The Phone Call

I got an unexpected phone call from an old friend today.  She was my maid-of-honor at my wedding and my best friend, and I haven't seen her in five years.  We've rarely communicated in any way over the last several years.  Mostly, because we both moved away from Maryland - me here to the Outer Banks, she moved to Florida.  But also, just because life gets that way. It's a shame, but it's true.  Keeping up with friends is tough when your lives go in different directions.  We made plans to get together this summer because there's no way to catch up from five years on the phone.  It made me so happy to hear from her and to make plans for a get-together.  I found God in that phone call from out-of-the-blue.

Psalm 23

I had a lot on my mind this morning, and it felt like it was weighing me down.  So I was really happy that the psalm for today was my favorite - Psalm 23.  I'm sure it's a favorite for many people and for good reason.  Not only are the words beautiful and poetic, they're restorative and strengthening.  We said it aloud together... "I shall not want", "he restoreth my soul", "thou art with me"... and as I said these words, I breathed in deep.  I lifted my shoulders from a slump I didn't realize I was in. And I felt God with me.  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life". Yes.  I found God in the spirit-strengthening words of the 23rd Psalm today.

Laid-back Lunch

It was a chilly, grey day so Jeff and I decided to take a drive - something we often do on Saturdays.  We meandered through Manteo and ended up in Wanchese where we decided to try the Fisherman's Wharf restaurant.  We'd heard some good things about it but never managed to make it there before mainly because of my food sensitivities.  It turned out great!  The view is awesome, and the food was really good!  I got steamed shrimp which take a while to eat because of having to shell them.  There was way more than I could eat alone so Jeff helped me finish them off.  It was so relaxing just sitting there, watching the water, and taking our time with the food.  It reminded me of our days back in Maryland when we used to get steamed crabs.  It's more about the social aspect than the actual crabs - even though they're awesome!  We had nowhere we had to be and nothing pressing that we had to do - definitely a rare thing and such a blessing.  And I truly felt blessed even though we were doing something totally ordinary.  I found God today enjoying that extended, laid-back lunch with my husband.

Football aka Soccer

Sports are not something I get excited about.  At all.  Ever.  But Morgan has been writing articles and doing podcasts for EPL Talk (a website for English Premier League soccer - oops! football), and since I'm his mom I feel obligated to read and listen to them.  I read an article by Joel Osteen recently that said that one of the most important things you can do for your family is show up.  That means watch their games, attend their concerts, read their papers, and listen to their podcasts.  I believe he's right.  I've tried to do that for my kids, but it's so much easier when I'm actually interested in the topic!  I mean soccer? Ugh.  But Morgan loves it so I listened to almost two hours of podcasts today to support him.  I've got to say, it was pretty mind-numbing.  But you know what?  When I talked to him this afternoon, he was so animated in discussing it with me.  We debated some of the points and the other podcasters, and it felt great to talk to him about something he loves and actually know a little of what I was talking about!  I found God in that today.  In helping me find the motivation to listen in the first place, in giving me the endurance to get through it (!), and in that conversation with Morgan when we connected over a most unlikely subject - soccer (I mean football!).

Rain-Dappled Rose

I posted a picture of another rose for my blog not too long ago.  But today - after the rain - this rose was just to beautiful not to write about.  We inherited these roses with the house when we moved in five years ago.  So many times, I almost cut them down.  They were just these long, gangly things that barely bloomed.  But the few blooms we got were gorgeous so I couldn't quite bring myself to get rid of them.  As I've mentioned, I'm no gardener, but I'd heard if you cut them back, they would fill out.  I've been doing that for the last four years, and it's finally started to pay off.  Don't get me wrong, they're still pretty gangly, just not as much so.  But we've never had as many pretty roses as we've had so far this year.  I think God was just trying to teach me a little patience, and this year He's rewarded me.  I found Him in this gorgeous, rain-dappled rose today.

This Way to the Sun

It was a beautiful morning - cool, crisp and clear.  And the play of light and shadow through the trees was just gorgeous.  It looked like something out of a fairy tale.  In the second picture, the trees cast a shadow that look like a pathway to the sun.  It was in this beautiful setting that I found God today.

