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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

No Longer Waiting to Exhale (FMF)

July 3, 2014 by HappyGoStuckey 12 Comments

I’ve been sighing all day long. In the last 18 hours, I’ve exhaled many times.

I exhaled when 47 minutes into a 5 hour drive, she asked, “where are we going?” for the 11th time.

I breathed out deep when our lunch-time detour took all four of us to unexpected river-front meal and a few minutes off the interstate did us all a little bit of good.

I exhaled down to my painted toenails when we drove across the rocky driveway of my parents, the same home I once drove away from for college– the home I love to go to sleep in and wake up in and drink coffee in and be someone’s kid in.

Two hours later and another short drive gave way to another familiar home. And the sweet family of two has become a family of three in just the last five days. And he’s perfect. And healthy. And so. very. small. And his parents overflow with all-of-a-sudden HUGE love and just a little bit of exhaustion. And I hold the tiny little image bearer in my arms and look up at her–his mama (!) and she did it! And he’s here! And we exhale together in unbelief and thankfulness. And the exhale squeezes out a few tears of utter and complete relief.

And it is SO good to exhale. And so needed. And I’m so in need of more of this in my life, in my summer.

I need less and less running and more of this stopping to notice the beautiful rhythm of the day.

Stopping to breathe in the gifts and breathe out the Thanks. 

There are so many reasons to exhale all of this grace. So many reasons to be grateful. So much Thanks to give.

 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  –John 1:16

Linking up to Five Minute Friday HERE.

Happy Monday!
Belong. (FMF)

Comments

  1. Crystal says

    July 3, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    Beautiful post. I love how you use your words like an artist.

    “I need less and less running and more of this stopping to notice the beautiful rhythm of the day,” reflects my feelings exactly.

    Reply
  2. Marie says

    July 3, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    I love the idea of breathing in the gifts and breathing out the thanks. I usually breathe in the worries, the problems, the tough stuff and exhale anxiety and frustration. Thank you for this good reminder. I need to look at my life right now differently, in light of His goodness and grace.

    Reply
  3. agirlonthedoorstep says

    July 3, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    I love your imagery, and when you express the home where you want to be “someone’s kid.” There is safety in those words. Beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Charlie says

    July 3, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    “Stopping to breathe in the gifts and breathe out the Thanks.” This. Love it!

    Reply
  5. Courtney says

    July 3, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    So. GOOD. Love reading what you write. 🙂 Enjoy being a kid for a bit!

    Reply
  6. Holly Barrett says

    July 3, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    So sweet!! Love that we can breathe in His gifts, just as we breathe in His presence. Perhaps that’s the greatest gift of all. Great post, Cynthia!

    Reply
  7. Anita Ojeda says

    July 4, 2014 at 7:52 am

    Isn’t it wonderful that we can sometimes have the privilege of going ‘home’ to our parents (whether it’s the same house or a different one, it’s our parents that make it home 😉 )? I feel that way once a week when we have dinner and Survivor at my parents’ house.

    Reply
  8. Meredith Bernard says

    July 4, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Oh, yes, Cynthia, I need to do more exhaling of grace this summer, too! I love this thought, “Stopping to breathe in the gifts and breathe out the Thanks.” Yes, that’s what it’s all about. Glad you are in the company of friends and new life…that’s a gift like no other. Blessings to you this 4th of July weekend! xoxo, Meredith

    Reply
  9. Jolene Underwood (@Faith_Eyes) says

    July 4, 2014 at 10:45 am

    New babies, family, home. What a wonderful way to spend your weekend. May you breathe and exhale in life giving, life supporting ways this weekend Cynthia. Enjoy!

    Reply
  10. Karrilee Aggett says

    July 4, 2014 at 11:03 am

    “Stopping to breathe in the gifts and breathe out the Thanks.” Amen, my friend! Amen!

    Reply
  11. amypboyd says

    July 4, 2014 at 11:11 am

    Love this !!! I don’t always think to breath out the thanks. No more often it is questions or complaints that pas my lips. Thanks for the little reminder

    Reply
  12. heidicogdill says

    July 4, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    What a beautiful post! Your imagery makes me miss home and wish for simplier days. Thanks!

    Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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Just in case you need the reminder, not everything Just in case you need the reminder, not everything blooms at the same time.

If you find yourself in a season that requires all of you— all your energy, time, and mental space— Take Heart.

The truth that life is made up of seasons and no season lasts forever— is perhaps the greatest comfort for those who suffer.

Seasons slowly fold their way into another, taking their place in line.

Often what we wish would bloom right now, doesn’t. We can’t force it. 

Still, we can’t miss the beauty of what stands in front of us while we wait for other things.

I know that so many dear friends are in a season of waiting. Perhaps you’re waiting in secret, waiting for something you’ve not even spoken aloud.

We can wait together, you and I— knowing that the beauty of today is not a gift we want to squander as we wait for what’s around the next corner. 

Pictured: the Tulips at The Biltmore, followed by the beautiful, but still bloom-less rose garden.
I’ve always wanted to paint, but I guess this is I’ve always wanted to paint, but I guess this is almost as good. 🥰 

Finished this lovely piece for a very special birthday and I really love it!
Thank you for the free pattern, @dmc_embroidery !
It’s that time of year again! Here in Augusta, e It’s that time of year again! Here in Augusta, everything is shades of green— ⛳️🌿🥬🌳— including some of our favorite foods! Our Masters celebrations look different from year to year, but we ALWAYS have at least one meal made of Pimento Cheese, Arnold Palmers, & Green Jacket Salad. If only we could get someone to smuggle us out a 🍑 Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, we’d be good!!

I’ve linked my favorite recipe for Green Jacket Salad today so you can grab it and bring a little Masters into your meals this week!
Happy Easter from the grateful, hopeful, Stuckeys. Happy Easter from the grateful, hopeful, Stuckeys. He alone is our Peace.

Surely he has borne our griefs
  and carried our sorrows;
 yet we esteemed him stricken,
 smitten by God, and afflicted. 
 
  But he was pierced for our transgressions;
 he was crushed for our iniquities;
 upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
 and with his wounds we are healed. 
 
  All we like sheep have gone astray;
 we have turned—every one—to his own way;
 and the LORD has laid on him
  the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
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When all is well, we often forget to pay attention When all is well, we often forget to pay attention.

We forget to look for daily provisions and mercies as we do when they are life and water to us.

It is not sunny optimism, but hope-filled obstinacy that pushes us to count our gifts instead of our trials.

To know that when the season is hard, and awkward, and everything seems backwards— we are not forgotten.

You may well know, it’s not an easy task. It’s hard work. Like those last few reps of lifting weights— when your muscles burn and you need to quit. What does the coach always say? “Don’t stop. These are the ones that count.”

Perhaps we think of gratefulness like this— It’s still important when we’re sitting with so much grace around us that we hardly remember our thanks.

But when it’s hard?
When it hurts?
When we cannot possibly see the light at the end of this particular tunnel— ✨there✨ is where we make the list of all we know to be true.

That is the place where it counts.
Where we squint if we must, to see what God is doing for us and in us— and definitely in spite of us.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll just be over here filling pages with provision I never want to forget. #solideogloria
Just a little flower garden while we wait for spri Just a little flower garden while we wait for spring to come in earnest. 🪡 🌸🪴🌼🌿 

This is a flour sack towel and although I don’t recommend it for stitching, (too loosely woven,) I do love the way it turned out! 💗
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