Welcoming in the New

The LORD is my light and my salvation...

Psalm 27:1a

Yesterday just before the sun set in the west,

my husband helped me light two new candles:

symbols of the light of God that dispels the darkness;

symbols of our prayers reaching heavenward-

towards the Creator of all.

Every evening during this new month

 (and for 10 days thereafter)

they will be lit for a few moments -

to set apart this time as a time of reflection and renewal.

Wishing you a blessed Elul,

Aimee

Resources on Elul for Christians:

http://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Elul/elul.html

 http://frontrangemessianic.org/moedim/a-season-of-teshuvah/

When Your Soul Feels Parched

You caused abundant rain to fall, O God.
When Your inheritance was weary You revived it.
Psalm 68:9 LEB

Outside many of our plants are showing signs of stress;
wilting, browning, loss of fruit--

visible indicators  that it has been very hot as of late
and that the plants did not get enough water when it was needed.

Our grass (no way can I call it a lawn) is brown except in a few places;

it will bounce back when the autumn rains begin.

This evening at sunset begins my spiritual retreat--

a time I set aside yearly to examine where I am at spiritually;

a time of renewal.

As the hours tick by today,

I find myself so in need of this year's retreat;

I feel totally parched-
wilted,
weary,
unfruitful.

I know the causes of my soul's drought
(there are many)

and

I know the only cure.

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, O God.
I thirst for God,
the living God,
When can I go and stand before Him?
Psalm 42:1-2 NLT

Blessings this day,
Aimee

Notes:
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Little Lost Soul

A little more then two years ago,

a smile of a little soul flashed across my television's screen

and touched my heart.

It was the smile of 7 year old Kyron Horman

standing proudly by his school science project -

a project on tree frogs.

Shortly after that photo was taken at Kyron's school--

Skyline Elementary in Portland, Oregon

this sweet boy,

with the infectious grin

went missing;

sadly he still is.

So on this 15th day of August,

I invite you,

as fellow grandparents,

mothers,

fathers,

sisters,

brothers,

uncles and aunts

to take a good look at the banner above,

to visit the Missing Kyron page where you will find

more information and many more photos

(including some with age progression);

to keep an eye out for this little lad

and

 to say a prayer that this lost soul will SOON be brought home.

I know I have.

Blessings,

Aimee

Notes:

Banner used with permission of this facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missing-Kyron-Horman/125336750831264



Summer Snow

When I was younger my grandma would make us snow cones.

She would create them by placing ice cubes in a dish towel

and then

crushing the ice with a hammer.

It actually worked really well!

She would then put the crushed ice in a glass

and top it

with that orange flavored powder that NASA brought into space:)

It was good,

especially on hot summer days!

A few days ago,

I had one of these in a park we stopped at  

and even though it wasn't my grandma's snow cone...

 it was excellent!

In fact, it was so good,

I am craving another right now.

Mmmm.

So I ask you...

are you a shaved ice fan or do you prefer snow cones?

Do you have a favorite combo?

FYI-

I like peach and strawberry

but I think I will try to make a lingonberry snow cone later this week.

Sounds perfect!

Stay COOL.

Blessings,

Aimee

Update (8/14):

I've been thinking about my grandma's process and I decided to clarify it a bit.

First, I am sure this is obvious but I will be cleaning our hammer first before using it because it has seen much time in less than clean conditions. Secondly, I am going to try enclosing the ice cubes in a plastic zipper type food storage bag first before placing that in a dish towel. My thinking is that this will keep the crushed ice cleaner (no cloth fibers) and more contained.

My target date is this Thursday.

Meanwhile I have some pomegranate juice popscicles freezing in the freezer...

Mmmm, summertime frozen treats!