Lilley of the field

I should be doing school work for this week, but after going to a funeral, it doesn't seem as important and I'd rather write here real quickly. Today I went to a funeral for a former student of mine who was on homebound (meaning he was never in my class- his instruction took place at home). I have another child from their home in my class currently and I wanted to be there to support and bless the family. When I picked up the order of the service sheet, I noticed that the second song was one we sang at church this morning and I immediately smiled. The song is called "10,000" Reasons. Here are the words: [Chorus] Bless the Lord, O my soul O my soul Worship His holy name Sing like never before O my soul I'll worship Your holy name The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning It's time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes [Chorus] You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger ...

Aaron calls on his way home from work today and we talk for a few minutes and he asks, "So, what are we cooking for dinner tonight?" We talk about leftover options and cooking new things. I am standing there with the fridge door wide open, wishing the afternoon hadn't gotten away from me, grouchy and hungry and suddenly, I see the potatoes and I  really want a potato. Baked potoato. Sour cream. melting cheddar cheese. All of it. I suggest this, but Aaron can tell I'm grouchy and doesn't understand. We get confused and finally realize we are both agreeing on potatoes. It seemed like a silly conversation and I was frustrated with myself for being so grouchy. - - - - - I had been thinking about my fast this Lent which began last Wednesday. I've made it a week without breaking it, but I felt myself breaking today. I gave up sweets and in particular snacking in the afternoon before dinner. I could feel myself coming home from school on most days and just waitin...

Valentine's Day has come and gone and yet, I still wanted to share this lovely little present with you. I always wanted a man who could provide for my needs in tangible and real ways, who listened to what I wanted, who surprised me with special presents, who left me cute notes when he was gone. I wanted someone who was thoughtful, attentive, caring, and humorous. And let me tell you- I got all of those things in one incredible man. Yes, you are not mistaken... a pitch fork was my Valentine's Day present. I truly had uttered the words, "Aaron, I really want a pitch fork." I was talking about making spreading mulch easy this spring. We had gotten a wheelbarrow which I was greatly pleased with because spreading a truck load of mulch with two 5 gallon buckets was not an experience I would like to repeat if possible. Aaron didn't think we needed a pitch fork, I had voiced my desires. And in all fairness, I did not specify when or how I wanted it.  T...

During my yard word today with Aaron I was struck by the beautiful little things outside in the middle of winter that were such sweet signs of springs that could be easily missed. Aaron wanted to keep working- I was done. So, I grabbed my camera to try to capture some of these gifts. " Behold, I will do something new,   Now it will spring forth;   Will you not be aware of it?   I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,   Rivers in the desert. " -Isaiah 43:19

I decided to take a run today after school. I haven't run in a long time and don't usually choose to, but it was so lovely and warm outside today that it was hard not to want to just run carefree out there in that sunshine. That's what I wanted to be- carefree. I'd been feeling care- fu l today. Full of cares. I could feel my stomach clenching at the end of the day and welcomed the energy that running takes and the deep breaths it forces my body to take. I don't run very far. I am actually embarrassed to write here how far I usually can run before I decide to walk the rest of the way. Anyways, I happened to stop and walk a few mailboxes away from a little girl bent down with some paper and doing something in at the foot of her mailbox. As I was passing, she looked at my two friendly dogs and I could see it on her Face: pure delight and innocent curiosity. I introduced my dogs to her and knelt down to talk with her. I asked her name and grade. Sophie in the fourt...