That smile...

...that smile melts me on a daily basis...
and he loves me...Oooh, how he loves me...
Happy Valentines Day to my sweetheart!
02-14-2011

When

So, my daughter is asleep on the couch after a long night of a high fever and trying to fight through the "Sickies" and continue to play today as she wore her dress up clothes and colored Cinderella, made the fairies fly, read her stories, wore her dress-up heels...trying so hard not to be sick. Now, the "Sickies" have won and she's asleep on the couch...so it is my time to watch her sleep, reflect, pray, write...and share.

You may recall not long ago, I shared with you an incredible book that I read..."One Thousand Gifts"...that has had such a profound impact on my life...actually on my living. The book, with an emphasis on gratitude, is profoundly rich and on page 44 of her book, the auther, Ann Voskamp quotes from Jean Pierre de Caussade,

"When one is thirsty one quenches ones thirst by drinking,
not by reading books which treat of this condition."

Angie Smith also reflects on this statement on her blog Bloom-(in)courage this week.

With this insightful statement in mind, I dare say...Okay, my dear friends and walkers-of-this-earth...it is time! It is the definite time...to stop wanting to be what we are not. To be what we so desire...to be what we know God has planted deep within us. To be real...to be deep...to be in the moments of our days...to have gratitude...to experience this life with others around us in pain and joy...to stop reading books about how to quench our thirst...and drink from the well! I don't ever want to be guilty of reading about what I should be, planning to be what I want to be or need to be at a later time...I want to BE!!! And, it is so much MORE...yes, more. There is more...more to be experienced, more to hear, more to know, more to be thankful for...more to express heartfelt gratitude for...more to experience with those closest to us.

I will continue to read...Oh, how I love to read..God's Word, other's interpretations of that Word, stories of life...but, then I will write my own in the living.

I don't want to read about:

-how to be a friend...I will be a great friend to the awesome friends I already have.

-how to be happy...I will live daily in contentment, joy and peace.

-how to be successful...I will be all God has called me to be in each moment.

-how to be a great communicator...I will listen better tomorrow than I did today.

-how to be a great mom...I will spend TONS of time with my kids.

-how to be a superb wife...I will love my husband more...serve him more.

-how to be a good employee...I will work as unto the Lord.

-how to study God's Word...I will study it, memorize it, live it.

-how to run an effective household...I will do the best I can, and let the rest go.

-how to make my dreams come true...I will live gratitude moment by moment and realize that I couldn't dream a life as incredible as God has given me.

-how to plan for my future...I will follow God's incredible journey for me...take risks as He leads, be still as He is silent.

-how to enjoy my life...I will have joy unspeakable...laugh at tomorrow...have fun!

-how to worry less...I will worry less, trust more...
and on...and on...and on...and on...

So, what are you thoughts...what are you planning to be
"...when things are better,"
"...when my situation straightens up,"
"...when my kids are grown,"
"...when I retire,"
"...when I have more money or less stress"
"...when I graduate"
"...when...???"

Keep calm and...

I've been gone...too long, you see. It's been a long time since I poured out my heart...shared my blog-best. But, you see...things have been happening...life has been moving, God has been speaking, our family has been through alot. I wanted to share, you see. But, something went wrong...hampered the process...stopped this blogger cold. My laptop crashed (checked out, conked, croaked, expired, flatlined, perished, succombed). Whichever you choose...it left us.

And, there was only one thing left to do...
I will tell you, though, that today, as the day progressed, and it appeared that a new laptop may be in our future, my little heart smiled a quick smile. We are proudly an officially 'techie' family and have been for quite some time. And, I'm ok with that. I think.

So, I'm back...and here's a quick low-down...Christmas was awesome (computer went down two weeks prior, so after a few home decor pics, it was downhill from there), snow has about done us in this winter, Isaac continues to participate in gym meets frequently that we travel to (today's was in Gallipolis, OH and he did great!), Abby is gearing up for an exciting ballet/tap/jazz show in the spring (Alice in Wonderland), Jonah is becoming a swimming FOOL at his private lessons at the local college, Mike continues to take classes online at Liberty, we had to replace 6 tires out of 8 recently -one of which ruptured with all 5 of us in the car - and two car batteries all within two weeks - (BAD!), school is going great for the kids, and Abby turned "5 whoppin' years old" in January. It is also very noteworthy that we have been through some very saddening, tough times with some very special friends this past month, and continue to travel difficult roads with them as time moves forward.

Now, since I didn't get to do my annual New Years anticipation post...just a quick run-down of what we are looking toward the next few months...Isaac continues to have tumbling meets working toward the state meet this spring, Abby's ballet in June, Jonah's last semester of private swimming lessons, VBS, Children's Bible Camp at Ridgecrest this spring with Mike at the helm, possible horseback riding lessons for Abby, studying the book of Hosea in Sunday School this month, new reads, camping trips...maybe the beach???? My plans...yes. God's plans...maybe not.

But, tonight, I'm just settling in with my new laptop after rolling my daughter's hair in her new spongerollers, listening to the Food Network in the background, propping my feet up and getting ready to study my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow.

Above all...on my mind...thankful for God's mercies today, thankful for great friends, thankful for my precious family, thankful for another day...thankful for a Savior.

Dare...double dare.

I just finished one of the most profound reads of my life. Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching...exhausting at times, refreshing at many others. Exhaustingly refreshing perhaps? Is that possible? This book is not for the faint of heart.

I dare you.

One Thousand Gifts... It has changed me.