A Few Wednesday Reflections

Reflection #1:
I did a fair amount of traveling in the last week. My sisters and I drove eight hours (@60-75mph) to our cousin’s wedding, celebrated, then drove eight hours back. We piloted three states of roads. It’s been years, probably close to a decade since we took a “sisters only” trip anywhere. It was refreshing.

My sisters are highly intelligent. When wading thru the mundane conversations of life, the spark of a quick-witted and sharp dialogue breathes life back into my brain and soul. That was more apparent when I came back to the mish-mash of people that make up everyday life. God paints this planet with people in a variety of talents and levels. Without this variety, life would be dull and monochromatic. It is however, a nice spritzer to converse new ideas and relive memories with my sisters.

Reflection #2:
I need to figure out my direction for serving others. I want so badly to throw myself into a million different places to help and serve others. I’ve always had a heart for adoption. There are multiple children adopted into both my mom’s and dad’s sides of the family. I don’t know that this is the right time for us. We both have to be on board as a united couple. We’ve discussed fostering, but with our current schedules, we aren’t sure we could give the focus necessary to be healthy for our children, the child in need, and for ourselves. 

There is a new opportunity for us to get more involved with providing the needs of those just outside the realm of social services – connecting directly to families who need things like clothes of a certain size, a mattress, $50 to cover an electric bill so they don’t lose electricity, etc. The idea is to provide help before the family falls down into the rabbit hole of kids going into care. It is called CarePortal and links churches directly to needs. The call then goes out to those who may be able to help in some way and hopefully that need is filled.

Helping and serving others is a thirst I need to quench, but I believe it will take a lifetime of service to help satiate it.

Reflection #3:
I’m traveling again this weekend. We’ve made the childcare arrangements for our littles. I’ve started printing out our itineraries. I fly a couple of times a year. I hate flying. It makes me want to vomit. Talk about a level of trust… I’m putting all my cells literally in the hands and competency of the people who built, service, and fly the plane (and I don’t even know them). Obviously I am trusting them – I will get on the plane. But… Ugh. Once you are up there, there is nowhere to go but down… Pray for me please.

Reflection #4:
This is Us. Is anyone else watching this show? I’ve been watching/ listening to episodes on my computer at work during breaks. The stories of these people are so beautifully raw and intertwined. Last night’s episode had me sniffling at my desk this morning. Fabulous music. The characters and emotions so real. The sites of Memphis. So so good – and this is coming from someone who watches maybe 2 hours of television a week. Maybe. Usually less. Check it out, but start at the beginning. My husband tried to watch it with me a few weeks ago – midseason. He was confused by the flashbacks and it soured him on the whole show. He’s missing out… but he also didn’t appreciate my attention for Downton Abbey or my years of Grey’s Anatomy...

Reflection #5:
I broke my toe last week. I’m astonished at how fast the tiny bones heal. It is still a rainbow of earth tones, but I am wearing running shoes today. I gave it a few trial jogs while the kids and I have been out enjoying this incredible and un-February-ish weather. I have a 10K planned for St. Patrick’s Day weekend and I need all my toes for it.

Favorite song on my playlist today: