the waiting game...

I'm an instant gratification type of girl.  Waiting is definitely not my game.  I want what I want when I want it and how and where I've asked for it.


Jehovah doesn't work that way... it's His game.  If I want to play {which I absolutely do, by the way} then I play by His rules.  


When I get upset and storm off because I don't like the way the game is being played, the game doesn't change... I do.  I am bitter, angry, lonely and all shades of miserable.


Over thirty years of playing has taught me a thing or two.  I've learned that when I wait upon the LORD... I mean really really wait, the blessings are too numerous to count.


This weekend was a thousand little gifts and more.  My Jehovah showed me some of the blessings of waiting on Him to provide for me rather than me lamely attempting to provide for myself.  


...now if I will just remember.

together again...

Together againGee, it's good to be together againI just can't imagine that you've ever been gone!It's not starting over, it's just going on!

There's just something about Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy and all the Muppets swaying and singing... it just puts a smile on my face.  

The smile turns into a grin, though, when I see cousins living it together... this is us... my family.  And, this is how we roll.  We live hours apart in different states... my siblings and I.  Our children consider each other their best friends and so we deliberately get together three or four times a year... just to be together again.  

Counting gifts with the gratitude community over at Ann's again.  Each Monday we come together.  Sometimes I can make it, sometimes not but it makes my heart swell to read kindred spirits counting gifts together... again.

My gifts continue...

... cousins

... love

... laughter

... noise

... bodies everywhere

... an almost walking cousin who got more love than she wanted

... the newest one I can't wait to get my hands on

... my parents hospitality, even amongst the chaos that ensues when we all arrive

... black Friday shopping with my sister

... scoring some great deals.

... movies with the cousins

... football games together

... turkey, pie, rolls, squash, green bean casserole

... and my sister's cranberries!

... abundance

... a quiet trip home

... laughing and reminiscing with my best friend all the way home

... the joy of smaller jeans

... looking forward to the pool again tonight

... that no matter where you roam ~ there is no place like home

Also, on my list today is that Emily {chattingatthesky} is bringing back tuesdays unwrapped... 

multitude mondays and tuesdays unwrapped

together again!

the girl who reads...

Once there was a tree...

and she loved a little boy.

Once there was a mom...

and she loved a little girl.

And every day the boy would come

and he would gather her leaves

and make them into crowns

and play king of the forest.

And every day the girl would come

and she would bring books to read

and dress up in cowgirl boots and crowns

and play princess of the house.

He would climb up her trunk

and swing from her branches

and eat apples.

She would climb up on her lap

and listen to story after story

and eat anything she could find.

And they would play hide-and-go-seek.

And when he was tired,

he would sleep in her shade.

And they would read together day after day.

And when she was tired of listening,

she would wander away to the Land of Make-Believe.

And the boy loved the tree...

very much.

And the tree was happy.

And the girl loved the mom...

very much.

And the mom was happy.

But time went by.

And the boy grew older.

And the tree was often alone.

But time went by.

And the girl grew older.

And the mom was often concerned 

because the girl did not read on her own.

The mom prayed 

and loved the girl...

and prayed some more.

They played with sight-word flashcards

and worked through phonics books.

The mom read and read and read some more.

And the girl listened.

Until one day, when the girl said,

"Mom, can I read this to you?"

and climbed into the chair with the mom 

and read...

Once there was a tree...

and she loved a little boy.

and the mom was happy.

...joining in with Emily for Tuesday Unwrapped and Brenda's gratitude challenge and celebrating the answered prayer and the girl who reads.  All italics direct quotes from The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein... the first book the girl read on her own.

tied with a bow of kindness...

"Apparently, I homeschool my kids but can't count well," Nikki giggled while gracefully reaching for 2 more place mats.  My dear friend's contagious smile and peaceful countenance revealed that she wasn't the least bit rattled.  Her peace put us, her guests, at ease.   


Standing in a circle in her kitchen, ten of us clasped hands and bowed heads and hearts to thank the One who has provided rich blessings for us all.  And, a four-hour meal of love, grace, peace and joy surrounded by candles, mini pumpkins, delicious food and deep friendships began with grace and was brought to a close by another time of heads bowed and hands held in corporate prayer.  


Driving home, last night, my heart was full... full of the love, grace, peace and joy that my soul indulged around Nikki's beautifully set table.  And, today, my heart is still bulging from the feast.


I think my deep gratitude for our meal last night comes from knowing how hard she worked to get all 1o of us together.  Nikki is our pastor's wife and she scheduled and rescheduled and rescheduled yet again a time that the elders and wives of our congregation could come together to reconnect... to strengthen bonds... to be united in prayer.


Last night was a gift wrapped in service and tied with a bow of kindness... a gift from Nikki to those of us who love her and are deeply grateful.


**linking with Brenda's Gratitude Challenge and Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped

breathing and trusting...

One of the greatest lessons I'm currently learning is how to breathe on my own...

... and how to trust God with those I hold dear...

...especially this one.

Seventeen years ago, he asked me to marry him...

...to consider a life-long commitment of

until death do we part.

Journeying life throughout the years...

now more alike than different...

these two became one.

I can't always recognize...

where his breathing stops and mine starts.

I'm not even sure I can breathe without him...

Facing health issues and my lack of trust this month

has caused me to think a lot about breathing...

...his breathing and mine.

Though I doubt I can breathe without him...

I am confident that when the time comes

My Savior will breathe for me.

Breathing in... breathing out...

I am breathing on my own...

and trusting Him with his life and mine.

**joining with Emily at chattingatthesky  for Tuesday Unwrapped.

this Tuesday unwrapped...

Small gifts He has let me unwrap today...

~an early morning text full of prayers and love from those we love

~prayer over the phone with my kindred spirit this morning

~comments full of love and prayers from those I have yet to meet face to face

~prayers lifted on behalf of my beloved

~snuggling in with the 7 year old as she read to me just minutes after I prayed on her behalf (I honestly prayed because I didn't know how to teach her to read)

~sweet prayer with my kids this morning

~a quiet morning of school (this really reads... NO COMPLAINING!)

~a heart full of an attitude of gratitude

~peace and joy in my journey today

I discovered Emily's Tuesday Unwrapped this morning and couldn't help but join in on a day that He is showering me with small gifts.