Looking up and on

I know I've been pretty quiet lately. It's been busy in a good way. We've been busy with things like paints, scissors and glue. Then there's been the packing and driving. We've been doing lots of reading. It seems trivial when I put it down, but these all used to be regular things in our days. Normal until the bottom fell out of my careful, know it all Attachment Parenting/homeschool prone life. So their return signifies a healing that has come. And I am profoundly grateful.

We celebrated my brother's 2yr anniversary a couple of weeks ago. And my mom's 1yr date is coming next week. I know there is no amount of time or events that make it all right, good things have happened that bring blessings beneath the shadow of the events. Some day, I wonder if these events will overshadow the actual event. I both hope and do not.

The young lady my brother had been seeing had a wake up call and returned to school. She just finished her program with honors and is now looking for a job. She brought along a friend on the adventure. Two lives challenged to rise above. Yay God! My mother is gone, but my dad works much harder at being involved in the lives of my siblings. Yay God! Nothing will bring loved ones back back, but I treasure ordinary days much more than I might have otherwise. Yay God! Awkward moments when someone is stressed or tired might have been moments to gloss over before. I worried too much about what they might think of me. Now I know the opportunity to share love and peace is worth way more than pride. I seek to pass on the grace that I have been given. Yay God!

And, I noticed that I talk too much sometimes. So I'm listening more. Funny thing for someone to say on a blog, the ultimate modern soapbox. It's true though. I've probably missed some really fabulous stories along the way. SO, I'm trying to listen more and talk less. Sometimes I succeed :)

When I return from my upcoming trip, I hope to start a new project. I'm excited about it and am working out the details. I hope many of you will be excited as well and want to help.

Until next time, may grace find you in big and small ways. May you live in the boldness of a God who created you, a beautiful note in a magnificent symphony. Play your part with gusto!