Grains of Sand

When the responsibilities of life loom large, I tend to keep running and jumping and spinning to put some order back into my everyday.  It's not until I write in my journal, "Lord, my thoughts are so chaotic...", that I remember Psalm 46:10-11, Cease   striving   and   know that I am God;   I will be exalted among the  nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”   The  Lord  of hosts is with us;   The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Photo Credit: Bri Schneiter L.B. Cowman writes, "Strength is found not in busyness and noise but in quietness.  For a lake to reflect the heavens on its surface, it must be calm."

A little sunflower to brighten your day. Fun fact: the heads of some sunflowers follow the sun from east to west throughout the day. May we be a Son-follower and point our heads in his direction throughout the day. ❤️🌻

Summer is my favorite season.  A season of swimming pools and hot pavement under bare feet. A season of fresh picked berries and grilled food. A season to play night games in the backyard, go for bike rides and impromptu charcuterie boards. A season of slowing down to read that summer beach book or gain valuable lessons for life. Summer is a season of gathering with friends and enjoying tasty treats with a tall glass of lemonade. This summer, I have yet to be able to gather together with friends and family at church.... But if you look closely, this church is full. A season of camping and hiking and being in awe of nature's details. Of flowers, fruit, fresh vegetables and herbs grown in containers on the patio. A season of double-decker marshmallows, For an extra ooey-gooey Smore. This summer has been a season of wearing a face mask to go shopping or get my hair done. A season of stay-cations and morning coffee on the patio with a fountain gurgling in the backgound. This summe...

Some days it feels like too much. Too much noise. Too many messes. Too many demanding my time. Too much laundry. Today I'm tired.  I'm weary of being at home so much.  I'm tired of cooking.  I'm too weary to be creative.  I want to hang a closed sign around my neck and go to sleep. And yet, God's word tells me not to grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not give up. (Galatians 6:9) So, I look out the window and observe the birds.  I take a few deep cleansing breaths.  I remember all the things I'm thankful for. Children healthy enough to make noise. GI Joe figures that jump over the railing with grocery bag parachutes. A husband who can work from home. Clothing, food and shelter that allow me to eat and sleep in comfort. The beauty of a sunset and the promise of a sunrise on the morrow.

For Today, February 4, 2020 Looking out my window...  a bright sunshine, a cardinal and a melting snowman. I am thinking...  that it is so easy to get distracted by life's busyness and yet God says, "Cease striving and know that I am God" ~ Psalm 46:10, NASB. I am thankful...  for friendship and the fact that my friends trust me to pray for them in the good and especially during the hard times. One of my favorite things... being able to cuddle under a blanket and read a book on a snowy  any afternoon, with or without children. I am creating...  a list of things I need to do this week in preparation for our Weekend for Women coming up soon. I am wearing...  cozy black pants and a souvenir sweatshirt from a visit to the Grand Canyon. I am reading ...  Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You  by John Ortberg. I am hoping...  to take a walk today and enjoy the mild winter weather.    ...

Got this for Christmas Life of a procrastinator. :)

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. ~Psalm 34:8-10 I'm eliminating a few things from my day that are a complete waste of time.  To do this well, I need to replace these things with something else.  I'm replacing them with Jesus.  Especially this verse.

Patrick and I went snowshoeing on Saturday and breathed in the fresh air.  We enjoyed the quiet hush that surrounds you after a freshly fallen snow.  The snow was perfect for building a snowman too. Thankful for quiet time together. He can't resist throwing a few snowballs.   The tree answered by dumping a bunch of snow down his back.

When our kids are young, we strive to put food on the table, have clean clothes folded and put away for them to wear and a love-filled safe space they can enjoy.  This may leave little to no time for us to pamper ourselves. As I was washing dishes yet again, I had the thought that I would treat myself to a manicure afterwards since the warm soapy water will soften my cuticles and make them easier to push back. (Sitting in a clean kitchen, doing my nails!  What could be better?)  Then my mind raced on thinking about all the chores I could treat myself to.  Yes, I just said that. Do you want an inexpensive manicure?  Do some dishes.  How about a little soak in the tub?  Pick a time when the kids are napping, pop in the bathroom and give the tub a quick scrubbing.  When it's clean, fill it with water and bubble bath and enjoy.  Even 15 minutes can do wonders for a weary body.  Do you have a book you've been wanting to 'read'?  ...

