There is nothing I cherish more these days than time hidden away to spend swept up in conversation with J. Though our new educator schedules provide their challenges in allowing us to find time where we have the energy to really talk, on nights like tonight when we manage to find it, we are reminded of how important and fulfilling it is.
It’s funny how distance has made me realize, among many things, that I took for granted so many little things in our marriage that my heart yearns for now. Dinner together, grocery shopping on Sunday afternoon, sleeping in, laundry full of his ever elusive sock pairs… As J’s bride, these things alone just feel strange, though they weren’t on my radar in the least as things I anticipated missing.
It seems as though one of the greatest lessons this transition is teaching me is that it’s not the big, mountain-moving moments that push my heart to yearn//pray//seek//surrender//celebrate but rather, the everyday moments. During a season of life where I feel like the days I have it together are few and far between, I’m learning to look for God in the small things to find consistency.
To find true, Jesus-filled happiness, beyond what the world boasts.
Like counting down the days until J gets to visit, praying for him daily and surrendering my heart and the time we’ll spend together at the end of September to the graces of the Lord.
The challenge to have eyes and ears that are focused happiness//life//purpose//calling//servanthood in the everyday, rather than the things that are worldly and/or absent/missing has been really amazing so far. For me, it has required having a quieter prayer life so that I can be vigilant and truly aware, no matter what the emotions of the day might bring.
How amazing to see the slow shifting turn of my heart create genuine change in how I experience the world around me and the presence of the Lord?! Long road ahead but the view is beautiful so far.
As new friendships bloom, my hands become more comfortable with the work I’m doing at USF, my church becomes more like home and new spaces are explored, I’m thankful for God’s goodness in desiring that my heart be vigilant and aware of these everyday moments. It’s almost like experiencing everything with an extra set of senses, which can be slightly overwhelming when you’re a Kansas girl picnicing at sunset on the beach with a new friend.
[Did I mention the night ended under a star lit sky with the ocean crashing and Chinese candle lanterns drifting across the horizon? Could’a knocked me over with a feather. So beautiful, such a small but powerful experience! ]
Other seemingly small but important “Laura, count this blessing too” moments have come in the form of my pup-roomates swarming my room every chance they get, just because they love me and want to be around me. Talk about feeling loved 🙂
Or by simply looking around my little corner of the Motley household and being remind that:
I have a wonderful roof over my head.
A hot shower everyday, with access to two sinks no less!
Cable & a comfy bed.
Windows that stream beautiful sunlight.
Roomates who love J and I enough to open their home and life to us.
A baby on the way to love, pray and prepare for.
No matter what stage of life I’m in, I hope this time of happiness recognition and reflection will only continue to push me to see//hear//do with a new and willing spirit. Though the world fights for our attention and allegiance everyday, God is bigger and really does desire to fill our hearts. What a blessing, whew.
What do you think could happen if we all did put our best, very-human foot forward in an effort to each seek happiness in the everyday? How might this world that desperately needs genuine joy and care be changed? How might we help each other differently, recognizing the things we take for granted are the dreams of another?
I’m interested in seeking the answers to the questions and seeing God move. Will you join me? After all, life lived in community is where true life happens 🙂
| Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. | John 16:24
in His love,
Laura
To Leann, the truly amazing Schnucks Grocery manager I just talked with:
I’m sitting in my house weeping over your willingness to go above and beyond in your role {a defining characteristic of someone who exemplifies Disney magic}.
After calling several St. Louis area stores to see if they 1.) carried lemon meringue pie and 2.) would be willing to deliver it to my dear grandma, who is homebound and living 1,200 miles away from me, I was sure that my plan to do something special for her on her birthday was going to be a failure.
Until you picked up the phone.
In less than 5 minutes a homemade pie was secured, a birthday card filled out and an address shared for you to personally deliver this to her at no cost. These kinds of thing don’t happen in the world these days, they really don’t.
For someone living thousands of miles from a person they love a lot, this seemingly small gesture is anything but. Tomorrow when you ring the door bell my grandma’s cheek bones will rise and she’ll be so glad to see a new and friendly face. You’ll make her day, that I know.
Thank you for your willingness do to “something so small”. It’s a reminder that if all of us did the same everyday, the world would truly, truly be a different place.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
in His love,
Laura
I’m finding that writing blog posts about J & I’s summer road trip is a bit like trying to create a beautiful, carefully crafted scrapbook. The memories, stories & experiences are so rich and wonderfully written around our family. My desire to retell every moment perfectly is so very real.
Then I remember that the connections we made and relationships we built and learned from are far more important than how I record the experience. Like spending a week basking in the overflowing joy of J’s grandparents, married over 50 years. I can try to find the words but nothing will come close to what it was like in real life.
So, I’ll be back with posts, photos and stories. But we’ll both just have to deal with the fact that none of it will be as good as the real thing 🙂
That’s the beauty of real, true quality time. You really can’t replicate it with anything else.
in His love,
Laura
Today was an amazing day, my friends. A seriously amazing day.
I mean, how often do you get to say that your morning plans include a breakfast date with a 20 week old baby?!
There are few things more glorious than seeing your best friend and the love of her life prepare to welcome a new life into the world. But meeting that new life on a fuzzy, black and white screen? That is pretty unbelievable, too 🙂
As we sat and watched this little one move {and hide!} I found myself in total awe, wishing he or she were here now for us to hold and talk to already…
Can you hear us, baby M? When we sing and talk and laugh we hope you’re listening we but know it’s pretty hard for you right now considering your inner ear bones just finished developing! If you’d been able to hear my thoughts and words today, here is what your Auntie Lo would have said:
You can thank me for encouraging your momma to eat a chocolate cliff bar this morning for breakfast– I know you have a sweet tooth and thought it might help you pep up for your time in the spotlight. You must have your daddy’s determination though because you stayed in your own comfy position throughout the whole ultrasound!
