Stepping Out On The Water...

Well, I've done it now. What a year this is going to be!! 2008 is already filling up with new adventures and wild rides; I can already tell. My first mission trip... to SPAIN!!! in March, and I've written a BOOK, a children's book! Some of my kids/grandkids have read and heard this little tale of going to Nappy's House; a story told over and over again when my children were little ones and now it is written, I have a wonderful friend who has agreed to be my illustrator, and we are beaming with thoughts of possibilities and visions of children being peacefully lulled to sleep with this wonderful story. Today, I went to a Christian bookstore and looked through several children's books and jotted down some publishers and their addresses. When I got back to work, I wrote letters regarding my vision for this particular book about four children who journey down a long dusty road to Nappy's house... "deep within the forest down a path among the trees." I told said publishers that if they find what I've written to them interesting and want to know more, I will let them read my story. I hope one of them will be curious enough to get in touch with me, but it is in God's hands, isn't it? Well, just wanted you bloggy-types to get a glimpse into my heart for today. It's a happy one.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking...

I got this today from a friend and thought how important it is to realize that little eyes are watching us and many times the seemingly insignificant reactions and responses in life do make all the difference.

YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
Written by a former child

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking , I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Raindrops on Roses and Whisker on Kittens....

My youngest has inspired me to jot down a few of my favorite things; things that make me happy. A new addition to my thankful list with some overlapping I'm sure. Then I read my other two daughters' blogs and they had joined in on this happy project to my delight. So fun to read all the silly, funny, and touching things in life that make my kids smile. Here are a few of my own grin-motivators that come to mind....

1. Home; just being there.

2. Blazing fire in the fireplace

3. A cup of hot orange-spiced tea

4. A book that I'm so into that I can't put it down

5. Old movies

6. Laying on the sofa snuggled up to my sweetheart

7. Holding his hand

8. His hugs

9. Hearing funny stories about my grandkids.

10.Knowing my kids still love me after all these years.

11.Pedicures w/ a massage chair to relax in

12.Massages with that peaceful and oh-so-relaxing cocoon-like atmosphere; music w/sounds of nature, soft lights, warm blankets

13.The whole mountain experience; the majesty of seeing them; the smell of wildflowers and pine trees; the cool breeze; the sound of the river; the clarity of the water; peace in the quiet of the wilderness.

14.Browsing through pretty shops with antiques and home decor ideas

15.Barnes and Noble; I can go in there just for the smell of coffee and the feeling that I might actually learn something among all those books.

16.Our celebration services on Sunday mornings; worship and loving Jesus with other believers.

17.Sitting on our back porch in the porch swing.

18.Sitting on the tailgate of Darrell's truck watching the day disappear with a beautiful sunset.

19.Summer nights when the fireflies appear.

20.Fall when the weather really does actually cool off and leaves begin to change.

21.Making snow angels and going for a night walk in the snow; seeing it sparkle under a street light and listening to the quiet that inevitably comes after a big snow storm.

22.Dreaming of what God might do next in my life; thinking about how amazing and wonderful He is.

23.Looking at the stars on a summer night in the country.

24.Laughing until I hurt... like when Sara was sitting beside Em's bathtub watching their little ones splash and play. I brought her a cup of coffee and she took a quick mouthful and immediately spit it out on the floor. Shocking!!! It was too hot and she didn't know what else to do with it. Thought I'd wet my pants I laughed so hard. Hilarious! Guess you would have had to have been there.

25.Knowing that I've written a story or a poem that God Himself has placed in my heart.

Music...

A quiet evening at home alone; a good book as I sat cuddled up in the recliner; yet the instrumental music I had playing took my attention. As I pondered the notes and thought about how many actual notes there are in a scale; repeating themselves over and over either higher or lower, this little ditty came to me so I wrote it down...

Seven little notes,

Sometimes a flat and sometimes a sharp

High and lo scattered about

Then brought together in a melodious sound

Running quickly up and then back down

Held long and all of it

Coming together as a beautiful song.

Thoughts on Thankfulness...

As I thanked God for each one by name; family members, co-workers, friends who serve on the mission field here and overseas, my underlying question was... "What good is this really? Can saying 'thank you' change or empower or offer blessing?" I didn't 'feel' anything at the sound of my own voice offering up prayers of thankfulness. That is when I clearly heard the Lord Himself speak to my mind and heart. He said, "A thankful heart prepares the way of the Lord." Such a simple answer I thought, but how profound! How many times have I heard that scripture about having a thankful heart spoken or songs sung about it? This time was different. I saw in my mind specific people who I love and care about going and coming; busy about their daily lives and ministries; working, playing, loving and praying. Then I saw me; insignificant in my rather plain life, yet as I prayed with a thankful heart for these people who God has brought into my life; thanking Him for their children and the work He has called them to... the heavens opened up with a brilliant 'way' or road as I saw it. The road stretched from heaven down to earth where each person I had mentioned lived and worked. The Lord Himself walked on this road of thankfulness and by His hand and because of my obedience, lives were changed, healing came, and sadness and despair were lifted. A thankful heart in me (and in you) prepares the way of the Lord for them; all of them on whose behalf we enter boldly into the throne room of grace. I see thankfulness with more clarity today.

