Thankful Thursday: Refrigerator Magnets

I love refrigerator magnets....not because of their collectability or souvenir quality, although we have some from varied places like Massachusetts, Great Britain, Hoover Dam and even one from the Old Cow Town Museum in Wichita, Kansas. We have a few sentimental ones as well, but really my affection for these handy little items has been a recent development. There was a time when I found them somewhat of a nuisance, making it hard to clean the refrigerator door, always falling off and getting lost under the monster-appliance. And we have magnets not only on our refrigerator but also scattered on the back of our front door. Of course, underneath all those interesting magnets is an ever-revolving display of child-art, snapshots, inspirational quotes, light-hearted comic strips, and school reminder notes like "Popcorn Sale Friday, 25 cents." There was a time when I would have told you that for the most part, the magnets were just a functional convenience. But everything changed a few weeks ago as I was sitting, a little bit sullen, in my kitchen rocking chair. Just casually glancing over towards the fridge, I noticed a couple of upside down magnets, then another and a few more. As I looked closer, it slowly dawned on me that every magnet within the reach of a 3 or 5 year-old had been carefully inverted. Knowing the two little girls well who had devised the scheme, I could easily picture them talking and giggling together over the upside-down magnets. I smiled. Then I laughed. Sometimes it's the smallest things that open up the well inside and let it all flow out. It was a quiet peaceful sort of laugh that I indulged in that night, as I realized, really everything is well.

Let the little things bring perspective back into sight. It's amazing how something so small can cause such an explosion of love and thankfulness for the little people in your life. Funny, the next day I overheard the girls talking to each other about the upside down magnets and laughing. They don't know how their play blessed mom...and gave her a lasting appreciation of refrigerator magnets.

Rocking Chair Kitchen Prayer

A few weeks ago my littlest one had some restless nights, so my husband moved the rocking chair from our closed in porch into the kitchen (my special place) so this tired mama could rock and rest with the little jewel in my arms. She seems to have a little trouble with reflux that was causing her a great deal of discomfort at night, especially when laying on her back. So I went to work investigating my diet, in hopes to bring her some relief, and made an effort to keep her propped up for sleeping. She is much better now so mommy's catching up on sleep, too. But the rocking chair has found a permanent home in my kitchen. The kitchen is my sanctuary...I spend the greatest portion of my day there. In the early mornings (except for when the sunrise beckons me from my front porch) you will most likely find me in my kitchen by candlelight, huddled in the rocking chair. The more time I spend there, the more my heart takes joy in serving my lovely ones, the more I delight in dinner to be served, dishes to be washed and rewashed and rewashed. My heart begins to be thankful that my little dishwasher has proven itself a better rinser/sanitizer than washer! Because now I have the opportunity to learn to lovingly wash each dish with my own hands, an act of worship from a thankful heart...yes everything imparts His grace.

The Sacraments

The Sacraments

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments--

he got so excited

and ran into a hollow in his tree and came

back holding some acorns, an owl feather,

and a ribbon he had found.

And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,

you understand:

everything imparts

His grace.

~St. Francis of Assisi~

Translation by Daniel Ladinsky

Love Poems From God: Twelve Voices from the East and West

A few words...pt. 2

How do we find time in the midst of the chaos of daily life to nurture a spiritual life? Desire...Inspire...Inquire

Desire
Well, if I've captured your interest enough that you are still reading, I'm guessing you already have the first necessity down...desire. We start with a desire, a will to know God. What you will, whether you have succeeded in accomplishing it completely or not, is evidence of where your heart is.

Inspire
Desire, like soil, must be cultivated. If a tree, known by it's fruit, has a desire to bear good fruit, yet is planted in dry, infertile soil, it's fruit will be poor no matter how great is the tree's desire for good fruit. If your desire is to know God, feed your spirit! Inspire your mind and will with the wisdom of the ages found in the writings of godly men and women from the past and present. Be inspired!

Inquire.
Webster's Thesaurus defines an inquiry as "the act or instance of seeking the truth, information or knowledge about something." My personal belief is that God pervades everything, God is literally omnipresent, God's spirit is in all things and holds all things together. Without God, nothing is. So as we still our hearts in prayer, we are not asking God to come down and meet with us. Rather, we are quieting our spirits enough that we can become awake to the presence that is already always surrounding us and permeating our very being. God is infinite, boundles spirit,not far off, but near...always. It is up to us to "be still and know."

