FAMILY MATTERS!!

Family does indeed matter---Family (adj) Matters (noun) or Family (noun) matters (verb).

Anyway you say it families matter to all of us. So do naps....when you're the matriarch of the family so I'm heading to take one. The surgeon general, or some such official said it's important to keep on a schedule during this COVID-19 pandemic.

I'm back. Nap refreshed me.

With most our family being miles apart, this coronavirus is taking its toll. Even the ones who are close by can only be seen at a distance, through a window. Our toddler doest's understand at all when he can see his PopPop but can't get to him. A desertion of sorts for him and the tears follow.

The baby who is the furthest away has no idea how much she is missed but Daddy knows that I really want to see her. Lately he's been sending morning pictures to brighten the beginning of my day. They are new every morning, much like God's mercies. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Today I saw her "tooffies" front and center.

A few days ago our son documented our elementary school Texans with such a clever "homeschool" picture. It included the all important date for their first day at their own "Corona Academy". His are attending  the  Pleasant Run Campus.

Family really does matter especially during this unprecedented time in our lives. So grateful that though we are miles apart, our hearts are as close as ever.

Rest : God-given

God's rest to His beloved is a gift. One just has to choose to accept it.

Do you ever feel such fatigue that you just want to "lie down in green pastures"...?(Psalm 23:2)

God provides green pastures of contentment and rest, refreshing and restoring the soul.

He even gives sleep to His beloved. (Psalm 127:2)

I think I'll let His fingers close my eyelids and take a nap. 

Sereni-TEA : one cuppa at a time

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24, NIV)

A recent email from DOC in LA, a self-proclaimed "king of naps" reminded me of the value of a good old fashion nap.  I even blogged 5 years ago about being the "queen" of said naps.
Plus, this time last year I had given myself a re-gift in the form of a nap.
Everyone has their own nap strategies. In college, LA Doc could put his head down on the desk for a 7 minute nap. Even as a working adult, he would prop his feet on his desk after lunch for a little snooze. Hubby stretches out in his big brown leather recliner and and lets the Jeopardy™ theme song lull him to sleep. I learned the value of a short nap from Millie D of Tennessee who crawled into bed for hers.

Research shows that a little nap will do you ---and is good for you. It seems good for me because I seem to sleep peacefully. When I awaken and it's still daylight, all those dragons of the dark have no power. With a nap there's no tension about trying to fall asleep. It's as easy as falling off a log. But....at night, I want to sleep like one, not fall off of it.

A quick sleep in the daytime never seems to come with the night-time baggage. Often in the dark of night, sweet sleep is interrupted with worries. Thoughts that race as I try desperately to return to sleep---so fearful of being tired the next day. Most concerns can not even be remedied in the night. Did I pay that Visa bill? Did I return DT's call? Why would Dr. Smith want me to schedule a visit? Wonder if grands will remember to.....?

I love what Hemingway said about sleep.
"I love sleep because life has a tendency to fall apart when I'm awake." For me that would read...when I'm "awake in the night."

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety, is how the psalmist states it in 4:8. Safe-TEA from those dreaded thoughts in the dark.
That's it in a nutshell---the pursuit of peace even as one sleeps. There's just something so peaceful and serene about a nap! As DOC says, "Long live the nap!"

I'll drink to that----with a cuppa warm herbal sereni-TEA to carry me peacefully into  sleep, regardless of the time of day.

Gift to Self

9/13/13 Friday the 13th----not always a bad day. Today it's been an especially good day because I have decided to give myself a gift. A nap!! A nap without guilt attached.

Our H2H (Heart to Heart) Women's Bible Study this year is so-o-o timely. For everyone, old and young alike. The topic is "The Gift of Rest" written by our director, Crickett Keith.

Already I am gleaning info about true rest. There is no true rest apart from Him.

So far, we've discussed various kinds of rest. Earlier this week, I had rich times of "soul rest" as I spent time in God's Word and Prayer. (Matthew 11:29) On this Friday the 13th, I'm dealing with a lack of physical rest. There is a "need" for this rest. 

Today I'm greatly feeling that need. So, I'm seeing some available time as a gift from God (Matthew 11:28) and I'm "opening" that gift of time and re-gifting it to myself in the form of a nap.