Five Minute Friday: Race

 

Each day starts in my mind like a race. Racing for what, I'm not always sure. Racing to accomplish. Racing to meet people's expectations. Racing to finish. And it seems in the racing during the day I miss out on life. I get frustrated when the race gets slowed down by spilled beads, kids' questions, unexpected guests, distracted interests. And, at the end of the day, after I finish the race and put the kids in bed I wonder, what did I just do? Was the race that important? Did I miss out on valuable moments? Was it worth losing my temper for the hundreth time when what I hoped to accomplish did not get accomplished? And so, the last few days, I've tried to slow down, to run with meaningful purpose. To take a deep breath and tell myself, it will get done in due time. And so I can enjoy the little faces that I am so fortunate to see every day...for I am reminded these faces will not always be here. These moments will soon pass.

 

Five Minute Friday: Welcome

Welcome...

to a time out

to refreshment

to an impromptu photshoot

to a 4 year old photographer

to photos taken with one hand

to tears

to laughter

to sillines

to imperfection

to messy hair, mismatched clothes

but perfect smiles

to letting loose

relaxing

to chilling out

to big blue eyes

to enjoying my children

to crooked shots

to scabby boo boos

to blurry pictures

to kisses and hugs

to too many pictures

to never enough pictures

to letting go of the plan

to living life

to not worrying about what other people think

to being real, even in pictures

to embracing the moment that too soon will pass

Welcome to real life

Welcome to the Harman Hood on this Friday afternoon.

Five Minute Friday: See

I'm delving back into Five Minute Friday over at The Gypsy Mama. Today's prompt: See

Go:


Lately I see a great need for less of myself.

I need to see more of Him.

His greatness, His worthiness, His strength, His majesty, His crowned head.

His brokeness, His sacrifice, His compassion, His mercy, His grace, His scarred hands.

As I see more of Him, I see less of me. And this is good.

Because as I see me, I get lost. I become forgetful. I am selfish. Consumed with trivial things that produce no fruit.

Lord, let me see You. Let me behold you. Give me courage to see You. Give me boldness to share what I see. For I know to truly see You is to be ruined. Seeing you comes with a cost.

By your grace, let me see You so I may become like You.

Praise be to You, my Creator, my Redeemer, My King.

Five Minute Friday: Unexpected

Unexpected...

when that pregnancy test almost six years ago showed two lines

and when just a short year and a half later, another one did

Unexpected...

when the sonographer tells you that the third little baby no longer is viable

Or when you find that check laying on the floor that will pull you through a tough financial time

Unexpected...

when your husband comes home early from work to tell you he lost his job...for being honest

Unexpected...

a sweet surprise of a fourth life growing inside of you

But the most glorious unexpected happens in the midst of a world that thrives on self accomplishment. The better you perform, the better accolades, applause, rewards. What you do directly affects what you receive.

Unexpected is "while we were still sinners Christ DIED for us..."

Unexpected is unmerited, scandelous grace that says...your reward is not dependent on your actions. In fact, you have NOTHING that can present you acceptable in my eyes. SO, I will give you Christ who makes you acceptable. Not because you are good. Not because you work hard. Not because you are moral. But because it pleases Him.

And so, for those of us who have Christ dwelling in us...we experienced and are experiencing the most unexpected. . .the eternal goodness of the Lord through His Son, Jesus. A reward that deserves perfection on our part but is impossible to attain. So, Christ did the unexpected, He attained it for us.

Praise be to Him for the Unexpected.

Five Minute Friday: Remember

Would I remember this....

if I didn't have a photo or a blog to pin it up as though it were a bulletin board?

Because today, she's now this...

4 and half years have passed. And with each passing year I find things hard to remember.
As I watch Kate waddling across the room I can't help but try to picture Grant doing the same at that age, and yet, I can't.

Funny how memories fade. Fade too quickly. They move so fast that I can only see them as a fog slowly lifting away.

And so, I have this blog. Yes, an outlet to write and to share but more importantly it is my place to remember. Because all too quickly that moment I swear I'll remember soon becomes muddled in that fog of memories that occupy my mind in a dreamlike way.

So, I fight to remember with each picture I post and with each word I pen.

Five Minute Friday: Ordinary

It's in the ordinary the extraordinary happens.

As those ordinary moments unfold opportunites unfold.

In those everday moments when my children throw fits, scream at each other, refuse to pick up, hit each other, the extraordinary is there.

In those everyday moments when I lose my patience, use unkind words, pursue selfish avenues, the extraordinary is there.

It's in the ordinary that the gospel unfolds.

In those moments the Lord presents an opportunity for me to remind my children of their need for a Savior.

In those moments the Lord reminds me of why He has saved me.

Therefore, in those ordinary moments, I should rejoice. Rejoice yet again in the beauty of the gospel.

Rejoice that the Lord, Himself, has taken upon Him my punishment. And given me His righteousness.

Rejoice again for the opportunity to share that beauty with my children.

Today I will choose to rejoice in the ordinary for the reminder of the extraordinary.

Five Minute Friday: On Friends (by Kate)

I like to think I know a thing or two about friends. But lately, my confidence is waning.

John is my friend. But I'm not sure yet if I'm his friend.

Maybe it's because I follow him around everywhere. When is being a "friend" consider being a "stalker?"

Or perhaps it's because I called him out on his bad breath. I offered him some floss.

Or maybe it's the several hugs I gave him in order to apologize. I guess that could be stalkerish.

And then, I did offer to watch Veggie Tales with him. But then, maybe we're just not into the same things. I like Veggie Tales. Maybe he's more of a Wiggles guy.

Or perhaps he's just intimidated by the fact my big brother was always around watching us. He is intimidating. Leapster game and all.

Or maybe it's because I stare at him, a lot. Some people find that weird.

Or it could be that face I made in his direction. By no means was it directed toward him. Sometimes I just make weird faces. It's part of being a baby and discovering myself.

Bottom line, I try. I try to be a good friend. But, well, I'm getting the message I need to turn it down a notch. Maybe that's what'll take to have a good friend.

Five Minute Friday: Joy (from Grant)

Joy. I experienced joy last week.

Watching Elmo...LIVE. (who doesn't experience joy while listening to that high pitched voice that seems to stick in your head to the point you yourself start talking like him?).

and while doingso, drinking an unmonitored amount of lemonade, eating a garganteous hot dog, and enjoying my newly bought (thanks Grandma) light up the sky sneakers while enjoying good company with my best bud, Micah.

(okay, we did a lot of playing around too)

Oh yeah, did I mention I also got to eat a bag of my favorite yellow chips followed, somewhere in there, by a large chocolate chip cookie.

Joy.

Joy was also found when I got back at Hannah.

Remember this...

So, I did this...

But the greatest joy of all, discovering that I can watch Elmo 24/7 because he's also on my t.v.!!!

And can you believe Mommy was keeping that all to herself? To think!!