It's a wonderful time of the year to regroup & reorganize. As we were sitting in church on SATURDAY (the Jewish Sabbath) in Mt Scopus, in a chapel overlooking the old city of Jerusalem a few days ago, the speaker, a musician, talked of cadences. And how in music they are very important. How the pause is just as important as each note. It rung home to me that these pauses in life are when we receive inspiration, when we meditate, when we commune with who we are within ourselves and where we lie in the universe. And this is where we find God. This is where He sits, and waits for us. He waits for us to consult Him. He waits for us there to funnel us inspiration and revelation.
I realize I need to go there more. I need to receive more.
It's hard enough to make goals for yourself, but as a mother of 5, I want to make goals for each child today, too. And for our family, our marriage. It reminds me of that life-coach quote (or was it the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland?), "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
I want to go places, so I need to plan how to get there, I guess.
I hope you, too, take the time to reflect in this cadence before the hustle and bustle of life takes over again, count your blessings, give thanks, regroup, reorganize, and be more efficient in the things you hope to get out of life, and accomplish from life. Not only think of your objectives, but think of your outcomes. And get there.
Parker had 2 major hiccups on our trip to the Holy Land with our brood and both sets of grandparents this past week: On the mountain of Petra in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, he took a pretty bad fall, on his face and head. This, just after a lot of reflection on how often he falls, and if he genuinely needs someone to accompany him in a classroom setting (the deaf camp we are applying for asked us just before Christmas). I honestly over-estimate how healthy he is, I underestimate how "handicapped"he is. Maybe it's my positive visualization, maybe I am in denial. Maybe I know that someday SOMEDAY he will be all that God and I want him to be, so I imagine he is already there. But when he is tired, his balance is really effected, and he was hot, and tired, and on very rocky terrain, chasing some adorable puppies. But fell on his head, and scraped his face up preeeettty good. He immediately fell asleep, and it was the first time in a long time I thought he might have a seizure. HE DID NOT. But he went to sleep immediately in our arms, and I was worried about a concussion. Nope. Just needed a good nap after being dragged up a mountain on a mule, and before riding back on a camel. Thank you, dear God.
Next hiccup occurred at 4 am 2 nights later. We had returned to Jerusalem to attend church, and see the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and Capernum, and Cisearea before our flight brought us home. And we were awakened by the hotel security at our wide open door asking if our son with a "messed up" face was missing? Parker woke up at 4 am or so and decided to take a stroll unattended in the hotel. He was found on another wing of the hotel, crying outside a very nice couple's room, who got dressed, and took him to the reception. I asked the security how she knew it was us, and she said she just walked around until she found a room with the door wide open. Sigh. I was grateful he did not decide to climb any dangerous walls or that we were not located on a busy street and he went wandering into the desert or looking for trouble outside of the hotel.
My mother-in-law said to me, "Were you just sick with worry?" And though, yes, I was full of lots of emotions, and reeling for a good hour after we returned to our room, and he repeatedly asked for chocolate, worry was not one of those emotions. I told her, "I've used up all my worry on Parker. At some point I realized that worry is a wasted energy. That it is better to save that energy for other emotions, to assess each situation more level-headed and do what I can." That "I realized long ago that I am not the Master of this universe. It is God. I try & ebb & flow with Parker and his future and destiny."
That being said, I think that we control a lot of our destiny, that we can influence where we end up with the choices that we make. I also firmly believe in the power of prayer. I know that it works. I know that God hears and answers my prayers. So I will make new goals to be set anew for each member of our family today, then pray for help in accomplishing these goals.
Parker's goals for 2012:
(This is my short list for Parker. His own goals would involve anything to do with outside, doggies, cats, balls, chocolate and ice cream)
Run and not be weary
Walk and not faint
Listen and hear and understand
Speak more than 2 syllables at once
Ask questions--not only one word requests
Taper epileptic meds
Increase attention span
Recognize and realize implications of danger
Wear Big Boy Pants (I am afraid this is far, far off)
Get accepted to Deaf Camp in Los Angeles this summer
We wish you all a wonderful holiday season. I hope you all felt the Spirit of Christ and celebrated His birth during this Christmas time. We were very blessed to have John baptize Hannah in Versailles this holiday break, and are so pleased with her choice to follow Him and His teachings. She was so pleased to have both of her Grandpas speak at her baptism, both of her Grandmas pray, and the rest of us sing a special musical family number in sign language with our fantastic nanny, Amber, who has returned to the US. We took an amazingly memorable trip to the Holy Land with those we love nearest and dearest. It was exceptional to walk where Jesus walked with our little ones and blessed parents hand-in-hand. We feel very loved and thank the Lord for our many, many blessings. We wish you all goodness and health and prosperity in 2012.
And enough time and wisdom to stop, and listen to the rests, too, as you listen to the music of this great life.
