Springing Through April

Thank you, Miss Mandi for helping our "Morgan" perfect the tricky S sound.

"Seriously, some stale cookies?" How many S sounds can one character's part have in a 45 minute play? Can't wait to see it all come together on Friday.

 Counting down the days. Trying to remember who we are to one another in the midst of crazy family life.

My first Zumba in the rain session. Leading the ladies of FIA at North Springs park on a rainy Saturday morning.

Enjoying the Children's Book Festival at the Southeastern branch of the Richland Library. The girls and I got henna "tattoos" as part of the international festival.

Happy to see the kids in a moment of quiet. Washing a bike together. Who would have thought this would be fun?

Picnic in the Park with our Sunday School friends .... no rain!

A visit to the Columbia Museum of Art with Mom

a barrel of Mary Janes

Four kids in a candy store......

So proud of our Junior Scholars.... I felt salty tears well up in gratitude seeing so many of the kids that we have known since they were babies, doing so well.

These girls keep Laurel on her toes!

Near and dear to my heart

This week offered several things near and dear to my heart:

Seeing African children sing and dance at my mother's church. Hearing sweet voices of Ugandans and scribbling zumba notes on the back of an offering envelope. Those ideas turned into the next day's abs and isolations work in my fitness classes. Thankful for inspiration and creativity. Thankful for the love of God that reaches all the way around the world.

Sharing a pew with my family of origin. We are not often together, so this is something that I treasure. I remember snuggling up to my grandmother in church when I was young, half-asleep. I don't remember the sermon from that day, but I count that memory of togetherness as part of my spiritual beginnings.

Discussing life with friends and celebrating a friend's birthday; discussing questions from Jennie Allan's Stuck Bible study with my Sunday school girls. Here are five of those good questions, paraphrased:

Questions:

1. Where are the places God is calling you to make a difference in this life? (Circles of influence?)

2. What are the gifts that God has given you to use for his glory?

3. Who are the people, neighbors, coworkers who need God or time with you?

4. What are the causes that you are passionate about?

5. What are the unique opportunities God has laid in your path?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

As I look over this list, I am content. My life is not large, but it is full of things that matter to me. I am thankful each time we can help a sponsored child get an education or malaria medicine, or an orphaned child a chance at finding a home. I am passionate about people learning how much God loves them and finding their purposes within His plans for them. I cherish a morning to sit with my mom around her kitchen table and discuss life and funeral plans in the same hour...before a complete diagnosis has even been given. Thankful for both the openness to go to dark places and weep, and the solid confidence of a joyful future. Thankful for the gift of having a little piece of Cameroon still in my heart that makes me want to dance and tap my feet in praise. Thankful to watch from the window as my kids jump on a trampoline and squeal in laughter when one lands on top of the other.

Keep becoming the person God had in mind when He created you.

I believe it was Amy Carmichael who once said "My fire is not large, but it is real, and there might be another who can light her candle at its flame." Shine brightly friends, and point the way.

http://africarenewalministries.org

A Little Fall of Rain

B's team squeaked out a long-awaited win! Now to tackle those formerly white pants....

N managed a closet organization miracle, complete with leopard-print fuzzy blanket in case anyone wants to hide out on the floor in there. Little fashionista.

On-sale kinesthetic sand proved to be hours of therapeutic low-tech entertainment for my rainy day kiddos

Fitness fair and fun run at the kids' school. We imagined that the drizzle was a misting station like they have in the big fancy long runs. We won't qualify for Boston anytime soon (read, ever!), but it felt good to have a few hours of forced family fun for a good cause.

Gratitude for a gift of humongous produce that someone in my Pilates class gave me...just because!

Thankfulness that my pansies weren't completely destroyed, only nibbled down to the roots, when the host of deer came through our yard. What resilience these little hardy flowers have!

 

 

Sleeping with the Whale Sharks

This week I am thankful for the opportunity to have chaperoned a school field trip to Atlanta with my son. We slept in front of the enormous manta ray and whale shark tank at the Georgia Aquarium.

We toured the Atlanta Braves Stadium.

Played in the Olympic Park.

Ate Burgers at Hard Rock and the Varsity

Sampled flavors at the World of Coke

Watched the news being made at CNN

And made it back to Columbia to hear half of the last song my daughter played in the Honors Orchestra. These kids did an amazing job with only two days of practice together!