Mallard Escapades

The Mallards are back.  We don't see much of them through the summer, but today the clan was back with their usual antics.  I heard them before I saw them, and when I went to the window to look, they were making their way out of the pond and up in to our yard.  They waddled around for a while, quacking and nibbling at whatever it is they nibble at in the grass, then continued their noisy way down the pond.  One little straggler was late for the party.  He walked around the grass where his friends had been, didn't seem to find anything, then finally swam away to catch up with the group.  It gives me such joy to watch and listen to them.  (I really wish I knew what they were saying to each other!)  I found God today watching the Mallard escapades in our back yard.

Found It

I was looking for my chili recipe today and just couldn't find it anywhere!  I looked in the recipe book where I always keep it, but it wasn't there.  So I checked my other recipe books - I have several - and no luck.  Then I started checking all kinds of odd places and still no recipe.  Ahhh!! I was getting so frustrated!  Finally, I took a breath, calmed down, and went back to the first place I looked.  And guess what?  There it was!  I was in such a rush the first time that I went right past it.  I just needed to slow down, like I'm doing right now.  Today was one of those days when writing this blog started out feeling like one more chore added on to a long list, but when I slowed down enough to look for God, I felt a calming, a peace, and that's just what I needed.  Finding God in my day is a blessing, and I found Him today when I finally found that recipe, but also when I took the time to write about it.

The Bird in the Window

During our church service today, Maureen gave a very inspirational talk on pastoral care.  She had just gotten started when a beautiful blue jay flew into the tree outside the big church window behind her.  He sat on one branch for a minute or two, then switched to another branch, almost as if he was trying to  find the best perch to listen from.  He seemed to be looking in the window at us all, though my eyes aren't the best so I can't be positive about that.  He sat on his second perch for a minute or two then flitted to another branch and finally flew away.  I was thinking to myself that it was as if God had sent that little bird, like he was watching over us, listening in, and enjoying the service, but I thought maybe I was reading more into it than I should have.  Then after the service, Jeff said to me, "Did you see the bird outside the window?  It was like God was checking in on us, and being satisfied, he moved on."  So I guess I wasn't the only one taken by the blue jay. :)  He made me smile inside and out.  Today, I found God, or perhaps more appropriately, He found all of us, through that beautiful bird in the window.

Lemon Ginger Tea

I had a fun but exhausting day.  Fun because I spent the day with Marlayna, exhausting because we were shopping, and I always find that exhausting.  She does, too.  By the time we got home, we felt like we'd run a marathon.  We had a quick dinner, and I was already getting into my "finding God" mode, when she said, "How about some tea?"  Sweeter words were never spoken!  Just the thought of relaxing with a cup of tea was pure bliss.  So I sit here, writing this blog, and drinking a hot cup of lemon ginger tea, and yes, I am finding God right here in this moment.

Spirits Rising

It was a beautiful morning.  The air was cool and still, the sun hadn't quite risen, and the mist swirling on the water was enchanting.  When I got home, I looked at the pictures, and though they all showed a pretty scene, this one in particular captured what looked like spirits rising from the water.  If you look carefully, you can make out shapes - I see one that looks like an angel in the lower right corner.  It added to the air of mystery (or "mist"ery - haha!) that pervades mornings like we had today.  I was captivated by the thought of the mist revealing "spirits" rising up into the heavens, and that is where I found God today.

Candy Corn

In our house, one of the first true signs of fall is candy corn.  Yay, candy corn!  Since we don't have little ones in the house, we don't carve pumpkins anymore.  (I bought a jack-o-lantern that you plug in and it lights up - best purchase ever!)  And again, without said little ones, I don't do much decorating for Halloween, but the one thing I always do is buy candy corn.  I never even used to like the taste - though I do now - but it's just fun.  I pour it in a dish and it's like "instant autumn".  I bought our first round of it just a day ago, and every time I looked at it today it made me smile.  Candy and decor all in one.  What more could you ask for?  I found God today in my happy little dish of candy corn.

The Humble Potato

Everyone has a different idea of comfort food, and different foods can apply depending on the comfort needed.  Whether you're sick, depressed, tired, stressed, whatever, you usually have a food you crave.  The past couple of days I've had a slight upset stomach, and what I crave to soothe my ills are boiled potatoes.  It's one of the foods my mom used to fix for me as a child when I wasn't feeling well.  (I think most of our ideas of comfort food can be traced back to childhood - and usually to our  moms.)  I prepare them the way she used to - peeled, cut, then boiled; and seasoned with a little (non-dairy) butter, and olive oil.  It's simple food, but isn't that usually the best?  I sat down with a plate of boiled potatoes today and was comforted both physically and spiritually.  The humble potato - that is where I found God today.