This morning Rich took the children to McDonald’s for breakfast, leaving me alone in a quiet house. Just that fact alone (of quiet) brought tears to my eyes. I thoroughly love my children, but I admit I had moment of celebration as I watched the truck pull out of the driveway and then stand in my clean kitchen (so glad I cleaned it yesterday evening for a change!) to make myself some breakfast, knowing that no one would interrupt me and there was no one else I had to care for.
I turned on a favorite cd, then brought my fried eggs, buttered sourdough toast, and hot cup of coffee to the table. Then, still in my pj’s and sitting cross legged in my chair, I opened my Bible, my journal, and a commentary.
What a precious time it was to listen to some beautiful music and study. I had to get up to get tissues in order to dry the tears of gratitude .. . . .so I could see to write in my journal. Outside the sun was shining, but a cold wind and snow flurries made my kitchen table seem so cozy.
If I had quiet mornings every day I would not have enjoyed this one so much. It was like an unexpected perfect gift. I’m adding a link to the cd I listened to, it was so beautiful and the perfect cd to have on during devotions this morning.
I just had to take some pictures and add this moment to my site. I want to remember it.
studying Romans 5:1-5
cinnamon candle
my favorite quote of the morning, from the commentary
“Right here lies one of the distinctives of the Christian faith, in that
the believer is taught to glory and rejoice in the midst of
suffering rather than to sigh and submit to it
as necessary or inevitable evil.”
This post is not so much about me, but about God providing a need in my life–a need to be still and spend time with Him.
Happy first Day of December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good to be Home 
I loooooove this post! Absolutely beautiful!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Cat
My family is still asleep upstairs, I too have had my cup of hot tea and time with the Lord. Nothing starts the day off like spending time with our Father.
Is it really December 1? Zoinks!
Your time looks lovely. God bless Rich.
aaawwww…..pure bliss……..
What a wonderful morning!! I’m enjoying reading and rereading the passage you were studying this morning about His grace and tribulations and faith. So often it is hard to remember in that time of tribulation that in the end it will bring hope. I think I needed that this morning. So… thank you, thanks to Rich and of course thank you to God the orchestrater of it all.
I could really connect with this post. It also gives me the courage to continue to wait my turn for quietness. 🙂 Blessings today…..
beautiful. thank you for sharing your quiet moment with us this morning.
I’m glad for you! I would love a morning like this! It’s been SOOOO long. 🙂 Right now, I’m excited b/c Dave and I get to hang out with a super cool missionary family tonight, and we get to bless them which EXCITES me to NO END. I love it!!! I’m going to make them some Christmas ornaments and start cooking and baking!!! I love you, Shanda, and I hope the rest of your day is as much a blessing!!!
beautiful post as always!
I’m so glad you were able to have some time in quietness. Since I’ve been married, that means a WHOLE lot more to me, and I don’t even have children yet! Terry and I are both in school right now, we both carpool to and from school, so we are almost always home at the same time. When we do get home, I usually have just enough time to get the cooking, cleaning, and my school assignments done, and we try to share our limited extra time with each other. Time is so precious! I’m glad you were able to spend quality time in God’s Word.
Aw, bless you dear girl ~ I am so glad December started out like this for you ~ a hectic month ahead ~ I wish I could just feel like I could enjoy it instead of it being so much work ~ sigh . . .
I’m so glad you’re finding such encouragement from these scriptures in Romans. They are a real storehouse of contentment. Praise the Lord for your peaceful time this morning.
Alesha
That sounds like a wonderful hour!! I love reading your posts, you do such a great job at your pictures to. It makes me feel like I was there!
Beautiful post — trust you have a good week ahead!!
I am happy for you Shanda, for the blessing of this morning and the quietness you needed to refresh. I am guessing that this was a treat for the children as well. Thank you Rich for this selfless act of love for your lovely wife.
Thank God for moments like these, the unexpected perfect gifts! I treasure them as well. Thank you for sharing this precious post. It is good to visit you again, dear friend. Love, Heather
Time alone is so wonderful! Time alone with HIM is sweetness indeed! I am glad that in the midst of your busy life, God has blessed you with a wonderful, sensitive husband, and pockets of quietness and rest. Being a Mom with young children can take so much of your time and energy! I am sure Rich giving you this gift was as good as a pearl necklace!
must.have.quiet.Happy for you…for the moments of solitude and refreshing this morning.
“If I had quiet mornings every day I would not have enjoyed this one so much.”which is what makes those moments such a joy! and God seems to give them to us at just the right moments doesn’t He? He knows just what we need.and yay!! for a kind husband that would take all the kids so you could have such a moment. yay!! for McDonald’s too!!!
so happy for you! What a wonderful way to start your day, just you and your Savior….no little distractions running around…such a blessing!
awesome, precious post! we all need a day or two like this… i love the way you treasured it so eloquenly.
A time like this shoudl be celebrated as a gift! So glad that God provided this need for you and am so glad you shared. Love, Lish
I’m glad you got some precious time alone. I know you probably appreciated your husband and children even more after that quiet time.
That sounds like a perfectly wonderful way to spend the morning.
Precious! And I know that my notes from such times feed me at many times in the future. Lord bless you! Jenny
How lovely. I’m living vicariously through your quiet moment!!
Praise God for the quiet times with HIM.
I’m so glad you had a relaxing morning. Hey, I hope you know I love you, and I’m sorry if I seemed snappy today. I really was just…well, you know, you saw. 🙂 But anyway, just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you and your family so much. Take care, and talk to you soon. Love, Trish
So happy that you had that treasured quiet time with the Lord and just time to concentrate on you. What a wonderful gift. 🙂
What a beautiful blog! I love those moments! Yes, we rejoice when we have them! Thank you for celebrating that with all of us!