guatemala part 3a – volcano hike

Guatemala is a beautiful country that has at least 37 volcanoes! On one of rest days we had the opportunity to hike Pacaya. The path itself was easy to follow, but it was a challenging, steep climb. The locals followed us for quite some time hoping to get a passenger for their horses. More Pacaya pics in the next post. Thanks for stopping by.

letting go

at this ripe young age
can it be three score
as i turn each page
i know less not more
and the more of less i know
it seems
it’s about letting go

i let go of the boy
i used to be
though he still
seems to want his own way
so still letting go
of my selfish ways
that boy won’t go away
that’s okay
i’m learning
letting go

i let go of just me
“i do” means now “we”
can it be two score
and there is so much more
of letting go
that i need to know
for “we”

letting go of
seeking me in her
letting go
of smashing mirrors
with my pride
letting go
of thinking
it’s better to hide
letting go
of staying inside
my head
letting go
of keeping my heart
to myself
i guess
the long slow road
of letting go of self

letting go
of expectations
of
well
everything
and
everyone
letting go
of just taking
letting go
of just faking
that we’re all okay

i pray i practice well
all the lettings go’s
that wait for me
‘cause someday soon
the last let go
will come into my room
and i want peace
and i want to know
that all those other letting go’s
will help me see
what waits for me
is an eternal embrace
it really is amazing grace
He never has
and never will
let go
of me

guatemala part 2

Welcome to this episode of Guatemala: the photoblog posts. Today’s episode: Why we went to Guatemala. If you are just tuning in, this is the second post from a recent trip to San Lucas Sacatepequez, Guatemala. I was part of a team who volunteered from our church to work at this church: Iglesia Galilea. We helped pour the concrete floor for their sanctuary. This was all done by hand! We helped make the concrete (we went through 340 bags of cement), then brought it inside with wheelbarrows, then the Guatemalans finished the floor. It was HARD work, but so rewarding and fun. The team was outstanding, but I was never able to stop the mixer from spitting cement all over me! Coming in the next episode: volcanoes! Thanks for stopping by.

guatemala part 1

Each late Spring, early Summer I say to myself: “Yay! Summer is coming. Looking forward to slowing down a bit.” Well, still looking forward to slowing down a bit! It has been just as busy as any other summer, but a wonderful summer as well. One of the ingredients that have made this summer wonderful is an unexpected missions trip to Guatemala.

So, this is the first in an as yet unknown number of posts on my Guatemala experiences. I am not a traveler, so I tip my lens cap to those travel bloggers out there. (For a fantastic travel blog check out https://julesvernex2.com)

These images were taken on the grounds of the home we stayed in. Our home was in San Lucas Sacatepequez, a beautiful town located about 7,000 ft above sea level. Stay tuned for the next episode featuring the reason for our trip to Guatemala. Thanks for stopping by.

so welcome to your new day

so welcome to your new day
time to tell your story
time to give yourself away
let go of the worry
and why so much hurry
time to slow down
what story will you tell
this day

so welcome to your new day
don’t compare and don’t stare
at all the insta-images
that sometimes just won’t dare
to be real and to say

i’m who i am
occasionally stumbling
always broken
anxiety has stolen some joy
but i’m who i am
loved by God
an image bearer
of my Creator
i am here
on this new day

so see the Light
who makes wrongs right
and mends our hurting souls
He lifts our heads
shows us the way
each time we go astray
He forgives
welcome to your new day
let go of that worry
don’t hurry
past the Light
on this new day

the story teller

i took a breath
listen
i took another one
i can hear
the soft hush
of oxygen
entering my lungs
bringing life
listen
another hush
is this what life sounds like

i opened my eyes
color
light
darkness
shadows
hues
stars
sunsets
waterfalls
my little girl’s
impossibly tiny
fingers
the gaze
of my beloved eyes
they all fell
through the windows
of my eyes
i opened my eyes
is this what life looks like

i felt something
the slightest variation
of texture
of temperature
an embrace
a fall day
wrapped in
a favorite sweatshirt
the caress of snowflakes
on my face
is this what life
feels like

i heard a sound
a song
a melody
the waves crashing
on the shore
the symphony
of autumn leaves
my little boy
is crying
thunder calling
across the sky
someone said
i love you
is this what life
sounds like

and life can taste
so sweet
as coffee
chases the donut
ice cream’s
creamy comfort
the delight of strawberries
i can smell
each fallen leaf
calling winter near
the scent of summer rain
and the blackened
marshmallow
in the snappy campfire
is this the aroma
and flavor
of life

and what of all the pain
and sorrow too
countless tears
and so alone
and shame chases
me down the years
is this what
life is

transcendence
calls me home
the unseen real
touches my soul
i long for a place
that is real
that is safe
at home with
the author
of my soul
complete
and whole
finally at peace
is this
what eternal
life is

yes
to all the above
and more

i
am
here

no
one
took
me away

so
yes
to
life

yes
to
the
story teller
of
life