The Pile

A rare photo of my table completely cleared of its usual piles...except for the cat.

I can't shake it. It's always there. Every day, every week, every season of the year...

There's a pile on my dining room table.

The contents of the pile change periodically. But they always indicate a current "focus" of my life.

It might be a pile of Christmas cards with envelopes to address, or it might be the pile of thank-you cards that quickly follow behind.

I just emptied the table of the pile of tax forms only to be replaced by the highly anticipated "intent to homeschool" paperwork.

Sometimes the piles bring sadness, like when I have to fill out documents demonstrating our life with rare disease. But woven into those same sad piles are the jubilation of saying: "Oh my goodness, look how far we have come."

There are a multitude of random school supplies within the piles. Three-ring binders hold my Bible studies and prayer journals, post-it notes contain scribbles of assembly and senate bills that I am following, 3 or 5 subject notebooks with sections for blogging-for planning-for checklists, and pens and pencils that inevitably leap out of our junk drawer and make a home on the table...they represent the stock-piling of years of school supplies being purchased that we never really used because Evie's school supply list was different than the other kids.

I have to shift the piles to an alternate location when we have guests, and I usually re-evaluate my piling compulsion each time that happens. But, I've grown accustomed to it, and realize now that it's not a sign of incompetence or laziness-this is my filing system, this is how I get things done, this IS how I "do what I do."

Do YOU have piles in your life? Do they help you or hinder you? 

You Are Here...Guest Blogging Day

Photo Courtesy of Serge Bertasius/freedigitalphotos.net

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever Isaiah 40:8 NASB

Ah, the holidays.  Have you ventured out into the malls yet?  Have you managed to get lost between the anchor stores in some random corner of the mall which may be lined with independent kiosks in December, but will hardly be traveled the rest of the year?

I once worked in the Mall of America; yet, here, I find myself all turned around in the Meadowood Mall which doesn't remotely compare to the MOA in size.  It's unfamiliar territory, as is most of Reno, but it is becoming home now that we've been here for six months.

Isn't our life's journey very much like a trip through the mall?  Some stores are intriguing and enjoyable, as are some stages in our life.  Some stores are crowded, crappy and overpriced...as are some stages of our life.  Some stores are downright overwhelming...um-hmmm...just like life.

Continue Reading on Comfort in the Midst of Chaos...

Sweeping the Threshold

I’m filled with excitement.

Have you ever felt that way?  When you are just waiting for the next day to start so you can see what other connections are made, what other people God brings into your life, or what other opportunities He places before you?

Every day lately I have found connection after connection after connection, where one task I’m given directly prepares me for the next one; where each assignment strengthens my ability to complete the NEXT assignment.  

As I stand here, sweeping the threshold of a new adventure, I feel a path has been paved for me, so I have no fear or trepidation; just wonderment at how God takes me on my journeys through life, and always has much greater plans than I ever thought possible. 

Have you seen the connections God has made in your life?  Have you seen in hindsight how he has spared you heartache or failure by setting up a barrier that at one time you resented?

One of my favorite bands, the Newsboys, sing a song that keeps running through my head on a daily basis:  

God is Movin’

I've been oblivious and unaware
That there's a war raging on out there
Between the good, the bad
Every day's a battle
But something's in the air
I can feel it, I can feel it
God is movin', movin', movin'
Love is alive, we're wakin' up
I can feel it, I can feel it
Yeah, God is movin', movin', movin'

Can you feel it? 

God is moving. 

Written in response to www.sundayscribblings2.blogspot.com writing prompt: Sweeping the Threshold.