Manna Jar

A couple years ago at church we talked about how God answers our prayers but we aren't always the best at noticing. We hop from one problem to the next with barely a pause in between and we wonder why "God never hears me." Really, though, He hears and He answers...I am normally just too self-involved to notice. I decided to be more diligent about thanking Him for hearing and answering. I decided to cut back on my ridiculous self-involvement and savor the moments by writing the answered prayers and blessings on a slip of paper and keeping it in a jar. On New Years Eve, Husband and I read through and remember all the cool things God has done.

 

We aren't even halfway through the year and the jar is packed...and last Tuesday we got to add one more.  We had an appointment with the hip doc and she showed us these pictures.

 

 

The top picture is from March.  See that little round thing?  It's floating around in outer space when it should be sitting nicely in the socket.  And see that white line thing?  That's the socket.  It should have a nice, deep curve in it so the bone will stay in place.  Instead, it looks more like a spatula than a spoon.

 

The bottom picture was taken Tuesday.  Look at that beautifully curved socket.  And the way the bone sits in there?  Marvelous...just marvelous.  Actually, miraculous is the correct word.  Seriously.  Miraculous.  The doc said the hip looks so good that the brace only has to be worn while sleeping AND we don't have to go back for two months!  I like our doctor but I sure am glad to see less of her! 

 

God is good.  Maybe instead of a Manna Jar we should invest in a Manna Bucket. 

 

 

HOUSE!!!!!!!

So...this happened. WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!

Lily is excited to pack up all her friends and move in. We close in one month from today...which might be the longest month ever because we are so pumped. Mark it down on your calendar and bring some old clothes for painting. Pizza, cookies and sarcasm will all be provided. 

Predictably Unpredictable

The only thing I know about life...it's predictably unpredictable. Just when I think I know, I realize I don't.

After two years on the day shift at work, Husband has been moved to the weekend night shift. Weekends and nights. Don't get me wrong...we are happy he still has a job...but weekends and nights? That wasn't exactly in my five year plan. There are some benefits, I'm sure. None really come to mind but they are probably just hidden somewhere behind and between all the things we can't do anymore. No more weekend dates or going to church together or dinner after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I used to think I was a flexible person, rolling with the punches with optimism in my pocket. Seems like I left those jeans in the laundry and my optimism got all wrinkled. 

I know. It's really not so bad and I should put a tiara on since I'm being such a drama queen. Someday I will look back and laugh at myself for questioning the plan. Someday when we end up in the place we are supposed to be, the path and the plan will make sense. Unfortunately, for someone who likes predictability, this unpredictable life is predictably frustrating in the most unpreditable ways. 

Big, Bold Prayers

You know how you ask God for things and you pray and you pray. And then He does them and your face is like...

And God is like...

 

Why am I surprised when God answers my prayers? I know He can and I know He does. I guess I just don't always know if my plan is His plan.

A couple years ago at church, we did a book study thing about praying and one of the main themes was, "God honors bold prayers and bold prayers honor God." I always shied away from bold prayers. After all, what if I go telling people and then He doesn't answer my prayer? I will look silly and God will look weak. God? Look weak? That's ridiculous! So I started praying bold prayers and God answered them. 

Before we put our house on the market I prayed a bold prayer...that it would sell in one week for over our asking price. I told our realtor. He chuckled. One week? Seriously? For over the asking price? Right. Good luck with that. 

And then...it did. Our house sold in one day. ONE DAY!! For over the asking price. OVER the asking price! Did you read that? Can you believe it? Sure, we cleaned and scrubbed and decluttered but in one day? That, my friends, is a straight up miracle. 

Sometimes I think God answers big prayers just so God can see our faces. 

I'll Think About That Tomorrow

"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

Name that book. I'll give you a hint. It's...left with the breeze. Adios with the gust? See ya with the puff of air? Fine, fine, fine. Gone With the Wind. When the main character, Scarlett, feels overwhelmed or isn't able to control things, she just simply decides to "think about that tomorrow." I think tomorrow my brain is going to have a busy day. 

 

We put our house on the market. My biggest concern has been getting the house ready and cleaned and decluttered. I've been preoccupied and only just now, about five minutes ago, realized that selling this house means we have to leave. Well, we could stay but I'm not sure how a new owners, whenever they come along, would feel about that. Actually, I am sure. They wouldn't like it.
 

 

Of course I knew this process would lead to buying another place. But knowing and knowing are two totally different things. I haven't taken the time to think about leaving the place that has held so many memories. We haven't even sold the house yet and I'm feeling nostalgic! Someday we will drive Lily by this house and tell her that it was her first home. We planted that tree there in the front yard. I took her for walks on those sidewalks when she wouldn't stop crying. I know we will make new memories at a new place but I just really like these old ones too. 

Life goes on and stuff is just stuff. Memories are about the people more than the place. But if I keep thinking about these memories, I think I'll go crazy. I think I'll just think about this tomorrow. 

Cousin Love

Cousin love is a special kind of love. It means being bound by more than just family and more than just friendship...it's a combination of both that somehow creates a special bond.  

When I was a kid, I would dream about my cousins moving into the houses around me. We would go to school together and play outside and have awesome sleepovers. Instead, I had to settle for Christmas dinners at my grandparents house when we would shove a years worth of life into three hours of conversation. Or handwritten letters. Do people even do that anymore? 

Cousins are special and Lily has some pretty great ones. 

FREEDOM!!

Well, it's partial freedom but we will take it! We went to the hip doc and she said that pesky hip is definitely stable!! And the bone that just couldn't figure out how to curve has stepped up to the plate and is starting to curve quite nicely.

What does all this mumbojumbo mean? Well, it means this little chica gets six hours of brace free time each day!! We are so excited!! Sure, it would have been nice to be totally brace free but it would have also been nice if the doctor bought us ice cream and gave us sombreros (you can never have too many sombreros). 

Thanks for praying and thanks Jesus! Five weeks ago, we were praying for any improvement. The doctor was talking about casts and surgery and wanted us to know that the braces don't always work. And today...now...that hip is stable and this little squeaker gets to learn to roll and kick. We are so happy and so excited and so incredibly thankful. We go back next month for another check and are praying that we can get rid of that silly brace for good. But for now, we are embracing the brace freedom!!