Wordy Wednesday

Before we get to Wordy Wednesday, I want to thank our readers for going with the flow of this blog over the last few days as I have posted late and pithy -- pressing a few keys here and there on my way out the door.  

The conference I attended was a life-changer that I am still processing and hope to post about in the coming weeks. 

The super bowl party we hosted was a total blast and the team I was rooting for won.  Yeah!! 

I continue to mourn the loss of the thousand of pictures I had tucked away to use on future blog posts.  I didn't realize how much my photos were connected to my blog writing until they disappeared.  I've been experiencing a bit of writer's block lately.  But as I am told, this too shall pass.  

Now let's check out the quote for Wordy Wednesday.

Today I have chosen a familiar quote from Mother Teresa.  I'm sure that many of you have heard it several times.  But today I am asking you to choose one stanza and focus on achieving what Mother Teresa encourages today.

64. I am grateful for patient readers.

I hope your Wednesday is a great place to pause in the middle of the week.  I hope you experience something or someone so special that the pleasure lasts for days.  I hope your day ends in perfect satisfaction and contented rest.

Yaya

Its the small stuff

I have a busy household. So busy that sometimes I think to myself, "HOW DID I GET EVERYTHING DONE?"  Everyday is different even though we try to follow a routine. 

I have learned to be very flexible......plans change fast.  JD can get called into the fire station for overtime or get a call to change someone's tire at any given moment. So my life is very busy and constantly changing.  But one thing remains the same...... the joy that my husband and children bring to my heart. Its the small stuff and lots of prayers that get me through my crazy, busy day. 

Here are a few....

• Joe telling me I'm beautiful when its the end of my day and all my makeup has rubbed off and I have spit up all over me

 

• Boo panting like a puppy

• Dreamer telling me that he has his whole life planned out, that he is moving to California and going to be a basketball star and have two children (he then starts to cry and tells me how much he will miss me)

• Tornado singing twinkle twinkle little star (tinkle tinkle is how he sings it)

• And last, but not least, watching Sunshine with little Tornado. She is amazing. 

 sorry, no matter what I tried, I could not get this picture to load at the right angle for viewing

What small stuff gets you through your day?

Have the best day!!!

Tara

Softly Sunday

Honor The Sabbath

We see in the Third Commandment a very basic understanding of the relationship between God and humanity.  The Hebrew's said that on the seventh day, the Sabbath, they would rest. Everything would stop.  "This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice in God and be glad," sings the psalmist.

The Lord says, "I have to teach these people that I'm their power, that I'm their lover, and that I'm their life.  So just one day a week, a seventh of your time, stop proving yourselves, stop achieving, stop accomplishing,  Stop doing anything that is task oriented.  Let me do the saving, the loving, the liberating."

That was the meaning of the sabbath rest: to wait upon the Lord, to rest in the Lord.  And in order to allow the Lord to prove himself, they would not sow their fields every seventh year.

We find out that it is not we who are doing the loving.  
Someone is loving through us.

Radical Grace, Daily Meditations, by Richard Rohr, pp.72

A January Sunset

While preparing dinner, I happened to glance out the kitchen window to see the sun moving below the trees.  I quickly lay aside my parring knife and grabbed my camera to try to capture the moment.  It was the last day of January.

I will be attending a three day conference on "Transforming Life's Traumas (Large and Small), with James Finley Ph. D..  

I have heard Dr. Finley once before and must tell you that I was not only moved by the sharing of his story and his work, but by being in his surrendered presence.  

My hope for this weekend is to be enlightened and realigned with my intention to be a healing presence in the world.

63. I am grateful for courageous teaching.

I hope your Saturday is food for your soul.  I hope you ponder your intentions.  I hope you are inspired, directed and supported by the courageous authenticity of another.

Yaya

What Season Is It, Anyway?

Yesterday was Ground Hog's Day.  I don't know if there are ground hogs in Oklahoma, but if there are, I am certain they saw their shadow more than once yesterday.  Good Grief!  They were probably sunbathing half the afternoon away. 

Up to this point, our Green-Country-Winter has felt more like Green-Country-Spring.  Sixty and Seventy degree days with only one light snow that lasted less than twenty-four hours.  I have watered the lawn and gardens nearly as much as I do in early Summer.  My plants are warmed by daily sunshine, dried by South winds and totally confused by both.

