Gathering My Thoughts

I find myself:

::noticing God's glory

The garden is once again overrun with weeds. It's crazy how fast they grow.  If I look carefully amidst the weeds, however, I see blueberries about to turn, tiny green tomatoes, little bitty okra and some roses in need of TLC. Some tending today or tomorrow will go along way towards the harvest. I snapped iPhone pictures this morning to document as we go...

 

::listening to 

Birds chirping. It's early morning and today is going to be hot and humid. I so loved the weather in Colorado--much cooler and dry. Never a bad hair day!

::clothing myself in 

a FitBit. Well, not yet, but it's on its way. While I was in Colorado, I rolled over early one morning to see that Chrystal Hurst, one of my roommates, was already up and out. Since we'd spoken the previous night about looking forward to quiet time on the porch in the morning, I figured she'd beaten me up there and claimed a prime spot. When I arrived outside, however, she was no where to be seen. She was out running (or walking) in the beautiful Colorado morning. Her FitBit had insistently nudged her awake (it's not quite silent; I'd definitely heard it, but close) and off she went. A little later, Kat Lee showed me the app for hers. In a few moments she'd checked in on half a dozen people and encouraged them to meet their fitness goals. I like that kind of accountability. These days, I think I need it. So, FitBit on its way and I will wear it. 

::talking with my children about these books

Mary Beth read The Fault in Our Stars. I don't read cancer books, so I can't say that I shared the experience with her. I will tell you that she binge read it and she was profoundly affected. Days later, she was still talking, still processing.

::thinking and thinking

oh wow. My brain is full speed ahead. The weekend away filled my tank to overflowing. Watch to see me share those thoughts here. Or at the new blog at Squarespace, if we can ever get that move to go. I'm going to have to engage in some very technical conversations in the next few days. Whisper a prayer or two? I'm serious. I'm not technically minded and these are no small things. The domain mapping here is so convuluted that moving there is nearly impossible without losing all my links and having to place pictures one by one into every post I've written in the last eight years. The day of reckoning is upon me. So, I'm thinking hard and trying to come up with a plan. 

::pondering 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

~Theodore Roosevelt

::carefully cultivating rhythm

I returned from Colorado very full. Also, very sick and with very little voice. Yesterday, jet lag crushed me and this wicked summer cold absolutely had its way. A trip to the grocery store completely wiped me out. This morning, I find that I sound much more like myself. Hopefully, it's time now to get on track and fully establish summer rhythm. Here we go!.

::creating by hand

I have a few little things for Lucy cut. I must sew them now or she'll never wear them. Pictures of those and last week's project at needle & thREAD on Saturday. I promise. 

::learning lessons in

I spent three days in Colorado with Sally Clarkson and eight other inspiring women. I learned so much! I was sick when I arrived. And  my blog was down for most of the time there. So, I didn't really learn or do anything at all about furthering my platform. But that was never my intention anyway. I listened and didn't say much. I wrote copious notes because I was afraid that in my cold-induced haze, I'd forget what I'd seen and heard. I literally filled a composition book. Wrote and wrote and wrote--all by hand in a Sharpie. I brought my computer, but didn't touch it the whole time, though there were many opportunities and most people took advantage of them. I focused on absorbing and I hope and pray with my whole heart that I soaked it all in because there was so very much that was good to absorb. I intend to share often in the next few weeks.

::encouraging learning in

Good habits. Summer is the logical time to really work on those little habits that make a big difference. The little girls' bedroom looks like a stuff bomb detonated. I asked them pick up and organize last week. Then I left town. They've taken all their clothes from the closet shelves and lined up all their dolls there. The clothes? On the floor until they figure out a plan for them. Note to self: if you leave children to undertake a big organiztional project withiout your direct input, you will have an even bigger organizational project to conquer in the very near future. Conquer we will.  And then we will work diligently on tidy bedroom habits.

::begging prayers

Please pray for Elizabeth DeHority who continues with her new chemo regime today, even though she's been given almost no hope of it making any difference at all.

And pray for people struggling with doubt and faith and fear and hopelessness.

::keeping house

I think that Auntie Leila (she of housekeeping advice extraordinaire) will be visiting tomorrow. I returned home Sunday evening and was sick yesterday. Guess what we'll be doing today;-)?  Actually, we're not going to be all cleaning crazy. We're going to hang out at a friends' pool and play like it's summer. Because I promised. 

 

::crafting in the kitchen 

We ate amazingly well at Sally Clarkson's house. I'm so inspired to bring summer freshness to my table. Also, Mike got a new grill. Let the fresh, light meals begin! First up: smoky ribs with a side of caprese salad.  

::giving thanks 

for time away to really ponder where we've been and where we're going and how important it is to stay faithful to the ideals over the long haul.

::loving the moments

when it's me who comes through the door after being away and the little ones come running and nearly knock me over with the unbounded glee that I'm home. I'd always had a hunch that was pretty fun. It is. 

living the liturgy

our mission church here in my neghborhood is called Corpus Christi. It's our name day this weekend! 

::planning for the week ahead

It's recital week. I know I have all kinds of deadlines and probably a little drama in the very near future. I'm kind of scared to look at the calendar;-). Rehearsals and recitals and oh, that worldwide soccer tournament that's happening now. Have you followed my boy? He's reporting from Brazil and charming us all with his unbounded joy over the Beautiful Game.