Beauty in The Bleachers

Seaside Solitude

swambolt — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:40:06 +0000

A mid-November weekend trip to Cape Cod provided a much needed reprieve from the recent over saturated election coverage. Here, a seaside drive over the Bourne Bridge and along the windy roads through Falmouth and Mashpee was nothing if not a picture of peaceful tranquility. Beaches void of people and docks and bays void of boats offered views as beautiful as paintings found on the walls of local inns and eateries. The seaside solitude washed over me, renewing my spirit and filling me with a new found appreciation for the incredible, pristine beauty of God’s creation. From the simple details – beautiful shells sprinkled on beaches – to the rhythmic rolling waves of the ocean, life in and along the sea works in perfect harmony like a seasoned symphony. Simple, yet complex. Now, without the seasonal hustle and bustle of families heading to beaches, boats filling the harbor and traffic flooding the streets, the main streets and back roads of costal Cape Cod are more inviting than ever. Peaceful. Quiet. Solitude.

Heavenward

swambolt — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:42:43 +0000

Heavenward

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Rev. 11:15-17

Election Day is a perfect day to rise to our feet, or fall to our faces, and worship God with peace-filled and joy-laden hearts – Scotty Smith

While there are a variety of reasons why I chose to vote republican this morning in the voting booth, the weightiest issue was that of life. As a Christian, I believe that an unborn child is a “person” the moment of conception. As such, killing an unborn baby through abortion is murder – it is, essentially, an attack on the image of God. Simply put, abortion is the intentional killing of an innocent human being. The bible teaches that God knows us before He forms us in the womb. He knits us together, created in His image. According to Genesis 9:6: Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God. He made man (Also, Exodus 20:13). It would follow that human beings who are guilty of murder are, themselves, subject to having their life taken away by man. I stand for the unborn children. I vote pro-life.

Biblical References:

Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts;  you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;  my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,  intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,  the days that were formed for me,  when as yet there was none of them.

Exodus 21:22-25
When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

As far as politics go, there’s something amiss when candidates talk about God in one breath and killing God’s children through abortion in the next. We have a moral duty to uphold the sanctity of life and protect the weakest, most vulnerable and most innocent among us.

Whatever the results of this Presidential election, I pray for the will of our sovereign God. Regardless of the person chosen to become president, I put my faith in the Lord Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.

What issues do you value most in the election? Is there a make or break issue that could sway you one way or the other?

Calm Before the Storm

swambolt — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:43:57 +0000

As friends throughout costal Massachusetts prepare for the arrival of hurricane Sandy, we decided to take a drive to Cape Cod to enjoy the last of the fall foliage before storm winds rob the vibrant oranges and reds and yellows from the trees. While workers at local boatyards and marinas scurried to take boats out of the water, a drive along the shoreline neighborhoods proved eerily calm. Overturned rowboats lined beaches and yards and a stillness filled the air. Roads and beaches were practically void of people. Perhaps the residents were at supermarkets and hardware stores stocking up on storm essentials: flashlights and batteries, water bottles and jugs of milk. Or, perhaps, they were filling their gas tanks for cars and generators. Whatever the case, yards and beaches were quiet. In the stillness, birds could be heard squawking and the gentle caress of waves reaching the shore was rhythmic.

Driving around the upper cape, one would not know that hurricane Sandy was knocking at our doorstep, threatening enormous damage. In less than 12 hours high winds gusting to 50-60 mph will feed high tides and produce damage to homes and properties.

Today, though, the calm before the storm was intoxicating. To soak in the beauty of fall amidst the backdrop of gently rolling tides and vacant roads and neighborhoods was delightful.

Please enjoy the following pictures taken today on Cape Cod.

For more information on Hurricane preparations go the Massachusetts Emergency Management’s (MEMA) website at www.mass.gov/mema.

Looking Forward

swambolt — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:39:36 +0000

Driving around town beneath an umbrella of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows, is a visible reminder of how much I love fall. From the tapestry of colors to the plump orange pumpkins perched on front doorsteps and porches to the yards dotted with hay-filled scarecrows in plaid shirts and straw hats to the lampposts adorned with cornstalks, fall is a season of the senses. Fall smells fill the air: roaring fires, apple pies, pumpkin spice Yankee candles, piles of freshly cut wood, cinnamon and other spices. Tastes of fall are warm and hearty ~ hot cider and hot chocolate, soups and stews, pumpkin lattes and apple crisp. Fall is a season worthy of fanfare.

Before fall, the lure of long, lazy, sultry summer days captivated me. From swimming and surfing to barbecuing and bonfires to camping and canoeing to picnics and parties, summer is all about relaxation and rejuvenation. There is a sense freedom and letting go that seems to taunt us like seagulls on the beach. Summer is intoxicating. Warm, sun-kissed, water-filled and relaxing.

It is funny how each season seemingly melts into the next and, yet, we often struggle with the transition – eager to maintain the status quo. It is easy to become comfortable with where we are and resist the changes that we cannot (ultimately) stop from coming. Life is all about seasons. As parents, the different stages of parenting represent different seasons of life: from a life with babies (marked by sleepless nights & tons of paraphernalia) to life with young children (marked by hand holding & incredibly sweet language learning) to life with pre-teens (marked by boundary testing & fads) to life with teenagers (marked by confrontations & independence) to life with young adults (marked by maturity and letting go).

