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Lately, I've spent more time down than up.  Health issues are one of my trials right now, and I'm trying to practice (learn) acceptance.

Yesterday I woke up without a stomach ache for the first time in at least a week.  I'd been to visit my trusty Back Doc which meant my joint inflammation (which has been wicked this last week) had eased up. I got outside as quickly as I could -is there anything better than crisp morning air?  It was light outside, but the sun wasn't officially "up."  I had a hyper dog with me, and we kept a good pace.  I loved feeling the sun's rays on my back as it peeked up in the east.
I came home and jumped on my yoga mat for a gentle session.  I didn't want to over-do it.  I set my intention, "I am grateful."  Danny joined me and let me guide him through a session with me.  I'm no yoga instructor, but it felt really vulnerable to invite someone into my session.  I listen to my gut and my poses follow a flow that my intuition dictates.  I let Danny in which was brave in it's own yogi way.
Off my mat, I made breakfast. I sang out loud to Jerry Lee Lewis, and my family found out that Mom knows all the lyrics to "Great Balls of Fire" even if she doesn't have the moves to go with them... just more bravery from Mom, right?  I did dishes and went outside.  I raked things and moved things.  I pulled some old leaves out of the flower bed, noticing that decomposition was taking place.  I loved that.

The cycle of life is amazing.  The leaves once gave shade and are now turning into compost -fertilizer.  They continue to serve and give, even after death.  It made me think of those who have passed away, how their service now is different but still felt, still making a difference. How death can be a door of sorts... while living, the leaves couldn't do the job they're doing while dead.  I think people must be the same way -doing jobs they just couldn't do while living.

I came inside and cracked away at some online work.  I was able to clean up the house here and there... chucked out old food from the fridge and spent some time bleaching tupperware and mason jars.
I washed windows.
They are streaked, but I don't even care.  I didn't wash them so they'd be clean, if we're being honest.  I washed them because it was nice outside and washing windows sounded like a nice thing to do.

As the day closed, I took a nice shower.  I skipped making dinner so Danny bought some.  I started some homemade broth in the crock pot.  Danny and I tried our hand at starting a batch of sauerkraut.

I stopped in at my grandma's house that evening to watch Lawrence Welk with Grandpa -our weekly standing date I just hate to miss.

We wound down to a few episodes of "Rosemary & Thyme" -a show we aren't even ashamed to say we love.  It's like Scooby-Doo for grown-ups... and middle-aged ladies.
Then I lit a little lamp and we all snuggled up in my bed for scriptures.  I read from a children's book and sent them off to bed.

As I stepped in an old cow trough -now filled with dirt, getting ready to be planted with all manner of cool stuff -to wash the outside of my bedroom window, I thought, 'Today is amazing.  But if I were 16, today would be the worst.'

I remember hating days like that -days filled with dailies.  A day without something HAPPENING just felt so wasted.

But when life has hit, when sorrow and pain hit hard, when health takes a dive... days like yesterday feel completely miraculous.

Raking flower beds that will be filled with leaves again soon.  Washing windows that will be dusty again in days.  Washing dishes that will be dirty again tomorrow.  Cleaning a fridge that will be filled with filthy food again in a few months.

It doesn't feel pointless anymore.
It feels blessed.

I crawled into bed with sun-kissed cheeks, and as I got ready for church this morning, I didn't bother covering them up.  In earlier years, I'd put on extra foundation to cover up, to make my skin look more even-colored.  But this year, all I feel is proud... proud of the pink skin, proud of the streaky windows.

I used to feel like life was wasted if I did "meaningless" things.  I felt like in order for my life to matter, I had to be seen by people who matter.
But I'm finding for me that life serves a deeper, higher purpose in the thick of those seemingly meaningless tasks.

And that as I rake leaves, I'm seen by God.
And that the people who matter actually live with me.

On Monday, we sat together around our kitchen table and talked about faith.  We poked some seeds into some little peat pots and softly asked them to grow, grow, grow!

Yesterday morning, I woke up to the most beautiful green sprout I've ever seen.  One of my seeds decided to answer my call.  It feels so fragile, so weak.  But it is so precious to me.  Gardening is not something that comes natural, but I love everything about a seed growing into a fruitful plant.

It reminds me of faith and hope, service and stillness.

It reminds me of raking and compost.

It reminds me of growing up with a family who gardened together through gnat clouds and choke weed.

It reminds me of change... because if a seed can sprout under my guiding hand, surely change is real.  And surely, if I can find peace, purpose and a heck of a lot of gratitude while pushing dirt and washcloths around, change is really real. Posted by Alicia at 9:30 PM 

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