Get those blackeyed peas a cookin! Chronologically we’re at the end of a year, a parting ways of sorts. We are heading onto  new terrain, the beginning of an exciting new pilgrimage. A few thoughts as we prepare to shove off into 2011…

Never forget, the only thing you really need…..you already have. The fullness of God’s mercy, love, grace and compassion’s that are found new every morning. He surrounds you, sustains you, protects you, enfolds you and equips us with what we need for the journey ahead.

ASK….Ask for strength, Ask for help, Ask for the switch to be turned on, Ask for provision, Ask to catch the flow, Ask to soar, Ask for a break, Ask for guidance, Ask for grace…Ask, Ask, Ask

Surrender, lower and put down expectations….Be surprised by JOY.

Be CONTENT, SATISFIED…..but not complacent. Be PRESENT. This year plan to Be the BEST YOU in whatever form it takes, within each day.

Give THANKS for what you already have, then OPEN your arms, hearts and minds as WIDE as you can as you prepare to receive all the blessings with your name on them. God has a purpose, plan and blessings waiting for you already tucked into the New Year that lies ahead.

BELIEVE….in yourself, in others, in the One who believes in you. Just Believe! It does your world good.

PRAY. It is the fuel for the journey that is before us. It’s free, it’s easy and always available. You just have to make the connection, He always picks up! Whether on bended knees, driving carpool, at work, cooking dinner or on a walk…PRAY, It matters. It creates shifts and movements within us and around us. Pray for others, pray for yourself, give thanks, cry out needs, fears and hopes….then quiet yourself and listen to what your creator whispers back to you, his beloved one. It might surprise you.

Apply FORGIVENESS everyday. All 365 days of the year.

PLEASE EXTEND GRACE to yourself and others…Always. And remember you do have a choice in all you do, say, think, who you surround yourself with and what you do with the gift of time and where it is spent.

After you have eaten your blackeyed peas….. lift up your faces and feel the warmth of His love shine down on you as you head out and prepare to experience this journey into a New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! MAY BLESSINGS, HEALTH, LAUGHTER, JOY, PEACE AND LOVE SURROUND YOU IN 2011!!!

So Jackson, Grace and I were watching a movie last night, all snuggled in, when Jackson looked over at me and said, “Do they all end good?” I looked at him and said, “You mean movies?” He said, “Yes, do all movies end good?” I just had to laugh and say “Most, because they want us to feel good.”

Isn’t it funny that my wonderful 10 year old boy knows that life is not that way and it feels weird that the world wants us to believe that. Truth is, not every storyline we live ends good/happy. Sometimes we have to deal with some pain and suffering for that it where growth happens, wisdom and knowledge is found and great depth and meaning are felt. There is always more to the story than the final cheesy kiss! They go home and live a real life. But as movie go-ers we eat this up, scoop by scoop…YUM! We like to feel good.

One thing that is helpful when our storyline is not an easy one is having loved ones show up and provide…. giggles, ice cream, movies, an ear, flowers, a walk, chocolate, games, magazines, prayers, hugs, candles, space, cleaning supplies, good words, wine and lots of LOVE. (thanks Morgan most recently) Together, we can handle any storyline life throws at us. Also the fact that God has the final edit in this girls story.

So, this morning tucked in bed with both my littles and Sunshine the dog, with breath that needs brushing (all 4 of us), them playing on their new IPods and me blogging….I will live my story out, knowing that with the good and the bad, even the ugly…this is a GREAT story and it’s all mine!

Wandering and pondering still….

It is a funny thing, this “no man’s land” down time on the calendar. When we quiet our minds from the day to day hum that is usually present, we start to hear things that could not have been heard in the noise of the normal everyday.

I have had to wrestle with a break-up from a wonderful man who even though fun, caring and loving was not the right one. UGH. There was no wrong or right it was just not a long term fit. I will blog more about this when it is not so fresh and painful. But in the quiet of this week my thoughts go to…..Is there another? For me for Him? Did I do the right thing? Alone again.

I’ve been thinking of the things we need to leave behind in 2010 ….. unforgiveness, fear and anger. What good will it do to pack these negative emotions up and move them into the New Year with us. Can we let the past be the past….at last? Then watch and see how God can restore our lives and start fresh. For with the New Year comes HOPE for what could be….. if we were really free.

I think about the upcoming year and what it holds, sometimes excited, at times anxious about the how’s, when’s and what if’s…. But I always can look at the year I am leaving behind and see God’s hand on my life. He has sustained me, directed me (re-directed me a few times), comforted me, loved me and most of all never left me.

