Taking time to appreciate home

What a beautiful morning it is!! Finally, the temperature feels like spring again and the birds are going nuts around our bird feeder. I think the movie Bambi calls it "twitterpated".

Being at home for the past week has opened my eyes to the incredible space God has given to me and my family. We have a beautiful yard full of flowering trees and space to spread out when kids come to play. The woods beside the house are just deep enough for young boys to imagine they are deep a jungle but safe enough for a little girl to skip through and pretend she is in the magic garden. The tree that holds the tree house is the one that was tangled in a muscadine vine and Randy thought would never make it. But now it shades the tree house and a swing that overlooks the backyard. We have sat in the swing many times and dreamed about how we wanted to change our house or what life will be like when the kids move on. We have worked to get grass to grow and fussed when mowing the lawn took too long.

Inside our home we have photos of family members. Those we still see quite often and those who have gone on to be with Jesus. We have family furniture that was passed down from home to home and trinkets that remind us of places we have been. There are clothes in abundance in every room (not where they oughta be) to remind us that we always have something to wear. In the kitchen, the pantries are FULL. No one goes hungry around here, just look at us - teehee. In this house the temperature is always comfortable and the roof doesn't leak. Everywhere you look there are modern technological conveniences that make life easier.

The house is so quiet until late in the evening and then it starts. "How was your day", "Did you pass your test", "Was work rough today", "What's for supper", "Can I have money for gas", "Guess what", "Who did that" (this one gets asked over and over :) and "Will you be at the game tomorrow". The answers are usually familiar. Answers that we trust and rely on.

When everyone is in bed. It is peaceful. No fear. No anxiety. Just sleep.

The greatest blessing of all is that God allowed me the opportunity to see this for myself. Funny thing is that it took surgery to make me stay in this one place long enough to see the awesomeness of God's provision...right here at home.

The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your word. Psalm 119:57-58 NASB.