Finding Strength and tasting good things

Right now I am sitting here eating the most amazing snack I have come up with in a long time.
Say 'Hello' to my friend Annie and Joe.  Joe is Trader Joe's Nutella type spread, and Annie is the delicious little graham bunnies that I am dipping in said spread.  I may or may not have stolen the grahams from Vi, but she doesn't need to know.

If you get a chance, taste this, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

I am eating this deliciousness and writing this blog while trying to ignore a bunch of stuff that's going on in my mind today.  You see, we've heard some rather glum news this week, and it's the kind of thing that  my mind and heart don't quite know how to process. Mostly because there's been a little tug-of-war type thing going on in my head.  There's this spiritual part of me that hears this cry to war, to stand up and fight, to stand and truth and speak life and power!  Then there's this part of me that I will call my weakness (flesh) that keeps whispering that I don't have the strength that is needed in this situation, it's too confusing.  Fortunately it's just been a whisper, and for the most part I've been able to catch it and say, "no! that's a lie!"   Then today I read this:

This is exactly what I needed, God always is so good at delivering exactly what I need, which today was to remember to experience and enjoy His goodness.   His goodness in the little and big things.  His goodness in my amazing family, His goodness in things that make me smile, His goodness in His constant love and confidence in me.
There's so much I have focused on with the fires, and sickness, and doubt... and now I am instead focused on goodness.  So here is what I have found to be goodness today:

This 3 year old came to school today and was SO proud of her socks and sandals, she smiled really big and kept saying "look!" but she didn't really care what anyone actually thought, SHE was thrilled with her sock and sandals...and that's all that mattered.  I admired her confidence and security...and her fashion of course.

For art today the kids got to dip sponges in paint and then throw them down on the paper.  I don't like being involved with the kids art...but once I saw them throwing that sponge down and the paint splatter all over, I have to admit, it was hard for me not to push them off the stool and say "my turn!", it was so great to watch their expressions as they got to make a mess and art all at the same time.

After work today I used the rest of my Starbucks gift card and got another Mocha Cookie Crumble Frap... and I it's just SO. GOOD.   Really, that's all there is to that one.

Art.   Friends' art is even better.  To me, being able to come home and be surrounded by art (this is one little section of art in my house) is so refreshing, inspiring... well, it's just good.  Here are two pieces done by two people very near and dear to me, being able to have their work is being able to have little pieces of them.  They poured themselves into a canvas, their emotions, thoughts, creativity, expressions...and gave it to me.  Priceless.

And of course this little jem.  Although right now she is screaming her self to sleep in the next room after waking up (self soothing my foot), there is nothing better than coming home to her after getting off work.  We usually have a couple hours together before daddy comes home where we read, chase, play and goof off, and it's awesome.  No matter what is going on this week, she's unaware, and it's kind of refreshing.  The world could be ending tomorrow and she'd still be happy reading "You are my Cupcake" and squealing with laughter as I am expected to chase her down and "eat her up" at the end of the book.

So, yes, I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.  What a good reminder.  So what good things have you experienced with the Lord today?