everyday unwrapped

This week I purposed to notice.  

last Tuesday I directed you to emily's blog. 

i read her post on monday and God has used her writing to help me to think and to notice this week.  it was good to have a "mission".  it helped me to be more present and to pay attention to what i was noticing in different moments than i probably would have been.

on monday i noticed the contented feeling i had in my car while driving home from work

i noticed leaves drifting down from tall, tall trees

on tuesday i noticed my friend from high school sitting across from me at dinner at La Madeleine

i mean i really noticed her and the fact that we were sitting there

together

sharing

talking

laughing

and for a moment the air was charged with a bit more warmth and zing

"this doesn't happen everyday"

"this is a blessing"

"take notice"

"be grateful"

on wednesday  i noticed that even though i'd been feeling some spiritual dryness and felt like i was having a hard time communing with Him, that in our worship service i was smiling, feeling, praising, knowing victory

also on wednesday i noticed that there were nearly twenty kindergarteners looking joyfully at me singing the song i'd just taught them 

classes of twenty some odd children look back at me five days out of the week but after ten years has it just become routine?  do i notice their faces, their smiles, the light in their eyes?

i noticed on wednesday

thursday i purposed to relax and enjoy a meeting

a meeting?

yes, a meeting, why not enjoy a meeting if you have to go?

friday i noticed how it felt to hold my husband's hand

it felt good

saturday i left space

emily talked about this too a little while ago

i left space so that i could have the energy and presence of mind to keep noticing

i didn't say yes to everything

i didn't leave the house all day

ALL DAY

today i decided to iron an apron to wear while making cookies for our church Christmas party tonight

recipe from Julie

why not decide to celebrate something small?

have you noticed anything this week?

are you frazzled or experiencing some peace during this season?  

God's blessings on you and yours.

*** does this post mean i have had a blissfully serene week?  no, a splitting headache, crying over the house being a mess, etc. have been a part of my week, but what are we going to notice?  kelly