Out of a "slumber" state....hopefully

Just the other day I saw a post on Facebook about the "slumber state" that has seemed to overtake people.  This article described a kind of bone-numbing tired and just plain "blahs" that has attacked so many people in the last week or so.  Well, I will go on record as saying that it certainly has hit me!  I don't know if I have been fighting some kind of virus, but I just have not been myself.  And I have not had the energy to write this blog.  Which has not really happened before.  So, on that note, I am pushing through this and I WILL WRITE THIS BLOG!

This morning it was snowing.  Again.  But it was the soft, big fluffy kind of snow flakes.  It was so pretty.  It looked like cotton everywhere.  It was still very cold like 17 degrees.  But the kids begged to walk to the bus stop.  So we got everyone in their snow gear, everything that was needed for the girls for school, Anna in her car seat (yes, I drove along beside the happily running children on their way to the bus stop.  Anna is just to heavy for me to carry that far and for that long.  It was not stroller weather, so Anna and I took the car!) and off we went.  I confess that getting four children ready to go outside is not a great experience.  Thankfully, Lia and Ellie can mostly get themselves ready. But Zeke needs lots of help and Anna needed to be zipped into her snowsuit.  The girls got on the bus and a very cold Zeke was glad to get into the waiting car.  When we got home I caught Anna at the door watching the big flakes fall.  She was so excited to see the snow!

All in all we had a great day.  Zeke and Anna are always such fun and the day passed quickly.  Lia had a dentist appointment, so Zeke and Anna and I picked Ellie up at the bus at the end of the day.  By that time, the sun was shining and it didn't feel quite as cold (it actually was just as cold, but that sunshine makes it seem better).  So Zeke insisted on "walking" to the bus stop again.  That boy just loves the outdoors.  As it turned out, Gwen and Lia got home just after we got back home with Ellie.  And Zeke insisted on staying outside.  He was still "shoveling" when I left!  

On the way home I was reflecting on this place of the "blahs" that I have been in for the last week.  I think when you realize that you are there, it is easier to push ahead and pull yourself out of that place. So I was looking more closely at the snow and the trees and I was treated to this wonderful scene....

There was a big, red, ball of fire in the sky as the sun set.  It was just breathtaking.  And I have to tell you, I did feel a break in that "slumber state" that had been with me.  I confess that I am still tired tonight, but it doesn't feel the same.  I am tired because I got up at 5:00am this morning.  

That sun set just reminded me that every day is a gift. And we need to take the time to just stop and look around at all that we have been given!  Being thankful has not been easy in these last months.  But I have been CHOOSING to find things that I could celebrate with thanksgiving.  Just yesterday I was contacted by someone that I had not heard from in over 14 years.  She was a friend of a friend and we didn't have a close relationship.  She discovered my facebook page and also read some of my blog posts.  It was such an encouragement to me that the primary thing she mentioned was my relationship and love for Jesus. Truthfully, there is nothing more important than that.  So tonight I am so thankful for the contacts and connections that I have made because of this blog!  And I am thankful for soft fluffy snowflakes and bright sunny skies.  And sunsets that take your breath away.  

Jesus, thank you for your presence with me, even during this "slumber state".  Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me find the way out of this place of the blahs.  Thank you for the many people who take the time to read these words.  I am sure that many others may be in a place that feels dark and hard.  Jesus, keep us all aware of your great love and care.  Help us to see the snow flakes and the sunshine and the sunsets.   Amen

PS.  I actually managed to scrap 24 pages on Saturday!  So that was a very successful day! 

Assurance that my weekend was important!

 I was so surprised when I saw this come on my email today!  It just made me chuckle!

This is what I have been doing for the last couple of days!  I have been dog sitting for Doug and Susie, who are occupied at the hospital with their brand new baby!  So yes, I have been noticing the joy that Sammy and Kylie have on a walk, outside playing with a ball, or just running around the yard.  Given that we have a wonderful new baby (who looks very much like his daddy!), and then these two sweet doggies, there has been lots of joy!

Yesterday when I was visiting with new baby Lucas, I took his blanket and hat home with me.  I presented these "gifts" to Sammy and Kylie so they could get acquainted with the new baby "smell".  Kylie took the hat and would not let it go.  Sammy was quite happy to claim the blanket, which he added to his bed.  Later in the evening the dogs switched places (which they often do) and Sammy moved the hat onto his favorite blue blanket that he had rolled into a bed.  When I woke up this morning both dogs had their baby objects with them.  Doug and Susie are bringing little Lucas home tonight, and I am praying that Sammy and Kylie have been calm and welcoming on their arrival!

All day today this email from the morning just kept coming to mind.  It is sure worth a chuckle or two.  I felt as if Jesus was speaking right into my exact situation through this!  I just love it when this happens.  How can you not know the wonder of Jesus' care and concern when something like this comes up that exactly meets the situation that you are in!   I was so happy to be able to watch Sammy and Kylie for Doug and Susie. So it was my pleasure and joy to be able to relieve their worry about the dogs during this happy time.  Yes, it was a busy, happy weekend.  But right now, I am so thankful to be home, in my own bed.  And I am thankful for the safe, healthy delivery of baby Lucas.  While I was snuggling little Lucas this afternoon, Doug and Susie and I were talking about the upcoming holidays.  It was so much fun to anticipate Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with 5 kids!  Last year we only had 3 kids (Anna was born in January)!  Yes, there will be much fun and lots of noise this year!  Lets face it, 6 adults, 5 kids and 3 dogs is quite a bunch! But we are a big happy bunch!  And just as suggested in the email above, we will be "letting our wild spirit run free and not be stuck in a rut!"   

