sun-shiny walk

Well, I got my sun-shiny walk yesterday with two of my favorite people: Sylvia and Louis.

It was G L O R I O U S...

 

 

The sun was so bright it was blinding and the drip-drops of melting snow provided a delightful background as we pranced down the walk.

 

 

Louis was most excited about eating the snow.



 

 And tried to make a snowman on the sidewalk.

 

And loved walking on the many low walls.

 

 

and, of course, sitting.

 

 

 Sylvia on the other hand wanted to run and run and when we caught up to her, Louis thought she had fallen and tried to help her up.

 

 

The main event of our traverse was PUDDLE JUMPING!

 

 

 

It was a pretty good sun-shiny walk and goodness knows we can't wait for more spring!









 "Yep, more spring!" Sylvia concurs.

Slightly Spring

 

Sigh. If you're like me, you're ready for spring.

 

With the telltale signs--warmer sun, melting of snow and I read that someone spotted a robin yesterday (big news for us Minnesoters!)--it's got me all itchy for spring--even slightly spring. I want to see yellow tulips and big fluffy white clouds in the sky. I want to open our windows, go for brisk sun-shiny walks, and doze on the couch cuddled up as only you can do when it's slightly spring.

But, alas, another dusting of snow this morning with more to come.

Today I start a four day weekend and while rest and play are on the agenda--I want to do some spring cleaning and organizing and generally freshen up our home too. Since, it seems, we won't be occupying the outdoors at full force for a few more weeks.

 

I'm not a big crafter nor do I holiday/theme decorate much--but I always change out my candles to more springy smells (I still have a pretty good stockade from my Pier 1 days) and change out what's on the top of our built-in buffet (right now it's wedding pictures with a nod to Valentine's) to something remotely springy--like my bamboo runner and jars of river rocks. I put away the orange pillows and leave the green. I usually put away the chenille deep orange throws we have near the couch, but they are still in high use with it being so cold. Oh and I probably should put away the Little People Nativity Set that's on our rubbermaid plastic dresser that houses our winter wear near the door (classy, I know).

Hmmm...I wonder if they make a Little People 'Last Supper' or Little People 'Crucifixion'?

I switch out mine and the kids' closets/dressers--which is no easy task. No one tells you when you become a parent that you'll spend a surprisingly amount of time shucking clothes around--depending on season, growth spurts and organizing hand-me-downs. We consistently have at least one or two boxes in our upstairs foyer there for the express purpose of sorting out what we need to donate and keep. And the 'kept' are sent downstairs to be housed in tucker totes until summoned by the next growth spurt or season.

I already switched out my closet last weekend which was inspiring and alleviated (well, slightly) my need to go get new clothes. In my line of work, I truly should have one or two new pieces a season. I know, I know...'Beware of institutions that require new clothes' -Ralph Emerson, but another man with a similar name signs my check. <wink>

I got rid about three boxes worth (off to ARC) and put aside a bag of things for a young woman I work with who just lost her mom around Christmas. Her dad died two years ago and now she's parent-less and just in her early 20s. My heart really goes out to her and I'm going to try to help her anyway I can.

There's cleaning to do, curtains to wash (I try to do this at least twice a year), linens to switch out and frankly, that's enough--all in the name of slightly spring and the hope of spring!

Oh and El and I should probably take down the Christmas lights outside--it is March, after all.
 

What are some of things you do when anticipating spring?

~leah





it's not about me

Most days I need perspective.

Some days--days when I haven't read my Bible and taken the time to be with God, to pray and seek His Heart--I lose perspective.

Issues seem much bigger than they are--my four year old spilled her drink again and my six-year-old wore holey pants to school, I can't name one Lady Gaga song--am I getting old? Where is my two year old? Did I ask too many questions on the conference call?

And my wants seem to overwhelm me--they are urgent and flocked with seemingly deep longing--a new sofa, new shoes, new purse, new dining room table, lipstick, a new outfit, notecards, wrapping paper, rugs, vases, flowers to put them in, bath bombs, wine, ice cream, oh, and thinner thighs--right now! After I have my ice cream though.

I start grousing and let myself grouse. I become less compassionate and more hard-hearted and quick to judge. I become entitled and selfish. I become less grateful and more needy.  I then become annoyed because I know I shouldn't, "but...but...but..."

I need perspective.

I need my mother to say: "Snap out of it!"

I need to go to Jesus.

See, my kids are smart and healthy. My husband loves me deeply. I live a good life--I have clean drinking water and food available to me when ever I want/need it. I've never been through trauma of any kind. I can openly worship Jesus with other believers at a church without fear of death or imprisionment. I sleep on a very large comforable bed in a heated home. We earn a paycheck every single week from our two stable full time jobs. I need to remember that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that I, that we, can be with God. And knowing that joy, that mercy I am to share it that with others. Because it really is amazing, enthralling, and wonderful that God sent His son so that we might be at peace with Him and know Him better. That is all that really matters, isn't it?

Such mercy. Such grace.

When I have perspective on how Christ views me, my life, my future--how He views others, how He sees the world and loves us so--I can fly. I can rise above what this world offers. I can not want, not be afraid. I can block out the noise that is so encumbering and focus on doing what I've been called to do. I can stop focusing on myself. I can serve others. I can forgive them. I can encourage them. I can help them. I can love.

I am embarrassed by my selfishness. I don't want to lose perspective again, but I will and I am humbled by the grace Jesus extends to me--repeatedly.

My best friend from college wrote on her profile page in the 'about you' section: "It's not about me". At first I thought: 'A little lofty, isnt't that?' and then it hit me. Wow, she's right. It's not about us.

But do you know who can say that? A person totally secure that the God of Heaven and Earth delights in her. It's not self-depricating to deny 'self' in this manner--it's glorifying to God.

It's about Him.

And my ego stutters a 'but...but...but' at the reading of those words, then maybe I just might not know how fully Jesus loves me or comprehend His sacrifice.

I just might have lost perspective.
I just might have to go to Jesus...again.

~leah

howdy

Hi.

I'm kind of tickled to be starting this journey as a blogger. I don't mean to be a 'Negative Nancy' right off the bat, but I really don't like the word 'blog' or 'blogger'. I can't seem to come up with something clever to replace it right now, but I'll work on that. I love words and I'm sure we can figure out something more appropriate and less offensive to the tongue and ears.

I also don't like office parks or care much for strip malls, but that's neither here nor there. But that's all the things I really don't like. To sum: the word 'blog', office parks, and strip malls. So glad to get that out of the way because there are so many things I do like and admire.

I am married and have three children. Ta-dah! I work outside the home and I'm in my mid-thirty's trying to not live a cliche (like starting a blog in your mid-thirty's), but doing so in many ways and fluctuating between being okay with that and striking out. I love Jesus. I love my husband, Elliot. I love our three children. I love the city we live in, Minneapolis. I love our neighborhood and our neighbors. Life is good and God is even better.

I am passionate about many things. I am a tad serious, but think I have a pretty good sense of humor--so I figure they balance each other out. I like real things. I work for a 'famous American designer' as a rep for one of his lines and I generally like my job--I'm good at it and for the most part we like what we're good at, don't we?

I feel I should state the reason I want to 'blog'. I, like so many, many others, think I have something of value to share and say. I want to do more in my life--I want my work/words to have meaning. So we'll just see about that.

~leah

p.s. Hi, mom.