Smilin' at You

Thanks for all the great comments for the Simple Things post. They made me smile, especially my sister Gilmore Girls fans.
Winter has kicked in here today. The wind is tossing the snow around like fine flour and it is cold. What a great day to be indoors and warm up the kitchen.
I cooked up a storm. Turkey taco soup is in the crockpot and GF cinnamon bread is baked, cooled, sliced, and in the freezer (I keep Gluten Free bread there to be used when I want- keeps longer).
The best of all- I have regular oatmeal bread rising for my hubby. I haven't made it in years because I was always so discouraged that I can't eat it (gluten), but today- I don't know, maybe acceptance kicked in. Maybe gratitude. A simple thing to some- special to me. Now here's hoping it turns out edible.

The Simple Things

For each blog that posts about the simple things we are grateful for, Christina's family over at Soul Aperture will donate a dollar to Doctors without Borders for Haiti. You can click on her blog in my favorites to the right.

A friend brought me a bag last week with things that I love:

• a mug with the word HOPE on it
• a small journal
• book highlighters
• a lavender bookmark
• lip balm
• a tiny light to put on my keychain
• and a simple linen bag to hold all these treasures

I was touched and encouraged all week.

More on my gratitude list:

• warmer weather than usual for January
• safety in traveling
• Gilmore Girls- season 5
• good books
• my family
• candy cane tea and dark chocolate
• a new necklace with things I love
• sneaking a nap- with no interruptions
• a massage to ease my aching muscles
• birthday call to my granddaughter
• a postcard from my youngest granddaughter
• grandson's laughter

I love the little things in life :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy 14th Birthday, my sweet girl.

I miss you all day today.

Hugs, Kisses, and lots of Love ,
Mammy

What more can I say? A picture is worth a thousand words. Hope this encourages you and inspires you today.

Finding My Rhythm

It seems that the blogging has slowed down a bit for many of my favorites.
I, too, am re-establishing rhythm to my life.
The holidays knocked me off kilter, so this week I grabbed a stack of books from my stash and headed for the couch. My plan was to read the first twenty pages in each until I found the one I wanted to read. I never made it past the first book, which isn't pictured because I am reading it. My daughter recommended, "The Lost Recipe for Happiness". So far it's perfect- delicious recipes, New Mexico flavor, unique characters.
I am finally relaxing and enjoying myself. I even snuck in a nap this week. Sorry to all you hard-working gals and moms who can't do this, but my body was crying for rest.
Taking the blogging a little slower too.
Finding your rhythm? Share, I'd love to hear about it.

Looking Back

I was so excited to get this package in the mail on Saturday. The last six months of my blog are chronicled on paper :)
In July, my daughter surprised me with the first book for my birthday, so I wrote the dedication to her.
I am a hands-on kinda girl. I'll never be a reader of books on a kindle or iphone, because I love the feel of the pages and the smell of the book itself.
Just wanted you to know I am thinking of blogging and looking back at my blog, even when it's quiet here on the blogfront.
Go to Sharedbook.com to create and order a book of your blog.

Cute and Confused

How did a nice dog like me get myself into this?

This pic of Duchess, the sweet, gentle pet belonging to my grandaughter seems to fit my mood tonight.
I took this fitness personality test in a health magazine tonight. Mostly, the results pointed to the fact that I am an introvert. So how did a nice, shy girl like me get herself into this?
Last night was the first night of our church-wide Bible study of Beth Moore's Believing God. We are running a nursery and a small children's program simultaneously, as well as a morning Sunday School class. All of this is being done by six women, me included. without going into too much detail, we had an amazing turnout and a few unexpected challenges. I got up this morning feeling just like Duchie.
What is this insistent calling that moves me out of my comfort zone into these stressful situations, when at heart I am a stay-at-home gal?
2010 was to be my year to change. I feel just like the pic- part of me on one step, part of me on another. Make up my mind already!

Sunset Over the Mall

Last year at this time we were in a deep freeze in northern Maine, my hubby had a bad cold and I was just beginning my blog. Today the temperature is in the 20's although they are plummeting tomorrow, all are healthy, and I just finished a delicious evening with the Gilmore Girls, now up to season 4.

Normally I spend the first of a new year setting goals, only to see half of them fall by the wayside in a few months. This year 2010 simply and quietly arrived for me. We were in New Mexico enjoying our family, shut off from the rest of the world and it was rather nice. No fanfare, no lofty goals or large regrets. I simply shifted into the new year.

I went to the gym today and picked up a schedule and a sign-up sheet, but I am trying to live with restraint, hoping if I pace myself, I'll last longer. Usually I push beyond my limits and my body with a few health problems can't take the strain.

I wrote a few things in my journal in December that I want to focus on this winter, but I am going to let them unfold .

Let me tell you about the photo above. I spent an afternoon shopping at the mall with my daughter and granddaughter. They were in the store making a final purchase while I plunked down in a chair to rest for a few minutes. I was facing one of the entrances to the mall and happened to see the sunset. Grabbing my phone I ran out the door and took a picture. Shortly after I took this one with my camera.
It was in the pause that my eyes were open to such beauty. I don't want to miss one sunset this year.

I See You

Transitioning from New Mexico to Maine begins my new year.

My husband and I drove the 5 hours to southern Maine to spend Christmas with our sons and their families.After the flurry of gifts, good food, hugs and kisses etc. we flew out the next day to spend a week with our daughter and her family. It was good just to be together.
Although this was my third trip to the southwest, its unique beauty continues to captivate me.

All too soon, it was time to leave. As we flew over New England, I pondered the changes in the countryside itself. The Psalm I had read that morning referred to the Lord on high as mighty. I thought of how different the perspective from the clouds than when I am right in the thick of my life. I pondered how I couldn't even see actual people from on high, yet God sees all. A phrase from the movie Avatar broke into my thoughts.

I See You.

I knew God was speaking those words to me. I see you. I really see you- your thoughts, your hopes and dreams, your hurts and disappointments, all that matters to you.

Those words remain in my heart. I read in Genesis today where Hagar called Him, "The God Who Sees Me."

This is the name of God for me this year of 2010- the God who sees me.