Miracles, Drawing Near, and Purpose

A year of miracles, a year of drawing near to Christ. This is sort of the theme in our church this year, and I have added to that for my own personal life, that this year is a year of purpose. As in "to purpose to do something." Or "living with purpose." For so long I've wandered in and out of this interest and that hobby, and I find myself wandering in a wasteland of unfinished projects. Not only physical projects like quilts or stitchery or half finished garments stashed behind the sewing machine, but also...how to describe it? Intangible projects; specifically the regaining of my health and healthy body shape and size. Not that my health is bad. In fact, it's very good, but it won't continue that way if I don't get busy.

With all this in mind I have set some goals for this year. Not resolutions, but goals.

 There is a difference, by the way. :-)

My goals include, aside from trusting God for His miracle power to work in and through my life, and drawing near(er) to Him ("...draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." James 4:8), to finish everything I start this year. For this reason, I have been reticent to resurrect the ole' blog here. If I'm going to do it, I need keep up with it. I know it's not a huge deal, but this issue of finishing what I start and being consistent is important to me and I intend to be mindful and live with purpose in every single area of my life. I am purposing to do this. I'm really not sure about the grammar in all of this, but I think I'm getting my point across effectively!

Anyhoo.

I'm going to give the blog some direction. I've never had much direction with it; it's mostly been an avenue of creative outlet for me, and it will continue to be so, but I intend to add a purpose to it this year. I will be posting pictures of our lives, if not on a daily basis then at least regularly, as one (of many!) ways to keep a connection with our daughter, as she lives in another state. As an aside, I thought about taking part in one of these "post a photo a day every day all year" things but I don't want to commit to something I may not follow through with...see above!

So without further ado, I give you a picture of what I am doing every week day at 6am.

Notice the bookmark...a gift from a dear friend. So pretty, and it folds over and has a small flat magnet on each side. 

I get up at o'dark thirty and spend time in prayer and the word of God. I hate getting up, and I do mean hate, but once I'm up (and get caffeinated!) it's my very favorite time of the day. There's something very peaceful and satisfying about the very early morning just before the sun comes up.  The day is filled with potential and possibility and I love that! The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, the ultimate example of a godly woman, "riseth also while it is yet night..." Throughout scripture we are exhorted to rise early. Maybe I'll do a post about specifically about that. Not now, though, this post is too long as it is!

In Which I Am Thankful for My Family, and Point Out That Safeway Probably Won't Run Out of Food

It's the day before Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. I love that Thanksgiving is right before Christmas. I think we would do well to set aside time purely for giving thanks and cultivating a grateful attitude before the greed season Christmas.

As a side note, and not really the point of this post, but I'm throwing it in:

I'm not a Grinch. Really, I'm not. I love Christmas and all that it means. I decorate, I do a Christmas tree, I cook and bake and I love the gift thing, family traditions, spending extra time with family and friends. I love it all, but underscoring everything during Thanksgiving is the need to remember that we are celebrating God's greatest gift to mankind: Himself. Jesus. This should set the tone for all we do in the upcoming weeks. Also...I stay out of malls this time of year and shop as little as possible. I hate traffic. I hate fighting for parking. I hate that the general population acts like all the groceries in the world are going to run out tomorrow, and that Target, Walmart, Costco, and Best Buy are all going to close their doors forever this afternoon. I hate spending money I have no business spending on cr*p that no one really wants anyway. (I do love it when I find the perfect gift for someone, but it doesn't have to be Christmas for that to happen!)

I really think we need to step back and have a look at what's really important in our all-too-busy lives. Jesus, family, friends, all the God has done, is doing, and will do. This, for me, is what's important in life. A food processor or a bottle of perfume under the tree a month from now won't go amiss, to be sure, but those things are just extras. We need Thanksgiving, the holiday and also in our hearts all year long! We need to remember Who gave us life and everything in it!

Today I am thankful that all three of my kids are here with us (two live here and one flew in yesterday) and that we will all be together as a family with some of our church family joining us for dinner tomorrow. After all the turkey is gone and the pies are reduced to crumbs I want to remember this year as a blessed year, one that we were able to spend together as a family, reach into the lives of others, let them reach into ours, and welcome a new family member, a son-in-law.

My kids doing what they usually do when they are
together: messing with each other. 

Thanksgiving Month: November 4, 2011

Home is where the heart is.

We have a fantastic relationship with our soon-to-be son-in-law. He stopped by just now with his brother and they are hanging out for a bit. Love that! Love that people feel at home in my home, and I'm thankful that my home is a happy place for anyone who wants to come over, and thankful that our family is expanding in such a wonderful way!
Image credit

Break Out the Burgers. The Sun is Here.

Just wanted to duck in and do a quick post because today is ahhhh--mazing!!!!

Here in the San Francisco Area we don't get a lot of nice days. Well...that's not exactly true, but typically, when the rest of the country is stepping into summer, we enjoy cold fog and gray drizzly weather. "Enjoy," being the operative word. Our nice weather usually comes in the fall, when everyone else is breaking out the scarves and quilts. I love that time of year too (from inside the warm house!), but I need warm summer-y weather in the summer when it's supposed be warm and summer-y!

I am originally from the southwestern desert. (Well, not originally originally, but that's not important. I was a kid when we moved from Chicago.)

I am a desert rat.

I hate cold weather.

So when the weather is like it is today I get so happy! Love love love it!!! It's 80 degrees, slightly breezy, not a cloud in the sky. Amazingly beautiful. The thing I like best about it is the scent in my backyard. Our area is surrounded by pine and eucalyptus and those scents mingled with the warm breeze is heavenly. Reminds me of camping trips when I was little. Good memories! I love the outdoors, and this kind of weather brings out all my dormant desires for hiking and camping and just hanging out outside.

I called some friends to come over for an impromptu barbecue this afternoon, but, alas, everyone is busy at such short notice. Oh well! That will not dampen my joy today! My husband and I will enjoy the day together with our son and bask in the warm sunshine, along with some burgers and potato salad later.

It doesn't take much to make me happy.

I'm a simple soul, really.

Someone else is enjoying the beautiful day too.

Happy Birthday!

"I'm ignoring you."
"No, I'M ignoring YOU."

That pic has nothing to do with the post, but it's typical of hubby's relationship with the cat. They coexist nicely!

Today is my husband's 47th birthday. Forty seven? When we were married he was 21. I was 19. We've spent our entire adult lives together, in various places around the world, doing various things. I can't believe over 25 years have passed since we were married, and forty seven years since the day you were born! The old saying is so true: time flies. Time surely does...it takes wings and is gone before we know it. All the more reason to seize the day and take advantage of every moment given to us. Time is a gift. Life is a gift. It's up to us to choose how we use those gifts, but God has given us a great calling and commission and my prayer is that we continue to use those gifts in the way that God has chosen. His plan is always the best plan...I should know! I've tried to follow my own plan on many occasions and have learned that God has a far better one than I can even imagine. He sees the big picture. I see only my immediate surroundings and circumstances. So...happy birthday to you, my wonderful amazing husband. Here's to many more, and many more adventures serving God together!