Joys of Life

Friday March 7, 2014
 

What makes your life joyful? 

Stopping to recount my blessings always turns my heart into a grateful place, a place that looks up to my Source.


As usual, more on that title—joys of life—in my fifth favorite today as I link up with the ladies at Friday's Fave Five. So stay tuned.

My favorites this week? 

1. An awesome writers conference last week. It was a time with old and new friends, full of laughter and tears, inspiration and anticipation, a time of praise and prayer. Florida Christian Writers Conference—I recommend it highly.

2. Anticipation. This word is probably on my FFF at least once a month, it seems. Am I living for the future? No, I’m enjoying today and thinking about what I may have to look forward to. We’ve been talking about summer plans and how next year may be a bit different, in a good way. I like to look ahead with anticipation. 

3. A new idea! I’m Outnumbered was the book of my heart, an outgrowth of wild and crazy times raising boys. And now I have another proposal on my heart. It’s tugging on my mind, and I can’t let it go. Praying that I’ll be able to get the proposal on paper this coming week.

4. Spring Break. Yes, it’s that time here. I’m ready for a little sleeping in and time to work on what I want to work on. I’m also thankful that my sophomores’ research paper rough drafts are graded and returned. The next step is grading the final papers, but that’s a couple of weeks away.

5. A quote: 

“Uncertainty and expectation are joys of life.” (William Congreve) 

I’ve already mentioned my affinity for anticipation, and she’s a cousin of expectation. Uncertainty, though, has a negative connotation—but it doesn’t have to.

When we know the One who holds the future, uncertainty is cushioned by His love, surrounded with His presence. 

Wishing you uncertainty and expectation this week, 

Anticipation and Gratitude

Thursday November 17, 2011

I'm thankful for anticipation. I love having something to look forward to!

And this week, I'm thankful I can anticipate these things:

1. The whole family under one roof. Just. Can't. Wait.

2. Time with grandson Aiden. It's been months, and the little guy has grown and changed and learned. I can't tell you how much we're looking forward to playing with him!

3. Time to talk, listen, read, write, think…. No school means time - time to do all those things I love to do.

4. Seeing my boys together. It's so much fun to watch them together and remember what their early days were like.

5. A day set aside for thanks—no pressure, just cooking and love and decorating for Christmas. Need I say more?

What are you thankful that you can anticipate?

Waiting

Tuesday July 19, 2011

Maybe it’s the teacher in me. When I write, I like to follow the rules. Well, usually. I must be a left and right brained person, because sometimes the creativity just takes over and wackiness ensues, rules out the window.

But generally, I follow the writing rules. When I write for Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, I keep Michelle’s suggestions in mind (even though she’s flexible). When I post for Soli deo Gloria, I always think back to Jen’s introduction to this meme, where she wrote that she wanted to know what was going on in our lives and she talked about the living out of faith and hope.

So, today I thought, “What’s going on?”
My answer? “I’m waiting.”

I’m waiting to hear about writing I’ve submitted. About a proposal and a novel that a publisher is looking at. I’m waiting to hear about one son’s job—and rejoicing over the news of another’s son new job! (He’ll have his first high school math classroom in the fall, and I may be as excited as he is.)

As our boys leave the nest (only one is still here when he’s not at college), we realize we have more choices in life, so we’re waiting to see what the Lord holds and when He’ll let us in on things.

But when I think of waiting, I always think of my grandmother’s favorite verse. (I remember decoupaging it on a plaque for her in VBS one summer, and my mom has it hanging in her living room now.)

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

When I read that verse, I’m reminded that waiting is not drudgery—it’s filled with anticipation! What’s ahead for those who wait? Renewal, more strength. Soaring, running and walking without exhaustion. That’s great stuff to look forward to!

So, I wait. With my face to the wind and my eyes on the Son.

I’ll use the light that I have as I wait, be faithful to what He’s called me to, today.

What helps you wait?

Linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven Today for Soli deo Gloria. Click on over and come along with us!

Anticipation: Friday's Fave Five

Friday March 25, 2011Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five. Join me as I look back at the week's blessings. If you’d like to join us, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to find out how.

Here are my favorites from this week:

1. The next step. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve alluded to a ministry opportunity for one of my sons. Well, it has happened! We’re all so thrilled that my oldest, Jonathan, will be pastoring his first church beginning Easter Sunday. He and his sweet wife are anxious to begin this new phase in their life with a little church on the Ohio River. They’ve already been so warm and welcoming to our kids. The coming weeks will be filled with packing and all the crazy logistics of moving. Below are a couple of pictures of this charming little town.

2. Talented kids. We’re doing Peter Pan at our school this year, and every year about this time I write about how talented our kids are. They are amazing. We’re in the last couple of weeks before the show opens, and rehearsals and long but fun. Which you could see them. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I can post a video or something. They’re great!

3. Winding up projects. Oh, it’s nice. I’ve been working on my research papers, and the majority are graded. I have several kids with special needs that require a bit more time and a few with special circumstances that are still trickling in, but it sure feels good to wind up a long, time-intensive project.

4. Anticipation. (I use that word often, don’t I?) I can’t help it – I like to look forward to things! Our third son graduates in May, and plans are underway to get everyone together for the event. It’ll be great!

