The longer I go without posting, the more lame I feel about finally posting. So this is it. Today, this first day of February, is my day to break the cycle and get back online. To click keys and put body to the thoughts that have been churning.

But, you may be wondering, what in the world have we been doing all month?

Well, here’s a snapshot of McKee life the last few weeks:

A little bit of this….

And a whole lot of this…

 Some of this…

And WAY TOO MUCH of this…

But here’s to February and coming out of the fog. Let’s get back on the horse and try again, shall we?

Schooling is an especially hot topic. I’ve seen my fair share of carnage from school conversations. I’ve had my feelings hurt. And probably been the hurter of feelings.

So, what can we do? I’m writing about it over at The Better Mom today. I’d love it if you’d follow me over and even chime in on your perspectives!

Join me over at The Stay at Home Daughter where my friend Ashley has asked me to share my musings concerning the recipients of the most important birth announcement ever.

I think we sense that we’re a little “off” and that somehow Christmas has gotten off track. We taste the dissonance. We even attempt to change. For most of us, the solution has been to get more organized, not really reform our heart’s focus.

What if we made it less about better time management and gift budgeting… and more about Jesus? I don’t want to just put a governor on my spending or make better lists or freeze meals ahead of time. I want to actually change where I focus my gaze. On what Whom I set my affections.

Some two thousand years ago, the Creator of this vast universe did the unthinkable. He stepped down from His throne where He receives honor and praise and glory unceasing. He left all of that, squeezing His infinite self into frail flesh.

I think we only sort of fathom what that meant for Him and way it changed everything for us.

Maybe this December could be about trying to fathom just a little bit more of it. Would you join me in trying?

.

(BTW, did you see my latest Better Mom post on being stressed out by Mommy Blogs? I forgot to link you to it that day. Sorry. Life has been a little nutso for me lately. Here. Go read it for yourself!)

In many ways, it was just as I anticipated. It has stretched me and given me new writing opportunities. I’m learning a ton. And enjoying the new venue.

What I didn’t expect was how much fun it would be to partner with other women who love to learn and write. I mean, seriously fun! I have a friend in Ireland now. How cool is that? Ireland! And I reconnected with an old college friend. Plus a whole host of other new friends who help me grow – both as a woman and as a blogger.

We’re a diverse bunch in some ways. Scattered here and there. Various season of life. Bringing our unique life stories to the site. I don’t even always agree with their posts. But, I do find myself enjoying their hearts and wondering if we’ll ever get to meet face to face. It really has been an unexpected blessing.

Just this morning I wrote this post for my new friend Christy. One of her dear friends just had her first child so Christy started a Thursday series called Baby Days to help prepare her friend for motherhood. I know… fun idea, right? See what I mean? It’s like a blogosphere haven for all those “I wish I would have known THAT before I had kids” moments that every mom has.

Anyway, if you have a sec, you can follow me over to Christy’s blog, One Fun Mom and see what I have to say about bringing your strengths into your mothering. I’d love to have you join me there. And, thanks to Christy for including me in the fun!

This one wasn’t at The Block where we gather to worship our faithful God. This one took place on a trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Peninsula, Ohio. I was there at 4:30 a.m., peering through the dense fog and blackest night. Not even the moon was shining. It was cold and I was still bleary-eyed. And, I wasn’t standing next to my preacher-man (where you’ll usually find me on Sunday mornings). I was with my dear friend, Shannon.

We were there to send-off my sister, her husband and his brother. I’m not sure what ever made them think that running for 52 miles would be a grand adventure, but that’s what they were attempting on this cold October Sunday. We had to be there this early because it would likely take them more than 12 hours to complete their task. Yes, 12.

Can you even imagine? Maybe you’re an avid runner but I am NOT. Running for an entire day is not even on my radar of possibilities. But, Crystal is a competitor and she loves to push herself so… here we were. Waiting to begin the run of a lifetime.

But, this post isn’t really about the run itself. (Though, that is surely worth a post!)

This post is about the power of being there. Just showing up. For the people you love.

I did nothing for this race. I didn’t pay her fee. I didn’t train with her. I didn’t fill out her registration or prepare her drop bags or pick-up her race packet. Nothing.

And, yet, when it was finished and we were all done crying, she thanked me. SHE thanked ME. Why? Because I showed up. That’s it. I just showed up. I didn’t even say anything amazing to encourage her. I mean, how lame is “good luck” when a person has trained for months? Really, there was nothing powerful about my words. The thing that had traction was my presence. That I would drag my sorry butt out of bed at three-o-clock in the morning and be there. When she needed a familiar face.

