what i loved this Christmas

• my little ones singing J-E-S-U-S to the tune of B-I-N-G-O
• Third Day Christmas Offerings CD on repeat
• being done shopping earlier than ever
• having just enough wrapping paper and tape
• homemade Advent calendar craft
• our growing Fontanini Nativity
• the Polar Express at the Planetarium
• high school symphony mini- Christmas concert at Central Market
• more eggnog than we could possibly drink
• our big fat fake pre-lit Christmas tree
• getting the White Elephant gift we actually wanted
• picture Christmas cards from our friends and family near and far
• funny musical animated Christmas figurines 
• Jesus is the Gift line from DaySpring
• Selah Christmas concert
• taking the dog to see Santa at PetSmart
• personalized Tervis Tumblers
• delivering Christmas cheer to unsuspecting friends
• Swagbucks-bought Amazon gift cards for Christmas gifts
• granting a local family's Christmas Wish via KLTY 94.9FM
• "Amazing Grace" the 1st song on BigGirl's new karaoke CD
• shopping WorldVision and Gospel for Asia catalogs
• Fantasy of Lights at MSU
• stockings, the new finale of gift-giving
• temps in the 30s and 40s
• Scentsy cinnamon spice filling our home
• Brayan on our refrigerator and in my heart
• free Christmas cards from Shutterfly
• amazing apple dip recipe from Jennifer White
• our Four-Gift Christmas tradition
• post-Christmas organization urge
• lingering Christmas spirit
• celebrating my wonderful husband's birthday

i pray that you had a blessed Christmas 

and made many memories to last a lifetime!

Happy New Year!

hindsight is good

i remember being about 15 or 16 years old, wanting to do something against my parents' will, and my case in the argument was "let me learn from my own mistakes!" i thought i was so smart.

teenage angst aside, there is something good about going through something bad.

the key is this: you have to go through something bad first. go through it. suffer. wonder. cry. fear. find your faith.

when you get through it, when it is all said and done, that is when the good stuff happens. there, on the other side of bad, is a brief window of opportunity that you can't deny. it's the opportunity to look back and learn from what just happened. analyze it. pray about it. learn from it. change from it. grow from it. thank God for it.

we had been warned, we were prepared, and we were firm. looking back, there's not a thing we could have done differently to change the "bad" experience. it was just a bump in our road, and we got over it. it was just a shady valley along our path, and God lead us through it. a test of our little faith, and God proved his promises to be true. again.

the best part about going through something bad is what can be learned from it. the great realization and revelation. learning from our own mistakes might be the best way to learn. even if it comes with pain, suffering, turmoil or tears. after a bad experience, there is a time of relief and thanksgiving. a strengthening of faith. secure your footing, shake it off, and move forward. confidently. if i can handle that, i can handle anything!

i believe everything happens for a reason. i also believe that i can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. so even in the midst of bad experiences, i know my mountain is just around the corner, where i will stand atop, even stronger, reflect, and sing praises to my God.
    
i am incredibly thankful for the bad experience we are looking back on. i probably won't even count it as "bad" when i look back, because from this view, so much good came out of it.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

-Psalm 23:5-6

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photo credit

my portion

"The Lord has promised good to me...

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be...

as long as life endures."

                                                 -Amazing Grace by John Newton

83. the most real Christmas we've ever had 
84. grateful children
85. less stuff, more Jesus
86. loving strangers at Christmas Eve service
87. BigGirl singing "Amazing Grace" on her new karaoke machine
88. the Lord's promise of peace for me
89. friends who understand
90. realization and revelation, even if it comes with tears
91. this time of year
92. making memories with DaddyHall until he goes back to work
93. our warm and cozy home
94. gifts that make me smile and say "you know me so well"
95. watching others open gifts, smile, and say to me "you know me so well"
96. sea salted dark chocolate
97. my healthy children
98. excitement for the potential of the new year
99. neverending challenging games of Words With Friends
100. no snow or ice to hinder our holiday travel
101. praying with strangers in line at Target
102. traditions, and the protection of them
103. "bunnies" aka Bubba's pacifiers
104. our house-trained dogs
105. neighbors we trust
106. the stability, honesty, love and real faith in our home




...continually counting my blessings and giving thanks to my Amazing God with the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience  

wishing you and yours

a joyous Christmas

surrounded by loved ones

and a prosperous

and blessed

New Year!