If I could, I would fill my home with little children – saturated with infectious giggles and wrapped in sweet innocence Chubby fingers woven with mine. But, as with the changing seasons, time seemingly melts away regardless of my desire to keep it at bay. It is my choice to either cling to the past like a life raft or embrace what is to come. I am learning to look forward. If I have parented well, I have build a firm foundation of faith and love and trust – and neither time nor distance will chip away at it.

Each subsequent season bring with it a newness … offering opportunities for growth. We have weathered the seasons of childrearing and, as our oldest is moving to California and our youngest is in the college application process, prepare ourselves for another season. It is not one which I welcome, but I know that there will be blessings there. Memories of earlier seasons are tucked away in my heart – safe…secure…easily accessed – and feed my soul. I am looking forward in anticipation of the precious gems that are hidden there.

Are you looking forward?

Silence has a Sound

swambolt — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:37:34 +0000

As I headed out for a long car ride this morning, I reached for the knob on the radio and was disheartened to realize that the volume was not working. There was power to the radio, but not the audio. For an avid radio listener like me, the silence was deafening. Without the distraction of talk radio or music, I was left to my own thoughts – to revisit earlier conversations, to second guess parental decisions and to contemplate the future.

There are times when our family seems to coast along in life, maintaining an even keel, without anyone or anything rocking the boat. Recently, it seems like we have climbed aboard a rubber raft and have hit the water of a grade 4 white water rafting adventure, with monumental life decisions rocking our otherwise stable boat.

As I drove along the road, seemingly oblivious to my destination, I realized that silence has a sound. In the solitude of my car, left to my thoughts, I felt all but alone. God was there. Almost tangible. He rained gentle reminders down on me – like a loving father who knows my heart (my hopes, my dreams, my fears & my weaknesses) – wrapping his love around me like a soft blanket on a cold fall evening. No longer did I feel like a parent with the weight of the world on my shoulders; rather, I felt a sense of freedom, knowing that the God of the universe is in control.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose” ~ Romans 8:28

Without the radio to distract me, to keep my mind from dwelling on the weighty things in life, (in the most unlikely of places) I found sweet communion with God. Silence is said to be golden and silence is said to be a virtue. Today I discovered that silence does, indeed, have a sound. A beautiful sound. It is in the silence that we can hear the sweet, small voice of the Lord speaking directly to our hearts. Transforming.

I encourage you to tune out .. and tune in. Turn off the distractions of the world and tune in. We were created to have a relationship with God and He wants to know us intimately. The longer we grow in our relationship with God, the easier it is to hear when he’s talking.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear” ~ Luke 8:8

A Kaleidoscope of Color

swambolt — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:42:40 +0000

Driving through the back roads and main streets of quaint New England towns in mid-October is a feast for the eyes, a kaleidoscope of color framing roadways, ponds and mountaintops. The amazing beauty of autumn is not lost on this life-long New Englander who finds the vibrant oranges, reds and yellows just as beautiful year after year. After a long summer of warm, sultry days, the anticipation of fall foliage is contagious – especially knowing that the spectacular show will never mirror that of the year before.

A Festival of Fall Color

swambolt — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:15:32 +0000

As we head into October, there has been an explosion of color across the landscape. Piles of pumpkins adorn roadside farm stands, rows upon rows of corn stalks line open fields and colorful Mums and Aster flowers sit proudly on doorsteps and at the foot of lamp posts. Autumn in New England offers many outdoor activities ~ families flock to apple orchards, corn mazes and fall fairs. Amazing smells waft throughout homes: crackling fires, home made apple pie, hearty stews and soups, pumpkin spice candles …

The following pictures were taken locally and are just some of the reasons that I love fall in New England!

An Autumn Tapestry

swambolt — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:19:21 +0000

As autumn begins, nature pulls back its curtains to reveal a spectacular show of color and richness. Autumn in New England is famous for its resplendent foliage as billions of leaves make the pilgrimage from green to a kaleidoscope of vibrant oranges, reds and yellows. Fall is marked by deep, saturated colors, warm, cozy clothing, hearty, savory foods and the smell of spices and toasty fires. Transitioning from summer to winter, amidst the symphony of colors, autumn is a time of harvest and family fun. It may very well be my favorite season.

