October 1, 2012

• {a talk with kate last night}

  i may or may not have taken emma to school in my pajamas this morning.
  i asked her on the way there if she thought this might be a good first morning for me to drop her off in the drop off zone..
  you know, just jump out the van door. wave goodbye. and mom drives off.
  but no. still wants me to park. get out. and wait with her until the bell rings.

  so, yes. if you saw a women there in a long black sweater with pink and white polka dotted pants stuffed into her ugg boots {the pretend kind from payless},and sunglasses two sizes too small with duck tape down each side because she couldn’t find her own and had to wear her sons, i assure you, i’m not on crack or nursing a hangover.. just a mom who overslept and bolted out the door with all of 2 minutes to spare.

  —

  last night when i asked kate what was something i could pray for her about this week, she said,

  “that i wouldn’t go to school every day…”
  then, realizing what she said, she started laughing.

  “so you want me to pray you won’t go to school every day, hmm? okay, i’ll do that.” i teased.

  “no.” she said, sitting up on the bed and growing serious.
  “i want you to pray that i wouldn’t go to school every day with an attitude of just getting by..
  i mean, sometimes i feel like i live counting down each day till friday.
  school can be so boring. and it seems like it will never end. but i don’t want to be like that. live like that!
  i want to.. um.. i don’t really know what the word is to use, like” and she took her hand and snatched at the open air, “grab hold of each day. really enjoy it.”
   
  then her voice trailed off and she dropped her head and shrugged,
  “i don’t know… does that make sense?”

  i shook my head, and smiled. “makes total sense.”

  and i’m always amazed when i listen to my teenage girl..
  how many of the lessons we begin learning so young, stay with us for a lifetime~

  
  
  and whether 14 and dreading math tests and weird science teachers.
  or 25 and dreading going to work each day.
  realizing all those kids you thought you were escaping when you graduated high school are actually everywhere!! 
  or 38 and dreading laundry and dishes and messes and poopy diapers and feeling like a taxi driver…

  in every season of life we wake up the same way- with a choice on how our attitude for that day will be.
  are we just going to survive. muddle through. get by.
  or as kate said and i like that mental picture, grab hold of it!
  not just standing by watching it pass.

  and i get that it’s not always as easy as all that. we’re tired with a tiredness that goes beyond our bodies at times..
  the burdens of life can so weigh upon us and yes, our head is down and we’re just trying to take one step after the other.

  i don’t think grabbing hold of a day means putting on some phony kind of happiness.
  but as kate and i went on to talk about last night, recognizing life is about so much more than just us! so much more.

  and having that perspective certainly won’t take the hard and hurt of some days away..
  but it makes grabbing them and accepting them, so much easier. when we live with eyes beyond ourselves. ~

  and it’s no new mind blowing concept. kinda like the dishes and laundry.. same old.
  but just like them. i too need re-doing. re- cleaned. wrinkles of my soul smoothed. and stains of selfishness washed in His truth!

  and so that is simply the prayer of my heart today for my girl, and me also.
  to have eyes to see this day as the Lord does.
  to live with purpose and love on purpose.
  to look for Him in everything. because He’s there!
  to proclaim His love every morning. and His faithfulness each night.
  
  amen!

  —

  some pictures from the past few wks~

  
  
  the true woman conference in indianapolis~ two words about this. amazing! {and next year} GO!
  
  
  

  
  our ride down. and yes! that is the light of God shining out of that truck.. we needed extra grace for sure!!
                        
  
  all the family. minus scott taking the picture~

  
  the guys. minus jeff who wasn’t there yet~

  
  

  
  kate and some of her friends she’s known since forever!
  
  
  emma getting baptized by her papaw~ so special
  
  
  morning glories finally in bloom. lovin em.
  
  
  at the fair

  
  

  
  her two favorite things there~ the bunnies. and cotton candy!

  
  
  and somebody turned two while we were gone. more on all that soon~

  
  
  the sunset last night.
  
  time to run out the door for school pick up.
  then on to football practice and hockey practice after that.
  and yes.. this time i’m dressed more appropriately!

  hapPy new week everyone!

  amber.

  • 4:08 pm
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