Intentional Gratefuleness. . . .(re-post from many moons ago)

This is a post I wrote a month or two ago that never got posted due to bad internet and general procrastination. But a few things have come across my path in the last week or two and I've realized, I really do miss writing. Not making any one-post-a-week promises here but just allowing myself to be honest and open again. I may let you in on a few of the things that rekindled the desire to write. A few awesome blogposts from others, as well as good books. 

But for now this is still very true . . . Intentional gratefulness is still a struggle for me. 

I just came to a startling realization this past week . . . Living intentionally takes work!! Newsflash, I know!! 

I woke up to find myself drowning in the rat race. This past weekend was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time! Why? Because I stayed at home!! And I got to go out for breakfast with my awesome boyfriend, well . . . extended breakfast/lunch but who's keeping track! And catch up. Yes, I know we work in the same office but it's just not the same. Take my word for it! 

And after that I spent the day helping my family work on the new house we're putting up for Mom. Not exactly fun work, sealing the basement walls with pitch, but it was just great to really get out and work for one, and being able to do it

as a family made it all the 'funner'. I realized how spoiled I am with the siblings I have. ( (Although every now & then I wonder!!)  And in the midst of all this I just slowly started to realize that I am a super blessed woman! (Since my nun status is in question these days I guess I'll have to come up with another word for myself!) And after I realized that, I realized how little I thank God for those things! Now, I would have said I'm a pretty thankful person in general. But I was for sure not being intentional about the specifics . . . So I'm gonna try something here. Every day I will take a few pictures of the things that God blesses me with. . . Or if I can't get a picture I'll just describe the moment. I will also be posting them on Instagram if any of you would like to head over there to see the little reminders of Gods love that He sends my way! 

This morning started with a walk to clear my head & kinda sort out all the thoughts that had been crashing around in my head over the weekend. And this is the sight that greeted me when I opened our front door.

Yeah, I was like, 'WOW!' 

But I must say, I was rather appalled at how quickly my brain returned to its default of running full steam ahead. Suddenly I was planning my day at work, and checking over my To-Do list for the week, and trying to figure out if I would need to write out my shopping list or if I would remember it. I literally almost missed this. 

 

She trotted beside the road for a bit before scurrying across & taking a leap for the fence. 

And I couldn't quite get a picture of the bird songs I was hearing but it was pretty amazing too! 

And no, my day didn't go perfectly peachy-keen after my ambitious start. Come on guys, what were you expecting?!? But isn't that the point? To keep living life with grateful intentions even when it's not all fun & games. And I Don't expect it will be any easier to get up the little bit earlier tomorrow morning to get my morning saunter in but that's where the discipline of intentionality comes in. Something that I'm not all that good at! 

Oh, and if anyone else feels inspired to be intentionally grateful in the next couple days I would love to see your pictures and hear about the little love notes that God is sending your way. 

But right now I'm going to be grateful for the fact that I have a lovely soft bed in a cool house that is not covered by water. And I plan to take advantage of that fact by making good use of that blessing! 

Goodnight and sweet dreams, 

Mel 

Just wanted to share this here too. I shared it on my Facebook page. God gave this to me on Friday, when the reality of what could happen with Silvia was hitting me. I had never heard this song. I thought it was another song by the same title and I love Tina's translations so I clicked on it. By the time it got to the chorus I was bawling. Every word of it felt so true for me. What is Silvia's story? What are Silvia's wounds that she can't express? How many times in the classroom did I feel like I literally needed help just to take the next breath and survive the next minute? Even if you don't understand sign language you can't help but feel the emotions that Tina puts into it.                                                                                                                                

Books of April

So one of my "to-do" goals for this year is to read two worthwhile books a month. Not exactly a challenge for me, since I have loved reading ever since I got over the disappointment that my first day of school did not have me zipping through Dick & Jane readers. For me the challenge is the worthwhile part. Not that the good books aren't out there, it's just to easy to pick the light reading than try to wade through books that need processing time. Another area of personal growth to work on!

So I will try to share my monthly books with y'all. Biographies, books to encourage growth, books focusing on kids . . . . just an idea of what's on my list for the next couple month. Spreading the word about the worthwhile books that are out there as well as hoping that y'all with share with me any that you happen to stumble across.

Starting with April, because I honestly can't remember what books I read when before that!


Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong

I have long loved stories of Africa. The gritty determination of a people who have suffered unimaginable horrors, civil wars and what not. Their indomitable spirit that refuses to be squelched even if they are living in a refugee camp for seven years where the highlight of the week is the day the trash from the neighboring city gets dumped into the trash pit. Because that day they could eat better than any other day of the week.
The story of Lopez Lomong, who was captured by Sudanese rebel soldiers as a six-year-old and ended up an Olympian for the United States is one that leaves this spoiled little American girl with absolutely no excuses for not stretching for my dreams. And that fact that once he arrived at fame he only sees it as a platform to glorify the God who brought him there and to further awareness of the plight of his family and friends still struggling in Africa should be a big kick in the butt for a lot of us "Christians."





Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago
I had never heard of Esmeralda Santiago, the description just intrigued me as it described the journey of a Puerto Rican girl and her family as they attempted to figure out how to live in America. Seeing life from this side of the Latin culture makes me realize a lot more the difficulties immigrants face.

Let me know what book you think everyone should read. . . .

Learning . . .

I prayed a hard prayer this week. I prayed it without thinking really. And as soon as the words were out of my mouth I wanted to take them back.

               

  “No, God! I didn’t really mean that. I was just kinda . . . thinking out loud.”

You see, this week was kinda one of those “learning experiences.”  The kind that you want to just get it over with but you know that you do need to learn the lesson. “So, let’s just learn this lesson and get it over with already is usually my thought.

But as I was charging away on the sewing machine I was just like,

               

  “God, please don’t let these lessons be in vain. Let me at least use them in my life.”

Almost immediately, I stopped myself.

                “Oh, yeah . . . ummm, about that God. This lesson was on relationships. I don’t really want                    any more lessons in that area. Maybe we can save that prayer for a life lesson that’s a little                   less complicated. If these are the “relationship” lessons, I’m not sure I want to take the                         Test. “

But I knew instantly that was wrong.

God had a reason for everything He takes us through, for every lesson He prepares.  Who am I to say? 

              

                       “I don’t want to learn that, I don’t think I’ll ever use that in my life.”

I certainly have a few things to say to my kids when they try to pull that line on me!

Wouldn’t it be better to learn the lesson to the best of my ability, then maybe I wouldn’t have to repeat it so often! But more than that I would be ready for the Tests when God brings them to me.

So here’s to applying myself to my lessons rather than daydreaming through class . . . .

p.s. this was a post I wrote a week ago and never got around to editing & posting it. Told ya I was behind!