hope – Page 2 – Elizabeth Smillie

new life

April 7, 2009 Elizabeth

I know that it was there all winter, but really, everything seemed so dead. The yards, parks and roadsides were beginning to seem as if they were populated by skeleton trees and a remnant of brave but lonely evergreens.
And then one day last week, we went to the park. The Bradford Pear and tulip trees were blooming. The first of them all to bloom and leaf out. The rest of the trees and bushes almost seemed to be waiting for them to take the lead, for now there is a hazy green film everywhere. Just in time for Easter. How appropriate.

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease. -Gen 8:22

If those words have proven true, these will as well:

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. -John 14:3

Baby update

February 20, 2009 Elizabeth

So, today the little pregnancy ticker reads, “40 weeks and 0 days pregnant”, which means that today we have officially reached our baby’s “due” date. And at this point, since the crib is still empty, it looks as if she just might be “late”.

In light of that, we scheduled an induction appointment at the hospital for the 26th, at 7 a. m. (ike! that sounds early!), and are praying that we don’t have to keep it. I am a little skittish about the whole idea of inducing labor, even though I know that if that is the way God wants our baby to be born, it will work out fine. I just would greatly prefer to go into labor naturally. Either way, though, His plan is perfect, He is sovereign, and He will take care of us. We are very eager to be able to finally hold her in our arms, and not just feel her through my tummy, but it felt so odd to be choosing her possible birthday!

Little One, we love you, and can hardly wait to see your little face!

Wonderful Love

December 23, 2008 Elizabeth

Yesterday I found an article titled “His Love Stories“, by Elisabeth Adams.

“The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh. I like to think that, in a small way, each of us is also the Word made flesh; that each of us has a story in which the kindness of God is made visible to the world. Think how clear His kindness is in your salvation story. And when you listen to the salvation stories of others, don’t you see how unique is the way He captures each of our hearts?
“That’s why my favorite love stories are true ones. In fact, I’ve probably read or heard the stories of nearly 150 Christian couples, each one as unique as a fingerprint. Some couples called it “courtship,” some called it “dating,” and some met and married long before the terms acquired their present meanings. God’s kindness is evident in them all.”

It’s a good article, reminding us of God’s creativity in pursuing and wooing us. After I read it I started to think of the many ways that God is still wooing me – because one of the wonderful things about the Almighty is that He is our Eternal Lover, never content to let our relationship with Him to grow stale. And not just the ways He woos me, but those around me.
It may not always feel loving or look beautiful in the moment – just as in any long term relationship there are periods of pain – but looking back I can see that He has always been loving, always been faithful to care for my heart.
What a wonderful God.

giving thanks

November 27, 2008 Elizabeth

this year we have much to be grateful for, because as the psalmist said,

“…the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”

-psalm 116:7

from my heart this morning

May 26, 2008 Elizabeth

Does someone hear my cry?

I’m dying for new life

I want to be beautiful

Make you stand in awe

Look inside my heart,

and be amazed

I want to hear you say

Who I am is quite enough

Just want to be worthy of love

And beautiful

Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me

Fighting to make the mirror happy

Trying to find whatever is missing

Won’t you help me back to glory

You make me beautiful

You make me stand in awe

You step inside my heart, and I am amazed

I love to hear You say

Who I am is quite enough

You make me worthy of love and beautiful

-bethany dillion, “beautiful”

May 17, 2008 Elizabeth

Before me,

even as behind,

God is,

and all is well.

– john greeleaf whittier –

little happenings

March 22, 2008 Elizabeth

Three weeks from right now I will be sitting in the back room of a church, waiting for my wedding to begin and counting down the minutes until I become John Smillie’s wife. Forever. Three weeks.
In the meantime there are a veritable ton of things that probably should be done, but most of them are non-essential.
All of those things are non-essential when I stop to think about what life will look like in, say, 4 1/2 weeks. It helps me put it all in perspective when I remember that soon, very soon, it will be all over and I will be his wife, unpacking our boxes and washing our laundry. In the meantime I miss him terribly. Even with all the bustle of seeing friends and busyness of getting things ready, I am lonely. But, in 2 1/2 weeks he will be here, and the hours until the ceremony will fly past. They are flying now, which means I need to get the next thing done (the lining for the skirt of Anna’s dress, I think …. ).

thought of the moment

February 21, 2008 Elizabeth

I miss John so much. So very much. And love him, too! (Did I need to add that?)

Am I dreaming such absurdities
I’m flying, and you’re here with me
We fingerpaint the sky
Chase constellations sliding by
Connect their dots and dance on tightropes in between
We twirl and laugh about these crazy things we dream
And then I kiss you
And I wake myself
Still laughing

It’s daybreak, and the whole world’s new
The sun smiles, but where are you?
Wish I could hold you again
Nothing a daydream cannot mend
You smile and promise me you’ll always be around
I whisper hallelu’s and sing your name out loud
But no one hears me
Well, at least for now I’m smiling
…
“amusing” by chris rice

marriage is a very special thing ….

February 1, 2008 Elizabeth

“There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.” ~Homer

set free

January 9, 2008 Elizabeth

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures