Feeling Time

On occasion, I can hear time. The sound is faint, a whisper.  The sound of moments that I have been ignoring in order to rush through my days. My perspective was all messed up. For me, who has been through some perspective changing life altering moments, one would think I'd remember. Yet, I forget. Forget what is truly important. Forget how quickly time melts away. Forget to savor the here and now.

My eyes and ears are opened now, to catch a fleeting glimpse of eternity. In the grit of my today...time slows.  When I stop, to be fully in the moment, thanking God for even the smallest of gifts, I am forced to slow down. Breathe. Enjoy. Savor.

God is good. He gave me beautiful gifts this morning.

* The reflection of the sun's rays bouncing from behind a cloud. The sunlight spilling out from an opening in the cloud, causing a rainbow of golden colors. An amazing sight. Thank you God for beauty.

* A hug from my son. His arms around me. Long, slender arms...full of young man strength. Hugs that I will miss, when he is a fully grown man and is gone... out to discover the world on his own. Thank you God for making me a mommy.

* My husband, hair tousled in sleep. Eyes closed, breathing soft. Thanking God.

* The sunlight splattered on the foyer wall. Swirling light.

* The hum of the refrigerator. When we first moved in after the building process, we didn't have a refrigerator (left it in the house we sold). I never appreciated my refrigerator, until I didn't have one. Thank you God for food and for refrigeration. Thank you for provision.

* The smell of the morning air. Pregnant with the aromas of mud and country.

As most of you know, I am reading Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. Her words challenge me with each chapter read. If I take her God inspired words to heart, I will continue to change.

In chapter four she states, "I just want time to do my one life well."  Isn't that what we each want?  But you might be thinking, time stops for no one. Life is a rush. So much to do...so little time. It is a choice. A decision. If we each choose to stop, meet God in the moment, time can slow. Thankfulness, appreciation can do that.

My fingers tap out sounds on my keyboard. I hear my son clear his throat. I see the blueness of the sky reflected on my computer screen. I smile as I notice the fur that I need to sweep from the floor. God is so big...and yet, He is so small. He is right here, present, in this moment.

 

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A Dare To Live Fully

The postman delivered my book last evening. The book, written by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts. I was so excited to receive it.  Despite all the snow and ice on the roads the postman got it to me.

I read the first chapter and into the second. I wanted to be prepared for the video book club that starts today. To be able to discuss. To share.

Mrs. Voskamp is an author who has the skill of a surgeon, her words cut through me like a knife. From the very beginning, she challenged me...caused me to consider.

How do we live in a world full of pain, in the shadows of what should have been? How do we live a life of thankfulness in the midst of it all?

Radical gratitude. Not what you might think.

 

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Are These Gifts For Real?

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First of all I want to say a BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC thank you to all the people that stopped by my blog yesterday. I love being "freshly pressed". Of course, if someone is not in the blogging world and I tell them that I'm excited about being freshly pressed, they get this look in their eyes that says, "God love her heart, but she's as nutty as her Christmas fruitcake." That's okay. I'm used to that, after all variety is the spice of life, right? I have several new readers, and people from all over the world told me that they like my blog. It makes me smile....so yeah, thanks again. My readers are the best.

 

ARE THESE GIFTS FOR REAL?

Have you found yourself at the department store or the mall, staring at gifts that are just down right weird? You wonder to yourself, do people really buy these for their LOVED ones? I will admit I probably stay more on the traditional side when it comes to Christmas presents. I'm all about sticking with a theme for people. I try to tailor the gifts to the person's taste. With that said, there are some gifts that are just over the top. What do you think of these? Would you put these things under your tree?

1. Sudoku Toilet Paper-- I don't know about you but, I don't spend THAT much time in the bathroom. Sudoku problems take me awhile...even then I don't have the patience to finish them. I would be in the bathroom all day. My family would have to send in a search party. On second thought that might not be such a bad idea.

2. Christmas at Ground Zero-- This is a CD by Wierd Al Yankovic .  Really? Um.....I don't think so. A weird Christmas album with the setting of Ground Zero. That is not the site that would put me in a festive spirit. How did he come up with this? I suppose he is weird for a reason. Definitely not a White Christmas moment. Cover your ears, Bing.



3.Tattoo Parlor Kids Playset -- This is for all the kids that are planning a career in the graphic arts field. One can't ever start to soon to learn the art of tattooing. You could be known in the 'hood as the kiddie tattoo parlor. Have friends over so your kids can ply their new trade. Just sayin' this could be big if you work it right.....of course, I think it might be illegal for minors. If anyone asks, deny knowing what in the world is going on.

4. LED Flashing Shoe Laces-- Who wouldn't want to glow in the dark? One could turn all the lights off in the house and amaze their family and friends with their flashy, glowing shoe laces. Plus it would totally freak out the family cat, and the kittie would attack the laces. There would be a lot of rolling around on the floor, fur flying, lace gnawing, and a few screams going on.....but, try to keep the Christmas spirit.Have your story straight for the ER doctor.

5. Napoleon Dynamite Lip Balm-- I loved the Napoleon Dynamite movie. I truly am weird that way. At least I admit it. As long as the lip balm doesn't smell like Tina the llama, from the movie, I could probably deal with it. I wonder if the lip balm would have you talking in a monotone voice with an uncontrollable urge to shoot wolves with your cross bow? Just a thought.

.....A little holiday humor to make you smile today........You may now go back to your regularly scheduled life......

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Through The Eyes Of A Child

Memories...as warm and cozy as a blanket. Memories that I am able to wrap around me, even on the coldest of days. Memories that make me smile, even now, years past my childhood. Memories that are ignited for me, when the weather gets cold and Christmas is right around the corner.

Getting the live Christmas tree from the sale at the local fire department. "This one is too skinny. This one looks like a bush. This one has a bare spot."  One year we did have a Christmas tree that resembled a pine bush. It was short and fat. Didn't really matter though, because to a child it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, when decorated. Pretty glass ornaments that my mom had...blue bells, pink icicles. A ton of tinsel....which my mom had a special way of adding to the tree. She did not appreciate my sister and I throwing the tinsel on in "clumps". Why not?

My sister and I got dressed in our Christmas Eve outfits. We went to Mammaw and Pappaw's house for a HUGE family dinner. My cousins and I would sneak upstairs to the living room while all the adults were downstairs still eating and socializing. We would look to see the gifts that were addressed to us. We'd carefully shake them...try to see under the wrapping paper. The anticipation was too great!

Footsteps!!! An adult! "What are you kids doing?" Nothing, was our reply. My aunt knew we were lying...and we knew that she knew we were lying. But, it was Christmas Eve....and sneaking a peek at gifts was part of the fun. After the meal all of us went to church for the Christmas Eve service. Our church was made from stone with beautiful stained glass windows. The church was built in the 1800's and I heard that the windows had been imported from England. The candles glowing in the windows made the stained glass come alive. I have some wonderful memories of that church on Christmas Eve. All I have to do is close my eyes to see it once again.

Back to my grandparents house for dessert and the opening of gifts! It's funny the things I remember from childhood. When I was very little I got a small, brown toy puppy. His head moved back and forth and his tail wagged and then he would bark. I thought it was the neatest thing. As I got older, the type of gifts changed, but it was always the family get togethers that I loved so much.

Christmas morning was fun with all the usual excitement of unwrapping gifts, giving gifts, and the expressions on each face. I remember one year, I think I was 13 or 14, I got a miniature "boom box".  To those of you that lived in the 80's, you know that was a cool gift! Before we knew it, it was time to get dressed and start the holiday trek to family houses. One relative would have breakfast, one would have lunch, one would have dinner/dessert. This was a great way to visit, see everyone's tree, get to look at all my cousins Christmas presents, and enjoy family. I have such good memories of my growing up years.

I feel extremely blessed to have such wonderful memories from my childhood. Family, friends, church services to celebrate the Savior's birth, food, and gifts. All these things wrapped up, making a gift that my heart can open each Christmas...as I reminisce .

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Gift Wrapping Envy

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I have to wrap gifts today. At least START to wrap gifts today. At least TRY to wrap gifts today.

I love to buy gifts for people. I love to have "a theme" to my gift buying. Most of the time my family and friends enjoy my gifts. Really.That is because I put thought into what I'm giving people....and they know it.

It's the wrapping that I'm not the best at....I don't make perfect corners. The corners are almost always uneven. I probably use way too much tape. My seams are crooked. And I have been known to cut the gift wrap too short and have to "patch" the area that the gift wrap didn't cover. Don't judge me.

Hey, it's the thought that counts, people! Not my (lack of) gift wrapping skill!

The weather is  yucky and cold. I may as well make good use of my time, being stuck inside. I think I will barricade myself in my bedroom with wrap, scissors, tape, bows, and tags. I won't come out until the deed is done. AND if one person makes a crack about my wrapping resembling something a kindergartner would do, well let's just say "Santa" might not be visiting them this year. To be honest, my kids wouldn't say a word--they care nothing about the wrapping. Once given a gift, the wrap is only on the gift for .0002 seconds. In a flash it is a crumpled mass on the floor. In light of that, why should I worry about making neat corners?

 

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