designnarrative

I’m re-reading Ann Voskamp’s book 1000 gifts

I can’t recommend it enough,

I’m re-reading it because I’m just not there yet

in an effort to be mindful of all God’s graces,

I’m going to be counting gifts this year

gifts like this cheesy grin

and cheese cake, for sure cheese cake

cleaning supplies, really thankful for cleaning supplies

and sesame street cupcake because really, is there anything cuter

today I stare out my kitchen widow with the venus fly trap and mini volcano on the sill and realize:

I have a great life

it’s been a nobody gets dressed until noon, two cup of coffee, read a novel kind of day

Ava is still getting sick and I’m still the number one clean up crew

but I am so thankful we have health insurance, and Clorox, and a washing machine,

and Joey makes late night chocolate runs for Chick-fil-a brownies

I have a great life

2012 has been hard in many ways- my mom’s cancer, shake up at work, just daily life, bills, relationships but

I have a great life

so much more than I deserve, so many reasons to thank and praise God

He is faithful and good

I have a great life, I want to remember that for whatever 2013 holds

this precious girl has been sick, crazy sick

on our way to the ER, I kept asking her if she was ok

her response, “I’m NOT a cupcake”- I drove faster

poor baby has burst blood vessels in her eye from all the vomiting

I’m a basket case, day three and no end in sight

so I do what most southern girls would do:

call my mama, clean like there is no tomorrow, and bake a cake

a cheese cake, 40 ounces cream cheese, 5 eggs, and a boatload of sugar

let’s hope it helps this frazzled mom

today I went on a home visit that could only be described as a Saturday Night Live Christmas skit-

here’s the thing- instead of being freaked out, I laughed all day

and then the cake happened, oh that cake

not just any cake- a four layer almond cake with chocolate almond filling and almond butter cream topped with chocolate dipped almonds

it was an epiphany, I almost cried

because this person poured more than just incredible talent into this cake

and I knew that this inclination to find beauty and chase art has power

real power to impact people we don’t even know, people who eat a cake we make with such care

that one bite, just one bite

speaks hope and artistry

wow, deep stuff for almond cake

and then…..

I go to Target and pick up a few things

the young lad who checked me out inquired about the rutabaga

“um, mam what exactly do you do with a rutabaga?”

I explained roasted root veggies that I’m making later in the week and

as he finished my transaction, without a hint of sarcasm, he said,

“um, good luck with your root vegetables and merry christmas, mam”

epic, it was an epic day of ordinary life

so whether you find yourself baking an almond cake or ringing up a rutabaga-

know you affect the people around you in profound ways