Genesis 24: whole chapter 31"Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."

Contra Dancing & Cocomo

It is an awesome feeling to be taken to your limit physically and have so much fun doing it. The best times in my life have been trying something new and this was one of them. I tried Contra dancing Saturday night and "man is it a workout". It was one of the best times. We danced fast for 3 1/2 hours straight learning and loving every minute of it. It was easy to pick up and we all had so much fun.

I danced with more people than I ever have before and I might add :) got asked to dance more than I ever have before. It was a group of about 100 or so people. A awesome mix of ages from 60 somethings down to 20 somethings. I loved it because it represented several cultures and people groups coming together to dance without any pretenses, bias, or racial signs. It was just good clean fun. I am so going again!

On another fun note.. I got sung to again today by a customer. This time I caught them singing. Sometimes people will be on hold a long time to speak with me reguarding their issue and will put me on speakerphone while on hold. This older gentleman had put me on speakerphone and didn't realize that the hold music playing from me had stopped. I got back on the line to hear him singing cocomo. You know it, you have to know it! It's the Beach Boys!

Aruba Jamaica ooh I wanna take ya
Bermuda Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo Montego baby why don't we goo
oh I wanna you down to Cocomo
we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow
that's where we wanna go way down in Cocomo

It made my day and I laughed so hard I almost cried because he was soooo embarrased to be caught singing loud (very off key). Plus (because I'm a brat) I kinda let him sing for a little bit before interupting him. Those are my most favorite moments @work. :)

I have had some great times digging in lately too. What is it about the book of 1Peter lately? I was just at another friends house Sunday afternoon @BBQ and yet another mentioned 1Peter blessing their socks off. Pastor Burt also mentioned 1Peter in his sermon too.

Today I checked out my Monday http://www.crosswalk.com/ devotional for women@work and found her first verse to be "Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.” ~ 1 Peter 3:8

I love to be challenged as it drives me to think. There are some great questions asked. What is He teaching you? Where are you going? (Africa, China, Las Vegas w/Expedia, LA, Olympia, Timbuktu) What are you going to do with what God gives you?

I think He is teaching me again that it's all @bout the IECCR. Integrity in reading the word of God, Excellence of effort to always try my best in every situtation, having the Courage to step out "do what is right" having Consistantancy in everything I do and have the Relevance I need in my e-generation@.com world I work in. Bloom where I am planted for now :)

Fruit Love & Joy
Song in my Head: Kokomo - Beach Boys
Verse: 1Peter - The whole thing! 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy
1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do

Asking listening and giving it up ...

Wanting my hearts desires but truely willing to give it up so I can give it all if that is what it takes to follow. It seems that it is just at that time when I realize that there is absolutely nothing I can say and there is absolutely nothing I can do that I finally trust that it is completely in Gods hand's. Finally I let go and then I find release and most often an answer to that prayer. If only I could get there quicker. :)

The word on my heart this week:
1 Samuel 3:10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 Corinthians 3 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7Soneither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, whomakes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have onepurpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For weare God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

1 Peter 4: 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Matthew 4:19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Psalm 143: 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Song of Solomon 2:1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

Fruit: Faithfullness & Love

Song in my Head: Lord you are - Mark Schultz

Verses: all of the above :)

First Times

On the water looking at the clams spitting on the shore Saturday I had to laugh and praise God for another "first time". It was my first time kayaking. This was something I couldn't have possibly done a year and a half ago physically. It's amazing the "working it out" of God. I love to see His promises and faithfulness everyday but especially good when I can look back and see where I have come from. I'm so thankful for a God who sees the beginning and the end. He knows my history. One of my favorite songs this last year has been "History".
Would you believe that you are history,

In the making, in the making

Every choice that you are making

Every step that you are taking

Every chain that you are breaking

History is in the making

Every word that you are saying

Every prayer that you are praying

Every chain that you are breaking

History is in the making

Excited for the next step...

Fruit: Love & Joy

Song in my Head: History -Matthew West & Supernatural Wave - Break of Dawn

Verse: Psalm 119: 57 You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. 58 I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promises. 108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

Good morning madam

This morning I had to ask the question. "Am I thankful for those little things God blesses me with everyday?". Here I am wanting " " and waiting for " " but am I faithful to take in today's blessings?