Is it really that simple? Do you want to know God?...Ask. Ask when you are doing the dishes, ask when you are folding the laundry, ask when you are tucking your kids into bed, ask when you are brushing a little girls hair or cradling a tiny sleepless one at night. And listen...God is there...in every moment, every breath, every smile, every tear.

A few words on parenting...and Spirit

When I was a new parent with my first child I did what many new parents do. I read parenting books until my head was spinnining and I felt a little bit more confused than when I started out. Parenting philosophies are so widely varied that you could easily be left feeling a little dizzy trying to find a good balance for your family. Three children later, I'm am convinced that the best advise any parent could ever embrace is probably what most would consider the least practical. No, it's not about spanking or chore charts. It's not about schooling or routines. It has nothing to do with discipline or time-outs for your children. It has everything to do with discipline and time-out for you! I've read a lot of books with great ideas for raising good and wise children who love God. I could probably give a little helpful advise of my own from personal experience, though I am by no means a greatly seasoned parent. My oldest is only seven and we are still in the baby years with number four. In spite of my youth (okay, past thirty is still youth!), I am sure that I have found the best parenting advise you will ever come across....if you are willing to dive in. There once was a time that I felt, as a busy mother of young children, that I simply did not have the time or energy to devote to this critical practice. Sometimes I felt so sapped physically and emotionally from the everyday mother-world that I simply had no passion left for this highest of all disciplines. But still, in my heart, I knew the answer was to cultivate a deep spiritual life, to root myself in prayer. Sounds too simple, doesn't it? I'm not saying that all those books out there with practical parenting tips are useless. I've found some great advise in some of the books I've read. What I am saying is that the most important thing for us and our children is that we are immersed in God's presence, that we are growing in wisdom and grace as we seek to know Him.

Snow Fall

Yes, this is exactly what it looks like.... We do not have the first snow of Winter, no we have the first snow of Fall! Notice the squirrel on the fence...he's wondering where Autumn went. Me too! I spent my morning between Fall cleaning and rumaging through snow stuff in the basement looking for the kids bibs and boots, mittens and hats! Sarah has already been out building snowmen with the neighbor girls and Sophie is begging to get out in it! I love snow, but I'm not sure I will be able to accept gracefully such a brief interlude between Summer and Winter! I need Fall. I need to breathe it in and feel it crunch under my feet. I need to rake up a big pile of leaves and watch my kids roll around on the ground until their hair is full of Autumn colors. I am not ready for snow angels, snow men or snow shovels...but I guess if it comes with a steamy cup of cocoa warming little frozen fingers (even if it means water puddles in the back hallway), I can embrace it for today. (But can I have Autumn back next week?)

The best "I colored my face picture"

Couldn't resist posting this after seeing my neighbor Stephanie's picture of her little girl with a black permanant marker mustache. Although Sarah was quite proud of her new look, this was the creation of her sister, Sophie, who was trying to make her look like a kitty with the water colors. Niiiiice....

Grandma Came to Visit!

We had such a nice time with my mom when she came to visit for a week and meet her new granddaughter for the first time. Here's a picture of Grandma and the kids and a new one of Ruby. As you can see, she is a very wide-eyed little gal. In this picture she's only 2 1/2 weeks and already taking in everything around her!

Arrival of the Jeweled One

Well, the last month has been a long stretch of anticipation and waiting and waiting! But finally, a little later than expected, the little jeweled one has arrived!
Little Ruby Julianna was born Friday afternoon and we are all so thrilled to have her home. She is beautiful and healthy and we are entirely captivated and enchanted by her!
I hope to update again soon, but as you can imagine, I am a little taken with this little angel and may be a bit distracted for some time! At any rate, I'm sure I will not be able to pass up posting more pictures in the near future!

Wow. Isn't it just incredibly easy to take all the really great things in life forgranted? Is it just me or does everyone else sort of sludge around every now and then in the everyday-ness of everyday? Of course I know that's a part of life...everyone has times like that. And isn't it also the beauty of life to rise above and grow, choosing to let our spirits embrace the greatness and potential in each day? And still, it's not easy. But there are moments when everything around you seems to say, "YOU are really blessed!" That's the sort of weekend I had.

Last week I got an email from my dearest old friend from back home that just took me to Kansas and wrapped me in the warmth of good friendship and memories of a "kindred spirit." I love getting emails from her.

Saturday, my husband and I went to a friend's wedding. I always love sitting next to him at a wedding, I know our thoughts are going back to the same memories. I can't help but be thankful that (in my opinion) I am pretty much the luckiest gal in the world to be married to this man. It amazes me to look back over eight years and see how we have grown and matured together as a couple and as parents. Thank God!

