Yesterday it was warm all day. The windows in our apartment were propped open all day and the warm sunshine shone through followed by a cool breeze. Liam told me the other day, "Mom, the sun is like a big magic heater." Indeed it is. Somehow God put it in the sky and it gives us warmth, light, and pleasure. So we pulled on our tennis shoes and ran to the store. It was invigorating. Lovely. Refreshing. Filling our lungs with air, warming our bodies, sweat pouring down...this makes me feel very alive. As we ran back, the air changed. The gray clouds had moved in overhead and moisture was in the air. But it was still warm. The rain was moving in, on the verge of arriving. We made it home in time to escape the rain, but it to was a beautiful thing to experience. A warm afternoon changing to a warm light rain. Beauty is all around us. The sensation and the experience of a change in weather is mysterious and beautiful. I am thankful for the sun and the rain. Thank you God for your mysterious wonders that I can see, feel, hear, and smell.

Here I go again...

Today began like any other day. Wake up to the sound of little people. Little people wanting their food. "Mhoat meo" (oatmeal), repeated over and over again. "I want my food," I hear. "I want the 'sticks' cereal." I don't know why a 4 year old kid would ever WANT to eat All-bran for breakfast, but that is his request today. "Are you sure?" I ask just to make sure and I am not a big fan of wasting food. Especially now that we are sticking to a strict Dave Ramsey budget. Yes he's sure and he's been warned that he doesn't get anything else until he eats it. I make my coffee while getting breakfast ready and pour my own bowl of cereal. This is how I start my day. Every day. And then after we all eat breakfast I pour myself several cups of coffee and stare at my kids while they play or beg me to let them watch cartoons. I always tell them, "no, it's too early." I don't like the TV on this early in the morning. In fact, I don't know why I have such an aversion to technology, but the Lord has given me a strong dislike for all technology in general for kids. I feel like a purist because I want my kids to imagine, to dream, to pretend, to create with their own brains. I don't want technology numbing them to what their own minds are capable of. I hope I don't mess them up in the midst of all my tech "NO" philosophy on parenting. So there I am staring at my kids playing, staring at the trees out my window, thinking about what I have to do today, this week. And I ponder what the point of it all is. Surely there has got to be some special reason why I get out of bed every day to this and go through it all over and over again. Every day. And so that is why I am here writing this right now. Because I do believe there is more than just my routine to life. Sometimes it is hard to see beyond the here and now of what the point of it all is, but I know there is one. And so I write this today because I am changing the forum of this blog. I used to just use it as a means to share pictures and to moan and whine if I was feeling bad about something. But no more. Be gone with the venting. Here I come to share why I get out of bed every day. Surely something will stick out every day that gives a day purpose. Even if the only purpose was to get out of bed and drink my coffee. Let's be honest. Some days are like that. But I believe that if you start looking for what is significant in life, you will see it. I know God has a purpose for me. And I think it is bigger than my small imagination can wrap my brain around, but I am ready to look for it. I believe it comes in seemingly insignificant normal forms and we either embrace it or it passes by us. So here's to looking and watching.