Virtual Laugh

I've mentioned before that my daughter, Marlayna, is living in Alaska for a while.  We're very close so it's been tough being so far apart, but we talk every day and send lots of text messages.  Today, she sent a quote from an old movie we used to watch all the time when the kids were young - "What About Bob?"  It's hilarious, and we've all watched it so many times we practically know it word for word.  I laughed over her text, then sent back another quote from the movie.  We went back and forth a few times - adding in smiley faces and "ha ha ha's".  It was so much fun sharing the quotes and the memories, and it made me grateful for the technology we have now.  So often I find God in His natural world, but today I found God sharing a virtual laugh with my daughter almost half a world away.

Clouds

It was a crazy weather day.  One minute it's sunny, the next cloudy, rainshowers this morning, and the wind blowing for all it's worth.  But oh my, the cloud formations!  Just gorgeous!  I know you can't actually touch a cloud, but when they look like they did today, it's hard to believe.  I took some pictures, but they don't do those amazing clouds justice.  They took my breath away.  I found God in the clouds today.

Church Family

Jeff and I were ushers at church again today.  I was sitting in the back (in the special usher seats!), looking around at everyone in the room and felt a sudden rush of affection for our church family.  When we moved here five years ago we didn't know a soul.  When we joined the church not quite two years ago we only knew a few of our neighbors.  Today I was saying hello to everyone as they came into church and knew most of them by name.  I've come to truly care about this new "family" even though I only see most of them on Sundays.  We come together each week for the gospel readings, the wonderful sermons, to share communion... but mostly we come for each other.  And today, from the point of view offered by the "special usher seats", I looked out over everyone there and found God.

The Toast

Jeff and I took a drive up to Chesapeake to the Barnes & Noble today.  Afterwards, we decided to get some lunch.  The waitress brought our drinks, and while we were waiting for our food, Jeff said he wanted to make a toast.  We raised our sodas (since neither of us drink alcohol!), and he toasted to "spending the day together".  After all this time, he still finds the little things we do together special.  So do I.  And that's where I found God today.

Ducks 2

I saw the ducks again!  I wrote about them a couple weeks ago, and they were back out wandering the neighborhood again today.  When I left for my walk, I saw them right next door.  They were waddling around just quacking away.  After I circled the block, I saw them again just relaxing at the other end of the road!  I felt like they were hanging around just to make me smile.  God's creatures bring us such simple joys.  I found Him today in that adorable little duck couple.

Rain

I've always loved watching it rain.  It's probably my imagination but it seems like it usually rains overnight - which sounds nice, but I don't get to see it.  Well, it did rain overnight last night, but it was still raining this morning.  Yay!  I opened the curtains and stood watching the rain fall on the pond.  It was beautiful.  I was happy. I found God in the lovely rain this morning.  (The photo is from a few years ago, but I thought it was appropriate for today's blog.)

Relaxed Squirrel

I sat down on the couch, leaned my head back, and closed my eyes.  I just wanted to relax and veg out for a few minutes.  I opened my eyes, looked out on the back deck, and there was a squirrel doing exactly the same thing!  He was so relaxed that the wind was blowing his tail off the railing.  I grabbed my camera and took the series of pictures you see below.  He had his eyes closed at first, but I missed that shot - bummer. The last two are where he finally perked up and scampered off.  It was so comical to watch him take a break from his day just like me - and that's where I found God today.

Angel Wings

I took my walk in the early afternoon today.  It was fairly warm, but there was a nice breeze.  Every now and then it would gust, and it felt wonderful.  During a particularly strong gust, the flower petals from a dogwood tree were blown free and came showering down around me.  The light touch of the petals felt like angel wings fluttering against my skin.  I stopped; I wanted to prolong the moment. But the flower petals were moving on with the wind.  When I close my eyes, I can still feel the touch.  Those few seconds were magical!  And that is where I found God today.

Rose

Today I found God in this beautiful rose that just opened up in our garden today.

