In the Dark

Isn't this the way that I came?  Steady beats and swishes by my wipers kept me company while I strained to find road signs that would reassure me.

I had lost my bearings and was two hours away from home.

 I'll go five more miles.  If I don't see anything familiar, I'll turn around.

Ten miles later and no safe place to pull over, I felt for my phone.   The  charger had not been working.  Without the phone, I couldn't use any of the car's SYNC system to guide me.  I had only had the car since last Spring and was still learning about it's features.

The tone sounded.  My phone had power. Whew!  I pushed the button to activate the GPS.  The automated voice asked for my destination. On a whim, I replied, "Operator." 

Someone answered!

Suprised, I told him that I was lost.  "No problem.  I'll locate you and send you turn by turn directions to guide you home."

My shoulders relaxed.  My grip on the steering wheel did, too. 

As I drove, I reflected.  How often do I just go ahead and do my own thing, only to find out that I have lost my way?  Would I find more peace if I made a more deliberate attempt each day to stay in tune with God's voice?

 If my life is like a quilt, I found another seam to redo.  I'll grab my seam ripper and straighten things out again.  I can do this so much easier when I'm wrapped in  a community of believers, rich in love and rooted in Scripture.  Well, I've got to go.  It's time for church.






  

Sunday Seam Rippers

Tempted to hit the snooze button again, I rolled over.  Whoosh! The covers off, I rushed to get a shower.  I didn't want to miss church-affectionately coined "Sunday Seam Rippers."

As a novice quilter, I use one of these to take seams out when I have discovered a crooked seam between patches.  In the past, I tried to ignore my mistakes and hoped that no one would notice. But now, my quilts, whether hung around my house, given as gifts or to charity, are seen.  So, some days are spent with a generous amount of ripping. This simple little tool pulls the thread that binds two pieces together.  Then, and only then, can I straighten things out and start over.




It's Advent.  I have always associated this time with Christmas card writing, tree trimming, prayer, advent wreaths and gift getting.   Last Sunday, I watched a video clip of a segment by a group called Busted Halo.  It's called, "Advent in 2 minutes."  I stand corrected.

Check it out. http://bustedhalo.com/video/advent-in-two-minutes

It was the bottom on the last inning and the home team came up to bat.  Our team was in the lead by nine runs.  The outfield looked relaxed.  Maybe even a little cocky. There was a pitch and a hit.  Yikes.  The ball flew past shortstop and there was a scramble.

Hmm. 

Yesterday was a little like that game.  I started the day and felt confident that we would have a great day in school.  Piece of cake.

Ten minutes after the bell, "Ms. Hetzel, She stole my crayon!"

Before you begin to worry, yes, justice was restored.  The crayon was returned.  The girls embraced.  All was well.

For a moment.

God constantly reminds me that I need to stand ready.  The game is not over until it's over.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.    (Mat 24:44 NIV)

That's What It's All About

I have been running from one appointment to another, racing through my "to-do" list, only to feel frustrated and defeated.  Yuck.   Overbooking myself physically and mentally is not getting me anywhere. 

It took two middle schoolers to bump me back into reality again.  It started as one weekend Science project involving atoms and molecules.  Well, actually, there were two projects since they didn't finish the lab about making ice cream.  And the first one looked so simple.  They were "done" within 30 minutes.  Against their pleas to do otherwise, I looked at the rubric (list of required features)  and proceeded to tell them that they had only scratched the surface. 

It's twelve hours later and they are almost done.  Well, kind of.  And no, before you are alarmed, they did not work twelve consecutive hours.  On the contrary, they have given me an example of how I should plan my days: brief periods of work, alternated by play.

Of course, we needed supplies. So our time on this project has included a trip to the grocery store, supper at a local Chinese restaurant (because "Mom, we can't think if we're hungry!"), countless episodes of rolling eyes,  debates (what constitutes good enough versus completing the assignments), spills, races with our dachshund (affectionately named Dipstick),  research on the computer, lots of laughs, candy, writing, rock salt, duct tape, more spills, sleeping in, playing on the piano, more writing, many heavy sighs, and a few more pieces of duct tape just to be sure.

So, I learned something this weekend, too.  I need to mix in a little more playtime.  Maybe I would find myself smiling more and rejoicing in the Lord.  After all, that is what it's all about.