Wow. wow!

Hey...how ya been?  We've had a little life change since my last post.

We are parents now.  Wow. wow! I don't care how much you read, who you talk to, or what videos you watch, there is little to do before hand that can really prepare you for the amazing journey of having a child.  Parents of multiples, dang! It is a job like no other, it is a responsibility like no other, and it brings a joy like no other.  I'm still in shock sometimes that we are responsible for this beautiful creature.  Wow. wow!

Life is still busy, and the leaves are preparing to change again.  Health is really good. There is SO much more to share with that, and we'll save that for another time. We are blessed! In this season of my life, I am striving to reconnect and appreciate more; appreciate all that we are given, all that we have experienced, and the excitement of all that we have ahead.

Ok, more soon, great to connect.  Tootles for now!

Give Thanks for the Leaves

I'm scurrying around this morning as I always do.  Alarm goes off with the start of the news on local radio. Listen to 3 minutes of headlines, then the traffic, then the weather. Now get up. Shower, dress, makeup, iron what needs ironing while 2 cups of coffee brew. Prep cereal 'to go' cups for our ride to work. Read devotional and feel joy for that moment. What's for lunch? Check emails, start list for groceries, check menu for week. Make the bed. Find shoes and necklace and finish coffee. Ready?
Tired with me? I know, I know...you have the same schedule with a few variations.

While making the bed and wondering where the cat was, I looked out the window for a moment at the tree next to the building, which is barely dressed in its own fall colors.  Next I feel the words, "give thanks for the leaves."

This past Thursday, on Thanksgiving morning, I snapped a fast picture of the same tree and the same leaves, because it was as if they changed color over night!  They were a beautiful shade of yellow that reminded me of the Aspen trees I adore.  They were here and then a front blew in and they now cover much of the ground.  The tree of course remains, but it appears a bit more chilly without its clothes on!

How beautiful the leaves were in their moment.  Really it was a moment, and I'm sooo very glad that I was able to see and appreciate the leaves in their majesty for that moment. In the sprint and summer months, they look much like the trees and leaves around them...or so I believe.  However, in the fall/winter months after weekend full of rain, the leaves truly put on a show.  It was fast, and only here for a minute, but by golly, I was able to appreciate the transition those leaves demonstrated.

Did I put deodorant on?  Dang it!  My coffee is now gone. Double dang it!  My moments are fast and fleeting, as are yours.  Do I want to live that way?  Not necessarily. I want to spend more time looking at the leaves and learning to appreciate their Spring/Summer too.  In the mean time, I'll savor the moments there are, and give thanks for the leaves I see.

Happy Birthday Momma!

Is it really just a cup of coffee?

Hi...its me again.  Giving thanks!

Each morning while making my coffee at home, I take a minute to 'toast' God while taking my first sip.  "Thanks for another day!" and I raise my mug.  Rather than just dive right into my routine, I stood there for a moment to appreciate the flavor, the warmth, the satisfaction of the moment, the creative mug, the brilliant coffee maker, the tasty creamer, the ability to consume the coffee without choking, the strength to stand while building this wonderful cup of coffee, and then my mind shifted.

"Thank you for the hands that stocked the coffee and creamer on the shelves at the grocery, the drivers who drove the product, those who came into work that day and packaged the coffee for ME, the hands that grew the coffee bean so well, the wonderful weather needed to grow the plant, the soil that fed the growth, those hearts who harvested the plants, the hands who planted (or drove the machine which planted) the seeds, and the plant before that which generated the seeds from which my wonderful cup of coffee comes from.  Thank you for all the hands, the hearts, the families who contribute, and the beauty of life.  Bless this coffee to the nourishment of my body, and bless my body to your service.  Amen."

Now...whats for breakfast...

The Celebration Series - Surely this is part 6 of 6.

Wrapping up my Celebration Series, and appreciate your reading along. Final verse, verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever

Surely – The word is one of those words that sounds funny in my head.  And what does it even mean?  We aren't calling on “Shirley”, or “shoring” up the failing hillside, and I’m not acting “surly” and growling. Most often I say this word and roll my eyes at the same time, indicating my sarcasm and doubt. None of this works here. 

Surely equates to speaking with confidence “He spoke surely and without a doubt” …spoken with confidence.  This one, I’ll hold on to.

Goodness and Mercy shall follow me…like caped crusader. Really. Imagine that.  Replace Batman and Robin with two heroes named Goodness and Mercy.  They are always around!

All the days of my life – Each day I’m on the earth. Each. Day. “The evening and the morning were the first day.”  This is a statement of fact. Your life is measured by days. How many do we experience? All of them, whether you know it, or not.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Sounds like the 40-year old who never moved out of mom and dad’s house, right?  How about the same person who fell on hard times and moved back into the parents’ home? Dwell is to live as a resident, or remain for a time.  You may dwell on a thought about your dwelling.  Ok, so we aren’t dwelling on, but dwelling in! Where is the house of the Lord? Go back to the child that returns home. Why? What motivates the child to return home? Safe. Doesn’t cost as much. Family is near. Familiar. Supportive. Love.

Most definitely, Goodness and Mercy will follow me around each day I’m alive on this earth, even while I’m still living at home, with God.

...thanks...this was fun. ;)

The celebration series - ..part 5 and back to verse 5

Life slowed me down…back to verse 5

You anoint my head with oil – I’ve been a little hung up on this part of the verse, and was waiting for the words to grab me. My first thoughts were hot oil on my hair. I will actually use this now and again, if my hair is really brittle.  Its ‘supposed’ to help…yes, I buy the marketing.  That didn't feel right, despite the fact that I’m sure the Big Guy would love for me to take care of my brittle hair and split ends. 

After reading a little more, I realized there were references to various types of oils, as well as recipes. A few examples: oil of joy for mourning, oil of gladness; and anointing oil. I really stopped investigating after reading about the anointing oil, as it was intended to mark those who were to be set apart, such as royalty. This maaaay have been before the whole ‘knighting’ protocol came around, back when you would tap the shoulders of the chosen one.  ..and I’m pretty sure this supersedes the ‘swearing someone in’ bit, where the newly chosen places their hand on a Bible… just sayin. 

A host often marked their guest with oil, and swore to protect them.  …in the presence of an enemy.

My cup runs over – I remember always worrying about this line.  If you make a mess, you gotta clean it up! However, a dinner guest, receiving this much attention, is not pouring their own glass.  The host is making the mess, the host is pouring from a bottomless container, the host wants you to stay and keep on keeping on into the wee hours. You are safe, you are well fed, your belly is full. As your cup runneth over, take a minute to appreciate why it runs over.  Science. Consumption. Poor eye sight. Appreciation. Excitement. Parental love.  …Mom and Dad will never let you stand inside their house hungry or thirsty.

Now, stop thinking about sweet tea or wine or water running over the sides of that lovely cup. YOU are the vessel.  You are the vessel that is being filled with goodness.  You feel safe, you are not hungry, you've found an oasis in a really dark valley, and you feel relief. You feel gratitude towards something bigger than yourself.  You are the cup and the goodness runneth over.