T.G.I.F.

Whew. I'm glad to mark this week off the calendar.
Some highlights in no particular order include:
....a large leak found under the shower in our bathroom, MAJOR $$$ & repair time needed...
....a notice informing me I had paid our house payment late (first time ever)...
....stood in the "express" 'lane for about 25 minutes...
....bombarded by interpersonal conflict with persons I really love & care about.....
....the dog pooped in the bathroom (three times).....
....went out with the 2 year old and did not have a pull up or wipes (will NOT elaborate)...
....was given the wrong bag of food at the drive through line...
....my kids seem to have a serious case of the grumblebees.....
....am finishing up a round of antibiotics because of an infection in my body....
....visited the Walmarts 3 times in 2 days & still forgot detergent....
....dropped a cup of hot coffee all over my shirt....
....killed a HUGE nasty spider in our basement....
....got stuck in a major traffic jam on the interstate on my way to work....

Often, it's the little things that rob our joy. This week it's been easy to see how much more grace I need in my life. It's doubtful that my FRUIT would have been very tastey in the above mentioned moments.

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards,

our vineyards that are in bloom."

Song of Solomon 2:15

Perspective

Yesterday afternoon, I was renewed.

The weather was perfect.
A warm breeze was blowing.
And the sky so blue it took my breath away.

I looked up at the puffy, clean, white clouds and lost all track of where I was going and what needed to be done. I was still for a few minutes and allowed the beauty of the world around draw me in. Closing my eyes, I listened to the birds singing and drew in deep, cleansing gulps of fresh air.

And then I bowed my head in amazement to think that the God who painted the skyline with such magnificent, galloping clouds also formed every part of me that makes me Me.

He is such a good, good, GOOD God.
I just don't say that enough.

Breathe In. Breathe Out.

Gasp! Has it really been a week since I've posted anything here? You must be hanging on the edge of your seats wondering what is happening to us? Ha! Ha!

Ahh, you know what they say about good intentions. I kept meaning to fill you in all the excitement that occurs 24/7 in our house. You know, like the grocery shopping and the laundry and the cleaning and the cooking and the working and the church attending and the laundry and the dog grooming and the kid wrestling and the yardwork and the laundry and the bill paying and the neigborhood meetings and did I mention the laundry?

If your life is anything like mine, the routine of our days seem to ebb & flow like the waves of the ocean. I wake up, pour the coffee, wake the kids, take a shower, kiss the husband, dress the kids, turn on cartoons, groom myself, kids to preschool, sit at my desk for a few hours, pick the kids up, make dinner, sort the mail, straighten the house, bathe the kids, go to bed; only to wake up the next day to do it all over again.

Ho.Hum. Mundane. Same ole' same ole.

EXCEPT:
If I were homeless, I'd think the routine was a comfort.
If I were dying, I'd find the routine to be healing.
If I were hungry, I'd declare the routine a blessing.
If I were lonely, I'd know the routine was love.
If I were broke, the routine would be so rich.

May God continue to help me find the extraordinary

all around me in this wonderful life I live.