2011 First Day of School favorites

"You see...that's what makes us human. We always want more.

I have a fortune sitting on the windowsill above my kitchen sink that reads, "The pleasure of what you enjoy is lost by wanting more."  After reading this fortune I was struck by how personal it was for me.  I usually crack open the cookie, read the fortune and leave it on the table in my left-over rice.  But not this one.  I knew I wanted to keep it and display it where I would see it every day.  You see, I am always one step ahead of what I am doing.  Looking for what needs to be done next or preparing for an upcoming task.  Seeing this fortune reminds me to stop.  listen.  BE.  

The title quote is from Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.  When I read it, it made me stop. listen.  So true, I thought.  We DO always want more.  God made us to want more of Him.  more love.  more relationship.  more peace.  I often become trapped, though, in thinking that what I need more of is a clean house, more time to organize, plan, keep up.  I need to get from A to B as fast as I can....

...but then I miss out on the journey.  So every day, when I'm washing our breakfast dishes, I look up at my fortune and am reminded to enjoy the moments I'm in.

The moment my Austen tackles me and gives me this face

To stop to watch Adam take a picture

or come at me with his own tackle

To enjoy the boys' first day of Preschool/MDO of the year

                         **despite being late and rushing out the door like a madwoman :)

I want more of these moments. of these days.  blue letter days.  Where my soul is touched by the family God has given me.  The grace He extends to me each day.  And the love that I will never stop wanting more of.