Worth It

November 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

“I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud.

And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes.

I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now.

I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my every day to make God belly laugh, glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift.”

― Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

I love this quote.  This is the goal of how I want to live my life every day.  Think about it for just a minute…  You love your kids.  You would give anything in your power to make them happy, wouldn’t you?  If you have ever heard or learned anything about the love of God then you know how much greater and more pure is His love for us as His children.  God has already given you everything you need for you to enjoy the life He designed just for you.  Stop and fully appreciate all the moments of your life, even ones you think aren’t noteworthy.

One of my favorite moments is before naptime.  I know you’re thinking, “Wow she really stepped outside of the box on that one.  Who doesn’t love a nap?”  I’m not actually talking about the nap and getting to catch up on much needed sleep.  I’m talking about the minutes before the nap.

You know what I’m talking about.  When you found a moment to stop and sit down, breathe a sigh, and veg out for a minute.  You zone out.  The temperature in the room is perfect.  That slightly cool feeling that makes you want to wrap up in a light blanket, like the one on the end of the couch beside you.  The afternoon sky is a touch overcast out the window so the light is subdued with the blinds closed.  The white noise of the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer occupy your mind and every conscious thought starts to fade away.  All of a sudden your eyes start to feel heavy and your body reaches this state of zen relaxation that can’t be described, only felt.  There is something to be said for that state of peace and utter surrender.

For those brief moments you give up control and enjoy the moment.  There are others just as enjoyable….  a fresh cup of your favorite coffee, your favorite flower, random cuddle time with your kids, camping under the summer night sky listening to the pulse of nature, that feeling when your favorite worship song comes on the radio and you realize you got home safely and don’t remember the drive, playing in the rain, dressing at Thanksgiving dinner…

Stop and remember our Creator imagined this moment just for you.  Drink it in.  Enjoy it.  Let Him know that His sacrifice was worth it!

What are some of your favorite, simple life moments you appreciate the most?

Filed Under: Bright Moments, Faith, Inspirational Quotes Tagged With: , ,

Fifteen Years Like a Handful of Yesterdays…

September 17, 2011 By 7 Comments

And today the 14 year old becomes a 15 year old.  Where has the time gone?  He’s been studying for his driver’s permit.  But I can remember when….

I prayed and prayed I was having a boy.  I was afraid of dealing with girl drama.  When the ultra sound tech confirmed my wish, I cried.  I was in labor all night and didn’t know it.  Then in the morning when I started having contractions, I really did know it.  I thought to myself, how cool would it be if he was born on his Uncle Nick’s birthday!  By that evening, that thought was a reality.

Labor…is exactly what they call it for a reason.  But the first time I held him I thought to myself, wow!  I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!  I was scared to sleep the first week.  Then one night I sat straight up in bed so hard and fast that I woke up my ex husband, too.  I heard something in my sleep and didn’t know I had.  Then I heard something coming from the crib.  He had rolled onto his back and spit up and was choking quietly.  Thank you, Lord, for small miracles!

I always wanted to be there so he would know without a doubt he was loved.  But I thought my mother would freak out the day I purposefully poked him with a sewing pin to teach him a lesson about playing with her pin cushion.  I figured the best way to teach him the lesson of leaving it alone-after the 100th time of catching him sitting in a pile on needles-was to prick his hand and let him know why he shouldn’t play with them!  We never found him in needles again after that.

We have made it through being hit by a drunk driver, a divorce, the first day of school, the first day of middle school, homeschooling, the beginnings of adolescence, the first day of high school and now preparing for a driver’s permit.  My precious little boy who started out 23 inches long and 7 lbs 8.5 oz has grown into a 5′ 6″, 256 lb brick wall on the football field.  And heaven help me but he’s STILL GROWING!

He has been the best thing about my life.  And thank God I have had nothing to do with it for the most part.  I am just a guide.  I gave him to the Lord a long time ago because I know what a mess I am.  Even in parenting God can do mighty things with the most humble of materials.  I am amazed as I watch him grow into the man God is shaping him to be.

I am grateful for every moment I have been blessed with this precious gift from heaven.  Why God would entrust me with the charge and care of something so miraculous I will never understand.  But I will spend all my days trying to help him recognize the ways of God in his life.  And remember to thank God every moment for His smallest and greatest blessing…

Filed Under: Bright Moments, Faith, Family, Featured Tagged With: , , ,

Family Night Dinner: Crawfish

June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment


I let the 14 year old’s creative, culinary juices flow and this is his contribution to family night.

And may I say…he did excellent!

The boil started with a pan of water and approximately 1 tbsp of Old Bay Seasoning.

Once the water was boiling we added the crawfish to the delicious sauna.

We also put on jalapeno corn and saffron rice.

The corn couldn’t be simpler.

I used drained, canned corn, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp butter and one bunch

of spring onion tops with about ten splashes of green tobasco.

Getting all greased up :)

We decided to peel all the tails at once and kept them warm in a glass jar with hot butter

until we were finished and plated everything.

I know they are ugly…but sooo good!  That’s a face only a mother could love…

Even at 14, they still play with food!

Voila!

The rice was a money maker at Publix, the canned corn was free during Italian days at Publix and the crawfish was only $4 at Food Lion.  So even a special meal for two can be a frugal and fashionable feast!

Do you like crawfish?  What is your favorite crawfish or seafood recipe?


Filed Under: Bright Moments, Family, Featured, Food & Fitness, Recipes Tagged With: , , ,