"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." - Mark 9:50 NIV
Ahhh! 2012 has come and gone but left an imprint of memories based on our five senses. On facebook I have been sharing a daily gratitude and in Suzy kind of fashion I managed to catch up my last three today. My final gratitude for the year was my five senses. As I have been reflecting as most of us do this time of year and am grateful to be over a cold I have been thinking a lot about our abilities to smell, hear, taste (three of the senses usually lost to bad colds) and the sight and touch off-kilter with these crazy super viruses. So in honor of this line of thinking I wanted to share five of my favorite experiences with each sense to close out 2012.
Sight
In January, my little boy received his first haircut. He went from baby to toddler instantly!
I don't think I could give up watching my husband Corey play with Drew. They have had a special bond since day one and it blesses my heart to pieces.
September brought sight to my Drew. I hated glasses and started at age five. My cutie wasn't even two and they suggested it. We still don't wear them out of the house (Drew still isn't crazy about the touch on his face - loves to wear them but constantly tugging at them. And if it is possible they make him a touch more adorable :)
The gorgeous sunrise to finish out this year was amazing - with the bright pinks and highlights of oranges and golds. I wish I could paint it - just breathtaking!
The last would have to be my acceptance letter to Seminary. I was walking with my son and tore open the letter before we got into the house and started crying. My son starting to pick up other's emotions came running up to me with a lip quiver. And then to see my husband's reaction to the news after our son passed him the letter. There are just some moments that leave such an enduring impression you are forever changed. This was one of them :)
Sound
Number one - my son's voice. Besides my first conversation ever with my husband (May 1998) I would have to say hands down my next favorite conversation was the morning after we put up our Christmas tree this year and my son starting the conversation with a Whoa!
VBS at church this past summer was such a special blessing and I got to co-lead music and to hear these children sing nightly for almost a week. Their voices lifting up praises to God - Awesome! Truly awesome!
Another one that happened recently was when we got to light the Advent Candle and Drew let out his excited cheer at the end. It felt like the "official" start to Advent equivalent to "Let's play ball!"
I love to hear the youth/kids discuss a Sunday School lesson or excited over a story in Godly Play. There is just that warmth from your heart and burst of energy that flows through you as the children's excitement is contagious!
My husband's rich baritone voice offering encouragement, support, and the always touching "I love you's". Nine years and his voice still races my heart, tingles my toes, and the occasional flip-flop of my stomach.
Smell
I am not a big sniffer but I will try my best. This one is going to sound crazy but diapers. A fresh diaper just lifts my spirit - it means we get to start over all fresh and clean. I know - crazy but I am a mom to a two year old - trust me a diaper is like my alarm clock/scheduler. The smell is highly telling of how my day is going to be :)
I love the smell of pumpkins and cinnamon and those warm autumn scents. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the sweetness and lightness of summer with berries, melons, and citrus. But I just love the Autumn season and the warmth and coziness of those smells that they bring to the background.
Our house is starting to take on flavor whiffs as we cook more and more at home especially cooking that uses the crockpot creating those simmering wafts of smell that permeate our home from autumn through winter.
Play-doh just seems like a good memory smell of this year as I have definitely been more hands on with the younger population - being a full time mommy, which means playdates, being a nanny, an after-school counselor, and working with the children of our church. That saltiness of Play-doh seems to be under my nose constantly.
The antiquated musty book smell as you open a library book as I have been making it more of a point to find books to read for learning as well as pleasure.
Taste
MMMMMMMMMMMM. I am recalling the taste of ice-cream as it is one of my favorites. It also reminds me of one of my favorite days with my nieces and nephews this summer as we learned the importance of Patience!
The saltiness of goldfish is very popular this year as my son discovered a love for them, we serve them at our Feast of Godly Play, and other kiddie events. Definitely the taste of goldfish ranks high for 2012.
Ahhh I would have to include my greatest find on Pinterest. Sour Jewels ( grapes rinsed with water - don't dry - and then roll them in jello powder. It makes a really cool effect if you coordinate colors. Black cherry with Black grapes and the most popular lime with green grapes.) Super easy! Kids love them and there are plenty of worst snacks out there. I like to think of them as almost the healthy version of sour gummies :) Used at least four times and a major success each and every time!!!
My favorite trick to improving any vegetable is roasting them and my favorite find in 2011 but ate plenty of them in 2012 is roasted Brussel Sprouts! Oh they have such a fun crisp bite with a wonderful rich nutty flavor after roasting in the oven.
My favorite find of 2012 was roasting my white pumpkin seeds. Oh so good - sweet, salty, crunchy - YUMMY!
Touch
This sense I think speaks the most to my heart. If you like Max Lucado one of my favorite writings that just sits heavy on my heart is found in Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado discussing how he healed the man with leprosy. It just opened my eyes to how important touch is and how so many of us take it for granted. Also if you have ever read Gary Chapman's Five Languages of Love he highlights how importance touch is to a loving relationship and how we communicate through touch to/with each other.
So my five favorite "touches".
The keys of the keyboard clicking under my nails/fingers as a data entry clerk as well as at home blogging or attempting to create new websites.
Beauty days when I was a nanny getting my nails done, my hair, and even my make-up. I can feel the tugs, and tickles of brushes. And the giggles at the final "look".
Drew shows support to my work outs by becoming my "obstacle" or extra weight. He loves to be picked up if I am marching to a DVD. Or if it is a yoga/pilates one he likes to crawl under or over me or through my legs depending on the stance. It makes me giggle and breaks up the routine quite often!
The best day I had working as an afterschool counselor was the day we explored our senses. I was responsible for the touching exhibit. I had eight different textures hidden under a blanket (so as not to be seen) for the kids to explore through touch. It was fun to watch their eyes not completely sure what they were to feel (all household pantry staples - dry pasta, cooked pasta, shredded carrots, chunked baby carrots, water, dry rice with dry beans, whole lemon, broken saltine crackers). I offered some of them the chance to opt out but everyone wanted a "go". Some even brought parents back. It just was one of those YAY moments :)
Of course I saved my favorite for last - cuddles with my two favorite guys - my cozy cuddles with my son as we listen to music, read, or watch television. And one of the reasons I fall in love with my hubby daily is his all encompassing world protective loving warm embrace - the safest most wonderful place to be is in his arms.
Whoa! as my son said this year has been quite a wonderful year to remember. It has felt like a whirlwind at points and then quite a lull during other moments. Jesus encourages us to remain salty. To keep adding our flavor to the world so that together we can create the perfect harmonious recipe of peace as we find the best part of ourselves to combine with the best of others to glorify our Wonderful Magnificent Creator.
May your HealthFULL Journey help you to remember the good moments that built a stronger flavor of your salt. And feel free to lose those moments that dull your flavor. Otherwise continue Feeling Unbelievable and Loving Life! 'Til we meet again. . .
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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