Beauty, Letters, & a Foal

     The end of summer in Idaho often brings the greatest bounty from everyone's gardens. And this year is no exception. I had the privilege to house-sit for a neighbor who is a very great gardener. He was kind enough to allow me to harvest the excess while they were gone. I got a beautiful basketful of gorgeous produce, plus a happy sprig of lavender. (I LOVE lavender!) 
     As I was on my way home from said job, I found a letter from my dear friend waiting for me. :) Twas quite the finishing touch to the day. Letters seem so much more personal than say, emails or texts, or such. The time it takes to sit down, get out stationary (choose stationary if you have several types), write something worth reading, and then posting it, makes it precious and shows that the other person truly cares about you. Letters give you a glimpse into the soul of the writer and allows you to pour into each others lives no matter time and distance. Plus the old fashioned feel it brings just gives me such a joy. I'm hopelessly old fashioned. :)  

On another note, I got a call at 6 am this morning from my friend, informing me that her mare had foaled earlier this morning. :) As soon as I was able ( 3 hours later ), I drove to her house and met the little fellow. His perfect tininess was astonishing and awesome. The miracle of new life hit me anew as I studied him and how he interacted with his worried mother. God created that tiny, perfect, new life 11 months ago and formed it completely before bringing it fully into this world. I fully enjoyed stroking his silky coat, folding his almost completely soft ears, and watching him learn to live. It was a beautiful morning. 
     Jesus brings our attention to Himself with the smallest things. Little, almost insignificant, things can draw our eyes to Him. Take the time to look for them. It is so beautiful to have our Beloved constantly on our minds all the day long, and it only increases the longing and anticipation to be with Him one day! 

Sienna & Baby

~Victoria Eira

Cup 'o Tea

Tea Anyone?

     Ah, tea. One of the great wonders of the world. Just kidding. :) Although, tea is pretty amazing. Some friends and I celebrated the Olympics with a British Tea party; fitting since the Olympics are being held in London. We started off by simply watching the Olympics sports scheduled for that day, and then followed with a delicious luncheon of cucumber sandwiches, mini quiches, scones, cookies, veggies, and the all important tea. I simply enjoy occasions which call for using the nice china and dishes. It is so much fun to dress up a table by bringing out the finest you have and makes one feel so much more elegant. (After the everyday use of mugs to drink tea, drinking out of a fine china cup and saucer makes you feel positively regal.) 

     I thought you may enjoy seeing a few photos of our ladies day of fellowship. I have been incredibly blessed by these girl's lives and thank God for them every day. The next time you have people over, take the time to make it nice and have fun being just a bit nicer than usual.  

Vaya con Dios!

Victoria Eira

XXX Olympiad

     The Olympic Games. The most exciting event in sports and history. They are only held every 4 years, both summer and winter games overlap so an Olympic games is held every two years. 
     I love the Olympics. I look forward to them with great anticipation and endure over two weeks of deprived sleep to stay up and watch the NBC primetime showing. Winter and summer, doesn't matter, both thrill and excite me. I cheer for the favorites and the underdogs alike; team USA or otherwise. I simply love seeing excellence, and oh, the rush of pure joy when an athlete attributes their success to Jesus Christ. There aren't many, but the few that are there, are noticeable in many ways. 
     This year, the XXX (thirtieth) Summer Olympiad is being held in London, England. (This is even more exciting for me since my grandma was from Wales.) And already, it is shaping up to be an extremely memorable and historic Olympic Games. 
     The USA women's gymnastic team (known as the Fab Five) won team Gold and gymnast Gabby Douglas the All-Around Individual Gold. Swimmer superstar Michael Phelps has become the greatest Olympian of all time, with a record 21 career Olympic medals, 18 of them gold. Mo Farah of  Great Britain became the first British athlete to win the 10,000 meter race, with Galen Rupp of the USA winning the silver medal; becoming the first US athlete to medal in this race in over a hundred years. There are so many more athletes and accomplishments I could remember, stories told, history made, and moments to remember. 

Fab Five

Gabby Douglas

Michael Phelps

Galen Rupp & Mo Farah

     I just finished reading the biography of missionary and Olympic Champion, Eric Liddell. His life was one of absolute surrender to the King of kings. He ran with impossibly horrible running form, and yet just got faster and faster, beating the best in the world at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was born in China, attended school in England and was of Scottish descent. He became known for his quiet statement of faith in refusing to run the 100 meter race in the Olympics because the qualifying heats were held on the Sabbath. After much discussion, he trained for and was allowed to run in the 400 meter race, a distance he was not known to be good at. And he won. 

     After his athletic career, he became a missionary to China (as were his parents before him and his brother). He met his wife there, married in China, and died there in a Japanese internment camp during World War II of a brain tumor. Everything that this man did was marked by honesty, integrity, determination, and a deep, abiding love for God. He was absolutely faithful to have at least an hour of "quiet time" before the Lord; reading His word, seeking His guidance, reflecting on what God was telling Him, praying, and basking in the presence of the Lord. It was this devotion and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that carried Eric through impossible situations and kept him humble, unassuming, and everyday. On the outside at least. He was a great man of the faith, and he ran the race of life in a straight line, always trusting in His guide.