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four: Christmas

it always feels like too much. especially at Christmastime. empty boxes and ripped wrapping paper cover the carpet. new toys strewn all over the place, needing batteries and to charge and to be assembled. it's too much. too much stuff. the children are on overload. it's always more than they need. it's more than they can possibly play with and thoroughly enjoy. and it's definitely more than they can be truly thankful for.

it's then and there that Jesus gets lost. the heart of Christmas gets shoved to the back, behind the shiny new things. the true meaning of Christmas, as bright as it is, gets overshadowed by the false glow of the latest whoosits and whatnots.

when we show our children that things equal love by burying them in gifts, why would they bother to seek and celebrate the love of Christ? if we keep giving them more and more, bigger and more lavish, we are responsible for our children's greedy attitudes and expectations of more and more. are we teaching our children that more is better? 


"LOOK AT ALL MY PRESENTS! Yippee I'm so excited! I love Christmas!!!!! Oh yeah, and happy birthday Jesus."

i can't handle it. i don't want to cultivate that attitude. we needed a solution. a purpose for our gift giving. the last thing we need around here is more stuff. what we could really use is more Jesus.

and that is why we give our children 4 Christmas gifts each. 1) something they want, 2) something they need, 3) something to wear, and 4) something to read. four gifts. 

it's a fairly new tradition here, and it has already changed us. each gift is a blessing to the child. each gift is something they are truly thankful to receive. each gift is simple. thoughtful. purposeful.

not only does this four gift tradition put an end to the stuff overload and the greed attitude... it gives us more room to focus on the birth of our Savior. it clears the clutter so we can celebrate His love. it hushes the noise so we can hear His voice. it empties us of our selves so we can be filled with Him. it replaces the spirit of greed with the spirit of gratitude.

this is the kind of Christmas we want: simplified, meaningful, and  memorable. no more excess. no more indulgence. no more more.

Christmas is not about the latest and greatest from Toys 'R Us. it's not about the biggest thing under the tree. it's not about how many presents they get, or how much money was spent. we teach by example that Christmas is not about wishlists, retail catalogs, Santa, magic, or things. worldly possessions fade. Jesus is forever. by taking the focus off of gifts, we create an environment where the true meaning of Christmas is #1. everything else is just bonus. 

with this new tradition in our home, i am amazed at how little can come to mean so much. Jesus is there, at the center of our Christmas, with four purposeful gifts under our tree.

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the gift tags pictured above are from Dandee Designs.

rewarder

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God 

must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" 

-Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

71. a home full of laughter and love, my family together for an early Christmas

72. BigGirl's sleepover with two sweet cousins, the best gift ever

73. QT with my sister

74. personalized Tervis Tumblers!

75. a Pastor who tells it like it is, in a non-condemnation church

76. my BSF experience, exceeding my expectations

77. Christmas-themed playdates and crafts

78. gentle reminders in every day moments of God's unfailing love

79. Charlotte's Cardio Dance class 

80. toilet paper, tinfoil, toothpaste, trash bags, and other household paper products and toiletries that we might take for granted

81. beautiful Texas December weather

82. recyclables pickup service

{it's a Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience, and i am counting my blessings and giving thanks to the God who continues to amaze me with an outpouring of blessings.}

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recycled ornament craft {DIY}

isn't this so cute? BigGirl calls it the peek-a-boo Christmas ornament. it was super easy to make, and i'm thinking it would be a fun make-and-take Christmastime craft for preschool-agers.

all you need:
1 lid from HappyBaby PUFFS canister
scissors
clear tape
crayons
permanent marker
small piece of yarn
print-out of clip art graphic or photo of your choice, sized about 2" diameter, preferably on cardstock
(i found some cute clip art here)


DIY:
have your child color the clip art. while she's doing that, write the message on the outside of the lid "door." i wrote "Merry Christmas 2010."

place the PUFFS canister lid over the colored clip art, trace around it and cut out.
tape the paper to the lid from the back side, making sure that when the "door" is open, the image is right side up and straight.

tape a piece of yarn in a loop to the back of the paper.
hang on your Christmas tree!

PS: the empty and now lid-less HappyBaby PUFFS canister makes great storage for crayons! we also like to keep one in the car as a mini trash can. recycle, reuse, renew! and Merry Christmas!

