Finals

I had finals this past week.

Oh I just loved writing that :)

I studied so hard...  there is just so much for each of these classes.

(Chemistry and Physics)

More math and formulas than I thought possible.

Not to mention word problems and the periodic table.

So, for the summer - no more studying while I wash dishes, brush teeth,  put on makeup, or while sitting in the carpool line.  And all the other times.

For now, my book back lies there - so happy I don't have to open it again!

 For a good while anyway.

I was ever so happy this morning, to read whatever I wanted....

Bliss I tell you!

 

I have been following a reading plan -

maybe now I will get to catch up - and have time to journal as well.

 

And afterward, I laced up, grabbed the ipod, and went for a morning run.

 

 I am grateful for all I have learned in college, but will so happy when I am done in a year. 

This summer will be my first semester off since I started, 2 years ago.

I am going to cherish it :)

Mornings

I love mornings...

I so do.

I am off school for the rest of the week, and the kiddos too.

4 whole days of not having not having to run out the door early.

And the happiest thing about that is, getting to savor my most favorite time of the day.

In my favorite morning time spot.

Soaking in scriptures and coffee,

and reviving my weary soul.

"On the day I called, you answered me, my strength of soul you increased."

Psalm 138:3

I so love the way mornings offer promise.

A brand new day, a clean slate.

Sparkling like the morning sun off leaves.

When I make the time to face Him,

I can be like this tree.

Reflecting the light.

Mornings make even Blue's path, drenched in the night's rain,

a sparkling path.

All is green and fresh and bright.

The skies seem bluer and clearer.

And I begin to realize, it's not just because it's morning that all seems clearer.

Could it be instead, that I, like the grass and the trees and the path,

were dry -  needing a good soaking?

That I too needed to clear the clouds and feed this soul?

That when I fill first with Him, in the morning, everyday could be like this?!

Catching Up

Where have I been since my last post?

Hhhmmmm???

I have been (the theme of the decade) - 

busy. 

Seriously, I can actually recall days that stretched...

Watching the sun and shadows cast long slants on my walls.

Solid blocks of time.

Where did all that go? 

Well, since I last spoke here,

our little one got a raging fever,

a trip to the doctor, chest xray, pneumonia, shots and antibiotics.

Then a recent round of high fever, concerns the pneumonia was returning,

another round of antibiotics.

This was when chills had set in, and eyes drooped closed, with forehead hot.

I have done lots of reading.  As usual.  It is the one thing I do in my "downtime" -

those brief moments between one thing and another. 

Amazing how many books you can actually read - in those in between moments.

Me and my honey celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary!

And we actually ate at a fancy restaurant - all by ourselves,

where they make these squiggles all over your plate.

I am still trudging along in Chemistry and Physics...

Daily trying to decide which one is harder and which one I dislike more...

Yes, that bad.

I had a test in each class today, don't know my grades yet.

But for now, I am taking a bit of a breather.

I still love to get up early, to light some candles,

enjoy my coffee and kitchen table moments...

Always working in some bible study -

 though with school, they take me way longer than they used to.

Presently memorizing The Sermon on the Mount.

My problem is, I get to where I know it completely while looking at the first

letter of each word.  Take away my first letters, and I struggle more than I'd like.

Counting the blessings - the wonderfulness of now.

Even enjoying late nights - at the kitchen table.

Where God can and does meet me over candlelight,

my bible, and a tall glass of iced coffee.

I even went to see a movie with my best girlfriend!

Then promptly went home, did a little research on this

"based on a true story" story.

Bought the book on my Kindle and had it read by the next night.

So glad I saw the movie first...

And all the regular mom things as well...

Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning (though less and less these days!),

packing lunches, tending to dogs (who wanted these anyway...?),

driving kids around, trying to get back into running and exercising...,

wondering where the sun had gone for the past few days, celebrating in

seeing it today, grocery shopping, watching American Idol...

I think we are all caught up!

Hopefully I get another breather before long!

On a Lunch Break

What does one do on a rare break between one errand and another must do?

One with not quite enough time to go home,

but too much time to arrive early for the next thing of the day?

