On sweet Michelle's blog the other day she listed "ten things I love". What would I write down on a list like that? Things about my granddaughters? Things about the garden? Glimpses of bright moments from my mental scrapbook? I always feel like those lists have to be in order of priority or that they are final somehow. Then I'm paralyzed. Too much to sort through, so much that is good or sweet or beautiful !
Then I realized that there are a lot of things I love but I don't often enough turn that love into gratitude. Thankfulness to the friend or stranger who gave a kindness, gratitude to a family who does their earthly best to show love and commitment to each other, mostly thankful to God who provides.
So here is an attempt a list, not the list, just a list of things I'm thankful for today, just today.
1. The way my baby granddaughter's head feels when you kiss her. Warm, soft, wispy.
2. That I have a husband who gets big fun out of simple things, the NFL draft on tv, triple D resturants, kids books.
3. That I have friends who tell me the truth but not with venom.
4. For new seed packets at the nursery, think of the possibilities!
5. For twice baked potatoes! Yum! (My son's girlfriend brought them for dinner last night)
6.Rain
7.My kids, of course!
8. My kitchen floor just after it's mopped.
9. The anticipation of waiting to see what's under the potato plants.
10. The last hour of the day when things are slow and quiet.
More and more and more...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Standing Still
" We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation..."
Roman 5:3-4
Sometimes you are just standing still, waiting, and news you never expected comes and makes the ground under your feet swim like water. It could be your own circumstance or that of someone who is so dear to you that you feel their hurt physically in your own body.
Today I watched a friend quiver with fear and anxiety wondering how she will break news of her illness to her children, wondering how they will walk through this together. They are young, fresh, resilient people but they are her children. She doesn't want their life to be changed or for this to make scars in them somehow. Like any mother, she doesn't want them to have to cope or deal. Right now it is all new and scary, not enough information. You can't cope when you don't know what to cope with!
But I know my friend. I've watched her operate. Her view of God has done much to shape my own. She is a person of singular faith, deep courage. She doesn't think so but I can see it. I have the privilege of getting to observe her life. She might feel like a little chick inside but she takes things on like a tiger and after all isn't that real courage? Knowing that the risk is real and going forward anyway? My friend's faith is no cheap thing. She knows how to get back up and place her feet on the solid ROCK.
So today she will continue to wait. More info is coming, she will get tools to deal with this and most of all there is the great hope in the sovereignty of the God who made her...
... And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love "
Romans 5:5
Roman 5:3-4
Sometimes you are just standing still, waiting, and news you never expected comes and makes the ground under your feet swim like water. It could be your own circumstance or that of someone who is so dear to you that you feel their hurt physically in your own body.
Today I watched a friend quiver with fear and anxiety wondering how she will break news of her illness to her children, wondering how they will walk through this together. They are young, fresh, resilient people but they are her children. She doesn't want their life to be changed or for this to make scars in them somehow. Like any mother, she doesn't want them to have to cope or deal. Right now it is all new and scary, not enough information. You can't cope when you don't know what to cope with!
But I know my friend. I've watched her operate. Her view of God has done much to shape my own. She is a person of singular faith, deep courage. She doesn't think so but I can see it. I have the privilege of getting to observe her life. She might feel like a little chick inside but she takes things on like a tiger and after all isn't that real courage? Knowing that the risk is real and going forward anyway? My friend's faith is no cheap thing. She knows how to get back up and place her feet on the solid ROCK.
So today she will continue to wait. More info is coming, she will get tools to deal with this and most of all there is the great hope in the sovereignty of the God who made her...
... And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love "
Romans 5:5
Friday, February 26, 2010
Confessions of a compu-sloth
I am techno phobic....no that's not quite right. I'm a little phobic and a lot techno lazy. I've been pretty successful getting other people to do stuff for me that I just don't want to bother learning. It's an ugly truth. Now you can see the result. I tried to get a cool picture of a sparrow at the top of the blog. I found a beautiful one on a free image site (I'm also a lazy photographer) but didn't realize you need to apply some kind of shrink magic to get it on the page. Oh well. Now there is a picture of some grey blur, a stick and a bird tail. If it didn't have the actual photographers name in big letters across the bottom you might ask if I was depressed or a self proclaimed artist or just a bit off. Now you know I'm just lousy at layout. I bet that guy wishes his name wasn't on the photo now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
babies and such
Today I went to a baby shower for a girl (?), young woman, that I have known since before she was a thought. It was given by a group of several other young women whom I have also known forever.
It was one of the most relaxed get togethers I think I've ever attended. No pretense, no hoopla, no overdone decorations.
Ok, I'll be honest, when I got the invite and read that it was a 'green' shower I kind of rolled my eyes a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty dedicated recycler, composter, water saver,etc. But a green baby shower? No wrap for the presents? no cards? Um...so what are we going to do?
Do I just flop down my gift in the plastic 'Babies'r' Us bag , eat the cake and go home?
Well, I got shoved out of my little puny thought box. Happens a lot.
They had a room set up like a nursery with a place for crib items and bedding, a changing table that held all the diapering gifts, a baby tub to put all the bath things in and around, etc.
Several good cooks had been asked to contribute their best brunch items. Yum!
We had time to catch up with old friends , relax with some coffee and goodies, enjoy watching our grandbabies playing together.
Throughout I kept looking at all these women who I still see with their little girl faces who have grown up to be gracious, honest, creative. It is God's goodness to me that I have the sweetness of their grown up wisdom in my life.
It was one of the most relaxed get togethers I think I've ever attended. No pretense, no hoopla, no overdone decorations.
Ok, I'll be honest, when I got the invite and read that it was a 'green' shower I kind of rolled my eyes a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty dedicated recycler, composter, water saver,etc. But a green baby shower? No wrap for the presents? no cards? Um...so what are we going to do?
Do I just flop down my gift in the plastic 'Babies'r' Us bag , eat the cake and go home?
Well, I got shoved out of my little puny thought box. Happens a lot.
They had a room set up like a nursery with a place for crib items and bedding, a changing table that held all the diapering gifts, a baby tub to put all the bath things in and around, etc.
Several good cooks had been asked to contribute their best brunch items. Yum!
We had time to catch up with old friends , relax with some coffee and goodies, enjoy watching our grandbabies playing together.
Throughout I kept looking at all these women who I still see with their little girl faces who have grown up to be gracious, honest, creative. It is God's goodness to me that I have the sweetness of their grown up wisdom in my life.
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