unwrapping on a bad day?

Today I had one of those mornings.  I woke up sad.  I was discouraged.  The sadness seemed to flavor everything...even the Christmas music sounded a little sad to me.  (Of course I've always thought "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is fairly depressing--I could totally do without it.  Close second--"I'll be Home for Christmas".  Can I get any amens out there?)  I had a headache.  And too much to do.  And my daughter disobeyed and needed a consequence first thing this morning.  She's 15, so we aren't talking a time out--we are talking losing a privilege.  I hate it when that happens.  I wanted to go back to bed and wake up tomorrow.

So, on a Tuesday, where unwrapping gifts with emily at chatting at the sky would be the focus of my post, I wasn't sure if I should write.  I mean...I don't want to depress everyone.  And finding a gift on one of those days is hard, ya know?  However, is there a better day to unwrap the gifts of every day then one where you have to look hard?  I think probably not.

So tonight, I'm unwrapping a few gifts I've noticed today:

*  Cleaning my too-neglected bathroom was cathartic.  Something about getting rid of dust that has been staring at me from the never-used large bathtub and some grime from other places (use your imagination) gave me a sense of satisfaction.  I can unwrap cleaning a bathroom today.

*  Pickle accepted her consequence without much grief.  She knew she had broken a rule and then lied about it.  She took the consequence with a maturity I hadn't expected.  I can unwrap unexpected grace in the form of a calmer-than-expected teenager.

*  Although I didn't want to, skipping my Healing Journey class to be present on a hectic night at home was a good decision.  I ran into one of the leaders today who gave me tonight's video, so I will be caught up in no time.  That was a gift.  I can unwrap a hard-but-good decision that resulted in a little space to breathe, and I can unwrap the timely gift of a bible study video.

*  As I sit here tonight, Bubba is finishing up a project for school.  It is almost conquered.  I can unwrap that...it is always good to finish a project.  Pickle and hubby are downstairs in the basement, pulling the guestroom together for my in-laws to stay in later this week.  What I hear from down there is Christmas songs--not from the ipod, but instead their acapella voices are belting them out.  I can certainly unwrap the gift of help with housework and joyous singing from those I love.

*  And my mood?  Significantly improved--even though circumstances remain unchanged for now.  God has showed me that He's got my heart in His hands.  And He is faithful.  And that is no small gift to unwrap.

Tonight, I'm unwrapping the little gifts in the midst of a poopy Tuesday.  Some Tuesdays are like that...it's OK.

fighting for it...

Hubby and I got a few days away this last week!  We celebrated our 20th in May, and had a generous gift given us to use specifically for some time away together.  Schedules, busyness, back pain, indecision--all contributed to us not making it happen over these last months.  We finally found a weekend that seemed to work...and decided on a resort in Vail to visit for a few days.  It wasn't ideal timing...there was a baby dedication at church that Sunday and, as Children's Ministry Director, I normally help facilitate.  But my dear Pastor believed in the need to get away as much as we did...and happily gave me permission to not be there.

It was finally coming together!  Then the battle began.  Dave's back got pretty bad, causing him to miss work.  We misplaced the gift certificate we were hoping to use for part of the expense.  Snowy forecasts on both of our driving days made us leary about driving the mountain roads...especially when the driving could fall to me due to Dave's back.  (I have very limited driving-on-mountain-roads-in-snow experience.)  And we learned (how did I not know this?) that our sweet niece Maisie would be one of the babies being dedicated on Sunday...couldn't miss that!

So we almost gave up on the whole thing.

BUT, God was on our side and gave me a simple idea.  Change our plans.  We could go a day early and return before Sunday.  We could change our plans to downtown Denver--closer to home and no mountains to conquer.  We decided the hotel room was the destination rather than a beautiful spot somewhere...so we searched the internet for a hotel with really nice rooms.  We decided on the Ritz-Carlton and were not disappointed.

we tried several times unsuccessfully to get both of us and the whole Ritz sign in the pic...

