What matters most

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.  Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise…Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."  - Jenkins Lloyd Jones

Life is stressful.  And though that's the way of it and I try to hitch up my britches and get back to it, it's so wonderful to get reminders of what truly matters.

Like when Jonz gave me the opportunity to have fun pretending with him.  He dressed like a cowboy and came into the kitchen to "order a rootbeer."  The thrilled look on his face when I surprised him by diving into a story (complete with accent!) that led to an adventure outside gave me both joy and guilt.  He shouldn't have to be so surprised, I should do fun stuff like that with him all the time.  Yet it was still so fun to have that moment with him and see that while he's growing fast, he's still my little boy.

Then there was the time Al and Goose busted out some sweet moves with me while we rocked out to Billy Joel tunes.

Or laughing at ridiculous movie scenes with Bret last night.

And you know I can't post lately without bragging about my Trooper.  I tell you what, this boy is such a timely gift from heaven!  Just a couple days ago I was sitting on the couch with my computer, stressing about some church stuff that needed to get done asap.  Trooper was playing on a blanket and started to get a bit fussy. "Gah," I thought, "nap time."  I absent-mindedly spoke a "hang on juuuust a sec, bud" while I continued my work.  A few minutes later I got up to go find a paper I needed and stopped short when I saw that Trooper was asleep on his blanket.  He'd put himself to sleep and with hardly a peep!  As I looked at his sleeping face, I suddenly felt all the stress leave my body (not just the small stress over a deadline, but ALL the stress of life I was feeling) and be replaced with such a sweet peace.

God has blessed me beyond measure.  He blessed me to join paths with a loving and respectful man that I get to call my husband and he has blessed the two of us with four amazing sons.  They bring me more joy than I ever conceived possible.  Throughout my life, I have been blessed to be surrounded by fantastic people.

I am thankful for these reminders and for the peace they bring amidst the stress and trial of life.  And at the same time, I am thankful for the stress and trial that remind me to "cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you" (Jacob 6:5).

What are you thankful for today?