Things and Stuff

Oh how the days do carry me. Over and under I am dipped and pushed and pulled by the current of daily happenings. Sometimes I look around and wonder how I ever got here and other days I close my eyes and wonder when I’ll ever move on.

But NOW is good and it wouldn’t be so good without some of the bumps along the way.

Since Friday’s post I have been running about with wonderfully busy days and productive evenings and a little rest in there somewhere. I am feeling victorious in my quest to stay productive without being anxious and rest without being lazy. God has a balance and He is teaching me where to stand on it.

Friday night found us at the annual Brent Gambrell Ministries Fundraiser Dinner. We were blessed to have friends and family at our table and the kids not far away. They made it a point to create a family friendly event this year which went beautifully for us. Not having to get a babysitter was such a load off. The kids had a great time with a gymnasium full of blow up games, a balloon artist and even a young preacher to keep them entertained and occupied. Our portion of the evening was pretty much what I expected but what I didn’t expect was how strong I felt the presence of God during much of the evening. There were certain times when I just had that knowing, that strong sense of position and purpose that comes with hearing Truth presented with clarity and vision. I love that feeling. I love that God allows me to feel Him and shares His Spirit so liberally with my unsuspecting heart now and then.

Kris and I had budgeted what we wanted to give at the fundraiser, as well as what we wanted to give at the fundraiser we attended the following night for a family that is leaving for a year of ministry in Malawi. Both fundraisers had live and silent auctions and we scoped out some of the items we liked. With the budget as a guide we had a lot of fun bidding on things that may have otherwise not collected quite so much had it not been THE item we wanted. We came home with some artwork and a loaf of homemade bread per month for a year from a baker in Hermitage. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday was Mother’s Day and I am not the first blogger to post about the wonders of being cared for on this special day. We never plan anything elaborate, but I always feel so good about what we do. Just having the privilege to “not get up” when the baby cries, and the opportunity to have everything lean in my direction for the day is really enjoyable. I wouldn’t want that everyday, but I certainly felt appreciated in all of it.

We put some of our new art up on the walls Sunday afternoon and dug out some of our old art that hadn’t yet been unpacked. One of my friend Tisra’s prints is now hung in the foyer across from my cousin Mark’s photo. The two pieces are completely different mediums but seem to accompany each other well as they portray old buildings in black frames. I decided that regardless of the fact that I do not have an inch of available space in my kitchen to hang art, I will place some on my counters in areas where splashing and spilling aren’t an issue. I like it. I’ll show you sometime, but not right now.

Monday was supposed to be a big cleaning day but I was unable to find my groove. I think I must have eaten it, because I felt that sort of bloated slowness all day. I did get a few things done, but I was not efficient.

Yesterday was the opposite of Monday, with extremely optimistic outlook and well focused energy. I was all efficiency and good work ethic. We had company that night and I had the house looking well cared for (at least downstairs) and the best part of it was I didn’t allow myself to get stressed. Our visiting couple rang the doorbell 15 minutes early and I was not frazzled…I had stopped working already and was getting dinner for the boys. I realized that my biggest enemy in my quest to rest while I do things is that I pile on. I try to fit in one more thing, I see a greater opportunity for perfection and I try to attain it. No more. So, I didn’t finish the laundry…I finished it today. So I didn’t vacuum the whole house, or have the toys picked up in the playroom…it really had no bearing on anything important. No…I set a time in my head to be done, and when that time approached, I stopped and I let the work I had done be my accomplishment, not the work I had finished. It was a good and relaxing evening and nothing was lacking.

Just a quick note on some of yesterdays goodness. As I left the grocery store after a sweet experience shopping with my two younger boys. I realized how patiently I had reacted to their ways and how peaceful things had been because of it. I nearly began to cry because I realized God’s grace was uncommonly sufficient in those 40 minutes of grocery shopping. I was humbled. I did not need my failure to show me my need for His guidance and mercy…it was a success of my spiritual nature that showed me how far removed my flesh is from His perfection. How grateful I am to walk with Him, to know Him and to see His affect on me.