Gonna Need A Bigger Cup

This week has been one of those weeks where my cup has truly runneth over.  I think I could use a mug right about now.  I need one of those big touristy types that have my name on it (misspelled of course) and are too big to hold in one hand.

I have been hit in the face with such grace and blessing that I have been teary eyed most of the week, but in a good way.

I taught on Monday and was moved by how our elementary school truly cares about the students and the world around us.  The Junior United Nations was meeting before I came into the library and was discussing how to raise money for the Japan earthquake victims and how they were planning on making paper origami cranes to send to Japan.  It was so wonderful to see them early before school caring about others half way around the world. 

Later that morning during one of the classes, I watched a student discuss so wonderfully how he would handle a conflict with his peers if they were having trouble getting along.  He truly “got” the lesson and knowledge was pouring from his mouth.  I was happy to witness such a small yet profound moment.

Our dishwasher died this week and to top it off, it leaked for several days through to the basement ceiling.  Normally I would have been very upset, but there was a calm within me that it wasn’t a huge problem or disease and knew it was a fixable problem.  It was simply a patch in the ceiling that needed repair.  Yes, we needed to buy a new dishwasher as well and don’t like having that expense, but am so thankful that we have the ability to just go pick a new one out and pay for it and go on with our life. 

Our children are involved in many activities and almost always we are the only parents where both are present at the events.  I know it’s not possible for many, many families to attend everything and we’ve had a few things here and there that we both can’t attend, but that’s the minority for us.   We are so fortunate that our schedules and lives allow us to be present for them. 

I could write thirty more small examples of the blessings and grace that have been poured over us this week.  Our health, our families, our neighbors and friends to name but a few.  The list has been so great this week that I cannot be anything but grateful for the life we have and for all those that touch our lives each and every day.  If it keeps on like this through the rest of the week, I might have to get two mugs to carry around.  One will never be enough.

Can You Do A Backbend?

When I was eleven and maybe even a little bit older, I could do a backbend.  Not from a standing position mind you, but from starting on the floor and pushing myself up into the back bend position.  It’s was easy. I could even walk a few steps.  I was flexible.

I’m no longer ten and am pretty sure I can’t do that backbend.  I’m a little more stiff and don’t really have a need to do a backbend anymore. 

When I was eleven and would go over to a friend’s house, we never had any plans for what we would do once I got there.  We listened to the radio, we put on make up, and we played on the swings at the park.   We were flexible.  We were open to letting the day unfold as it may.  

I miss being a little more carefree.  As an adult, it’s not always easy to be flexible. At least not for me.  I sometimes have a struggle with the unplanned and off-schedule things of life.  Not to say I don’t enjoy being spontaneous and getting up on a Saturday morning with no plans and deciding to head to the mountains for a picnic and a hike, because I do enjoy that.

As I’ve had a few birthdays (and I’m not telling how many) since I was eleven, I’ve lost a little of that flexibility.  Ok, so I’ve lost more than a little, but I hope it’s not gone forever.  Maybe it’s just a skill I’ve put on the backburner and needs a little stiring.  I’m quick to say no and should be quick to say yes.  I need to practice that.  I really do.  I don’t want to miss out on all those happy unplanned events that make memories for us. 

Maybe, I need to try to do that backbend again. What could it hurt?  And, who knows?  Maybe after a few attempts, it might be easier and easier each time.  Like pulling taffy, right?  It’s hard at first but the more you pull, the easier it is.  Life doesn’t always happen according to my nicely printed calendar on the fridge.  There needs to be more space for the unplanned and unexpected.  There’s joy to be found there too.

I’m off now to practice some back bends in the family room.  Wish me luck.

Are They Really Just Dirty Dishes?

I just finished reading a very interesting book called “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. It’s inspiring and yet complicated too.   The author talks about how her faith in God transpired more or less.  I don’t want to oversimplify her book, but I also know you don’t have an extra hour in your day for me to go into too much detail about it.

It’s left me with so many thoughts about faith in general.  How does your faith come to be?  How does it change who you are?  Does it make you stronger or more confident?  So many thoughts.

One of the ideas that touched me was that in our everyday lives, we have an opportunity “to give thanks” in many ways.  For most people, I think it means a special offering of thanks through a prayer or kind deed and voilá we have “given thanks.”  After reading this book, it has really made me think about how I “give thanks” in my daily living with my family and friends.

Give is the key word here.  Give is a verb.  A verb is the action.  This means that to give thanks we must do.  By doing thanks, we are giving thanks away.  When we change our thoughts and actions and do for others, we ourselves are the bearer of the gift and in return receive an abundance of joy that is different from the type of joy you feel after  blowing the candles out on your birthday cake.  Are you still with me?   I know it’s a little deep for a Monday, but it’s been on my mind and just need to put the words somewhere.

If I do what I do with a heart of “giving,” then the task takes on new meaning.  Let me see if I can make this easier to understand. If I do the dishes with a heart of “giving,” then as I scrub out the spaghetti sauce from the pan, I am thinking of my children and how they are fortunate to have had a warm meal.  The greasy pot becomes a vessel for a blessing. If I scrub out the pot and think of how tired I am of soap and dirty dishes it means something else.  My “giving thanks” makes me live thanks. Does that make sense?

Now I know we can’t possibly pause every minute of every day and think how lucky we are to have dirty dishes, but the opportunity is there for our taking and in situation after situation that is presented to us daily.  It’s up to us to give thanks so that our lives are full.

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit.  It’s good to just write some days.  It’s more or less thinking aloud for me and feels so refreshing.   Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sink full of “thanks” that needs to be tended to.

Spring Break Photos

We just returned from a weekend trip to visit my brother and sister-in-law and had a fantastic time.  The drive to and from was great and the time with them even better. Just wanted to share a few pictures of our trip.  Just a few more days of spring break and I’ll be back in the swing of things.  Sunshine is shining. Life is good.

Spring Break

The weather is warm.

The kids are off for spring break.

So......I will be taking a few more days off from writing while we vacation a bit.

I'll be back very soon.