Friday, February 24, 2012

Flying North or Flying South?

I am not sure where they are going, the geese. Three times they flew over my head today. Magnificently they flew, right over my head. I could hear each of their wings flapping. Its only recently I took notice to the sound, wondering had it been their all along, or are they closer to me here than they have been before all my life? As they fly in their V, each of their wings move up and down in unison. They honk, and as I sit here and write, another flock flies by outside my loft window. Flying the same direction. I wish I could tell you whether that was north, south, east or west. But I don't know. I have a poor sense of direction. But wait, let me think. I know that the direction down back our gravel road, is south because that is the direction I would take to Virginia, and I know that much....that Virginia is south. The geese are going exactly the opposite way, north. They are coming home after their vacation for winter. I am hopeful, hopeful for spring. I like spring, of course, I like summer, fall and winter too. But spring is special. There are signs of it all around. I hear the birds chirping, corcas are blooming purple, tulips are rising up through the dirt that has shown no life in a while, biggest little boy is running wild outside (although, honestly that is not seasonal...but year round...and thank goodness!), husband is preparing to build a coop for spring peeps, and...yes...the geese come home. They always know where they are going and how to get there. It is instinctive. Spring brings hope. Brings us the hope of the new, a fresh start, lent and with lent forgiveness. Ready for your spring to wash over me and all...come spring come, with the speed of a lion and the calm of THE LAMB!

Monday, February 6, 2012

A White Rabbit Incident

Alice in Wonderland's white rabbit, it always running about in a frenzy asking "...the time, the time, who's got the time??" He is always running late, and always in a hurry.

Many days I feel like a white rabbit. Too many days lately. I want to slow down, slow life down....I want to be able to take in each moment and give thanks for it. The rush is getting to me, some days drives me to tears. The trying to keep up. Dishes. Laundry. Changing diapers. Feeding mouths. Cleaning. Work from home....etc....etc. You get the idea. I'm missing all the gifts I've been given when I become the white rabbit.

I wasn't created to be a white rabbit. I was created to be me, and I believe I was created to be a thankful me.

I LOVE, Ann Voscamp in One thousand gifts. She is real. When I read her book, I see her being on a journey to go through her wonderland without anymore white rabbit incidents. She writes "Is it only when our lives are emptied that we're surprised by how truly full our lives were? Instead of filling with expectation, the joy filled expect nothing and are filled. This breath! This oak tree! This daisy! This work! This sky! These people! This day! Surprise!"

Today, God has granted me the grace to see! To name just a few.....calm morning with husband and coffee on the couch-lost in conversation, baby jabbering and starring at me bright and early, biggest little boy digging in the dirt outside, winter shadows in the woods, unexpected gift of two babies napping at the same time....SURPRISE!, short bubble bath and time to write this blog.