Saturday...

I sit here this Saturday morning finding it hard to stay still.  Something or someone keeps calling for my attention. Maisy crying at the door to go out and chase birds.  Kobe hollering from downstairs for me to see a text from a friend he is having a disagreement with.  Kyler asking me to pour him some more milk.  Not unusual for a Saturday morning around here.  Saturdays are busy and usually end up being a cleaning day, shopping day, a little bit of everything day.  Finding a quiet moment can be rare.  I'm trying to find one today, though.  Taking just a moment to Count.  Counting My Blessings.  I started counting earlier this week.  I have to say, that once I get past the obvious blessings (like my boys, my home, my job, etc.) it gets a little more challenging.  I'm sure it will be very challenging on some of the not-so-great days we have around here sometimes.  However, I can already see how counting things each and every day will have an affect on my life.  When I look past the BIG blessings and start searching for the small ones I will see how full my life really is.

A few on today's list are...

• A view of the birds on my deck from my dining room table.
• The ability to read.
• Vanilla candles.

My Saturday morning at my dining room table is looking like this...

...and now a word about that Snowman tree in the background.  I'm thinking it may be in the basement before the day is done.  Most of the Christmas decorations are put away for another year.  The Snowman Tree, though, is still here.  I keep hearing that song from the 80's...."Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now"?  And now that I've typed it I'll be singing it ALL DAY!

Have you seen the February Gratitude Photo Challenge on my sidebar?  I hope you will consider joining us.  I'll be posting more about it here on the blog soon.  Click on it and check it out!

Have a great Saturday!

Brrrr...Blessings On A Snowy Day...

Taking cover under a bird feeder on the deck...

This week I began journaling my blessings once again. The goal to reach one thousand or more this year.  How can I not be content when I write all I'm grateful for each day?  Even the little things add up to Joy when they are counted.  

Today we get to move a little slower as school was cancelled.  The kids are ecstatic and can't wait to get outside to play.  Oh, and I enjoy these days too...when I can go into work a little later or leave a little earlier (or both like today).

From the journal today...counting my way to 1000 gifts.

8.  A full night's sleep when I haven't had many of those lately...

9.  A flexible job for snow days like we're having today...

10.  Bird friends who keep us entertained all winter long...

 

 

Bird tracks to the front porch feeder...

Jackie

What Is The Hurry?

This whole summer I have been running at a hectic pace.  I haven't taken the time to enjoy much.  As a result, I have burned out, have had some depression and I can't even really tell you anything we did this summer.  Sad. How I've lived the past few months is opposite of the title of this Blog.  I haven't Embraced much...except work..at home and at the office.

Recently the question was asked, "What have you been hurrying through?"  My answers sounded something like..."work days...crazy evenings at home...weeks...months...pay periods...hot summer days".  Life.  

The next questions stopped me cold.  "What have you been hurrying to get to?"  Silence.  The only word I had was..."Nothing". I have been rushing through my days, weeks, and months to get to....what?  Nothing. 

God intended for that question to be asked of me.  I have to live these hard questions sometimes so that I step back and take a look at how I'm living my life.  I won't get those summer days back.  I can do better.  I can resolve to not miss things in my life anymore.  Rushing through my life and not taking the time to enjoy every moment is not God's plan for me.  I can choose to spend my time in a way that is pleasing to Him and blesses my family. 

What is the hurry anyway?

Awakened,


Jackie

When The Big Wind Blows - Reflecting on the Joplin Tornado

I've hesitated writing about the tornado that devastated Joplin, MO last week because I have needed time to process what has happened there.  There are so many tragic stories...but stories of heroism and hope, as well.  

An emergency worker carries a girl from the remains of the Academy Sports in Joplin...

 

Joplin is practically in our backyard...3 hours away...but still...our backyard.  In Missouri, tornados happen around us fairly frequently.  I've become accustomed to the sirens going off and taking for granted that it's just another storm...We have a basement, after all, so we're safe...right?

Look around you right now...and think about how it could be gone in a matter of seconds.  Everything you've worked hard for...built...saved for...gone into debt for...and...carried for 9 months and labored 21 hours for...gone in a matter of seconds.  It makes me reconsider everything that I thought was important.  

I've been inspired by watching how the people of Joplin...and Missouri...and the Country...are responding to this tragedy.  It gives me Hope.

Hundreds of volunteers line up on May 23rd at Missouri Southern State College to wait for their work assignments...

This devastating event...along with other events in the past year remind me that things don't matter.  As long as I have a roof over head, my children are healthy and safe, food on the table and job to go to...I am Blessed.  I don't know why these things happen or why God allows this kind of thing...but I know that people can come out stronger because of tragedies.  When we witness something like this...it makes us stop and think about our own lives.  Our differences of opinion regarding religions or political affiliations or whether homeschooling or public school is better, what neighborhood we live in or what kind of car we drive, what color of curtains to hang in the living room or what kind of purse I carry...it all doesn't matter.  

Being grateful for what we do have and helping people in their time of need...showing Love for all the people God Created.  Now...that's the Good Stuff!

A church severely damaged in the tornado...the Cross still standing...

Togetherness.

Jackie

*photos courtesy of the Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)