This morning like almost every morning I pulled in and parked my car @expedia.com and said a little prayer for a moment before getting out. As with most mornings the odd security guard for my building is right there by my car when I open my eyes.

He smiles and says to me as I walk towards my building "Good Morning Madam" and does a little bow. In grand tradition I always smile and say "good morning sir". His formal greeting has always made me smile. It has a sense of chivlry.

It struck me this morning how much of a blessing this man is and I didn't even know his name. The safety he provides in the quiet dark downtown streets at 4 in the morning is such a blessing. He doesn't have to greet me like I am a queen every morning but he does. So this morning I broke tradition this morning and I asked his name.

I am thankful for the "last ones". There is a song by Matthew West called "last ones " about a little girl named Taylor who is a "special needs child" who sees "something beautiful" in people not everyone would. The song goes "Maybe the last ones are the lucky ones, The ones who got this whole thing figured out 'Cause when they go looking for something beautiful They start looking from the inside out". I think the true heros of the world are those that can see from the inside out.

Hearing the song about her has reminded me of another "Special guy" who once helped me. It was one of my toughest days in college. I had just failed yet another Math test and was feeling defeated. I was exhausted having just returned from a Mexico Mission trip and running late for work.

I was walking up one of the very steep hills at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut California. At my limit physically and in my hurry of leaving class I had left my back pack unzipped. I shuffled up the hill and tripped falling sideways skining my knee. My backpack went flying and my papers and supplys went everywhere. With tears in my eyes I stopped and just stared as the papers sailing away. Students were rushing past me ignoring my fall and I was ready to give up.

That's when this boy who I didn't know came running up to me and took my elbow and escorted me to a bench and said "sit". Blindly, still feeling confused I followed him and sat down. That is when I saw the sweetest picture of Jesus in him. It was then that I noticed he was one of the "last ones". He had down syndrome. I watched him pick up all my papers and books. He set my backpack down next to me, smiled and walked away.

He asked nothing of me but just showed incredible kindness. I remember tears flowing when I got to my car that day. I wasn't crying because of my day any longer but just overwhelmed by the sweet humble gesture that it was. I want people like Taylor and this boy in my life. I want to be like them.. one of the lucky ones. "The ones who've got this whole thing figured out and so Maybe the next time we go looking for beautiful we'll try looking from the inside out".

Some things I am thankful for today:
The Security Guard named Manuel
The chocolate fountain buffet a hotel vendor brought to my work today :)

The beautiful blue sky and white puffy clouds that finally came out

A encouraging text message

A package that arrived on my back porch

Volleyball with friends tonight

Fruit: Love & Gentleness
Song in my Head: Last ones - Matthew West

Verses: Mark 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must

be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Open Fields of Wildflowers

A friend asked me why name your blog "Open fields of wild flowers". I replied "It's my song". He is the song on my lips.

In open fields of wild flowers,she breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses in no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all
He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens

As close a heartbeat or a song on her lips

Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call her and she will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with You"

Sitting silent wearing Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it calls to the people who stare into nowhere, and can't feel the chains on their souls
He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on our lips
Someday we'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call us and we will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and we'll pray,
"I want to fall in love with You"
It seems too easy to call you "Savior",
Not close enough to call you "God"
So as I sit and think of words I can mention to show my devotion

"I want to fall in love with You"

"my heart beats for You"

Fruit Love & Patience
Song in my Head: Lovesong for a Savior - Jars of Clay
Verse:1 Corinthians 3:1-23 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Nurse tree's & banana's

Hiking on the trail along side a steep drop off I could feel a cool mist from the waterfalls as they raged Saturday. I was awed by the power of them. It was a beautiful, powerful sound to hear the water crashing, falling endlessly against the stones. The waters movement over the rocks makes each stone it crosses more and more smooth. It made me think of God's refining. It sometimes takes awhile to get us smoothed out when we are rough.

Saturday I went on a hike with "Mountain View Christian Hikers". This was my first "real" serious hike in many moons and I was so blessed by it. We went to "Horseshoe Falls" to hike along side the raging water falls. It was a challenging hike for me but it was worth it. I hiked about 5 miles or so. I saw something beautiful the whole way and found a sweet sight of a nursing tree.

