Just Be Still.

Just be still.

As I pulled Little One out of his playpen this morning and brought him close to me, he laid his head on my shoulder and didn't move for what seemed like a whole minute. I felt my heart melt. I'm not kidding. I felt a physical response to him just being still so that I could love on him. That brought this thought to me: That sometimes God wants us to just be still. Be still so that He can love on us for just a minute. Be still so that He can wrap us up in His warmth. Be still so that He can breathe life over us. So, today, in all your hurried moments, take just one minute (set a timer if you have to) and be still. Let yourself be aware of Him being there with you. May His heart of pure, un-deserved love be tangible to you.

Just be still.

Neutral.

Our pastor has been on a series about the ABC's of Christianity and it is so good. Somehow we like to make things complicated when God himself did not. It has been good to really look toward going back to the basics (so cliche, but true). He's challenged us to read even just a small portion of scripture each day and write a thought out of that in a notebook. I've been reading I Thessalonians lately and have been thinking about a portion in chapter 5 where we're encouraged to bring out the best in those around us. I've considered my friendships and I can honestly say that there are some I feel like I contribute to the positive and some that I don't. As I've thought about it more, I realize that there is no neutral place. Either I'm contributing or I'm draining. Some people only drain. There are people I avoid because they make me feel like the life is literally draining out of me. I don't want to be that way. I want to be a consistent friend - one who adds to the richness of another's life.


There is an illustration about change (coins) that make this mental picture vivid for me. Imagine yourself sitting across a table from a friend. Each time one or the other does something positive toward the relationship, she adds coins to her pocket. Each time she does something negative, she has to throw coins out on the table. Some friends simply keep pushing more and more coins out on the table through their ugliness... eventually there are no more coins left - no more margin for error. It's at that point that even the smallest of offenses become major issues - there's just no more room. I want to be a friend that consistently adds so that when I do make foolish decisions and am wrong, that I am able to stay at the table.

You Get What You Pay For.

Ok. So, yesterday I was going to post a blog with this same title and what's cool is that as I was thinking it through, I had a revelation of sorts. It all started with the realization a few weeks ago that I couldn't justify the $$$ I was spending on getting my hair cut. I really like the way this girl cuts it, but since I'm getting to stay home with Little One there have been trade-offs. So, yesterday I went to get my hair cut here in town and it cost $12.95 and took the guy less than ten minutes to undo all the cool angles that my hair had and give me a very round (to accentuate, I can only assume, my very round face and very round body) haircut. Anyway, I wanted to post yesterday with the title, "You Get What You Pay For" and write about how much better my $$$ haircuts are than the one I have right now when I believe God reminded me that it is true - that I'm going to get what I pay for. The truth is that every decision that I make, every trade-off that is made that lets me be home with Little One is my "payment" for the opportunity and privilege I have of being Little One's momma and getting to be home with him. So, I'm leaving this post with a completely different attitude today than I would have had yesterday. I'm going to have invested much in Little One and I'm going to reap the benefits of that investment for the rest of my life. And if you see me and think to yourself, "Man, she used to have such cool hair," you can remember that I'm going to get what I paid for.

Boomer-Butt

Ok, so that isn't the nicest title ever, but I just had to show you all the cute little onesie my friend, Kim, made for this year's championship football game! I couldn't get a great pic of Little One with the "Boomer" on his behind, but I still think it's worth sharing.

When We're Not Looking.

I'm learning. Today, as I watched Little One play, I felt a reminder of how God looks at us as His children. I believe God enjoys watching us enjoy the lives He's given us. I don't know where or when it happened, but my idea of God is centered around the belief that He is always good and always loving.

It's just who He is.

So, from that foundation has been built the view that God looks at me with delight; that His heart is toward me; that His will is for my good.

Now, I know there are scriptures to support it, but I can't tell you where to find them... And somehow, friends who can tell you where to find them, can't always believe those words for themselves.
I'm grateful that my heart knows it to be true.
I know that God loves me.
I know that God even likes me.
I know that He delights in our friendship.

And I know that even when I'm not looking, He's watching - and not in a scary way - trying to catch me doing something wrong - but in the same way I watched Little One today... with the heart of a parent, delighting in one who pleases His heart.

Papa- in You my heart is whole, satisfied, content. Teach me to love like you love.

I miss you.

I'm a little bit sad every day. I used to get up every morning and have an ice-cold Dr. Pepper straight from the can. I loved it. It was part of my routine. But something dawned on me... I finally realized I was WAY too attached. I watch the commercials about the people trying to quit smoking and I think they're describing my addiction to Dr. Pepper. So, I had to let it go. I don't want to be a slave to anything. So, Dr. Pepper (ice-cold-in-a-can), I just want to say that I miss you.

Really?!?

So, I was reading my cyber-friend, Chelly's, blog when I noticed that her little updater thing on hers said that I hadn't posted a blog in over a week. Nothing like getting told on by some computer-generated tattle-tale. I was thinking I was doing pretty well - posting on here pretty regularly... I guess not.

Here's a pic of Little One. I was trying to get a pic of his hair - it's always so messed up when he awakens and it cracks me up. But, the flash was too distracting. He kept turning and looking at me... so here is the expression I caught.