Servants, not stars

 

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Warton

I want to be a star.

I am called to be a servant.

I wish I didn't struggle with this.

I know that it's only pride that makes me wish for a big job. My sense of self is a little too inflated. Ego-strength can be a curse, desiring to do something big, something recognizable.

But right now, in this season of life, I recognize that I am called to humble jobs, and pray daily for the grace to do them well, without a heart of discontentment. I drive the kids to school and pick them up. I throw in a load of laundry, and wipe down the crumbs off the counter. I teach an exercise class. I pick up four gallons of milk. I lead a devotion in the car on the way to school, or teach a VBS or SS class to fourth grade boys and hope that someone learned something. I can't tell. I'll need to wait twenty years to see if any of my lessons stuck and my children have the tools they need to become responsible adults. I understand that small things need to be done in order to keep this whole operation that we call family moving along smoothly, but sometimes I wish for a more impressive task. Something I can see and measure.

Today, I pray for the grace to keep doing small things well in the land of obscurity. I pray to hone my greatest gift, which is my intimacy with You, God. I pray for contentment in small jobs, and pray for your eyes to see the tasks that you've assigned as being important to You. I pray that You would grow me to the place where I quit thinking about myself and am lost completely in You. Thanks for your patience with me as I learn.

Taryn

"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."- William Wordsworth, poet (1770-1850)

 

Celebrations

Celebrating a year's worth of hiding God's word in our hearts

Being randomly chosen to receive a free cupcake simply because my name is Taryn (again)! Thankful for a friend who would text and tell me since I never keep up with such things.

Baseball fun day and awards celebration

Will was dunked by his catcher brother on the first throw...five years of practice, baby.

Architecture Project Completed

 

 

End-of-the-school-year parties and sleepovers: these girls had five minutes in the pool at their pool party before lightning was spotted. We hurried home just in time to escape a massive unusual hail storm! The hail knocked the power out, so our pool party was transformed into a glow party, complete with glow-in-the-dark earrings and any other lighted substance we could find.

Our front yard in May

 

Board games by candlelight, anyone?

 

 

 

Take me out to the ball game

 

 

Hard to believe that these guys were season (and post-season) champs in their league. Andy and a few of the other fathers have taken up calling themselves "the enduring dads"....to finally see fruit on the playing field after years of less spectacular seasons.

Galatians 6:9

Do not grow weary in doing what is right. You will reap a harvest if you don't give up.

Happy Dads

 

 

Furman Girl (Duke TIP scholar)

After almost a year of this:

It was nice to take a girls' day. Laurel was recognized as a Duke TIP scholar at Furman University in Greenvile, and we decided NOT to send her to school for part of the day, but to take a road trip instead.

We ate fried green tomatoes, marinated okra, sandwiches on croissants, and drank sweet tea while sitting on the veranda overlooking Falls Park at Mary's Cottage. We took a stroll and read about famous people and sites of the area. We took a walk around the lake at Furman and strolled down memory lane from my days there. It was sweet to share such a day off with my hard-working daughter and mama.

 

Mother's Day 2014

My Girls and our first Mother's Day Tea

 

 

Pulling out my gramdmother's china for the occasion

The boys went with their dad to see a double feature and get burgers - man style.