Blogging the Details

A few months ago a friend asked me why I was blogging. She is a fellow blogger, has lost a little motivation for blogging, and was probably seeking an inspiring response. What she got was a stammering, "Um, well, um. I don't know. I guess to keep family members caught up with what is going on with us." I'm pretty sure that was not the motivating answer she was looking for.

I've reflected many times over the past months about that question. I think this month has really put this thought in my head as I have been looking for God in the details of my life. Certainly having that as my focus has made me more aware of all the many ways God is with me throughout the day. I have seen His hand in every aspect of my life. And the results have definitely been a more grateful attitude on my part. So one of the reasons I am blogging (at least for this month) is to publically acknowledge how I am seeing God in the details.

But I also realized that I am blogging for the simple reason that I want to remember the details. Now that my children are grown and mostly not living at home, I find myself reflecting back on their growing up time. During those times of reflection, I feel like I am missing details. How could I not remember? Was I so caught up in the day to day that I forgot to lock in the memories? Was I always looking forward and forgetting to stay in the present?

I don't want to look back in another 18 years and feel like I was again missing details. Remembering the details through blogging, that's my biggest motivation these days for blogging.

I want to remember conversations such as the one we had the other night when Carson was home for the weekend. It went like this:

Me to Carson as we are eating dinner before taking him back to school: "I really like it when you are home."

Carson: "I like it too. Sometimes I just can't stand being around those people any longer."

Dave immediately points to me, doesn't say a thing, but I know exactly what he is thinking. I sheepishly own that Carson's need for intermittent social isolation is a learned behavior that I am responsible for.


Or this conversation I had last night with my Grandpa Wight. He was calling to find out how long my parents are visiting the sites in Egypt.

-Grandpa: "So how are the kids?"
I tell him how Katelyn's mission is going and where Carson is attending school.
-Grandpa: "Sounds like they are doing well. So now it's just you and Dave chasing each other around the house."
-Me, giggling: "Well on occasion."
-Grandpa: "That's good. You two take care of each other."

And I don't want to forget Dave's blushing as I told him that Grandpa asked if we were chasing each other around the house and my reply.

Those are the kind of details that I want to remember through blogging because I am afraid I will forget them if I don't write them down.

God Can be With Us in Our Dreams

Throughout the bible there are examples of God teaching through dreams.

Joseph and Daniel in the Old Testament are well-known for their dreams.

But I'm not an Old Testament prophet

and God does not typically instruct me through my dreams.

However, for the past two nights I believe He has spoken to me through my dreams.

 

The instruction wasn't anything new or revolutionary.

It was simply about taking care of my friendships.

Actually one friendship in particular.

The dreams instructed me to be more present for that friend.

Even if it means putting some other friendships on the back burner for a short while.

That's always a tricky balance...

Spending more time with one friend over another.

I wish there had been some instruction on how to do that

And on how to explain the situation to the friends who may seem to be getting shorted.

But I guess if I was instructed in all things...

There would be no growing on my part.

 

I'm grateful that in this instance God was able to reach me through my dreams.

I'm sure He had tried other avenues, but I was too busy to notice those details.

God can be with us in all of the details of our lives.

Including our dreams.

God Strengthens and Uplifts

My good friend's father is fighting cancer.

I don't think the battle is going too well.

The days are rough.

He is tired.

His wife keeps everyone up-dated through Facebook.

From what I read, they remain faithful that God is with them.

They recognize His hand in all of the details.

Today He was with them in guiding their devotional reading.

He was with the pre-op nurse who heard the phrase:

"If I don't make it, I'll see you in heaven"

and she offered to pray with them before his surgery.

He was with the surgeon who took out the tangled, messed up feeding tube

and replaced it with a new one.

The faith of my friend, her father, and her mother strengthens my faith.

They walk daily by faith.

And through their faith, see God in all of the details.

They have confidence that the outcome, whatever it may be, will be well with God

because He has guided them through this journey.

He is with Me in Every-day Tasks

I was wondering where I would find God today in the details of my life. I woke up this morning thinking about it. I know that He is with me always, but some days my life and the tasks of daily living are just mundane. How would I find Him in those mundane tasks?

Today was full of mundane tasks, lots of paperwork in particular. I think filling out paperwork and immunization requirement notifications are some of my least favorite, but necessary duties of my job. So there I was at my desk, listening to Pandora, and filling out immunization notices when I realized that I wasn't hating the task as much as I usually do.

And BAM! There it was. I found God in those mundane details. He had changed my attitude about the paperwork. Not only that, I was able to complete the task all the while I was managing a very busy health room.

That, my friends, was a true blessing.

Today He Was With Me in...

 

The hymns that we sang during sacrament meeting.

The little voices of five 3 year olds as they sang "I Am a Child of God".

"This Land is Your Land" that was played as a backdrop for a Super Bowl commercial

that displayed the beauty of the earth created for us.

 

Each song bore witness to me of God's love and presence in my life.

Yes, even the Super Bowl commercial.

How grateful I am that music can speak to my soul.

When I am feeling stressed or down I often turn to music for relief and renewal.

God is with me in the details of the notes, melodies, and words.