Forgetting to Look Up

This is the window above my kitchen sink. I spend a LOT of time here. Washing dishes, refreshing the dog's water bowl,  filling a pot full of water for pasta.

I made an aromatic wreath for the window out of fresh rosemary from the garden this week. I remembered to wipe down the window, too.

I remembered to get out my fun and funky winter girl for the window sill.

Every couple of days, I remember to water the plecaranthus that grow in pots on the window sill.

I remember to do all of these tasks at the same location on a daily basis. But there's one thing I've been forgetting to do. I've been forgetting to look up.

I happened to look up the other day at the valance that hangs over the kitchen window...the same window where I seem to spend a good quarter of my day. This is what I saw.

An intricate system of cobwebs that suspend from valance to ceiling. Not a Pinterest moment.

I'm not proud to admit this, folks.

I've been forgetting to look up.

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I've found it increasingly hard to "get in the Christmas spirit."

I have a house guest coming for the week of Christmas.That means meal planning, entertainment planning, sheet washing, room prepping,and extra house keeping. I'm tired just thinking about it.

And then there's the shopping and the malls. I hate malls. I hate the financial strain that this month puts on our limited budget.

And even though I'm still recovering from last month's surgery, I know that I still have to make a birthday and Christmas magically "happen" for my family.

The skies are grey, the rain drizzles, and with nary a snowflake in sight my mood has gone south.

I'm looking down, and I'm looking around. But I'm forgetting to look up.

Psalm 121 says "I lift up my eyes to the hills--from where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."

This week at Bible study, my pastor mentioned a great idea. He told us to put a half filled glass of water on our window sills. When we see it during the day, we can remind ourselves that the glass is not half empty (after all, it's half filled with water and half filled with air, so that glass is really full!).

I need that half-full reminder this week. And I needed the cobwebs to remind me to look up, too.

Off to do some major dusting and vacuuming now. Blessings on your weekend, friends!