Saturday.

Saturdays are usually filled with chores, errands, Bubba's soccer or basketball games, and some procrastinating.  This Saturday was none of those things. (Well, maybe the procrastinating.)  There is much to do around here...and we had a whole Saturday to do it--but we didn't.  Guilt wants to creep in, but I won't let it.  We had a spontaneously fun day...and that is what we needed.

The morning started slowly, waking up leisurely, chatting and laughing long before our feet hit the floor.  Then we remembered that it was free-breakfast-day-at-Chick-Fil-A!  We hurried to wake up sleeping beauty and get dressed and ended up joining my sister and her fam and some friends for some chicken and visiting.

Pickle and I decided we wanted to attend an event at Focus on the Family where the Duggars (of TLC fame--19 kids and counting) were speaking and making an appearance that afternoon.  Pickle is a big fan and I figured there could be a lot worse choices of reality stars to meet, so why not indulge her?  We missed out on getting tickets to the event (I snoozed and lost--oops) so I agreed to buy Pickle their book so we could attend the book signing they were doing afterwards.

We had a great time.  They were all there (minus their youngest, Josie) and sat at a super long table, signing and greeting.  Pickle's first exciting moment was seeing the TLC crew filming and recognizing them from TV (from Jon and Kate plus 8 she thinks).  It got even better when they filmed her asking a question for the Duggars to answer on their show.  I had to sign a release for them to use the footage if they choose.  Then we spoke with and met almost all of the super-family, and they signed Pickle's book.  I especially enjoyed meeting Michelle Duggar, she exuded warmth and joy and genuineness.  And she looks fantastic for  a woman who has birthed and raised 19 kids.  It was a totally fun afternoon.

To top the day off, we got to visit with our friends who just had a baby.  Remember Becky and the shower I posted about?  Well, the little guy arrived on Wednesday and it was such a joy to meet him and hold him.  We shared an impromptu dinner together, played with his big sister (who is not quite two) and got to visit a good while.  He is precious.  There really is nothing like holding a new and tiny baby.

the only picture we took of baby Jackson

It was a lovely, unplanned, relaxing and fun Saturday.  My house remains a mess, but sometimes it's worth it.

What did you do this weekend?

pickle's new "music video"

She is learning the guitar.  She loves to sing.  She loves Justin Bieber.  She's 14.

She wrote a simple song about him the other afternoon.  It is partly the way she feels about him, and partly teasing herself about her crush.  (I love that she can laugh at herself.)

She recorded herself last night.  She put it on youtube.  My girl--who never really lets anyone else hear her sing put herself out there.  She didn't doll herself up, or wait until she was an accomplished guitar player or had a few more voice lessons.  She just did it.  And she said I could share it here!

So I am.  Cause I am a fan.

One Thousand Gifts

I was thrilled when my mom gave me a copy of Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts.  I have been wanting to read it, and hadn't sprung for it yet.  I have read less than two chapters so far, and am purposely reading slowly.  Why?  Because I can tell already...this is a book to be savored.  Like a rich piece of dark chocolate you let melt slowly in your mouth, I want Ann's words to soak slowly into my soul.  This is a beautiful book that is destined to be a classic.

Now, I have a confession.  I joined Ann's online gratitude community many months ago--pledging to document 1000 gifts in my life.  I did it for a while and posted some of my gifts here on theGoodlife.  Then I let it go.  I'm not sure why.

My mother in law gave me this beautiful journal for Christmas, and I quickly decided it would be my new 1000 gifts journal.  I started again at #1 in January.  And then, before long,  it sat waiting for me again...

Ann's book, which makes a case for living fully and gratefully, has challenged me to pick up that journal and start documenting my daily gifts again.  I will try to do it nightly.  I will try to post gifts again here on Mondays as a form of accountability.

Here a few of the most recent gifts listed:

62.  the privilege of disciplining my daughter:  I know that sounds weird, but when her actions deserve consequences, it is a privilege to be part of training her to be the woman God has called her to be.  She knows that, and although doesn't like the consequences, she settles into them, secure.

63.  girl's night at becca's:  I was invited to spend the night with some dear girlfriends.  We ate yummy food--cheeses, jams, berries, olives, bread--talked about our food journeys, laughed and delved into an art project they planned.  God is challenging me in the area of faith--so I made this collage.

the girls:  Carly, Becky (several days overdue!), Cathy and Becca

65.  the freedom I have from God to let go:  I don't have to be in charge, to make things happen, to manage.  He's already doing that.  I'm often getting in the way.  What joy it is to let go.

66. pickle wrote her first song with her guitar:  how I love to hear her sing and play...even if her first song was a tribute to Justin Beiber.  Really.  {smile}

Enjoy your day, bloggies.  Look for the gifts in your day!

on waiting...

As I woke this morning, some of my first thoughts were with my two friends about to give birth any day now.  Did either of them go into labor during the night?  A quick glance at my phone and computer confirmed that they were both still pregnant.

Becky's little boy was due on Tuesday.  She waits.  Lynette has had some preterm labor with her twins...and is on bedrest.  If they are able to make it another week or so, they shouldn't even require a stay in the NICU.  She waits.  Seemingly ready to explode, these two dear women are walking time bombs.  I remember the feeling well.

I reflect on waiting.  I am in a season of waiting as well.  Waiting for my husband's deliverance from the back pain that has rocked his world (and ours).  And I thought--well, at least they are waiting expectantly.  The waiting will come to an end, and the reward will be more than worth the wait.  And I envied that expectancy a little...

Then He gently spoke to my heart.  "You can wait expectantly too.  I am here.  I haven't forgotten.  My plan is in motion.  My Big-G-Good plan."  So in faith, I grab that expectancy, that even when there is temptation to despair--I know the Truth.  We are not consumed.  He who has begun a g(G)ood work in us will bring it to completion.  Even now He is acting.

I remember a small book by Henri Nouwen about waiting I read during a scary time of my life.  I don't remember much about it other than the important concept that waiting is active--not passive.  Waiting takes energy, it takes focus, it takes faith.  To actively wait on God is a choice.  A choice to call to my mind God's goodness, as Jeremiah did in Lamentations 3: 21-23.  (studied this in Bible Study this morning...)

Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.

I don't know what waiting season you might be in...but will you join me in choosing to actively wait on God, expectantly knowing that what comes from His love is Good?