We now cannot even walk on the side walk because the "stick" has climbed and grown so much it has covered the corner of our house. We have to walk around it on the grass to get to the front door.

Walking in from church Sunday, Ashley said, "Mom, the stick is attacking me...time to cut the stick!"

I'll prune it back after it quits blooming, which, by the way it is still doing. You just can't see it as well because the leaves are so huge and numerous it's covering up the blooms.

I love the season of pruning. I love pruning back my roses for the winter...cutting them way back until they almost look unable to achieve a flower in the future. I will love cutting back this vine because I know it will make it grow even more beautiful next year.

John 15:1-4
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me."

As much as I love pruning in my yard, I never like the idea of being pruned myself. It's usually uncomfortable, rarely pleasant, often painful. But it's necessary. I know we are a work in progress. Constantly growing, producing fruit, being pruned, and so on and so on.

I want to be fruitful. I want my life to leave evidence of Jesus Christ along the way. The only way to be productive is to accept my pruning.

Ouch...but thank you.

There is a song that comes on the Christian radio station...it's kind of sappy, maybe, but the sentiment for me is bulls-eye, on the money, exactly what I'm feeling at this time.

It talks about holding this child for a short while, and then moves on to say that I hope my love gives them roots and helps them find their wings. It destroys me every time I hear it.

So, tonight, I'm driving to the home of a friend of my daughter, where she and about 20 other kids are all getting ready for their Senior Prom. The kids wanted to be together as long as possible and since getting ready is half the fun, they wanted to share that, too.

I'm already a bit of a mess...my daughter is going to her Senior Prom...that's awful close to graduation which is horribly close to college which is devastatingly close to not living in my house any longer. I can't tell you the lump in my throat as I'm driving to this beautiful home in a wealthy gated community.

As I'm driving, this song comes on..."listen to this" I tell Lex. So, thinking I've heard it enough times that it won't mess with me again, I turn it up. Foolish move.

As I'm wiping the tears away, I turn on the street that will lead me through the gate to their home...there is the limo in front of me that the parents of the big home in the gated community rented for the kids. I'm a mess...

Fortunately, the limo driver doesn't know the gate code, so I have to unbelt my self and get out and walk over and punch in the code so he can get in. All this helps me quit crying...

Until I pull through the gate and see this amazing group of young adults...many of whom I've known and loved since elementary school, one in particular that I've adored since the moment I knew she was...

Again, I'm a mess.

What a tremendous blessing to have been part of something so creative, so difficult, so beautiful as the raising of children.

Of all the blessings in my life, this one is overwhelming.

So, I will post pictures later, but let me say that as the tears stream down I am so grateful to be a Mom...

Blessings.

The images you see here are in front of my home. I have a vine that grows up and over my garage. This vine is about 4 years old, I think.

I was at a local hardware store one day, (pause for confusion about me in a hardware store) and saw this stick. Attached to the stick was a picture of what this stick would become, if all went as planned.

I loved the picture, so I purchased the stick, the pot, and some dirt.

My family made fun of me every time we pulled in our out of the garage.

"Nice stick, Mom"

"Just wait, things are happening...it's growing roots and the stick is growing...I can see it." I would tell them that it was going to grow into something beautiful and then they'd all owe me an apology for doubting. My sweet husband would pat me and look away as he chuckled at my delusional thoughts.

Time passed, nothing happened...and then one day, there was a green bud. and then another, and another. Suddenly it started growing tall and eventually, we installed the lattice over the door so it would have a place to climb.

Last year, it popped out a couple of flowers, and oh how I was excited!

But this year, goodness, it is beautiful. I can't walk in or out of the house without staring in wonder at what it was (even I had my doubts, but nobody knew), compared to what it is.

You all are smart enough to see where this is going...

Attached to all of us is a picture that our Heavenly Father sees clearly. It's of this beautiful creature...growing, flowering, producing, inspiring. Sometimes, the world sees a stick. And, in truth, don't we sometimes look at people and think, "Nice stick." ? We don't always believe in the power of God's transforming love.

What starts out as a stick to be made fun of may turn into the glory of the neighborhood! (or heaven!)

