Lemonade

Sometimes...
You just gotta shake your head
in defeat
and smile
and laugh
and think to yourself
"Yep, this would only happen to us..."

Like coming home from a cross-country flight
at 11pm at night
to a mile-long line of people waiting for a taxi
just like you
all cold, tired and hungry
all wanting to get to their nice, warm homes

Finally arriving home
to a 56 degree home
where you see your breath when you walk in
(mmmm nice and cozy)

try turning on the heater
try turning on the lights
...and they don't turn on
half of the house has no power
for no reason

Go light the candles!
Go grab extra blankets!
Get cozy!
...

And here I sit in 3 layers of clothing
laughing that I can see our breath
and can't feel my toes

Loving that my husband is so handy
and full of common sense
calling an electrician

Sometimes...
you just gotta make lemonade with those darn lemons

(Thank the good Lord above the coffee maker still has power...
or I can tell you one thing. There would definitely be no lemonade in this house)

When I grow up, I will have that!

We stepped off the plane in Delaware
and a cold hit my face

"Get in the car as fast as you can!"
I told myself

The car rolls up
hugs are exchanged
the seat heaters are on

"When I grow up, I will have seat heaters in my car!"
...

We get to the house
windows look out to the bay
beautiful from the warmth inside

"When I grow up, I will have a house with a view like this!"
...

While reading "Crazy Love" in the front nook
(looking out at the bay)
I read this passage:

     "In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained that the seed is the truth (the Word of God). When the seed is flung onto the path, it is heard but quickly stolen away. When the seed is tossed onto the rocks, no roots take hold; there is an appearance of depth and growth because of the good soil, but it is only surface level. When the seed is spread among the thorns, it is received but soon suffocated by life's worries, riches, and pleasures. But when the seed is sown in good soil, it grows, takes root, and produces fruit. 
     My caution to you is this: Do not assume you are good soil.
     I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it."

Well...
Yes, yes I have learned something here

I cant help that I still want seat warmers
But I want the Lord more
And when focused on all I have in Him
I am overwhelmed

Please... Don't rush me.

I'm in a hurry
I'm in Target
Everyone is in a hurry
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!

I witnessed a conversation between a sales associate and a shopper:
Sales Ass: Yes Ma'am, we are out of those Christmas items... and it is so close to Christmas that they decided not to order any more Christmas stuff.
Shopper: Don't you know that its only December 12th?! There are 13 more days before Christmas! That's a lot of days!

(Just to clarify, this shopper was not me, although it sounds like me)

The exchange made me smile at first
Then it made me a little sad

The buyers for Target have moved on from Christmas
as if it has already come and passed

I wanted to scream "Stop rushing me! STOP RUSHING CHRISTMAS!"
Then it dawned on me
What the heck am I doing in Target if I want to be enjoying this Christmas season so much?
So I left Target

...

As I watch the lights on my tree twinkle
(only the top half of the tree... who knew I only had one strand of twinkle lights?)
I am overwhelmed by how fast time moves and...
I have only this moment to fully dwell on the here and now

Please stop and enjoy this moment with me