Things That Make Me Smile

Since the bear in my yard, I have not put the bird feeders back out.  I've missed the activity of busy parents and fledglings.  Since the boy and the dead frog, I haven't been down to the swamp with the motion-sensor camera or even just with my binoculars.  (I'm just chicken)  Between my parents and my grand-babies, I'm often tied up in emotional knots but I've been desperately wanting to focus on the positive.  So, we close out June with a few things that have brought me a smile this week.

Shopping Therapy ~ It's not terribly easy to get out with the babies, or to leave one behind when we have a nurse.  After a barrage of doctor appointments and evaluations and meetings, we have found ourselves with a couple of quiet weeks.  Getting my daughter out of the house for a couple of short jaunts is definitely something to smile about.  I picked up these for some color and finally found a replacement for a tea kettle my daughter gave me when she was in the 5th grade.  I love a side-handled tea kettle!

An Outing for the Babies!!  ~ One of our quick shopping jaunts to Walmart ended with a visit to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's.  Walmart should hire Amber as a greeter!  She couldn't stop smiling or saying hi.  I still can't believe my mom, at 86, got down on the floor with the babies.

The Two Warriors Finally Connect ~ Giant smile producer here and a flood of joy.  After two deployments each, these two finally find themselves in the same war torn country in a civilian capacity.  Hubby had a business trip in May but couldn't make it work to get to  the boy.  This trip, they've already had lunch together and bumped into each other for dinner.  

Trip to the Airport~ Middle of the day, driving out of Boston alone, the city is just so pretty with its blend of history and new, trees green, glimpses of rooftop gardens, all the water around, a hint of mountain in the west, and a beautiful cloudy sky.  That experience Monday kicked me into this week of stopping and being thankful for the moments that make me smile. 

Colossians 2:6 and 7

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Trying to memorize the book of Colossians with my sister this year.  I am far behind her but finding such joy in verses that I've probably read hundreds of times but now seem to jump off the page.  "Overflowing with thankfulness" really hollered at me.  I'm much more whiny than thankful.  I am memorizing these in the NIV 1984 version, because that's the bible I had with me when we embarked on this challenge.  The bible I use most often is one my parents gave me for my high school graduation (a very long time ago).  These verses are highlighted in yellow and in the margin "CILT Graduation."  What a smile this brings and a flood of memories.  An intensive two year, Camper-in-Leadership-Training course taught by an incredible woman who was serious and demanded thoroughness and excellence.  You had two weeks at camp for two summers but two years to be working on things and then wrapping it all up at camp.  This was before the days of passing everybody and sheltering young people from disappointment and failure.  She was tough and those of us who passed grew and stretched in ways we didn't think possible and learned lessons and skills for a lifetime beyond the realm of summer camp.  Thank you, Joy!