Gladitudes

In a week, I'll have been married 20 years.  20 years ago, I was 21.  20 years from now, I'll be 61.  So, yeah, 20 years matters.  Is it a huge amount of time?  Nah.  But time, nonetheless.  Next week, I'll probably have a fitting tribute to an amazing man.  But right now...right now, I have to focus on my heart.  Focus on the amazing God that gave me the amazing man.  Who gave me the miracle of birthing 2 children.  Who loves me when I'm at my best and at my worst.  Who makes me holy.

You see, the last couple of weeks have been full.  Too full for my taste.  Full enough for complaining and being pi$$y.  It started the day before Mother's Day, and today...I'm tired.  Done in.  Pooped.  My dtr broke my nose, my husband had a longish trip in China, we had tons of kid activities because-after-all-it-is-May-and-you're-not-a-parent-if-you're-not-run-ragged-in-May, my daughter left on a sailing trip, my dad visited,  a family member is not well, I have allergies, and I am hormonal, thankyouverymuch.

BUT...feast your eyes on this little gem: 

"Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife." Proverbs 21:19

So...let's look at this again:

• 
  
  My daughter broke my nose----> we were having fun and playing around.  Sometimes fun is hard to come by with a pre-teen girl.
• 
  
  My husband had a longish trip to China----> My husband has a job which satisfies his creative needs and pays our bills.  He is well liked and well respected by those working above and below him.  Wait...in this economy, it's enough to say, "My husband has a job."
• 
  
  My kids, especially my daughter, are busy with activities---> Thank God they are healthy and have passions and /or areas of interest to explore.  My daughter set a record in track.  These are not bad things.  Last year, she had a heel fracture, and couldn't participate beyond the first meet.
• 
  
  My dad visited. I love him, but he is rigid, and often grumpish.----> I only have one living parent.  He and my son are kindred spirits regarding all manner (but especially WWII) of history.  It's also fun watching movies with him.
• 
  
  A family member is not well.---->She knows Jesus.  And I know Jesus.  And I stand firmly upon his promises for my hope.
• 
  
  I have allergies, and along w/my nose, my head is in pain.-----> I have Rx.  I also have it so much better, with clean food and water, than 99% of the world.  I bet they have sinus headaches, too.  And malaria.  And dysentery...
• 
  
  I am hormonal. ----> Honestly, God.  I'm stumped on that one. ;-)

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Gladitudes

Hey, 
I don't know why I'm not blogging much, but I'm going with it.  Felt a bit of the bug today, and so, I thought I'd hop back in with some gladdies.  They aren't always the most exciting, but, if my heart ever stops knowing how to be thankful, I'll be in a mell of a hess, so I thought I'd share...