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baby einstein {winner}

Congratulations CindyLu!

lucky comment #13 was selected via Random.org:

CindyLu said...

I think Cooper would love this!

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thank you to everyone who entered. as a {truly heart-felt} side note, every time i get an email alert when you enter my giveaways, i think about how wonderful it would be if you won. i'm really rooting for you because i know how much you'd like to win. i'm genuinely happy for you when you do win, and when you don't, i want to give you a consolation prize! a virtual hug or high-five will have to do ;) i think this is a *perk* to having a "smaller" blog...i know my readers and i consider you all friends! so...thank you for taking the time to enter my giveaways and for being my friend. you're ALL winners in my book!   

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boy in motion: hammer

Bubba, with Daddy, a hammer and a pacifier, in his element.

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

Psalm 127:3 The Message

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linked with love @ www.homewiththeboys.net Boys In Motion!

conversations in a jar {free printable}

a thoughtful, yet practical, easy and homemade, possibly free, gift idea that would be perfect for your Mom friends? how about this:

Conversations with Kids in a Jar

i made this 5 years ago in my first MOPS group. each curly slip of paper has a question or prompt for something to talk about with your child. nothing too deep, but you can really get into a good conversation if you allow it.

i put the jar on a shelf next to the Play-Doh and watercolor paints. every once in a while when i reached on that shelf for craft supplies for BigGirl, the jar would catch my eye. i'd pull out a slip of paper and we would talk.

i kept the slip of paper out of the jar, set it aside. later, when she was preoccupied, i taped it inside a notebook and jotted down notes about our conversation, funny things she said, and insights into her life.

you can make your own Conversations in a Jar very easily. you simply need:

1. a jar- any size, shape, and style will do. even a bowl, vase, box, or coffee mug would work.

2. conversation prompts, cut into strips and curled like ribbon with scissors

my jar is decorated with ribbon, stickers, and tags. you could personalize this a million different ways. it would make a super cute and thoughtful gift for any Mom on your list!

click here for my FREE Printable Conversation Starters designed especially for children ages 2 and older. enjoy! 

my scar, His love

every morning, i carry my little boy downstairs when he wakes up. we go to the couch to cuddle. warm and limp from sleep, he is heaviest in these morning moments, groggy. he holds on to my neck but the rest of his body just falls over my arms, dangling.


he is getting so big, so tall. 


when i carry him like this, every morning, my growing boy's foot now naturally falls at the top of my thigh. his chubby little foot hits right at a scar on my leg. a scar that i've had since i was exactly his age.


i was a toddler. i was sick. i had surgery, stitches, full recovery, and now a scar about 2inches long. it's still tender to the touch, but otherwise my scar goes unnoticed.


until morning, when i carry my sleepy boy downstairs and his foot hits it.


it stings. a shooting shock goes from the scar up and down my leg, all the way up my spine. i wince in pain as i step and his foot hits. step, hit, ouch. step, hit, ouch.


there are only 14 stairs, maybe 35 foot steps, from Bubba's bedroom, down the stairs, and to the couch. but every step i hurt. at the same time, every step i love. i'm carrying my baby. my sleepyhead snuggler. my boy. my warrior.


my first cup of coffee is still hot and i hear him calling me over the baby monitor. he's awake. i don't even think about my scar when i go up the stairs to get him out of bed. it doesn't even cross my mind that when i lift him, his foot will kick my scar. repeatedly. and there's nothing i can do about it.


but, i know this. and it doesn't stop me. i don't give the job to someone else. i don't NOT carry my child. because i will endure any pain to love him. to comfort him. to hold him. unconditionally.


hmmmm. this sounds familiar...

"I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, 

today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—

absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love 

because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." 

-Romans 8:39

my scar and this morning routine is not unlike Jesus' love for us. we are all His children. Jesus came to carry us to salvation. He gave His life for us so that we can have eternal life with Him. He still has the scars, smooth and tender to the touch. every day He carries us, He forgives us. does it send a shooting pain through His scars? maybe. when He hears us calling, does He consider the scars on His hands before He comes to rescue us? no. He loves us. He loves us and endured death to love us. to comfort us. to hold us. unconditionally. in His forever scarred hands.

my scar is little and the pain goes away, but my love for my children is big and everlasting.

i am thankful for a God that loves me with a love like that. a God who's scars are a beautiful, forever reminder - to me and to Him - of what my salvation cost. 


and a God who reminds me of such truths every morning. 

