about prayer...

our Lord says,


‘Call to me and I will

answer you and tell

you great and

unsearchable things

you do not know.’

//Jeremiah 33:3

the sting of death

for some reason i have been thinking about death recently.
i was thinking about how those around me would feel when i die.
would they know i love them as much as i do? would they
remember me and all the good memories we share? or would
they have regrets? would they be OK?

a new friend of mine, and co-worker from the summer,
has lost several of his friends to death in the last few years.
i haven't had a friend die. i have seen many relatives die in
the past many years, but not anyone close to my age. death
is hard, no matter what the age. but, i think it impacts
someone differently if they're close to your age, &
especially if they're close to you emotionally/relationally.

someone died last night. truthfully, m a n y people died last
night. but it was someone i know. well, sort of know. he was
my mom's second cousin. he was young, only 21 or 22. i have
talked to him before. and saw him at Christmas-time. for the
last time. we never naturally think of it in those terms... "this
might be the last time i see him or her." i really feel impacted
by his death. perhaps it's his young age. or the fact that i have
been thinking about death lately... but the truth is, it hurts!

my heart hurts for jk's family... & for his short life, for all the
things he'll miss. and especially for all those who will miss
him. death can come suddenly and it impacts others in,
sometimes, very profound ways. knowing a life has ended,
suddenly, causes my heart to ache inside me...

Lord, be close to the family of jk. wrap Your arms of love
around them. help them as they cry & grieve, for years to come,
the loss of their son, brother, nephew, friend, cousin, grandson...

grant Your peace, o Lord.


this is the sting of death.

summer-time.

Summer 2011 has been... well, many things.

enjoyable. fun. memorable. adventurous. new.
familiar. joyous. bittersweet. full of changes.
beginnings. endings. gutsy. silly. beautiful.
majestic. rules were broken. educational.
relational. outdoorsy. sunny. smiles. serene.
anxious. full of peace. people. friendships.
wonderful. food. wind. rain. beer. shooting stars.
bonfires. traveling. fudge. coffee. tea. cleaning.
conversations. sailing. sunsets. seagulls. tents.
Jesus. prayer. journaling. baking. family. & more.


I consider myself blessed to have been able to enjoy as
many adventures & pleasantries these past few months,
as I have. God is good. And I am thankful!


Hopefully over the next few weeks/months I can share
some stories about some of my adventures this summer...


Tomorrow begins the new school year (my last year of nursing school!),
so for now, goodnight. ~cil

31 years!

God has been gracious. . .

Today, August 23, 2011, my parents are celebrating 31 years of married life together!

Happy Anniversary Dad & Mom! I love you.

"the Lord has done GREAT things for us, and we are filled with JOY!"


It is exciting to anticipate the next 31 years. . . and all that the future holds for us.

thankful for this day, Cil

empower, be empowered.

this is something to consider:

All-New Spread Campaign from Light Gives Heat on Vimeo.

joyous reunion

Today, Cheyne and I were reunited after 7 months apart.

She is my dear friend who was in Africa for 6 months serving
at TLC orphanage, caring for the sweet babies and toddlers.

When she returned to the States in July I was away at my summer job in the U.P. until 2 days ago.

So, getting to see her today was good, emotional, bittersweet...

When we embraced, at our favorite spot in royal oak (goldfish tea),
we both seemed to get teary eyed. She shared stories, photographs,
her heart, her aches, her joys, her self. I listened.

I was thinking about my time in Africa. 4 years ago, being there, how it
changed me. Wishing I could have gone back this summer. Memories and
pictures floating through my conscious mind...

we sipped our tea, chai rooibos. sitting in the comfort of the couch we shared.

Seeing her again in the place I said goodbye back in January was surreal.
Thankful my friend has gone and returned again, and for all that she has learned.


God has done great things.