Thoughts on Learning... Still

As I was making my bed this morning a memory was jogged in my mind of a conversation I had with my mother many years ago. We were looking at pretty magazines and talking about decorating; how to make something beautiful out of what we had without spending alot of money. She had recently read an article that said two things that stuck with me. A couple's bedroom should be the prettiest room in the house, a peaceful and lovely retreat where they can get away with just the two of them and that every room needs just a touch of red. Now, in this time of life when we had four little ones running around and too many messes to count; having a place to retreat to, for even 5 minutes, was profound and miraculous advice I thought. I've tried to make having a beautiful bedroom a reality ever since. As I thought on this, other little learning moments came to mind as well. Surely some of these tidbits are blog-worthy in some way. I remember when my 'little girls' were still babies; finances seemed impossible and the thought of making anything pretty was a dream I could not grasp or even get my mind around. During that sad and almost hopeless time, I went to visit a friend; another young mother who loved her family and her friends. I got tears in my eyes when I saw how beautiful her home was; how warm and welcoming I felt as we sat there with a cup of hot tea, the smell of cinnamon and a hint of eucalyptus from an organic arrangement she had in an old container rather than in a pretty or expensive vase. She used scraps of fabric, old wooden boxes, antique utensils, and simple candles in a jar or placed on a saucer to enhance the warmth of her home. Not to mention how none of her 'things' seemed more important to her than our visit together or finding any way she could to make my babies and me feel welcome and valued. That is when it began to dawn on me that I could, in fact, make my home beautiful regardless of material wealth; and I could definitely give a hug, a word of encouragement, and a cup of tea to a friend. Oh, the simplicity of love I was learning.... I am still learning. There are many other moments through the years where wisdom and understanding were given and gained; some of which were very small beginnings; baby steps I am just now beginning to see the fruit of in this second half of life; others, upon hearing, enabled me to put new advice into practice right away. Here are a few:

*How to sweep "correctly" - my Uncle Charles
*Loving the unlovely - Mom and Daddy
*To capture my thoughts into written words - my high school friend, Marla Redelsperger
*A new way to peel potatoes - Maxine's mother-in-law, Rosalee
*Encouragement to become more independent - my husband, Darrell
*Confidence to speak in small groups of people - the Holy Spirit and my son, Coby; my friend, Kathy Mulkey, motivates me as well. I love that she has confidence in me to do what is in God's heart.
*The love of swimming - my mom and daddy
*Love of music - a young woman who was the pianist at Kingswood Methodist Church when I was a child
*More music - Mr. Bazona, my jr. high choir teacher in Amarillo, TX
*Sewing - Mrs. Huckabee, my jr. high homemaking teacher
*Cooking, cleaning up, and staying organized in the process-Mrs. Huckabee (guess the cooking part didn't stick)
*Underlining the 'cents' on a check - One of my Plainview friends, Laura Holbert
*Washing my knick knacks yearly rather than just dusting - My sister, Maxine's housekeeper who she hired in Amarillo years ago.
*The importance of clean sheets and a bed well made - Alice Selke, my mother-in-law
*Keeping my drawers orderly with like objects together- Alice
*Snow skiing down a mountain - Corey Powell (his patience was extraordinary!)
*Hospitality - my daughters, Amy and Sara; my sister, Stella, and her husband Ben
*Raman noodles and Cinnamon Crumb Cake coffee - Sara and her friends
*Importance of drinking lots of water; and grilling rather than frying - my friend, Judy Mills
*More on hospitality - Penny Allison, Sarada Loudermilk, Donna Stewart, Luana Sudan
*Godly wisdom - Barbara Byrd, Margie Atwood
*Accountability - a Plainview friend, Darlene George; my daughter, Emily Selke Kavalich
*Freedom to laugh loudly - Marla as we would drag Main Street in her old 'black hoopie' singing to the top of our lungs, or stand on our front porches with our phone cords stretched to the max so we could wave at each another. (We lived only a block apart) Emily; she can make me laugh easier than anyone over the least little thing. My Aunt Fern who always has a funny story.
*Advice on breastfeeding and the importance of taking a few minutes away from 'mommying' every now and then - A fellow mother from Plainview, Sammy Payne
*The supernatural hand of God - Three Abernathy friends, Malena, Vickie, and Donita
*Brushing my teeth longer - I can't remember, but it is important
*Enjoying the beauty of a sunset - my mother

In a nutshell... "Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning."