If you are not new around here, it will come as no surprise that I love Emily Freeman. #ItsFine #ShesNotAfraid She is one of my favorites and I am honored to be a part of her book launch team for her new book, Simply Tuesday. (No affiliate links, no kick-backs, just for real: You're gonna want this book!) I will write a book review here soon, but today is not (officially) that!
Today, I am taking her invitation in the book to make a list. Oh yes... I said a List, y'all! You know how I love me some bossy lists... but this is not that.
This is a trick, a way, a tool to help you stay present and to slow down. This is a list --a retelling or reminding really-- of what these days right here are made of!
And for me, in this season - this year,
These are the Days of Small Wonders...
So I stumble-walk my way out to our sunny spot
to simply sit, to breathe slow and unwind my soul...
to make a list and to remind my spirit
just what 'these are the days of' anyway!
These are the Days of...
* Slowly Waking Up to a Cool Summers' Breeze* Coffee Drinking, Caffeine Dripping, Bringing Focus & Ease
* of Barefoot Lounging on Shadowy Patio Floor
* of our Sweet Old Cat Moving, Ever Slower and Slower
These are the Days of...
* Multiple-Book Reading, of Texting & Facebook scrolls
* of BBQ Dinners, watching as the setting sun rolls
* of Dice Games playing without keeping scores
* of Triple Digit-A/C grounding, of hiding indoors
These are the Days of...
* Sports shorts and Tank Tops or cool Summer Dresses
* of Ponytails or Up-Do's --of Curly Headed Messes
* of Gilmore Girls watching, with my very own Girlie
* of Laughing and Loving, of Living Life with my Honey
These are the Days of...
* Church Planting as we Learn the Way,
* of Sowing and Weeding on Purpose Every Day
* of Watering and Reaping and Watching it Grow
* of Fresh Starts and New Moves (of what, we don't know!)
These are the Days of...
* Everything's Changing but Oh how Grace Abounds
* of the Homeless finding a Home, of the Lost-Being-Found's
* of New Dreams Being Dreamt, New Prayers Being Prayed
* of Hearts & Hopes Being Bent and His Presence Displayed
of...
* Family getting Smaller and Family growing Deep
* of Old Love Renewed, Awakened from Sleep
* of an Empty Nest with Dates every single night
* as well as a Full House filled with everything right
of...
* Feet Up on Tables & Quiet Unwinding,
* of Side by Side Reading & Jazz Music Finding
* of Head Back Relaxing, of Contemplative-Filled Air
* of Sexy Low Talking and Sleepy Whispered Prayer
These are the Days of...
* Parents getting Older and Siblings Far Away
* of Doctors and Supplements, of Holding Sickness at Bay
* of Aches and of Pains and the Sneaky Entrance of Worry
* of the Wisdom & of the Joy of Not Being in such a Hurry
These are the Days of...
* the Right Here, Right Now
* of Giving up the Questions of Why and When and How
* of no more rushing past priorities or wishing away the years
* of Slowing Down to Stop & Listen --no, to Stop & to Hear!
These are the Days of...
* Counting Gifts that are Abundant
* of Saying "Thanks" & "I Love You" --no matter how Redundant
* of Writing and Posting, of Pouring Out my Heart
* of Painting and Dancing and Sharing my Art
These are the Days of...
* Sunday Church, of Monday morning Resting
* of Cleaning, of Encouraging, of Loving & Investing
* of Tuesday Bible Study, and Walking with friends
* of how our Home Group never seems to want to end...
These are the Days of...
* Weekends Open for whatever He needs
* of Saturdays relaxed and unplanned
* of willing to go to wherever He leads,
* of letting Him show us how to love this land
of...
* Seeking and Finding
* of Wonders both the Big and the Small
* of Decreeing and Declaring
* of finally Hearing and Heeding the Call
of...
* Bench sitting and Deep Breathing
* of Knowing just what We are Worth...
* of Kingdom Building, of Grace Finding
* of Pulling a bit of Heaven down Toward Earth!
What are yours Days filled with?
I'd love to hear!
* of Barefoot Lounging on Shadowy Patio Floor
* of our Sweet Old Cat Moving, Ever Slower and Slower
These are the Days of...
