I Get To

The gingerbread frosting ran down the roof and the candies slid down with it, a clearish-white smudge of sugar that should’ve been much thicker and fluffier.

“Well, I guess that’s how it’s going to be today,” shrugged my 8-year-old.

I smiled. He didn’t know that I had been bemoaning my lot in life the day before. Who knew what the day would hold, and I didn’t really feel like facing it. Maybe a child would be up too early or too late, maybe we’d run out of coffee, an appliance might break, something might spill all over the school books - and hopefully not all of these at once, but hey, some days are just like that. I forced myself to change perspectives.

I have to became I get to.

I get to wash dishes again and enjoy a clean kitchen and full bellies.

I get to do laundry and teach my kids how to do it as well.

I get to be the one they come crying to, to help them solve problems and sort out emotions.

I get to create and add magic to the Christmas season, with traditions and decorations and foods. Some they will love, and some they will not - and we will wind up with some pretty great routines in the end.

I get to watch the wonder in their eyes and their excitement as they learn, even if we don’t get to all the material I’d planned.

I get to work to make a clean, inviting home that we can invite others into, knowing we all will have to clean it again when friends leave.

I get to sit and read story after story, expanding their imaginations and throwing hooks into the past for them to hold onto.

I get to learn how to joyfully accept what comes, and flex with the day and my children.

I get to is far more helpful and edifying than I have to.

And someday, I’ll get to drink my coffee while it’s hot too. But lukewarm is how it’ll be today.

If you need a fun, quick idea - make yourself some whipped cream, spread it in a pan, toss on some sprinkles and freeze it. Cut into shapes and store in the freezer. Plop a couple into coffee or hot chocolate.

Friday Magnify || The Sewing Machines

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:3

There was a day a couple months ago that my sewing machine and my sister-in-law’s sewing machine both conked out. She had sent hers to be repaired, and it returned in working condition only to fail again. I hadn’t sent mine out, but spent hours fiddling with it and looking at the manual and watching videos about my model machine. A friend even sat with me and tried to troubleshoot, and was equally stumped.

My mother-in-law offered some advice. “You know,” she said, “a while ago Grandma had a washing machine that wouldn’t work. She had little kids at home and no money to fix it, so she prayed over it and asked the Lord to help her out. Funny enough, that machine started working and lasted a few more years!”

I laughed, and asked God if He would somehow get my machine working. I had Christmas stockings to finish sewing, and would really be grateful if I didn’t have to do them all by hand!

Not long after I asked Him, the machine started working. I still don’t know what happened and what made it work, but it hasn’t stopped working since and it makes me smile every time I use it.

The day after my machine started working, my sister-in-law asked the Lord to help her with her machine as well. And He did! It also started working and she has finished her projects. We laughed and thanked Him together!

These stories aren’t something to build a theology around, other than the fact that our God is kind and He cares about the details of our lives. He loves to help us and see us smile, and be thanked in return!

Resolving to Rejoice

It’s the last week of the year, when we’ve already celebrated Christmas but aren’t quite to the New Year and aren’t sure what day it is or what we’re supposed to be doing. But I imagine many of us are attempting New Year resolutions — or maybe we’ve given up on those altogether. Either way, I hope you’ll find this encouraging!

We all know there will be many unknowns this coming year, and there will be days that surprise us and ruin our schedules and change our unchangeable plans. This happens every year of course, but it seems that after 2020 and 2021 it’s more obvious that our lives are not in our control. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). (This verse is really very comforting. How many plans have we intended to execute that we look back on later with relief that we weren’t able to follow through? His direction is good!)

I recently heard someone talking about resolutions, and though I can’t remember who it was he/she made a great point: resolve to praise the Lord. For 2022, Psalm 118:24 is a good verse to keep front and center:

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it”.

Notice he says we will rejoice. We don’t know what each day will bring, but we can already resolve to rejoice! In sickness and health, in hardship and ease, in routine and chaos. Each day that we are given, regardless of circumstances, we have the opportunity to rejoice and be glad in it. Resolving to be thankful and give God praise will make a year better, won’t it?

Our family has ideas and goals for the upcoming year, and I am enjoying the labor of planning things out. While I have to hold onto these things loosely, I am resolving to praise Him each day. I want to thank Him continuously, and see His hand in more of my everyday. A year from now, I want to have grown in thanksgiving and love for my Savior. This will likely make me a more joyful and content wife, mother, and friend too. ;)

What are you looking forward to in 2022? Are there goals you’ve set and are hoping to reach? Are you forgoing benchmarks and taking it all as it comes? I hope, whatever the case may be, that you are encouraged to rejoice more in your Savior. I hope He shows you more of Himself and His goodness in this year to come, and that you find Him satisfactory in all situations.

Happy almost New Year, friends!