Little things... big blessings

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."   --Helen Keller

I'm borrowing this quote from Suzanne at Privet & Holly.  It pretty much sums up why I felt so... antsy, stuck, unmotivated in January. And guilty. I felt guilty for having such a good life and not doing more to affect the larger world. *Sigh*

Yes, silly of me, very silly. Fortunately, I got over it. I'm sure I'll get around to changing the world eventually. In the meantime, I have kids to raise, friends to visit with before they move, laundry to fold, books to read... and a blog to keep up with!

The devil wanted to remind me of what I'm not doing so as to distract me from my current responsibilities and blessings. But the Lord reminded me that the little things do count. The point is to find Joy in them!

And I have lots of potential. I don't have to do Everything. Right. Now.

Plus, the sun came out!!

Spring has sprung in California! Apologies to those of you in colder climates. I'll feel guilty about that, too -- until July, when you're experiencing a lovely, warm, green season, and we've dried up and hung ourselves from the A/C vents.

 

In the meantime, let's make the most of every moment... whatever the weather.

Enjoying the view, however foggy.

When I was 16, my grandmother took me to Europe. We boarded train after train so she could introduce me to her family and friends all over Germany.

At one point during the trip, she wanted to surprise me with our next stop. We got on a train, but she wouldn't tell me where we were going.

I couldn't handle it.

I couldn't relax into my seat and enjoy the view, not knowing whether we'd be sitting there for 15 minutes, or four hours. Should I start a new chapter in my book? Did I have time to write a letter? It was unnerving.

So, I threw a bit of a fit, insisting that she tell me how long we'd be on the train. She refused, because she knew I could look at the train schedule and figure out where we would be getting off -- and the surprise would be ruined. (We were equally stubborn!) Never mind that I hate surprises.

I'm sorry to say that nearly 20 years later, I am no less likely to throw a fit when I feel out of control, blind to the future and not knowing what to do with myself while I wait for the next thing.

Which is why Nicole's new post at Burning Bushes about Psalm 25 and trusting in the Lord to know the way forward hit me so hard.

This has been a very long month, for no other reason than it's January, and the Tule fog is blinding me.

I know it looks all fun and games around here most of the time, and that part of this life is very real. I have SO much to thankful for!! But sometimes I'm also working really hard not to show you my Ugly Cry. It can get really ugly.

You, my friends, deserve to see the whole picture. You have been so supportive and encouraging, and I am so grateful. Even though I sometimes wonder, "What the heck do they see in me?"

I know better than to ask that question. I know if you see anything in me at all, that it's Him. And I know that His grace is sufficient to cover all my insecurities, doubts and neuroses.

So why can't I trust Him to take me where I need to go?

Courtesy Wikipedia

Heidelberg. That's where my Omie was taking me. Beautiful Heidelberg, where we could climb up to the ruins of a Renaissance castle, and peer down to a gorgeous view of the Rhein river.

No friends to visit and try to make stilted conversation with in my beginner German. Not the disturbing death camp of Dachau. Heidelberg.

This life is so beautiful. God has given me nothing but blessings.

And I am learning, oh so slowly, to stop fretting about what to do with myself, and just enjoy the view.

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good... He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. --Psalm 25:7,9 

{this moment} STRIKE!!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama.

Whoops! You're out of space!

Ack! So, I'm uploading photos for another post tonight (yes, twice in one week, can you believe it? I'm getting my groove back!) -- when I'm suddenly informed by Google that I cannot upload even one more picture; my photo storage is full.

Shoot. Or, don't bother, since I can't upload the pics anyway.

Actually, I'm kind of surprised my free storage has lasted this long, considering I've been blogging for nearly seven years! A gigabyte goes a long way, baby.

I debated whether or not to buy more storage... for about 10 seconds. But now I have to wait for my transaction to be processed. So, you'll have to wait another day to see pictures of our field trip to the bowling alley. I know, you can hardly stand it.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about making The Big Move. Maybe this is the right time. I've gotten a little too comfortable here, despite being irritated by it nearly every time I post. I feel like I did in 2002 when I still didn't have a cell phone.

What do you think? Have you thought about moving, or have you been at Wordpress or Typepad forever already? Do you like where you are? Any advice for this blogging dinosaur? And if you love Blogger, will you follow me if I move?!