Every year I come careening into summer vacation at the breakneck speed of May, and then splat on the sidewalk of June, not entirely unlike a bug splayed on a car windshield. It takes a week or three to get my summer legs underneath me as we recover and ease into some semblance of summer routine. So here I am, posting this more than two weeks later than I had planned. But honestly, besides just being a bit off kilter,…
I knew when I bought the tickets in November that the concert would fall smack dab in one of the most crazy, demanding weeks of the year for me, but I was not about to miss Lauren Daigle live. So I purchased tickets along with my daughter and some of our dear friends. I hardly even had time to anticipate the concert with everything else happening in “Maycember,” but amidst the chaos, and in spite of some unanticipated day-of delays,…
I don’t remember when we actually crossed the threshold from May-is-a-normal-month to May-is-as-crazy-busy-as-December. All I know is that the struggle is real. In an effort to distribute the heavy load of May, it seems like the pace of April has also gradually increased, akin to how Black Friday now spans closer to a month than a single day in November. So maybe it’s no coincidence that gratitude is what came to mind when I was pondering about what simple gift…
“Find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness.” Henry B. Eyring A few days ago I had the chance to consider with a couple of my kids where we had seen the greatness of God in our lives that day. One child saw it in a rec basketball team that came together with everyone’s best efforts in a hard-fought, sportsmanlike game to win by a margin of a single basket. Another saw it in a group of teenagers who have…
Recently, a friend texted me a generous compliment a full week after the event that prompted it. Another friend, recalling some personal aspirations of mine, thought to send me information about an opportunity that I might be interested in. A friendly proprietor remembered my name and a detail about me after only one previous visit to their business. A neighbor made my daughter’s day with an unexpected thank you gift since my child had rendered a small service for their…
My dad has always been more of a listener than a talker. He doesn’t want any extra attention. He never speaks just for the sake of being heard. He considers things thoughtfully. When he does speak, or when he takes time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), he tends to have insightful questions or points to consider. As such, when he speaks, I tend to listen. I’ve watched my dad listen to my children, even as babies,…
There is a memorable scene from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, where the Peanuts gang are out trick-or-treating, and after each house the kids proclaim with joy what great treats they got. Charlie Brown is the only exception, and after each house he remarks glumly, “I got a rock.” It’s such a sad, funny little scene that we quote it on the regular around here when something disappointing or underwhelming happens. Lately I’ve been rereading a scripture story about…
(2 Corinthians 7:4) Fluffy blankets. A cuddly kitty on my lap. Cozy pajamas. Family movie night by the fire. A friend’s example of spreading service and positivity. Words of hope from a living prophet. My feed full of gratitude posts. And prayer. Feelings that lodge in my heart all day. Words that fall from my mouth. Expressions that somehow transcend normal barriers. A hope and an assurance that a loving God is listening, helping. Bringing peace. Such blessings. “For…