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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

What I'm leaving

Just as I hope my reading audience will take away some inspiration or encouragement from this blog at some second in their rapid pace, I too draw revelations from the written ponderings of others- the beauty of reflection.  I have to make myself do it- sit down when it's quiet and think.  When I do, I can hear flashes of importance like this:

Time is like thin ice. Our days are spent living like ants in a mound, collecting our substance to survive the winter; to retire in comfortable plaid pants, blue socks, and golf shoes. All the while, the ice is melting, thin and slick. We don’t notice it until struck with tragedy. We or a friend are mangled in a car wreck, and we reflect on how fragile the whole thing is. Our wives and our children become beautiful again. Our priorities change as we realize we are temporary beings.  -An excerpt from Donald Miller's blog selected from his book, Through Painted Deserts.

Life is swiftly giving and taking away breaths, minutes, and years from us.  We must remember to take care of the important things people, before we slip through the frozen pond, cracked with unexpected events.  

Give yourself away and love doing it!  We've all heard the warning, "You can't take it with you."  So then, isn't it more essential to pay attention to what you'll be leaving

What I hope to leave to my kids is the memory of a mom who made time to take care of them, to teach them, to listen to them, and love them- even when it wasn't easy.  To my husband, I leave my true commitment, lots of laughter, mutual love, and a fulfilled promise.  And I want to leave my friends and family with the joy of knowing someone thought of them, prayed for them, and never forgot them.

Bottom line: Live your best, without regrets.  It makes the going easier.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Chomping

Have you ever been sitting at the dinner table, minding your own business, enjoying your plate of mashed potatoes...only to see your glass of sweet tea jiggling as a minor earthquake disrupts your occupation?  That tapping is my feet. That shaking is my fidgeting legs underneath your meal.  I'm anxious!  I apologize for the interruption.

I'm not a loud person, or even a hyper one- on the outside.  However, my mind is racing to the next idea, the next task, the next story.  I take rabbit trails in conversations.  That's why my legs can't be still.  I'm chomping at the bit to be somewhere else or get started on something!

It's really frustrating right now in this season of life, to have that feeling of wanting so much to race out of the gate, only to be reigned back by my current responsibilities. 

I have to remind myself DAILY that I will have time to sew, to create, to write, to read books in coffee shops.  My kids will be older.  They will be learning in other buildings.  I won't always be scheduling their entertainment for hours each day.  I won't always get to sit down and eat lunch with them in the kitchen.  One day, this house will get quieter.

When that happens, I'll probably miss it.  When I'm sitting at the sewing machine.  When I'm updating my blogs.  When I'm hanging picture frames, I'll check the time and try to pass the time doing other things I love until they come home again.

Looking forward gives me perspective.  It calms me down.  My knees won't bump the dinner table as much, because I'll rest in these moments.

So...I'm going to have to let God hold me back until He decides it's time to let me stretch my legs...

...just a little bit longer...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

139 days

It's been a long time.  A whole season...of caring for a newborn, homeschooling, and trying to keep up with the normal time-filler-uppers.
 
  • At the beginning of the day, I'm gathering courage and making lists.  
  • In the middle, I'm finishing up lessons and fixing lunches.  
  • And at the end of the day, I have just enough energy to lie on the couch.

But I've got to keep doing what brings me joy, in addition to the things that keep me busy.
I've got to slow down.
Laugh at myself.
Take in the view.

I would like to finally give myself permission to blog again (...and to finally join pinterest)!


It's time to be a little more like me again.