Life Lately and the Waiting Game

      Sunday evening is here and we are at the beginning of a new week. Life is good and beauty abounds. We have been having some of the most ridiculous February weather. It has been in the 40's and 50's. It is so warm and when that is coupled with sunshine, it just doesn't get much better. On Friday, I took the kids out and we enjoyed the sunshine. They had to wear snow pants and boots due to the mounds of melting snow, but other than that we were in shirt sleeves and sweatshirts.
      It's also getting lighter in the mornings, to the point that the sun is pretty much up by the time I get to school in the morning and I'm starting to hear birds singing. There is something about those first sounds of bird song in the late winter that always fill me with joy and peace. I am the first person to get to school in the mornings, and I will often get out of my car, stop, and just listen to the sweet sound. It makes me smile.
      Speaking of school, things are starting to get real around here. My sub starts this week, I will be working with her for about a week before I am done(unless Baby Williams decides to come earlier than his due date, which is less than 2 weeks away!!!!) It is a little bittersweet. I am so excited about becoming a mom and all that but I also know that I am going to miss to Heartland Christian Academy and teaching. It has been a truly amazing blessing to work there. I think God pretty much tailor made that job for me. I was just out of college and starting to think that I wouldn't find a job that year when I got called for a interview a week before school started. I have had such a wonderful time gathering stories, creating memories, laughing over the things students say and do, and building friendships.
     But like I said, Baby Williams is due in less than 2 weeks and the excitement is mounting. I have been thinking about how waiting for a baby is unlike waiting for anything else because the date you are counting down to is really just a rough estimate. Who knows when he will decide to show his face. I can hardly wait. I've decided that elephants must be his thing because he already has three of them as well as a couple blankets with elephants on them. I'm good with that.

    I have discovered that making double thick receiving blankets is a rather quick and easy project, plus they are fun to personalize with some embroidery. I started this one yesterday. 

      And then there is music. I don't know about you, but music has a way of imprinting in my brain in a very strong way. I associate times in my life with the different songs that I was listening to at the time. Also, when I find a song I like, I tend to listen to it on repeat(sometimes to the chagrin of the people around me). One artist that I particularly like is Owl City. I was first introduced to it by My Love before we even started dating. In some ways, I would say that we fell in love to a sound track of Owl City, and it continues to be music that is able to take me to my happy place. I bring this up, because today the Lovely Keren Ruth sent me a text to let me know about a new Owl City song she had discovered, it has been on repeat around here this evening. Go ahead and enjoy!

     As for things I've been learning lately. In my journey of changing my perspective and finding Jesus in a new way, I'm coming to the realization that I simply cannot listen to the voice of worry that so often pops up in my head. It seems like this should be common sense, and believe me, my husband has told me this on many occasions, but I am silly and sometimes I need to come to realizations on my own in order for them to stick. I just can't give that voice the time of day, no matter how persistent it is. Also, I need to be extra vigilant to guard my thoughts when I am tired. Because when I am tired, I am completely irrational and loose my line of defense against fear. 

    Another thing I realized the other day(Though My Love has tried to get me to see this before) is that I simply have got to stop looking backwards. I get so caught up in the past, in whether I should or should not have done something that I trip myself up in my forward motion. It's like I try to move forward by walking backwards. Sure I may make it a few steps, but inevitably, I run into something or fall over. If I am going to move forward, then that is where my eyes have to be. 

     Well, that about sums it up for now. May the week ahead of you be as lovely as the weather around here as been. Keep your eyes forward and remember that The One who created music is writing the soundtrack of your life and it's a beautiful thing! Happy Sunday. 

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life." ~Omar Khayyam