If I had to describe fall and all that I love about it, these are the words that I would use:

wearing scarves

warming drinks ~ hot cider, hot tea, hot chocolate

apple picking: apple cider, apple pie, apple crumble, apple sauce, apple spice cake, caramel apples, apple cider donuts, candy apples

leather boots

gourds

wool shirts, socks, sweaters, scarves

homemade soups and stews (Pumpkin Soup recipe below)

worn-out jeans and old sweatshirts & hoodies

pumpkins: carving, decorating, pumpkin latte, pumpkin patch, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin seeds

layering clothes

plaid flannel shirts and hiking boots

stepping on crunchy leaves

fairs

the smell of fresh cut firewood

football

fall spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice

flannel sheets

corn stalks, hay bales and scarecrows

hay rides

baking

snuggling up with an extra blanket

candy corn

wearing moccasins

chilly nights

road races

pinecones

outside fires and inside fires

big, bulky sweaters

foggy mornings and windy days

yellow, red and orange leaves

cinnamon and pumpkin scented candles

picnics

the smell of burning leaves

sleeping with the windows open

making s’mores, roasting marshmallows

hiking

As September comes to an end, fall is just springing into action. Today is the first day of fall ~ let the show begin! Let the pictures tell the story…

Happy Fall!

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
1/4 c. butter 1 c. chopped onion 1 garlic clove 1 tsp. curry powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8-1/4 tsp. ground coriander 3 c. chicken broth 1 (16oz) can of pureed pumpkin 1 c. half and half

Directions:

Sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add curry, salt and coriander. Cook for 1 minute. Add broth then low boil for 20 minutes. Stir in pumpkin along with half and half. Cook 5 minutes. Blend until smooth. Can prepare in advance and reheat, but be careful not to boil. (find recipe here)

Happy Fall Y’all!

Wildflowers

swambolt — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:43:04 +0000

Sometimes it takes conflict and turmoil to see God working in our lives. Sometimes it is not until we give our difficult and painful situations to God’s waiting and willing hands that we come to know how intimately He knows our hearts, our desires, our struggles and our weaknesses. God is present in every situation in our lives and if we look closely enough, we will see Him move in such a way as to draw us nearer to Him – into the comfort and security of his loving embrace. It is here that we can rest peacefully knowing that He is in control. God wants us to come to Him for all things, not just those which cause us to go to Him in desperation. He is there in the little things as much as the monumental ones, He is there is the celebrations as much as the heartbreaks, He is there ~ the one who knit our hearts with His ~ in all things.

The past few days have been trying ones in our home. They have challenged us and stretched us and shown us with clarity that if we drop to our knees at the foot of the cross, our eyes fixed and focused on Christ, our hearts open to letting Him move in us, forgiveness and love will wash over us like a cool spring rain, turning ugly weeds into beautiful wildflowers. To experience the transforming love of God work in me and the people I cherish most makes me yearn for a more intimate relationship with the Creator of all things. It makes me realize just how much God cares about his children. He is there to celebrate with us, mourn with us, struggle with us, learn with us and grow with us ~ He wants nothing more than for us to cling to Him and seek Him in all things. And when we do, our lives will be transformed. He will move in us in ways we never thought possible, bringing us from ugly weeds to beautiful wild flowers.

Is there a time when God turned ugly weeds into beautiful wildflowers in your life?

Reflections

swambolt — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:32:53 +0000

As I steamroll towards the half century milestone I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the lessons I have learned along the way… lessons that have changed and transformed me and, at times, caused me to reevaluate my priorities and the way I live my life. I pray that this list of lessons, ideas and thoughts will be a helpful guide to those who have yet to travel this same road. Often times we don’t realize how powerful our lives can be until we reflect and share our experiences.

50 lessons I learned by the age 50

1. Put Jesus first

2. You can never be too generous

3. Nothing replaces a hand written note

4. Memories are priceless – capture them in photographs (and print them)

5. Don’t compare your life to others’ – you have no idea what their journey is about

6. Beaches in tropical places are a priceless gift

7. Stay true to your principles

8. You are not promised a tomorrow

9. The only way to get over the past is to leave it behind

10. If you can’t sing, sing anyway

11. Celebrate special days (birthdays, anniversaries, homecomings) with fanfare

12. You can never be too thankful

13. Humility is underrated

14. Don’t impress people with what you have; impress them with who you are

15. If you love someone, tell him. Love empowers you

16. “Fair” is not a word

17. Worry about your character, not your reputation

18. You get only one chance to make a good first impression

19. Volunteer – if you want more joy, serve

20. Don’t compare yourself to other people

21. Live with intention

22. Forgive as much as possible. Forgiving is something we do for ourselves

23. (Try to) Live without regrets

24. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does

25. Some day never comes

26. Always choose life

27. Release the bitterness and grab a firm hold of happiness

28. Make peace with your past so it won’t interfere with the present

29. Disappointments are meant to strengthen you

30. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary

31. Believe in miracles

32. It’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts

33. The beauty of the sunrise and sunset over the ocean is matchless

34. Cherish every moment

35. Time does heal

36. Do not put off RSVP-ing to anything

37. Time heals almost everything. Give time time

38. Promptness shows respect

39. Motivation gets you started – habit keeps you going

40. Collect moments, not things

41. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable

42. Manners count. Use them

43. God first. Family second

44. Sometimes the words written on a card (by the gift giver) are better than the gift itself

45. No matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides

46. Show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile

47. It’s a lot easier to react than it is to think

48. Create traditions, they link generations

49. Pray. Often

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift

Do any of these resonate with you? Please feel free to share any thoughts, lessons or ideas you would add to this list …