Despite Rusty being out of town, we made it up on time, to school on time, and I am almost fully made up for the day. Eyeliner missing due to its abduction by one of the teenagers in this house! We even managed a detour to Starbucks on the way. Woohoo! So out of the ordinary that it is definitely noteworthy.

Also worth mentioning, I slept peacefully all night, without the usual terror that accompanies my "home alone" nights. That is a first for sure, maybe resulting from the fact that I crashed with Cailin in the king size guest bed she has claimed for herself. Discovering that she talks in her sleep was a bonus, a fact that made her very nervous. Hmmm..

So today I am feeling very thankful, for sleep and a relatively happy morning, but there is more, always more to remember...

red bud tree in full bloom outside the kitchen window
thunder and gray skies
a lunch date with fun friends
parents who still fret over me being home alone
my electric lap blanket that keeps me toasty
Pandora
remembering my Power of a Praying parent book

In "The Batlle Belongs to The Lord", Joyce Meyer reminds that we are to stay in our calling, using our energy for that which God has called us specifically to. Though many things are good, they are not our best, and could be better served by others, working in their particular area of gifting. She recalls a time when her ministry was in a building phase, and instead of overseeing the project, she assigned someone else to the task, so she could remain focused on praying, studying, and ministering. She relinquished control of things that were not essential so she could remain in the narrow will of God for her life.

It made me question what I would consider my priority? What would God say is my first ministry and focus in this life?I have to say first, obviously, is relationship to Him. Guarding my time alone in His Presence, soaking up His wisdom and love, filling my spirit with that Holiest of Holies. I need this before there is anything else in my life. All else follows from the anointing of His Spirit in me.

But what next is of greatest value? My job? Friendships? Making our home beautiful or keeping up with the laundry? All of these are important, "good", but none of these are essentail or eternal. The eternal value in my life is sharing my faith with my girls and training them up in the way they should go.

God says where your treasure is, there your heart is also. I can look at my life, and see where the bulk of my time and resources are spent to see where my heart is. Is it on my girls and things of faith? Or is it on facebook and blogging? Mindless pursuits that are not bad, but are not furthering my goal of living out my calling.

I want to have an eternal impact, I want to fulfill that wonderful call God has placed on my life. I will.

He is Here

Mean girls abound in middle school. Gossiping and criticizing, whispering behind hands, and laughing when you walk in the room.

Christian mean girls are the majority, unfortunately. Pious in their separate status of "Christian school". Saying one thing while living another, their words are both clean and bitter water from the same "spring". Displeasing to God, I know, yet where is He?

Sweet girls with broken hearts and tear stained cheeks tear at my spirit, as I cry out to God, protect my girl, protect her from those who profess to love you, and yet hate her.

A sister, flawed and often the source of much irritation, yet deeply adored. When pain swirls around, she draws near and loves, offering words of encouragement and empathy. Heads drawn together, laughter bubbles up, and I see God.

He is here. He is here.

Home

Walking the dogs in the newly dark morning (daylight savings time always throws me off), I could see the lights in the kitchen, barely shining through the dining room windows. My bedside lamp was on, and another light  shone downstairs.

Even though it was my own home, I found myself peeking for a glimpse of the life inside. So cozy and inviting in the cold morning air, and knowing a fire was toasting the living room, I eagerly ran the dogs the last bit to get inside.

There is truly no place like home. Sometimes in the midst of living inside, I forget to step back and glance through the windows of my life to remind myself of how truly blessed I am.

WWYT?

What Were You Thinking?

Cassidy refused to let Cailin look in her closet for a t-shirt to wear this morning. Not unusual, Cassidy struggles with sharing, and sometimes we force ths issue, while others we think Cailin is just pushing her buttons and say "move one"... "you have a closet full of your own things".

Today I opted to tell Cailin to just wear her own stinkin' clothes, so much fussing and debating ensued, with me spending some quality time lecturing Cailin on respecting her sister's clothes, and not always sneaking in to "borrow" them.

I reminded her that, while Cassidy is definitely not as generous in sharing as she herself is, Cassidy has her own gifts, and Cailin can also be selfish in other ways.

Basically lots of lecturing and eye rolling, but Cailin wore her own things and left for the day.

Within 5 minutes Cassidy had shucked the denim jacket she had on and appeared in one of Cailin's hoodies.