Although I appreciate not freezing when I go outside, I'm not entirely convinced that we could go through a Winter in Oklahoma without at least one big ice storm.  It's like it's too good odd to be true.  I find myself waiting for Mother Nature's to drop the bomb (or sleet, or snow or some form of frozen water).

I am wanting to protect the new life that is beginning to emerge under the fallen leaves that continue to blow into the flowers beds no matter how many times I clean them out.  I've been asking the little green sprigs to stay tucked under ground a bit longer.  But they are not listening!

I took a peek around my gardens yesterday and was surprised to discover many plants in the vibrant mode of green and growing - not resting under Winter's coat.

Purple Heart responding to the sun, like little birds reaching for their breakfast.

Red buds filling the branches of my rose bushes, thriving in the warmth of the day and the cool of the night.  They are eager to produce dark green leaves without the over-watering of Summer's humidity.

I am completely baffled.  Is this a sign of global warming?  Is this my paranora?  Or is it a gift to behold?  Maybe all of three.  Sounds strange to consider global warming a gift.  But sometimes gifts get our attention -- awaken us -- inspire us to act  (I don't know..... I'm just thinking).

All I know is I love all kinds of green growing things  ..... and yellow growing things  .....and red growing things .... and purple growing things .... and especially PINK growing things.

62. I am grateful for warm days, emerging life and the color pink.

I hope your Friday is a day of unexpected pleasure.  I hope you notice something emerging underneath what you thought was only wind-blown remains.  I hope you can allow it to grow as it will and find delight, or awakening, in it's gift.

Yaya

Where oh Where Has Yaya Gone?

Who is this person called Yaya?  She used to be the responsible, level headed, organized, save-for-a-rainy-day, everything must be perfect fanatic. 

Now she does impulsive things ------- like buy herself a pricey new camera lens.  

Oh my goodness!  What ever is to become of her?

I'm thinking she will continue to indulge herself from time to time.  Maybe even buy a third lens someday.  Who knows? Any thing's possible when guilt gets thrown aside.

**************

Now I didn't make the decision to purchase a super-duper zoom lens without first considering all my options.  

Option number One:

A baby growing at the speed of light with rounded cheeks and an even rounder middle.

Option Number Two

Soft long curls on a hard-rolling boy who one day may shave his head clean and stand taller than me.

Option Number Three:

A brown-eyed boy who is forever contemplating his next adventure, whether it be a buzz hair cut or a day spent on the road with grandpa.

Option Number Four:

A bundle of red curls, silly jokes, and happy smiles whose hugs are as sweet as his middle-child nature.

Option Number Five:

The first-born becoming an older, wiser sibling who continues to teach us how to live softly on this planet.

Option Number Six:

A smart and funny lad with dreams of becoming the new Michael Jordan and whose feet grow faster than his hair cut changes.

Option Number Seven:

A not so long ago little girl now turning toward adolescence and talking more and more of the things of teens.

Options Eight, Nine and Ten

Moments too far apart to capture every day in film, but capture them I must whenever we are together.

Option Number Eleven:

The anticipation of a grand daughter from China and all that should be documented at the receiving and rearing of such a gift.

Considering all my options it's quite possible that He-man and I could be attending...

•     76 Christmas programs
•     22+ Graduations
•     350+ Sporting events
•     30 Dance recitals
•     25+ Baptisms
•     20+ Weddings
•     10 Talent Shows
•     45 Gymnastic Meets
•     Countless Awards Ceremonies

According to my calculations a zoom lens is anything but a splurge.  It is an outright necessity!

61. I am grateful for the many avenues we have to share in each others lives

I hope your Thursday is preparing you for the weekend ahead.  I hope that you can do something for yourself without suffering any quilt.  I hope your options for joy are abundant.

Yaya

Wordy Wednesday

Which one will you choose for today?

Seriously.... choose only one and do it all day long today.  If you are reading this in the evening, choose one to do tomorrow.  You will be amazed at how it will change your entire day.  It will expand your heart and lighten your concerns.  It connects you to the Divine Creator, allowing you to love more, smile more, sing more, basically enjoy life more.

Good luck.  We love you all.

 Yaya