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Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Saturday smiles

Saturday Smiles: It’s the little things edition

June 10, 2012

Right. Sunday again. I’m thinking I’ll have to rename this feature to Weekend Wonderfuls or something like that.

Many reasons to smile this week, so it’s not for lack of material.

One of my prayers of late has been, “God, where are You? Please, Lord. Show me that You haven’t forgotten us. I need to see You.” I wasn’t asking for a sign, per se, just an assurance. Like a short text or e-mail from a friend who’s been out of touch that says, “I’m still alive.”

I know God is there. I believe. Sometimes I just need a little reminder to help my unbelief.

My uncle is much improved this week, even moving out of critical care to a regular room. If you want the details you can find them here.

Not forgotten.

We came home to some distressing news for our budget and succumbed to stress and anxiety about the coming months. Then, we received four checks in the mail this week. We were expecting one, but couldn’t remember the amount. The other three were not exactly surprises except for the timing.

Not forgotten.

My husband completed another job application this week. That makes two out there for consideration. And we received an offer to pray about another ministry opportunity.

Not forgotten.

Then, there were things like experimental cooking that turned out yummy.

I call it sausage alfredo florentine pizza. Or something like that. It was good.

And this free activity for kids every other week at Lowe’s. Isabelle and Phil went for the first time on Saturday. Here’s what she did:

And she got an apron, goggles and an iron-on patch for finishing. This may be a regular part of our summer.

Then there’s this little guy, our future skater dude. He cracks me up.

Lemonade.

Cold root beer on a hot summer day.

The kids being excited about Bible school, which starts tonight.

Working out at the Y with a friend.

A park outing.

Eating supper al fresco in the backyard.

Life doesn’t always make sense. And life is good.

Filed Under: arts and crafts, Children & motherhood, food, Saturday smiles, Summer Tagged With: blessings, cooking, eating outside, food, free activities, God provides, Lowe's Build & Grow, reasons to smile, summer, trying new things

Saturday Smiles: Nothing much to say edition

June 2, 2012

Exhausted. Stressed. Overwhelmed. I feel all of these things today.

I have other feelings, yes. These are the ones that are stealing the show today.

I took a page out of Terri Gillespie‘s book and watched a disaster movie. She once revealed at a writer’s conference that disaster movies are how she deals with stress. I have to say, it worked! Even the cheesy dialogue in Volcano didn’t numb the effect. (I couldn’t resist a Tommy Lee Jones flick. And why is it that all the disaster movies available to us on instant Netflix were made in the late 1990s?) I don’t know why this works. Maybe a disaster movie gives my stress a place to focus, even temporarily. I don’t know.

This is what I know: I have reason to smile. Even when feelings fail.

The following conversation clips are courtesy of my kids. Yeah, they are a big part of my life. I can finally say that without feeling ashamed.

Neighbor girl to Isabelle while riding in a wagon being pulled by older neighbor girl: “Izzy, why is the grass so green?”

Izzy: “Well, because God made it that way.”

—————

While watching me make a root beer float pie, Isabelle says, “A beer pie does sound delicious.” Note to self: google “beer pie” and see if anyone has a recipe.

—————

On a walk around the block, while the kids rode their bikes, I greeted a  neighbor who was working on his truck/trailer with “Howdy.” Corban stops his bike, looks over at the neighbor and says, “What’s Howdy doin’?”

And here are a couple of photos from our afternoon at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford.

Trains were a big hit. As were tractors.

And Isabelle is never short on new friends at new places. Here, she’s talking to whoever picked up the other phone.

Even if your smiles are few today, rejoice!

Filed Under: Saturday smiles Tagged With: coping with stress, disaster movies, exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed, funny things kids say, reasons to smile, stressed out, terri gillespie, tommy lee jones, ways to relieve stress

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Photo by Rachel Lynn Photography

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Hi. I’m Lisa, and I’m glad you’re here. If we were meeting in real life, I’d offer you something to eat or drink while we sat on the porch letting the conversation wander as it does. That’s a little bit what this space is like. We talk about books and family and travel and food and running, whatever I might encounter in world. I’m looking for the beauty in the midst of it all, even the tough stuff. (You’ll find a lot of that here, too.) Thanks for stopping by. Stay as long as you like.

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