makin' banana pancakes....

i have recently been able to visit a few very dear friends--on my own--which is something i have NEVER done before.

ever i think.

it was amazing!
truly.
nothing re-focuses me and re-awakens me like these visits.
and truly i know they are gifts from our Lord for just such purposes.

but also, obviously, i missed my 'trio incredibly.
hearing their voices over the phone was a little heart-wrenching.

and of course, coming home to a family who misses and loves you unconditionally is a beautiful thing.
[not to mention a CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!  nice one, A2]

i think ever since being back, though, i have been a little,
'pensive'.....
not sure why.
maybe a perspective shift?

i had coffee [and a donut] with a sweet friend here in town the other day and we made a 'pact' of sorts.
we will MAKE each other consistently be friends.
sound ridiculous?

maybe.
but how many of you,
who are moms, [or are not]
find that it is so very easy to NOT cultivate friendships
especially new ones that need cultivating
when you have the whole world of:

your home,
your kiddos,
your husband's world,
etc.

to keep you from it?

well, i do.
and so our journey of wednesday morning [early morning] bible studies/friend time begins.
equipped with getting together regularly and opening our family to her.
which i LOVE.

but still, i remain in this pensive state.
i don't know what it is.

so this morning we made banana pancakes.

which led me to think of my sister,
who,
when A was just a 'babe, introduced me to this song by
jack johnson
because she said it made her think of me.



which made me ultimately pretty happy inside.  (=

but this thought brought my mind my dear friend from our first years in seminary.
whom i/we miss ever so dearly.
who introduced us to the curious george soundtrack right before my 'trio and i traveled cross-country
together one summer.  

all the while, my mind reels and i make a mountain of banana pancakes that we will eat for days on end.....
my sweet 'trio plays.

such joy and such contemplativeness.
all at once.

it is a beautiful thing to KNOW what one needs.
i need my Savior.
i need His Words.
His Scriptures.

i am thankful for 3 amazing kiddos and a monstrous batch of banana pancakes,
and a sister who reminds me of the simplicity of our dynamic around here,
and of friends who, while a large sum of them are far away in distance,
are able to steady me and re-center my soul.

and i am thankful to know that what i need is right here, all the time.
always.


to these things.  (=