my word is Beautiful

The last few years it's been the "thing" to pick a word and make it your theme for the year. I'll admit I've been rather flippant about the practice. "Oh, I'd like to be peaceful this year," or perhaps "I'd like to live in abundance."  This year, I really wanted to seek out what God wanted me to focus on.  I set out to find some deep spiritual revelation, some truly profound word that could set the tone for for a marvelous 2011.

I have to admit, by January 23 I was losing hope. Oh, HOPE!!  is that my word Lord?  No, that's not it. OK back to prayer.  Surely this couldn't take a whole month to find a theme for the year?  God must have a really good, profound word for me.  Everyone else posted their words weeks ago.

The real trouble is, I had a word.  I just didn't like it. I wanted another one. The word I was given didn't seem spiritual or profound enough for me. I was given the word. Beautiful.   Dictionary.com defines Beautiful like this (and I copied the whole thing so you can see just how "un-spiritual" it is)

beau·ti·ful /ˈbyutəfəl/ Show Spelled[byoo-tuh-fuhl] Show IPA

–adjective

1 having beauty; having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind: a beautiful dress; a beautiful speech.

2. excellent of its kind: a beautiful putt on the seventh hole; The chef served us a beautiful roast of beef.

3. wonderful; very pleasing or satisfying.

–noun

4. the concept of beauty (usually prec. by the ).

5. ( used with a plural verb ) beautiful things or people collectively (usually prec. by the ): the good and the beautiful.

6. the ideal of beauty (usually prec. by the ): to strive to attain the beautiful.

–interjection

7. wonderful; fantastic: You got two front-row seats? Beautiful!

8. extraordinary; incredible: used ironically: Your car broke down in the middle of the freeway? Beautiful!

Now, my husband likes to accuse me of not having any sins, but let me tell you straight up, wrestling with my own spiritual vanity is definitely a list topper. I like to think of myself as a David singing praises always, but really, inside, I know I'm more of a Jacob..wrestling with God and trying to force Him to see things my way. While I've not had issues overcoming any delusions concerning my superiority in any physical contest, I can't honestly say I haven't cast stones otherwise. Beautiful? Scmootiful.  Not really a life goal of mine.

Obviously, I was a bit confused about the word choice. Why Beautiful? Why not Grace? Love? Mercy? Surly these are things I should be showing others. Determination? Perseverance? These are noteworthy goals. And then there is Peace. Forgiveness. Acceptance of the Father's will. Trust in His perfect plan for my life.  That is a BEAUTIFUL thing. 

Friday!!

 

So...here we go!

1. My favorite month is January because I have less things I have to do.

2. LOVES a fresh breeze.

3. I love to sniff the Hershey's cocoa powder in the cabinet. (shhhhhhh)

4. Cake is what I like to have as a treat for breakfast.

5. The hobby I enjoy most is altering anything I can get my hands on

6. Gossip, oh my!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to BED!!, tomorrow my plans include A Mad Hatter Tea Party (pics to follow) and Sunday, I want to REST!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for-

• Pain.  Some days, I just have to make it my friend. I have to look right in its eyes and smile, because the JOY of the Lord is my strength and pain can not defeat me.
• Family. They are all crazy, but they're mine, and I fit in here.  
• Friends. Again, all crazy, but they make me smile.
• Giant bars of chocolate. Not an extravagant gift, but I don't need extravagance.  I just LOVE to know someone was thinking of me and remembered something I like.
• Team Epic.  We haven't even had a game and it doesn't matter.  These kids are EPIC to me. I can't even begin to say how much my spirit soars to watch them support each other. 

I am blessed beyond measure.  I haven't figured out if the joy comes from recognizing the beauty of the little things, or if having joy brings little things to bless to me.  I suppose it doesn't really matter since I intend to keep enjoying every little blessing the Father sees fit to give me.

the Village People...

Quit embarrassing us already!

another one?! OK...sigh

I'm texting, I don't see you and you'll go away...

No, not THOSE village people. My village people. The Princesses K & A are performing in Aladdin Jr. the next two weekends. Really cute show. Lots of talent...and the two most beautiful princesses in the whole world! (no bias here-heehee)

The grass is always greener over the septic lines...

If you don't have any experience with a septic system, this title may not make a lot of sense to you. Please stick with me. The basic function of a septic system is to safely handle the waste water leaving a building. The "lines" are the part of the system where the 'clean' (purely subjective term) water is released into the soil to evaporate. The grass in that area will undoubtedly be greener due to the constant watering received.

I'll admit I often struggle with the concept of contentment. Dictionaries will tell us contentment is the state of being content, or satisfied. One even goes so far as to say contentment is happiness with one's situation in life. I find contentment much more complex than any definition. The struggle to be happy with what my life holds and delivers to me each day is a difficult one that seems to attack me on multiple fronts and clever traps.

One of those traps is the trap of comparison. Comparison is a lovely mirror trick-much like the glassy surface of a lake. It can appear so calm and perfect on the surface. Peaceful and serene, the currents of chaos hiding beneath are waiting to pull me under. She seems like a better mother than I am. They take more vacations than we do. I wish I could ___________ like they do. The list could go on forever as my mind races to find all the good I see on the outside of someone else's life missing in mine and the dissatisfaction grows in my soul.

Is everything under the surface of the lives of others better than what I have? I don't know. It could be better. It could be worse. It could just be different. The point isn't really their lives, it's my heart and thoughts. Contentment will never be found when I'm looking for perfection anywhere on Earth.

I believe we're 'wired' to know something is missing, something that would make all things perfect. There's a longing in every part of us that needs to find that missing piece. That piece that isn't found in having the "best" children. It isn't found on our next grand adventure or new home. Contentment, TRUE contentment isn't possible in this physical world.

I'm not saying there is no happiness here. There is. Indescribable joy is ours, a gift from the Father (I suspect to keep us reasonably sane). But contentment, truly being satisfied, is a condition of our souls and our souls are not physical. That hunger for more can only be satisfied by my Father God. And it's always just enough to leave me wanting more.

So how do I fight the urge to compare my life to others? How do I not get caught up in wishing I had what y neighbor has? I fight it every day. I make a conscious decision to turn my eyes away. Do I win the battle every day? I wish I could yes. I wish I could say I never looked a someone else's grass and wished mine were as green. I'm glad my Father God is faithful to forgive me when I fail.

*just so everyone knows, the only green grass in my (real) yard is over septic lines :0)

ASL perfermance at 4-H Share the Fun

Princess K and her "Partners In Crime" performing at the 4-H Share the Fun competition. They placed second in their first ever public appearance as an ASL team. Proud Mama moment!!

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