Distractions

I receive (on average) three magazines in the mail every day. They range from children clothing magazines (why?), Victoria's Secret (why?), Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, woodworking, art supplies, and the list goes on. 90% of them are never opened and flipped through but, instead, are immediately placed in the bright blue recycling container on my back porch.

I find it sad to think of all that went into making the magazine(s) (money, supplies, time and labor, etc) and that it never lived up to its true potential: to distract me into thinking that I "need to have this and this and this and this..."

I am having a difficult time with distractions lately. Instead of praying, I get lost in thinking what I need to get done for the day. Instead of researching ways to help raise money for Ethiopia, I think of other organizations that are working on sustainable aid and gaze through their websites. Instead of winding down for the day with a project I am working on (lately it's been embroidery), I turn on a movie.

Distractions are a test, a way of practicing discernment. Therefore, if this is a test, I have failed, but I'm still able to retake the test (yes!) and (hopefully) pass with flying colors. When I find my heart and thoughts not at rest or peace, I know it is time to do a self-check and ask God to give me his heart and for his will to be done in my life day-by-day.

Today is Thanksgiving and I don't want (or need) any other distractions but I just need to enjoy the moments here and now with my family. This is why we all love this day so much - no distractions. It's just a time for us to be with family and friends communing with one another with a feast - simple and straightforward, just as our lives should be...with no distractions.

No distractions here
Minnesota - Summer 2010

What are distractions in your life? Can you throw them out like the countless magazines that litter your mailbox?

I am your servant; give me discernment.

Psalm 119:125

Hallelujah for Indian Summers

It's been a beautiful fall this year - a perfect Indian Summer. I haven't seen a cloud in the sky for over three days. It's chilly in the morning with temperatures in the 30's, but during the day the temperature doubles. I have always enjoyed Jeff Buckley and a few years ago, Matty K told me that it was his favorite song so I listened to it this morning and it was the perfect backdrop to my morning cup of coffee where I watched the sunlight drip in through my blinds. The wind made the leaves sway in the wind and made the sunlight look like it was dancing on my wood floors to the tune of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.

Indian Summers are like candy to me. A little unexpected treat for us to enjoy. When fall comes upon me, I can't decide if I long for the warmth of summer or for the coziness of fall, but then an Indian Summer comes along and it's like "oh, this is exactly what I wanted". 

Matty K was off yesterday and we made our usual breakfast together and we got to talking about crepes. Matty tasted his first crepe just a few weeks ago and I couldn't get over it. Crepes are delicious and so I went to my favorite food blog and looked up a recipe for crepes and I came upon this yummy recipe made in a beautiful space. 

Image: Sparkling Ink

I plan on making a treat of crepes for Matty K and I to enjoy this evening. Unfortunately, they will be made inside, but we will sit on the porch and eat them while enjoying this fiery red tree in our yard. 

Hello!

Psalm 108:

My heart is steadfast, O God: 

I will sing and make music with all my soul. 

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations:

I will sing of you among the peoples. 

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and let your glory be all over the earth.

Today, He reminds me of His love. How can my breath not be taken away by the sweet voice of Jeff Buckley, the sunlight dancing on my floors, and the bright red, fiery leaves...

"And every breath we drew was Hallelujah..." - Jeff Buckley

 

Children and Parents

I received a phone call today from a friend. It was still early and I was in the kitchen getting ready to brew the morning cup o' joe when I heard my phone ring. I went to the bedroom and reached for the phone, but alas, the ringing had stopped. I pressed "call back" and I heard the news that I knew would be coming one day as my friend spoke on the other end. My friend's mother had passed away from her battle with cancer and she was wondering if I would watch her dogs as she traveled with her husband back home.

Of course I would watch her dogs is what I explained to her over my own tears.

I hung up the phone, but I couldn't let her leave Columbia and drive hours back to Kentucky without a hug. I poured the coffee into two thermoses and drove five minutes to their home, hoping that I would still be able to give her a hug and a warm cup of coffee for the road.

I made it to her house and I got to hug her.

Today has been "off" ever since. News of a loved one passing, or even of a friend's loved one passing, is enough to throw me off kilter, or maybe it's just the opposite, maybe it puts everything back in perspective. I didn't have the motivation I had to run some of the errands around town. I wanted to be home. I wanted to be around things that my mom provided for me growing up. I wanted her homemade cookies; not for their deliciousness, but for the smell - the smell of "home". I wanted to curl up on a couch and watch It's a Wonderful Life while eating popcorn. I wanted to watch her paint again like she did when I was little. I wanted to watch her paint for hours at the old wooden table covered in layers and colors of paint.

The truth is that it hurts that I can still go home and see my mom, but my friend can't.

Today, I thank God for Moms - Good or bad. Strong or Weak. Motherly or distant. They are our mothers and we are asked to honor our parents; our mothers.

In spirit of thanking my mom for always caring, in the spirit of simplicity, in the spirit of "homemade goodness", I have decided to make a buttermilk ranch dressing that I have been wanting to make, but too lazy since I have a jar in the fridge from a grocery's store shelf. Somehow, though, it's not like homemade cookies. I will leave those to be made for when my friend returns and she will need to be reminded of "home"...

Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

To honor our parents is not only for their good, but God promises us that it is for our good. For our good and His glory...

Now on to making some delicious dressing - I'll make sure to post photos and the recipe. :)

The Lazy Days of (almost) Summer

Sometimes I like blogs of nonsense...this is one of them. I started off my day in Isaiah 40 and my cup of coffee decided to tag along.

Later I realized that my poor pup was going to starve if I didn't get him some more food today.

 

I emptied the dryer full of Matty's clothes and I came across his secret to washing clothes (since he does his own laundry and I was just emptying the dryer to make way for my soggy and wet clothes). He leaves his socks already folded!! I suppose this is fast and efficient, not to mention you'll always have a "pair" to your socks, however, I'm unsure of the cleanliness factor.  Good thing this was the only pair of socks I found like this, so I'm guessing it was a mistake.

It's getting H-O-T in the dirty south. Hot and H-U-M-I-D. Today was the day to try out a recipe for Cinnamon Grapefruitade! It's a recipe that consists of a simple syrup made with cinnamon sticks that is then combined with 2 cups of fresh grapefruit juice and equal parts cold water. Mix it in a pitcher and add fresh raspberries and you have a refreshing and tasty treat! Yum!

The highlight of my day (pathetic) is when I went to the mailbox and spotted this gem! Oh, Anthropologie...you are pretty!

Life is simple today...just as it should be.