I have hopes of at some point alternating Fridays between 7 Quick Takes and five senses friday (hosted by the lovely abby try again), but it somehow always seems to work out that I have far too many random thoughts to unload come Friday, and not enough space to make room for the five senses. Maybe next week . . .
For now, behold the random:
<1> Firstly, I have to make apology for yesterday's confession. In a world where parents bury their babies and little ones fight for life hour-by-heart-wrenching-hour and a nation has made rape legal within marriage (and these are just a few of the stories we hear about, countless other stories of heartbreak go untold), well, to be longing after a place to be creative rings of absurdity to me this morning. I guess the confession within that confession is the revelation (again) that I am such The Spoiled American, the product of privilege steeped in ingratitude for all that I do have. It strikes me that if my soul should be longing for anything, it should be Come Lord Jesus, Come.
<2> Thinking back a bit, I know I've not yet shared my thoughts on practicing Lent this year. Lent was an amazing and powerful time for me, and I am deeply saddened that my denomination doesn't practice it corporately. I'm somehow at a loss for how to explain what Lent did in my heart. Closing comments was extremely good and healthy for me, helping me to examine a lot of heart issues that I don't often enough take time to allow up to the surface. A beautiful surprise in closing comments were some of the private emails I got from friends and readers - some of whom I'd never "met" before! Other regular commenters shared insights privately that they never would have said "out loud" in the comments. But even if it weren't for those emails, I still would have been deeply blessed my the time I spent with comments closed. In my own private life, I celebrated Lent in some unspoken ways that were also, indeed, powerful.
I am looking forward already to next Lenten season. Easter most certainly did not sneak up on me this year, and my heart is so grateful for that most precious benefit of practicing Lent.
<3> Oh, our time with the Taviano family so deeply blessed us. SO deeply. I just cannot say enough what a delight it was to host them in our little hillybilly hotel. Funny and fun and vibrant and just all manner of wonderful. Marla's report of their time here was just simply way, way too gracious. We were remarkably simple hosts - Kyle did cook out (of course) and I did make guacamole but I should state for the record that we are guac simplists. Our recipe is simply smashed avocado, lemon juice (or lime if the mood strikes), and salt to taste. We were feeling sassy when the Tavianos were here so I stirred in a little sour cream, but oftentimes we leave that out. Kyle likes his with some extra hot salsa stirred in, but that makes it all a bit complicated for me.
Oh, and The Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings? As Kyle would say, the are absolutely punch-yourself-in-the-face ridiculously amazing. Heaven help me.
<4> I have some friends whose gift for creating and displaying beauty in their homes just never ceases to amaze me. One such friend is the delightful Stephanie. Take a little look at her spring shelf, won't you? I come back to it time and again for inspiration. So lovely, so sigh-worthy. For some particular reason, I just wanted to make sure you met Stephanie today.
<5> A little while back, Missy shared her plan to celebrate The Year of Their Marriage. In her plan, she included a link to the Forty Day Prayer Challenge. Kyle and I decided to take the challenge, too, and I have to tell you - it has become a fixture in our morning routine. Each morning before he walks out of the door, we stop for just a few minutes to pray for each other. The only mornings we get a little lazy are on Saturdays as he is usually not heading out the door then. I'm so glad she shared the link and the challenge. It's doing mighty things in our marriage.
<6> The girls and I are happily a bit groggy this morning as we had a late, late night yesterday evening in the home of my dear and long-time friend Jaime. Our beloved and beautiful friend Laura is home from California for just a bit and completing our fab four was our friend Andy who has landed in-state for a while, so Jaime opened her home to host an evening of Pei Wei take-out, choco-tastic brownies, political/social/spiritual discussion and much, much hysterical laughter. The easy conversation that comes with friends for whom no background information or point-of-reference clarification is needed is what I have been craving for months.
As a bonus to the conversation with old friends was seeing my children play with Jaime's. Our youngest two children are just a few months apart and we all noticed that viewing the two of them from behind - with their blonde locks that fall into perfect curls - well, they look more alike in some ways than AJ and Dacey do. Jaime's Little Man and AJ shared popcorn and resisted sharing toys. I tend to think that AJ repeated attempts to steal the soccer ball from Little Man are just her earliest efforts at flirting, as was Little Man's stealing of her popcorn and throwing it on the floor. I could swear sparks flew.
What really made my heart soar was how famously Dacey and EB, Jaime's oldest, got along. Peas. And. Carrots. They were born just days apart and it was sheer delight to watch them enjoy each other's company. EB was generous in her willingness to share everything from dress-up clothes to lip gloss to princess high heels. As the evening wound down, both of them climbed up in a chair together and EB read quietly to Dacey while Dacey leaned in with intent listening to her every word. I want to treasure that picture in my heart forever - these two girls whose mothers shared the emotional highs-and-lows of that first pregnancy, the weary, bleary newborn days, the hand-wringing and fretting that is the native tongue of the First Time Mom. In spite of our obsessive worrying and second (and third) guessing our every decision with them, I have to say that they have grown to be quite lovely little ladies. I think we are doing okay after all, don't you, friend?
<7> Oh, this may be my longest 7QT yet! Just so much to say. The girls and I have been in and out of town much of the week and that will continue on in to next week. I haven't had the time to attend to comments like I usually try to, and for that, I am so very sorry. Many apologies if comments and other emails have gone unanswered! My inbox is spewing with incomplete conversation. A little madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King - so says Ms. Emily Dickinson. (There's a little Poetry Month goodness for ya!) Our schedule feels a bit like madness at the moment, so I beg a measure of grace until things settle a little.
Stay tuned for more on marriage (a very special post coming up on that!), book reviews, giveaways, and more!
Happy Friday and may your weekend abound in blessing.