"Holy Spirit Breath"

In Father Tom's sermon today, he referred to John 20:22, "And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them 'Receive the Holy Spirit'".  It was an excellent sermon, but what affected me the most was Father Tom himself.  He talked about breathing in the Risen Christ's expelled breath and feeling it flow through him, and then breathing out any sins from within.  He called it a "deep cleansing Holy Spirit breath".  His words were powerful, but it was his conviction and feeling that really came through.  I could feel myself breathing in and out with him, experiencing just what he was expressing.  It affected me deeply - breathing in the Spirit along with Father Tom and my fellow parishioners.  And it was in that breath that I found God today.

Green

We were back at Nags Head Woods Preserve today.  We walked to the deck at the visitor's center and admired the view.  The weather was amazing.  It was cool, sunny, and with a slight breeze.  We could hear birds singing, but otherwise it was perfectly quiet.  It was so peaceful.  And so green!  The water is so covered in a kind of green algae that it looks solid. It was one of those moments you just want to drink in and hold onto.  I found God there today in the cool, quiet green.

Walking Through Walmart

My mother-in-law is in town for the weekend and needed to pick up a few things at Walmart.  Walmart and Harris Teeter are part of my regular shopping routine.  I'm always on a mission when I'm in there.  I have my list, get what I need, and get out.  Well today it was Mom who had a list, and since she's not familiar with this store, I acted as the guide.  We went at a leisurely pace because there was just no reason to rush.  We talked, and looked around a little, and surprise, surprise - I actually enjoyed myself.  It was so unexpected to find pleasure in something that's usually such a chore.  God's full of surprises, and I found Him today walking through Walmart.

Heaven's Gate

Today I was driving along Kitty Hawk Road and came to the point where you crest the hill and can see the ocean.  There was this beautiful bank of fluffy clouds stretching the whole length of the horizon.  The sky above was as clear and blue as it could be, but these gorgeous white clouds were hovering just above the horizon line as far as I could see.  My first thought was "Thank you, Lord, for such a beautiful sight."  My second thought was that it looked like the gateway to heaven.  I took a picture but I only had the camera on my phone, and it doesn't come close to doing it justice.  Without a doubt, that 's where I found God today.

A Spirit

The sunrise backlit this dogwood this morning making it look almost as if it were superimposed on the scene.  It was a beautiful, otherworldly sight - as if a spirit were floating among the trees - and that is where I found God today.

An Ordinary Day

Today was a quiet day.  I had some errands to run and chores to do, but everything went smoothly.  There was no rushing, no stressing - just moving from one task to the next at a steady pace.  In thinking through my day and thinking on where I had found God,  I realized how the day just felt good.  And it was because everything just flowed so smoothly.  It's like those rare days when the ocean is so smooth it's almost like glass, and you feel yourself smoothing out right along with it.  I found God today in the calm, smooth flow of an ordinary day.

The Ducks

A few people on our street have built boardwalks across the marsh to the water.  This morning during our walk, Jeff and I saw the funniest thing.  Two Mallard ducks, male and female, were waddling down one of the boardwalks to the water.  I thought, "You're ducks, why aren't you flying?" And then they stopped, turned to face the marsh grass, and sat down - like they were admiring the view!  It made me think that even though we as humans put our stamp on nature, there are lots of times when nature takes advantage of it.  I love that!  It was such a comical scene, and that is where I found God today.

The Easter Card

It was a great Easter.  The weather was beautiful, the church service was amazing, the altar flowers were gorgeous... but the thing that stood out for me the most was the Easter card Jeff gave me.  It wasn't the card itself even though it was a very nice card.  It's that he's never failed to give me an Easter card even when he had almost no belief in God at all.  He always said he did it because he knew how much my faith meant to me.  And I believe that was part of it.  But I also think it was God working through him.  He used to say he envied my faith because of the peace it brought me.  I think all those years of showing his faith in my faith helped bring him closer to God - and to his own peace.  My Easter card this year was a reminder of how far he's come, and that our faith is now something we share.  The front of the card said "Isn't God amazing?"  Yes, He is.  And that is where I found Him today.