We had a large room, an incredibly comfortable bed, and no need to sight-see or do anything in particular.  No plans or schedule, or agenda.  We order room service for breakfast and stayed in our hotel robes until noon.  It was fantastic.

our bed turned down for the evening

We found that by eliminating distractions, and the need to be anywhere or do anything at any particular time, allowed us to really connect.  It made me aware of how often important conversations are cut short or don't even happen in our day to day lives--cause our brains are always moving on to the "next thing".  It's hard to connect in a significant way at that pace.

And, even 20 years later (or probably even moreso 20 years later) we need to connect.  The long, intimate conversations we shared were priceless.  I'm so glad we fought for this time, and I'm celebrating it with emily at Chatting at the Sky today.

I'm marveling...

Bubba is ten today.  Double-digits!  It's easy for warm reflections to fill my mind.  I am sentimental looking back at the way God used this tiny boy as a balm of healing to my wounded heart.  Smiles cross my face as I remember the cute little tike he was.  I suppose it could be bittersweet to realize how grown up my youngest is.

(Indulge me as I share three of my favorite little-bubba pics--I can't resist.)

 a decade ago

riding shotgun in poppop's rv

ring-bearer extraordinaire

However, today I want to celebrate who God has made Bubba to be.  With each year, his unique make-up, his gifts and talents, his personality, are revealed with a bit more clarity.  We marvel at God's workmanship in creating this boy.

We got another glimpse of Bubba through the eyes of his teachers last week at his parent-teacher conference.  His teachers used these words to describe him:

a joy

well-liked

enthusiastic learner

sees God in life easily

a strong faith--he "gets it" 

a careful communicator 

a deep thinker

hard worker

expressive

quick to serve

compassionate

bold to share his faith verbally

We did talk briefly about some of his academic challenges, but the conference focused on qualities that will exist well-past his 4th grade academic achievements.

My heart swells.  Not with pride (well, maybe a little) but with gratitude.  Gratitude for teachers who take the time to really know my son.  Gratitude for their willingness to share their observations with us, rather than just focusing on reading and math.  Gratitude for this marvelous boy that God has given us the privilege of parenting.

October 2010

Unwrapping the gifts of my son and of special teachers today with emily at chatting at the sky.

everyday grace

pickle and bubba goofing around with photo booth

I asked him five times.  Once last night, and this morning four times.  He was very excited to be having a field trip today.  He is heading to the very top of Pikes Peak.  He needs a sack lunch.  As we pulled out of the driveway I asked him again.  Do you have your winter coat?  gloves?  your lunch?  Yes.  He had everything.

We drive the 20 minutes to school (hubby normally does--but it's a bad back day).  The kids pile out and I wish them a good day and drive off.  I drive 20 minutes home.  I'm ready to grab my things and head to Panera for my Tuesday morning mini-sabbath.  Hubby met me before I even got out of the car.  He was holding Bubba's lunch.  I couldn't believe it.  Apparently my son had tried to chase me down in tears as I was driving away...poor boy.

Pickle apparently responded to her brother's cries, tried to call me on my cell (I had it on vibrate) and eventually gave him her lunch for his trip.  She was hoping I'd make it back in time so she could get her lunch back, but she wasn't sure if I would.

So, I didn't like it, but I knew what I needed  to do.  I gathered my things along with his lunch.  Gotta get back there before he leaves on his trip.  Frustration abounded.  What about what I need to do?  It will be another hour before I can start my day now.  I asked him specifically about his lunch.  More than once. The spinning, selfish thoughts. Ugh.

Then I stop.  I remember.  Just yesterday emily posted this story about being shown grace and mercy as a child.  I commented that I hoped I would respond the same way if faced with a similar situation.  And look--I had my opportunity to practice grace with my son already! I jotted him a note on heart paper that said, "oops.  I love you." and inserted it in his lunch.

And God reminded me about how I pray for Pickle and Bubba to get along well.  She seems annoyed by his very existence often these days.  She's a teenager, I know.  He's a little brother, I know.  It's not always easy to be kind.  This morning Pickle showed compassion and kindness to her little brother.  I was touched--that was really sweet.