I choose a quiet spot, near a boat dock, on a cold windy day.

Warming in the sun and sheltered by my car.

And a view of a bayou.

But the view I really want to look to?

Oh, I need to look into the Word.

To spend some time hearing and learning from God.

In my bible and a great bible study.

Over a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich and a Diet Dr Pepper...

A delightful way to spend one's lunch break  :)

I want to be the (wo)man in Jeremiah 17...

"But blessed is the man who

trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in Him.

He will be like a tree planted

by the water

that sends out its roots by

the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of

drought

and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8



On this Christmas Eve's Eve

Oh how I wish I could just press the pause button on life right now.

I want to stay right here, in these moments.

Just for a while longer.

I love having the kids home from school.

I love having this special time of baking and lights,

 the joy, the decorations, and the anticipation of it all.

For school, I have been having to volunteer at a Physical Therapy office.

I love it, but I have to have many volunteer hours and being away from home

so much has been a bit hard. 

I have been enjoying what time I do have at home more than ever.

Cherishing it all...

Oh the goodies me and Jalyn have made!

* My hubbies' favorite - pralines.

* One of my favorites - sugar cookies!

Jalyn had to have different colored icing to decorate the cookies.

More fun that way!  And prettier too!

* And these!  A new addition to our treat making

- yummy chocolate covered cake balls.

Such a mess to make - and a bit of work for sure,

but worth it!

In the midst of much activity, I so enjoy some quiet -

I need some time to myself. 

If only just to sit in the living room -

with the glow of candles and Christmas lights.

And again this morning - up before everyone else.

Bible reading, journaling, coffee and chocolate chip scones.

Wishing everyone peace-filled moments.

Moments spent savoring the season, the goodies, the kiddos,

and the Giver of all.

I Come to the Table

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and feeding you with manna,

which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Deut. 8:3

I get the bigger ones off to school.

Get myself ready, check emails, study a bit of pharmacology.

Get the little one up and bring him to school.

Stop off at the store, pick up ingredients for this evenings dinner.

Get home, put groceries away, start dishwasher and washing machine.

Feed dogs and take little one out for a bit.

All morning I feel the pull.  I feel the hunger.  I know just what I need.

So I come.  Hungry and empty.

I light a candle.

I set the table.  A feast for my soul.  Nourishment like no other.

"Men ate angels' food;  He sent them food to the full."

Ps. 78:25

I dig in, because I have tasted and know that only God can fill and change and grow and strengthen.  

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Matt 4:4

We may try to fill ourselves with all sorts of "good things", but eventually that emptiness comes back.  And just as the Israelites had to gather manna every morning, we too have to come often - to His table.  To eat of of what only He can give.

"You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,  And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst."

Neh. 9:20

And when I am fed and full, I pray that the overflow is used by Him.

That He gives me what I can give away.

I recently discovered a great app (ESVBible) or website -  www.esvbible.org . 

 You can read the bible, take notes, highlight,

and the coolest part to me is that you can click "listen" and it will read it to you.

My Quiet Time Basket

In an effort to curb the stacks of books from end tables and even my kitchen table

I looked for a pretty basket -

a quiet time basket.

I gathered up all the essentials.

All those items for time alone with God.

A bible study I recently bought.

(Love when I am in a study that has me flipping back and forth all over my bible!)

A wonderful book I have been reading - a great book for new believers, and wisdom when helping those new in the faith.

 Also for those who need a bit of fresh inspiration in their not so new walk of faith.

My prayer journal



A great bible study I want to do next...

My "when I am studying" bible, and my "when I am reading only" bible

In this journal, I write out paragraphs from books I am reading, and don't want to forget,

or meaningful quotes,

or lists of books I want to read,

things I want to go back to.

This, my attempt to be more organized...

Not working - but I did write it all out...

If only I would remember to go back and read it occasionally!



My gratitude journal - is actually left open on my kitchen table. 

Daily counting blessings of life.

And my set of scriptures - for when I need to cling to a verse...

And a bookmark Joshua brought home from school.

The perfect quiet time spot...

What's in your quiet time stack/pile/basket?