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photo source

my Baby Einstein {giveaway}

the cutest thing ever is when a 2 year old asks you - in all seriousness - if he can do his school work. try not to giggle. it is so adorable.

my 2 year old has started doing this lately and i'll tell you why...he loves Baby Einstein. Baby Einstein is his "school work." and the new Wild Animal Safari Discovery Kit is a great "curriculum," covering Art, Music, Nature, and Language.

the new Baby Einstein Discovery Kit comes with a 25-minute DVD, a music CD, and 10 flash cards depicting the animals on the DVD. the music CD has the same songs played in the DVD, too. there are different levels of kits- specifically designed for your little one's developmental stages. the kit includes a Parents' Guide and helpful suggestions for the "Expedition Leaders" (that's me). really, they thought of everything.

we are not big TV watchers, but i made the exception for the Baby Einstein DVD because i'm familiar with their peaceful music. it caught Bubba's attention right away, which is saying a lot since he barely ever sits still for anything.

he just loved the silly puppets, and footage of real animals in their natural habitats.

and then i gave him the flash cards. i laid them out face-up on the table. any time an animal would appear on the TV screen, he would find the coordinating flash card, yell "I FOUND IT!" and hold it up to the TV like this:

i read the animal facts on the back of the card. he repeats the animal's name several times. he tells me what the animals are doing in the movie- eating, running, swimming, flying. and sometimes he'll run around the room acting like a particular animal. my favorite is his elephant impersonation.

later that same day, we listened to the Baby Einstein Discovery Kit CD in the car. it was peaceful. he fell asleep. mama was happy.

the next day, Bubba said "Mommy, i need to do my school work!" i giggled...not quite sure what he was talking about. and then he pointed to the shelf where i stacked the Discovery Kit flash cards. "school work! i need it!" he insisted.

i love it.

here is the newly released Baby Einstein Wild Animal Safari Discovery Kit:

you can buy it now on Amazon for about $13. well worth the price if you ask me. i think it would make a really nice Baby Shower gift or stocking stuffer!

GIVEAWAY TIME! 

you can win a Baby Einstein Wild Animal Safari Discovery Kit! all you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment. extra entries? tweet about the giveaway (@mamahall), Facebook it, and/or post about it on your blog. just be sure to leave a comment letting me know. don't forget to include your email address! 


i will use Random.org to select a winner on Friday 12/17 10AM CST. this giveaway is open to US residents only, please.




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full disclosure: I received this free Discovery Kit through a LBi/ Baby Einstein program. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no monetary compensation took place.

winner!

congratulations Genevieve Thul!

your comment was selected the winning entry for my Stag Designs giveaway!

 

morning by morning

"Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be...

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see. 

All I have needed 

Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, 

Lord, unto me!"

61. my new Selah CDs, singing classic hymns with my children, in Congolese
62. a timely message from God, designed specifically for me, delivered by a friend
63. Christmas with my @HPCMOPS
64. being brought into this season with a new perspective
65. proud Mommy moment on 12/11 when BigGirl lost her first tooth
66. learning to "fight like a chik" at Chik Nite with my sister!
67. homemade salted caramel hot chocolate
68. super friendly people behind the Target Pharmacy counter
69. friendship and outreach project with Sara and Kristen
70. that angel disguised as a woman in line ahead of us at The Dollar Tree


i am so thankful, God. i sing your praises...great is Your faithfulness!




{it's a Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience, and we are counting our blessings and giving thanks to the God who continues to amaze us with an outpouring of blessings.}

love mercy

on January 17, 2011, We Are THAT Family is hosting an online Silent Auction to benefit Mercy House. 

this is an easy way for you to help a worthy cause. have you heard of The Mercy House? The Mercy House is being built in Kenya, Africa to provide alternative options for homeless pregnant girls. The Mercy House will aid them in nutrition, housing, prenatal care, counseling, Biblical teaching and job skills for sustainable living. young girls, pregnant not by their choice, helpless and hopeless, with no where to go, living here:

the solution, The Mercy House, has made an imprint on my heart. i think about the girls often. i think about Maureen. i pray God's mercy over them, especially on the 3rd of every month. i have come to love mercy, and God's promise of it. i have been moved to act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. 

please help The Mercy House. 

save the date for the online Silent Auction at WeAreTHATFamily.com: January 17. 

i have insider connections and i know some wonderfully generous people have donated really nice gifts and services to be auctioned. it's going to be awesome. we are going to make a difference. you are going to love mercy.

