lovely mondays part two

So, last week I made up a list of things that made me happy to brighten the monday morning blues. This week I made another list, struggling to not repeat all of last week's list.... those things were very lovely, you know.

Here is this Monday's list:

• roses
• watercolor paper
• our goldfish "Mr. & Mrs. Ophish"
• trying a new recipe
• candles
• clean socks
• a new poem
• and, my dear husband

I was very excited today that I had a little time to work on a new poem. Something I pondered in the process was how giving my Father in heaven is. Especially in regards to creative endeavors. Every good thing comes from Him. Including creativity. I didn't used to believe it when people said "I want to give all the glory to God....", because well, they picked up the pen right? That was before I experienced creative writer's block. God gives all things. And I love Him, whether or not I live to write another day. Or whether I live another day without writing. God gives every gift, including creative ability.

God makes such lovely Mondays doesn't He?

sheep ears

I have a terrible secret. I am terrible at remembering names. Don't try and console me. You are not nearly as hopeless as I am. More often than not I have forgotten your name within 1.5 seconds after you introduced yourself.

By the end of our conversation, I'm not hearing a thing you are saying... I'm completely absorbed in this question, "Is your name unique, or are you Jessica like everyone else?" Don't be offended if I simply address you as "Hey!" next time we meet. I'm just waiting for context clues. Someone will say your name, eventually.

It's not that I don't like you or think that you aren't the most pleasant person I have ever met. It's just this: my ears are dyslexic. Or they think they are. They are very bad listeners and they blame their squirreliness on my too often absent brain. When listening to a sermon, I usually hear the hook that was carefully crafted to pull me in. But my mind loses interests with points to follow and leads on to various places that connect like the Florida Keys.

It usually begins with an analysis of neighboring shoes - no shoe ever escapes my steady gaze. Which makes me think about my own fleecy shoes that use to graze on greener pastures. Thinking about sheep makes me think about their less friendly cousins, goats.

Soon I'm dreaming about goat gouda pizza and simultaneously lamenting my cow milk allergy. My thoughts escape the grassy hills and cloven hooves as I ponder the number of allergies in the room. I satisfy myself by assuming every one else also has allergies, they just don't know it yet.

Then I feel bad that I have inadvertently wished headaches and stomach cramps upon the assembled congregation. I ask for forgiveness for my malicious thoughts and wandering mind to focus in on the last 10 minutes of the sermon. I take diligent notes to keep myself on track and realize that God loves me in my distracted, lost sheep frame of mind. What a beautiful thing.

He loves me and He loves you. And I love you. And if you want me to remember your name, you should write it down. My ears are such careless creatures, you know.

lovely mondays

Sometimes Mondays are difficult. It can be hard to go back to work, get back in the swing of things. Today, to help myself get out of the Monday morning blues, I made a list of lovely things that make me happy. Just thinking about these things put me in a good mood.

• a good morning kiss
• ink on my fingers
• fresh snow
• warm soup
• black & white photographs
• hope for spring
• drawing
• trees
• sunshine in winter
• dark chocolate
• naps
• a new song
• grace upon grace
• my wonderful husband

So, what makes you happy? I'd love to hear about it. Maybe next Monday I will post some more:-)