The Power of Touch

We had a Healing Team meeting today.  After we did a few readings, Father Ted asked us to say The Lord's Prayer together.  I closed my eyes, bowed my head, and clasped my hands in my lap.  We were just a few words into it when Beth S., who was on my left, reached over and took my hand.  It lit me up. It's amazing what the power of touch can do.  It took me few seconds to come back to myself, and then I reached out for Joe B.'s hand who was on my right.  I don't who in the room reached out first.  It may or may not have been Beth, but she is the one who reached out for me.  And I'm so thankful that she did.  It was in her touch that I found God today.

Family Time

My sister and her boys were in town for the holiday.  She's in the middle of a tough custody battle so we never know for sure when we'll get to see them.  Today we got to spend some time together.  We drove to Jennette's Pier and watched the big waves crashing; then we went and got some food at Kill Devil Grill.  We laughed, talked, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was like we were never apart.  Jeff and I had such a good time with her and my nephews, and it was made more special by the fact that we got to spend Good Friday together.  It was in that now rare family time that I found God today.

East to West

I was listening to some music today, and a song came up on my playlist that I hadn't heard in a while.  It refers to Psalm 103, verse 12, "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." The lyrics in this song are deeply affecting, and even more so during this week.  There's a line in it that says, "I'm not holding on to you, but you're holding on to me", that just about makes me tear up every time I hear it.  It's a powerful song in my opinion, so give it a listen if you can because this is where I found God today. (Click the link below - it will take you to a Youtube video.  It's the only way I know to link to the song.)
East to West by Casting Crowns

Pancakes

I love pancakes!  Unfortunately, I don't get them often since I had to start eating gluten and dairy free.  I can never eat them out; I always have to fix them myself.  I still believe it's by the grace of God that I've been able to figure out how to make so many of the foods I love without gluten and dairy.  It's been awhile since I've gotten around to doing pancakes, but I made some today.  I always make a big batch and freeze them so I can enjoy them for a while.  I didn't start on them till close to lunchtime, so by the time they were done, I was starving!  So guess what I had for lunch?  Yummy, hot, pancakes with honey dripping off of them.  Totally gluten and dairy free so I could eat to my heart's content.  It made me so happy!  Pancakes for lunch - that's where I found God today.

The Dogwood Tree

I love taking pictures of trees.  One of my favorite ways to photograph a tree is looking straight up from underneath.  Until today, I had never done that with a dogwood tree, and I don't know why since dogwoods are one of my very favorite trees.  The sunlight was glowing through the leaves and the flowers were peeking through - it was just beautiful.  One of the things I love about photography is you learn to look at things from different angles, which is probably a good lesson for life in general.  I found God today looking at a dogwood tree in a whole new way.

The Mailbox

I had to pay bills today. Ugh..  Jeff and I are not big spenders, so even in these tough economic times we haven't had to struggle too much - until recently.  We got slammed with several big unexpected expenses almost all at once.  I'm sure you know the feeling.  I had been waiting for our tax refund to provide some relief, but it seemed to be forever in coming.  So paying bills today was not a fun experience.  I finally got through it wondering the whole time how much longer things would be this tight.  After I put everything away, I went to the mailbox and found a huge pile of mail - catalogs, junk, and... YES!  The tax refund!  It made me so happy!  I just felt the stress melt away.  I know they say money can't buy happiness - and I believe that - but it sure can buy some relief in tough times.  And with God's perfect timing that relief came on bill-paying day.   I said a joyous prayer of thanks to Him, so I guess you could say I found God in the mailbox today.

The Pause

In church today, we read The Passion of Jesus Christ according to Mark 14:1 - 15:47.  It's set up where different people read different parts along with a narrator.  The congregation reads aloud the part of the "crowd", and when they all shout "Crucify him!", it's pretty powerful.  But the moment that got to me the most was near the end when David F. reading the part of the narrator said, "Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last."  And here he paused.  It was the right thing to do and the wise thing to do because the weight of those words was truly felt. The silence was palpable.  It was all I could do to hold back my tears.  It was in that pause that I found God today.  In the heavy weight of silence felt by all of us re-living Jesus' last breath.