This week is a gift, a preparation, a time of quiet and reflection. It’s like the end of a school semester, looking at the “grades” from the year before and then knowing what we need to adjust and work at to do better in this classroom we call LIFE. It’s a time of grace and celebrating what was done well.

So, with thoughts swirling with anticipation,  I will stay settled and go gently with great faith, that has been built stronger with each passing year, into the New Year. Taking a deep breath as I dive into the depths of absolute trust in my loving God and his plan for me and mine in 2011.

December 27th, this week seems to always be a time of exhaling, cleaning, returning, re-grouping and pondering the year we are getting ready to close out and the New Year approaching. It is a relaxed time with friends and loved ones with no more present, cooking or wrapping pressure. I LOVE this week. It’s kinda like no mans land on the calendar for me. As I am still sitting in bed (it is freezing cold and I can’t even think of getting up and out yet….the coffee is too good and the blankets are so warm) with Sunshine at my feet I have been pondering the past few days…..

It was a great Christmas with my children. Everyone was happy with what Santa brought and what they gave each other. The big brothers all made their gifts. David gave stamps with each of the boys own trademarks, Michael sewed work aprons, and Andrew canned pickles, orange marmalade and cinnamon, habanero honey. Grace found treasures in her room that she shared with us, then Jackson and Grace also hit the dollar store to find thing we cannot live without. Wrapped all by themselves and opened with much joy and anticipation, who knew David needed another whoopie cushion to complete his set?  It was an amazingly easy and light day spent with family. Banjo and mandolin music, ladder ball tournaments (David and I are the Champions to beat in case you want a piece of the action), rum laced eggnog, a little bling for the king present, spicy sausage casserole, Michael in his fuzzy hat he didn’t take off for 24 hours….Favorite present was my pocket “Love Jesus” given by my daughter in law to be. Yes, she knows me well.

With this no man’s land to wander thought this week I am pondering a word to define my New Year ahead. I decided last year that instead of make a long list of resolutions that could overwhelm me and might set me up for failure, I would pick ONE WORD. Then all my actions, decisions and choices needed to reflect that word. Last years word was INTENTIONAL. As I am closing out 2010 I feel like I had a very intentional year.

This year my word is HEALTH. Physically, emotionally and mentally. I will print it out and place it in key spots that I will see throughout my day to remind me what my ONE WORD is. This word will be a tough one for me. As I use to be a personal trainer and very fit, my exercise today is a defined by walking Sunshine. Also being the one who could eat anything and not get huge….the 40′s hit and I am finding areas expanding that didn’t use to grow when fed. Emotionally and mentally speaking, I need find times to be fed spiritually, work on self care, do things that create joy, passion and peace, and be active in learning, reading and trying new challenging things. Yes, HEALTH is my word.

As the New Year approaches I know this to be true….. 2011 will bring with it new joys, new sorrows, different adventures, challenges we didn’t see coming, shifts in plans and thinking, valleys where we will feel lonely and mountains we will need strength to climb, then people we love to help us celebrate it when we arrive….most importantly a relationship with a ever present God who loves us and is there to offer grace, guidance, love and forgiveness within each year we are blessed with.
May you wander though this week of no mans land and prepare yourself for a new year SO pregnant with exciting possibilities…..

What’s Your ONE WORD going to be?

The Season has been a whirl for me, is it really December  23nd? Wow! I have not blogged since the 9th and yet so much has filled my days since then. For me to sit and put my thoughts down takes a little quiet and definitely time, which I guess there has been shortage of. BUT today I have a smidge of both so here goes…The highs, the lows and the HoHoHo’s of the last few weeks. (this could be a long one…sorry!)

The biggest High of this season is that my sweet son David got engaged to his long time love Morgan. Every time I think about it a smile lights my face and my heart seems to overflow. I teared up when he told about asking Morgans father if he could spend the rest of his life with his daughter. I think Pa Slavens knew this was not an ordinary breakfast, what a great moment in each of these men’s lives. One of the greatest gifts David gave me was to invite me in on the process. He asked me to help him find the ring, and what a day that was! He knew which one it was the moment he saw it, but we had to shop around all day to make sure, going back to look at “the one” 3 times. Him biting his nails, running his hands through his hair…. not worried about his choice of girl or marriage itself, he just wanted to give her the ring of her dreams. He did.

