The Hubs Does It Again!

Today, I am so thankful for The Hubs.  As I was getting ready to come to grips with the idea that I was going to have to stop fixing dinner, get out of my jammies and back into normal clothing, and then leave my warm house to pick up The Girl from her last theater practice, he jumped in and saved the day.

Hubs: What do you have going on tonight?
me: Well, I have to go get dressed so I can leave here and pick up The Girl.
Hubs: I have to run by the post office.  Do you want me to pick her up so you can stay here in your jammies?

Gee.  Let me think about that for about half a second.  Yup.  That sounds like a brilliant plan.

I stayed, cooked dinner, and most importantly kept my cozy jammies on the whole time.

So thankful!

It's Like I'm Goldi-Locks

Wednesday mornings are my mornings to enjoy Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).  I love spending time chatting with other women about all that we have learned the previous week about God and His Word, and how that is changing them and the people they share life with.   I also love to study and to learn, and this study digs deep.

The group of women that meet on Wednesday mornings numbers in the 400's.  Give or take a few.  And many of us have small children (not yet in full-time school).  So, our particular BSF group also provides childcare.  The childcare teachers are amazing.  This is no drop-off, your kids run wild for two hours, hope no one dies affair.  The kids get to learn all about God's Word, have a craft, sing songs, practice sitting still for quiet time, they learn how to pray, and many other things in the two and a half hours they are there.  I know, not just because The Little Man was part of this program for three years, but because we are often recruited to volunteer.

Not going to lie, as thankful as I am for this program, this is not my favorite thing to do.  No, Ma'am it isn't.  While I'm always amazed at how well things are run, and how loving each of the teachers are, I would prefer to just watch behind some glass...or something. You know, like when you go to a zoo.

Today, was one of those days for me.  I was a childcare volunteer in the toddlers room.  These kids are between the ages of one and two.

Do you know how long it's been since my kids where that age?  Long enough for me to forget completely how to interact for longer than five minutes with these little ones.  Yes, some of my friends have small children, but no, I don't take them from their moms and hang out with them one on one for two plus hours.

Childcare is not an innate thing for me.

I just see tears, buggers, slobber, and can only smell poopy diapers (despite people telling me they smell so sweet).  Honestly, looking back on my life, I'm not sure how I even survived my own children's toddler years.  It was the grace of God alone that got me through that time.  Don't get me wrong, I love me a sweet infant, and I am totally digging this school age phase we are in, but from about 15 months through four years of age, you've totally lost me.   You know what's weird?  I don't remember feeling this way at all when my kids were little.  I think I even remember loving that they were so small and cute, and I never wanted them to grow up.

Today, I am thankful that they have indeed grown up.  I am so thankful to have a seven and almost ten year old.  They talk to me (and sometimes they aren't even sassy!), laugh with me, share their feelings, wipe their own noses (and butts!), clean up after themselves (even if the threat of no TV has to hover so close they can practically reach out and touch it), and they are just plain cool, sweet, and fun.  I recognize I am in a pretty sweet spot right now.  Even though I might have to deal with heavy heart issues (at times), they aren't too little, and they aren't too big.  They're juuuussst right.

I am thankful for this stage of life.

My "babies" coming home from a long day at school.

Many Hands Makes the Workload Light

Today, I got an early morning call.  It was the school.  They needed subs in a bad way.  Remembering how refreshed I was the day before, I figured I had some energy to spare. 

However, when I saw the time, I quickly realized I was VERY short on time.  If I was to get ready (hello, hair that hasn't been washed in a few days!), pack lunches, and make breakfasts for everyone, I needed to be up and at 'em about 40 minutes earlier.

That's when I enlisted the help of The Hubs.  Expecting some grumbling, I was surprised to see him jump into action.  He packed lunches, got snacks put together, everyone had water bottles, and breakfast.  We can't forget breakfast!  Not sure if we all got our teeth brushed, but we did have our hair brushed, and I had mints in my purse (I did brush my teeth, not sure about the kids, though).

Bada boom!  Bada bing!  I was out the door only a few minutes behind, and the kids were right on time. 

All thanks to The Hubs!

Today, I am so grateful for my sweet, hardworking Hubs.  Not only did he totally save my rear end today, he had such a great attitude about helping.  He is such a great example to me for not allowing our circumstances dictate our moods.  He is a selfless servant. 

I am so thankful to call him mine!

My Cup Runneth Over

"After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are now traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine.  I want you to enjoy to the full this time of ease and refreshment.  I delight in providing for you.  Sometimes My children hesitate to receive My good gifts with open hands.  Feelings of false guilt creep in, telling them they don't deserve to be so richly blessed.  This is nonsense-thinking, because no one deserves anything from Me.  My kingdom is not about earning and deserving; it's about believing and receiving." Psalm 23:5; John 3:16; Luke 11:9-10; Romans 8:32
-Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

After many weeks of running, rushing, and squeezing in, these words were nourishment for my soul.  I had a day (today) laying before me with nothing on my calendar except for some sweet girlfriend time later that evening. 