Let's rely, for the sake of our own hearts, on the amazing grace and love that was purchased so we might not remain a stick.

Blessings!

Ever wonder how anything good gets done while trying to do so many things at once? We've high-teched ourselves into multi-tasking robots as we try to see who can accomplish the most in the least amount of time so we'll have time for....what, exactly?

I was hit in the face with this as I sat at my desk this morning. All music and three different translations of scripture lay out before me as I organize an Easter service. If you know me, you know I'm not a big holiday lover when it comes to our assembly time on Sunday morning. I put as much into the other 50 Sundays of the year as I do Easter and Christmas.

But, as most of you know, there are visitors to consider in larger number and there's always the hope that this particular service will touch an untouched part of their heart. That it will be this Sunday they see Jesus in a way that makes them want a personal relationship with Him on a daily basis...right?

Important? Absolutely.

Five different song books open, others laying behind me on the floor, two Bibles open, pencils sharpened and ready. I begin writing down possibilities, looking at scripture, putting down an order...

I decide to check my email. Something from Pepperdine saying they need a form that I've already FAXED to them twice. So, in the midst of all the planning, I call Pepperdine. I'm on the phone with them when my cell phone rings, I answer that and tell them to hold on just a second, I'll be right back with them. I'm chatting with Financial Aid when someone comes in my office and stands, waiting to say something...

As all this is happening, I'm still writing down song possibilities and putting together an order for Sunday.

I finished with Pepperdine, answered the question of the one standing in my office, and completed the cell conversation in record time.

Then I looked at what was before me.

I was a bit ashamed of myself. Not a beating of myself kind of shame, but just an honest..."I'm sorry other things take a slot before You" kind of feeling.

I don't have an answer to this problem. This isn't an occasional occurrence. I don't think it is with most Americans. Satan doesn't get us to sin, for the most part, by tempting us with holding up a bank, or murdering our friend, or stealing someone else's spouse.

He gets us in the business of life. He gets us with the busy multi-tasking way we think we're accomplishing so much, when usually, all we're doing is being distracted from the important things that matter in the long run.

We like to feel accomplished, productive, successful. By what standard are we measuring this? That's really the question.

Life is full of disappointments.

Our family shared one last night. I won't go into great detail out of respect for the inflicted party, but let me say that when your children hurt, you are devastated. I don't think I've felt quite the void and sadness for one of my kids ever the way I'm feeling it now.

Nothing that won't be fine eventually. But let me just say that the words you want to use in certain situations as a minister right now sound very lame...so through this I've learned that our pat answers like "when God closes a door, He opens a window" or "God is in control" or "You'll understand it better down the line"...lame, lame, lame.

Is our faith shaken? no. Are we angry at God? no. Do we know deep down all things work together for good for those that love Him? of course.

But last night, my baby had a broken hearted disappointment. So, I did what any self-respecting mother would do.

I went to the grocery store, found our drug of choice, sat on the bed and cried a little and said, "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry. Now, grab a spoon and dive in."

I love the story of David's anointing. I love the fact that Samuel is told by God..."I'll let you know when you find the right person." Jesse brings out his boys and one by one God says - "Nope, Next!" And so it goes until Samuel finally says, "is this it? is there another one?"

Well, yes, but it's the little one, the youngest. You know Jesse was thinking there must have been a mistake. Surely you don't mean this young one.

I love the way what seemed obvious to man, wasn't to God. I mean, if there's a job to do, don't we pick the strong one of great stature? Don't we elect men we see as strong physical specimens? Don't we see the physical person first and sometimes don't recognize a strong heart underneath?

God said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. (I Samuel 16:12,13)

Let's work on being Genuine. Holy. Transparent. Let's move away from making sure man will be impressed with our shell and pray that God is pleased with our hearts.

Now that Steven's posted the pictures he wanted to post, www.intentionalwalk.blogspot.com), I'll show you a couple more.

Sweet, sweet, sweet.

Grandma Jeanie received some post-game love.

Avery always gets a hug from James. These two are buds.

Sunshine, baseball, family all around to watch you, and a daddy who stays with you the whole way. What more could Master James want?

It was a very good hour.