if not

If not for the gift of a friend's sweet words today I might still be sitting in the mire of doubt, afraid to try again.

If not for the goodness of my tender hearted husband I might not know God's love in such a tangible way.

If not for the sweetness and mischief loving-ness of my curly topped fairy, I would not know the joy of motherhood and the sanctifying work of my heart.

If not for the coolness of fall evenings, I might not appreciate the warm embrace of the sun.

If not for God's gift of His Son's life for my sinful heart I would not know life or peace or hope.

Thank you, God.

backseat ramblings

It was dark by the time we pulled out of the driveway and headed home. The car was quiet except for the sounds of my happy little companion in the backseat. She crunched on crackers and took long sips from her water cup. I drove along, watching for deer in the dark shadows, lost in my thoughts. From the quiet her voice rang out,"Here mom. I'm done with my snack." I reached back to take the plastic sandwich baggie from her hands and set it down on the seat beside me. Her empty mouth is never one for idleness so it wasn't long before her thought factory of a mind began production. She manufactures words faster than a used car salesman. For the rest of our drive she filled our car with stories and songs....

OH NO! (she gasped) I lost my twenty dollars. I can't find my money. Could you please share yours with me?

I realize, I need to have a business, but I don't know how to make free chocolates. I don't have the recipe. Maybe I could just get strawberries wet with a spray bottle, put them in the dryer than dip them in egg. I think that would be good. Do you think so? I need a business, I realize this. Maybe I could make chocolates in the wash machine and then put them in the dryer. I don't know.

Singings 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 at the top of her voice. Over and over...

Look! There's Kohls and there's another Kohls. Oh and there's Costco. And there's Nards (menards). I really need a Nards card.

More songs..a mix of the alphabet and the ever familiar 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

We sure have a lot of bathrooms in our house. WOW! (gasps)What should we do with ALL THOSE BATHROOMS! Oh wait. Auntie Sheri really has a lot of bathrooms. She has 3 upstairs. Victoria has a bathroom in her room. Oh WOW! (gasps) Oh WOW! She also has one downstairs. WOW (sigh) that's a lot of bathrooms. What should we do with all those bathrooms?? Wow! (long pause) Wow! So many bathrooms...

(sniffs the air) What's that smell? It smells like glue.

(driving through the neighborhood) Oh NO! Everyone took Christmas down. There's no frosty the snowman. Where did Christmas go?

(As we pull into our driveway) Oh NO! Who took our car...where is frosty (the sable)?  I tried to explain to her that we were riding in frosty the sable. She was too distressed to listen. Until we looked up to the house and saw daddy in the window. All thoughts of frosty disappeared.....

We gathered up our bags and headed inside, her little feet dancing in the dew-kissed grass, my mind repeating all of the sweet wordings she shared with me so I wouldn't forget. I hope I never forget.

and she danced to the sound of her dreams and the simple pleasures of life