A nursing tree is a tree that comes to the aid of another smaller tree. Click here to learn more about them. This was especially sweet sight because the nurse was a huge old cedar tree that the wind or some force had taken its top off of. It's large stump still had some life in it and so it reached out and used that little life to aid a smaller tree. It was a beautiful picture of how the broken can be used of God.

I took a picture and awed at the size of the nurse tree. It was once a huge mighty tree and now it was broken and still serving it's smaller tree. It was a beautiful picture to me of how God can use each and every person and sometimes better after having weathered the storms in our lives.

The river raging wild below and the nursing tree above it. I leaned against the nursing tree and rested on the way back down the trial and thought. Eating my mushy banana I had a favorite old song come into my head while there. It's called I like bananas.

I have had a awesome weekend all around. Friday night we had a awesome night of worship called "full intention" at Church of Living Water. It was a great night and I have heard great things from people who went. I sang in the choir and truely felt the spirit of God there. I spoke with someone on Saturday who came from Chehelis to go who said it was "awesome" and felt God there. It was good to hear some feedback from someone I didn't know well that God used it in her life.

She was a small tree and God used Living Water's night of worship to be a nursing tree for her. I love knowing a God who loves us and provides for our every need. Seeing the nursing tree makes it easier to trust that God hears each and every prayer and shows how He continues to prove Himself faithful.

Pastor Burt's message struck me with his passionate wisdom in trusting those prayers we pray in our weakest moments of doubt. His message tied my blessings together to have all my senses fully grasp the wonder and awe of the power of God. I heard the sound of voices praise on Friday, the sound of river rage on Saturday, and my pastor share on Sunday. I smelled the fresh life of the forest's growth. I saw a glimpse of God in a nursting tree. I felt the gentle rain and the spirit of God in it all. It was all good.

Here is the song I was singing..

I like bananas I know that mangos are sweet I like papayas...PAPAYAS

But nothing can beat that sweet love of God

Here we go Here we go Here we go

Well I was walking round in circles five miles an hour

Trying to find my way back to the Heavenly Father

The world tasted sweet But then it turned sour,

so I asked God in and received His power Like Arnold Schwartzenegger!!!

Fruit: Gentleness & Patience

Song in my Head: I like Bananas

Verse: Matthew 11: 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

50.000 Shirts for China

A web designer named Steve came up with a awesome grass roots idea. This is a story of hope. I got a email about the 50,000 shirts campaign from PJ #515 and I thought it was a awesome idea.

"My name is Steve. On Monday, May 19, 2008, I set a goal to sell 50,000 shirts and raise $1,000,000 to help in the aftermath of China's 7.9 earthquake."

Here is the video about it. I would encourage you to go to the website and email him for a T-shirt. Check out the "wall" and get your name on it.
"
Fruits: Love & Patience
Song in my head: God of this City
Verse: Psalm 143: 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Pesky critters & Cuties

There are some days when I love my job. I had fun today at work and learned something today. Isn't it good to just learn something new and interesting. It was interesting to me at least.

I love my international customers with interesting accents. My customer today had a very talkative bird in the background and I asked her about it. Since we tend to live on hold with support desks for airline issues I use the time to chat sometimes. With her distinctively british accent she told me of how she used to live in Botswana South Africa with her husband. He was an engineer on a project there for a few years. She told me about her bird in the background that she named Pula. She got Pula while she was there.

Apparently it's a very pricey bird here in the USA but one that is considered a nuisance there in Botswana. Her bird is a Myna Common Indian who she said talks very well. She said her husband sometimes couldn't tell the difference in her voice from the birds calling him. They apparently can change the tone in their voices. I googled and found a cool website on them.Click here to see it. There are so many species of birds. I am not a typical birdwatcher but I love to see nature before me.

I had a Cockatiel when I was younger. It was a bit of a stinker though and bit my friends lip open. She was trying to teach it how to speak and had it close to her mouth. Suddenly Frankie chomped down on my friends bottom lip and held on for dear life. My friend shook her head but Frankie just kept holding on. He was nicknamed "chomper" after that. The Myna seems like its a pesky stinker of a bird after reading about it with its mimic of humans and scavenging for food but it sounded fun hearing it live today.

Here is a fun video of a Myna:
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Fruit: Gentleness
Song in my head: Lovesong for a Savior - Jars of Clay

Verse: 1Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,