Just 2 Little Random Things

1.  One year from today, June 23rd, 2012, if all goes as planned, we will return to the States.  There are so many thoughts and emotions wrapped into this that I hardly know how to sort it all out.  So, I'm reveling in the moments we have in the here and now, meditating on the exhortation in Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  34.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  (Just writing that brings up thoughts that could probably easily fill the next 20 blog posts...)

2.  My husband. 

He's on a roll. 

2009 ~ On my 37th birthday, I wandered the corridors of the Roman Coliseum, meandered through ruins on Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, and got a drawing of my children done by an artist at the top of the Spanish Steps.

2010 ~ "How do you take your tea?" our safari guide asked, his Zambian accent rich and beautiful.  He set the tin cup on the hood of the jeep, wisps of steam and aroma filling the space where tea gurgled from the Coleman Thermos.  We stood in the shade of an enormous tree with a herd of zebras and impalas grazing nearby.  I told the group that I thought it the perfect way to turn 38-years old.  They wished me happy birthday... then turned to LeRoy with the question, "How will you top this?"

2011 ~ My 39th birthday was quietly spent at home.  It was a relaxed day and we were all still reveling in the amazing holiday we returned from two days before in Croatia.  All day I pondered the thought of this being my last year in my 30's... and what significance that had... if any.  Right?  By afternoon LeRoy and I were in deep conversation about all sorts of topics and the idea of me running a marathon for my 40th birthday came up.  (Here is where I tell you that I have never been a runner, never aspired to run more than our cozy little hometown Bloomsday, and that the thought of a marathon always sounded, well, not exactly fun...  That is, until we were in Venice, Italy a few years ago... and I saw billboards advertising the Venice Marathon... and, well, that's a different kind of marathon altogether!)   That man.  I tell you, he lassos the moon for me in a thousand different ways!  A while later LeRoy presented me with a printout of the Venice Marathon registration.  With my name at the top.  Wahoo!  Let the training begin!

Grateful for...


53. this moment, right now
54. children, each occupying his or her time in this moment: reading, playing with Legos, setting up a game for me to play with him...  (time for me to hit the "Publish Post" button!)