TreasuresInTerraCotta

Last week my niece said to me, "I smell your smell Auntie Nita." I wasn't sure if I should be offended or concerned! But she immediately followed up by saying, in her 4 year old voice, "I y-ike your smell." I think that's a good thing. To a four year old I have a smell that, I think, represents love and hugs and fun and good feelings and time together. Conicidentally, I have been memorizing 2 Corinthians 2: 14-16 that says: But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. So I had to ask myself: Who am I close enough to that they could say "I smell your smell"?

I don't know why it's so amusing to me but mommy-hood seems full of strange verb-noun combinations. Slide on the Slide Swing in the Swing Spin the Spinner Go Potty on the Potty Put the Trash in the Trash (I'll spare you a pictures) I could probably come up with a few more that have come out of my mouth. What about you? "Sometimes it’s the smallish things that take up the most room in our hearts." — A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

I recently drove by a church with one of those little quips posted in the roadside sign. It read: Saying Prayers Will Decrease Your Cares I understand the sentiment, but for me, the opposite seems to be true. Saying prayers seems to increase the amount that I care. When I have prayed about something or someone I am much more interested in the outcome. I am more likely to ask follow up questions or send an email or pray another prayer when something jogs my memory. Saying prayers increases the number of facets I pray for a situation. A prayer for a friend to have a good trip turns into something that includes her rest and rejuvenation , her witness to her unsaved family, her love to grow for the family at home, ease in the airport and beauty in her travels. Saying prayers seems to open my eyes to more things to pray about. An internet article challenged me to pray for other countries. Other countries!?! I don't even keep up to date with what is happening in this country,...