Romantic novels have earned themselves a special position in literature. As a result, they have an entire genre dedicated to them. Romantic books have been written in every language in the world. For most people the idea of love begins with the romantic novels. Their ideas for their partners are based on the descriptions written by the authors.
For many of us, the introduction to romantic books
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
seeing the purple petunias
Elijah and I sat on the front porch. The weather was cooler than a typical June day, and yet despite the heavy clouds and bursts of wind we were comfortable. He rested on my lap, his soon to be four year old head nestled into my shoulder.
We just sat.
I asked him what he was thinking about and after glancing around the porch he quickly replied -- about purple flowers, momma. There was a huge pot of deep purple petunias sitting by the entry. Anything else, Elijah? I asked. He sighed, and looked around again and simply said -- oh, and about God, momma.
I told him thinking about God was a really good thing and he quickly told me he knew that.
We sat there -- him thinking about purple flowers and God -- and me wondering about life and summer and words. I was mulling over how we define stresses -- I hear it so much -- I'm stressed about this or stressed about that -- and yet, for myself, I wonder if what I'm calling stress should really be called stress.
You know, like getting stressed because I have to do the dishes. Or clean. Or run the kids to ballet. Or mow the lawn. Or plan homeschool curriculum. Or write a post by a deadline. Or get the car washed. Or take those pictures. Or fold the laundry I'm behind on.
I think I might have been calling blessings stresses. And not seeing the beauty of the purple petunias right in front of my face. If I had been Elijah I probably would have said -- I see weeds in the flower garden -- completely missing the beauty of the petunias right in front of me. Sigh.
I'm convicted to think before I refer to items as stress. I remember years ago, when we lived in San Diego {and yes, we moved back to the snowy land of Minnesota} being in a Bible Study with some lovely and wonderful ladies. I was this young mother, and we were going through financial stress -- real hardship -- and we were 2000+ miles from friends and family. After I poured my heart out in a prayer request the next lady was up to share. I can still remember sitting there, with my tear-stained face, as she proceeded to lament about how stressed she was in prepping for her trip to Paris in two weeks, and how she needed so much prayer.
Only seeing the weeds.
It stuck with me. That realization of keeping one's eyes open and not allowing the blessings in life to become the stresses in life. And to be really really careful about what I ask for in a time of prayer requests.
Oh, to be like Elijah. To see the world for all it's beauty. To be content to rest on a patio chair on a June afternoon and think about purple flowers and God.
Let me learn from him.
And see the purple petunias first.
{I've linked with what is on your heart.}
We just sat.
I asked him what he was thinking about and after glancing around the porch he quickly replied -- about purple flowers, momma. There was a huge pot of deep purple petunias sitting by the entry. Anything else, Elijah? I asked. He sighed, and looked around again and simply said -- oh, and about God, momma.
I told him thinking about God was a really good thing and he quickly told me he knew that.
We sat there -- him thinking about purple flowers and God -- and me wondering about life and summer and words. I was mulling over how we define stresses -- I hear it so much -- I'm stressed about this or stressed about that -- and yet, for myself, I wonder if what I'm calling stress should really be called stress.
You know, like getting stressed because I have to do the dishes. Or clean. Or run the kids to ballet. Or mow the lawn. Or plan homeschool curriculum. Or write a post by a deadline. Or get the car washed. Or take those pictures. Or fold the laundry I'm behind on.
I think I might have been calling blessings stresses. And not seeing the beauty of the purple petunias right in front of my face. If I had been Elijah I probably would have said -- I see weeds in the flower garden -- completely missing the beauty of the petunias right in front of me. Sigh.
I'm convicted to think before I refer to items as stress. I remember years ago, when we lived in San Diego {and yes, we moved back to the snowy land of Minnesota} being in a Bible Study with some lovely and wonderful ladies. I was this young mother, and we were going through financial stress -- real hardship -- and we were 2000+ miles from friends and family. After I poured my heart out in a prayer request the next lady was up to share. I can still remember sitting there, with my tear-stained face, as she proceeded to lament about how stressed she was in prepping for her trip to Paris in two weeks, and how she needed so much prayer.
Only seeing the weeds.
It stuck with me. That realization of keeping one's eyes open and not allowing the blessings in life to become the stresses in life. And to be really really careful about what I ask for in a time of prayer requests.
Oh, to be like Elijah. To see the world for all it's beauty. To be content to rest on a patio chair on a June afternoon and think about purple flowers and God.
Let me learn from him.
And see the purple petunias first.
{I've linked with what is on your heart.}
if you give a mom....
...a sunny afternoon chances are she'll walk around and check out the spring growth in her yard -- the peas, and onions, and gladiolas, and finally the blossoms on her apple trees.
...looking at the blossoms on the apple trees will make her look up at the sky and marvel at the blueness of the mid-May sky.
...looking at the blue sky will remind her of her sweet Samuel's eyes -- her Samuel who's having a biopsy on Thursday -- and that will make her heart race just a bit.
