p u r i t y

photo credit: Brooklyn Armstrong

:: p u r i t y ::

bold

daring

outrageously-

breathtakingly-

beautiful

rare
courageous
bursting
with life
&
freedom
to be
full

purity
is not
a bonnet
or boredom
or buttons to the neck
not prudish
or Victorian
lace or fluff


purity is the stuff
of soul warriors
who keep
the
fight
let us join the ranks

pure heart
pure mind
pure lips
pure life!!

Psalm 51:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"Have mercy on me, O God,    because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion,    blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt.    Purify me from my sin."

words and images (unless otherwise cited) ©copyright Melody Armstrong 2013

crazy beauty....and being surprised

i pass this old red barn every day

and I'm still mesmorized

by the way it stands tall against the sky

even if it's shoulders are sagging a little

it glows soft red as twilight works its magic

and I stare as longs as i can

till i've passed it again

but today I stop

(with my one teenage boy and his buddy) 

and we all pull out our phones and start shooting

cuz there's beauty everywhere

when you stop to look for it

...wishing you a few moments to 

see the unexpected beauty 

on your travels today

 and thank you to my boy

who still occasionally surrenders 

that outrageously gorgeous smile

to the camera 

melting mama's heart

every time.

(and thanks to instagram for those filters that I still can't master on my own!!!  haha)

words and images © copyright melody armstrong 2015

frosty diamonds

: :
so many gorgeous mornings lately
everything cloaked in diamonds

so i pull the car over
plod through snow much deeper than my boots
snap pictures and smile while
snow flakes sneak inside my socks
and diamonds melt between my toes
: :

have a lovely, frosty day

P.S. if you wish to be amazed at the exquisite beauty of a single snowflake like this one
 treat yourself to more incredible photography by Alexey Kljatov
and maybe you'll even try your hand at it since he gives some
really great instructions on his techniques

-this photo by Alexey Kljatov of "chaotic minds" blog

...anticipation

I'm sitting in our living room this morning with a hot mocha in a favourite mug, just enjoying the soft glow of our Christmas tree and the hush that still rests over the house.  The kids are sleeping in (one of their long- awaited holiday pleasures) and a quiet anticipation of my own fills the stillness of this moment.  

It's advent --the season of waiting, anticipating, longing.  In two short days, Christians all over the globe will celebrate together the coming of our Saviour, Jesus.    

But this moment, right here, is about the waiting, the believing that something good is still on the way.  It is about remembering the promise of hope for the all the nations, the promise of hope for me and for you. In every sorrow, in every question, in every hardship, there is assurance that help and salvation is on the way.

^"5 My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. My hope comes from Him. ⁶ He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken. ⁷ My being safe and my honor rest with God. My safe place is in God, the rock of my strength. ⁸ Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a safe place for us." Psalm 62:5-8

  
I love to imagine how all those years ago, in the presence of humble shepherds lying out under the stars with their sheep, a mighty angel of the Lord appeared and lit up the entire landscape with the shining presence and glory of God.  His appearance alone would have made anyone tremble in fear and amazement.  But the the good news he proclaimed, how could they have known it would not only blaze in their own hearts forever, but that it would ignite the heart of every believer down through the ages? Can you imagine what it would have been like?  The heavens radiant with God's presence and a thunderous chorus of praise filling the skies....all of it to announce the coming  of one who would save, who would love, who would lay his life down so we could really live.  

"...Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!  The Savior --yes, the Messiah, the Lord-- has been born tonight in Bethlehem!  How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket lying in a manger!"  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God:"Glory to God in the Highest heaven," they sang, "and peace on earth for all those pleasing him."

Luke 2:10-14 (TLB Living Bible)

My wish for you and I is that we would treasure these last moments of waiting before Christmas day arrives.  That we would acknowledge our needs, and revel in the hope of a Saviour and provider who promises to meet us right where we need him most, and every other space in between.  My prayer for you comes from the beautiful words of Ephesians 1: 19-21 (TLB. TheLivingBible):

^19" I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven, ²¹ far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else either in this world or in the world to come."

Love, Hope, Joy and a Merry Christmas to you all,

Melody

waking to this

waking to this

the heavens declaring

and I can only smile

and count

more gifts

more grace

more ways He loves

the rush of the day waits

a hush settles

on my soul

a moment

to taste eternity

there is so much more

no wonder

my heart wonders

and longs for home

P.S.  for more beauty and sky gazing...see here or here.

word and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

feeling blue...and loving it

some shots from my lving room and the old & new blue accents that I’m loving

images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

my fall manifesto...revisited

i want to......

