the Lord's arms

i am listening to three beautiful women talk about family height genes. mimi’s little sister, mimi’s niece, and my momma.  and the last of these  is the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

and after this terrifyingly difficult day, there is nothing i rather hear than such a normal Lyons family topic of conversation (you know what i mean siblings and cousins).  they are laughing and listing the respective heights of uncles and great uncles and their theories on why my sisters and i are so darn tall.  and it is music to my ears.  my momma is okay.  my momma is okay.  i am too fragile in regards to the events of the day to go into specifics.  suffice it to say she has been bearing too heavy a burden (the past month or so especially) and it took its’ toll today.  there is so much i could say, but i will pass for now.  what matters is that God is good and i realize in moments like the ones i experienced today of fear and pain and panic, that the Body of Christ is essential to my survival.

my ability to pray diminished to the repetition of the names Jesus and Mary.  so i called on reinforcements.  and within an hour i had over a dozen beautiful humans praying for my mom and caring about me and my family and loving us through this.  the first thing i could do was go to Mass and as i walked toward the church i knew what i needed was an adult.  my dad and mom were at the hospital, and i needed to not be the adult in the situation.  i needed to be held and comforted.  i walked into the church and there was Lourdes--one of my mom’s dearest and most beautiful of friends--and she held me as i cried.  

she reached out and it was Mary’s arms that embraced me.

and i asked the Pastor at our church before mass to pray, and he reached out to hug me and it was Jesus’ arms that embraced me.

friends and family texted and called and prayed and waited with us to hear the news that everything is okay. and it was tangible to me--the Church and the Body of Christ--in Sacrament and in the arms and prayers and love of friends and family.  we are truly Christ’s Hands and Feet for one another.  when one of us falls, He offers us several hearts to lift up the prayers we cannot utter; and they extend the hands that help us to our feet.  they are the voices that speak words of comfort: all will be well, elisa. i am offering up Mass for your mom and i won’t stop praying, elisa.  i love you, elisa.  and Jesus’ voice is in their words.  I am with you always, Elisa, even unto the end of time.  and He said it to me.  I am with you and i Love you.  

i am still fuzzy and shaking and thrown off from all of this.  but He caught me.  and that’s what matters.  He caught us all and pulled us to His Heart. 


i love you, beautiful friends who answered my calls and listened to my cries and prayed for my beautiful little mother.  you have no idea what a gift you are to my life.  you are Christ to me.  

and the Beloved handed us a moonrise not to be rivaled just to remind us that Life is Beautiful...even though i called life another “b” word today.  it really is the better of the “b” words.  

Life is Beautiful.  

and so is my momma.

also, my dad is the best. patient, loving, man of God. i want to marry a man like my dad.

i don't know what the deal with the white glow is but it's still a great pic of my wonderful parents

so moral of the story is praise God in all things.


the little things i have enjoyed lately will now take honorable mention in the blog world because they have brought me little joys. i found i like oranges and chocolate mints in the afternoon. 

 i really like these pictures for a couple of reasons.  i wanted a snack yesterday and the mints were calling my name like the perfect combo of chocolate and mint in a delicious yellow bowl on a granite counter is wont to do.  but my better instincts rose and clamored for a petite citrusy orange clementine.  

i held each in my hand, and like magic, a stronger instinct took over.  this battle of the wills became no longer about the fruit and the chocolate and all about the photographing opportunity that they offered me.

i might of had too much fun taking and editing these pictures.  oh well.  i had the opposite of too much fun today, so it balances i guess.  

for the record, i had one of each of these treats.  i do my best not to play favorites.  it’s all about balance baby.  

i also am digging ivy crawling up garden walls,

heart shaped cacti

that stalwart palm tree and that undeniable texas sky that both refuse to let me take a shabby picture of it

the snail that found his home on the statue of Our Lady

old fashioned watering can

harry potter in the background and my dad remembering the synopsis of the chamber of secrets off the top of his head.  because he is that cool.  for real.  

a fall texas tree and weather featuring those delightful double digits that begin with seven.

i am weary.  mind, body and soul.  i am thankful. i have the best parents in the world.  plus the siblings, family and friends. i am blessed.  

goodnight, moon