Life lately

There’s snow piled up high outside the front door.

Two boys still tucked in bed upstairs.

The littlest munching crackers.

We rose early this morning - I often see 5AM on a Saturday morning these days.

Quiet Bible time by lamp light with coffee in hand and then a kiss and goodbye as Zach heads to the early shift at the new coffee shop.

Life lately has it’s joys and pains all wrapped into one, as life always has a way of doing.

We have nights of family games, wrestling matches while Ev and I cheer from the couch.

We have evenings where the work just won’t end and we’re speeding through the tasks most demanding to try and catch a moment of rest.

We have sweet toddler snuggles before bed that are melting us.

We have high fives after exceptional math lessons.

We have laughter and silliness before tucking into bed at night.

We have a snug school room in which to learn while watching snow fall.

We have nights when the family gathers round after rowdy play outside and sip on hot cocoa together.

January is my month in the book of Colossians - each month I’ll choose a different book to soak in a little more.

What I find there so far?

Many commands to give thanks - to take up the attitude always of Thanksgiving.

I scribble down a short list in the early morning hours - I find that it feels of little power in the moment.

But I find it to be true that what I choose to dwell on - what I put down on paper - somehow holds more weight than all the grumbling I’m prone to throughout the day.

What I choose to markdown - to bring to mind - that is what I see when my eyes look back on this January day.

Life lately has overwhelmed me.

But I’m learning to choose to be overwhelmed by the good, because there’s an overwhelmingly, abundant amount of it when I only allow my eyes to see it.