It’s overcast today.  Warmish, but not too.  Just the way I like it, actually.

I opened all the windows this morning, as always, then sat down with my journal and coffee.  The breeze rolled over me.

And so began my list of thanks.

I ran through the names which impressed themselves upon me, including the one so far away in a sandy, hot place.  I prayed cool refreshment for each one.  Body. Soul. Spirit.

Because sometimes, you just need to be refreshed.

This week I went lunching with a son.  And then we did a little shopping.  And since we weren’t finished talking, we went coffee-ing.

On several cool mornings, I culled through the overflow of stuff which still exists in this place where I live.  Another dump trailer one third full and a stack of boxes labeled for give-away was my reward.

We made an emergency trip to the oral surgeon for more stitches on Thursday.  When the doc says do nothing for several days, to not bend over or lift things… there is a reason for that. I think the guilty party got the point.  Right???

And then, unhappy words were spoken here this week, which is to be expected when you’ve blended two households.  And because I am who I am, I spent time wondering what I did wrong… until I realized the answer.

Nothing.

Because some things can’t be fixed and you just need to stand steady.

And then do the next thing you know.

Like laundry.  Or dinner.  Or wait.

I read a great book this week, Love Does by Bob Goff.  It made me smile and think, all at the same time.  Can you imagine?

I like what this Bob guy says,

“There is only one invitation it would kill me to refuse, yet I’m tempted to turn it down all the time.  I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does.  It doesn’t come in an envelope.  It’s ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen.  It’s the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day.  Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but I’ve seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live.”

I’m often tempted to turn down this invitation as well.  I mean, how many ways can you make spaghetti, or change the sheets or wash the towels or listen to the same words that push every single button you have, without thinking this is getting old?

But if you skip the invite, you also skip the cool morning air and the great cup of coffee and the lunch with the son or the healing words and the promise of what is yet to be.

It’s scary, but I’ll continue to take the unknown behind door #3.

I didn’t take many pictures this week.  So in honor of today’s refreshing breeze, I’m posting a few taken a couple of months back.  Doug and I went to the Oregon coast for my birthday.  It was foggy and beautiful and not too cold and all the perfection that sand and ocean offer.

It was refreshment.  And my happy place.

(Click on the pictures for a better view!)