Joy comes in the morning.

I woke up a bit aggravated this morning, which is never a very good way to start the day.

Hubby got called out at 3:30 this morning for a wreck that his help was later cancelled.  Normally I can block his pages out.  I'll put myself into almost a coma-like state, many times not even knowing he's left for a run until the next day.  I do this out of necessity, as there's an invisible switch inside of me, that once turned on, I'm wide awake.  No matter the hour or the need for more sleep, it just won't happen. 

Today would be example A.

Tim rolled back in a little after 4:00 and for the next 45 minutes I really tried to go back to sleep.  I tossed.  I turned.  I stretched.  I sighed.  And then, exasperated, I stomped to the living room.

It wasn't Tim's fault.  He didn't set the pager off, but I certainly directed my frustration to him when announcing I was getting up to stay.

Mumbling and grumbling, God nudged me that this might be a good opportunity to read His word. 

And so I did.  And soon, irritation turned to joy.

As the dark faded into light and the world began to stretch awake, I was gifted with the songs of the many birds around our home.  Many of them I know to be Mama birds, protecting the handful of nests I've spied in our yard.  (There's itty babies in the surprise nest from a previous post.  I hope to sneak pics soon!)

I was blessed by the peace that is the calm, quiet start of a new day.

There was the gift of time to prepare the kids a real, not from a box or frozen breakfast.  Hopefully this will warm their bellies and fuel their minds in preparation for the week of testing they have.

And I have the opportunity to apologize to dear hubby by taking him a steamy cup of coffee in a bit and waking him with a gentler mood than I last left him.

Simple, unexpected joys.  Thank you, God.


Oh and there's more...

This was actually yesterday afternoon's gift but I wanted to share.

Though it was misting rain, as it had all weekend, I was able to enjoy getting my hands dirty by planting happy little flowers in my window boxes.  It's what I call dirt therapy.  These are sure to brighten my every day and bring a smile as I come and go this season. 

It is well, it is well, it is well within my soul... 

Brave - Linking with Five Minute Friday



http://lisajobaker.com/2013/05/five-minute-friday-brave-2/



unscripted, unedited writing for 5 minutes.  Go...

Brave, to me.  From my earliest memory, it is shaky knees in the pew standing up anyway and going forward into the arms of my Grandpa Coons to become a Christian.

Brave, as a teen, was finding an outlet for my shyness, surprisingly on stage.  Miss Elmore, aka "Elmom" helped me to be brave.

Brave.  A young mom looking down into the eyes of her firstborn and wondering how I'd manage the next moment, much less the next day.  And finding unbelievable joy along the way.

Brave...beating the odds and not just surviving in our marriage, but thriving.  20 years strong this June.

Brave.  A word I've heard so often the past four and a half years, after the loss of my 14 year old son, Austin.  A word that people use to describe me when I feel anything but. 

Putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward, even on days when I wanted to do the exact opposite.  Holding it together for the sake of what was left of my family.  Prayer.  Lots and lots of prayer.  With giant heaps of faith in trusting that God would carry me through this nightmare.  I'm only brave because of Him. 

Brave...writing that first post to tell Austin's story.  Healing.  Transformation.
Eventually, slowly...turning to JOY. 

Stop.