Too Big To Handle?

When you feel like you can't handle 3 weeks or 6 weeks or 9 weeks, you just handle one day...

Sitting here today, I realized how my little injury is somewhat like a bee buzzing around my head yet, never stopping to sting. Despite the size of my dilemma or the lack thereof, it's still a pain! 

The first three weeks sentence (no driving, no walking on trails, no bike riding, no aerobics, no hot tubs, no swimming pools, etc.) seemed a bit harsh but, manageable. The second three weeks has been much more of a challenge. The prospect of another three weeks and possibly another three weeks ... seems unbearable!

I needed a big reminder that the only way I should face challenges in life is one challenge at a time. I can handle "swatting that bee away" a few more times. I'm going to focus on the beauty that surrounds me. The gorgeous colors of summer are fading while being replaced by the rich colors of autumn. Autumn will be overcome with the crisp clear skies of winter. Perhaps in the winter I'll be back on those trails listening to the crunch of snow under my hiking boots. Regardless, if I open my eyes at THIS moment and look around, there will be beauty. Little things are often taken for granted but, those can bring me moments of joy. And really, can we really ask for more than moments of joy :)  Moments of joy sewn together create a life of joy!

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

Psalm 94:19

(from the journals - Sept 2009)

May 2012 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS JoyDare

MAY 2012
One Thousand Gifts (by Ann Voskamp)

#1000Gifts #JoyDare

Buy book here...      

Buy Kindle edition here...

I've taken the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012... here we go for... 

MAY 2012

Today I find JOY in...

Tues 5/1
354. Not allowing myself to go back to sleep (regardless of lack thereof) & getting some things done 

355. BLOOMS from the iris – finally! 

356. A finished basement - for tornado warning nights

Wed 5/2

357. Welcome to the country Ladies! And, YES, those are 2 mating frogs in the pool beside the big-as-your-hand spider. OH MY... what just swam into the drain?

