For those who frequent my blog, you know that one of my passions is CHOOSING JOY.
I love to celebrate the simple things, and stimulate the senses. It is by taking your everyday rituals, and turning them into something meaningful, that your house becomes a true haven – a sanctuary.
It’s about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, and that extraordinary is often so simple.
I often get asked,”What is your dream?”
I honestly reply, “I am living it.”
Is it hard to believe that a college educated woman could be living her dream by being at home with her five children?
I think people that have met me through speaking engagements, music or work from home avenues assume that I am short changing myself.
I didn’t plan on posting about any of this today, but I just had to share an example of how God’s faithfulness continues to speak to my dream.
This confirmation happened today through a simple act of the ordinary ministering to my lonely soul in extraordinary ways.
Every morning I drag myself to the coffee urn and freshly grind my Starbucks roast. This morning, to my horror (and horror it it surely was), I remembered that it was empty…not a bean to be found. This has never happened.
(I buy the 2 lb. pack from Starbucks and it’s always in supply.)
What is a girl to do without her morning coffee?
For those of you that are coffee drinkers, you are relating….I knew I was gearing up for a coffee headache.
To those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, you may be thinking “addiction.
The morning continued and an hour later, one of my teenage sons came to me with this unbelievable site. It was full before….oops.
He had no idea that I didn’t have my Starbucks this morning, but he saw a little bit of cold coffee (don’t even make a snide remark here or it will ruin the moment:), knew that that was exactly how I made our “coffee smoothies,” and decided to make one for me…unannounced, unasked for, and completely unexpected.
For those of you who have teens, or remember those teenage years, the simple act of my son making his own special Frappuccino on a dreary, rainy morning for his little, old, not- so- happy mommy….made my day!
I know that you can understand.
He made something that was so simple become a balm to sooth my soul.
I choose joy in the journey, and am so thankful that I have a Lord who continues to bless and affirm this adventure even when the road is really rocky, the climb is woefully windy, and the descent is delightfully daring.
It’s times likes this when the Lord chooses to speak to me.
He affirms that the consistency and work is worth it.
He assures me that the times when I want to pull out my hair is not in vain (like a few times when I was just trying to type this).
He knows this, and allowed the ordinary actsof my teen age son become an extraordinary affirmation for his weary mother.
Come join me, let’s snuggle on the sofa over this coffee, and share life.
It’s really, really yummy.
Who needs a Starbucks barista when you have a blessing of a boy…I mean young man?
And since I now have a time limit on the computer, just like my kids, I am confessing to my eldest that I did go past the 15 minute limit and the timer did go off. I shut it off….OK. Your mother is admitting it, and you’re right – 15 minutes is too short to get anything done, but 30 minutes is just right (without any editing, of course:)
Hi Jen,
Sisters separated at birth! How Fun! I need sisters!
This was a really special post. It is so great to hear of God’s love being poured out through your kids, teenagers no less! What a great day!!
So now I’m intrigued, I loved the last recipe, lets just go ahead and post your recipe for this cold frappacinno! I need a recipe like that!
Love,
You Sister!
Sonya
What an awesome post! I am sooo with you on finding joy in the journey! And I love that when people ask you your dream…you say you’re living it. I love that! I am, too.
And I love what your son did for you…how sweet and incredibly thoughtful is that?!
It looks like Momma raised a fine young man! All that dedication and hard work is paying off in unexpected ways. But it is even more amazing when a teenager does it. They tend to be the teeniest bit (ok HUGE HUNKING CHUNKS) self absorbed. Glad you had a reaffirmation of where you should be and that the work you’re doing is making a difference in his life and yours.
How precious!
We need to hear about those ‘good’ teenage moments!
What a delightful post! I love finding joy in the simple things. It makes life an adventure.
And I definitely understand the coffee headache except that mine is a Coca Cola headache. Some folks like their coffee, I like a Coke…with ice.
From one coffee addict to another – what a wonderful blessing from your son. I was having a rough time one day and my girlfriend brought my a Starbucks right to my front door – with apple muffins no less!
So glad you are having a joyful life!
