Trippin'

Okay, so if you know me well, you know we are still in our "starter home". You know, the house that was going to last a year or two. Yeah, it's been nearly 6 years now and it's not gotten any bigger. BUT, there finally seems to be hope that things will all be updated and finished. And even more talk of moving. We are hopeful we will be blessed with the house we have dreamed of. We are looking for a house on land where Joe can have his shop.

Until then, I keep trippin'. I am trippin' on toys left and right in this tiny house. My living room looks like a small daycare center. There is a couch, loveseat, coffee table, end table, entertainment center, and 3 toy boxes and one toy shelf, and I am IN HEAVEN! My house has never seemed more perfect to me. Stuff everywhere, but it is so full of life now!

It's the little things, and as I turned out the lights tonight, it's that little thing that struck me! I am blessed!

Joyful Noise

I have been teaching 10 years. I have had lots of snow days in those years. Sometimes I thought I was going to have a snow day and didn't. Other times a snow day came without a flake on the ground. I have always enjoyed snow days. I know we have to make them up, it's just nice to lounge around on a cold winter day. Not to mention, I hate driving on snow and ice. But a few years back, snow days were unbearably quiet for me. I had a lot of time to reflect on the fact that I wanted to be a mother, and snow days gave me even more time, which I probably did not need. I remember one day in particular, I called my friend Brooke. Her house was chaotic. She had a toddler and a dog, and it was so loud I could barely hear her. We laughed about that on the phone, but when I hung up I wasn't laughing. I was brought to tears. My house was so quiet. The TV was on, but there was joyful noise missing. That noise, that many parents don't hear as joyfully as I did in that moment. I know Brooke hears it that way, but many don't. Today, Laney threw several fits. It was loud in my house this snow day. An easy day to get frustrated as a parent being cooped up. But, instead, I thanked God for that joyful noise. Because, someone out there would love to hear it. Someone wishes that she can comfort her crabby toddler. So, I will take this snow day. I will hold the memory of a crabby Laney near to my heart. I will thank God tonight for the gift. For the joyful noise I heard on this snow day!