Hope

If you were to have a camera that could peak into my mind or  into my heart, the view might confuse you.  Is she happy is she sad?  Are things good or are they bad? Is life easy or is it hard?
Well, the truth is, its ALL of that and EVERYTHING in between.

   Its great when we are celebrating holidays and birthdays.  Making big deals out of everyday life is something that I really enjoy.  Creating a comforting home, special traditions, 

gentle snuggles and daily routines.  

Happiness comes from all of these.   

And then I turn the corner and I land on a memory or my heart is tugged by a loss and a cloud of sadness starts to settle.  Its in those moments that I have to be intentional on how long I sit with sadness.  Sadness and disappointment can steal so much from me.  I have let them before, but that is no longer how I want to deal with difficult things.  My mom reminded me a few days ago that the season we are celebrating these days is about HOPE.  And that is where I want to take my sadness about things I can't control, about people whom I miss, about questions I have about faith and love and how we put it all together.    

I want to bring them to the altar of hope.  As I surrender my control of all of the ups and downs, I know that I will see Jesus in however He chooses to answer.  He speaks to me through songs, through scriptures, through other people, through my children.  His blessing of HOPE is all around, I just need to open up my eyes to see it and my heart to accept what IS here, rather than dwelling on what is not.

Because... 

JOY is why we are celebrating, and HOPE is why my Savior took His place in the manger. 

Come, let us Adore Him.

  

Dearest Marky,

I was so thrilled to talk with you the other

day about the great comments that you

received from your teacher. 

I hope that his remarks confirmed for you

what I already know about you.  

That you are smart and funny; truth-filled

and so beautiful.

I know that it was so hard on you last year 

when you didn't 

get "chosen".

And yet you just kept on going, 

like the brave, sweet girl 

that God made you to be.

But I know that it hurt.

Now today, 

half a year later, I hope that

it has been confirmed to you

that you are 

AMAZING!!

And that you SHOULD have been chosen

and that you are worthy and 

most importantly that you are

ENOUGH. 

Already.  

You are enough, just because of who you are.

And...

I choose you.  Every day.  For the rest of our days. 

I think you are incredible. 

I am so proud of you.

Every day.

It is a privilege to be your mom.

Love, 

Me

 

I found remnants of summer in the garden yesterday.

These are the frost survivors.

So beautiful, so hardy.

This weekend, I'm planning on

getting out in the yard and preparing it for winter.

Cutting things back, pruning, trimming.

Preparing the ground for next spring.

I love this time of year.