Contentment.

I couldn't be more content.

The bread is rising and the pumpkin pie is cooling on the counter.  I sit here and inhale the spiced pumpkin scent.  Mmmm ... deliciousness.

Taylor is here.  I offered him a hot bowl of potato soup as soon as he walked in the door.  Funny how happy I was that he accepted.  You know how on TV the moms are always trying to feed their adult children?  I think I get it now.  It's one small way that I can still care for him, now that he is on his own.  I hope that his hunger for food and family will always lead him back home.

We've settled in the living room to watch a movie.  Taylor is sprawled out on the floor and Celine is snuggled in between me and Scotty.  They are sipping hot chocolate and dipping biscotti.  Tomorrow we will eat too much and celebrate with family who is near and we will miss the family members who are too far away.  But for tonight it is just the four of us again.  And my heart is overflowing.  We are beyond blessed.

-Liv

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with family and pumpkin pie and the things you love most. 

 

Five-Minute Friday: Fly

Because on some Fridays you can't even find five minutes and your sick on Saturday, so then it turns into last-minute Sunday.  I'm linking up with other writers at Lisa Jo's for a few minutes of writing without worrying about perfection.

 



The week flew by. The line of check marks running down my to-do list gave me a sense of control and left me feeling productive.  Why is it that busyness does that to us?  We feel better about ourselves when we are doing, doing, doing.

Saturday morning came with plans of finally pulling those weeds out of the flower bed.  I awoke to rain and a migraine headache.  I quickly texted my sister to ask her what I should do, because big sisters know about these things.  Her text came back.  Rest.

My idea of rest is curling up with a cup of coffee, a good book and my journal.  When did I last make time for that?  Instead, all I could do was draw the curtains closed and lie on the couch with my sunglasses on and a blanket over my head. 

I lay there frustrated as I thought about all the things I needed to get done.  I began to think about what I needed to do to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner.  And then I started going through the Christmas lists.  So much to do.  And all I could do is lay there.  And rest. 

 

 

Then the thought occurred to me about how quickly the most wonderful time of the year flies by.  What a shame it would be to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that I miss the wonder of it all.  Let's remind each other to not allow the holidays to become a headache.  Let's take moments to pause and rest in the reason for it all.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  Right here.  Right now.  In this moment.  Don't miss it.

Run away with me...

WE DID IT!  Thirteen point one miles!

Scotty and I had way too much fun this past weekend, doing "our thing"!

"Carbing it up" at Oregano's the night before. Yum!

We woke up way too early, but it was so beautiful watching the sun make it's way across the mountains.  It was a cool morning and we had to keep moving to stay warm while we waited for the race to start. 

I love running to such gorgeous views! 

The roads were a bit rough and I twisted my ankle at mile 7.  I was so frustrated to lose time while the first-aid crew iced and wrapped my ankle. Now I know how Scotty feels when we travel and have to stop for snacks while all the cars we've just passed drive by!  I was relieved to be able to finish the race and still beat my previous 1/2 marathon time! 

Scotty finished in 2 hours and 7 minutes. I'm so proud of him!

I came in at 2 hours and 13 minutes. 

 

Thanks for letting me share our adventure!  I'm sitting out for a bit while my ankle heals, but can't wait to be back out and running!    

 

 

I also have to say how proud I am of my sister, Monica.  She ran a total of 16.3 miles this past weekend in a Ragnar race in Las Vegas.  It sounds like fun!  Twelve people; two vans; two days; a combined total of 200 miles!  Sounds like something I'm going to have to look in to! 

 

That's her in Super Girl mode!

 

Like to run?  Click here to view my other posts on running!

Five-Minute Friday: Truth

Five-Minute Friday is when we link up with Lisa-Jo Baker and hundreds of others, to write on the same prompt for five minutes. No backspacing. No editing.  I followed neither of those rules today!  I am not a complete rule breaker, though!  I did follow the absolute-must-follow rule and left an encouragement for the writer who posted ahead of me! 



Photo Credit

They sit across from one another at a table in Starbucks sipping their Pumpkin Spice lattes. 

It's been a while and they talk about what they have been up to and how busy life is and how crazy- fast time flies.  They have daughters and marvel at what young ladies those girls are becoming.  They reflect on how they are mothering differently than their own mothers did. 

Life is good sitting across the table from a friend at Starbucks.

They smile.  They talk about Jesus.  They wear cute jeans, scarves and knee-high boots. 

Time is up much too quickly and they hug and agree to do it again soon.  They part ways, smiling about the lovely time they had.

And although this scene is played out in cafes everywhere -

that picture is not always the whole truth. 

In fact, it rarely is.  There's usually more.

We look at those two women and it looks like they have it all together.  The friendship and the smiles and the cute clothes.  But the truth is that we all have some sort of messy going on in our lives.  We all have difficult seasons and marriage is hard and parenting is even harder and people disappoint us.  And then there's loneliness and depression and sickness.  Things that people just don't talk about at Starbucks.  And we look at them and we look at ourselves and we realize, we are the Starbucks ladies.  And thank You, Jesus, for Pumpkin Spice lattes and friends and scarves, but in-between smiles and sips of coffee, let's not forget to share the messy too.  Because we need to give each other permission to not have it all figured out.

I wish I had asked that day.  I wish I would have known to reach across the table to take her hand and pray with her.  But I was too busy having it all together.

Five-Minute Friday: Grace

If Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking

What does grace look like in my life?

Amazing.

It looks like two great kids who are going to be okay in spite of my imperfections.

It looks like the wink and the squeeze Scotty gives my hand because I know he loves me and I love him.  Because not very long ago neither of us were very sure.

It sounds like the laughter between my siblings and myself after weathering a few storms together.

And it tastes like the delicious soup my mom brings to us because she is here and she loves and she smiles after sickness and heartache.

Grace looks a lot like the friendships across the miles after many years.  And sitting at Starbucks for hours or under trees at the park with friends who are nearby.  And it looks like the friendships made through words typed out on these little spaces we blog on.

It looks like this quote from Shauna Niequist:

"I know the church gathers in homes & hearts, anywhere at all, all week long, but I especially love how it gathers on Sunday mornings."

It is knowing that I am loved.  I am accepted.  I am forgiven and I bring delight to a God who gave everything just so that I can know Him.  And I did nothing to earn any of it.

Click on over here to read more on Grace and Five-Minute Friday