So, I took the heart paper back out and wrote her a note for her lunch.  I need to affirm that kindness when I witness it.

So...even though my cell phone died as I pulled into the school parking lot which meant I needed to return home one more time before my panera time, and that I couldn't text Pickle to tell her that her lunch was waiting for her at the office...it was still a beautiful morning.  I  got the chance to show the grace I hoped to show.  I remembered to do it.  Bubba experienced it--I saw it in his face as he mouthed "thank you" to me from his desk.

I got to peek at the part of my teenaged daughter that cares for and protects her brother.  I saw her showing grace today.  I could think of many other ways she could have reacted.  She put her own needs aside for his.

Yes, it was a beautiful morning.

lingering glimpses of the little girl

Her first homecoming dance.  She is going with her girlfriends  (yay...she has friends! new girl no more!).  We shopped tirelessly (not really--we got pretty tired) over the course of several days for just the right dress and accessories  (read here:  modest and pretty and not bank-breaking!).  She knows what she likes and what she doesn't.  The days of mommy picking the special outfit are long gone.  She's so grown up.

My little girl.  The one who used to wear nothing but a tutu and a diaper as she twirled around performing little shows for daddy.

Sigh.

The big day arrives.  I unexpectedly found myself wielding curling irons and hairspray.  She wants her straight locks to be curly, and even big girls need help with the back.  As I spray and curl, I find myself glad she still needs a little help.  She's not too big for that.

Or for dancing with her daddy on the lawn.

In one moment, I glimpse the woman she is becoming and the little girl I knew first.   

How I love all she is.

Celebrating with emily and others at chatting at the sky today.

little by little

When I thought about what to celebrate today with emily, my first thought was of the little 3-pound weight loss I measured this morning after a week of trying the weight watchers system. I've been counting points, doing math, eating well.  I am very happy with my 3 pounds--especially since I'm only going for 12 pounds total--I'm a quarter of the way there!  I must admit, however, that somewhere deep inside my fantasizing self, I hoped for a bigger change.  Cmon, I watch The Biggest Loser--the first week is always the biggest loss.

And then God reminded me.  Like He does.  He takes an ordinary situation and speaks to me.  He said lasting change is like that most of the time.  Little by little.  Almost undiscernable at times.  And He wasn't just talking about weight at that moment... How many times have I struggled with the same issue over and over in my faith walk?

I remember many years ago God showing me an image of a telephone cord as I asked Him why I never change.  I always end up in the same place! (now go with me bloggies, to the old coiled telephone cords that let you walk several feet away from the phone and still be on it--I told you it was MANY years ago!) He said it only looked to me like I was in the same place...but from His perspective I had moved along the cord, and was a bit closer to his perfect will for me.  As I continue to seek Him and let Him work in me, I will continue to move along the "cord".  I will continue to find my self at the front of the coil (looks like the same old place....) but I need to remember that from His perspective I have come a long way.   He is working.  He is shaping me.  I will continue to grow and change.

Little by little, Dawn.  Don't give up.

So, today, I am thankful to say goodbye to 3 pounds, and to remember that lesson of long ago.  Tiny little changes in the right direction--will eventually add up to moving closer and closer to Him.  He has redeemed me, He is changing me.  Little by little.

clean

Patch resting on my bed this morning...and yes, he does have eyes in there!

Last week my little pup was sick.  Some sort of stomach bug.  Poor guy didn't seem to know what was going on, and wasn't able to make it outside for any of the "events" the illness caused.  I even gave a moment's thought to fashioning some sort of doggie diaper to handle things on that end.  We settled on keeping him in one place, surrounded by towels.

There was plenty of carpet cleaning, and towel washing.  But, when all was said and done, I knew I faced the worst task.  Washing the ick off of him.  I knew his fur was covered with all of the mess he didn't want to make.  He had been sitting in it.  It was stuck to him.  He smelled, and no one in the family wanted to touch him or give him his regular attention.  The yuck isolated him.