How could it be?

Surely, I was missing something.

Something would come up, right?

Then I started to feel guilty as I thought about having a day to myself.  In front of the computer.  With no important projects.  No where to be, and nothing to squeeze in.

Then my Heavenly Father whispered to me through His Word, like He does every morning before I get out of bed.   He's so faithful. 

Receive and enjoy.  No guilt.  No earning. 

"When you receive my blessings with a grateful heart, I rejoice.  My pleasure in giving and your pleasure in receiving flow together in joyous harmony."

While, it may be early,  I am so thankful for my time, each morning, to spend sitting at the feet of my good and faithful Shepherd.  He blesses me so richly.  Today, He led me beside quiet waters and restored my soul.

A Snowy Family Weekend

All day, Saturday, the weather was changing.  Cloudy, windy, cold, sunny, rainy, snowy, sunny, windy, and on and on all day.  We saw all of it. The forecast called for a snowy and cold day, so snow, cold, and wind were not too surprising.  The clearing skies and sunshine were welcomed and a fun break.

That evening, however, the skies grew very dark and low again.  As we headed out for an evening with friends, I thought I heard thunder.  That couldn't possibly be right? However, as we drove off into the lightly falling snow, we saw it.  A large lightening bolt.  And then, yup, very loud thunder.  I have heard of "Thunder Snow" before, but I'm not so sure I've been in it before.  It's kind of weird.  But then, it got even more strange.  Hail.  Heavy, pea size, hail.  So it was snowing, hailing, and there was lightening and thunder.  

While this was all very strange to me, I sat there thinking about how awesome and powerful our God is.  Each lightening bolt left me awestruck.  I was so thankful to be a witness to His power and strength.  He makes His own rules and there is no thwarting Him.

Some left over hail mixed with snow.

Tonight, we had the perfect family night.  I'm so thankful for my sweet babies kids who still love to spend time with us.  The Little Man, asked earlier in the day if we could play a game later tonight.  When I told him that this sounded like a fun idea, he kept saying to whomever would listen, "Well, we are having a fun family game night, tonight." We ended up playing Qwirkle and then topping the chilly evening off with breakfast for dinner.

It was DE-LIGHT-FUL. 

I'm so abundantly blessed with these sweet people God has placed in my life that I get to call my family. 

He Is Beauty

Have I blogged too much about how I've been enjoying the Fall weather and colors?  Well, sorry.  Today was no different.  Tomorrow, there is a forecast for snow.  So, today I tried to go outside, as much as I could, to soak in the wonderful weather before it changes.

In our front yard, we planted a new tree about three years ago.  The tree previous to this one was the type that had green foliage and flowers in the early spring, and then turned purple for the remaining spring and summer.  The flowers were glorious.  They filled our neighborhood with a fragrance that was perfection.  However, once the leaves turned to purple, after the blooms faded, there was no more color change for this tree.  The leaves simply fell off in the fall.  That was it.  That tree died, and so we planted a new one.  Our new tree blooms in the spring (although the fragrance isn't as sweet), and changes colors in the fall.  This fall, in particular, the tree was radiant.  It is yellow in the center and red on the outer edges.  It looks like a glowing ember.

I smile each time I see this tree.  I have always adored trees that change color in this multi-color way in the fall.  They are my favorite.  However, I knew that the tree we picked out as a replacement, would not do this.  It is supposed to simply turn red.  (Which is gorgeous, by the way, especially in a state where all the native trees turn yellow.)  So, when I see this tree, I smile because I know that this tree doesn't have to look this way.  But it does.  Why?  I believe it's God's sweet gift to me this year.  For whatever reason, and certainly not because I deserve it, He has chosen to bless me in this special way this year.

Our devotional, that we study as a family, reminded us just a few days ago that God is in all things beautiful.   When I look outside, drive up to my home, or sit on the porch, and gaze upon this tree, I am thankful to be given this reminder that I have a God who loves me so much He chooses to give me beauty to look at each day.

"Worship me in the beauty of holiness.  All true beauty reflects some of who I am."
 -Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Each Day Is New

Yesterday, I had the worst neck, shoulder, and back pain.  I felt like I was hit by a truck when I rolled over to get out of bed.  As the day progressed, it continued to get worse.  The sources: A hot yoga class combined with an injury on the opposite shoulder, leading to overcompensation on the other side.

Yada, yada, yada.  I HURT.

This morning, I woke up a new woman.  While I could still feel the remnants of lingering pain, I could turn my neck to the left almost all the way.  By the way I was feeling yesterday, I was certain today was going to be a rude continuation of the same.  But! Today was a new day.

So thankful for heating pads, ibuprofen, and no more pain!