fabric softener.

problem.

for sarah grace's bday, all she wanted was to cook our fav dish together: grilled veggie salad with chicken and goat cheese. impressively sophisticated taste for a 12 year old. being the adoring sis that i am, i broke out the grill and she started cracking eggs...there were the brownies for her class, veggies and chicken to sautee, cornbread to bake, dishwasher turned on and even laundry in the dryer...it's been a regular martha stewart evening at the box house...sans the whole illegal thing. the smells of all that is domestic and wonderful should be permeating the air with goodness.

problem?

a little bit of the cornbread batter spilled over the edge of the pan into the bottom of the oven. about 2 tablespoons of batter...from about 6 cups of batter.

i can't smell any of those scrumptions and homey smells.

all i can smell is burnt cornbread.

now my olfactory senses aren't so sensitive that they really pick up on every nuance in the house, but this odor is so pungent that it's making dad cough and all eyes are watering. we're not really thinking of the homemade peanut-butter brownies (none of the peter pan stuff either). the amazing smell of fresh laundry is totally under wraps. we just smell those 2 tablespoons of corn mixture bubbling black on the bottom of the oven.

not a big thing. but...

i've been uber busy this past year with a bunch of really cool things the Lord has allowed me to take part in...working at tallowood, a few times leading at other churches, discipleship with students, finishing seminary, being under jerome's leadership, and sharing life with the countless people i am incredibly blessed to call my friends.

but amidst all this wonderfullness, it's as if a bit of batter spilled out...and i'm a bit burnt. i'm a bit burnt out.

now, what's the cause of this burntness...is it my time with the Lord? i don't think so...is it any person in particular? for sure NO! is it...the list could go on and on, but the point is, a little bit of batter has spilled out...and all i can smell is the burnt stuff.

we solve this dilemma at the box house by opening windows, going out to dinner and putting in a new load of laundry with extra fabric softener.

i believe He is solving this dilemma in my life by calling me away for a time. funny how He hits 2 birds with 1 stone eh? teaching me faith...calling me out...walking with no title...no job...no 'ministry'...all the while, He's breathing fresh air in me. He's adding a little extra softener to my character as He cleans, purifies, me. in the end, prayerfully i'll come out looking more like Him...maybe i'll have the whole wild-eyed Moses look...maybe i'll just be me...with less of me and more of Him. i'm praying for humility and gentleness.

but. what e'er the outcome...i pray this gutted, burnt life turns into an aroma in His Presence.

i've so far to go friends....thanks for journeying with me...i'm lifting you to Him tonight...many by name and all by the Spirit...

until,


annetta

p.s. this pic is the bday girl herself...precious lil one...couldn't be more proud!