"You crown the year with your bounty; Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.  The pastures of the wilderness overlfow, the hills gird themselves with joy."  Psalm 65:11-12

Before I begin, let me just let you know that we've had our seventh baby.  Samuel Josiah was born on September 25, 2009 at 3:12 pm.  He came into this world weighing 7lbs 8oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  He's a great joy, and our family loves him dearly.

It's October here in Minnesota, but if you were to look outside yesterday you might think it was mid-December.  Snow blanketed the ground, and fell heavily from the sky.  Trees still bursting with the brilliant colors of fall were ladened with sheets of white.  The sky was gray, traffic slow.  The season of winter encroached upon the oh, so short, season of fall.  In fact, fall this year, has almost not existed.  We've gone from a balmy September with temps in the 70s to October with temps in the 40s.  If it wasn't for the spotty changes of colors on the leaves, and some leaves on the trees, I might think that fall didn't even exist.  What happened to that season?

So often life seems to be in a season that we weren't expected for...or weren't prepared for.  And, even if we are prepared for the season (like having a new baby), it has the potential to seem unrestful, out-of-place, or uncomfortable.  Just like seeing orange leaves laced with white snow.  And yet, the season, the journey where life is at the moment is the place where we are to live contented and full.  Not easy.  Especially if there are many difficulties or trials in that time.  Or maybe there's not obvious trials, but instead life is a time of constant energy.  Such as motherhood.  Even as I've been writing, I've been interrupted.  Numerous times.  In the past, I'd find myself agitated and annoyed...can't they see I'm writing?...my heart would cry.  But the Lord has slowly convicted me to lay aside my agendas and instead embrace his agenda, his season for me.  And that, right now, is being an aware and attentive mother for my children.  Getting up to make a peanut butter sandwich.  Pausing to write down my five year old's adventure story.  Explaining that algebra concept...again.  It's a life that could be exhausting if I were to live on my own energy.  But, I don't.  Or, I try not to....

I was at a bi-monthly Bible Study on Sunday night and heard friends tell other friends how they were the exact mother needed for their children.  It got the wheels churning in my head.  How many times had I fought my role because I wanted to do something.  Or I wanted the house spotless...so that I looked all together...and yet didn't respect and honor the hearts of my children in the process.  Sigh.  I became so convicted of the tendency I had to look beyond the current season of my life.  Which, quite frankly, is extremely busy.  If I focus on the "me" aspects of the movement it's easy to become bitter, exhausted, and discontent.  If I allow myself to embrace this life, right now, then there are moments of joy, gratitude, and yes, peace.  Peace in the midst of chaos.  Moments of silence as I nurse my 18 day old baby, while snuggling my two year old.  Calmness as we drive in the car over rolling hills, still showing remnants of snow, to dance. 

I always thought that I knew the plans.  Instead, I've begun to learn how to "find joy" in places in life that I thought could only be painful, or stale, or tiring, or calm.  Joy isn't from me.  Joy is a gift from our Father above.  And, in fact, for me, true joy can only be found living in the present.  It's in living in the season and being open to the gifts and blessings that the Lord has before us.  It's all to easy to check out and look to the next stage in life, but remember, the stage where you are right now has nuggets of joy.  This truth, is a truth that I need to reming myself of constantly.  It is just too easy to allow the frustrations of the moment to rob my heart of the blessings found in that very moment.   

Last year, on December 31, I prayed for a verse for this year. And yes, that's the very verse that started my entry.  I really wanted to pray and ponder an entire verse for a year.  Listed below is that very verse once again.  Enjoy, and reflect upon the profound truths wrapped within the psalmist words.  And, in fact, I encourage you to pray them for your day where ever your journey is...even in the wilderness...because as you read, there is joy to be found there.

"You crown the year with your bounty; Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.  The pastures of the wilderness overlfow, the hills gird themselves with joy."  Psalm 65:11-12

Rachel