…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. … And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 8 -9
What is my only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
~Heidelberg Catechism
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
~Mary Oliver
To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man’s life.
~ T.S. Eliot
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To live is so startling, it leaves little room for other occupations.
~Emily Dickinson
I believe in God as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
~ C. S. Lewis
Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.
~ Augustine
Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.
~ Mary Oliver
The seed is in the ground. Now may we rest in hope while darkness does its work.
~ Wendell Berry
Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine the true poetry of life.~ Sir William Osler
But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.
~George Eliot’s final sentence in Middlemarch
If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
~ E.B. White
Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear, in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye clear. What we need is here.~~ “The Wild Geese” Wendell Berry
Let it come, as it will, and don’t be afraid. God does not leave us comfortless, so let evening come.
~ Jane Kenyon from “Let Evening Come”
You can only come to the morning through the shadows.~ J.R.R. Tolkien
If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for. ~ Thomas Merton
This life therefore is not righteousness,
but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
not being but becoming,
not rest but exercise.
We are not yet
what we shall be,
but we are growing toward it.
The process is not finished
but it is going on.
This is not the end
but it is the road.
~Martin Luther
Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.
~ Mary Oliver
It is not your love that sustains the marriage —
but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
She has done what she could…
~Mark 14:8
What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?~ J. R. R. Tolkien from The Hobbit
Barnstorming 
The poems, the photos, your story, are all a balm to me. When I get to feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, a turn to Barnstorming, and step back into the farm that holds a special place in my heart, even though I was only there a few times. Thank you for taking the time, in your very busy life, to share your story and your world.
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Hear my story? The beautiful part of your voice telling your story is as we listen, we hear our own stories being voiced. Your stories and photos give words to the inexpressible within us, and we recognize the details. Your story is what’s our story too. But you say it so much
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(Last word got cut off. Finished sentence is “But you say it so much nicer!”)
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You speak the human language-there is something for everyone in your writing and photography. It brings me peace and a smile in this hectic world. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world…and yes, I agree, you say it much nicer!
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This happened today after the worship service.
Just as I exited the pew, I noticed a couple walking by who I’d never seen before, so I asked if this was their first time here.
They replied, “I do not speak English.”
WOW! Really??
So, there ensued a wonderful amazing divinely inspired encounter in which the good gift of a smartphone came into play. They wrote a sentence in Russian, and I read the English translation, then we reversed until I learned that they’ve just moved to Longview from Kazakhstan on Oct 10th and his brother has lived here 21 years and has 8 kids (!). They live in an apt on Washington Way and he’s going to work at Foster Farms. She wrote that she didn’t receive (or maybe it was, know) Jesus in Kazakhstan where they’re from. Yet when Renee and I were talking with her (lots of pantomime and phone writing) she has Jesus in her heart now and she’s full of love! She is so sweet! And I’ve been invited to come visit. Which I will! I can’t wait to find out her story!
Love,
Victoria, who so enjoys your posts and photos. Thank you!
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lovely story, Victoria, thank you for sharing!
Emily
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Em, Missed you at the Messiah this afternoon. We talked about how music weaves lives/stories together. Thanks for ALL the ways you do that.
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Love the words and pictures! A great site to find peace and quiet thoughts.
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