Currently

Awake.  Again.  

It seems after 4 hours my brain says, "Rise and shine!"  My brain and I need to have a serious discussion about this.  I've seen 1-4 or 2-5 a.m. many more mornings than I really need to. Fortunately my shadow, Willow, keeps me company during these sleepless nights.  Okay, she sleeps, but she is still company.  I still spend more time trying to get back to sleep than I should, but I no longer grumble when I finally do decide sleep is a lost cause and head for the living room. I know you wouldn't be surprised to hear these early morning hours include chai and blankets, in addition to a snuggly basset.

Reading:  Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan  

It is about a woman whose husband, a veterinarian,  passes away.  Following his sudden death she takes a leave of absence from her work and moves to an area where no one knows her in order to try to figure out what life looks like now and where she goes from here.  Yes, it involves a dog.  I'm not done with it yet, but I'm sure it will end with them rescuing each other. 

(At least I hope so!)

Loving:  Homemade Taco Salads.  

Shredded lettuce, green pepper, onion, taco meat, cheddar cheese, a few crushed Fritos... all topped with a combination of taco sauce and Western dressing. Yum!  Is 4 a.m. too early for taco salad?!

Sitting:  In the dark as I write this.  

While I would much rather be sleeping for these  3-4 hours during the night, the quiet allows me to put things in perspective. In the busyness of the day each little thing that causes me worry or concern adds up, one little rock at a time, and by the end of the day they can feel like I am carrying around a huge boulder.  Combined they can zap so much joy from me it is crazy.  It is much easier to separate them from the things that are truly worth my time and energy at 2 a.m.  So I guess being awake isn't so bad after all.  

Putting:  My Faith in God

It's so hard not to try to handle all of life's situations ourselves - but it's important to know what is up to us and what is up to God, what to hang onto and what to let go.  Then I remember this: