Written yesterday…on July 28, 20222…

If you know anything at all about the Hallmark Channel’s broadcasting schedule, then you’ll know that it is reaching the end of “Christmas in July” series. Time is running out to see your favorite Romcom stories that all end with a promise of happily-ever-after and a kiss. Now, don’t roll your eyes at me!!! During the past 18 months I have become quite the fan of sitting beside my Mom, (and sometimes with sisters Susan and Ginny) enjoying mindless movies that show diversity, selflessness, helpfulness, loyalty, perseverance, forgiveness, and creativity… all, of course, with a focus on cultivating love. Don’t you think our lives could use a lot more of these things and less of what we hear in the news? 

While I enjoy the positive diversion of the sometimes predictable movie scenarios that the channel produces, it was in the first of the 2022 Christmas movie premieres that I watched, “My Grown-Up Christmas List.” It included a line that jumped right off the script, out of the actors’ mouth, and into my heart, “Not all gifts have bows.” It really got me thinking.

Now, don’t hear me wrong, there is nothing wrong with “gifts”.  We all love receiving gifts, don’t we?  And speaking of gifts, my birthday was the very next day after watching the movie… and I’ll admit that at that moment in time I was looking forward to seeing bows on a few gifts… and hearing the birthday song played from the family’s singing cake… most of us can’t carry a tune!

But that one line amongst many others from the movie was like a hand held up for me to stop, look, and listen. It felt like a command to recall all the things in my life that are truly gifts… not just the special one’s people pick out, pay for, and wrap up for me. While these types of gifts are very nice, too, and always appreciated, the other “gifts” that I started to mentally note were precious in totally different ways.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8

The list that I wrote in my journal that day started like this:

• Appreciating my family for the support, love, and great memories that they have blessed me with

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16

• Capturing (digitally) the precious smile that our grandson Walker loves to flash

• Spending time face-to-face with Northern Ireland friends David and Mairisine, to talk, cry, hug, shop, cook, eat, and reminisce… it’s been a long, hard 2 ½ years.

Appreciating the kindness of strangers, in the beach condo elevator and at the local grocery store 

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

Gazing at amazing sunsets across from the beach… overlooking the estuary

• Receiving an unexpected phone call, note, email, text, or card… each of which expressed love to me with encouragement that I needed at that time

https://youtu.be/BiUixue9cfs

• Appreciating the fantastic Independence Day-July 4th fireworks, that exploded right over our heads, on the sand of New Smyrna Beach, FL
• Gaining the insight that the deep sleep that I had… for almost five full days… compliments of COVID… just after I arrived at home from a month with my mom in the hospital and her rehab room, on a non-work week so there was no guilt for just sleeping… was the much-needed rest I had prayed for
• Continuing a long-time family favorite and tradition, cooking from my grandmother, Mimi’s, hand-written recipe, and then eating her fried chicken for July 4th…

• Hearing that my mom stood up for 10 straight minutes, without assistance
• Soaking up a hug and its comfort, provided by my grand-cat Lulu
• Taking a long walk on a quiet beach with Bruce

• Sitting by the shore, listening to the tide roll in, with my toes in the sand, cool water on my feet (it actually splashed up on the bottom of my chair :o), a book in one hand, an adult beverage in the other hand, and the feeling of the setting sun still warm on my shoulders

… And since our return from the beach, I have added:

• Swimming some laps in the pool after a hot bike ride or muggy walk in the neighborhood

• Getting to cook a homemade meal in my own kitchen… knowing that Bruce will clean up after me

• Making plans to see many long-time friends on this fall’s RV road trip… our spring trip to see family and friends in MO, AR, AL and FL

• Having a virtual happy hour to catch up with friends Jo and Karola in Germany

• Enjoying lunch with friends Lisa and Jim who just dropped into to town from St. Pete to enjoy one of Sarasota’s amazing museums

• Treasuring words of comfort and support today from Kate C., Kathy P., Rebecca, Lori L., Mary and Keith N., Lauren and Jody B. and Susan C., who remembered it was Will’s birthday…Born 32 years ago in Winter Park, FL… at 6:54 AM… he continued to be a morning person his entire life

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

• Making the overnight oats recipe that Will taught me to make …I had it for breakfast today in his honor
• Realizing how blessed I am to have given birth to two children who have forever changed my life
• Rejoicing that because of my faith in Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior, that I’ll have eternal life… so I’ll not only get to see the Father’s face, but I’ll get to be with Will, my dad, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, the unborn child that I miscarried in 1992… and so many others I’ve known and loved… what a grand reunion it will be!

https://youtu.be/3lDvD-O9xhg

• Opening a text message from friend Dr. Dr. Dan, as I am literally typing this entry, telling me of an organization that may be supportive of my training initiative to help Resident and Fellow doctors with their overall health: body, mind, relationships, and finances… An overall glimmer of hope for something I am very passionate about. Because as Dr. Dr. Dan just typed, “We don’t believe in coincidences!!”

My “gift” list… yeah, so many gifts without bows. Yeah, it is indeed, Christmas in July!!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

https://youtu.be/Ezet8JyHD5Y

Thank you, God.

P.S. Another gift is my husband, Bruce, who graciously edits my journal entries for me