Sometimes I Prayed Because...

Is there a thought, a nugget of wisdom, a lesson to share,

in the end of school year finish line pace that we're sprinting through right now?  

I'm thinking... I'm really not blankly staring off into space, I promise.

One thing does come to mind:

I sat in my chair this morning, sipping tea and writing in my journal... and I prayed.

I weeded the garden today... and I prayed.  

I sat on the porch swing in the darkness tonight... and I prayed.

Sometimes I prayed out of frustration.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was afraid.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was worrying.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was confused.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was thankful.  

Sometimes I prayed because I didn't know what else to do. 

Sometimes I prayed because I so desperately just want to do God wants me to do.

Keep on praying, dear friend!  

In each and every moment, let's pray! 

Let us truly pray without stopping.
 

Grace

Life seems always busy these days.  I plan to the best of my ability.  I say no.  I get sucked in.  I say yes.  I balance.  I pray.  I think.  I plan.  I work harder.  I work smarter.  I delegate.  I wake up and do it all over again.  Again and again and again.  

I'm just trying to be faithful with what the Lord has given us 

and where He has led us.  

Sometimes, the grace I need to keep going comes from soaking up beauty in the Lowe's parking lot.  

It was just me, the Rugged Mountain Man, and Binney... because a Golden Retriever is an essential part of choosing a new grill.  

And time just with the Rugged Mountain Man chatting in the truck on the way so we can finish a sentence or two.

We just finished up the Fine Arts season at the Network Fine Arts Festival last week.  It was earth-shatteringly AMAZING.  To see the culmination of months of hard work!  

To watch our young people S T R E T C H outside their comfort zones.  It's so so so good.  

When Blossom1 went to the State Fair Queen competition, she didn't want to me to be burdened by all that needed to be done, especially the parts that had to be handled by me and not her.  

I was happy to do it!  

Until you have your own children, can you really understand what I mean when I say, 

"Baby, when you shine, I shine."  

This sums up a lot of what I do on a daily basis.  Things like making a dragon costume when I feel like reading a book.  Or hunting down Fairy Godmother glasses in the basement for a Fine Arts costume.  Or giving feedback on a dramatized quoting when I just want to go to bed.  Or listening to ANOTHER piano solo.  Or coaching Blossom3 through her worship dance, just one more time.

"Baby, when you shine, I shine."  

It makes me so happy to watch them shine.  It's all my dreams coming true.  

Sometimes the grace for another day comes, gazing out over a beautiful vista while we pose the Fine Arts team for pics.  

Sometimes the grace for another day comes when I lounge on my parents' back porch, stuffed full of ham, mac and cheese, and my mom's best homemade rolls, whilst the small fry perfect the redneck holiday celebration with Ranger rides and mud... and blue skies and breezes.  

May you grasp grace for demonstrating faithfulness another day, friend!

What Showing Love Looks Like

The Blossoms and I were loaded up in the van, driving down the driveway and headed to our next obligation.  The Rugged Mountain Man was out working on the driveway and trying to right the wrongs that winter does.  I drove away, musing, "Boy, that driveway looks good."  

The Blossoms were amused that I seemed to find the Rugged Mountain Man's work attractive.  

"Are you admiring his tractor work?" 

"That must be what happens when you've been married twenty years."  

Various comments wafted my direction from the back of the van.  

"Yep, I'm grateful he's taking care of it.  It makes me feel loved, so yes, fixing the driveway is attractive to me."

At church on Sunday, I walked up to a friend of mine and noticed she and her husband holding hands.  Of course, I teased a little about PDA.  They laughed because he was actually warming her hands up for her.  What a simple way to show love!  

Another friend sat behind me, and I heard her express confusion and frustration because she couldn't figure out where she'd left her Bible.  She realized she'd left it in the car.  Next thing I knew, I see her husband rejoining her in the pew, with her Bible in hand.  It was such a simple thing.  There are Bibles in front of us for everyone to use, but he took an extra minute and went and retrieved hers from the car.  

I've been really blessed observing these moments over the past few days and I'm encouraged to love my husband with and through the simple things.  Even if it means stopping at Tractor Supply when I don't feel like it.

That Tricky Balance

The schedule is always busy these days and balancing that is tricky.  I find myself surrendering it to God and asking for His leading and His wisdom.  After all, our family schedule is not a god to be served, but a tool for us to seize the opportunities He brings our way.  

Lately, Blossom1 has been in full swing of college assignments, work, and Fair Queen duties. And I coordinate many of these events that she's a part of.  Fair Queen guidelines require that she is chaperoned by me or the Rugged Mountain Man at all times, so while she's certainly gained independence at this stage of her life, I'm still ON. 

But what about the other Blossoms? Of course, they've tagged along for a number of events.  Her latest presentations in the local elementary schools just aren't really feasible for my three lovely blond tag-alongs though.  

I've always been a WITH type of parent though, because more is caught than taught.

Holding tightly to our parenting philosophy in this time has taken a bit of creativity.  I'm seeing that parenting teenagers at the same time as elementary and middle school age children necessarily mean I have to choose one age group over the other.  Sometimes the schedule makes it feel like that though.  

Last week, Blossom1 needed to sojourn to a more rural part of our school district.  I rounded up ALL the Blossoms to enjoy the beautiful scenic van ride along the Mighty Susquehanna River.  Then, we dropped them off at a very cool local park, complete with a cell phone and schoolwork.  Blossom2 (who is now FIFTEEN) spearheaded some lovely sunshine time while Blossom1 promoted the Fair to 200 kiddos!  When we were all finished, we gleefully swung by the park, picked up the rest of our contingent and headed to our favorite Goodwill store for a fabulous all-girlie thrifting session.  It was quality time at its finest!  School was accomplished, our souls soaked up the sunshine, and our hearts were happy.  

The younger Blossoms stayed home this morning during Blossom1's two presentations.  When we got home, I dumped out the scraps from our Dress Up A Vegetable activity and let Blossom3 and Blossom4 take a break from bookwork to dress up a cucumber.  It was so simple but their smiles were so big!  My mama heart was happy.

Tomorrow Blossom1 will present to another 200 kiddos.  I'm thinking a good trip to the library for the three younger Blossoms may be in order.  What's better than books and quiet and a little school in a different location?  Ohhhhh, and maybe frosties afterward?  

Maybe balancing parenting so many different age groups and schedules is still doable with a little thought.