Then came the BIG ASK….He planned it all out. Dinner at the “Pig”, a walk around Park Ave, ending at the little Chapel at our church, which we had all lit up with candles to set the mood. She said “Yes”.  Then they came back to share the good news with her parents only to find us ALL, (and we are a herd when you combine our two families) waiting to CELEBRATE! And boy did we. Grace realizing she now has 3 new sisters (and a few new brothers), aunts/uncles, sisters/brothers, Grandparents, nieces/nephews, and mom/dads blending to create a new tribe that began with these two and the love they share. LOVE and excitement filled the air, and if you were there you could not help but breathe it in, drink it up and smile. What a great way to start a life together.

A Low is that my fresh real tree died. If you knew how much I love real trees you would understand why this is such a LOW. Yes, it is still lit, green and standing but it is dried out and dead. The Grinch would not even take it. Oh well….next!

The biggest HoHoHo for me was our caroling party! What a blast to have some of my favorite people over for chili, then head out into the hood to sing for the neighbors. There is just something magical about standing outside a door singing Away in a Manger and then seeing the faces that open that door. The High was that Scott enjoyed himself as much as the kids and the only Low that night was that Kristin did not make enough cookies!

My word for this season was SIMPLE.  This word was to be the goal, with me checking in daily to make sure my actions matched it. I feel like I did well considering all the extras of an oldest getting engaged. Packages are all wrapped, with ribbons and bows, time with loved ones was time well spent, very few lows. The simplest moments have brightened my December I believe because I was looking….. I saw, felt, tasted, heard and experienced them. Simply Satisfied!

Lastly, the favorite gift for me over this season was recording our Christmas Card CD. It’s the gift that keeps giving…laughter, tears and joy. Each of the kids singing and doing their thing. Michael and Andrew produced and mixed, as well as played and sang. Jackson and Grace threw down a great vocal, as well has the man with the deep voice, David! He stole the show as well as drew the best Christmas picture of the 6 of us ever. I didn’t have to worry about kids smiling, fidgeting, fussing or complaining! If you want to have a look, you can go to Michael’s blog and see the cover and have a listen!   http://www.michaelclaytorandhisfriends.com/

Take aways for the sesaon….Be Simple, Be True to you and how you want your life to look, Time spent with those you love IS the present so don’t waste too much time on wrapping, Sing, eat, pray and dance, There is no perfect, Lay in bed a little longer than you usually would, Let things go, Invite God in daily, Kiss and hug those you love a lot and pray for your childrens future spouses, it really works!

1 more days until Christmas and my heart is settled and ready to celebrate the birth of our savior with the ones I love. Between all the highs, lows and the HoHoHo’s this year, I knew God’s presence in my life was the best present I have ever received. I just have to remember to unwrap it daily….all year long.

Merry Christmas to all……

I am co-leading an Advent study and last week we talked about divine interruptions. Yes, God can throw us a few of those here and there too. We talked about sweet Joseph and how he must have felt when he found out Mary was prego with Jesus. Talk about an interruption!

Well, we can have interruptions that can be pretty hard to swallow too. Maybe not a divine pregnancy but certainly things that have caused us to stop dead in our tracks and ask, “Are you kidding me!”, “Seriously, what were you thinking God?”, “How inconvenient!”. Interruptions can come in so many different forms. Health issues, job challenges, relationships beginning or ending, financial, moving, the list goes on and on. As we talked about Mary and Joseph and their LONG walk to Bethlehem we will never know all the conversations they had about this huge interruption (and I am sure they had a lot!) One thing is clear though, they processed it and accepted it and kept walking. God knew the perfect time to tell them, then allowed them time to get in settled in their hearts.

I know that if we are able to respond (trust) to the interruptions as the Psalms say, ” Wait upon the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I put my hope.”, instead of reacting (fear and control), we will start to see a glimmer of what God has in store through the interruptions. After years of interruptions in my life I can look back and say that it is there where the learning curve of life strengthened the foundation of who I am, my faith and what I believe. Now, let’s be clear….I didn’t always go skipping and singing into every interruption. Some I literally went kicking, screaming and crying into just like one of my children (who will remain un-named) heading in to the doctors for shots! Exhausting….. but the amazing thing is that somewhere along the walk to my “Bethlehem” I heard God say…

“I have plans for you, (trust me) you are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you (within this interruption), do not be dismayed, (I have it under control) for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…. (So get it settled and let’s GO!)

Remember the Wonder and Joy that was found after their faithful walk to Bethlehem…May we stay settled and keep walking so that we too may find the same Wonder and Joy witin our life intterruptions!