Jesus, thank you so much for the reminder of what is really important.  Thank you so much for children and animals that show us the pure joy and wonder you want for us.  Thank you for your creation that stops us in our tracks! 

Thank you for this amazing sunset from Doug and Susie's backyard.  I would have missed seeing this if I had not been outside with Sammy and Kylie!  What an amazing gift!   Help us all stop to see the amazing things that are right under our noses!    Amen

Coming to the end of the day.......

This morning Ken and I attended the funeral for the wife of our friend from High School.  It may seem odd to say this, but it was a really good service.  There were many, many people there. The Pastor was wonderful.  It was very clear through out the service that Cheryl knew Jesus and she was now at home, in heaven.  The best part of the homily was that the Pastor challenged everyone to make a commitment to live fully for Jesus.  He said "don't muck around the edges" .  He then said "this is the time to just do a cannonball off the high dive! Just jump in and be fully immersed in Jesus"   I loved this!  What a great picture!  I doubt that there was anyone sitting in those pews that could leave the church without thinking about where they are personally with Jesus.  There were two more things that I really liked about this service.  First, there were no flowers.  I know that this might sound silly (and some people might be very upset by this).  But I spent more than 20 years as a church secretary and I can tell you, the aroma of "funeral flowers" lingers for a long time.  This family had requested no flowers and I was happy to see that request was honored.  The second thing was the funeral pall (the covering over the casket during the church service).  It was a beautiful white fabric that looked quilted with a light blue cross.  It looked like a warm, soft quilt.  At one point in the service, the Pastor talked about the 23rd Psalm.  And he also mentioned that Cheryl had sung "I am Jesus' little lamb" and he leaned over the casket and said, "and now Jesus is holding her in his loving arms."  It was as if that quilt with the cross was just a picture of that message.  The music during the service was comforting and uplifting, the last hymn was "I Know that My Redeemer Lives".  A good way to end this service.

Later in the day, Ken and I decided to drive into Chicago so that Ken could photograph the sunset.

This was my view when we parked the car.  Yep, that is the Adler Planetarium (with my shadow).  We got downtown in record time for a Friday night, surprisingly by taking all back roads - no interstates or tollways!  And then we actually found a great parking space (thanks to signs posted all along the roadway that said "NO PARKING".  However on close inspection the signs were for TOMORROW!  I am sure most people thought they could not park there today!)  Ken set up his camera and I sat and watched the people and the lake.  And the sunset!

 As the sun dropped below the buildings, you could sense the coming darkness.  But then the lights began appearing on the skyline.   We stayed until the city was alive with lights.   I couldn't help but see the connection between these two events today.  Cheryl's life here on earth was done... you could sense the darkness coming....but then there was the amazing light of Jesus shining through.  And you know that she is alive with Him, basking in His light.    It was a perfect ending to this day.

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me so clearly today.  Continue to bring peace and comfort to Cheryl's family and friends.  Thank you for her church and Pastor Mueller.  Holy Spirit, encourage all of us to take that jump off of the high dive, and become immersed in Jesus.  Thank you for lakes and buildings and sunsets.  Amen

Surprise on viewing a sunset

 Ken loves taking pictures of sunsets.  So needless to say, we set out to find a spot to view the sunset over the intercostal waterway.  At first it didn't seem that we were going to find a good spot.  But then Ken remembered a little park we found last year.  We had actually gone there to see Manatees.  But it was a perfect sunset viewing spot. 
When we got to the park, we thought we might not be able to go in since the entire parking lot is being redone.  But thankfully they were allowing you to drive and park on the grass. (Ken commented that if it were Illinois they would have constructed a temporary parking lot and entrance that would cost thousands of dollars.  In Florida they just rope off some grass and let you park there!)  We arrived with about 15 minutes to spare.  I caught this first picture of a pelican against the sky.   And then this surprise.......
 

Right in front of us, not 15 feet off of the shore, in very shallow water, there was a dolphin. We watched it swim slowly past us, cresting the surface.  It was breathtaking. 

I know that this might seem like a really little thing. But to me, it was such a gift.  We had seem some dolphins this morning, why out in the ocean.  I had thought to myself, "boy I wish I could see those dolphins up close".  I hadn't thought much about those dolphins.  Over the years, we have seen them from time to time.  I know that they run "dolphin tours" here and even have a "swim with the dolphins" place near here.  But for me, this was much better and even more personal.  I really felt this was for me.

Isn't it great how Jesus seems to know the desires of our hearts?  I was just stunned after I saw that dolphin.  If anything, I was expecting to possibly see a manatee.  But as soon as I realized that it was a dolphin I was seeing, I remembered that thought from earlier today.  How amazing.

We had a really nice day.  We spent about 5 hours on the beach, (remember my request from yesterday for sunshine? Well, we had those 5 hours of wonderful sun) leaving only when dark threatening clouds announced rain and storms on the way.  We had a wonderful lunch of fresh seafood at our favorite restaurant, came back to the hotel and relaxed for several hours.  And we finished the day with this great time seeing this sunset. 

Yes, I love the smell of sunscreen mixed with insect repellant.  And the feel of sand under my feet and the sound of waves crashing on the shore.  Perfect end to a great day. 

Jesus, thank you for that dolphin that just showed up.  It is your hand that paints the sky with colors and fills our hearts with joy as we see the beauty of nature.  Open our eyes to see the many ways you touch our everyday life.  Keep us all aware of your presence with us and around us.  Thank you for the ocean and the sunshine!  Amen