Soaring and Stillness: Life with the Chickadees

This last week has been a complete gift. Unexpected joys. Laughter. Hugs that fill you inside and take up any space that feels even the slightest bit empty. So.Thankful. 1. Someone whom I love, currently serving overseas on a short term mission, is headed home soonly . She's been able to effectively communicate the word and show love HIS LOVE to those who desperately need it. She's been spreading hope and joy into other's lives. She's invested. I've been honored to partner with her in prayer, and she's returning stronger than when she left. I can't wait to have her rejoin our lives and see the changes in hers. 2. The professor is an amazing guy. He chooses every day to love us, to stay committed to me, and to take time off from his research and crazy busy schedule to drive halfway across the country with the girls and me. He pretty much just rocks. 3. My sweet chickadees spent fifteen hours in the car at the beginning of the week and in about 24 hours wil

This has been a very difficult week. Thus, my five will probably reflect the fact that I'm thankful we're heading up to a weekend and a new seven days ahead. I'm going to honestly work to find things I am thankful for though, so maybe this will turn out better than I think... 1. Last Friday I received the phone call that broke my heart. I learned to function through the pain. 2. The professor left Sunday for a week in Cape Cod, MA. I wasn't able to travel with him because my body will no longer let me go 19 hours each way in a vehicle. This makes me hopping mad. 3. I was reminded of the good in others specifically by two amazing women who are loving on my friend, and by the countless others loving her from afar. 4. It finally rained. Yes, I know this one is weak, but I am grasping, and am most thankful that I was able to not use the irrigation system this week. I'm also a lover of storms how they sound and not how they make me feel and the drops colliding with the

As the mama bird in this nest, I often feel that pieces of me are going in a million different directions; paying the bills, balancing budgets, schooling the chicks and accompanying them to dance and piano...in essence, keeping the nest. I flit and fly trying to get everything done. I was unusually unsettled Thursday evening, more preoccupied than normal because a piece of me was hurting. I spent the early hours of Friday in prayer and woke to preoccupation, checking texts and twitter, keeping the phone close. In the late afternoon my phone rang as I was working on piano theory with Little Bit. It wasn't a number I recognized so I let it go to voice mail , thinking it was simply a mistake. Five minutes later, same number. This time I picked up, the question mark in my voice. My stomach dropped as my heart broke; all I wanted to do was take flight. A piece of me was hurting. The call left me shaken and ready for action, but what was I to do? I prepared dinner with barely a murmur.

We all made it through Leg's Independence Day Marathon...with our heads attached. While experiencing it, we weren't sure anyone would make it out alive. On Tuesday evening, Little Bit fell asleep on my chest as I sang her a lullaby . I can't remember the last time it happened, but it was sweetness to my soul. Legs attended a middle school event at church every morning this week. She was fed spiritually and I had time with the little to paint nails, curl hair, cuddle and watch musicals. Sonic was 3 for 3 this week on the quality ( think of the three t's --taste, texture, tang) of my fresh fruit lime slushes purchased during happy hour. Unheard of but greatly appreciated. I set aside time twice this week to talk to my friend on the phone. Just for me. Without interruptions well, not too many . Pure bliss. Tell me about your week the great and not-so in the comments. Looking forward to your Take 5

I have the great honor of studying God's Word with my chickadees I learn about His heart and theirs at the same time I am constantly amazed at the depth of question and understanding that come from little hearts There is pure, childlike faith Trust is evident Joy is obvious Sometimes, there is laughter Yesterday Little Bit and I sat down to dive in together. Her big sis was at church better learning how to both speak and listen to her God. Boo and I were sitting at the kitchen table, finishing breakfast and studying together. We read chapter 2 of the beginning (aka Genesis 2) and continued on to the Psalms. After we both recited a Psalm aloud, she stopped me by placing her little hand atop mine. "Mama, why are we not singing these?" she questioned. I paused and replied, "Well, they don't have any music with them...and I don't know exactly how David intended they be sung, so...." I trailed off as she looked at me expectantly. Quickly Little Bit came up wi

Legs is without question our firecracker. She entered this world red and screaming and full of "it", whatever that's meant to imply. She's her own unique, intelligent, gifted chick. She makes our nest full and amazing and never ceases to keep us on our toes. OUR TIP TOES . She is beautiful, petite, graceful and spunky. Her presence fills the room. Especially when she's hot and bothered (as our nest is in the south, I feel free using this expression). This was one of those weekends where both hot and bothered aptly applied to our eldest. Honestly, the professor and I were a bit insert monumentally concerned over this three day weekend that we'd have to make use of our contract with Rural Metro, seeing as the nest was rocked by explosions and fireworks. It was loud, it was messy, and it certainly couldn't be labeled as pretty. On Friday eve, our middle school babe walked in from a friend's house wearing eyeshadow and black nail polish. Totally ready for

This Week... This week I've stated "She can't hurt a thing." and meant it every single time This week I drove to Gatlinburg to eat at a pancake place for lunch, and I don't eat lunch This week I've done loads of laundry to remove meals off of clothing and I've treasured folding every single piece This week I watched my eldest with new eyes as she toted on a hip, grabbed things, entertained and all around looked like I did with her--although beautiful, this scared me This week I didn't care that my wood floors weren't cleaned and shiny--I treasured little tiny footprints mixed with big ones all over it This week my main room looked bare--all of the throw pillows were removed and the rug pulled up so I didn't have to worry about milk being spilled or cheese and cracker crumbs being dropped--but my couch was full This week, my Wheatie, Tallulah Mae (aka Lulu) became "OOOH-LU" and was the most gentle and sweet I've ever seen h

To ease back into blogging (my last attempt was heartfelt but relatively short-lived) I've decided to initiate take 5 Friday. Eventually I'd like to do a link feature in case anyone else desires to participate and needs inspiration, but for now we'll just settle for me trying to be consistent in blogging on this set day of the week. The idea is simple--I'll take 5 minutes to reflect and list a quintet of amazing (or not so) events or happenings of the week. Five reasons to be thankful for the week, or maybe five to be thankful that the weekend has arrived. Either way? I'm choosing gratitude. What comes to mind when you take 5 this week? Take 5 1. My chicks have danced consistently in their new home studio; mirrors are up, flooring is in, and the barre arrived via UPS today. 2. The eldest is acting more and more like a middle schooler (the land which we've just joined with her) and I'm not sure that I'll successfully make it through the next decade with