blessings

Today I woke up after 4 hours-post night shift… in a happy, calm mood. It doesn’t always work out like that, so I considered it a good omen.  I shuffled out to the kitchen, glanced at the thermometer, 102, and hooked Nella to her leash so we could get the mail.  It was hot and calm out, and when I looked down at my sweet little terrorist, I’m fairly certain she said, “Mom, let’s go swimming at the lake.”  So, I agreed.  We jumped into the old ’87, me in just a swim suit, and in the span of time it took to listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “free bird” and part of “sweet home alabama” we arrived.  And on this hot, glorious Tuesday, there was no one on the beach for probably a mile each way from us.  Perfection.

The first time I took Nel to the lake, she was still pretty little and got freaked out when her feet didn’t touch sand beneath her.  I had to support her under her fat puppy tummy to teach her the concept.  Well, she’s got it now.  So after running through the hot sand, which she whined the whole way cause her little paws were sizzling, we splashed into the water.  And we spend the next hour or so playing fetch with a beached stick.  Now, she goes out as far as I can throw,  no problem.  And for a change of pace, I sat in the shallow water, soaking up some vitamin D, while Nella chased horse flies around on the beach.   Looking out into the ombrѐ lake, changing from deep turquois in the center and fading to the brown sandy beach, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude. 

I’ve had some challenges lately.  Some seem nearly insurmountable, others, merely a blip in life’s road. But, sitting out at the lake, if I only had tomorrow what I thanked God for today, I’d still have it all.  I threw out words of thanks for my husband, our families, our friends, our jobs, even grad school, and living in Hot Springs.  There aren’t a lot of days I get to chat it up with God like that, and it felt so nice. 

It’s good to say ‘thank you’ and it’s okay to count your blessings.  It’s acceptable to ignore stats homework for an hour to relax on the beach.  And it’s okay to be overwhelmed with challenges some times, cause those are the times it tends to become clear, the most simple solution is to trust the Lord, and know He has a plan.

Hope you all have a great day, and that you take the chance to count your blessings today and say thanks.

And Happy, Happy Anniversary to my great brother, Rob, and his sweet wife, Darcie.  3 years has flown by, so much has changed since that day at the farm, but I know your commitment to each other is just as strong. Love You Guys!!

for a recap of that beautiful, but chilly July day, visit here

the best naps happen after a frolick in the lake...