it is well with my soul

This Sunday I'm sharing -- just a bit -- at the Christmas Women's Event for our church.  There's a bit of irony in my story -- as I'm sharing on peace -- and my life, at least right now, is so far from peace that I don't know how to begin.  As I raced from destination to destination today, buckling and unbuckling kids, and going over my never-ending mental to-do list I found my stress level ramping higher and higher.

And I'm to talk about peace?

Maybe it's not about December being peaceful.  Because, seriously, unless you live in the middle of nowhere with no internet, television, phone, car service, and more I don't know how December can be anything but mildly busy.  Certainly  not peaceful.

Yet, there's still peace in my heart. 

Peace found in snippets of time throughout my day.

Peace isn't about having all the ducks-in-a-row and everything quiet.  I could waste my life trying to find peace that way -- time would keep moving and instead of peace I'd be brewing bitterness, or jealousy, or sadness.  Peace is recognizing the beauty of NOW.  Enjoying the moments placed in our lives -- living fully -- and grateful. My life could be a mess and yet there still can be peace in my soul.

I just need to embrace it -- love the moments I've been blessed with.  Samuel's smile. Brennan's laughter. Hannah's singing.  Caleb's hug. Chloe's servant's heart. Elijah's silliness.  Gracie's "i love you's." Todd's faithfulness.  That's peace in the midst of everything.

The irony?  I start writing thinking my life is too crazy to have peace and I discover that my life is full of peace.   Maybe not peace like we'd imagine.  Or at least I'd imagine -- you know perfect stillness -- and yet, really, when you think of that first Christmas the setting was the farthest thing from peace.  There in a barn, with straw as a bed, perfect peace was found. Not in the environment, but in our Savior.

Beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Wk3-Planting Chums and my weekend

Brennan

Hannah's planting chums topic this week is fave foto. (Make sure to check it out.  The give-aways are simply outstanding...sunglasses, purse, prints and more)  How in the world do you pick a favorite photo?  My home is filled with pictures. I have a wall filled with black and whites, shelves overflowing with frames, scrapbooks with images next to doodles thoughts, and a computer jammed full of digital pictures waiting to be printed.  So I had to pick one....or maybe two.

And then I remembered this picture of Brennan.  We were at a church picnic at a house on a lake near our home.  It's a beautiful old farm house that the owners use as a mission of service.  They rent it out for weddings, youth retreats, and more.  And there, they have this old swing tied high to a tall stately tree. Brennan spotted it immediately.

Mom....PLEASE?  Can I?  Can I?  Please???

Of course I told him yes.  Even though he was only four, and the swing at parts was really high. High.  Not little-bitty high, but feeling like you are flying high. I let him try it even though he seemed so little and the swing so big.  And he loved it.  I saw my little guy laughing with freedom and joy. So I took out this old digital camera I had and started taking pictures.  And for some beautiful reason, I caught his utter enjoyment.

Twice.

Freedom!

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On a different note, I won't be around for the next two days.  I'm helping to lead a women's retreat for our church.  We're basing it off of the video series Measureless Love by Beth Moore.  This world quantifies everything, and it is all too easy to put the love the Lord has for us in that category.  But, friends, that is so far from the truth.  Truth is?  His love is beyond anything we can imagine.  Will you pray that the women coming are blessed and that their hearts are ready to receive this truth?  

...may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love  of Christ... (Ephesians 3:18)