358. What - my rhododendron bloomed already?

359. Sitting in the lovely fresh evening air talking with sweet, sweet girlfriends

Thurs 5/3

360. Lying on the ground to get the perfect angle for a pic... 

babies growing

1 Robin’s egg

361. College girls (giggly from a sleep deprived finals week) over for dinner

362. Mini Coopers operate just FINE on sidewalks… no further comment.

Fri 5/4

363. Giggles over the dinner guests & our conversation at last night’s dinner

364. Feeling God’s grace wash over me on a horribly rough day

365. Wishing Rachel Snitzer “Toi, Toi, Toi!” for Faust

Sat 5/5

366. Taco Night for Cinco de Mayo & laughing at my organizing tools!

367. Watching the SUPER MOON over the fields

368. Bonfire on a slightly cool evening (under the SUPER MOON)

~~~~~~~

Sun 5/6

369. Pinning a burden on the Cross – letting it go

370. Married people talking to one another – compliment given to us when we were observed together at a restaurant

371. Great afternoon at the Opera w/the LOML

Mon 5/7

372. Beady Baby Eyes

373. Busy Robin Mommy – 3 eggs now

374. Bunko, Jesus Trivia, DWTS & wonderful girlfriends

Tues 5/8

375. Seeing petite neighbor friend almost get pulled into a ditch by her Akita who heard a critter

376. Making a window sill into a sea side :)

377. Relaxing sunset w/favorite boy (the LOML) after a stressful day

Wed 5/9

378. God’s beauty and a Sanford & Sons back yard

379. First vase of peonies for the spring

380. Best seat in the place for leftover lunches

Thurs 5/10

381. Waving at firefighters w/Chris Sheets - even when they can't see us

382. Attempting to save a runaway donkey & pony who happened to love my YELLOW car!

383. A good vantage point from the ladder for photos :)

Fri 5/11

384. Country roads & the beginning of a new friendship

385. Hosanna! Hosanna! (Seriously, a poodle named HOSANNA!!)

386. Our favorite “watering hole” & walkabouts w/the LOML

Sat 5/12

387. Breakfast on the grill...

BEFORE... Sundresses, Smiles & SISTERS in Christ at Festival of Tables

388. Running for hugs (Jo Evans)

389. My mother’s books on tape! Oh my!!! (and Star Wars sheets)

 Sun 5/13 Mother’s Day

390. California Baptist University Choir & Orchestra – perfect illustration of submission to a leader for the greater goal

391. My Mother, My Mother-in-Law, and trusting that My Mothering will please God

392. Love from my children even the fur-baby

Mon 5/14

393. Snapdragons bloomed today – hooray!

394. Leftovers on a pretty plate

395. Admiring results of yesterday’s weeding frenzy w/my mom

Tues 5/15

396. quick paced morning walk w/Koko & Ruthanne

397. pretty weeds / as I’ve told my hubby, if we don’t get some more gravel soon, in addition to the lawn, we’re going to have to mow the driveway

398. a return house guest :)

Wed 5/16

399. Reading a good book… A well written book & dark, dark chocolate are very much the same to me... a balance of savoring the small bits & pieces and the incredible desire to gobble it in one luscious bite.

400. Lylah Rose flowers flourishing

401. Friendships from book club girlfriends

Thurs 5/17

402. baby robins… one…then two

 

403. meatless lunch – ‘cause the roast was TOO good the first time

404. farewell friend

Fri 5/18

405. photos while lying on the grass

406. outdoor offices

407. letting go of perfect – double centered rose

Sat 5/19

408. 3hrs of trimming shrubs &trees, pulling weeds & cutting fresh flowers Weeding, gardening, sunshine & fresh MINT from the garden

409. summer inventions

410. A fire in the summer

Sun 5/20

411. 2 ½ hour drive beside the LOML listening to SiriusXM The Message

412. Stained glass windows, towering ceilings & divine music
at the St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

413. Pizza, private tour of sub-basement of library...parent time w/Tyler

Mon 5/21

414. coffee on the swing, hummingbirds, baby birds learning to fly

415. mounds of clean unfolded laundry – needs to be folded & put away; but, I am thankful I have a washer & dryer

416. spaghetti sauce in the crockpot

Tues 5/22

417. Hubcaps, horse poop & HOME

418. God’s brilliant blooms – my love for perennials

419. r12 & the Riverwood Gang & Rigo’s

Wed 5/23

420. sharing stories of God’s faithfulness w/a new friend

421. friends who crack me up – “You lost me at ‘boston fern & finches’”

422. ladder in the kitchen, full sink & friends over

Thurs 5/24

423. allowing myself to take some time to “catch up”

424. getting an incredible amount of things done on a day where I felt like a jellyfish!

425. laundry that got done & put away in the same day (a rarity around here!)

Fri 5/25

426. cookies & coffee (makes the morning start out fun!!)

427. greeted by 1st day lily outside my window
428. stinky butterfly flowers
Sat 5/26
429. dried up paints - full of color & life
430. weeding made more fun w/polka dot boots!

431. home movie night w/popcorn
Sun 5/27
432. 1st movie out in ages w/the LOML
433. being the life of the party - even if only in my own mind

we were such fun that this
young person had to take a nap

434. forgiving in-laws - after i dump 3 taco's on the carpet :/
Mon 5/28 Memorial Day
435. hard soil (writing a post about this one)

436. a husband willing to fix a meal or two...
437. the joy from colors out my window

Tues 5/29
438. coffee in a thermos & cookies in ziploc baggies
439. eating the Word of God
440. sound of rain after a long time without

Wed 5/30
441. Productive multi-tasking in the morning

So thankful that my other children
don't lay on the pillows of the bed!

442. safe friendship, relaxed afternoon & saving a squirrel
443. clean bed linens after a long day 
Thurs 5/31
444. alarms on my phone - since I can't seem to remember things on my own
445. text "i love you mom & not just because you are buying me lunch"
446. windows that don't work & a husband who's willing to go out in the rain to help me get the window closed

AND THUS CONCLUDES MAY 2012 #1000Gifts #JoyDare 

I've taken the 1,000 Gifts Dare for 2012... click on the name of each month below for each one...
January 2012... I find joy
February 2012... I find joy
March 2012... I find joy
April 2012... I find joy