Breath Taking

There are not many things in this world that are truly breath taking, and the ones that are - many times we are to busy to notice. This morning I had my breath taken away.


My normal schedule is to wake up and make lunch for the boy and then take him to school (usually still in my pajamas) a bit bleary eyed. This morning, both my young ones had to be to school early, so off went at the crack of dawn. I am not sure if it was because I was more alert this morning, already having showered for the day, or what exactly, but when we drove out of our neighborhood this morning I literally gasped when I saw the sunrise.

It was truly magnificent. This picture was taken a full 15 minutes after I originally saw it and it had changed significantly, but it is still awe-inspiring. I had my daughter turn around to look at it out the back window of the car and reminded her that we were given the gift of that sunrise this morning. 


The moment so touched me that I have thought most of the day about the creativity of my God and how each morning He paints the sky like a fresh canvas, never looking exactly like any other one and then repeats the same thing each evening. I wondered what the sunrise in Pakistan this morning looked like and in Saudi Arabia as I read my Facebook news feed and chatted with friends abroad. All unique and yet beautiful and breathing taking for those who were blessed enough to take notice.


These thoughts took my mind to the very first sunrise and sunset with only God there to enjoy His masterpieces. How breathtaking that must have been.


It saddens me to think how many of these gifts I have missed because I am to sleepy or to busy to notice. So this year of 2012 is devoted to not missing the breathtaking moments as often as I am blessed to catch them. To hearing the still small voice of the Great Creator beckoning me to stop and see what He made for me to discover each day. 


Happy New Year and here's to a year of catching awe-inspiring, breathtaking moments and being thankful for each and every one.

Remembering

It's odd what triggers you to miss someone. A picture, a smell, a favorite food, a holiday, a special occasion.

Pipe tobacco reminds me of my Grandpa
Handkerchiefs remind me of my Grandma
Butter rum lifesavers remind me of my Papaw
Pretty much any breakfast food reminds me of my Memaw (except cereal - she put way to much thought in to breakfast . No cereal to be found)
Great accents remind me of my Aunt Margit

But today - Carousels remind me of my sister. She has been with Jesus for over 3 years now. Her life was full or turmoil and her relationships much the same, but today I remember that collecting carousels made her smile. I had forgotten that.

So today I savor the good memories and might even go look through some old family pictures. Seems like that kind of day to me.  That, and go make some more memories with the ones I love. I hope you'll do the same, because life is short and soon all we have left is the remembering.