* Multiple-Book Reading, of Texting & Facebook scrolls
* of BBQ Dinners, watching as the setting sun rolls
* of Dice Games playing without keeping scores
* of Triple Digit-A/C grounding, of hiding indoors
These are the Days of...
* Sports shorts and Tank Tops or cool Summer Dresses
* of Ponytails or Up-Do's --of Curly Headed Messes
* of Gilmore Girls watching, with my very own Girlie
* of Laughing and Loving, of Living Life with my Honey
These are the Days of...
* Church Planting as we Learn the Way,
* of Sowing and Weeding on Purpose Every Day
* of Watering and Reaping and Watching it Grow
* of Fresh Starts and New Moves (of what, we don't know!)
These are the Days of...
* Everything's Changing but Oh how Grace Abounds
* of the Homeless finding a Home, of the Lost-Being-Found's
* of New Dreams Being Dreamt, New Prayers Being Prayed
* of Hearts & Hopes Being Bent and His Presence Displayed
of...
* Family getting Smaller and Family growing Deep
* of Old Love Renewed, Awakened from Sleep
* of an Empty Nest with Dates every single night
* as well as a Full House filled with everything right
of...
* Feet Up on Tables & Quiet Unwinding,
* of Side by Side Reading & Jazz Music Finding
* of Head Back Relaxing, of Contemplative-Filled Air
* of Sexy Low Talking and Sleepy Whispered Prayer
These are the Days of...
* Parents getting Older and Siblings Far Away
* of Doctors and Supplements, of Holding Sickness at Bay
* of Aches and of Pains and the Sneaky Entrance of Worry
* of the Wisdom & of the Joy of Not Being in such a Hurry
These are the Days of...
* the Right Here, Right Now
* of Giving up the Questions of Why and When and How
* of no more rushing past priorities or wishing away the years
* of Slowing Down to Stop & Listen --no, to Stop & to Hear!
These are the Days of...
* Counting Gifts that are Abundant
* of Saying "Thanks" & "I Love You" --no matter how Redundant
* of Writing and Posting, of Pouring Out my Heart
* of Painting and Dancing and Sharing my Art
These are the Days of...
* Sunday Church, of Monday morning Resting
* of Cleaning, of Encouraging, of Loving & Investing
* of Tuesday Bible Study, and Walking with friends
* of how our Home Group never seems to want to end...
These are the Days of...
* Weekends Open for whatever He needs
* of Saturdays relaxed and unplanned
* of willing to go to wherever He leads,
* of letting Him show us how to love this land
of...
* Seeking and Finding
* of Wonders both the Big and the Small
* of Decreeing and Declaring
* of finally Hearing and Heeding the Call
of...
* Bench sitting and Deep Breathing
* of Knowing just what We are Worth...
* of Kingdom Building, of Grace Finding
* of Pulling a bit of Heaven down Toward Earth!
What are yours Days filled with?
I'd love to hear!
P.S. I'm also linking up with these lovely writers:
The Community over at #SmallWonders
Laura Boggess over at #ChasingTheBlueFlower
Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday
THAT is some long list.......what a great way to make a poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jody! I just finished Emily Freemans' newest book and she suggests making a "These are the days of" list... I love this because, even though it IS long, it is completely my days, right now in this season!
DeleteWonderful poem, I needed these reminders!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina! I think we tend to forget what our ordinary every days hold... this was a great practice to slow me down and help me to take notice! Glad it helped you as well! Thanks for stopping by! You are welcome anytime!
Deletesweet old cat, new dreams being dreamt, prayers being prayed ... so much beauty here, Karilee. Thank you, my friend. You have described these days perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura! It's a long list - but I love how it captures my every days, right here and right now! I love how it slows me down to stay present! I so appreciate you stopping by, my friend! xoxo
DeleteWhat a creative way to offer a peek into your very full life. You and I are at the same life-stage in so many ways and I resonated with almost every stanza. Aging adults, sickness at bay, serving, dreaming... and I appreciate the nod to the Gilmores :) Thanks for sharing this- I loved it!
ReplyDeleteHow could one write a poem about everyday life and not include the Gilmores? ;) Yes - as I finished it and read it back, I was amazing that it truly does capture what the days are made of for me right now! This is my life in this season! (And it's not too shabby!) xoxo
DeleteMy days right now are filled with hard decisions and too much work and wondering at the poor decisions made by others that affect so many. Thanks for the reminder to look for God in the small wonders that I know are there...all I have to do is look for them! Much love!
