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Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

count your blessings

I'm bringing smiles back

March 23, 2013

This regular Saturday post where I tell you what has made my week has been MIA for a few weeks. Partly because I was feeling sorry for myself and didn’t want to take the time to try to come up with a week’s worth of smiles. (Because truly some weeks it is harder than others.) And partly because we had this BIG event–a 5 year-old’s birthday–and family were in town and life was not ordinary or routine.

So, I return, somewhat reluctantly, and if you missed me, then accept my apology for the absence.

Here’s a short list of what makes me smile this week.

Illustration by Billy Alexander/courtesy of Stock Exchange (www.sxc.hu)

Illustration by Billy Alexander/courtesy of Stock Exchange (www.sxc.hu)

Spring. It’s here, officially. Even though the weather hasn’t played along, I know it’s only a matter of time before walking outside with the kids becomes bearable again and the world bursts with color. It’s my favorite season.

God kept me calm when my son’s head was bleeding profusely. And He kept us safe while driving in the snow to the emergency room. And He’s given us a daughter who jumps in to help and isn’t freaked out by other people’s pain. When we told the nurse that Izzy wanted to watch any procedure on her brother’s head, the nurse asked if she was going to be a nurse or a doctor. “Actually, I’m planning to be a teacher,” she says. And Corban’s head is fine, no stitches required.

I read two great books this week. I can’t wait to tell you about them in April. Watch for the reviews.

I signed a contract for a magazine article I wrote. It’ll be published in an upcoming May/June issue. I’ll share more when the time comes.

We officially own our car. The title came in the mail last week. Getting out of debt feels good, even if it’s hard work in the process. One down, too many more to go.

While calculating our expenses for the upcoming month, I was relieved to realize we might be able to pay them without too much extra help. That’s a relief when lately paying bills causes anxiety.

I applied for a job.

Homemade hot chocolate mix.

Friends who bring a bag of coffee beans to your front door.

A catch-up phone call with an in-town friend.

Okay, maybe the list wasn’t as short as I thought. Guess that’s what happens when you start listing the good. You think of more.

What was good about your week?

 

Filed Under: Children & motherhood, Saturday smiles Tagged With: count your blessings, first day of spring, getting out of debt, peace in the storms of life, reading good books, things that make me smile, writing

Too many reasons to smile

October 22, 2011

Seeing the sun rise over Lebanon (the city, not the country, though it, too, might be beautiful)

Losing 3 pounds in 10 days after seeing no change or weight gain for months

Related to that, running 1.5 miles three times in 8 days. Feels good to be back on the horse.

Alphabet pasta. And finding our names in it.

“I’m an African.”

Seriously, where does she come up with this? I’m hoping we’re just raising a globally minded daughter.

Collecting leaves.

Fixing hot chocolate for my kids and watching them fish the marshmallows out with their hands.

Hearing Corban sing the theme song to “The Cat in Hat Knows A Lot About That.”

Bandaids fixing everything.

A “tea party” in the “tree house” of the seminary playground.

My own geekiness when an author whose book I’m reading approaches our dinner table and my subsequent disappointment that I didn’t get to shake his hand.

My inner boldness to approach said author at his book table afterward and shake his hand and tell him how much I’ve enjoyed reading it so far.

Great ideas. Mine and others’.

Creativity.

A clean kitchen. And the power of baking soda to clean the grease off counters and stovetops.

A picked-up living room. (It’s a short-lived smile, but I’ll take what I can get.)

Isabelle earning a mommy-daddy-daughter movie night for 5 more straight days of no potty accidents. (We’ll be watching “Beauty and the Beast.” I’ll try to refrain from quoting/singing the whole thing to her, but I failed miserably with “The Lion King” a week ago.

Hearing what’s on my husband’s heart and mind.

Filed Under: Saturday smiles Tagged With: count your blessings, finding the positive, things that make you smile

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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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