Today was focused on checking-out all the hard work you’ve been up to– your growing hands and feet, organs and bones and most importantly, face and heart. You are amazing– we are all in awe of you!
As I watched your parents quietly plan and laugh in the waiting room, anticipating the chance to get to to see you again, I couldn’t help but wonder…What color your hair will be? Black like your daddy’s? What about your eyes? Blue like your momma’s?
The truth is, every inch of you will be a total surprise [except for the fact that you have a massive sweet tooth] and it has everyone *so* very excited to meet you.
It will be a few weeks until we get to see you again but I know you’ve got a lot of growing to keep you busy between now and then. Today you were the size of a small banana, next time, you’ll be closer to a small melon!
In the meantime, your mommy and daddy are going to start working on your new room [I hope you like periwinkle and grey!] and I’m going to get started on planning a party for us to celebrate you before you arrive [I know, I wish you could be here to open the presents, too].
We’ll be watching your momma’s bump for signs of you– maybe soon we’ll be able to feel your kicks from the outside!
What a b-l-e-ssing to be here during this amazing season of life for Ashley, Ben and baby and to be their personal documenter, too 🙂
Life is good & precious, isn’t it?
in His love,
Laura
It’s been a couple of years since J and I have woken up on Sunday and been excited to engage with a church community. In fact, during our time in Manhattan we didn’t have a church community at all. As the pieces began falling into place for our move to Tampa, we prayed fervently with one another and with others that God would help us find a church home. We were longing for community, accountability and a place to serve.
Soon after arriving in Tampa we walked through the doors of Aletheia, an Acts 29 church located here in New Tampa, and left in awe of God. Of all the churches in this city, we were nearly certain that our very first Sunday visit had landed us in our new church home. We questioned… was this even possible after two years of a “worship drought”?
[pinit]
We had the opportunity to spend three Sundays at Aletheia before J left for KS and today I returned with Ashley. In-between challenging//growing//worship-filled Sundays there has also been the opportunity to fellowship with the wonderful people who make up the Aletheia body. Homes opened, families shared—it’s like God knows my heart or something ;-).
Today as I sat in the words of Mark 14: 27-42 {our sermon for today} I was scribbling notes furiously, drawing visual reminders and worshipping with a full and grateful heart. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve felt that way inside the walls of a church and I wanted to share tonight as an encouragement to those of you who may be questioning//seeking//yearning for a community to call your own. I really do understand and hope J and I’s experience of the past month might provide hope– something I know we’d been searching for related to church for the past few years.
I’m under the impression that God loves community and hungers to see his children engaging with one another. So, I hope you’ll keep the faith and continue seeking His plan for you. Jesus wants to hang out, maybe it’s just a matter of finding the right place. Please let me know how I can be praying, too?
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” 1 John 1:7
[pinit]
Since Jesus time is especially great with delicious food to keep the body nourished, I wanted to leave you all with this yummo summer chili recipe, straight from Ashley’s kitchen. We made it on Friday and have already had it again…and I can’t wait to take it for lunch this week. Yes, it’s super yummo.
White Bean Summer Chili
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1-2 cups of water
3 cans of white beans {whichever you fancy!}
1 white onion
1 package of lean ground turkey
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 slices of bacon
seasonal fresh veggies of choice {we chose: sweet corn & spinach}
Cumin, Paprika, Chili Powder {give em’ a sprinkle, stir and adjust according to your taste}
There’s really no “right” way to prep this chili. I sauteed the onion & added the ground turkey while the beans//diced tomatoes//water// chicken broth was doin’ it’s thing. Then, I cut the sweet corn off the cob, sauteed it, threw a few hand fulls of spinach in and voila! For an added touch, sprinkle cheese on top and crumble the bacon {uh…. yum!} and cornbread with butter/honey makes for a great side.
[pinit]
This batch will easily create 8 servings so be prepared to enjoy it over and over again!
Blessings to you this week! There are some really fun things coming to the blog {like me getting to meet Baby M in an ultrasound appointment!} so I hope you’ll check back in 🙂
in His love,
Laura
The clouds rolled in and my heart sunk.
After all these miles, were we really going to get rained out of Carla & Paul’s 25th anniversary session?
We met in the heart of historic Downtown Savannah and J and I immediately felt comfortable with this outstanding couple who we were just meeting for the first time. They didn’t flinch at the incoming storm clouds but instead, suggested we get dinner!
After we got our fill of sweet tea and yummy burgers, the skies cleared and we celebrated every inch of Carla and Paul’s love.
Carla & Paul have two beautiful daughters and Jena was able to join us for the session. It was so fun to have her along– you can tell that she knows how amazing her parents are!
Downtown Savannah is *so* incredibly charming and it was really fun to walk the historic streets with a family who knows the area. We talked about family, beaches and the best places to eat– I think they’ve convinced J and I to move their some day! Plus, the scenery and backdrops were truly lovely.
I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to J & I’s road trip sessions. These two really were inspiring and I told them that if J & I’s marriage could look anything like theirs in 23 years I’d feel very blessed 🙂
Leslie, thank you for connecting me with your sister so that we could meet for this special moment!
Carla & Paul, it was truly wonderful to meet you. Your spirit and joy is infectious– keep dancing!
in His love,
Laura