I have two devotionals that I read in the morning.  Both written on different topics and yet today the message was the same in both.  Hope.  Both books asked the question: What do you place your hope in?  The question is followed by the statement: Whatever it is will be your guide in life.  I had to ponder that for a minute.  Wherever I place my hope, that will be my guide in life. Hmmm, I often say, "I hope..... "  I hope you do well on that test.  I hope your day goes well.  I hope you get that job.  I hope you find what you are looking for.  I hope you feel better.  I hope my son will get through this season of fear and anxiety.  I hope I lose some weight.  I hope my daughter will make good friends.  I hope we win the softball game.  The list goes on and on.  But what if what I hope for doesn't happen? Then what?  What is my response if that job goes to someone else?  If I don't l...

Meet Carl. Carl's party trick is melting. Carl is a melting snowman that Aunt Patti brought to our family Christmas gathering. Under the watchful eye of my mother-in-law and myself, Carl transformed. from snowman into hot chocolate.... complete with marshmallows to enjoy with our hot chocolate. Thanks for your sacrifice Carl.  You were delicious.

Recently I was searching creative parenting ideas.  A few days later this popped up on Pinterest. I chuckled out loud. This about sums it up for me and my parenting experiences over the last year or so. To say it's been a rough ride is an understatement. I am battered and bruised and still have sore muscles from the journey. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. I wish I could tell you that I see a silver lining, but I am still surrounded by a thick fog. I am in the thick of parenting a child with anxieties I don't understand. I have a high school graduate that is unsure of his future and doesn't seem to be motivated to take a step in any direction. I am trying to get to the heart of an argumentative child and am only finding myself wanting to argue too. And the list goes on. I feel powerless and underwater and near to tears at any given moment. I have been crying out to God for help for so long my voice is hoarse. And then, I had a brief conversat...

For Today... January 13, 2020 Looking out my window...  snow blankets the ground and the sky is a soft gray. I am thinking...  of Milo.  He is at the vet getting a cracked tooth removed and his teeth cleaned. I am thankful...  for the dishwasher, laundry machine, refrigerator and stove!  So thankful to have all these working so I don't have too. One of my favorite things...  relaxing with a cup of coffee in the company of my husband. I am creating... signs for a tea party. I am wearing... earrings given to me by my grandmother, a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans and plaid sneakers. I am watching ... Victorian Farm .   A BBC documentary series following a team who live the life of Victorian farmers for a year.  Pretty interesting and one of the reasons I am SO thankful for all my appliances.  I found it on YouTube.com I am hoping... the dinner fairy will come and whisper ideas in my ear for dinn...

Day 12 // In the Air I was out shoveling some weeks ago when I heard the whoosh of a hot air balloon burner and saw this in the air. Using the January prompts from Fat Mum Slim .

Gare du Nord train station This is the last of four posts about my trip to Europe.  If you haven't read the others,  you can start with day one here .  Just in case this is your first time reading my blog, I must tell you that I'm a fan of Matt Damon.  You need to know this little tidbit to fully grasp the enormity of the photo above.  The train station I am standing in(!) has been in a few of my favorite movies.  According to Wikipedia ,  both the exterior and the interior of the Gare du Nord are seen in the 2002 film The Bourne Identity  with Matt Damon (sigh) and again in the trilogy's finale, The Bourne Ultimatum .  It was also seen in Ocean's Twelve with Matt Damon (and others).  Aah!  How cool is that?   Sadly Fortunately, I did not find this out until after we were no longer there, otherwise you, dear reader, would have had to endure many many photos of a train station in Paris.  And yes, Patrick...