(Isn’t this just so beautiful? It was a new section at the Virginia Aquarium. [I used to work there, but that's a story for another day.])

I am still in an in-between stage- a mumble and jumble- from our return home from vacation. I have lots of things that need my attention on the home front, so in lieu of me blathering on, I thought I’d give you some good stuff to read that doesn’t fall under the category of blather…*grins*

“I have been afraid to trust, afraid to release my stranglehold on my “right” to live and lay down my life. I have chosen fear (not the reverential kind – the terrified kind) of God and His God-ness for His lack of good-life guarantees. I’ve done all I can to avoid the wounding – the old, the new, the possible. ”  -Kelly Langer Sauer, Already

Read more over at Kelly’s: Already.

“It the moments of mayhem, when everything is spinning so fast and the children are pawing at my arms and legs and brain and each other and I can’t catch up or focus or even know what to say. So I stare off, do the minimum.  I survive.  And I do not bless.” – Arianne, The Call to Bless

Read more over at (in)courage: The Call to Bless.

We are finding a new normal here, one that is more settled, more our rhythm, slow, steady, good. Part of that is giving me as mama the space to say yes. One of the things that always affects my mood is music, so I was delighted to read Elise‘s blog when she told us of a new discovery- Hidden in My Heart by Breakaway Music. I cannot say enough about this debut…it is truly lovely, life-giving. Calm, beautiful, wonderful. I have moved to tears more time than I can count by this song or that song, and I cannot tell you my favorite. Elise is giving away three of these CD’s, so make sure you visit her over there and enter the giveaway. The CD is also available as a digital MP3 download, which is what I purchased. It is truly the best money I have spent recently!