When we focus on what is good and beautiful in someone, whether or not we think that they "deserve" it, the good and the beautiful are strengthened merely by the light of our attention.
When we choose to see and appreciate what is good and beautiful in our children, the goodness can't help but grow, and their beauty blossoms forth.
Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day
There are tons of thoughts swirling around in my head about the Created for Care retreat this past weekend. I spent lots of time with 450 moms who taught me a thing or two about God, hope, friendship, grace, adoption, marriage, identity, family, and much more. It was a beautiful time away and the information gathered in my notebook, mind and heart is invaluable. I was a bit "star-struck" by many of the moms who I have been following since the beginning of our adoption journey a couple years ago. Seeing/meeting them in person proved them to be even sweeter than I imagined.
The past week has been a whirl wind of coming and going. Firstly, Clark broke his leg on the trampoline with the older boys last Wednesday. I have much guilt for allowing him on, assuming the kids would know to be gentle. But honestly, I was just thinking the other day how tough he looks out there, hanging with the big kids, jumping strong. I've been treating him like a very cuddly big kid. The broken leg is kind of a blessing to remember my calling as a mom. I need to put aside the sewing, the cooking, yard projects and computer work and just BE with my kids. Little Clark is needing constant supervision and while it is completely exhausting, he and I are bonding. I've totally embraced his love of reading. He could seriously sit beside me for hours reading books. He is NOT a TV watcher. He likes the occasional spotting of Thomas the Train or Curious George, but he won't sit through an episode of anything. Playdoh is really high on the entertainment list and so is peeling the paper off crayons and throwing them around the kitchen.
I am totally digging our new book club book. 7- An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker. 7 is a true story of how Jen took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence. I did have my doubts at first and I contemplated ditching the book for some extra time on Pinterest. I figured the book wouldn't apply to me because we don't overindulge in "stuff" and we really don't spend money unnecessarily. I am not a shopper, I grow our own veges in the summer, we covet our nights together as a family and I would say we were tight on space before I would admit we could cut back. The reviews for the book are awesome so I decided to give it a try. I am only one-third through the book, but I am loving it. I see the experiments as so much more than just giving stuff up. I am talking about freeing up the space in my mind. Lifting the fog, becoming more present. There is so much I over-think on a daily basis that keeps me from a truly simple existence.
On a health note, three weeks ago I gave up dairy. My first objective was to help with my hearing loss that seems to get worse with no explanation. Secondly, I was simply curious to know how I would feel. After a week of a constant dull headache, my body has detoxed and I am feeling good. No gunk in my throat and my head feels lighter. I did learn that 90% of Ethiopians are lactose intolerant. I am happy to be exploring new options for our little guy. My goal is to eat completely whole foods, but I will tell you it isn't easy. I wish to simplify my choices, get rid of what is unhealthy and unnecessary. I quote Jen Hatmaker,
Our grandmas ate local meat and vegetables from their gardens; we eat Pop- Tarts and Velvetta. Today in America the culture of food is changing more than once a generation, which is historically unprecedented. This machine is driven by a thirty-two billion-dollar food-marketing engine that thrives on change for its own sake, not to mention constantly shifting nutritional science that keeps folding in on itself every few years.
