{SQT} On Gifts, Rookie Mom Mistakes, The Holy Spirit, Stained Glass, and Dreams

Here's a quick glimpse of life from the past week:

From Ann Voskamp's Facebook page:

"Yeah-- There's never anything to be afraid of... all the hard gifts turn out to be good gifts.

And the good gifts all turn out to be forever gifts -- eternal gifts that nothing or nobody can ever, ever take away from you.

And all the best gifts? All turn out to be forthcoming.... The best gifts are always still up ahead, the best is always still to come."

Pro-Mom tip: Do not keep the chips within the reach of the two year old when shopping.
I am not a pro-mom.

The headline from this week could have read "Rookie School Mom Mistakes Strike Again!" Gia's Spring concert was this past Tuesday. In all the chaos of the last couple of weeks, I had for some reason thought it was still a week or two off. I a) failed to invite my mother to the concert until the day of, and b) didn't have a clean dress for Gia to wear (she only has a couple that fit her right now as it is). Thank goodness for Target clearance and retired mothers who don't have calendars full of packed evenings!

We finally went and saw Cinderella on Mother's Day. I cannot adequately express just how much I loved it, but here is a little recap as to why it is now in my top five favorite movies.

As I'm working on focusing the mission of the blog, I had some thoughts on how we best share Christ through our words and lives. Bottom line: no hiding in the dark!

The May Sketch-Along is now posted, and I would love to have you join me! The theme for May is the Holy Spirit. 

While it is called a "sketch-along," please feel free to use any medium of creativity - paint, photography, digital art...whatever moves your soul. There are so many rich verses of Scripture, prayers, hymns, and quotes to choose from - I know I am having trouble deciding! Here are just a smattering of my favorites:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (World Youth Day Sydney forevah!)

Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts take up Thy rest.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. Ezekiel 36:26

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. ~ Saint Augustine (This one is a little long, but still one of my favorites!)

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

I'm not sure if I have written this here before. If I have and you've read it...mea culpa. I was going through some old journal notes, and this struck me as being forever relevant. 

I am a holy work in progress. When I was a baby Christian and surrounded by the solitary message that God loves us (which He absolutely does) so we are all okay (which we are not), I had a very hard time with people who would say that they were unworthy of God's love, or saw themselves as somehow diminished. It wasn't until I understood the sacrifice of the Cross more deeply that I came to understand what they possibly meant. 

When you see yourself against the sacrifice of the Cross, in comparison to the glory of God, we surely fall short. We are broken and wounded and dirty. And yet...He does not leave us there. The sacrifice of the Cross isn't the end of the story. Jesus rose, and He lifts us up with Him if we reach out for His hand. Our brokenness is made beautiful. Our wounds are woven together. Our stains are turned into stained glass.

We have stains, it's true 

But when Your light shines through 

We all look like stained glass windows to You. 

Jon Guerra, Stained Glass

I had my first Edel Gathering dream last night. It must be getting close! Cate reminded me that it is less than 10 weeks away - and that was a couple weeks ago. Of course, in my dream I lost my shoes and my purse, and forgot to bring a dress for the cocktail party ... and some old guy friends from high school crashed the soiree. I wasn't there last year - I'm a little off, aren't I? 

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