I arrived home late after a long but fun day with family and friends. Perhaps I should have gone to bed right away, but I didn’t. I rarely do when I get home late.

There’s something about ending the day with some down time, simply savoring home.

Home looks different for many of us, but in this season of my life, home is quiet and grounding. I am not there many hours of the day, but it helps me reset. It is a safe place where I can breathe, relax, and be grateful. I am there by myself, but that’s okay. The last weeks I shared a house with my ex were volatile, and being able to have a space that was safe and filled with God’s reassurance began to heal me. And continues.

Not every home feels that way. I understand.

Try to savor moments when it is as if a reset button is clicked, and you can breathe for a moment.

I slept very few hours that night, but sometimes rest comes when eyes are wide open.

Ask God to reset you today. It might be uncomfortable at first as you adjust to a shifting experience of what home can be. Be patient. Be intentional. Be grateful.

My nephew’s acapella group advanced to a competition close to me. So several in the family planned to go. What a treat! The ten groups (and one featured local group) were all excellent. Their talent and energy were inspiring. Because I knew I’d get home late, I considered skipping out before it was over, but it was too good to leave.

The awards presentation began. I thought my nephew’s group would be in the top three. Only the winner advanced to the international competition in NYC. Some special awards were given, then 3rd, then 2nd. I thought my nephew’s group had been shut out.

Then, the winner was announced, and they won! They looked shocked, as if they had resolved a shut out, too. Someone on the other side of the auditorium caught their reaction and celebration on video. They were definitely surprised.

Sometimes, even when we’ve practiced and committed to something and have some confidence in our ability and growth, we are surprised by the outcome. We might be disappointed or elated. Either can surprise us. When we have reason to celebrate, when we don’t expect it, we are hit by waves: Is this happening? This is the best thing ever! Wait, but this also means…

We slowly realize winning comes with new opportunities that require new commitments and responsibilities. We have new challenges to solve. And we get to choose appreciation and humility or pride and haughtiness. Our response ripples onto others – good and bad.

Sedoctave is now working hard to prepare for their next competition and figuring out how to get everyone to NYC in a couple weeks while also wrapping up the semester at college, including finals. They are supporting each other along the way.

It is good to share life with others.

A baby shower morphed into a meet-the-baby party after two date delays due to winter weather. It was a fun day, perhaps better this time around because several people who hadn’t yet met my granddaughter got a few snuggles.

It was a casual gathering with just the right mix of a little structure and lots of time to chat or snack or draw.

Yes, draw.

The hosts, my oldest daughter and sister, had 26 pages, each with a letter of the alphabet. The instructions were to draw something that starts with that letter.

A is for apple.

B is for bee.

C is for cat.

Some of us challenged artistic types go a bit sassy.

N is for nothing. (blank page)

Y is for yellow. (yellow scribble)

Others were very creative, either with the word choice or the illustration.

G is for Great-Grandma.

When everyone was done, pages were placed in album sleeves and bound into a book.

A dozen people combined their various skills to complete a keepsake. Not all the people see each other often or know each other well, but they had a common focus.

Isn’t that how community works at its best? We walk alongside each other, even if for only a brief time, to encourage or help someone. We each give a little, and often provide the ABCs of what’s needed.

Offer a couple letters to others today with your generosity, creativity, and selflessness.

I left my daughter’s house as the rain fell harder. I couldn’t see well as I walked to the back of my vehicle to load something. I didn’t realize I was near the edge of the concrete until my entire foot was immersed in a puddle.

I like splashing in puddles, but now when it’s a surprise! I lifted my foot and watched the water drip off all edges of my shoe.

And I laughed.

Life is like that sometimes. At the end of a great day, the rain settles into the dark and obscures the annoying puddle. And the day ends with shoe full of water. But actually, the day didn’t end there. I drove home, rerouted because of an accident, played with my dog, exercised, and relaxed.

It was a good day.

Ankle deep doesn’t have to be blown out of proportion as if we are in over our head. One wet foot doesn’t throw a wet blanket over us.

Annoyances don’t need to define our experiences.

When we keep it in perspective, we often find a chance to laugh…or at least smile for a moment.