So, I gently carried his nervous, shaky body to the tub (he hates baths...).  And I washed him.  I didn't want to think about all that I was getting on my hands as I scrubbed ALL of him.  But I love him and I knew he couldn't stay dirty.  If he did, he would not be able to be near us (that was FOR SURE!).

As I scrubbed the grossness, I heard the Father say to me:

I do this to you all the time...

There is plenty of ick in your life I'd rather not deal with.  But I love you.  I want to be in relationship with you.  I wash it away.  I love to wash it away. I make you clean again.

Who ever thought washing a dog could be a visit to the Holy of Holies?

Celebrating this everyday moment made divine with emily and others at chatting at the sky.

24over24

My dear friend Carly is a woman who loves and pursues God.  She also is fun and sassy--which makes her a truly delightful person to know.  She has invited and challenged the women in her life to spending an hour a day with God over the next 24 days  (Sept. 7 - Sept. 30).  Here is what she says, 


"While I love my time with God, I have struggled over the last couple months to meet with Him as much as I'd like to.  I've let life's distractions steal my time with Jesus. What came to mind was to commit to spend at least 1 hour a day alone with God for 24 days.  While I don't believe there is any "cookie-cutter" right way to spend time with God (amount of time, time of day, etc.) and there isn't any magic in the 1hour/day equation, I needed a solid & well-defined commitment to jump start and build momentum in this area of my life and 24over24 is what God laid on my heart."


Don't you just love her?!?  

Carly and me.

I have decided to join in--even though I am not an-hour-a-day-quiet-time sort of gal.  I tend to be a two/three hours once or twice a week, twenty minutes other days, and some days a quickly muttered prayer of desperation as I run out the door to my day.  So, at Carly's invitation, I am going to try this whole consistency thing.

I would sincerely like to invite you to join us!  

Seriously, this invitation is for you whether you are a regular reader of theGoodlife (bless you faithful few!) or just have found yourself here by way of chatting at the sky, or other haphazard clicking.  If you have stumbled on this post, consider this an invitation from God and me.  If it's no longer September 7, so what?  Do less than 24 days...or extend it past September.  As Carly says, there is no magic formula.  


If you would like to join in the 24over24 challenge--let me know it the comments.  It will bless Carly's socks off to know you've hopped on board with us! I will follow up with you all in some way, and maybe even have a linky party in a week or so to hear about your experiences.


Perhaps you have never spent time with God, or not much, but you are interested.  What do you do?  Again, no magic formula, now am I an expert, but I can make a few suggestions: 


1) Be intentional.  Pick a time, pick a place as my pastor says.  It can be a different time on different days if need be...but figure it out before each day begins or it will slip away.


2) Pray.  Simply talk to God and ask Him to lead  you through your time with Him.  Tell Him your concerns and fears.  No special words needed--He's just glad you are talking with Him.


3) Read God's Word--the Bible.  You can find a reading plan online, or you can try reading 5 Psalms a day.  ( I start with the Psalm that coordinates with today's date and then keep reading every 30th Psalm until you read 5.  For example, today I would read Psalm 7, Psalm 37, Psalm 67, Psalm 97, Psalm 127.  You can read them all in a month that way.)  You could also read the chapter of Proverbs that correspond with the date.  If you are brand new to God's Word, you could start by reading one of the Gospels that tell about Jesus' life:  Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.


4) You could also read a devotional.  There are many wonderful devotionals out there.  My current favorite is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  It is SO good, and deserves it's own post one of these days.


5) Journal your thoughts, your prayers, what you think God is saying to you.  I NEED to journal.  It's the external processor in me.  You might not.  You might draw or sit quietly or sing in response.  It's your time with God.


6)  Listen.  This is a difficult discipline for me, but one I am working on, and will specifically work on during 24over24.  God wants to speak to me, and I look forward to what He has to say.