5. This verse. While reading this week, something stuck out. In light of the unspeakable tragedy in Japan, this hit me. I’ve watched with tears in my eyes over and again. I cannot fathom what these people are facing; as I said, their tragedy seems almost unspeakable to me. But this verse leapt out at me:

“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26, 27).

This just reminded me that the loss of created things, tragic and painful as it is, leaves us with that which cannot be shaken. We are not left hopeless if we hold what cannot be shaken. My heart and prayers go out to those in Japan who have lost not only things but beloved ones. I pray they find hope and peace in what cannot be shaken.

A hope-filled week ahead to you!

Keep the Candle Burning: Hope

Wednesday December 1, 2010

There’s a lot of talk about Advent as we enter the Christmas season. Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation; it celebrates the coming of the Christ child.

Advent wreaths grace churches and homes, and candles are lit each Sunday of the four weeks preceding Christmas.

Those four candles stand for four elements of this season:

• Hope


• Love


• Peace


• Joy

The first candle (representing hope, anticipation or expectation) would have been lit this past weekend. My desire is to keep it burning all through the week.

So I’m thinking about hope.

And I found this quote. It reminds me that there’s hope for the world’s brokenness. There’s hope for me.

“Even on this side of Good Friday and the resurrection of Jesus, there is brokenness in our world that no cart full of Black Friday bargains can fix; there is hunger in our souls that no plateful of pumpkin custard can fill; there is twistedness in our hearts that no terrestrial hand can touch. 'The whole creation,' St. Paul declared, 'has been groaning together for redemption.' In Advent, Christians embrace this groaning and recognize it not as hopeless whimpering over the paucity of the present moment but as expectant yearning for a divine banquet that is already being prepared. In Advent, believers proclaim that the infant who drew his first ragged breath between a virgin’s knees has yet to speak his final word.” (Bobby Gilles)

The word of the week for me? Hope.

Are you thinking about hope today? Share it with us.
How do you share hope with your family?

Laura

A Special Week: Friday's Fave Five

Friday October 22, 2010 Happy Friday!

Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for giving us the opportunity to share our favorites of the week. If you’d like to join in, just visit Susanne and get the details.

Here are the blessings of this past week for me:

1. Days full of variety. This is Homecoming Week at school, and that always means festivities and fun. (Sometimes it’s a little hard to teach, though…) But hey, it’s one week. We’ve had all kinds of dress up days this week, and Wednesday we revisited our annual Beach Day tradition. On Beach Day, the Wednesday of Homecoming Week, we take the entire high school to the beach. Crazy, I know – but it’s always been great. Fun was had by all, from powderpuff football and pie eating competitions to just hanging out. Chatting with my colleagues and circulating among the kids was really fun.

2. Some extra time. My freelance hubby worked a lot this week. That’s good and bad – good because who doesn’t need the income, and bad because he wasn’t here three evenings. But the up side is that I got a lot done without the guilt. And now we’re looking forward to dinner with each other. We should have plenty to talk about, with both of us being so busy.

(2.5 - During that extra time, I wrote my post for The Moms of Boys Society. I’m posting over there today, so if you’d like, click on over and read.)

3. Anticipation again! I’ve talked a lot about anticipation and change…now will I be disappointed if nothing changes? I’m preparing myself just in case that is the case, but it was exciting this week to make take some baby steps toward change. I’ve done what I can do…now I’ll wait to see what the Lord has in store.

4. Birthday wishes. Yes, my birthday was this week, and the wishes and cards and calls are always so nice. (A video birthday message from my sweet son and precious grandson delivered to my phone this morning really made my day!) Calls and cards and packages from my boys lifted my heart. And there were more. Faithful friends I teach with who always remember…so sweet.

5. A quote. I love a good word picture and I’m a sucker for hope, so this one really spoke to me.

Faith goes up the stairs that love has built

and looks out the window which hope has opened.

Charles Spurgeon

Love builds the stairs and faith has the wherewithal to climb them, crossing to the window fashioned by hope.

Ah, that open window – hope! I love it.

Happy Friday to you!

Three Words to Start the Week

Monday February 22, 2010



To tell you the truth, I’m stuck on one word.


I just can’t get past it, for different reasons.




Indulge me while I share the three aspects of my ONE word for the week.

1. Anticipation – Last week, my publisher sent me a pdf of the catalog page for my book. They’re printing the catalog now for an April sales meeting. Once they’ve had their meeting, I’ll have the go-ahead to post the cover and other information right here. And I will – believe me, I will.

But I can’t tell you what it was like to open that pdf. I knew what the cover looked like, but to see it there and read the write-up of the book, see the ISBN assigned to it, its dimensions, what they call its “benefits and special features” – it was incredible.

So you can understand my anticipation – I can’t wait!

2. Anticipation – We got incredibly great family news this week, and we’re all smiley and goofy with anticipation. Can’t stop thinking about it!

3. Anticipation – In nine days, I get to attend a writers conference and link up with my writing buddies. I’m looking forward to learning and being inspired and I can’t wait to see my heart friends again.

So here I sit, ankle-deep in anticipation, with a goofy smile on my face. Not a bad way to start a week.

What about you? What are your one, two, or three words to start this week?