Sunday afternoon, I picked up my mother-in-law and headed to my sister-in-law's house for what I thought would be a day out with the girls. Turns out, the girls had planned a surprise baby shower. And I was very surprised...and blessed at the warm wishes and generous gifts from so many thoughtful people.

Not only that but I also received an inspiring new journal, some lovely teas and a large package of red pens from one of the sweetest people I know...and I am thankful to have as a friend and neighbor!

Sometimes we just need a few little reminders...life is a sweet as we let it be.

The Toothless Two

Here's Samuel and Sophie sporting their matching toothless grins:

On the Lighter Side

I stepped outside yesterday evening to water the newly planted flowers in our back yard (and a few moments of peace.) Several minutes later my oldest son runs out on the deck and yells in a panicked sort of voice, "Mom hurry! Sophie put a pair of underpants on her head and put her arms through the holes. She's stuck!" My heart skipped a beat when I sensed the panic in his voice but I couldn't help but break out in laughter when he finished telling me what was wrong. Unfortunately, the little houdini worked her way out of the underpants before I made it inside and upstairs with a camera. So, the scene will have to be left forever to the imagination.

"A good laugh is sunshine in a house."

--anonymous

There are times...

For many years I have admired deeply the life and writings of Amy Charmichael, a Christian missionary to India, who lived a life of compassion and spiritual depth that many never reach. While in college, I emersed myself in her writings and poetry and still find them very inspirational and challenging. My favorite of her writings is a short and simple book entitled "If." I find myself going back to this book over and over again to be challenged in spirit and character. Reading today, I came across the familiar and comforting words opening 'Part I':

"There are times when something comes into our lives which is charged with love in such a way that it seems to open the Eternal to us for a moment, or at least some of the Eternal Things, and the greatest of these is love.
It may be a small and intimate touch upon us or our affairs, light as the touch of the dawnwind on the leaves of the tree, something not to be captured and told to another in words. But we know that it is our Lord. And then perhaps the room where we are, with its furniture and books and flowers, seems less "present" than His Presence..."

Miss Charmichael captured so beautifully and aptly the truth that we, living in this world wrapped up in time and material things, rarely allow to slip into our consciousness. Not that we don't think about eternity or eternal things, but how often do we realize the eternality of this very moment? Bound by the fetters of the sunrise and sunset, how often do we sit still and allow ourselves to be aware of the vastness and greatness that not only surrounds the 'furniture and books and flowers' in the room were we sit, but all of time and eternity infinitely beyond this moment forever and ever, that greatness that is in fact, more real than the very things we perceive around us. As she says, it is the "small and intimate touch" that opens us up to knowing God's nearness. God does not really come near...He is always near. Eternity is always upon us. We simply fail to recongnize it because we do not take the time to notice that "small and intimate touch" or to simply breathe in the "dawnwind" moving gently through the leaves.

New Things

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been a bit preoccupied by new baby thoughts and trying to get us through the last bit of winter to happy happy Spring days! It is already in the 50's this morning, and even though it's wet and cloudy, I'm feeling a little giddy about the weather! The girls and I walked Samuel to school today and I took so much delight in watching them splashing happily through the puddles on the sidewalk. It is muddy and the trees are still bare, but the birds are singing cheerfully, raising our anticipation of warmer brighter days ahead. Hooray for Spring!

Speaking of all things new, we were so excited to have our 20-week ultra-sound on Friday and thrilled to discover that we will be adding another little girl to our family this summer! And her name is: Ruby Julianna.
It has been fun to see and hear the children's response to the idea of another sister. Samuel, being a bit out numbered, has embraced his role of protective big brother with zeal and pride. He said to me, "God must have known what our family would be and that the girls would need a big brother to protect them." I love hearing Sarah talk about her new baby sister, "Wooby." And Sophie, though at first being adverse to the name we had chosen, embraced it warmly after viewing some pictures of some beautiful ruby gemstones on the internet. She still says that she will call her Julianna, though, and that Sarah may call her Jewel if she wants to.
We feel very blessed and excited, knowing that this little one is the perfect addition to our family.

Hello World!

We recently were able to get a first look at our new little one and were really thrilled to learn that we are two weeks further along than originally thought! This ultrasound picture was taken at 14 weeks 5 days. I was so amazed to see how active this little one is. I have never had an ultrasound so early and was a bit overwelmed to see that tiny baby wriggling around so wildly when I hadn't felt a thing yet. What a beautiful eye-opener to the wonder of God's creation!

