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Ocean…
August 5, 2008 By
I just love this photo that I took on our beach trip and I wanted to share it.
When I look at this photo, the chorus to Ten Shekel Shirt’s song “Ocean” come to mind.
Something about the ocean
Makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens
Makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise
Reminds me of Your faithfulness
Something about the ocean
And I’m lost in love again
Isn’t that chorus just so true? To me, there is something about the ocean that makes my soul just feel the presence of God. I’m at a loss to describe exactly how I feel that connectivity, but I always do. Maybe it’s that the ocean is so vast and wondrous. Or, perhaps it’s the tranquility of the tide with the depth of the unknown just beneath the surface. Or maybe it’s just knowing that God created something so incredibly diverse, amazing and mysterious. Like I said, I can’t put words to it, but every time I am near the ocean, my soul feels a unique connection to God. And, it’s beautiful to me.
Book Review: Armando’s Treasure by Melody Carlson
August 4, 2008 By
![6848X: Armando"s Treasure](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/product/6/6848x.gif "6848X: Armando"s Treasure") |
Armando’s Treasure By Melody Carlson / Tyndale House Dora Chase is a frustratingly independent widow. Armando Garcia is a young man with a propensity for taking the easy way out—even if it means flirting with crime. When they meet, neither realizes how much their lives will be changed. Together they struggle toward the truth and find the importance of repairing and building relationships through forgiveness. 350 pages, softcover from Tyndale. |
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Kelly’s Review:
I really enjoyed this novel. I found it a bit difficult to get into initially, but it wasn’t long before I was hooked and fully enveloped in the storylines. Melody Carlson brings together elements of finding faith, redemption, acceptance and forgiveness to expertly craft a beautiful novel. Highly recommended!
Music Review: The Rubyz
August 2, 2008 By
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The Rubyz CD
By The Rubyz / Advocate Entertainment Join Alexis, Cammie, and Marissa for an energetic collection of tween-pop originals. The trio’s self-titled debut addresses real-life issues that teens everywhere face with clever lyrics and catchy melodies. Includes their spunky takes on The Go-Gos’ classic “We Got The Beat” and Rihanna’s club smasher “Umbrella” plus lead single “Thirteen.” |
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We discovered The Rubyz when we were looking for music for Macey, our five year old daughter. Their sound has been likened to acts such as Hannah Montana and the Cheetah Girls and in our experience those comparisons are spot-on. What we appreciate about the Rubyz is that they are wholesome and evidence of their Christianity is resounded time after time. The music is fun and upbeat. Macey loves it. A+ music for those who enjoy pop.
Emerging Butterflies…
August 1, 2008 By
This morning, our family has had the blessing of watching butterflies emerge from their cocoons. What an awesome experience and opportunity to remind ourselves and our girls about God’s wonders. It’s so cool!
We ordered this Live Butterfly Garden from Amazon for Macey’s birthday. We received the kit and sent away for the caterpillars. Within a couple of weeks, we got five caterpillars in a habitat with their food. When they first arrived, they were tiny little squigglers, but they soon grew. We went to the beach for a long weekend and when we got back, we had five cocoons in the habitat. Yesterday we finally moved the cocoons over to the mesh habitat so that the butterflies could fly about when they hatched. This morning at breakfast I looked up and noticed one of the cocoons moving. Sure enough, the first of the butterflies was emerging. And, we got to witness it!! How awesome!! Mickey took the habitat down from it’s hook and we put papertowels soaked with sugar water into the habitat so that the butterflies would have their food. About half an hour later, Macey and I got to watch the second butterfly emerge. She was in awe as much as I was at that point. We keep checking back to see if any of the remaining three butterflies have begun to emerge. Once they are all safely out of their cocoons, we will release them into our backyard.
This has been a terrific experience for all of us. I am so glad we found this gift for Macey’s birthday. Even Mariana enjoyed watching the caterpillars and is now enthralled with the butterflies. Mariana pointed to the mesh habitat with the cocoons yesterday and told me that the baby butterflies lived there. How cute! So, it really has been fun and exciting for the whole family.
Watching this process has been so inspiring. These caterpillars weren’t much larger than eyelashes when they first arrived at our home. And now they are beautiful painted lady butterflies. Isn’t it just incredible to watch God’s work unfold? God takes the “ugly” and transforms it into beauty. Not just with caterpillars, but with our human hearts as well. What a miracle!! Praise God for His wonders!!
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:15-17