It Was All So Unexpected

It’s November y’all.

The wind started blowing and blowing and blowing last night.

It blew a pillow off a chair on the BACK porch and transported it across the street to the lot over there.

I think it blew November right in the door. It definitely blew the chairs to the corner of the porch.

Indiana is supposed to have snow…I’m sure we will at some point.

When it’s November in Indiana, this weather is to be expected.

I totally cracked up at the meme that was going around about turning the clocks back one hour. No one wants a “single-nother-hour” of 2020.

Hahahaha.

Have you ever been awake at 2 a.m. and watched the clock on your phone jump back to 1?

Yes! I have actually.

Remember when everything shut down and people thought the days were passing SO SLOWLY???

What even happened to that. I think this year has flown past. On December 31, everyone was all like, “Yeah, 2020 bring it on…this is our year!”

But uh, Nah, now not so much.

Tomorrow I’m going to tell you about some fun ways to celebrate the season. Even if you’re on a budget, and you think your life is ordinary, it really can be EXTRA! Extraordinary.

We’re all needing to feel hope and joy and I think you’re gonna love what I’ve got planned.

I know it’s still fall and we still have Thanksgiving…but does December ever sneak up on you and leave you scrambling?

I’m your girl. I’ve got ideas…always ideas.

But before we get to that tomorrow and change pace a little, I really need to let you know that I wasn’t prepared for all the kind and loving messages and comments that you sent from yesterday’s post.

Now that…totally was NOT expected.

Every single one of you has a story and I love to hear them. There is such essence and beauty in your life.

And life is hitting hard for some of you right now. I totally totally understand.

I mean, come sit by me and let’s talk.

In the midst of all of life’s hard stuff there are miracles and joy and wonderful expressions of love.

But finding all that good stuff, isn’t always a walk in the park.

No siree.

Sometimes it’s like “the-handsome-prince-choppin’-through-briars-to-get- Rapunzel-out-of-the tower”, kind of diggin’ for a hidden treasure.

And you might have to dig down deep and pull on the strings attached to your eyes and heart and chop away the briars of pain. You might even have to yank on those strings and give your eyeballs a good “talkin’ to” and look up to see the miracles.

You truly are surrounded by miracles.

See the moon, the blue full moon,

And the rising and setting of the sun,

And the seasons change, predictably.

And the beautiful colors that flood into your eyes,

And the comfort of a cozy blanket, that you can feel,

And the color of a fallen leaf floating in a cold puddle,

And the hug of a child,

And laughter, that you hear,

And the song of a bird,

And a baby’s coo,

And your very next breath,

And the miracle of you…fearfully and wonderfully made to fulfill a place only you can fill.

You are a miracle and you are surrounded by miracles.

And miracles get all mixed up in the hard times.

Sometimes miracles live side by side with sorrow.

But there the treasure maybe buried down deep in all the hard stuff.

You can see them and feel them and touch them and hear them.

…if you want to.

The hard times in my life have made the sweet times so much sweeter.

I feel appreciation and gratitude that I’m sure I wouldn’t otherwise without the pain or sorrow that I have felt.

Like, “Hello!” That doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out.

I really really try to be mindful and attentive to blessings and miracles that surround me.

On Friday night I kissed the top of our little grand miracle’s soft tiny head and I thanked God for the gift of his sight. As he played and sang and chattered about his toys and books, I felt such gratitude for his life and the way he has been blessed to see, when all seemed hopeless…

So our stories are different. And the things that challenge me and cause me fear and grief may seem absolutely immature and ridiculously mundane to you, but in the differences we can still walk together with hope and faith and gratitude.

And we can lift each other up and encourage one another.

When my hope and faith has been tested, I am thankful that faith even as small as a mustard seed has value.

As 2020 moves along into the season of Gratitude and Thanksgiving and then Christmas, I challenge you to write down ONE thing each day for which you are thankful and grateful.

(Psssst: Just a little secret~You may not be able to stop at one.)

If you are struggling with faith and hope, message me. I don’t have all the answers, but I do care and I can help you find resources for encouragement.

And so on this cold and windy and predicted snowy November Sunday:

“I pray you grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”. (paraphrased Ephesians 3:18)

And for those of you who don’t share my faith, please know I love you, seek peace and pursue it, sow seeds of kindness and gratitude.

They say a rising tide lifts all ships…and somehow I think that relates to all of this…

Because it was all so unexpected.

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