...when her heart races she'll stop looking at the apple blossoms. Instead she wants to pick up Samuel, to hold him, and sing to him. She'll find him playing in the yard.
...seeing Samuel play will remind her of Samuel on Sunday as he was staring off of their deck looking at the ducks wandering in their yard. Even though there's not a pond near by. But there has been a great deal of rain creating long lasting puddles throughout the neighborhood -- perfect for ducks.
...thinking about the rain will make her grateful for the working sump pump in their basement. Which, has been running almost none stop since Friday due to the inches and inches and inches of rain that has fallen. Including covering the raspberry patch that was pictured so beautifully on her {friday} favorite things post.
...but, she'll be grateful. The same storms that dumped inches and inches of water on her raspberries also produced many tornadoes. Grateful and still praying for all involved.
...as she's praying she'll think back to the pictures of the sky she took last night after one of the storms. And then she'll remember that colors and shapes and clouds so vivid only happen after a storm.
...and that will remind her of sweet Samuel and the journey, the storm, that she's been on with him. And how her faith has been strengthened -- even in this most challenging of storms. And that a storm can produce beauty.
...and finally, when she remembers that there can be beauty in a storm, she'll pick up her sweet little Samuel, give him an extra hug, and walk outside to stare once again at the beauty of the apple blossoms in her back yard.
...and she'll find that her heart is at peace.
...looking at the blossoms on the apple trees will make her look up at the sky and marvel at the blueness of the mid-May sky.
...looking at the blue sky will remind her of her sweet Samuel's eyes -- her Samuel who's having a biopsy on Thursday -- and that will make her heart race just a bit.
...when her heart races she'll stop looking at the apple blossoms. Instead she wants to pick up Samuel, to hold him, and sing to him. She'll find him playing in the yard.
...seeing Samuel play will remind her of Samuel on Sunday as he was staring off of their deck looking at the ducks wandering in their yard. Even though there's not a pond near by. But there has been a great deal of rain creating long lasting puddles throughout the neighborhood -- perfect for ducks.
...thinking about the rain will make her grateful for the working sump pump in their basement. Which, has been running almost none stop since Friday due to the inches and inches and inches of rain that has fallen. Including covering the raspberry patch that was pictured so beautifully on her {friday} favorite things post.
...but, she'll be grateful. The same storms that dumped inches and inches of water on her raspberries also produced many tornadoes. Grateful and still praying for all involved.
...as she's praying she'll think back to the pictures of the sky she took last night after one of the storms. And then she'll remember that colors and shapes and clouds so vivid only happen after a storm.
...and that will remind her of sweet Samuel and the journey, the storm, that she's been on with him. And how her faith has been strengthened -- even in this most challenging of storms. And that a storm can produce beauty.
...and finally, when she remembers that there can be beauty in a storm, she'll pick up her sweet little Samuel, give him an extra hug, and walk outside to stare once again at the beauty of the apple blossoms in her back yard.
...and she'll find that her heart is at peace.
Tulip: Legend of Perfect Love
In ancient Europe, there was a very beautiful girl who was pursued by three young and handsome princes at the same time. One prince gave her a crown, one gave her gold and one gave her a precious sword. This beautiful girl did not know which one to choose because three of them were all very excellent. She became anxious and appealed for help to the flower goddess. The goddess then transferred her
Today I felt like this...
do we look like this?!
...family in the classic Richard Scarry book. I was reading it to Caleb and Elijah, and the further I got into the story the more I began to relate with being the big family. (When I was a child this was one of my faves...hmmmm....gets me thinking.) Earlier today, after I had dropped of Hannah and Chloe at ballet (they teach), when I arrived home I had to unload all the remaining kids from the suburban. Well, no big deal. Except that my neighbors are getting a new driveway and the workers were taking a break. Right in front of my driveway. So they were watching as:1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 emerged.
If only Hannah and Chloe had been there. Then their jaws would have REALLY dropped.
I love being this family. I love that the neighbor kids play at my house, and in my yard. I joke that we have a child for each neighbor kid to play with. Where I once used to cower and stutter about our family size I've now learned to hold my head up high and be grateful. And proud. And to state, "they are such blessings." Boldly. You see...we were told we probably couldn't have anymore children when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. We had five then...a huge family by society's standards. And yet, we've been blessed with those two little guys Elijah and Samuel since. What blessings. They are amazing gifts. Gifts that I will proudly unload from the crowded suburban in front of workers, or well in reality...anybody.
love my fam
Mother Stitches' words are true...our neighbor kids aren't lonely when we're around. :) My kids are never lonely as well. And, to be truly, honest, even though I'm super busy I wouldn't trade a minute of my time. (Well...I could take a minute or two to sip my coffee...but other than that...oh...you get the picture!!)___________________________________________
I just had to share this picture of tulips that I planted. I can see them right from my kitchen window and they really brighten my day. I love spring. Except for the allergies. They're brutal right now.
