The Good Life

If I were to go back and start over I would call this blog The Good Life.

Really, pinch me. This ordinary life of mine is sweeter than I ever could have imagined.

Right now, as I type, Landrie is crawling around my feet, Calvin is digging for treasures in a plant, the leaves outside my window are ablaze in all their autumn glory and soon the big girls will be home from school and Scott will return from a business conference. We'll gather around a tuna casserole, talk, laugh, catch up, connect. We'll do homework, have baths, read a bed time story. This is, indeed, the good life.

It's not thrilling or dramatic or the stuff that movies are made of but it is definitely very good. And good, my friends, is vastly underrated.

I try to keep my eyes and heart open to the little things that make life sparkle. I don't want to miss a moment of the magic. I try to look people in the eye, to really listen to them, to not waste my time or energy on the things that distract me from what is important. I work hard to be in the moment with those who matter most -my husband, my children, my friends, my God. I want to go to my grave knowing that I not only lived the good life, I relished in it. I soaked up as much as I could and radiated it back to the world around me. That's a life well lived.

In the sea of stress, heartbreak and problems that threaten to pull us under, I invite you to join me and take refuge on Good Life Island - not a place, but a state of mind, where we let go of things that are beyond our control and cast our cares to God, trusting and celebrating that what is good in this life far outweighs what is not.

She Laughed Today

Today, a little giggle brought me to tears. Landrie laughed today for the very first time. Her dad was holding her. He gave her a little tickle and she let out a laugh. It struck me what a blessing it was to be present for someone’s very first laugh. A laugh, a true expression of joy. The sound of happiness. Of course every parent wants a lifetime full of laughter for their children. You want life to be easy and happy and long and filled with joy and good health. The first laugh represents all of the wonderful things you wish for your children. Everyone has a first laugh but this one struck a cord. Maybe it was because it was so unexpected. Maybe it is because the road to get her here was long. Maybe it is because I know this is the last first laugh our family will have. She laughed today and I was there to hear it. What a gift.

June 28, 2009

Mostly Just a Mom

“What do you do?” people ask. “I’m mostly just a mom” I answer. And mostly, I am.

When I was a little girl I dreamed of what I would grow up to be.

“I will be a jockey” I thought, as I looked longingly at the horses that lived in the field behind our house.

I pretended my bicycle was a strong, beautiful horse. I took extra special care of her and gave her all of my time and attention. I tied a jump rope bridle around her, galloped around the neighborhood, and tethered her to the clothesline pole where she would wait for me each morning.

Each night I prayed that God would send me a beautiful white horse of my very own.

“I will be a nurse or a brilliant doctor” I thought, as I spent time with my great grandparents. I will be gentle and kind and loving and attentive.

I spent hours at their house working on my bedside manner. They were patient patients, letting me put eye drops in their eyes, rub cream on their hands, bring them their medicine and write prescriptions on a little note pad from their desk.

I loved helping to care for them and thought it was what I would do when I was a grown up.

“I will be on the television, maybe I’ll be a famous actress” I thought, as I practiced for the school play.

I loved to tell stories, pretend, make people laugh and use my imagination.

“I will help change the world” I thought, after I graduated from college. I will work to make life safer and more fair for women and children everywhere. And I did; for a little while.

But then something happened that changed all of my plans. I had a precious little baby of my very own.

“I will be mostly just a mom” I thought, as I looked into her wide blue eyes.

I will take extra special care of her and give her all of my time and attention.

I will be gentle, kind, loving and attentive.

I will tell stories, pretend, make her laugh and use my imagination.

I will change the world. I will work to make life safer and more fair for women and children everywhere. And I’ll start with this one, right here.

I soon realized, as one baby became two and then three and then four, that being mostly just a mom is what I have been practicing for my whole life.

I don’t think about what I might be anymore. Now I know that being mostly just a mom is the most important work I'll ever do.

Downright Drenched!

Last weekend we had our annual women's retreat through our church. The theme was "Women of the Water". Getting ready for the retreat is a lot of work for me, our committee members and several of my staff mates. We write, plan, shop, cook, and try to anticipate every detail so the weekend is meaningful for the participants. This year our numbers were down. The economy and scheduling conflicts kept some of our regulars away. Still, wherever two or more are gathered to share, pray, laugh, eat, drink some wine and soul search - magical things happen.

Twenty "women of the water" shared an incredibly special time. As I sit here in my sun room, listening to the rain bounce off the window panes, my thoughts drift back to our water inspired weekend. I arrived not even knowing I was thirsty and today, one week later, I am still downright drenched.

How incredible to be immersed in friendship and faith building with a community of women seeking the same. How delightful to see God's hand at work in our sessions, conversations and deeper connections. I was blessed to really get to know some amazing women and take my friendship with them to a deeper level. Don't you love how in learning more about someone else you ultimately learn so much about yourself?

"Women of the Water" is, as the say, 'in the can'. I've already started thinking about next year's retreat. But I won't soon forget the time we shared together this year, or how much it meant to me to be part of it. Rain or shine, we are women of the water, living out a promise made in Baptism that keeps us well hydrated throughout even the longest and most challenging journey.

I hope our time together gave deeper meaning to the idea of walking wet. Here's hoping we never completely dry out.