7) Don't give up.  Miss a day?  Not quite get to an hour?  Don't stop.  Don't stop!  Perfection is not the goal.  Hanging out with God is.


Today, I am joining emily at chatting at the sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped where we celebrate everyday gifts.  Today I am celebrating that God has given me friends like Carly to challenge and encourage me.


Again, I invite you to join in 24over24!  I am excited to see how God will work in our lives as we do.  Just let me know you are going for it in the comments, and leave your email if it isn't attached to your profile.  This way, I can include you in any follow up info.  I'll be in touch!

back to high school

didn't have one of these in high school...

Last night was back-to-school night at my daughter's new high school.  The past three years, her middle school's back to school nights involved a large meeting of piles of parents together in the gym, where the teachers were introduced, gave brief comments, the principal talked and that was it.

And while it did help me put faces of teachers with their names, it always left me a little wanting.  I begrudgingly accepted that the days of sitting at her little desk and seeing her first week's work proudly displayed on a bulletin board were gone.

Until last night.  Pickle's new school had us travel through their day, according to their schedule for 7 minute classes.  I walked her hallways, climbed the stairs she climbs (up and down over and over I discovered!), sat in the desks she sits in and heard from the teachers that are investing in her life.  I saw the very bright green wall she looks at as she learns French.  I saw the messages the teachers choose to display in their rooms, the boards assignments are written on, and the way the desks are arranged in each room.  I heard each teacher share from their hearts who they are, and what their hopes and dreams for their students are.

Oh, and I learned that they actually use that expensive calculator I had to buy her every day in class--it links up with the teacher's computer and receives assignments.  They do the assignments on the calculator and they upload back to the teacher.  (I'll pause here in case that makes your brain hurt just a little like it does mine...)

I also got to experience what Pickle has these first few weeks in a new school.  I was the one who didn't know anybody, who went to the wrong classroom at one point, and who hardly talked to anyone all night.  Thank God we didn't have lunch! :0)

Back-to-school nights are annual events for us parent-types, to be dutifully attended and in some cases, endured.  But on this Tuesday, I am celebrating this night.  I am celebrating that I can picture Pickle's whole high school thing now.   I didn't just hear about it, but I experienced it.  You can't put a  price on that.

Joining with emily and others at chatting at the sky where we celebrate small things on Tuesdays.

the furry watchman

He keeps watch.  While I sit and let God's Word soak in, while I journal in my favorite spot, He's there.  He is making sure no squirrels sneak up on us.   Making sure the neighborhood kids don't harm us on their way to school.  He looks out on the day.  Takes it all in.  I wonder if he thinks about anything while he performs his daily watch.

I love having this pup around.  He is funny, and loving, and a reminder to our family of God's gifts to us.

Although an ordinary sight for our household, I pause to grab a few photos and enjoy him--in all of his "i'm-so-big-standing-at-the-window-I'll-scare-the-birds-away" kind of way.  And, I must admit I think his tushy is pretty cute when he stands up (not so) big and tall, don't you think? (I just weirded some of you out, huh?)

Celebrating the small things.  That's what we do on tuesdays with emily at chatting at the sky.  Click on over to join the celebration.

Tuesdays Unwrapped: a new beginning

Today is the first day of school for Pickle.  Her first day of HIGH SCHOOL.  And while I'm tempted to go down the road of reminiscing--how it's been mere moments since she was heading to PRESCHOOL, I'll save that sentimental blabber for another time.

Instead, I'm choosing to celebrate this new beginning.  It's not just her first day of high school (yikes--I'm still not used to it!), it's also her first day of Christian school.  She is joining her younger brother at the school where her daddy works.  It's going to be a new experience in more ways than one.  There will be new people, new classes, a new school-culture to learn, a new level of learning, and a new place to navigate.  A new beginning.

New beginnings can be scary if we choose to focus on the security of what we have left behind.  We can romanticize the past instead of embracing what lies in front of us.

We are not short on  butterflies over here, naturally...

