"Wow! Check out those new scratches!"

"Wow! Check out those new scratches!" says Kristen.

Kristen.
My very observant 21 year old daughter.
My favorite middle child.

My midnight greeter.

It was after midnight. I didn't expect anyone to be up when I returned home from an amazingly fun and amazingly challenging week of kayaking in NW Michigan with 7 of my Happy Yakker friends.

As I began to unhitch my kayak trailer, the garage door opens and I hear this wide awake voice say. "Hi Mom, I'm glad you are home."  Kristen came out to welcome me back and help me unload the car (without me asking).

The trailer carries the kayak on its side so as we pulled the trailer into the garage, Kristen had a great view of the bottom of my kayak. She says, "Wow! Check out those new scratches! I can't wait to hear those stories."

Yes. There were some new scratches on my yak. The scratches were definitely there. And ...so were the stories to go with each one.

Most of the scuffed scratches were from having way too much fun talking with my Yakker friends and not seeing how shallow the water was getting as my kayak dragged across the rocks.

The bigger scrapes were lessons in steering away from and not steering over big rocks in the river. 

The deep cuts were from the fast and tricky current that took me through rocky rapids and over sunken logs. 

The big gouges were the result of being pinned on a fallen tree and being to stubborn to fall out and too scared to get sucked under the tree with the current.

Yes. I have some new scratches. Don't we all. Life can scuff us up just when we are enjoying it. It can scrape us just enough to teach us a lesson. It can cut deep sometimes when we least expect it. And life will gouge us good with challenges out of our control.

Often we shake it off and go on. Either we don't have time to talk about our hurts in life or we think no one wants to hear about it.

What a treat it was for me to hear those simple words from Kristen. She greeted me and my scratches. She noticed, acknowledged and wanted to hear more. Over the next few days I enjoyed telling the funny and challenging stories behind each scratch.

We could be in for a treat of a story if we would only take the opportunity to notice and acknowledge the scratches of life. Who's will we notice?

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he had done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. 
Psalm 40:1, 3

"But...It was your turn to watch her!"

"But...it was your turn to watch her!" says Chris.

Chris.
My Uncle.
My Dad's brother-in-law.
My weekend blessing and entertainment.

It wasn't just another ordinary weekend in Kalamazoo. Uncle Chris and Aunt Ella stopped by on their way back to Baltimore from a road trip out West. We do not get to see them too often but they are the kind of family that just fits right into our crazy family like they have always been here. This weekend sure proved that. Aunt Ella knows just what to say to make you feel special and Uncle Chris knows just what to say to make you think and make you smile. They are a compliment to each other and to our family. We have so many sweet memories with these two and their family. They just added a few more.

Most of these great memories involve times together as families. From family trips to Ocean City and Williamsburg to reunions, weddings and funerals. Some of the best times were the summers that my sister Stephanie and I stayed with them at their house. They added us two to their four kids like we were their own. (I know now that after you have two kids...a few more is no big deal. They actually make it easier by being entertainment for the rest.)

We went to Food Dance for lunch yesterday with our big family of 17. It was a busy place with many others waiting before us. During the wait, some took advantage of using the restroom. Our table was soon called and we were escorted through what seemed like a maze to get to our table on the other side of the restaurant. As we all took a seat we noticed there was one seat left over. I figured someone was still in the restroom.

Uncle Chris said with great concern, "Where's my wife? We've lost her!" He then gave me a really serious look and said, "But...It was your turn to watch her!"  Made me laugh to think I lost her and made me laugh more to see my Uncle laughing at his own joke. She did find her way back to us ...and he greeted her like she had been missing forever. Then she calmly took her seat like she had definitely heard that one before.

What a gift to have such comfortable fun family and what a blessing to know that when we can't always watch them or be with them....God always watches after his own. He knows where we are and he is always waiting to warmly greet us, bless us and entertain us... just like family.

"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do...You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head" Psalm 139: 3, 5