Remembering the margins...

Well, third posting attempt and I have writers block already. Each day, I have events that cause me to stop where I am for a moment and say to myself, 'man, that was funny and I need to remember to share that in my blog'. Then the day goes on and no less than a few hours later when I sit down in front of my computer, I have absolutely no recollection of the event that took place. It was so funny and interesting that it caused me to pause earlier in the day, but now, nothing. Maybe it's my age or simply the busyness of life that makes me do that. I've once heard of it called 'living in the margins'. Where life is so busy that the margins in your book of life are full. So full that there is simply no place to put anything else.

I've been known to scrapbook a time or two. As a matter a fact, at one time, I sold the darn stuff just to support my habit. Making the sale of something my occupation for the sake of reaping the rewards of perks or discounts is a trait of mine and I've done more than once. Make-up, clothing, real estate. But that topic is a whole other blog for another day - or therapy session, whichever might come first. I apologize for my exit from my original topic in pursuit of 'something shiny' in the corner -back to the thought at hand. Warning: this may happen quite often in my blogs... hence the therapy session reference.

Scrapbooking. Back to scrapbooking. I was quite diligent with my first son in keeping a record of events that I wanted to mark in my scrapbooks. His first step, his first word (it was Gus, by the way - our beloved german shepherd / basset hound whom we miss dearly), his first haircut, etc. As the years have gone on, I've not been as diligent about recording such information. in all reality, I've not gotten past Aidan age two (he's now 9, for those just joining us) and poor Lucas is just a blip on the map of my scrapbooking dreams. Now, if I am not able to remember what happened to me earlier in the day in order to share it here, how in the world am I going to remember 20 years from now the exact date that Lucas got his first tooth?

So, my epiphany of the day in regards to all this is to leave some space in life. Don't fill up the margins so much that you won't have room for what is really important or what you don't want to forget. I've gotten much better about this in the past few years. I've been introduced to real sabbath. Yes, real sabbath. Not just no working on Sunday - because with my job, I simply can't get out of that one. But real rest with the Savior. It is refreshing, rejuvenating and truly sanity saving. I would have never known what I was missing if I didn't learn it.

I can only hope to continue on my journey and try to find more time for the rest stops in the margins of life. My kids will thank me for it, my husband will love me for it and my relationship with Jesus will make me crave it.

That reminds me of the funny thing that happened today that I so wanted to remember! A friend and I were shopping because she is about to welcome a new baby into her family. Nothing is better than shopping for a new baby! With our game faces on, we were in our super intense shopping mode. We were so incredibly focused on the task at hand that when I looked down at the cart I was pushing was a completely empty. Now, that is a good thing you are thinking, we were only looking not buying. However, the cart I had a few minutes before had both our purses in it plus some treasures that we had picked up along the way. Never mind that I had obviously picked off someone else's cart, probably another hopeless shopper who was also focused in her excursions. Both our purses were in our cart! There we were, lost in the abyss of the massive teenie tiny clothing section where we were searching frantically. Laughing uncontrollably. Luckily, I had my phone with me and my friend's was in her purse. We were able to call her phone and hunt the cart down after several minutes. Talk about forgetfulness! Now, that would have made for a funny post... but guess God wanted me to chat about margins tonight - glad I forgot.

Maybe I should apply for a job at that store...

The aftermath...

Ok, so as you all know; yes all four of you who read my blog yesterday, it was my first shot at blogging. Today is my second. I should have known when I heard the water running for the dogs there was a reason that Lucas was starting a bath for them. After I said goodbye to my first ever blog, I proceeded away from the comfort of my office chair and out into the abyss of my living room. As I walked, I noticed a gritty substance underfoot. As my eyes wandered around the room, there was a faint hue of grayness everywhere. As I looked closer, I saw what it was, pepper. Pepper you say, yes, pepper. The kind that if you put too much on your food it's hot and if you don't put enough on it's blah... pepper.

As I continued to make my way into the bathroom where water was running I noticed the smell of pepper - which meant there was a lot. More than I had originally thought. I got to the bathroom only to find our two beloved white rescue dogs to be of a different color. They looked a bit like my mom did in her younger years as her dark hair was turning a shade of silver. They were covered. Eyes watering. Sneezing. Before my normally 'oh so calm self' began to bubble over in anger I glanced at my three year old. He was beginning to cry. He already knew the trouble he was in. He looked up at me with his huge blue eyes and said, "I fix it mommy". He wanted to fix what he had done, hence the bath. Oh, how often in my life do I feel that same way and want to 'fix it'. At that moment I had a choice. I had a choice to yell and scream like my flesh really wanted to. Or, I had a choice to forgive. Sure, his eyes could have been watering from the massive amounts of pepper that were in the air. But, I chose to believe they were heartfelt tears of regret for the damage he had done.

After we cleaned Lucas up, the dogs up and then myself up we proceeded to sweep the rest of the house. As we both swept (yes, it was hard to let him sweep - he was making bigger mess, but I just couldn't say no) I reflected on the moment. So many times in my life I screw things up and then try to fix it myself. I know all I need to do is allow Jesus to fix it, and yet I still try. Man, I've wasted a lot of minutes doing that. It took a good hour to sweep the rest of the pepper. Then three hours later, I found the salt. I must have not noticed it at first because the color blended in with the dogs fur. I'm sure glad God has forgiven me for all the salt and pepper I've spilled along the way.

And so, as I reflect on my first day of blogging I've learned two very important lessons. #1 - don't get so engrossed in distractions that life gets left behind. #2 - always have a back-up salt and pepper for dinner in the cupboard, just in case.

Blessings,
Shari and Lucas

Something New...

Well, I've been meaning to try this 'blog' thing for quite some time now. I guess with 4 inches of snow outside in the middle of May - today is the day. I ask myself, "why would anyone want to read about our life?" and to that I answer, "they probably won't, but I'll tell our story anyway."

A little about us...I'm Shari. A wife of 12 years, a mom of four - two of those human boy children, Aidan age 9 and Lucas age 3. Two of those small white a fluffy rescue dogs whom we loving call Sam and Sadie. My husband, Aaron is a police detective. Yes, that provides for some interesting stories - unfortunately, I won't be able to share many of them here. I work part time at a local church in the Children's Ministry department. I love kids and the Lord - what a benefit to combine the two and get paid for it!

So, here it goes...my first entry in a long list of entries to record the daily rig-a-ma-row of life. Before I begin, please don't take much of what I say as absolute truth. Most of this is my opinion with my hope to show you a peek into our lives and what God is doing in them. I would love if thru this I was able to make you laugh and reflect on your own lives as well as what God wants to do for and thru each of you!

At 35 years of age (wow, I about gagged on that one) I'm not sure I saw myself where I am - but do any of us? It's amazing how we make big plans for our lives and God somehow brings His will into the picture. He's amazing that way. I somehow can't ask for anymore blessings in my life than He has already given me but that doesn't seem to stop me. Why is that? I have an amazing job, a wonderful loving family and a God that provides to me my every need. And yet, I want more. Maybe it is God's way of preparing us for what He has for us in our next adventure.

Oh... just heard my 3 year old start the water in the tub for the dogs. I better get going, forgot for a moment that I was a mom and my child is here with me. Praying for you that you are able to see God in the small things - like runny noses and piles of laundry. Both of which I will be trying to do myself today.

Shari and the gang.