God in the Unexpected....

I entitled my blog, "Gracious Interruptions" because I started to see how the interrupted times can be the really great times of our lives. When something or someone breaks through our all-so-important daily agendas or the mundane of our lives or our preplanned ideas to bless us with something wonderful....these are the things and the people and the moments we always remember. And I wanted to always remember so I began writing them down.

I had one just a few minutes ago.

It had been one of the busiest seasons in our lives as a family. We began the school year with me assigned to an all consuming new work project, all three of my kids were in school, and my parents were returning from Chicago. My oldest Cosette during the second week of school displayed an unprecedented school anxiety and it was a very difficult first month with daily tears and stomach aches. Matt was doing a side job for some friends each weekend for about 5 full weekends and we didn't see him much and then he headed for some much needed rest on his hunting trip. So it felt very fast and very full.

Well, I finished my project with work about halfway through the month of October and Cosette was showing much greater confidence and peace about school. But we have still remained a very active family. I haven't really felt the pace decrease significantly.
This past weekend we celebrated my dad's 80th birthday and in the midst of all the preparations, we still had soccer and homework etc. Halloween soon followed and the kids were off for several days.

So today, I finally got to take a shower at the end of the day when Matt came home. While I was in the shower, as it often happens, I sighed. I said out loud to no one, "I'm tired." I was coming down from a lot of activity and I was tired. It feels good to say those words every once in a while, like a confession, "Hi, my name is Mary, and I'm tired."

Not knowing what the solution to my tiredness would be, besides a long nap and a week's vacation to some beach, somewhere, Cole came into my room as I was finishing up. And to be truthful, I wanted just a few more minutes of aloneness. Just a few more minutes before someone would start their sentence "Mom, can I.....? Mom, can you.....? Honey, what's for dinner?" But he came in and he said, "Mom, do you want a taste? Boompa got some cookies for his birthday. Do you want to try one?"

I smiled and took the cookie and he ran off and I just smiled and then teared. I went back into my bathroom and just sighed again.

In my tiredness, my son came and brought me a cookie.

And I felt the love of God again. :-)

I am convinced that God shows up in the unexpected with the unexpected and meets us there. He hasn't lifted all the demands of my life as wife, mother, daughter and friend. He hasn't removed the pressures of bills and laundry and homework and my husband's dusty boots. He hasn't said I will remove all the stress of your life. But He has and has always and will continue to show up in the love of a 7 year old son with a cookie in his hand for his mom.

And He shows up in an unexpected phone call from a dear friend who always fills me up.

And in the kindness of a stranger in the grocery store.

And in the words of a greatly led worship song.

And in the laughter of a baby.

And in the forgiveness of a spouse.

And on and on and on and on.

These days, when I have often asked the question, "God where are You? I cannot see or feel Your presence and I am worried and so tired and not strong. Show Yourself because I just need to see You... here... now." When I have uttered those words to my Faithful Savior, He again reveals Himself and graciously gives me the eyes to see it.

Tonight, it was in the form of a boy with a cookie in his hand.
So tonight. Eat a cookie and feel the love of the Father for you.......

Tying My Father's Shoes....

It's been a while since I have written which is indicative of how fast my life was this past year. And now because of a careful decision, things are a little slower, not much, but somewhat and my mind can rest a little from just handling the next demand on my list to a reconnection with my heart and the things that matter most.... my family, the people who are precious to me, the condition of my soul and my Lord.

So today's reflection goes back to a moment yesterday. A brief 15 second precious encounter with my dad.

Yesterday, I tied my father's shoes.

We were in a Hispanic grocery market purchasing a pork leg we are going to roast tomorrow for his 80th birthday. I love all things Latin and Hispanic and Cuban. And I feel closest to my dad when we talk about things Cuban and his and my heritage.
When we buy Latin food and I get to practice my broken Spanish.
When I look at my dark pigmented skin which I disliked as a child in Chicago for the teasing it brought me, but love it now for it reflects me and that I am my father's daughter. And he still calls me "carneprieta" which affectionately means, "dark meat". I know it doesn't translate well, but it's been my nickname since I was a little girl.

But back to yesterday :-)

A few years ago my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He and my mom have lived with us for about 7 years now and as his disease progresses slowly, daily, I can see the Hand of God in that decision to all live under the same roof. Within the past year or so, I have seen my dad age more. And I have been seized with the realization that time is precious and is to be held in moments to always to remember. I worry more about my dad now. When he walks the stairs and when he shuffles his feet. But after getting past the physical slowness, anyone can discover a man who loves people. Who loves to talk to anyone. Who loves to tell stories and still to this day has the most inquisitive mind. Even after fully retiring from medicine a few years ago, he still loves to read his JAMA journals and will always be a resource to anyone who asks.

But again, back to yesterday :-)

We headed over to the Hispanic market to pick up the traditional Cuban pork leg. You can tell even after all these years in this country which he loves, he feels most alive around all things Latin. As we were checking out, he was bending down to tie his shoes and was losing his balance. So I bent down and tied his shoe. He then asked me with a laugh to tie the other one. And I thought how grateful I am to have lived this life as his daughter. Lived this life knowing I am loved. Lived this life provided for by this man. And now that I am grown and fully living the life of a mom, I get a glimpse of the sacrifice and commitment and heart it requires. And my dad has and to this day gives it to me.

I am in a new season of life now with my dad, as are all of my brothers and sisters. And we welcome it. We consider it a privilege to care and love and celebrate our father. We hold these moments near to us for we don't know what tomorrow holds. But we have these little moments. This time with my dad is teaching me to slow my world. Slow my conversations. Slow my heart to seize the moments. All the moments. I tend to run too fast in my mind and in all the things I want to do. I feel the demands of everything around me and my people pleasing tendency causes me to carry more than my share. This time with my dad is teaching me to strip off the things that really don't matter and to remember the weight of the world does not rest solely on my shoulders. That this life is more than just about me. But I get to be a player in it. And I am thankful.

So today, I will take more pictures, cook more recipes, talk to more people, serve with greater intensity, read more books and love a whole lot deeper. And I can thank my dad for bringing me to this place again.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Love always, your Carneprieta :-)