simple trust, seeking;
whether cat, dog, child, Baby;
come, let us adore
adore
by Angie Quantrell
Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas Haiku posts here.
May this Season of Light brighten your life and fill your heart with adoration.
in days of fake news,
we can believe Jesus is
born! the Word speaks truth.
truth
by Angie Quantrell
Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas Haiku posts here.
May this Season of Light brighten your life and fill your heart with truth.
promises made, kept;
Savior given, Son fulfilled,
eternity’s hope.
hope
by Angie Quantrell
Join me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions.
May this Season of Light brighten your life and fill your heart with hope.
Mary and Joseph were pleased that Jesus had been born but nervous about the waiting crowds.
An angel, wearing pink socks and blue wings, was happy to eat fruit snacks before donning one snow boot to wear while dancing up the aisle.
One of two shepherds sported adorable glasses while keeping watch over his tiny flock of one.
The other one of two shepherds was having none of this mess.
From our Christmas story to yours, Merry Christmas!
Peace and joy to you this day and on into 2018.
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First Steps in Missions, Ideas and Activities for Preschoolers and Teachers |
by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
I’m honored to announce the release of First Steps in Missions, Ideas and Activities for Preschoolers and Teachers, Volume 22.
What? You already have a copy?
True. It was available in late summer. I was barely available. Thank you for going on without me and getting your copy!
My honey and I were eyebrow deep in cleaning, packing, sorting, storing, and donating our belongings. Why? We sold our home. I should say, God sold our home. In 3 days.
That was a quick sale and left us with no free time to do anything. Except move.
Never fear, we are not homeless. Many of you have already seen the pictures. We are full-time RV’ers living in a solid (though you can feel it move when walking inside), warm (we hope), and quite spacious RV with our 2 crazy kitties. The excitement and adventure is fantastic! Let’s just not mention the period of adjustment, shall we?
In the midst of this transition, First Steps in Missions was released. I’m very excited to see this work in print.
In honor of this project, I am going to take a monthly walk through each chapter and area of the world, choose my favorite activity, and flesh out additional ways to use the activity with preschoolers. So much fun!
Coming soon: September fun in the Philippines.
If you would like your own copy, I’m thrilled to direct you on the right paths. First Steps in Missions, Volume 22
Thanks for stopping by!
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Word sources |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Words.
Words are amazing.
The entire process of how we learn to speak and use words in intelligent conversation awes me. And the fact that we learn to write and read and utilize words is fantastic.
What can words do?
They can be used to:
~ encourage
~ affirm
~ express emotion
~ praise
~ tear down
~ build up
~ destroy
~ curse
~ forgive
~ add fuel to or put out the fire
~ share dreams
~ explain
~ teach
~ condemn
~ inform
~ question
~ make choices
~ create
~ stand firm
~ call for help
~ offer assistance
~ distribute faith, hope, and love
Words can be our best friend or our worst enemy. We can use them with kind regards towards others in our society.
Or we can abuse and pirate our words to wound, pillage, and plunder the hearts and lives of those around us.
How do you use your words?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14 ESV
Read 99 more verses about the power of words here.
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Beautiful yet encroaching and taking over a flower bed |
By Angie Quantrell Angie Quantrell
Encroaching.
honeysuckle
crab grass
pink flowers
vines
raspberries
strawberries
parsley
pumpkins
sunflowers
evergreen tree
birch branches
moss
slugs
sow bugs
daddy long legs
yellow jackets
aphids
white grass bugs
ants
gossip
television
news
media
politics
pollution
violence
wars
famine
drought
Encroaching.
In my yard. In my community. In my world.
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Aggressively encroaching vines grasping for toe holds |
It starts small, but once you start looking, it’s everywhere at every level.
Encroaching.
What is encroaching in your life?
Yet. There is always hope. Big or small encroachments, He is here.
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Raspberries escaping and encroaching throughout yard |
But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
Psalm 3:3-5 NIV
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The window |
By Angie Quantrell Angie Quantrell
I had just finished reading two separate blog posts.
The first post was about clean windows and how they look great – until the sun streams through and we can still see the smudges and streaks left despite our efforts. You can read this Lynn Austin post here. A Clear View
The second post asked the question “Just How Big is God?” The author encouraged readers to consider how God knows every little detail, even down to when a sparrow falls to earth. Every sparrow! Read this post by Leslie A. here. Just How Big is God?
A few mere moments after completing these readings, I heard a loud thunk.
In our house, a thunk usually means a bird has flown into our large picture window.
This window, speaking of clean windows, streaks, and smudges, defies my every attempt to make it clean and sparkling.
I raced towards the front window, glancing down into the flower bed beneath the brick ledge.
Sure enough, a stunned sparrow twitched on the bark. I went out and saw that it barely breathed. I gently picked it up and stroked its back, watching for signs of being stunned or on the edge of death. Some birds survive our window. After a few moments of being knocked out, they flip over and fly away.
This little guy did not. He didn’t take more than 2 or 3 breaths as I held him cupped in my hand. I watched the still breast, hoping that I just couldn’t see the ribs move. But the glass wall was too much for his tiny body.
And there I was. Crying for a tiny sparrow who died from smashing into my window. Even though I could see the dirt and smudges on it, it looked clear and invisible for my feathered friend. There was nothing I could do.
But God knew. He knew the exact moment the sparrow crashed into the window and the second it took its last breath. And He cared that it happened.
God knows all things. He cares about everything in our lives, down to the tiniest detail. Though He is the God of the Universe, He knows and cares.
About us. About that poor sparrow. About me crying when the sparrow died. About my frustrations with daily life or big events or fears that seem silly. He cares.
God cares.
Love, Laughter, and Life 