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linked with love @ TheDiaperDiaries.net Things I Love Thursday.

kitchen pretty {giveaway!}

raise your hand if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen...might as well look {and feel} pretty while you're in there, right? 

check out these beauties - (the aprons, i mean)

from Stag Designs, these adorable aprons are handmade with Duck Cloth, 100% cotton and machine washable. these high-quality aprons are available in adult and child sizes, so you can cook with your little companions! the bib is thicker than regular cotton fabric--closer to upholstery fabric, which makes the aprons hold their shape better through multiple washings. very sturdy for cooking, cleaning, and balancing a baby on your hip the whole time. my favorite part? the apron skirt is a dish towel! attached with sewn-in Velcro! brilliant! wear it, tear it off, and wash it with the apron or separately. brilliant. because sometimes you only get the bottom part of the apron dirty, am i right?

Jenn, owner of Stag Designs, has two little boys and is a full time teacher. "Stag Designs was created out of my love for both my jobs, mommy and teacher. I teach a class called "Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness" at a local high school. In this class, we prepare meals multiple times a week. With 5 kitchens, and 5-6 kids in each kitchen, I was constantly washing my hands....and then realizing my dish towl was nowhere to be found. I decided I need an apron that could keep my work clothes clean, but also help my forgetful mind.  So the Dishcloth Apron was born!  I wanted to make the dishcloth removable, so it could be taken off and thrown in the washing machine.  I got such a positive response from friends and family, that I decided to start a business. I love sewing (and also teach a Fashion Design class), so this seemed like a good fit." 

  

check out Jenn's blog for more fun and funky Stag Designs Dishcloth Aprons. 

in addition to aprons, she also makes baby clothes blankets. big, beautiful, sentimental blankets made using your child's outgrown onesies, pajamas, burp cloths, receiving blankets, and special outfits. 

when i saw this in person i couldn't take my hands off of it. a patchwork blanket made with your baby's little tiny clothes? i just wanted to snuggle it. you can practically smell the Johnson's & Johnson's baby lotion.      

GIVEAWAY TIME!

would you like a Dishtowel Apron or your own custom baby clothes blanket? Jenn is giving my readers the chance to win a $25 credit to spend at her shop! to enter to win, shop Stag Designs aprons & tell me which design you like in the comments here. for extra entries, LIKE Stag Designs on Facebook, and follow Stag Designs blog. make sure to leave a comment for each entry. 

a winner will be selected using Random.org on Sunday 12/12 at 9AM and announced here. open to US residents only, please. 

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full disclosure: i was given aprons to review. my opinions are my own. honesty is my policy.

taking back Christmas

i have a protective nature over Christmas. i'm kinda defensive when it comes to Jesus' birthday.

i love Christmas. i love Jesus. i love Birthdays. and Christmas is one big birthday party for Jesus. an occasion not to be confused with anything else, buried under any other traditions, or put aside for the sake of other customs.

we told BigGirl the truth about Santa this year. if you're wondering why.... i dare ask you, why not? the truth is this: there's no such thing as Santa. the truth is this: there's no point in pretending he's real. the truth is this: she deserves the truth. the truth is this: Christmas is about Jesus. the truth is this: the presents come from Mom and Dad. the truth is this: it isn't about presents anyway. there are so many truths about CHRISTmas that get buried in Santa's big red bag. the truth is this: we're taking back Christmas.

who are we to make Christmas all about us? we know in our hearts the real reason for the season, that Jesus is the real gift! there's no tradition too strong, no worldly custom too widespread, for us to hold on to anything other than the truth of the season. i can't find any scripture about Santa in the Bible.

it delights me, just a girl who longs to please God, to find more and more families are also taking back Christmas. i'm not the only one telling the truth this Christmas. more people are doing things different, being radical, and highlighting CHRIST in Christmas.

more and more...