-laugh every day --no matter what
-let thanks to God be the first thoughts on my mind
-listen, really listen, to my kid's stories -- even when I'm trying to "get stuff done."
-make crabapple jelly and juice

-pay attention to my life (and read Buechner when i need reminding)

-sing loudly in the shower

-grumble less about busyness

-accept

-eat slower...savour more

-juice, juice, juice and love the art of it

-pull out recipe books when I get the cooking blahs

-remember that cooking blahs are an amazing problem to have

-make family opportunities to give

-get out with friends more as a couple (without kids)

-write often. whenever, wherever, whatever

-stop to write love notes...even if they are on plain paper :)

(this love note i wrote for my Dad was still stapled to the inside of a 

cupboard door in his garage, years after it was written...hmmmmm)

-give longer snuggles at bed times

-plant life (tulips and gladiolas)

-celebrate small victories and maybe losses too

-keep eyes wide open for beauty everywhere

-rediscover the Bible and let its life land fresh in my soul

-share it, share it, share it (whatever "it" it)

-less wine

-walk to the forest more (lay in moss &listen to stillness)

-lace up in these cooler mornings and get out in it

-say "yes" when the big kid wants to go for a drive

-cinnamon bun dates with boy in braces 

-make mall dates with preteen queen of the house

-watch net flix with hubbie (more TV? )

-play (especially if it's snowing in Sept!) (like mom, 87)

 -enjoy home days to the fullest

-read to the kids

-get more music (non 80's haha) on the family ipod

-find some great audio books for our long drives

-set aside days where a fleece onsie is full fashion

-bake with the kids and enjoy the mess

-create...create...share...

-be true to my creative self and indulge whenever I can

....and the list goes on.....but thought I'd share a few with you. 

hugs and love,

Melody

(p.s. I've included some links to older posts in case you're in the mood to kick back and read a few other related pieces.  Enjoy!)

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014 

sitting with sadness awhile....

I have finally agreed to allow my own Sadness a seat at the table of this great life banquet of mine -at least for the time being.

Sadness is rarely allowed to pull up a chair, much less have a voice in the conversation of my soul. I usually do a good job of pushing sadness back and squeezing the door tight to keep it out.  I think Sadness is a lousy guest.  It talks too slow.  It asks me awkward questions while looking me square in the eyes.  It takes a long time to make its point when it finally speaks.  I don't enjoy sitting with sadness, ever.

I much prefer to sit with Joy.  We're great friends and have so much to talk about as we laugh and savour life together.  Some of my other favourite guest are Happiness, Triumph, Strength and Success.  They are  always welcome to join the party whenever they show up.  While they are a lot less dependable than Joy and Sadness, they are so much fun and they really boost my self-confidence.  I admit that our conversations can get a little shallow at times, but at least they don't ask me uncomfortable questions about myself,  my character, or my faith the way Sadness does.

Sadness has been incessant lately, continuing to knock at the door of my heart.  It will not take "NO!" for an answer.  I've told Sadness time and again that there is no room at this soul table because the seats are already filled with Joy and the enormous Blessings' family.  But Sadness disagrees and insists that there is room at the table right next to Joy, maintaining that the two are comfortable together since they spend most of life side by side.   Not only that, Sadness is also pushing me to squeeze in and extra chair for Brokenness, --another guest that I find to be an intolerable party-wrecker.

So, I concede.  I have finally agreed to make room at my soul table and sit with these usually unwelcome guests.   Strength, Success and the rest of the rowdy and jovial bunch haven't shown up.  Joy is present and smiling as usual, but seems to be especially quiet today.  I'm feeling a little on my own with Sadness and Brokenness but have decided to engage as honestly as I can and see what they have to share with me.   I'm hoping that maybe we will find a way to be at peace with one another.

I'm pretty sure that the main course of this meal will be humility.   O, God, please also bring Courage to this soul banquet as I learn to quiet myself, listen, share and be nourished at this table. 

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

an open heart

“It takes courage to push yourself 

to places that you have never been before...

to test your limits...

to break through barriers.

And the day came when the risk it took 

to remain tight inside the bud 

was more painful 

than the risk it took to Blossom.” 

― Anaïs Nin

It's always safer being closed.  But is safer, better? 

My husband and I have been pondering the questions again....the ones that keep popping up when relationships get stretched and worn thin.  Is it really worth the pain to keep caring, to keep trying?  Is it possible to somehow be impermeable to hurt and disappointment, and still maintain an open, tender heart?  Or, should we just accept pain and hurt as the inevitable cost of choosing to maintain certain relationships? 

I've been watching this sunflower in its slow and careful unfurling to the world.  Its destiny is to bloom - to open up and boldly share its radiance.  I'm certain our hearts are destined for the same, regardless of how vulnerable it makes us feel.

There is no guarantee that our relationships will turn out the way we'd like, no matter how hard we try or how good our intentions may be.  Still, I think it is right to keep risking, regardless of the cost. The willingness to be tender and open in relationships, to share our truest selves with the world,  allows for the possibility of an amazing miracle to occur...the unfolding of something shockingly beautiful.  

words and images (unless otherwise cited) © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014

september stillness

i pause

from all the racing, running

wildness of my world

and catch a glimpse

of more 

than shimmering leaves

that flutter and wave

to catch a fragment

of my 

always divided

attention

it's like they know

i'd be sad to miss the show

and that would be easy 

on these days when it 

seems 

i 

miss 

more 

than 
i 

  notice

so i stop and sit and stare

    (can eyes drink in a view?) 

and since a poem 

might distract

like

words

sometimes 

do

i open the page

to sketch

what i'm aching

to really see

that my life is vast

and deep and flowing 

with countless

moments

of 

grace

that have 

my attention.

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014