Rising dross

Lord, more and more
I pray Thee, or by wind or fire,
Make pure my inmost heart’s desire,
And purge the clinging chaff from off the floor.

I wish Thy way,
But when in me myself would rise
And long for something otherwise,
Then, Holy One, take sword and spear and slay.

Oh, stay near by,
Most patient Love, till, by Thy grace,
In this poor silver, Thy bright face
Shows forth in clearness and serenity.

What will it be
When, like the lily or the rose
That in my flowery garden blows,
I shall be flawless, perfect, Lord, to Thee?

~ Amy Carmichael

California Cruisin'

Wow! It has been way too long since I last posted. Yikes, I've got to get better at this.

Well, today is my birthday. And what better way to celebrate, than to buy myself a car? Ok, ok, I really bought it a week and a half ago, but still... It's a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. Dad said it's considered a "full sized" vehicle. It is pretty roomy. The seats are cloth--no peel and stick leather in the heat--and oh so comfortable. Did I mention that it also has a CD player and air conditioning? As for the drive, the steering is tight--as opposed to "loose"--and it accelerates and decelerates like a dream. "So this is love. . . Mmm hmm Mmm. . . So this is love. . ." I am having a ball driving it and figuring it out.

Front seats

Back seats. Look at all that leg room!

Dashboard

Now about my birthday...Tonight we are going to Panera Bread for dinner and then back home where I'll open my presents. Mom already told me that I'm getting "car stuff." Now gifts like tires make sense to me--and seem very practical too. It'll just be the immediate family, but it should be fun. I don't need a special occasion to love hanging around with my family.