The Sound Of Too Much
Good morning... "Klunk." "Klunk." "Klunk." Does your washer also shout when you cram in way too much? "Contrary to what you might think, being too busy can be counterproductive," writes Rachelle Williams in the article I highlighted for you in yesterday's post, The Art Of Relaxation. "Think of a washing machine that is crammed with too many clothes. Not much actual washing takes place because there is not enough space to move and [...]
The Art Of Relaxation
Good morning... "I wanted to share this lovely article I just received on dolce far niente ... the sweet art of doing nothing," she texted after reading our recent message, The Magic Of Play. "It fits so well with your blog post this morning, Sue." Again, God's perfect timing multiples our joy. ****** Excerpts from The Importance of Doing Nothing: Art of Relaxation by Rachelle Williams A visit to Italy will soon have you embracing [...]
Watch Joy Emerge
Good morning... "In Christ's name we play," my Freudian slip sparking an avalanche of joy. After crafting yesterday's post, The Magic of Play, I watched different forms of play emerge all day. I walked, instead of driving, to the home of a woman new to our Friday class roster, enjoying fresh coffee and conversation. I walk and talked to and from the horse farm with a long-time friend, and together we personalized the [...]
The Magic Of Play
Good morning... "In Christ's name we play," my Freudian slip ended our prayer, ushering us into a magical evening. "Researcher Stuart Brown, MD, describes play as time spent without purpose," Brene Brown stretches her own mind to welcome this new possibility. "To me this sounds like the definition of an anxiety attack. I feel behind if I’m not using every last moment to be productive, whether that means working, cleaning the house or [...]
Should I Be Teaching The Enneagram?
Good morning... After the second week of our Enneagram class, I got an email from a very good friend. "Sue, I thought you might want to read where the Enneagram originated. Also google Sufi. I just wasn’t sure if you knew this. Pray and see if this is something the Lord wants you to be involved with. Love you and will see you soon." After praying as she suggested and reading the link she [...]
Savor Sabbath: Celebrate Life
Good morning... Today is a special day of Sabbath as a good friend lays to rest her beloved mother-in-law at 3:00 pm. Right after last week's post, We Memorize A Mother, she wrote me these God-inspired words. "Hello Sue," she began. "God’s timing in honoring your friend’s Mom surfaced on your blog this morning, greeting us just after we lost our own Mom, Naomi. She was hanging on so long that toward the end [...]
God’s Perfect Timing
Good morning... Last Saturday I shared our post We Memorize A Mother, highlighting for you the gorgeous memorial service for my friend's mother, Caroline Gilham. Soon after our morning message was sent, I exchanged a life-giving string of texts. Now I share them with you. "My friend Marscha died this morning," a close friend wrote to inform me. "Finally, peace. She and her daughter were together to experience it. I am so grateful for [...]
Loved Ones Live On
Good morning... "Hey Sue!" she emailed. "You’ve been on a roll these last two weeks! LOVING all your messages each day! Makes me miss seeing you all the more, but at least I feel close to your heart through your daily sweet words!" She reflected: "I do believe God speaks to us in special ways through nature, through Scripture, through people, through His beautiful creation. I’ll never forget the Lionbacker picnic two years ago, [...]
Love Each Season
Good morning... I was the last parent to leave our first gathering of our youngest child's final high school year. I felt compelled to "close down the bar," "stay for the last round," enjoying every conversation until the very last drop. I was in my car by 9:00 am, driving forward into this special year of "lasts." Returning home to a quiet house, I was embraced by the feeling I loved the most [...]
The First Day Of Our Last Year
Good morning... I remember dropping off our first kindergartener for his first day of school, driving home, and crying emotions all over my journal. That was August 2000. Back then I was nurturing two more kids at home, three-and-a-half and seventeen months, and our final baby was just a hope in my heart, born the next June to round out our clan. This morning our last child, now eighteen years old, will drive himself [...]
One Quiet Video
Good morning... I am grateful God allowed me to sleep in today, until about half an hour before my 8:00 am meeting. Had I crafted our morning message in the wee hours of the night, it would not have been this one, and this one is exquisite, for all the ways you will discover. "I thought you would like this!" her email arrived in my inbox at 8:27 am to greet me after [...]
My 90 Minutes In Heaven
Good morning... Last Monday morning, Rev. Catherine Boothe Olson and I prepared the space for our noontime Enneagram class. As people began slowly trickling into the sacred chapel, I felt like a "welcome" greeter in heaven. I joyfully hugged women I love from book studies in our living room and women I adore from mission trips, outreach experiences, and Bible studies at church. I excitedly reconnected with women I have led on retreats, [...]