Every once in awhile, you have one of those days. You know what I'm talking about, it just seems like things work out well. You start and finish the day with the energy you need, you feel good, you might even feel happy. Stress isn't weighing you down, you might have even been encouraged or encouraged someone else that day. In the end you showed love to each of your kids and as an added bonus, they are all getting along.
Today was such a day. I slept in after staying up late working on homework. I had ambitious plans to accomplish way more than my brain could handle today, so I let go of the high expectations. I enjoyed time with each of my kids throughout the day, even got some laundry done. In the late afternoon, Jay informed me that it looked like their "guy's movie night" may be working out tonight. I was able to quickly switch my plans from locking myself away in my room and pounding the keyboard with research and APA citations, to taking my kids out for pizza.
We went to our local Pizza Shoppe. I love to eat there. They are never too busy, there is always enough space and it isn't taken over by televisions. The atmosphere is perfect for playing cards, which we did. We've done this before, we wait for our pizza while playing Go Fish and Uno. Hannah and I even ordered our own pizza just the way we wanted it... Hawaiian!
After dinner, and a never-ending game of Uno - in which we all decided Palmer won, even though no one ran out of cards, we drove across the street to Price Chopper. I pulled up a recipe for chocolate ice cream sodas on my phone. For some reason, we are all hooked on these things. $30 later, we have all the ingredients (expensive, huh!), and we head home to start chilling our soda water. About this time, I'm really missing Jay. He is usually the fun one, and I am usually the tag-along parent, but tonight, I got to be fun, and I missed Jay being a part of it.
I know he is having fun with his guy friends, and time apart from the family usually makes us more appreciative of it, so I am happy for him. Well, the soda should be about ready, so we'll go make our dessert and find some AFV to watch, or laugh at Lilly, because she is funnier than t.v. any day!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Would I Know You?
If I saw you face to face, experienced the miracles that you performed first-hand, would I know you? Would you have to convince me that you are You? Would I be skeptical and discredit you like the Pharisees, or would I know, trust, believe and follow like the disciples?
Would I be as loyal to you as I have been to imperfect humans, incapable of healing, restoring, or saving my soul? It occurs to me how hard you had to work to explain who you were to people who didn't believe.
Your Word teaches that we have a choice. As in Matthew 7:24... 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
It isn't enough to just hear the message of Jesus. We have to act on the message. That action is rejection or acceptance. Rejection is likened to building a house on sand. Acceptance is building a house on the firm foundation of The Rock. It is a gift, there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve the gift Jesus gave. (this is grace) But we have to acknowledge and accept it.
If we didn't have to accept it, everyone who says, "Lord, Lord" would be saved.
The truth is, I see the evidence of your presence in the world around me. I have witnessed first-hand your miracles surrounding my life. And this is enough for me.
Would I be as loyal to you as I have been to imperfect humans, incapable of healing, restoring, or saving my soul? It occurs to me how hard you had to work to explain who you were to people who didn't believe.
Your Word teaches that we have a choice. As in Matthew 7:24... 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
It isn't enough to just hear the message of Jesus. We have to act on the message. That action is rejection or acceptance. Rejection is likened to building a house on sand. Acceptance is building a house on the firm foundation of The Rock. It is a gift, there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve the gift Jesus gave. (this is grace) But we have to acknowledge and accept it.
If we didn't have to accept it, everyone who says, "Lord, Lord" would be saved.
The truth is, I see the evidence of your presence in the world around me. I have witnessed first-hand your miracles surrounding my life. And this is enough for me.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Sisters!
This weekend marks the 6th annual Sister Retreat in my family. My mother and aunt, along with myself and two sisters embark on a weekend of relaxation, spa treatment and as much poolside time as we can get. Usually we congregate at The Elms Resort and Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. One year we gathered in Wichita to surprise my older sister with a "Boston Marathon" themed retreat. (She was running in the marathon a month later).
The Elms is a special place to us, as my mom and aunt have memories of their grandmother working there when they were children. It is a beautiful, old, quaint, and fairly quiet place to find reprieve.
The five of us travel from 4 different states to mingle alone, unhindered by responsibilities, or expectations. We plan for this all year, and before we check out, we put our next dates on the calendar.
This is the most significant tradition we have had in our family, and it is a keeper. Each year we seem to grow closer and the memories we share mark time as we slowly age together on our individual journeys. I wanted to take this opportunity to document our tradition, as we are not promised to see the sun rise on our tomorrow. But for now, the sun has set on another weekend of memories.
The Elms is a special place to us, as my mom and aunt have memories of their grandmother working there when they were children. It is a beautiful, old, quaint, and fairly quiet place to find reprieve.
The five of us travel from 4 different states to mingle alone, unhindered by responsibilities, or expectations. We plan for this all year, and before we check out, we put our next dates on the calendar.
This is the most significant tradition we have had in our family, and it is a keeper. Each year we seem to grow closer and the memories we share mark time as we slowly age together on our individual journeys. I wanted to take this opportunity to document our tradition, as we are not promised to see the sun rise on our tomorrow. But for now, the sun has set on another weekend of memories.
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