Sandwiched

Join me in the Five Minute Friday Challenge hosted by Lisa-Jo Baker. Participants write for 5 minutes with no editing, no over thinking, and no backtracking. This week’s word is: In between.

 

(Go)

First came the mint green clothed in years worth of grotty. Even scrubbed clean it isn’t really. We’ve patched and mended. Added white and blue. Come up with ways to make the yuck a little less so.  Like adding makeup to a damaged face that really needs plastic surgery. There just isn’t time. A week and a half would have kept us busy enough. Five days has made it difficult not to stress too much. One and two in the wee hours of the morning have become suddenly familiar. Plan A has warped into Plan B. Still we push on. Plan C is blossoming on the horizon. So much still to do. We wanted to be at the end by now but find ourselves sandwiched in between. Our hearts inspire grand visions and possibilities. Our heads speak of practical limitations. However far we reach tonight will have to do.

What matters is that you are loved. And know it.

(Stop)

Now, your turn…

A Clean Rhythm

Join me in the Five Minute Friday Challenge hosted by Lisa-Jo Baker. Participants write for 5 minutes with no editing, no over thinking, and no backtracking. This week’s word is: Rhythm.

 

(Go)

I’m not kidding when I tell you the house is messy. That may be more of a euphemism than anything else. Life feels out of whack in general. In my head, in my home, in my heart. I’ve been too exhausted to even look at it. So I’ve granted myself some ‘Mary time’ and rested. The chaos will still be there when I’m feeling better.

A moment of inspiration. A wee burst of ‘oomph’. The dishwasher is emptied. The stack of dirty dishes on the bench shrinks as I reload.

While I’m up I might as well see what else can be done. It’s not really all that hard to carry the dirty clothes basket to the laundry and pile stuff into the machine.

Yesterday these tasks were more than I could handle. Today the rhythm of the machines (may God mightily bless the inventors thereof) is music to my soul. The mess is unraveling, shrinking, quietening down. Giving way to order, a fresh start, and peace.

(Stop)

Now, your turn…

A Hot Chocolate Moment

So the blog has been pretty quiet lately. Life has been ultra busy. And I’ve been sick (with the flu) and as much as I think about writing and desire to put something down on paper (or keyboard) so to speak – it just hasn’t happened.

So I give myself the week off. I think, well I can always blog next week when life is a little less hectic. But each week seems to bring with it a long list of to-dos. And I get overwhelmed (again).

This is life right now. This is the season I’m in. Officially school holidays begin in a couple more days. But I can’t even think about resting because we have so much we need to achieve during that time.

I have shared some of these burdens with a beautiful group of women in an (in)courage group (join one if you can). I am so blessed to have them in my life. These caring souls who have lifted my burdens heavenward, speak encouragement to my heart also.

God is bigger.

He knows what’s going on.

He can handle it.

Rest in Him.

^{Jeremiah 32:17} “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 

So won’t you sit here for a quiet moment with me? Perhaps enjoy a cup of tea, or hot chocolate. We grow that in our garden. It’s a rose.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

I Can Only Imagine

Join me in the Five Minute Friday Challenge hosted by Lisa-Jo Baker. Participants write for 5 minutes with no editing, no over thinking, and no backtracking. This week’s word is: Imagine.

(Go)

Dear Stepson,

Emails have been flying back and forth lately at a crazy rate. Your phone call this evening confirmed what we’ve been waiting to hear. You’re coming to stay. For eighteen months. The longest you’ve stayed before has been about a week.

We are excited. We are scared. Our brains are going into overload as we try to piece our racing thoughts together. We relish the opportunity to get to know you better. To establish the kind of relationship we have (up until this point) only dreamed of. We have never looked after a teenager before. The eldest child that lives here is ten. And he has Asperger’s - so his lists of interests don’t always exactly fit the norm. We find this genuinely frightening. We don’t know what to do with someone your age.

Our parenting style is quite different to what we understand you are used to. We pray that it won’t be too difficult to get used to each other’s ways. We know that some things have been a little less than happy with the other parent figures in your life. Please know that we want to start this journey with you, with a clean slate. We’ll even paint your room. But first we’d better build it. We have dreamed up a cosy little space for you. The renovating is screaming louder than ever. I have it all mapped out in my mind. I hope you like it when it’s done.

Together we’ll learn things we never knew before. I’m certain you’ll teach us and grow us just as much as we want to help you and be there for you. We look forward to the highs and are bracing ourselves for the lows. We will leave it all in God’s hands.

You arrive in just over a month. How are you feeling? I can only imagine…

(Stop)

Now, your turn…

The View From Here

Join me in the Five Minute Friday Challenge hosted by Lisa-Jo Baker. Participants write for 5 minutes with no editing, no over thinking, and no backtracking. This week’s word is: View.

(Go)

The view from here seems rather daunting

With all its unknown twists and turns.

This path that I have never trodden,

Looms large and dark with things unsure.

Will it be a happy journey?

Or will its burdens drag me down

To depths of strength I’ve not yet found?

The view from here might overwhelm me

If I should sit and dwell upon

The muddy puddles sure to spring up

And catch me without my gumboots on.

The view from here might overcome me

If I just look straight ahead.

But turning round I soon discover

One beside me, taking my hand.

He will walk this passage with me

And I will not be alone.

Should troubles come I need not worry

He will guide me to the end.

(Stop)

Now, your turn…