Our eyes locked in knowing before she left for the starting line, little tears spilling into the corners. And, that was it. She was off. To run 52 miles. But, in that moment, I could tell that it mattered. The showing up had mattered.

The crazy thing is that Shannon and I weren’t the only one who showed up. Three other friends came to the start. And, even more people were there coming and going all day. One friend Jillian even bundled up her infant son and came to most of the check points. Friends, family, friends-of-friends. People just showing up to see them for a few minutes as they passed. We’d shout encouraging things or let them know we were praying for them or walk with them for a minute as they got water but they didn’t really NEED anything from us. It was just that we were there… as they finished a grueling loop or topped a killer hill.

It was a beautiful thing to witness. It really was.

And, isn’t that same thing true in life? Sometimes the power of just being there is the critical thing. The fact that you didn’t leave when the going got tough in your marriage. Or that you came home for dinner when you could have worked another hour. Or that you sat down to listen to your daughter’s favorite song even though you really don’t like hip-hop music. Or that you sat there in the rain while he played his football game.

We think we need to buy something or say something profound. But, usually we just need to show up.

There’s something powerful about that. We Americans are pretty independent folks. But don’t be fooled. We still need each other. More than we often know.

And when we show up, we discover an unusual beauty.

Their flight was delayed getting home on Sunday so they came in pretty late. But we still threw a mini-party to welcome them. Madison even waited up on the couch. Well, kind of. She fell asleep on the couch while she waited. But, it was a valiant effort.

After our little party preparations were finished, I had some time to reflect. Here are a few things I learned while the boys were away.

1. Little girls can hog more bed space and steal more covers than a fully grown man.
2. Muddy football clothes don’t need washed when there’s no 12-year-old boy around to create muddy messes. Who knew laundry could be so pleasant? And sad at the same time.
3. Having control of the remote isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be. And watching Psych or Bones isn’t nearly as much fun without my dude falling asleep on the couch next to me.
4. Women do a good job of looking out for each other when their menfolk are away. Especially when we have dark chocolate to help us.
5. You think your husband must have magical powers but he doesn’t. He just knows how to use Drano when the sink clogs. Turns out that Drano works when a woman pours it down the drain too! (Please note: just because I CAN do said Drano, does not mean I will be doing it again. He can have his magical plumbing powers right back.)
6. Bathroom humor and loud gaseous expulsions seem to happen less ( A LOT less) when boys are absent from the home.  In fact, the noise level changed dramatically with the boys gone all week.
7. Two is less than four. And your elementary teacher was wrong – the difference certainly must be way more than two. At least that’s how it feels.
8. I’d love it if my daughter became my best friend someday. She’s an awesome girl. Spending a lot of one-on-one time with her is pretty neat.
9. You can squeak by on a lot fewer groceries when the boys are gone. Well, that, AND when you have precious people in your life that invite you over while the boys are gone. {wink} 
10. Did I mention that two is less than four? Four is good. Really good.

 Little did I know it at the time, that’s not the only place I’d be sending Caleb this year. In less than a week he’ll be in another country on the other side of the globe without me! How does this tender-hearted momma feel about that?

 Come find out over at The Better Mom where I am blogging today…

Aren’t there just certain foods and drinks that speak Fall to you, too? Maybe apple cider or pumpkin pie or candy corn? I detest candy corn, but I know a lot people love it. I usually reserve my indulging for dark chocolate!

So, when  I saw an advertisement for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies earlier this Fall, I was intrigued. Assuming, of course, that the chips are dark chocolate chips.

As is my habit, I decided I’d figure out how to make them. After perusing a few recipe sites I came up with these:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate chips

Directions: 

• Combine pumpkin, sugars, applesauce, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flours, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt, and flax seed. (I add a couple of teaspoons of ground flax seed to many things that I bake, if the texture will support it.) Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
• Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir into pumpkin mixture.
• Add vanilla and chocolate chips.
• Drop by spoonful on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for approximately 12 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

The family verdict: delish! They have a different texture than regular chocolate chip cookies – more spongy. And they are best kept in the ‘frig and served cold.

Unless, you eat them straight off the cookie sheet. That’s ALWAYS an good option, as far as I’m concerned!

Have you tried any new recipes this Fall? What are some of your favorites Fall flavors?