Category: Life-condensed

Last Tuesday, (was it last Tuesday? The days just blur together anymore), we woke up to icy roads. Actually. I didn’t even know they were icy until I got into my car and started driving … it was black ice. And it had tricked a lot of people that morning. The radio broadcast was full of accidents and the city went on emergency alert – which loosely translates to: only call the police if someone is bleeding to death or has lost a limb, otherwise, exchange insurance information and say “oops.”

I was nervous. I knew that Kevin would expect Dude to go to the office and … I wasn’t sure … if he should.

“Why don’t you just tell Dude to take the day off,” I said while twisting my fingers into fleshy corn rolls.

“Karen,” my ever-patient husband said, “he’s a 19-year old MAN. When are you going to stop babying him?”

Never.

I shrugged.

I couldn’t help it. He might “technically” be a 19-year old man, but he’s still my first born baby. I look at him and all I see is my 4 lb, 12 oz preemie. I shouldn’t, I know. But I do.

I went to work that day with my heart in my throat. He didn’t have far to drive and I KNEW that he needed to practice, after all, we can’t taxi him around every time there’s bad weather for the rest of his life … but UGH. The first time is a killer.

I worried about him all morning. Kevin did text me whenever he got to the office, so I did rest easy for a few hours. But then I started feeling queasy whenever it was time for him to pick Jazz up from school.

I don’t think he realizes how precious his cargo is whenever he’s driving.

It all worked out in the end, though I found out later that he DID slide through a stop sign near our house. But at least there wasn’t any on-coming traffic. I know I need to mentally toughen up about my boys – they’re growing up, as they SHOULD, and I just need to trust that God will take care of them whenever I’m not around.

But still. I’m DEEPLY thankful that this winter has been pretty mild … so far.

An early morning fog, so cold that it crystallizes the trees and transforms the world into something ethereal.

A hot cup of coffee in my favorite coffee mug.

A quiet morning.

Glimpsing the little boys in my men children.

My husband’s sleepy eyes.

Sweet-smelling lotions.

Sunny days.

5 o’clock.

We did.

More later …

Sometimes we complain that God put thorns on Roses. Yet others will rather say that God is good to have placed Roses among the thorns. In both cases we shall however be thankful for the roses. ~Kurt Avish
(Actually. God gave the world to Adam and Eve as a gift. Adam and Eve then fell for Satan’s tricks and transferred ownership of the world to Satan. Before Satan came along, roses didn’t HAVE thorns).

____________________

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” ~William A. Ward

____________________

Be aware of what you have in hand rather than to be for what you don’t. Everyone will be grateful to what you have.” ~Kurt Avish

____________________

I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy. ~Anne Frank

____________________

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. ~Cicero

____________________

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

____________________

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

____________________

The things that we most of the time take for granted are always those that deserve our gratitude. Be thankful to that thing or person today and make every day of the year a personal Thanksgiving one. ~ Kurt Avish

Really – what more can I say?

Have a blessed day, Internet.

http://twitter.com/#!/writefromkaren/status/139738618364305408