MORE!!!!

What on earth has been keeping me so busy 

that I haven't posted since SEPTEMBER 2012??!!

Well, if you must know, 

there were a few pressing matters to hold my attention, including, but not limited to: 

16th wedding anniversary reflections (quiet, but meaningful), 

an impromptu girlie spa weekend (can someone say EXHALE),

38th birthday frolic (the spoils ran-eth over)

the death of my step father (that was a biggie),

my last child's 1st birthday (talk about a milestone), 

3 rounds of sickness running through our household (mommy mode in full swing)

and tons of holiday mingles (3am, night after night, week after week)

I can honestly say that there hasn't been one single solitary dull moment to speak of.

I plan to rewind a bit in upcoming posts

and share some extended thoughts on the aforementioned.

But for now, I'd like to report that this year has started off deliciously.

While I acknowledge that each year will bring it's own challenges,

I feel stronger than ever, and believe me, not in my own strength,

Lords knows that's long since been depleted...

but in His presence.  

I feel His tenacious grip leading me forward, navigating.

It's as though I'm a child again, sitting in the back seat 

as my parents drive to an exciting destination,

with no concern for the journey at hand, simply enjoying the panoramic view.

I'm a soul at rest.

I have been very purposeful with my thoughts & time,

trying to savor those little moments, sucking the marrow out of each and every morsel,

every crack and crevice,

putting aside what's necessary at the moment to fully engage,

especially with the children.

7 loads of laundry to do? eh, whatevs...my son just got 

a star wars millennium falcon playset, it can wait!!

I have been making more time to enjoy the simple pleasures,

more time for more laughter,

more music,

more books,

more tea!!! (hello cinnamon tempest tea you scrumptious lil treasure you),

more hot baths,

more dreaming,

more silliness...

I've been going to bed earlier, 

waking up earlier, 

exercising those neglected limbs (ouch!).

Praying even more,

and am being very intentional about

stepping out into a place that demands God's Word to operate.

I've never been one to live in the safety zone anyway, quite frankly it bores me.

More on that soon...

I will undoubtedly be blogging about my upcoming adventures in regards to all of that,

but even now, geeking out on nerdy Sci-Fi shows with the Hubs,

"pinning" bizarre novelty gadget items just for kicks, rummaging through old cassettes,

Jabba the Hut pancakes & Ring Around The Rosie on the trampoline,

bachelor snacks, playoffs, pillow fights..

Unedited, unscripted, first rate, good ol' fashioned FUN!

The kind of smiles that put a slab of whipped cream, extra sprinkles,

and a big fat cherry on top 

of an otherwise ordinary day.

Yeah, the good stuff...

In the words of Ferris Bueller, 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."