...yet we celebrate a new beginning, one filled with opportunities for the taking.  Instead of focusing on what has been, I encourage her to enjoy what will be, the fresh start, the new notebooks and the new friendships-to-come.  We get to choose what we focus on.  Today we pick this new beginning.

I love you Pickle, you are going to have a great freshman year!

need to write?

I never minded writing.  School papers, journaling, letters to friends.  I never thought about whether I was any good at it until grad school when I got some good feedback about my writing style from professors I respect.  Still, it wasn't something I pursued--mostly because I didn't think I'd have the discipline to sit down and spend the time to write.  It sounded lonely.  I'm an extrovert-and-then-some.  I could never sit alone and write.

Then I discovered the blog world.  The blog world allows me to write and interact with others at the same time.  Perfect!  So I type out my babble and hit publish.  I do it again.  Some posts just stink.  Some I feel maybe-kinda-good about.  I write about life, and faith, and family.  I take little time to tweak and perfect--I just spew my thoughts through my fingers instead of my mouth.

And, what do you know?  I really like to write.  I might love it.  I think I might even be starting to need it.  Throughout today, my thoughts were many and spinning and jumbled.  I noticed in the midst of mind-spin a yearn to write.  To let the words bring clarity to my thoughts.  To process externally, as I say.  It started small, hardly recognizable.  As I gave the yearning some attention, I found myself looking for an opportunity to sit and let words flow onto the screen.

Finally, after a day of meetings and kid-stuff and grocery shopping, I get my chance to sit.  And I write.  About writing.  Funny.

And while I'm a long way from calling myself a writer, I am acquainting myself with the side of me that likes to put words to paper and screen.  And the way I feel doing it.  It's good.  It's an everyday gift worth celebrating--so I join once again with emily at chatting at the sky and unwrap along with the other gift-noticers there.

And to the real writers out there:  thanks for letting me be a part of your super cool world.  I want to be you when I grow up.

Anticipation

At the risk of mentioning a cultural reference that half of you are too young to get...I have a catsup jingle stuck in my head.  "An-tic-i-pa-tion.  An-tic-i-pa-ay-tion. Is making me wait.  It's keeping me way-ay-ay-ay-ting."  Okay, hubby reminds me that is actually a Carly Simon song they used for heinz commercial.  If you can't sing along with the lyrics I typed--look up the song online.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Now that you are singing along, you should know why we are anticipa-ay-ay-ting over here.  My sweet sister Kerry is in major countdown mode.  Baby Maisie is scheduled to be born via c-section on Wednesday!  Tomorrow!  Kerry could potentially go into labor sooner...and then little fingers and toes and lips would be here sooner too.

Pickle and I are feeling the anticipation--not in the too-hot, too-big, can't-get-comfortable way my sister is...but in the goosebumps-cause-she's-coming-soon way.  We are excited for Kerry and Jeff and Caleb, and excited for ourselves too.  It is beyond cool to hold a newborn you've already loved for months.

Anticipating something good is a luxurious rush.  I'm unwrapping the gift of the anticipation we feel today...and will be back with good news soon!

What are you anticipa-ay-ay-ting??

Read more everyday gifts unwrapped at chatting at the sky.

saying yes

A long time ago--a parenting tip caught my attention.  It was "say yes as much as possible".  It's so easy for me to say no--and have the "yes" be the exception.  No is often less trouble.  No often takes less energy.  I don't have to think hard with No.  I can easily overuse No.  But, I want my NOs to count for something.  I want them to be taken seriously.  I want them to be NO, not, "I don't feel like thinking about it right now", or "that would take extra effort that I don't feel like exerting".  Now, I know, KNOW, that there are times as parents that we absolutely must use no for those reasons.  We are in charge, and we have to look out for our own needs too.

But what about saying yes?  Why not yes?

Well, yesterday, Pickle called my cell while I was at work.  I was in a meeting.  Mondays are one meeting after another--I'm a chain-meeter on Mondays.   During my last meeting of the day a coworker walked in with my phone and said it had been ringing off the hook with my home number...I looked at it, and in the past half hour Pickle had called 13 times!  And I have a song for her ringtone...my poor coworkers!  I quickly texted her to see if everything was OK.  She called again.  I excused myself and answered, wondering what the emergency was.  She said,

"Can my friend sleep over tonight?"  