1. a holy experience
2. Internet Cafe Devotions
3. another from Internet Cafe Devotions
4. Radical Giving
5. Kitchen Stewardship
6. Totally Tots
7. AP Freewriting 101
8. Impress Your Kids
9. Life As Mom
10. A Heart for Home

i know there are more of you celebrating Jesus' birthday...please share your comments and links here...



{this post is linked up to the lovely OhAmanda's Top Ten Tuesday.}
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photo credit

overflow

i can't stop counting...with a heart overflowing with thanks...


41. 8 years of marriage and love that continually grows stronger
42. clothes that fit
43. midnight prayers
44. open lines of communication
45. Advent
46. meaningful crafts and quality time with quality friends
47. a community of support for my husband
48. Starbucks on the nearest corner
49. Jesus is the Gift reminders
50. prayer warriors rallying with Jesus on my behalf
51. being finished Christmas shopping
52. an opportunity to give revealed
53. encouraging radio stations, Christmas music
54. the truth about Santa and BigGirl's understanding
55. my mom as my kids Granny 
56. a break from Facebook 
57. discovering our history, our ancestors, our lineage
58. strong immune systems, the power of healing prayer
59. Amazon prime eligible items 
60. egg nog



join me in the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience, where we count endless blessings and strive for a life full of worship and praise to Him who gives and gives and gives!

the wind reminds me

it was an unusually windy day. the wind had come out of no where, and was suddenly whipping everything in it's path. i was driving to the post office and i could feel the car swaying, i was driving against the forceful winds, watching flags and trees hold on for dear life.

at the post office, i parked and gathered my mailings before getting out of the car. i noticed the lady sitting in her car parked in the spot next to mine. we exchanged smiles. i tucked my envelopes in my purse, deep down, and braced for the wind. i had to push really hard to get my car door open, but still hold on to it carefully so that it didn't fly off it's hinges. it felt like it could.

i went around the car to get the baby out, sighing in relief at the brief blockage from the insane wind. i opened the baby's car door, carefully, and propped it with my leg while i reached for the baby. in that split second, an evil gust of wind whipped in between my car and the lady's next to me, blowing my open car door SMACK into the side of her car.

oh no.

i grabbed the door away from the wind's force, apologizing out loud. i made eye contact with the lady again. this time i noticed she was nursing her baby.
 
oh no.

she mouthed something nasty to me, waving her hands. she gave me a scowl. "i am soooo sorry," i pleaded, my baby in my arms, as she set hers in the carseat. "it was an accident! the wind!" she rolled her eyes angrily, shaking her head in disbelief, eyebrows furrowed. she didn't believe me. she didn't care that it was an accident. the wind didn't let up. the wind didn't care, either.

what i needed was mercy. compassion or forbearance shown to an offender. i needed her to feel the power of the wind, to look at me-a fellow Mommy- with compassion, to realize that i'm just trying to run errands with my baby, just like she is. i needed her to see that there was no damage done to either of our cars, be thankful, and forgiving. i needed her to smile and laugh and say "crazy wind, huh?"

what i wanted was fruit. love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. i wanted her to know in her heart that i wouldn't have let that happen on purpose. i wanted the situation to resolve with peaceful smiles, with "have a good day," and a look of understanding.

she didn't have mercy. the situation didn't end peacefully.

the truth is, i felt so horrible about what happened that i put my baby back in his carseat- this time by climbing in back from the front seat so that i didn't have to open the door on her side again. i faced forward and put my head down on the steering wheel. i could still feel her darting daggers at me with her eyes. i could feel my face burning, bright red. guilt. embarrassment. regretful. ashamed. i prayed out loud. BigGirl was sitting in the back seat the whole time, watching this unfold. i asked her to agree with me in prayer. i cried. and then i left the post office with my envelopes still stampless in my purse.

every windy day since then, i remember this. i remember what i needed and wanted from that lady, a stranger. on windy days, i tend to have more mercy. on windy days, the fruits of the spirit dance around in my head. wind is uncontrollable. but our attitudes, our reactions, are controllable. this is how the wind reminds me. if someone's car door accidentally dings mine on a windy day, i pray that i am the kind of stranger that shows mercy, love, kindness, and self-control. and i pray for the stranger parked next to me on an unusually windy day.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

-Matthew 5:7-9

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

-Galatians 5:22

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photo credit