I Follow This Path

I follow this path
because I am His

I do not choose
how or
when or
who

I choose yes or no
stay or go

I do not choose to
sing or dance
walk
run or crawl
pray
on my knees or
scrub the floor

I only choose yes or no

When I hear Him singing my name
it's easy
to say yes

He is the air I breathe

I follow this path
Because He is mine.

John 10

My husband is on a low fat diet, so for the last several months I have been experimenting with recipes. Last night my son came in after a long day of classes and grabbed a piece of freshly baked cake. "This is good!" he said. He was confident when he stated, "This is not fat free."

My Week

Monday came. I did not feel so good but got moving anyway. Then my son checked the balance due for tuition and it was more than double the amount it should have been. This required a trip to the college. I had an appointment in the same area I didn't want to put off anyway. After being fortified with caffeine, I donned an oversized pink sweatshirt and my softest comfy jeans and forged ahead.

It turned out to be a pretty good day. I had an excellent time conversing with one of our church staff. The tuition problem was rectified. "Someone wrote it wrong," the lady at the college said. I'll say. An extra one in the thousands' place makes a huge difference. And then, someone wanted to talk with my son about a job that pays money. This was a very good Monday. Then the rest of the days came after.

During the week we prepared for a performance scheduled for Friday, practicing and making costume adjustments. My son was to do some sign language. He had been suffering a pinched nerve for a week. It was still bothering him, so I spent a lot of time telling him to lie down on the heating pad.

Other things happened. My dog somehow pulled the outside water pipe up out of the ground and disconnected the water from the house. We had to turn off the water for a while. It was making a small lake in the backyard. The toilet overflowed. This was after we got the water fixed. It had nothing to do with the other water problem. Neither did the deal with the washer. My laundry appliances are just temperamental. The washer will sometimes stop working. It makes a horrible squealing noise that my husband is trying hard to ignore. Now the dryer, which he did recently fix, likes to randomly come on all by itself.

Tuesday was ok, as far as I remember. We had some minor bumps, projects delayed by missing tools, and things of that nature, but no major disasters that I recall. There may have been a small kitchen fire.

Wednesday we had a fun day out planned and enjoyed ourselves even though my head still hurt a bit. When we came home, the neighbor's rottweiler was chewing on my puppy dog. My dog, Thunder, is not a tiny thing, unless you compare him to a buffalo. Or a rottweiler. We jumped out of the car to rescue the pup. (Thunder was not hurt, just a little damp.) Someone forgot to close the car door. Rottie decided he wanted to go for a ride. In my car. He would not get out. All I could think about is how much rotties drool. And chew. I tempted the nice doggie out with ham placed strategically down my drive back to his house. This took time . . . and approximately half a ham. I did not make it to Ladie's Bible Study that night.

Thursday my little dancer began the day by saying, "I think I yelled too much yesterday. My throat is sore." Ginger Ale and jello was the menu for lunch. Around 1:00 I sent a message to my oldest to bring home more ginger ale and nausea medicine. I cleaned the bathroom several times Thursday. I spent the evening cleaning carpet and washing towels. When my poor little girl developed a fever I sent a message of apologies and regrets about the performance. Maybe the dress will still fit this Easter.

Friday I cut my own hair.

Enhanced Vision

My daughter got her first pair of eye glasses yesterday. When she put them on she said, "Cool! Now everything is Hi-Def!"

Dancing on Carpet

It's easy to smile in the beginning. Step, step, turn. Leap. Grace and power flow. Arms reach out and float in the air. Your fingers turn red as blood rushes through your veins. Up onto toes. Drawing air, your chest expands and nostrils flare. Everyone in the room can hear labored breathing, but your smile never falters.

Little girls in make believe tutus, young mothers, tweens, and silver haired ladies all watch you move across the floor. Keep your face soft, soft. Make them blind to holes in your shoes and tattered ribbons. Move smoothly against the resistance. It looks easy even as beads of moisture trickle along your hairline, wetting the sprigs of hair that have escaped. Finish.

They clap, ignoring the sweat running down your neck. The sparkle of sequins distracts attention from the frayed seams. You smile and smile, sinking gracefully into a bow.

The slippers are removed. You stretch and stretch. Rub your calves, ankles, feet. Sometimes you cry, but it's ok because no one can see you now. You pray for smoother floors tomorrow. Point and flex, point and flex. Stretch some more, because tomorrow you may have to dance on carpet again.

Top Ten Highlights The Week After Christmas

1. Got wrapping paper and candy canes for 50% off at Wally World.
2. Eradicated entrenched dust bunnies from their lair under the futon.
3. Ate way too much chocolate and had to go buy more.
4. Watched and rewatched my favorite home videos.
5. Checked out three novels from the library.
6. Replaced the shelf paper in the kitchen cabinets.
7. Got puppy shots and dewormer at Tractor Supply.
8. Found a clean, plot driven, family friendly movie that was not animated.
9. Registered a complaint with Fed Ex about packages that never came.
10. Was rousted from bed after midnight because the air compressor caught fire.

Jonah 2

 

 

While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God and said . . .

 

This struck me today. While he was inside the fish, Jonah thanked God for rescuing him from drowning. I imagine a dark, dank, extremely frightening, smelly place, slick with slimy digestive juices, and ponder. While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God.

 

But I will praise You and thank You while I give sacrifices to you and I will keep my promises to You. Salvation comes from the Lord.

 

Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and the fish threw up Jonah onto dry land.

 

And I thought I knew the story of Jonah and the Whale.

Sickness got the best of me this Thanksgiving, but I still felt obligated put on the whole 'turkey and pie' show. After, my husband took the kids for a boat ride. They returned to find me stretched out in the living room on a pile of pillows. My middle son used acting skills acquired in drama club to put on his best angst ridden, quavering voice. He said, "Don't go, Mom, don't go."

I ignored him---to no avail. He continued, "Don't go towards the light!"

I cracked an eyelid open. The only light I could see from my no longer peaceful repose was the kitchen light over the sink.

"Why would I go towards the light?" I asked. "There's dishes in there."

Pirouette

We move the kitchen table
off to the side
and sweep the floor well.

She puts on a pink tutu
and ballet slippers
worn through at the toes.

My naked quilt rack,
requisitioned for her purpose,
serves as the barre.

Piano notes tinkle
in harmony
with the clink of dishes.

Her little girl pirouette
turns
my kitchen into . . .

A world of dance,
music,
dreams.