One Wee Spark

My sister-in-law commented that I was far from being just one wee spark...so I thought perhaps I would explain my choice of that title, and the quote, and what they mean to me. Recently, I finished reading "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge (John is the author of the highly recommended "Wild at Heart" book for men, and this is their companion book written for women--I recommend both!). I began reading the book almost a year ago, and read all but the last two chapters. That was back in the summer. And every single time I tried to pick up the book and read those last two chapters, I just couldn't. I should add here that I am an avid reader. I "eat" books for snacks and can generally finish fiction books in a day or two max. But these non-fiction, look inside your heart, mind and soul books always take me much longer to read. And once I'm done, I generally go back and re-read them, underlining and highlighting sections like crazy! Just a coup...

Ahhh...Christmas morning. It's finally here! Every child has been counting down the days and hours for longer than most of adults realize. I actually have a child who begins counting on her birthday, the 25th of July. And for me, the emergence of Christmas morning marks the begin of a slower pace again. It is about taking a moment to stop and reflect. It's 8am here, but both the baby and my DH are still sound asleep. It's a moment for me to relish what Christmas is really. In this still, quiet moment, I ponder the story of Jesus' advent and birth, his childhood, and his ministry. I think of Mary. I can really relate to her as a mother. And I think how excited she must have been when her little babe was born! We don't know how her labor was--long and tiresome, easy and relatively painless? I imagine it was the latter, I mean...God the Father was her midwife and the Holy Spirit her doula! How amazing that must have been. And then I wonder if it didn't also trouble...

One of the first and most often questions I am asked after revealing that my mother is a compulsive hoarder and featured on the show "Hoarders" is: Do you have trouble with hoarding? I always say no. My house is not perfect (although I secretly desire for it to look like it jumped out of the pages of IKEA, it doesn't look that neat and pristine), but it is a long way from ever being considered cluttered. Like most people, we have several spots that collect things--the desk which seems to be the catch all for everything anyone doesn't know where to put, the top shelf of the bookcase where keys and pockets are emptied, and my dining room table where everyone does everything from eating to homework to crafting to any sort of other activity. But for the most part, my home is no different than yours. It is the home of six active children, and it looks every bit the part! But several days ago, I had a moment of insight. I was struggling once again with the order of my livin...