Fun things about the weekend...not taking it for granted

My old office had windows - lots of them.  My new one has none - not one.  I realized something as I stopped lamenting all those windows I now do without...I didn't take the time I should have to actually enjoy them.  I knew they were there and other than moments of "weather-checking" before walking out the door (was it raining, wind blowing, sun shining), I rarely took the time to even notice them.  I just knew I had them and there was satisfaction in that.  From where I sit today, I wish I would have taken more time to enjoy my windows...

That's the thing about perspective - it can beat you down or inspire you to be better.  That's the thing about free will - what you do with the perspective is up to you.

I may not have the "view" I did - but being that I never took the time I should have to enjoy it, I think the lesson losing the view has given me is far greater.  Don't take the windows for granted.  Bigger picture, there are no guarantees - try not to take any of it for granted.  Be thankful for the blessings and learn from the trials - they can turn into blessings if you allow them a little time and perspective.

It's a cold & dreary Monday here in the Oak City...doesn't matter.  Coming off a weekend of more goodness than I've known in a while, I wouldn't care if it hailed snowballs right now.  This day is not being taken for granted.  The warmth in my heart from a weekend well spent is at the forefront - reminding me of life's goodness and blessings. 

What was so special about the weekend?  Just a little extraordinary ordinary - so missed and long overdue...

 A couple carry-overs from last weekend -

Friday night fish fry w.Nana & Pappaw

Even Lil' Fish enjoys Pappaw's fish

New storage unit (yayyyyyyy - bye bye overflowing toy baskets) *precocious toddler not included

Lego towers ~ getting big and so is our boy (sigh)

Babies...Laps...Books...Being close - this is one moment captured...thankfully these moments are so so so many (deep sigh)

From this past weekend...

Spending some time using the cul-de-sac as a playground :)

Pop Pop getting to be king for a day w.all the adoring grandbabies at arm's length...the most smitten, Ella - when he was in range (other than in this picture), she was under foot - arm stretched up :)

A full house for supper - such a blessing (other diners still in serving line)

Some waiting to have their supper in our private dining area :)

Sassafrass trying to be an ice cream monster :)

Rub a dub dub ~ so many babies in the tub...thanks Haley for all the hiney washing :)

Not making it to church - nervous about John's wretched coughing...

Spent my day "window watching" at the new washer/dryer :)  At least 8 loads in yesterday - had about everything washed but the living room carpet.  Never one to complain (loudly, at least), I've not spent a lot of time feeling mired down by our pitiful drier that takes 4-5 cycles to dry ONE load of clothes.  No, I have not coveted other people's WAY MORE EFFICIENT means of laundering/drying their clothes.  But, by goodness, being on this side of things I feel the need to shout - I LOVE MY NEW WASHER/DRYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  4 rugs, 5 blankets and a household's worth of towels and bedding later, those machines have me mesmerized.

Seth took this yesterday and messaged it to my mom with a caption about how I was taking my Sunday coffee - watching the washer...truth be told, he spent a fair amount time watching the "magic" too :)

Not pictured...a lot.  Like having Haley, Shane, the boys and Pop Pop give up their whole Saturday to come help install those new magic machines :)  The blessings in the tasks, the time spent together and the laughs shared.  It was a good day and we appreciate their time and company more than they know!

Also, not pictured...lots of time w.the babies yesterday.  Other than when they were asleep, we hardly let them out of arm's reach.  Soaking them up best we could...they continue to be the thundering beats of our hearts (lots of deep, contented sighs).

That's all I got today...like I said, extraordinary ordinary (my favorite).  Moral of the story:  enjoy the view, whatever it may be...you don't need the windows, just the eyes to see what's in front of you...

~~Have a blessed week~~

R.I.P. Etta

Resolving and whatnot...

I didn't/haven't made any official new year's resolutions yet, but there's plenty that needs to be "resolved" on the horizon in 2012.  Although Rome wasn't built in a day & all the resolving won't be complete in that time-frame either, I feel a little urgency given that we're in an "even" year and I feel due some goodness based on that...

Not really knowing where to start w.this inaugural post in this new year...so much to say, so much not worth saying - the railroad's stretching far and wide.  

I'll start with the homefront where the blessings are abounding as much as ever.  We now have two burgeoning little personalities on our hands - both going in totally opposite directions.  While one is often calm and sensitive, the other is wide open and bursting with curiosity and tenacity.  They keep us equally on our toes and there's not a dull moment to be had.  And despite the amount of "no's" we've proclaimed, the tears we've tried to squelch or general feeling of being as effective as banging our head against a wall (over and over and over again) - we still revel in the imminent joy we're blessed with being parents.  More specifically, being parents to John & Ella b/c in our completely biased opinions - it doesn't get any more awesome than those two :)

I am "back at work" (relatively speaking) in week #2.  Nothing is as it was and the roller coaster continues to roll on.  How I feel about that depends on day, time or hour you ask.  The emotions are all over the place, but consciously trying to be positive, patient and hopeful.  Some days this requires more consciousness than I possess.  That's ok, I know when I'm defeated and I forgive myself those moments.  

Thankfully, there are "nudges" at every turn reminding me what's important and giving perspective.  I never knew how loud the devil could be in life's hard moments.  Even though his discouraging voice feels deafening at times, I am thanking God for the sure and gentle reminders that His voice will always be louder and ring truer.

Some recent "nudges"...

Church sign passed daily on way to work..."resolve to trust God at all times" (noted & trying)

Excerpt from Max Lucado book that I don't have the moxy to finish right now...but letting this excerpt be on my forefront as the screen on my phone...

 

Marinating in daily texts that sometimes feel like God's speaking to me in that exasperated tone I use w.John when trying to convince him that what we're having for supper is not "disgusting"...trust me Lord, I feel your frustration :)  Today's is a great "for instance" - 

"I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

O Savior, you are Lord over our doubts and our confidence, our questions
and our convictions. You are with us when our faith trembles and when
your light fills our souls. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Yes, I know it's His faithfulness, the blessings before me and the lessons I'm learning (whether I like it or not) that are the reason I can put my feet on the floor in the morning and know that I'm ready to face whatever the day may bring.  And if I'm blessed, I'll get to wake up tomorrow to welcome whatever challenges and blessings come with it.  

So, what else...

Looking forward to meeting some new babies this year...baby girl Johnson & baby boy Rogerson!  Prayin' for and lovin' these babies already.  Tickled for Apes & Kimberly, excited for the blessings of motherhood that are awaiting them.  Only semi-sadly bagging things up to "pass along" knowing that the baby stuff's not getting too far out of reach.  Not that I anticipate needing any of it back, just softens the reality that my babies are not really babies and only less so with each day that passes.  

Speaking of not being babies - now when we pray, Ella reaches for Bubba's hand and is quick to interject her "Amen".  Joining hands as a family for the blessing...big sigh to that. 

So, that's about all I got for getting out the gate in 2012.  I got out of the gate, so that's at least some progress :)

Per this Story People, anxious for the "pen" of late to dry up and looking forward to what lies ahead in this new year.

Waiting for the pen to dry up so he can start fresh with thoughts that are worth new ink.

Along the lines of "new ink", another church sign passed lately...simple, but true "new year - new hope - new joy"...certainly looking and praying on all those accounts.

Speaking of joy -

Here's "calm & sensitive"...

And here's "wide open & bursting"...

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
love & blessings ~ me