Rest?

I've been flying solo this week.  [The Mr. comes home tomorrow from an eight day trip.]  I have much [much] more admiration for single parents every time he's away. 

I felt quite courageous today taking the three honeys grocery shopping with me.  We did get quite a few interesting looks in the store.  This makes me a little paranoid because I'm wondering what people are thinking. [I think it's normal for kids to want to touch everything and to be unaware of people around them?]

Our toddler is loud and doesn't want to ride in the cart.  I reverted to giving her a sucker recently and that was brilliant.  This time I brought her green mardi gras beads.  I should go back to the sucker idea.  My mantra is evolving, currently it's something like "whatever it takes". 

A few people smile at us but quite a few look like they will jump out of our path.  [I hope my face doesn't look angry].  I was on a mission to get the goods and get out.  And we did.

[This was right after my elementary aged daughter saw a store sign that read "family planning".  She was quite insistent we needed to go over and check it out because "we need planning for our family".  She is so my daughter.]

I love beautiful words and I read these yesterday.  

"Bask in the sunshine of His love. 

Drink in the waters of His goodness.

Keep your face upturned to Him.

You need make no efforts to grow.

But let your efforts be all concentrated on this, 

You abide in Him." [H.W.S]

Yes and yes.  I read it again.  It sounds so amazing and yet feels so difficult.  It reminded me of yoga class last week when the teacher concluded with a few minutes of relaxation.  As we laid on our backs, our eyes closed, bodies relaxed, her words rang in my head... "There is nothing that needs doing.  Nothing that needs undoing."  Inside my head I was saying...yes and yes.  Making no efforts.  No striving.  Just resting.  Beautiful rest. 

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  [Matthew 11- the Message].

Resting.  

Kate

ISTJ marries ENFP

I've had marriage on my mind.
The Mr. and I have been talking about how to grow and better understand each other.  We are trying, but with our most recent snags, it appears we still need improvement.  I've heard conflict is a good thing...so, that helps me feel a little better.

If you were to listen to some of our conversations it might be confusing to you since we now talk in word pictures fairly often to each other....commonly using metaphors of yapping dogs, cars, sticks, porcelain, war, and picnics.  I think this helps us to "get" each other.  Either that or we are just getting crazier the longer we are together.  Recently, we looked at our personality types to learn how to love each other better.  The Myers-Briggs personality profile is a very common tool and here are the results for us.  

I am the ISTJ.  "The Duty Fulfiller"= Introverted.  Sensing.  Thinking.  Judging.  

He is the ENFP.  "The Inspirer"= Extroverted.  Intuitive.  Feeling.  Perceiving.  

Through the years quite a few people have made comments about us having more difficult personality types to synchronize.  Our personalities are opposites.  We were both attracted to a person who approaches life differently.  We are a great team when we harmonize.  We bring different strengths to life.  Living daily life together, with opposite personalities, can be a challenge.  If it wasn't so real it would be really funny.  This month it has been fourteen years spent learning to dance together [another metaphor].  

What does me being an "ISTJ" and him an "ENFP" mean? It looks something like this...

I am introverted.  He is extroverted. 

I like a plan.  He likes to keep it flexible and make the plan as we go.

I am detail oriented.  He doesn't place much importance on detailed tasks. 

I am task oriented.  He is people oriented. 

I seek security.  He is a risk taker.  

I am traditional.  He is naturally casual.

I fight perfectionism.  He thinks close enough is satisfactory.   

I often am uncomfortable expressing emotion to others.  He's more emotionally expressive.

I am practical.  He is a dreamer.  

I take things seriously.  He is lighthearted. 

I am organized and efficient.  He is imaginative and likes to try new things.  

I have a strongly felt internal sense of duty.  He is inspired. 

I have respect for facts.  He is an idea person.
I over-think things.  He often says "I haven't thought about it".

I have a hard time playing until the work is done.  He doesn't.  

I enjoy order and beauty in the home.  He is spontaneous and fun-loving.  
I love him.  He loves me.    

Our future is bright.
We need God's strength for living the better way with patience and kindness and His grace for our challenges.  Here's to a great summer together with a few more "days at the beach".

~Kate 

my Mr. and "mini-me"

ten on ten

Today I'm linking up with a bit of sunshine

a photo an hour for ten consecutive hours

capturing the ordinary beauty in your day to day life

yellow is the happiest color

marbles in a vase

week two in her big girl bed

90 degrees today= water, hose, water buckets, & ice cream

second summer of the red bucket=countless hours of fun
 

my Grace

white roses

monopoly game

shining light

may you have beautiful dreams


I hope you noticed beauty in your day.


~Kate

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

I have a window above my kitchen sink.  The view was mostly of the side of our neighbor's garage.  Then the last few weeks, all along the garage, flowers are blooming.  

I love the view.  The flowers aren't noticeable [to others] because of their location.  

Today I thought what a happy view through my window.  I felt like the roses were put there just for me to enjoy.  Facing me.  Thank You, God...You know me.  I see the beauty.    

  

  

 

 

  

 "The earth laughs in flowers."  E.E. Cummings

~Kate