1.  Glad that we have paid our last tuition payment of the year to J's school.  Having that extra "too much money" for a month or two helps us regroup for next year.
2.  Proudissimusly glad that J. set the school record for the girls discus field event.  Do you need me to repeat that?  Oh...okay.  Well, I think she threw 56 or 57 feet.  I can't even imagine how it would look if I tried to throw one of those.  Shot put would even be more ghastly, I fear.  We are not an athletic family by nature.  The fact that she's out there every day, running on her flat feet and doing her very best--and is unafraid to go for it, based on wonderful coaches--is music to my heart.
3.  Glad for the man-parent's safe arrival home, yesterday.  Yes, he's my husband, and I love him dearly.  He's amazing, sexy, and brilliant.  But until I'm finished being tired of the kids, he's the man-parent. ;)
4.  Glad for female bonding opportunities with girlfriends and with my daughter.  My girlfriends and I are doing great--we just see too little of each other.  I had great occasion to squeeze a friend's baby for the first time over lunch with his mommy and other girlfriends yesterday.  So sweet!  He's 4+ months old, and his toothless grin won my heart.  He kept looking longingly at my (ahem) "girls", though, and I had to break the news that there was nothing for him.  Female bonding with my daughter has been a little trickier.  In between moments of bliss we are in age appropriate, but still stinky, mother-daughter hell; so I'm constantly praying for an opportunity to come for doing something positive and fun.  Because I'm so tired of praying for forgiveness about my ugly thoughts about her.  I think I might take her to Letters to Juliet this weekend.
5.  Glad for the fact that my "boys" will have a bonding bender of their own in a few weeks.  History Boy and Big are headed to D.C. for 4 days of opening/closing museums and seeing Gettysburg. 
6.  Glad I'm finally getting Kellie's winning Earth Day Celebration napkins finished.  By golly, I'm pokey!
7.  Terrifically, thankfully glad that when I update my son's neurologist, that he wastes no time in getting back to me.  How about a holla for that?!  We are blessed.  This guy understands that parents' observations and questions are quite reliable indicators of their children's needs. 
8.  Glad that I've begun reading again.  For some reason, I stopped.  Have to hit my goal of 50.  Will do it!
9.  Glad for the power of prayer.  I have a few folks whom I'm lifting up right now, and it's so gratifying to know that they already have victory over their trials, by the blood of Jesus.  And oh, how He loves us.  (hat tip to David Crowder band).  Grateful for those who lift us up, too. 
10.  Significantly gladacious for mentoring.  I have some women in my life who I really look up to for parenting, for grace under pressure, for spiritual sharpening.  Thank You, Lord, for I am blessed.

Bonus gladdy:  Season finale week...woo and hoo.

GladiWednesday! Easter Gladification

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Knowing what I know about Jesus and His resurrection, it'd be impossible to have a horrible Easter, really.  Our family went to the beach house for the weekend.  The weather was very spring-like, meaning we endured gale force winds/rain and period of sun/calm sunsets throughout our 3 day stay.  The whole weekend was filled with moments of gladness, but perhaps the best gladdy of all is just that we were together.  Life is so fleeting.  Memories are sweet.  Here are a few of our memories:

***Disclaimer:  This is Whidbey.  Make up, contact lenses, and flat iron usage purely optional.***

Can you see the white caps on our shallow bay?  2 power outages later, we still had a great time.

Ta-da!  I'm not a great puzzler, but something about the beach house makes me wanna to a puzzle. And yes, I'm in my pjs.

Necessity is the mother of invention.  Emergency candles? Check!  Candle holders?  Um...Check.

Lighthouse at Ft. Casey.  Brr...it was windy and cold.

Aformentioned "casual look" at the top of the lighthouse. Stop looking at my chins.

She's on top of some place where they used to look out and kill folks.  I'm not sure what it's called.  Still at Ft. Casey.  It was cold--I didn't pay much attention.

Just keepin' it real.

Mucking around in Coupeville.  Fun little town. 

Easter breakfast at the Freeland Cafe in Freeland, WA.  Hippy-dippy local hangout.  Awesome omelets.  Lurve.

We are so Spocktacular.  And you can see that little acorns from big oak trees fall (if you look closely).

Tulips in Mt. Vernon, WA.  We did a drive-by and a quick stop b/c we had the dogs in the car.  Anyone want two dogs?  Free?  Actually, we might consider paying you.

My blouse clashes.

So breathtaking.

This is Daryl, and this is my other brother Daryl.  Or Darrell, if you will. 

GladiTuesday! Welcome Spring

Just for giggles, I thought I'd list 10 things which make me glad during springtime.  I'm going to try to do one word list items, but I'm not a legalistic girl, so bear with me.  Join in if you like. But at the very least, if you're commenting, tell me about one of your spring "gladdies".

1.  blossoms (tree)

2.  Zyrtec (see #1)

3.  Daffodils & Tulips

4.  Daylight

5.  Pink nail polish

6.  self-tanner (what's your favorite brand, BTW? I use Neutrogena and Jergens)

7. Eggs (Reeses, Cadbury, hard boiled, dyed)

8.  Bunnies!!!

9.  EASTER! 

10.  renewal

Okay...so i failed miserably at one-word answers.  But it still makes me glad, so those are my gladitudes, and I'm stickin' to 'em.