Speak Anyway

Finding connection in the normal things of life.

After slipping a blue fleece over my upper torso, it draped pass my waist covered in grey jeans. Wool socks pulled over the jeans leg. Ugg boots covered the socks. An off white North Face fluffy jacket pulled from a hanger. I slipped my arm in swinging it across my back. In the empty sleeve my left arm slipped.

The weekend was full. It was fast. It's gone.

It's Monday morning.

"It's not cold outside," my daughter commented.

"Go crank the car." "Turn on our seat warmers," I told her.

Normal morning drop off routine, I stopped in the carpool line. She grabbed her book bag getting out. Around the edge of the school my car wheeled. Stopped. Looked both ways, turned right up the hill. The car wheels rolled towards the red light.

Thoughts of informing my other daughter to let our elder dog out swished in my mind. The light turned green. The gas pedal pressed by the weight of my foot. Down the road, I pulled my wheels right turning in Walmart. Once parked, I texted my daughter to inform her to let the dog out.

Glancing over the grocery list, I then slipped it in my purse. The pencil tossed in on top.

I walked through the cold. Glass doors slid opened upon approach. Both hands slipped on the front of a buddy. A small tug it separated from the other buggy's. A white sanitizing napkin peeked out from a container. My left hand pulled one placing it on the front buggy bar. Wiped. A trash bucket below, I tossed the napkin. I made my way down the aisles. Light pencil marks slashed through things on my list.

Stockman and stock women covered most aisle I walked.

Awkward silence lanced the air between us.

Jesus juices rush through my veins. I spoke to each stock person. Faces lite-up. Smiles formed. Words spoke back. Life formed. Their souls left enlightened for a better day.

A buggy full. A list crossed through. I turned on register 8. A lady paying for her items. Both of my hands tossed items on the stopped belt as fast as I could. When the lady left, I spoke to the cashier first. I walked the big paper towel and toilet paper bundles over to her. With her mobile scanner she scanned the bar code. As she continued scanning, I placed full bags in my buggy.

Paid.

She loaded the rest of my buggy.

Got my receipt.

Told the cashier, I hoped she had a wonderful day. On to gripping the buggy pushing it forward. I heard the cashier speaking to the next customer who was behind me.

See. The ripple was contiguous. I spoke. Even though she didn't first. Her soul was enlightened. She spoke first.

May we speak first regardless if not spoken too?

Let's make a difference.

Let's be the day game changer.

Let the Jesus juices flow.

Happy Monday.

May your day be bright.

I finished it…

Well it happen not long after our return trip from New York. I finished reading A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman. Emily has inspired me pushing me forward many of days by just reading her words. As someone myself who is working on writing her second book, becoming a better blogger, ready to record her second online art class and create more art for her etsy shop reading A Million Little  Ways has been just what my soul needed at this season in my life.   

I have carried this book to

the orthodonist office 

the soccer field

on an airplane

and 

sat many of days on my couch in the morning drinking my coffee after my devotion and daily reading helping me jump start my days of writing. I give a true A+ to this book and thank Emily for writing it. 

I love on page 33 her last words for the chapter "Let's follow the arrows to your soul." Those words did something inside me that sparked the little doodle, see above. I enjoy keeping a black pen with me while reading to underline, mark and doodle. That way when I finish reading a book, I can flip back through at times I might be looking for something or I am needing a moment to be inspired. Seeing my notes, underlining and doodles triggers and encourages my soul. My prayer is of thanks for all who go the extra mile daily to make art whether it be in your home daily, cooking, making a home, homeschooling, singing, writing, painting or your daily job outside the home. What you're doing matters and we need you! Push forward each day all smiles… #weallmakeart

Additional reading on my thoughts about this book can be read here.

And see just when I got it here.

Have you read A Million Little Ways?

Have you read another books by Emily P. Freeman?

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In honor of Emily and her blog, Chatting At The Sky, I am going to share what I've learned this summer. Each month she share's what she has learned for the month. She took some time off from blogging so she combined the summer months together. Enjoy! 

It's extremely hot and humid in Mississippi.

My 87 year old grandfather is pretty good at texting.

Living with a high school graduate feels like such a relief.

I have better blog skills than I allow myself.

Cleaning the turtles bowl taking longer when you take pictures of each step.

Bats fly here at dark.

The Beef Jerky Outlet sales way more than just jerky.

My oldest daughter doesn't do well flying.

There's to many people in Times Square on a Saturday night for my comfort.

Watching your kids cook okra with their dad is really fun.

Painting sticks is really cool.

Summers almost over.

My youngest daughter looks cute with out her braces.

Rearranging your kids bedroom furniture can be a really cozy move, fresh, fun.

She Reads Truth is an amazing online Bible study.

Going through old pictures from 10 years ago can be fun, rewarding.

You can make place mates out of brown paper bags .

If you keep reading you will finish a book.

It's not to late to give/receive a graduation gift.

My dog does not like thunder.

It's okay to be told no.

My mailman's grandkids go to my kids school.

A walk from the Brooklyn Bridge to Empire State Building is a long walk.

Free fire works brings in all types of people.

You get home sooner than your postcards reach their sending destination.