"learning requires practice"

This list is really important to me. I would like to tell you why. But I think Ann communicates it far better than I, so I will give you quotes from her book that I relate to so well. It was like she was talking about me, for me.

"...the list, it feels foreign, strange. Long, I am woman who speaks but one language, the language of the fall -- discontentment and self-condemnation, the critical eye and the never satisfied." -pg 46

"I almost don't see it, but Paul repeats it twice in only two sentences, so I don't miss it:

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." (Philippians 4:11-12)

I read it many times, groping for the latch.
There it is -- the secret to living joy in every situation, the full life of eucharisteo{grace. thanksgiving. joy.} Twice Paul whispers it: 'I have learned...' Learned. I would have to learn eucharisteo. Learn eucharisteo -- learn it to live fully." -pg 47

My default is to grumble and to complain. To cry out, "Why me?" in the most trivial of circumstances when I step back to really look at the bigger picture. So what changes a heart like that? This. This joy found in God's Word and in His Presence. His Grace. And my choosing to say, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." for loving me and gifting me with sweet moments and terrible moments, both of which bring me to my knees and closer to His Heart.

 But it's a fight sometimes a lot of the time to have such discipline. To choose to be grateful. To stop and take the time to acknowledge the gift. So I'm practicing and I'm learning.

DISCLAIMER: Most of the pictures in this post were taken with an iPhone, and an old one at that, so the quality of most of these pictures is not so pretty. But it's the thought that counts.

180. - 228.

spending another night with Sonia at the hospital; playing with her; her smiles

His healing hand

friends in Miami

being home with Andrew after a night away

hearing how Trinity missed me & cried at the door when I didn't come home

feeling good about working out

Sonia finally released from the hospital

the pretty red cardinal on the gate

kitty cat in laundry basket

blogging about BSF

reflecting on Isaiah 

cooking dinner

bringing dinner over to Sonia's host family and hanging out/playing with the whole family

making Sonia smile and holding her most of the night

inspiring blogs

feeling accomplished after filing and organizing

Trinity wanting to be held and her little cat kisses

catching up with Kellie and Jorge

cooking a new recipe well

dinner with our community group

"making his day" with one simple text

laughing and playing with Andrew

kissing on his lunch break

another nap with a sweet kitty in the crook of my arm

3 nights in a row of hanging out with great people/Kellie, Jorge, and Stacey came over tonight

catching up with Cynthia on the phone

waking up well rested

morning walk and talk with my love

sunshine through trees and a backdrop of blue skies

evidence of new life

washing dishes together

afternoon nap with the hubby

cooking those delicious potatoes again, together

Andrew surprising me with delicious grilled steak {and I thought he'd been grilling chicken}

warm and crispy chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk

finding lots of inspiration/ideas on Pinterest {may need intervention. gratitude turned prayer request. ha.}

smiles and laughter from the husband

another morning walk

school of minnows jumping because of a chase

singing at church

singing/praying Healer for Sonia

holding and feeding Sonia after church -- IN church!

a red, ripe, sweet{est} strawberry

another long walk and talk

going through "Tuesday's" questions

a pretty yellow "weed"

the light from a sunset bouncing off walls, windows, and water

a pink sunset
hearing and processing through a sermon {Grace Now} on a passage I never really understood