Here I sit in a cold part of my house where it is relatively quiet. My favorite blue fuzzy blanket around me. And next to me are boxes of books I need to sift through, the living room floor is still in its “post-weekend-crunchy-crumb” state, and piles of wash need folded.
But this blanket is cozy and my heart can’t quite get itself wrapped around anything else besides the dusty box it was in just a few moments ago. An old school box.
Lowell and I spent quite a bit of time this morning cleaning out a corner of our basement. Some stuff we said good-bye to that we had had for all of our married life. So that we could make room to say “hello” to old stuff that was lent out years ago and has come full circle to rest in my basement again.
Like Lowell’s old weight-lifting set. Even now I can hear the clangs of the weights as the sounds come up through the heater vents . . . and I hear laughter. I love the laughter. At least laughter smells good. I suppose somehow or other I will get used to the sweaty boys this weight set will produce. Sweaty, but strong.
In our digging through old stuff, it put me in a nostalgic mood. Like seeing my high school diploma and yearbooks. Oh my. How young I used to be.
Then I found this picture.
Weren’t we some of the cutest things?!
I’m not so sure nostalgia looks good on me. I turn all philosophical and begin to ask myself questions like “Where has time gone? What have I done with my life? In 10, 20, 40 more years, where will I be? Why can’t I be ‘senior-picture-perfect-skinny’ again?” Ok, never mind that last question. Six children put a definite period on that one.
I suppose there are others like me. We see old pictures and realize how fleeting life is. How precious are the people in our lives in this moment. God has been teaching Lowell and I how to enjoy just this moment and not to worry so much over the future. He is in control.
And over the weekend, I was reminded again of how precious my church sisters are to me. We had our annual craft and bake sale. And here is where my heart feels slightly sad that I did not take any pictures this year. Mostly because I know there are quite a few of you who enjoy seeing these pictures. Forgive me? If it helps, you can do a rerun of the last few years. (button below)
But I will have to tell you I had such an enjoyable time. Down in my church kitchen. With my sister-friends. They are so precious to me.
It might sound strange, but when I am working in that sweet church kitchen with my sisters there, I feel such a sense of belonging. As though this is where God can use me and where I love being.
Like one sister said, this church sale is one item our entire church works on together. It’s not just a committee, but it’s everyone. When you know not one person can take credit for it all, it has a way of making you take notice of the little jobs . . . and the people who do it with a smile.
What is better than working with people who love you like you are? People who make you laugh, who panic with you when your food isn’t working out so great, and who share stories about their own mistakes. This is sweetness indeed.
So where has time gone? And what have I done with my life?
I can’t say where time has gone . . . because I’m pretty sure I’m still about 20 years old on the inside.
And looking at that first grade picture, I like to think I’ve done a little something with my life. I’ve learned to broaden my horizons past my little first grade class to embrace the people God has put into my life . . . at this moment. And with all my heart.
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Rebecca McCombs says
I remember that cutie! You were a darling child and a blessing as an adult! What a fun memory to run across today!
Kendra says
It was fun for me just to simply find my old yearbooks – what awesome times we had in high school!
Mom G says
Is that you second from the left in the middle row, Kendra? That’s who Danae & I picked out…….your blond headed nieces look a lot like you used to. I’m glad those weights are getting put to use again 🙂
Kendra says
Yep, that’s me!! 😉