I have been trying to keep God a part of my day, throughout my day. This is a challenge for me when I have so much else going on... and so many thoughts clouding my brain. It's not that I forget Him completely. I (finally!) remember to bless my food, and I'll have other moments where I stop and thank Him for something or say a quick prayer for strength. But these can be hours apart and sometimes after much complaining, wandering or just dwelling in discontent.

Before we left for Spring Training this February, a friend gave me a wonderful book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I read it slowly, soaking in each nourishing chapter. It was life changing, and it's still changing me. Slow, slow changing. Because of this book I started a list of "gifts" from God... little things that make me smile or let me know He is with me, big things that I had prayed about or am so very thankful for. I neglect it more than I'd like, adding only a few here and there. But mentally the list is longer... my physical list is not always at hand. This helps me remember God through the day, but not so much as I should. My thanks and thoughts are half-hearted, half felt. I'm too busy going on to the next thing.

I just started a devotional book titled Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. The baseball chaplain gave it to me as a gift before we left Maine. I was a little skeptical at first. Us Orthodox don't really use devotionals and this one is written like Jesus speaking to you, which seemed a little weird to me. BUT, I tried it and I have to say I love it. It has a simple, comforting idea that I can remember throughout the day. At least, my goal is to do so. Here are a few that have touched me:

• Come to Me continually.
• Trust Me in the depths of your being.
• Nothing can separate you from My love.
• Watch your words diligently.

These are the first lines. It expounds about that and there are three Bible verses that correlate to the message. For example, "Come to Me continually." talks about God being the anchor of our soul, the fact that our mind will wander, but how far will we let it? It urges to keep the rope short so we are continually coming back to Him. This was great imagery for me, and probably the one I remember most and think about the most. That day I prayed God would help me remember him more, to gently tug me back to Him. And He did. In little ways that only I would understand. How wonderful that we have a loving and personal (and patient!) God! It's hard to comprehend, and, really, accept, knowing the fact that He is also the awesome, all powerful Creator of the universe. Thank you Lord, for loving little, insignificant me. Help me to remember you more and more each day so that I am always living in You and for You.

In the Home

We've been in our house only two weeks, but it feels a lot longer for some reason. We hung the pictures and set out decorative accessories yesterday. Ahh.... now it feels like home! I love coming into a room and seeing the pictures or icons. It puts a smile on my face. I need to update a lot of the pictures, so that's a new project to add to the list! 

Also on the list is to iron a sheet. Why? Because it covers up this outrageously large TV in the living room. The house is furnished for us and this huge TV came with it. Now, we aren't totally against TV, but we don't watch a lot of it and we don't want it to be the focal point of our living room. Someday, we hope to have a computer/game/TV room and a TV will be prominent there, but it won't be our main living room or where we entertain guests. Anyway, I agonized about what we would do with this TV! It's too big to put in the basement. It's stuck. Strong Man mentioned covering it with a cloth, which lead me to think of a sheet - off white so it blends in with the wall somewhat. In front of it we put a short TV stand with our icons. The top of the TV holds our prayers and various books where Sweet Girl can't reach. There is about two feet of blank between our icons and the top of the TV, so I plan to make a "garland" with icon cards - like a clothes line with icons paper-clipped to it. The living room also needs an update on curtains...

Another thing on the list is to really clean the sink. It's porcelain and I hope to find a good article on how to clean it to make it pretty and white. After that, most of the moving in housework will be done. Then I would like to move onto other projects like scrap booking and sewing (Sweet Girl needs real curtains in her room!). For sure, I love having a little home to take care of!

Writing Again


It's been almost a year, but I'm back for good. We have high speed internet connection, and I have lots to say! I get lots of ideas for posts throughout the day, but they seem to, of course, escape me when I try to recall them. Therefore, I will resume my "schedule" and post random things as I am able as well.

So what's going on with us? We moved two week ago, to the day, into a little house in town that my husband's work is providing. He's working as the assistant baseball coach at the local all men's college. I have enjoyed setting up the house and getting into good routines and cleaning habits (thanks to FlyLady - I recommend her book Sink Reflections). There are still things to do (especially before our open house in two weeks!), but daily life prevents too much of it getting done quickly. Bit by bit though...

Sweet E is such a little toddler now - no longer a baby! She is quite expressive and has her own ideas about everything! This is both good and challenging at times (like getting dressed). Also, there are times we both get frustrated because she is trying to tell me something by saying "da, da" (her word for just about everything) and I am looking at her clueless. However, she has started to sign some, which I had given up on! My favorite is that she can sign banana. She also is pointing, so that is helpful.

Today is thrift store day, and I'm very excited! I haven't been to them (there are 2 great ones plus a Goodwill here in town) in quite a while, and I actually have some money and things on a list to hunt for! W is not working this morning so he'll have E. I like shopping with her because she's good and fun, but it's also easier without her. I have a lot of little errands to do also.

I sigh when I think that this blog is not and never will be as eloquent or well written as other blogs I love and read. But this is me. This is my life. It helps me to share and maybe it'll help someone else too. Or at least be entertaining and enjoyable. No matter, I hope it blesses. I know it blesses me. Have a wonderful Wednesday!