House
Yesterday, Jay, the kids and I went out to check on the progress of our new home that’s in the final phase of construction. It looks a lot better than it did a week ago, thankfully. I think it’s going to be nice when it’s done.
We drove up there after Jay got home from work last night, so the sun was setting by the time we got there. I didn’t realize it, but the back of our home points west (well, more like the back left corner points west), so we can see the sun set each evening from our patio, living room, or master bedroom. This is a HUGE perk to me … I never get tired of marveling at beautiful sunsets.
We close ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! I’m really finally letting myself get excited about it. Oh, my gosh, I have so much work to do. Packing, cleaning, painting, baby-proofing (Mikaela still needs it … believe me.) … I guess I should stop writing and start working!
what a day
Today was really great. We started out taking the kids to a kiddie play center and wound up driving to another city – Marble Falls - spontaneously. We ate at the FABULOUS Bluebonnet Cafe while we were there. Reminds me of the southern cookin’ I grew up on, and the pies they serve are to DIE for – truly just like my grandmother used to make.
Anyway, after our jaunt to Marble Falls, we drove back towards home and stopped at Jay’s parents’ house on the way home. They live in the country and it’s so beautiful to visit, but I don’t think I could live there. Too many critters and rednecks. But I digress.
The area they live in is absolutely beautiful. It was a cool afternoon (it cooled off into the 80s after it rained), so I took the kids and bounced on the trampoline out behind their grandparents’ house. They giggled the whole time and cried when we left.
On our drive back home, the sun was setting and the clouds were painting pink, feathery pictures across the sky. Oh, the halcyon days of late summer …
“Look at that pretty sunset that God made.”
Jay and I were walking out of Target this evening with the kids in tow. We’d been rushing around all day, as usual. On our way to our minivan, we passed a lady who was putting her kids into her car. She popped her head up as we passed and exclaimed, wide-eyed, “Just look at that pretty sunset that God made!”
I stopped and looked at it and acknowledged her, and then she told us to have a blessed evening. I passed her by and then REALLY looked at the sunset – something I don’t do nearly enough in my hustle and bustle lately – and thanked God for it.
My description might make her sound a little loony, but she wasn’t – she was overflowing with joy and wanted everyone to Know what she Knows. I was touched.
I’ve been a Christian since I was 3. But I spent a lot of my younger years living my life for no one but myself in reality.
And I still struggle. I just get so caught up with life. There’s always an excuse not to get up and go to church on Sunday morning – and we are trying hard to stop making them and just GO.
It’s even been hard to say a complete prayer since I had kids. I mean, I have .. I DO pray, but my prayer life is definitely not what it once was. My mind wanders all too often to what I need to do tomorrow, what the kids are getting into, you name it.
But, I keep learning the same lesson over and over again, and you think it would’ve sunk in by now: without praying before and during my day, it always turns out to be stressful and/or just downright horrible. But when I start the day out by asking God for the strength and wisdom and patience to get through that day, it’s SO much easier to cope.
Speaking of Christianity, I read two articles recently that really impacted me. I’d like to share them with you.
