My Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

When I decided to start a blog about my life, I had every intention of writing every day or so.  Well, that really isn't how it has come together.  It seems like I don't always feel like I have anything to contribute - sometimes I feel like my days are similar in the day to day events.  Today I was gently reminded that life happens in these day to day events.  My tapestry "LIFE" is composed of those threads that are being woven together on a daily basis.  So, here I am again, sharing my thoughts, sharing a glimpse into my world.

Have you ever noticed how there seem to be "themes" to life?  By "theme" I am really referencing those gentle nudges and reminders that I think God gives me.  The past few days seem to have been "themed" on increasing awareness of "light" and God's presence in nature and my everyday world.  It is so beautiful!  I pose this question:  How much light does it take to chase away the dark?  Not much.  Only a tiny bit and everything changes perspective.  

I feel so lucky.  I have been married to the man of my dreams for twelve years.  I am so much more in love with him today than on our wedding day.  It's amazing!  I have always listened to love songs, read those cards about falling more and more in love the longer you are together.  I must confess - I thought those writers were over-emphasing their love and devotion.  How much love can a heart hold?  My young mind used to try to analyze, calculate then formulate a designated amount of love I could have for any one person.  Needless to say, I was WAY off in left field.  No, I wasn't even in the ballpark.  

My "word of the year" for 2011 is LOVE.  I have started a year long spiritual journey on love.  I am only 53 days into this journey, and I have learned and begun experiencing so much.  As I try to define my new, current understanding of love, I am at a loss for words.  I can say that I am coming to understand more and more each day the Bible verse, 1 John 4:8 "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

I have mentioned the love that I have for my husband, but it is so much more than that.  I am starting to really think that love is really all that matters.  In the beginning, in the end, and in the middle.  Love is a noun and a verb.  Love can be used as an adjective.  (Sorry - the English lesson will end here).

I have focused mainly on the spiritual concept of love, but I cannot end this without giving a shout-out to that person who makes my heart race, makes my toes tingle, makes those butterflies in my stomach flutter, brings a smile to my face every time I think of him...  this is about him too.  I adore him.  And, you know what?  I am absolutely, one hundred and ten percent in LOVE with him and our life together.  Once again, just a little gift from above.  :)

Snow Week!

This has been a very weird week in Southeast Oklahoma.  The weather is frequently the topic of discussion, and Oklahoma weather is typically fast changing, often going from one extreme to the other.  In the past week, we have barely made it above freezing.  These frigid temperatures, combined with sleet and snow, have effectively shut down our little town of McAlester.  

I have had a wonderful week - it was absolutely beautiful!  School and work was closed for four days, which translated to all seven of us being home together. The best part was that we didn't lose power - how awesome is that?  So, I feel like I had the best of both worlds - all of the modern conveniences, combined with a winter storm which resulted in an unplanned "stay-cation" with the people I love most in this world.  

So, I have spent the past six days cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry.  I have been lazy.  I have taken naps, stayed up late, slept in, watched movies and read two books.  I have bundled up kids, warmed hands and feet, made hot chocolate...  We have spent the last six days in our own little world.  Yesterday the temperatures climbed above freezing, and the thaw began.  The roads became passable, and with that began our slow return to usual routine.  

Isolation is a funny thing - for some reason, the more I isolate myself, the more difficult it is to get "un-isolated."  When I try to avoid the outside world, I lose focus.  Reality and truth becomes blurred with justification and rationalization.  

Today is Sunday.  My soul was beginning to crave that fellowship with my friends and church family, but sometimes that selfish part of me creates conflict within.  I awoke this morning, and had fleeting thoughts of continuing my isolation one more day...  in the back of my mind, I heard, "stay in your pajamas, stay in bed...  it's wet and messy outside... just one more day of doing whatever Stacy wants..."  

Emma woke up, and the first words out of her mouth were, "Is today church day?"  Bless her heart - God was using this little person to gently remind me about what I needed to do in order to stay on course.  We all got up, got ready for church, and arrived on time (this is a major accomplishment!).

I often hear the wisdom, "Do the next right thing."  This used to be a source of confusion for me - I would spend so much mental energy analyzing, planning, reviewing, trying to control things that were beyond my control.  Slowly, surely, with His guidance, I am learning what this basic instruction of "do the next right thing" means.  For me it usually is something as simple as putting one foot in front of the other - sometimes it's actually starting, and moving out of the planning or procrastination phase.  Today the next right thing was getting up and going to church to fellowship, feed my soul, fill my spiritual needs.  God always gives me everything I need, if only I ask.      

I am so thankful that if I can just concentrate on doing what is right in front of me, doing the next right thing, God takes care of everything else.  Serenity - pure and simple.