Callapidder Days

Monica, over at books are our friends, tagged me for a little meme. The basic idea is to list “The Top Five Things Consistently Popping Up in My Brain.”

Disclaimer: I started writing this post earlier this week, so I can’t say that these five necessarily represent today’s obsessions accurately, but they will give you a pretty good idea of where my brain has been during the course of this week.

1. L.’s health. Test results have been slowly dripping in, and while they’ve been ruling things out (such as allergies and viral infections), they haven’t given us any actual answers to what is causing his problems. My mind is on this situation quite a bit.

2. Book giveaways. What book(s) do I need to send out this week? Whose addresses am I still waiting for? Did Author A get the email I sent? Did Author B have a chance to get that book out? What books have to go up on the blog this Saturday? I hope everyone is enjoying the books that arrive in their mailboxes!

3. Feeding a toddler. I’m pretty sure this is all tied to the nasty teeth that are attempting to pop through L.’s gums, but lately, the only things he’s interested in eating are Cheerios, string cheese, and Town House Crackers. Despite my best efforts, there are days when nary a fruit or vegetable makes it past his lips. All I know is, it’s a good thing Cheerios are fortified with vitamins and minerals!

4. My calendar. This is a regular obsession with me. Even if I don’t have any major appointments or to-do’s on any given day, I’m still always checking my calendar, which sits eternally open on our counter. I think I’m always concerned that I’m going to forget something important, so I’m always double-checking, just in case!

5. Self-disappointment. I don’t want to get all maudlin here, but this is something that’s been on my mind. I can’t remember where I first heard the illustration, but there’s a question that goes something like, “When you face hard times, are you a grape or a marble?” The idea is that a grape, when squeezed by circumstances, flexes and then releases a sweet and fragrant juice. A marble, when crushed by external forces, resists and resists, and then shatters. I must have heard this illustration 15 years ago, and I think I’m still more like a marble than a grape! I desire to face trials with grace, peace, and trust, and to ultimately release a blessing to those around me, but I’m afraid I still lean more toward worry, fear, and constant fretting — which leads to internal shattering. Ugh. Anyway, this is something I’ve been pondering, and praying about — Lord, make me more like a grape!

Again, I won’t tag anyone specifically, but I would love a glimpse into the obsessions of others, so if you’ve got a few things that are taking up lots of space in your brain, consider yourself tagged and let me know about your post!