Thanks for coming by my blog today, Jen! I enjoyed this story – one of the best parts of my day is when I come into the kitchen and I see that my husband has already cleaned my travel mug so that I can take my coffee to work. It’s such a small thing, but it is a blessing nonetheless.
Ouch. Could’ve been the makings of a difficult day! My little boy said to me as we pulled up at the Bread Co the other day — ‘Mom, when I am a dad, I am going to buy my wife coffee drinks. And I won’t even take the first sip.’ I love that boy. Today he wore a Madagascar tank top and a yellow clip-on tie so that he would look like a gentleman. I pray he will be a sweet teen like your sweet boy…I mean young man!
I love that you shared this! I love to find the beauty in simple things and gifts. Your son is a sweetie! I am with ya with having to have the coffee…I am not myself..not even human until I get that first sip. cherry
jen,
this is so sweet. i hope that one day my family will be as united and supportive as yours is. thanks for sharing!
Jen, what a sweet post. You’re a really good writer. Thanks for stopping by to see me again. I didn’t realize you were such a new blogger. So glad you are!
Rhoda
What a special act of love from your son! Being a mother and homemaker is no easy task :), but the it’s these little things that make it sweet! I needed the reminder to find joy in the journey–thanks!!
Blessings,
Stacey
Hi Jen,
What a kind act your son did for you. How precious that he thought of you. Thank you for sharing.
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
Hi Jen 🙂
I have been there, so I know what you were going through in the minutes before your sweet boy brought you the cold coffee LOL
That WAS a blessing 😉
rue
That was so sweet of your son to do that for you. Just another little reminder that God is thinking of you, even down to the last drop!
Oh what a great post. Yes, finding joy in the journey is what it’s all about sister!
And I am so very impressed your son knows how to make a Frappacinno!!!
Joy!
Hi! I’m still working part-time, and I still get the “eyebrow” when women ask me where I’m working and I announce that I barely am, lol.
The funny part? Half of them look shocked, pitying and confused, as if I’m just some poor female who is being kept chained up at home. The other half let out a huge sigh and honestly say “I wish I could stay home too….”
I am so blessed, and my college degree couldn’t land me a more fulfilling role than the one I have at home. Great post and how affirming your sons actions must have been!
I so need that timer and the accountability that goes with it. However, since starting school back, that has been my timer!!
Wonderful post! The last ladies retreat I did was on JOY!!! I too have a college degree and chose to stay home a raise 3 wonderful children, 18, 14, and 11. They are great kids with servants hearts.
I understand the coffee thing!
Lisa Q
lifewiththequeens.blogspot.com
Very funny! Love this. Actually my coffee is just finished brewing…time for my quiet time! And my beans are very low…have to get some more today!
Love the idea to limit to 15 minutes!
Enjoy your long weekend!
Sharon 🙂
Choosing joy…I was just posting on that topic on a forum. As moms we have such power to impact our family by our attitudes.
It will be a few more years before my kids are making mochas for me but I’m thankful for every day they grow older and the little ways they show me love. My bed is ringed with drawings of our happy family, taped there by little girls who love our home.
I cried through your whole post. I am a homeschooling mom of three little boys (1,4,and 5). Yesterday was “ONE OF THOSE DAYS”. All day I questioned God and His call on my life to homeschool. “I can’t do this, I’m failing, the kids are driving me INSANE, I’ve run out of patience…” The mental whining went on for hours. I purposed this morning to have a good long quiet time with the Lord (and my giant cup of espresso goodness) and I was determined to stick with our “Master Schedule”. Today has been 500% different and better than yesterday. Days like today make me say, “I can totally do this!” You’ve got it totally right in that you have to FIND THE JOY! I have to get the focus off of poor ole mememememememe and back on my Father who blessed me with three AMAZING little boys that I have the honor of teaching, raising, and being Jesus to! Okay, I’m sorry I just made a whole POST of my own on your comment page!!!! sorry!
Much love from someone you don’t know! ~audrey
Audrey and Jen… Oh, please hang in there! You can never know now how blessed you will be when your sweet boys turn into godly men! What joy to see the handiwork of God! And to think he allowed you to play a part in it! :o)