Snapshots Through a Keyhole

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Visiting Miracle

Yesterday was a good day. (#456) Angelica and I went to C to visit Miracle and celebrate her birthday. (#457) I had a few minutes to visit with my friend DP before she left for work (#458) and then Angelica and I got started making cupcakes and icing.

After that was finished, we went outside and sat with M and the boys.

We had a delicious dinner of grilled steaks with squash and watermelon. (#459)

Baby M was tuckered out by then and fell asleep in his highchair after a few bites of squash.

With cupcakes and root beer floats for dessert.

Nearing the end of the day, M and I went into the room she shares with the baby and looked through all the things I had bought to make organizing such a small space easier. We sifted and sorted her few belongings as well as the baby's so that we could make space for both of them. When we finished, it seemed as if a visible weight had been lifted off of Miracle. (#460) Having personal space organized in a house that is chaotic with the energy and love of four boys is important. After that Angelica and I headed home and off to bed.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Happy Birthday Miracle!!

I love this girl

with all of my heart.

And I am so proud

of the young lady she has become.

She is an amazing person

and I have no doubt

that whatever path she chooses in life

she will succeed.

Each day

I am overwhelmed with gratitude

that I have the privilege

of being called her mom

and guiding her along life's path.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Rainbows

Today was a good day. (#446) I was feeling a bit down because I wasn't strong enough to go to church and then a graduation party but then God used three separate things to encourage me. First before Angelica arrived home from church and the celebration, ML asked me for a ride to C. (#447) It means a lot to me that ML felt the freedom to ask for my help. I told her I couldn't drive her because I was too weak today but I would ask A when she arrived home. Of course, Angelica said yes. (#448) Second, since Miracle is in C working as a nanny, I rode along and we had the chance to visit with her. (#449) Third, I arrived home and found an email from a new *friend* and in it she had mentioned two verses, both of which an encouragement to me. (#450)

2 Cor 4:16

Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day.

Hebrews 6:10

"For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones."

The verse in 2 Corinthians is a needed reminder that no matter the state of my outward body, my spirit is constantly being made new by the grace of God. (#451) Hebrews reminds me that even though I am not strong enough to physically serve in the church anymore that God has not forgotten all I have done for Him these past 20 years. (#452) It also reminded me of a conversation I had with a pastor friend years ago when he said that it is always easy to replace the acts of service done by the younger crowd - tangible things like scrubbing toilets - but the loss of an older servant who no longer serves in tangible ways but instead prays without ceasing was always felt and impossible to replace - that people don't stop serving the church but rather graduate to a more important form of service. (#453)

Plus, on the way home I saw this:

(#454)

It's not the best picture I know but you can just barely make out the faintest rainbow. Rainbows of course remind me of the promise God made that He would never again flood the entire earth at one time but more than that they remind me that God keeps His promises - ALL OF THEM. (#455) So today was definitely a good day. :)

Saturday, May 24, 2014

My Day - #440-445

Today was definitely productive. (#440) I scanned more than fifty photos into the computer and organized them plus added most of them to albums on facebook. Today I am thankful for fb because it is an easy way to do things like organize photos and connect with people. (#441) I came across photos of several people I haven't seen in years and was able to reach out and send them friend requests. (#442) Ideally that moment of reconnecting would also happen face to face soon but with the hectic nature of people's lives and the unpredictability of this disease facebook often has to be good enough. I also sifted through some papers, loaded the dishwasher, washed some dishes by hand, and folded three loads of laundry that Angelica had washed. I am thankful that even though she wasn't feeling well, she was able and willing to do laundry today. (#443) I talked to Miracle on the phone. (#444) She is doing well at her new nanny job. (#445) I am thankful she has this opportunity even though I miss her.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Buttons and Earrings - Who Knew?!?

There have been a rapid succession of long, albeit good, days interspersed with days I am too sick to be out of bed for more than a few minutes. I promise I am still here and in a different way am still counting my blessings but I am also looking forward to getting back into a routine and finding health again and writing about all of that here.

For today, here is something I saw on fb that I wanted to pin. It's a brilliant idea really and in addition to keeping pairs together while traveling or even in a jewelry box, it would make picking up small earrings easier for fingers that aren't quite as nimble as they once were.