We are 4 months along today. Unbelievable how quickly the months go by... and yet, I am so anxious to see this sweet baby and hold him or her in my arms!

Saying Goodbye

Tuesday, January 3, my Grandma passed away. She was 84 years old, with a family of 4 daughters, 22 grandchildren, 40 great-grand children and even a few great-great grandchildren. My sister Sarah wrote a lovely post about our Grandmother over at her blog, Finding Time. But I have to add my thoughts and memories as well.

Grandma lived the sort of life that leaves a lot of stories behind...really great stories. When my family and I visited Grandma, particularly the last few times we were able to spend with her, we made it a point to ask questions and draw out some of these wonderful memories and the history of her life.

Here are some of my favorite stories and a few of my own memories of Grandma and Grandpa:

As a teenager at a Christmas party, Grandma noticed Grandpa sitting under the mistletoe, plopped herself on his lap and gave him a kiss. Grandpa was 18, Grandma, 16, when Grandpa came to visit Grandma for lunch at school. He proposed, "Betty, let's go get married." Grandma only insisted that she go home and change into a different dress. It was April 1st, 1937. Walter and Betty were married. Months later they announced their nuptuals simply by leaving their marriage license on the kitchen counter for Grandma's mother to find. My mother was born in 1939, then a set of twin girls and another little sister followed.

Grandpa later became a builder. Grandma earned her real estate license and worked along side him. Grandpa built the whole housing developement where he also built a home for Grandma and his girls...the house we all know as "Grandma's house." They welcomed so many into their home, friends, family and even strangers. In the 1970's they opened their home to a family of refugees from Vietnam. The Pham's became a part of our family, too.

Grandpa also loved to fly. In their little plane they would travel all over the country with friends. Grandpa took groups of disabled young people for plane rides. He would also take grandchildren for wonderful joyrides in his plane! I only remember flying with Grandpa one time. Grandpa passed away when I was seven. His memory was always a strong presence at Grandma's house, though. His beloved little cat, Nemo, wondered that house for years after Grandpa was gone. Airplane mobiles hung in the back office, a constant reminder of Grandpa's love for flight. Momentos from Grandma and Grandpa's world travels were displayed throughout the house. We grandchildren were always anxious to see what treasures they had returned with for us. I always loved looking at a picture that my mother had hung on our wall at home of Grandma and Grandpa posing side by side in front of the Sphinx in Egypt.

After Grandpa died, Grandma, ever faithful to her Walter, never remarried, but lived for her daughters and grandchildren. Grandma took us on yearly trips for new winter coats and shoes. Staying at her house was always a treat, especially in the morning when we were given the choice of a plethera of wonderful sugary cereals. Grandma aways bought the cereal packed in the small individual-sized boxes. I will never forget the time Grandma had us use a tube of toothpaste she had brought back from Japan or some other country. It tasted terrible. Grandma had an old clothes basket full of toys for the very little children to play with. Watching some old film footage of Sarah and me as babies at Grandma's, I realized that my children now play with those same toys I am shown chewing on in those old films. I just have to add this: A couple of years ago, Luke and I set out to convert those old films to video so we could all enjoy them. One of the scenes that sticks out firmly in my mind is that of Grandpa and the four girls and a pogostick....Grandma on the pogostick. This gave me a new and charming look at my young Grandma, one that is endearing.

Probably one of the fondest memories any of us grandchildren have is seeing all the stockings on Christmas day hanging from Grandma's mantle, each one lovingly hand made by Grandma. The stockings were hung by family, growing each year as grandchildren and great-grandchildren were added. And Grandpa's stocking hung every year faithfully beside Grandma's, surrounded by a legacy...every stocking a representation of a life springing from the love of two people, and each life touched in a very tender way by those two people.

I'm glad a young Betty was bold enough to say "yes" to her Walter on that day. It makes a great story. The love that grew from two has grown to nearly 100. It was really amazing to look around me on that day we said goodbye to Grandma and see the beautiful legacy she left behind. Hearing some of the familiar memories from grandchildren was a wonderful way to celebrate Grandma's life. We laughed and smiled, remembering the great times at Grandma's house.

Towards the end of the service, one more memory was shared, one that I had heard before but had forgotten. When Grandpa was nearing his final moments, Grandma leaned in to him and said tenderly, "Walk slowly, I'll be coming after you." The picture is fixed in my mind: Grandpa strolling slowly along, occasionally looking over his shoulder for a glimspe of Grandma, and then finally, her coming from behind, slipping her hand into his, resting a weary head on his familiar shoulder....she's finally caught up.