I
had one of the sweetest afternoons that I've had in a while. It wasn't
full of something out of the ordinary, exactly. It was just a moment of
re-realization. I was sitting in the sunlight, reading in funny
positions, trying to avoid getting a migraine from the amount of light
coming in the windows combined with this virus that is holding on with a
tight grip (yet losing). Occasionally, I'd close my eyes and just enjoy
the warmth of the sun, something that doesn't often happen
in the winter for me. The combination of less sunlight in the winter
and busyness of my life often lead to very few moments of slowing down
enough to just enjoy the simple things in life, like a sunbeam. As I sat
there, listening to my children play in the snow outside (don't worry, I
made them bundle up really well since they are still coughing), I
thought about coffee. Coffee mugs, coffee spoons, lattes... you know,
coffee. I enjoy coffee and I've missed it this week while I haven't
drank any. Maybe in the place we spend eternity, maybe there is no
coffee. Maybe there isn't coffee, mountains, rain on a metal rooftop,
crashes of thunder following the awesome strikes of lighting, birthday
celebrations, snow... sledding, snowball fights, snow angels. Maybe
there won't be hiccups to laugh at, books to curl up and read, family
gathering around a hamper to fold clothes and bicker about socks, vases
to fill with wildflowers, dancing a dance you've never stepped foot in
before. All these things can happen so quickly and almost become
overwhelming along with all the noise of life... but if we do just stop,
close our eyes, maybe block out the noise for a moment, we can remember
to love, to smile, to embrace each moment. What if this is our only
chance? Make a list of things you love and would miss if you couldn't
ever enjoy, taste, feel, touch, hear, see, or smell again. 
It's fun! Do I expect eternity to be wonderful? Yes! Without a doubt, I
have faith and believe, but I don't see any promises that my above list
of things I love will be there. So, it's not exactly a resolution, but
that is what I'm going to work on! I'm going to make an effort to slow
down and "smell the roses" more this year. I'm going to continue to
homeschool my kids the best to my ability, be there for my friends,
renovate my house while living in it, and much more. But I also want to
stop and close my eyes when the rain hits my metal roof, enjoy the
sunbeams, laugh more, take more pictures, crack more nuts while thinking
about my awesome grandma (she passed last month... she used to always
have a bowl of nuts to crack and I'm taking up the tradition), play more
board games with my kids before
they leave home, write down memories, and slow my thoughts down while
drinking my coffee and remember... I am blessed. No matter what comes
and goes, I am blessed and at least I have this cup of coffee/tea,
sunbeam, book in my hands, clean glass of water, or whatever the
blessing is that I'm stopping to remember. We are all blessed! Cheers!
Happy New Year!!! And just check out that last sunset of 2016!
It's fun! Do I expect eternity to be wonderful? Yes! Without a doubt, I
have faith and believe, but I don't see any promises that my above list
of things I love will be there. So, it's not exactly a resolution, but
that is what I'm going to work on! I'm going to make an effort to slow
down and "smell the roses" more this year. I'm going to continue to
homeschool my kids the best to my ability, be there for my friends,
renovate my house while living in it, and much more. But I also want to
stop and close my eyes when the rain hits my metal roof, enjoy the
sunbeams, laugh more, take more pictures, crack more nuts while thinking
about my awesome grandma (she passed last month... she used to always
have a bowl of nuts to crack and I'm taking up the tradition), play more
board games with my kids before
they leave home, write down memories, and slow my thoughts down while
drinking my coffee and remember... I am blessed. No matter what comes
and goes, I am blessed and at least I have this cup of coffee/tea,
sunbeam, book in my hands, clean glass of water, or whatever the
blessing is that I'm stopping to remember. We are all blessed! Cheers!
Happy New Year!!! And just check out that last sunset of 2016!
