It's the little things...

Life leaves me breathless sometimes. This picture above seems to capture the sweetness of this Spring Break time as a family. I've been meaning to write lately, though night after night, I've found myself in a book (or the book has found myself in it, snoring and all!) As I find myself at a loss of how to begin this entry, I am simply overwhelmed with all the little things that have come to my attention throughout the past 2 weeks...

1. The delightful chitter-chatter of two darling little girlfriends, age 3 1/2. They carried on a conversation for the entire 20 minute car ride to the zoo with topics of conversation that ranged from what caught their attention outside the van windows to the intimate inquiries of the favorite activities of each of their siblings (both girls the youngest of 3... going on 13). I also must add that they sat side-by-side, still as can be for the same 20 minute time segment - marveling at the entertainment of monkeys and gorillas. Many important questions were asked such as, "Why is that one picking at his boo-boo?", "Which one is the Mommy and the Daddy?" and the ever popular observation of all bodily functions :) Most of all, each girl displayed such tremendous kindness, patience, and sharing that Mom didn't even realize that 4 hours had flown by, what a joy. Though at the roar of the great lion, it was our cue to leave.

Genesis 1:31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.



2. The gifts of our Father - as the birth of our niece was approaching, my Mother and Father made the trek from Cleveland to celebrate this much anticipated event. While staying to visit and lend a hand whenever and wherever needed, my Father requested a visited to Austin's classroom. As a retired teacher of 30 years, I found myself hearing somewhat of a childlike giddiness in his voice upon the request. After the warm response of Ms. Hobson, he prepared, dressed in a shirt and tie, and even stopped by the local Sports Clips for a trim. As I sat near the back of the class, and watched my father come alive, I listened as he welcomed, invited, and imparted knowledge to his captive audience on the history of inventors. He spoke about giftedness, the very thing I saw and remembered again in my Father himself - his gift for teaching. As I glanced at our son, who had a look of pride beaming on his face, I too was reminded of the pride I have for my earthly father. For now I see, he has given me the greatest gift of all - a true picture of all the gifts my Heavenly Father has bestowed to me - love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. I love you Daddy.

Galatians 4:6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

3. Amazing encounters - The Lord has provided several opportunities to walk alongside a fellow sister as well. The situations looked a bit different - lunch at a local restaurant, dinner over cheeseburger wraps, a Natalie Grant concert (AWESOME!), conversations over an ice cream shake - yet they all shared some common threads: listening to a thought, following through with the details to meet, investing in relationships, being blessed beyond measure. I cherish you sweet sisters. I am amazed at your strength, your beauty, and for your tenacity in your pursuit of Him. If you have a moment, click on my friend Mardee's link, you will be blessed. You are my hero sweet sister.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times


4. Simple pleasures - This week has brought some very fond memories - Emma's persistence in learning to ride her bike, Austin pushing his sister on a park swing (the same one I pushed him on as a baby), the laughter of my three children enjoying an inside joke, a picnic complete with leftover breadcumbs for the ducks, humbly allowing my son to beat me at HORSE at the ripe old age of 8 (though I did make a come-back at theater-ball), playing for an hour in the sandbox, and making pancakes AND eggs for the third morning in a row. All these seemingly little things... together make one BIG picture that all fits into one big story - HIStory. I pray that I may learn to open my eyes and cherish these that I have been entrusted with. Lord, in looking for the BIG, may I not miss the small.

As Beth Moore wrapped up her Esther study with me a few moments ago, may these verses bless you today as it did me.

Psalm 18:20 (The Message)
God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

My challenge, my love...

In all honesty, I must tell you that I'm currently in relaxed mode. Just finished a hot shower, got on some warm jammies, and am sippin on some hot tea. The pictures above were taken this past weekend - just plain fun. As I sit and contemplate my relaxed circumstances, I find myself in a season of peace and contentment. Find that hard to come by sometimes? Have I experienced this feeling of tranquility all day? You know the answer to this one... that would be a resounding, nope.

This was a challenge to myself today, "Heather, if you experienced this sense of ease all the time, would you truly appreciate it?" Though my head knows the answer to this one, my heart needed to let it settle in. You see, I want that sense of peace ALL THE TIME! In fact, when things get slightly off kilter, I want to fix it immediately, and get right back to peaceful-road. I like ease, comfort, a sense that everything is going well. I like consistency, I like routine, I like predictability, I like same-same. The problem - life is all about change.

Example: my/our blog. Aaron came to me one night and asked, "What do you think about combining our blogs?" My end-of-the-day-answer, "Sure, why not." He ever-so-passionately went on to explain how he envisions the possibilities of God using both our individuality and our unity as a married couple to write about our journey together. Several sweet comments later, it was complete confirmation. Now enter issue.... change. You see, Aaron uses wordpress, I use blogger. Just to give you a little insight, I'm the girl who has this cell phone with massive capabilities, I use it to simply answer and dial out. I have this IPOD, haven't a clue how to download anything, I just press the shuffle button (AAron's already downloaded for me). I have this computer with massive memory, I use it for email and blogging. See a trend? I stick with something that "works for me" and I don't change. Ask my friend Jen, she's been patiently waiting for me to use quicken for my bills, I still write everything down every month.

SO, my dilemma - How do I change? When can I learn this new system? Should I think about changing what I write? Should we write, perhaps a series together? Should I even write at all? All these and more came pouring into my head about the same time, threatening to boil over... enter my ever so patient husband. Let's just say, I didn't even recognize my tone until he responded in a way I wasn't prepared for... silence. Guess what came next? A run. Guess what God and I talked about? You guessed it, something else to burn-off and refine, my stubborn resistance to change. I'm learning along the way, that it's all the little things that add up to the big. In fact, we so often wait for the BIG that we don't even recognize it until we deal with the little. My revelation today - my recognition of a precious gift he ordained for me - my husband.

So often I've wondered and prayed about the possibility of a way we could serve the Lord together. I sense a draw towards women's ministry and Aaron to men's. We've served in different capacities separately, yet there is a wonder, connection, and passion that ensues when using your unique strengths together in a way that multiplies when paired up. Also, the Lord is leading my man. My job, and my joy (when I allow it)- follow his lead, join with him, Arms Wide Open. Recently, the Lord has open opportunities and in his divine timing, is allowing this to happen currently. We are running together, in a community group together, and now serve to write whatever he lays on our hearts. It's a humbling call. My attitude today - spat in the face of this prayer request, I'm sure somewhat deflated the man of our home, and served to justify my independent attitude of "what works for me". I recognized it, I confessed, and repented. That profound, that simple. Jesus died for it, and now I can move on in freedom, renewed and refreshed from a great run with my personal God, the rock on which I stand.

Lord, I thank you for providing the opportunity and the means to spend a wonderful weekend with my husband. Lord, as we ran that last mile together, on that beautiful Saturday morning... it was hard. As we came to the end of ourselves, praying for strength and reminding ourselves of the temporary weariness our bodies were experiencing, you carried us through. Afterwards, we both admitted of our tendency to look for the "easy way out", to stop our aching legs, to will that finish line to approach now, yet it was in that time of impossible that only you carried us through to our temporary end. In fact, shortly after, we laughed as we eased into a comfortable seat, munching on some post-race goodies, that we couldn't quite recall what we even begged for moments ago. Lord, without those times, we wouldn't know you as intimately as we do. Lord, may we pray as it mentions it James, to see joy in the trials. Lord, thank you for my life-long running partner. You've created us each so uniquely different. Please help me to continue to love, respect, and cherish those differences, when all I want is the "same" of what I know in me. Give me your eyes for just one second....
I love you.