A Dream Come True

Today I had the great fortune of visiting with one of the most beautiful women I know, Mattie Seale.

Mattie is the mother-in-law of one of my dearest friends, Susan. (Mattie is quick to point out that Susan is not "just" a daughter-in-law, but that she has become a true daughter over the years.)  To many of us Mattie is "Mama Seale" and just a few moments in her presence today left me with a feeling of peace and contentment.

Mama Seale has a heart of gratitude.  She is well-loved and she loves well.  She has lived a big life filled with the usual ups and downs but when she looks back on it all, she says life has been good "without interruption".  She told me that her faith is the foundation that allows her to enjoy life to the fullest and that her life today is like a "dream come true".  I felt peace and hope settle over me as I listened to what she had to share. 

It seems that every day I am bombarded with information about how to make my life "better".  I am encouraged to do more and be more.  Teachings abound on how to "create the life I want" and "live my best life now".  I believe, though, that great lives are not orchestrated or acheived.  Great lives are simply lived, facing whatever comes with courage and grace.  Mama Seale knows this and her words of experience and wisdom resonate with something deep inside of me.  They call forth a desire to simply let go and be content with what I have and what I am this very day...to realize that my life, with all its challenges and triumphs, disappointments and victories, really is a dream come true because I am loved and I love and in the end that's all that really matters.

A Prayer for Japan and for Us All

I spent some time at the Dallas Arboretum today. The spring beds are unbelievably gorgeous and this weekend there's an added bonus...Artscape, a fine art fair, is taking place in the pecan grove. 

As I walked through the gardens and admired the artists' works I was so grateful to be surrounded by such beauty and again and again I found myself thinking of the people of Japan.  How many lovely gardens and beautiful works of art were destroyed in last week's earthquake and subsequent tsunami?  As I watched families enjoying the beautiful day together I thought about the thousands of families that are mourning the loss of loved ones or living in fear of a nuclear disaster.  I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around this. 

The only thing I know to do is pray. 

So I pray that each individual in Japan today would see something that brings them hope.

And I pray that each finds strength and help in the days ahead.

And I pray that each of us will take time today to count our blessings, to honor the people in our lives, and to reach out to someone in need.

Finally, brothers, 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.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  
Philippians 4:8



Our Weekend Project

It's a gorgeous day, which is good, because we have some major work to do outside.  A big storm moved through some time ago, taking several trees down, and today is the day we are finally going to start cleaning up one of the larger ones.  This particular tree was an oak measuring almost 100 feet tall.  It will supply plenty of firewood for our wood stove this winter!

I am most interested in the root system of this tree because it provides a great illustration of why I chose the name Taproot for my studio.  As large and heavy as oaks like this are, they do not have taproot systems.  Their roots tend to spread laterally, generally staying within a few feet of the ground surface.  They have no deep reaching roots to anchor them firmly to the earth.

As you can see, when the storm and strong winds came, this huge oak fell right over, exposing the weak root system, and killing the tree.

This is the reason I work under the name Taproot...It reminds me that I must reach deep to grow strong.  Every day I must be "furtile ground"...growing stronger by walking in faith, hope and love.