I got an early Easter egg today. Eddie found this little robin's egg outside. He knows just what kind of presents to get me!  Sadly though, this little egg has an extremely remote chance of hatching now that it's separated from its nest. If God cares when the sparrow falls to the ground, He surely cares about this egg. That gives me comfort knowing there is nothing so small that God doesn't see, or care about.  Everyone in the world has personal troubles and hardships. And it can be difficult to know how to react to them. I read a transcript of a broadcast called " When the Sparrow Falls " by Elisabeth Elliot today and I wanted to share it. I sometimes feel helpless and angry at myself when I read the words, "Let not your heart be troubled." What a simple solution!!! If only I could just DO that! And here, she explores the spot-on question of,  "How am I supposed to not be troubled about something that is extremely troubling?"  If you're...

Choosing one positive moment a day to share is very easy some times. When I've seen an amazing sunset, been around my nieces and nephews, or experienced the kindness of a stranger, I know immediately what to write about. Other times, it can be more difficult. The days when I spent hours doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and putting in piano practice hours, it can feel sort of hum drum. On those days, I have to become a little more resourceful, depend on my 5 senses to heighten, and find me that one magical moment among the day to day activities of an un-extraordinary day. Touch As I play the cool, smooth ivory keys of my beautiful piano, I suddenly feel Joy's wet nose nudge my knee. It startles me at first. I thought she was  asleep at my feet . But she's awake now. And she wants to be touched too.  Taste My  husband  brought home a treat for me. Easter's coming. That means the stores are filled with...chocolate bunnies! Yum. I like their peanut butter ears bes...

I, like many others, have been watching footage of the devastation in Japan today. The images are heart stopping and frightening, as I’m sure you know. I find myself wondering and worrying about those in the path of destruction, the ones missing, and the ones lost. And then, there have been stories. Stories of sacrifice, help, and rescue. And although those stories are fewer than the ones of ruin, they’re there. My own neighborhood received a heavy dose of water as well. In fact, our little town was on the local news today because of waist high waters near the grocery store where I shop. I walked around there today. The roads were closed off with barriers and police cars. The overflowed creek waters left muck and slop, hanging a horrible stench in the air when they resided. I took a few steps back to grasp the full scale of the mess, and noticed numerous puddles scattered across the earth. Like mirrors, they reflected the soft colors of the beautiful, after-storm sky with perfect cla...

There are times when it just feels like nothing is right. When all the weight of the universe is beating down on me and I can’t seem to find anything positive, despite the obvious blessings that so abundantly surround me. They say that the countless wonderful things in life are forgotten in an instant as soon as one negative thing happens. Maybe that’s why God gave us memories. They’re like comfort food, like a blanket in the cold, or sometimes like medicine. You keep them stored and then pull one out when you need it. But I think that too is a choice. Happiness is an effort. And that’s kind of what this daily blog is about . Today, I was encouraged by a long forgotten memory, when I watched a young teenager exit the passenger side of a car. Her father was dropping her off for ballet class. She simply said, “See you after class, dad. Love you.” Suddenly, who knows why these ancient thoughts appear after a decade or more of absence (I suppose because I needed it today), but I was flo...

I spent my drive home from work measuring the events of my day, placing them on a figurative scale and adding them up like Weight Watchers points. Let's just say that one side of the scale had a whole lot more stuff on it than the other. First, it's drill weekend with the Army so my husband has been out of town for 2, going on 3 days. Next, I woke up late this morning and  rushed off to work without so much as a cup of coffee or breakfast. I also didn't have time to pack anything, so that meant I would go without a morsel of food all day until almost 5 pm. Then let's see. Oh yes, I got  pulled over. And then, oh right, I had an expired insurance card (by 6 days). Which inevitably led to me being late for work. I had a monstrous 7 hours playing for ballet rehearsal today. I let my own self doubt and paranoia get the better of me again . It seemed like every song I played was the wrong style or tempo, and soon I felt like the walls were closing in on me and I didn...

Early this morning, Eddie and I took our place behind orange road cones and waited for the words, “Runners take your marks, get set…GO!” We attended the 5k at Llewellyn Park in West Orange, NJ, a gorgeous, historical gated residential community and former home of Thomas Edison. I went with little motivation, expecting nothing more than a leisurely jog through the beautiful, autumn scenery. But no sooner than the first corner, I discovered this would be more difficult than anticipated. Almost immediately, the route took us to a near 45-degree hill that stretched for at least half a mile, something I was not prepared for. It was then that I had to decide to either tackle it and give it my all, or simply run with little effort, as originally intended. I decided to go for it. After the first hill, I reasoned there would be more, and began mentally preparing for them. They could come at any second, just around the next turn. Hills have a way of either crushing a runner’s spirit, or prop...

This song just says it all. I haven’t heard the old hymn in years, but today as I was channel surfing while driving, I heard the lively melody and started tapping my toes. As I began to do as the song says, count my blessings, I suddenly found it very difficult to think of one thing that I was not thankful for. Yes, the check engine light is on in my car, but at least it runs. Yes, I wish I had a washer and dryer, but I live right across the street from a laundry mat. Husband, health, job, family, friends. The list goes on and on. So while some recommend as a cure for feeling down, a nap, a bubble bath, or a vacation (all nice things), the real solution is to listen to this song and do as it says. Count your blessings! "Count Your Blessings"  by Johnson Oatman Jr, 1897 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Refrain:...

If I've learned anything from writing this blog every day since February 4th , it's that moments of joy are in the most unlikely places, and to see and notice them, all we have to do is make an effort to look. I've found these moments on a bus, at work, stuck in traffic, on my couch, or in my yard. I've found them on the most cranky, exhausting, and boring of days. And I've found them in unremarkable situations that a few months ago, may have passed right by me.  Today as I practiced the piano, just like a million times before, it finally struck me just how sweet it is that my dog, Joy , lays right next to my feet as I plunk away at the keys for hours. Luckily, the camera was in arms reach and I snapped a quick shot. She's a good and loyal dog and really has brought me a great deal of happiness since I got her for Christmas last year. Today is just another reminder that joy lies in the most unexpected places, and how thankful I am to see it. 

I heard a remarkable radio interview of a woman who experienced a brain hemorrhage. As a result, she went completely paralyzed in a matter of minutes, beginning with her fingers tips, then her arms, then her legs, and then suddenly, her mind. She described with amazing detail, how she lost the use and meaning of words. Her brain chatter ceased completely. In those moments, she did not know about the floor or the sun or the wind. Those things did not exist to her because her mind was totally void of language, like an animal or an infant. Yet, she came out of the episode and can still vividly recall the feeling in those moments. She fondly described a sense of calm and serenity. Nothing in her mind saying, "I'm tired, I hurt, I'm late, it's cold, the dog is barking, that is a wall, the clock is ticking, shut the door, what's going on?" I envy that woman in those moments. Why can't I have an "off switch" for the words that torture my mind? I hav...