36

So next week will be my 36th birthday. On my 35th birthday, I had two goals. #1: Clear any & all drama from my life. #2: Become a great dancer. Drumroll please . . . . yep, made significant progress on both. Wouldn't say that I've "arrived" at either, but have made some pretty good headway.

So this year, I've been giving lots of thought to my "theme" for the year. I haven't come up with anything brilliant. Just one word: REST. I'm not 100% sure why "rest" but I'm pretty sure it's because I've worked so hard the last few (and by "worked hard" I mean internally) years. I kinda think it's gonna turn out to be a combination of physical & emotional rest, but we'll see. (Life's never turned out quite how I thought it would ;-)

I think our society could use some rest, and so could I.

weather

So we've been having what we SoCal folks refer to as some very serious weather . . . 6 days of rain! Well . . . downpours, thunderstorms, rainbows & the like. And it's been COLD (now all you hardy MN folks, don't get too uppity :-) . . . a balmy 55 degrees (which is grounds for turtle necks, scarves, blankets, heaters, mittens etc.). It's a far cry from growing up in Minnesota winters, but it sure does feel cold now.

But seriously, our heaters (& the oven) have been on full time to keep our little house warm. This morning, as Mahalia was watching her daily intake of Sesame Street, I captured this gem.

budding photographer

Yesterday was a very amusing Mahalia day. Maybe it's because Dad did co-op instead of Mom, so there was extra fun around, but I'm pretty sure our kiddo is just hilarious by nature.

So we're all in the car - and Mahalia's in the back seat belting out "the wipers on the bus go squish, squish, squish" (note: it's not "swish" but "squish") for the 2nd time. And all of a sudden she mutters under her breath, "I already did that one," and starts singing, "the people on the bus go up & down." It was comical.

Then later, she's running around in her "Lightning McQueen" underwear, (the girlie undies have been a bit problematic lately; aka: they ride up too much, so we got boy undies) and wants me to take a picture of Lightning McQueen so she can see it (since it's on her booty where she can't see it) . . . and while I look away for a nano second, she snatches the camera & when I see what's happened . . . well, you can see . . . not bad, eh?

Mostly centered!

5,000 Pebbles

Earlier this week, I had one of those very good, but intense days. I had multiple (5) really intense conversations - some including tears (the good kind) - that really took it outta me. Midway through the day, I told someone that I feel like my life right now goes something like this . . . a person hands you a bucket with 5,000 pebbles in it, launches the pebbles in the air & yells, "now catch 'em!"

There's no. possible. way.

And so, I smile at myself. I catch the ones that need to be catched. I let the others fall to the ground. Then I dance.

simple but difficult

So I was talking with my Dad yesterday . . .

Over the course of my life, my Dad is the kinda guy who is full of nuggets . . . nuggets of wisdom/truth. He's not a man of a thousand words, but the words he does have carry weight. His wisdom has helped shaped my character, my beliefs & the way I live my life. I've often noticed that wisdom, while it often is quite simple, is rarely easy. True wisdom is often simple but difficult.

My Dad shared something with me yesterday - and is facing the greatest challenge of his life so far. When I asked how he felt about it, he responded with something that is forever etched in my heart. He said something like, "Well, as you get older, God gives you more opportunities to really have faith. Often we just say we have faith, but this will be my greatest opportunity to see if I really trust God or not."

If you knew what he was facing, you might feel the same way when he said it to me . . . inspired. May we be inspired to really live the life God has laid out before each of us in a way that is marked with complete surrender & trust. Thanks for the wisdom Dad.

my cheeks hurt

So after what has been a good, but VERY intense 2009, Dan & I spent New Year's Eve on the couch . . . watching comedy. We LOVE a good laugh. And we NEEDED a good laugh last night. So we opened up Netflix & watched some great comedy together.

If you're looking for a great laugh that'll make your cheeks hurt, check this one out. Parental warning: it's a little raw, but boy will you laugh!!! Honestly, I was doubled over at various points - with a kleenex in one hand & trying to keep myself from falling off the couch with the other. Good stuff!!!

Here's to remembering to laugh a LOT in 2010!