Seriously??  That was the emergency???

Pickle wanted this sleepover with a friend who she hadn't seen all summer.  It turns out they figured out that due to upcoming vacation plans and sports this gal was not going to be available any other night before school started.  Just last night.

I admit I was a little ticked at the unwarranted urgency of her calls, told her I'd talk to her when I got home and returned to my meeting.

On the way home I thought of so many reasons to say no.  No, I was tired.  No, I had to return to work early in the morning.  No, we don't plan sleepovers the same day--I need some advance warning.  No, calling umpteen times was a bit obnoxious.  No.  No. No.

And then it echoed in my head.  Why not yes?  (stink)

So I said yes.  It didn't end up being much trouble at all, and I made my girl very happy.  And that is what I'm unwrapping today with Emily at Chatting at the Sky--the gift of yes.

She's leaving on a jet plane...

Pickle's packing.

She is meeting friends from youth group at church at 2:30 am (I know!!) to head to the airport.  They are traveling to Louisville, KY for our denomination's once-every-three-years conference for thousands of high schoolers called LIFE.  LIFE is something we've heard about many times over the years...and now my little girl is old enough to attend!

Today she read to me her choices of seminars from the long list of options, and I choked up.  One, because I'm overjoyed that she has such a wonderful opportunity to learn about such fantastic topics.  And two, because she was making great choices that show some thought and care on her part--rather than choosing what sounded the most entertaining or fun.  She sounded just a bit mature at that moment.

I am praying that God will speak to her heart this week.  I am praying she listens.  I am praying that her faith deepens and her relationship with God becomes even more intimate and real to her.  I pray she is a sponge who soaks up the whole thing.

I don't know what He has planned.  I'm pretty sure it's good, though.  It's Big-G-Good.

Oh, and along with Hawk Nelson, Kutless and other cool musicians she is going to hear this guy.  I encourage you to take a few minutes and see what this dude can do with an acoustic guitar.

That was lovely, but now I need to go and pretend she needs my help packing.

Unwrapping this moment with my growing-up girl with emily at chatting at the sky, cause she wrote about high school girls today too.  

time to listen

A few posts back, I mentioned how our pastor is challenging us to observe sabbath.  He says, "pick a time, pick a place, and enter in."  Don't get all hung up on the details--does it have to be a whole day?  does it matter which day??  Sometimes we get caught up in the particulars and don't actually practice sabbath.

What is sabbath?  As I've learned from my pastor, it is stopping, resting, playing, listening.  Stopping...all the things that pull on you day in and out.  That could be working at the office, or cooking dinner or whatever.  Resting...slow down, take a nap, whatever is restful to you.  Playing...that means different things to different people.  It could mean taking a walk, playing monopoly with your kids, or dancing around your living room.   Listening...this might be the most important.  We need to slow down, change our regular mode, do something different than normal in order to have the space to listen.  We need to listen to God.  What is He saying to us?

Well, I've been doing a bunch of reflecting on sabbath lately and not a lot of practicing it.  VBX next week.  Hubby's back pain affecting life.  blah, blah, blah.  Yes, it's busy and stressful right now, and time is short--but all the more reason for sabbath.

Today I grabbed an hour by myself.  Three hours would have been better.  A full day would have been lovely.  But rather than whine about how an hour was all I had, I stopped.  And entered in.  And listened.  And ate a cinnamon crunch bagel--mmmmmmm.

And God was there with me.  He spoke gentle words to my soul.  He helped me align my perspective to His as I journeyed into the day ahead.  It would have been a different day without that hour in His presence.

I am unwrapping the gift of my mini-sabbath today with Emily at chatting at the sky with the hopes of encouraging you to stop, rest, play and listen.  Pick a time, pick a place and enter in.