ReplyDeleteOh sweet Holly! I am praying for you, friend! Some days really are filled with hard things... decisions and choices and heaviness and pressure... but even then, God is beside you, within you, and He can be found in those small wonders! Praying you spot more than a few today! xoxo
DeleteI believe you covered it all! And the cadence was perfectly orchestrated! You are in a good season, Karrilee, and I believe your quiet last summer is creating a beautiful re-blooming this summer! xo
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thanks so much Susan! I can feel this good season... I can taste it! And I have lived long enough to know that life ebbs and flows and seasons come and go - so I will slow this one as much as I can and drink up all it has to offer! xoxo
DeleteSuch a great accounting of your blessings and joy. Several made me smile and say. "Oh, we should do that!" Thanks for sharing your moments with us! #testimonytuesday
ReplyDeleteAnd that makes me smile! Thanks so much for popping on over Tiffany! xoxo
DeleteKarrilee, love, love, love your "these days"...the musical quality of your sweet, specific poem focusing in on the small things that make up "these days"...we have these days and That Day...how well He is preparing us in these days for That Day when we see Him face-to-Face...many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteAmen and Amen, my friend! Blessings right back to you! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLoved this. Maybe a little too much because it made me cry. I've been putting so many things into perspective lately and this one...THIS ONE is the one that had me nodding my head along with your words: "These are the Days of...
ReplyDelete* Everything's Changing but Oh how Grace Abounds"
If I could've imagined this many changes taking place in my life in such a short amount of time I can honestly say I think I would've run. But every day, even through the overwhelmingness of it all, I can see grace more clearly than I ever have before. Yes, I'm tired. Yes, I'm having trouble letting go of a few things. Yes, I can't keep most things straight some days because there's just SO much to focus on at once. But every morning when I wake and have my quiet time it prepares me for that craziness and He tells me all that it's going to be ok. That it's going to be worth it. And that if I just trust and hang on I'm going to have the time of my life.
Thank you for these words. I truly love your poetry, Karrilee! <3
I adore you, friend! I have been praying and will continue to pray! I know that in addition to all the things that are above surface, He is doing a deep work beneath... in you... in your family... and it's not always comfortable or even welcomed - but it IS always worth it and there is always Grace - right there... in it and all around it and covering and loving and shielding! For whatever reasons (ha ;) ) I was just reminded of the story in the OT about how they shouted Grace, Grace to the mountains... maybe there are a few 'mountains' in your life right now... on your radar that seem insurmountable... Shout Grace, Grace! Literally... out loud... for we know that there is power in the spoken word and we release things when we say them out loud! Shouting with you from way over here! Love you bunches! xoxo (ref. Zech 4 maybe?)
DeleteWow! Love this, my friend! You are so special and your words reflect that in such a lovely way. Can't wait to read the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ginger! It comes HIGHLY recommended, I assure you! xoxo
DeleteBeautiful - brought tears to my eyes. Too many blessings slip by unnoticed. As I enjoy the treat of playing with grandchildren who live too far away, I especially loved "no more rushing past priorities or wishing away the years" The faster time passes by, the more I want to cling to these moments.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Sherry! Isn't that the truth! When we are young, we tend to wish it away... but when we are older - we treasure it and wish it would slow!
DeleteOh, this will help me a lot. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is helping me, too! ;) It's so easy to miss so much in our lives, always looking for or toward the big events and special occasions, but it's our everyday ordinary lives that unfold and write our story! (Technically, it can be just a list and not a poem... and it can be just a few lines jotted down to remind you what your days are holding! I'm hoping to keep at it because I was amazed at how helpful it was!) Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteOh, these are the days of . . . . simply beautiful! God always gives us something beautiful in the daily - and you have listed them. So refreshing! I want to do this!
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun - and I was amazed at how it really did capture what my days are made of lately! I hope you try it!
DeleteLove your list friend! So many of these would be on my list too. These are the days of...leading seven youth as we worship with 30000 of our closest friends. These are the days of...loving all Gods people. These are the days of....cool breezes. These are the days of Starbucks refreshers. These are the days of....
ReplyDeleteYummmm... I haven't had a Refresher for awhile... these are most definitely the days of those! xoxo
Delete