jogging again

I should be working on dinner, and I will be soon, but there are so many potential blog posts in my head and NOT ENOUGH TIME... like showing pictures of the first ever time I was in a parade (which, by the way happened last night in our little town. I made it in, because I'm a barista! You just don't make it into San Antonio parades for such accomplishments. I walked along with fellow baristas in front of our owner's jeep made to look like a giant cup of steaming coffee - dry ice on top. We wore our aprons with pockets full of candy to toss out along the way. The whole parade lasted about 12 minutes).

OR I also want to share how recently revisiting the wonderful children's book Betsy-Tacy inspires my whole concept of true friendship anew - that will be to come, I'm sure.

BUT today what I am most needing to post about is my morning jog. It was gorgeous this morning, and I didn't take the ipod because I felt the need to completely experience creation. I was energized by the coolness and the songs of the birds and insects and frogs. I was overwhelmed by the visual impact around me, struggling to know where to let my eyes gaze.

I thought about the structured beauty of the gardens and well-ordered landscapes that make up much of what we experience in nature. I also thought about the gardens and forests that grow out of nature's chaos, out of seeds dropped wherever and allowed to sprout and grow. I thought about the "stuff" we clear out to make room for well-ordered beauty.

I thought about how my Heavenly Father is actually in charge of all of it. In His goodness, He gives us minds that love to create beauty; He gives us resources to do so. He allows us to "control" creation in such a way that we are satisfied with our work and refreshed by its beauty. He is the author of the beauty as the Creator of both the "stuff" we have to work with and the "us" that works with it.

I am also thankful for the beauty that comes from the "chaos" of nature - the unplanned landscapes, untouched by human hands, out of our control, and yet remarkably beautiful. As if some Divine Creator takes what seems like chaos to us, because it is not ordered or controlled by us, and lets us see The Beauty and in fact, the Divine Design of it. It is at those places that we feel most blessed, like we have discovered a treasure meant only for our eyes. The overgrown forest that, if you look underneath the lowest branches, becomes a hidden playhouse for children (or fairies). The monarch that decides to fly just at your right shoulder at the last curve of your jog as if challenging you to a race, keeping you going.

The reminder that divine beauty can come from things outside of our control.

Job Description

Yesterday, Grace looked up at me from her drawing at the kitchen table and said,
"Mommy, I want to do the things you do."

"Like what exactly?" I asked.

"Well, like vacuuming the living room, taking naps on the couch, reading Bibles, and feeding babies."

And that was the list - I'm pretty sure "feeding babies" hearkens back to our weekend with cousin Lucy.

I've been pondering my life for the last 24 hours, feeling like perhaps I should read the next chapter of the book I'm making my way through right now by Dr. Leslie Parrott, You Matter More Than You Think.

whirlwind

Our family just returned on Saturday night from a wonderful and whirlwindy trip to Des Moines. We couldn't start the trip until after Abby's volleyball game on Thursday night. It lasted until 6:00ish, which means we didn't arrive in Des Moines until 1:00 a.m.

Abby did a great job in her game! Here are some photos from a previous game that I've been meaning to post...

Abby is in the back row, far left - #38

Greg had to take a close up, because this is the first time since Abby was four, I think, that she has worn a ribbon in her hair -- it was a volleyball team thing.

The reason for our trip was to celebrate the finalization of our niece's (sweet Lucy's) adoption. Erika and Darin held an Open House party on Saturday. What a privilege it is to watch all of this unfold and to enjoy the blessing of this precious girl.

My sister made a bazillion beautiful, tasty cupcakes that all had hand-piped frosting. Wow! What happened in the genetics between her and I? She dances and she's flexible too.


An added joy was the opportunity to visit with our dear friends the Larsons (minus Alyssa who had previous commitments - sorry Alyssa, we missed you!) who came from Cedar Rapids.






And, I would say, the whirlwind was worth it!

Birthdays Galore!

Grace Kathryn is FIVE years old today. This is Grace's first birthday celebration at home. We have ALWAYS been on vacation over her birthday, so I decided we should throw together her first ever "friend" birthday party. This poor third-born child looks longingly at pictures of Abby and Emma's previous parties and asks what all the kids are doing, what are they eating, what are they dressed up as, etc...

So today, we had three little girls over for a lunch of mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, and fruit (there's the nutrition, right there). We made tissue paper butterflies and lugged the giant dress-up trunk into the living room and that was pretty much all we needed. They all acted like such little ladies, I couldn't believe it. Nobody yelled for and grabbed at what someone else was wearing. No one cried because someone else had the fancy shoes they wanted. In fact what I heard was...

"O, you look beautiful. Here, you need to wear this tiara, because it goes with that dress."

"Could you please button my dress for me?"

"Here let me find the shoes that go with your dress for you."

And on and on. I got the giggles listening to these little 4 and 5 year old girls acting more grown up than many older girls I listen to (no one in particular, of course).

We had cupcakes with pink frosting and princess sprinkles (which included glass slippers, pearls, golden crowns, and enchanted apples)

And truly much to Abby and Emma's chagrin the whole fun PARTY had to happen while they were at school. That's okay, we'll celebrate as a family tonight, it was Grace's turn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GRACE!

We love you.

Here is Grace wearing the apron my sister made for her out of fabric with a little blond girl and "gracie" printed all over it.

Happy Birthday, Little Brother!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAUL!!

You say it's your birthday,

It's my birthday too, yeah.

You are awesome, brilliant, handsome, FUNNY, and...

your present will be late, sorry. Have a great day - I love you.

From your loving twin sister, two years removed.

On running

Sometimes when you go for a two mile run, it's not to do speed work or because you're super fit and need to stick to your strict training plan (in which case it would be more than two miles anyway). It's not even because you want to keep your current fitness level current.

Sometimes you go for a two mile run just because you feel like you can't. You put on your running shoes and grab your ipod and go just because you need to know that you can do it. You know that you can run the two miles without stopping simply because you've done it so many times before.

And you find (regardless of what you think of my theology here) that at some point in your run, the need to stop overwhelms you and just when you feel no choice but to give in, God brings just the right song onto your ipod. That well-timed song pushes you beyond what you thought you could do and not only do you finish that run, you kick it up and finish strong. And then you almost throw up.

But I ran the whole two miles.

just me

I spent all day wearing mismatched earrings and did not notice until bedtime tonight. They were dangley and show really well with my new short hair. Just thought I should share.

Beauty

Beaver Creek, Colorado was beautiful. For the first time in my life, I rode a ski lift - along with Greg and the girls. We hiked at the top of the ski lift and experienced a little altitude dizziness, but it was gorgeous. Grace only rode the ski lift up and then back down with me before I rode up again for our hiking. We all rode in a gondola too, another first.

The kiddos spent plenty of time wading in mountain streams, looking for fabulous rocks, hunting pine cones, and enjoying the many kid's activities offered at the resort in the summer.

We had a wonderful time with Greg's family and fully celebrated the legacy of his parents, Jack and Sandra, and their 50 years of marriage.

Enjoy the pictures:

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!