Ordinary days vs the Extravagant One...

I'm still having trouble viewing my blog...stuck with teeny tiny font too small for any human eyes to decifer.  So, I'm sorry for whatever spelling and format errors that appear as you read.

We had a pretty uneventful weekend around here...somewhat busy, but not all that exciting.  As a matter of fact, this is about as intersting as it got around here:

These annoying guys have taken over our Township.  I understand that they are all over our County, but for whatever reason, have decided that they prefer the country best.  And have proceeded to multiply EVERYwhere...they are not particular where...they'll go anywhere.  So far they've kept to the outside of my house...gathering in clusters on my windows, but always on the outside looking in.  Until the end of last week.  I'm not sure what changed.  The weather?  The time of year?  The length of the days?  I have no idea, but whatever it is, these annoying STINKBUGS have suddenly decided that no one will tell them where they can and cannot go.  My friend told me the other day she found three in her bed. 

On Saturday my nephew was at my house.  It was the first cool day we've had in a while so I decided to open up all the windows in the sunroom to let the fresh air in.  Upon opening the very first window I discovered HUNDREDS of STINKBUGS swarming on the inside tracks of the windows.  After gagging at the sight, I grabbed my vaccum and gave my nephew the privilege of sucking them all up.  {Trust me, this was NOT punishment...not for a 15 year old boy.  He had a great time!}

Here they are clustered together in the cannister of my vaccum...

...and here they are burning to death in my firepit. 

{I warned you...this is not the kind of stuff you mistake for exciting}

Yesterday after church I had to run to Best Buy. 

I always check to see if the spots up front are empty...you know the ones:  

This is what I saw in the OTHER fuel efficient parking spot:

A VERY large van with about 25 people piled inside. 

{Like I said, boring weekends make even the smallest incidents seem funny}

By far the best part of the weekend was seeing this:

 He came to town to watch a show with his girlfriend.  We got to see him for 5 minutes in the Target parking lot...and then for 5 more minutes down the street so we could fill his tank up at Wawa before his drive back to school.  I know he didn't get it...but his mom was excited all day for those ten minutes! 

And it hit me this morning like this:

I'm doing a Bible Study on Thursdays and one of our goals this week is to intentionally recognize ways God loves us extravagantly.  Seeing my firstborn son last night reminded me of God.  I imagine Him anticipating the few minutes each day I spend with Him.  One on one, face to face.  I imagine an occasional glance at His eternal watch...waiting...anticipating my arrival.  I imagine His disappointment on those days that I neglect to show up....and His delight on the days that I find it in my power to forsake all else in order to meet him alone in a deserted parking lot.  I imagine the joy on His face as He embraces me at last...revelling in those few moments we have alone.  Of His offer to bless me with a "full tank of gas"...and the pleasure He takes in watching me be blessed by it.

Yeah...His love is EXTRAVAGANT towards me. 

And apparently I'm learning by His example to love my own children like He does.  I am understanding what He must feel like on the days I "forget" to pick up the phone and say hello.  Understanding the joy He feels when I pull up a chair to sit and stay a while...just to chat and catch up.  It's kicked me in the behind a little today...that picture of the GOD of the universe loving on me the way I love on my children.  Disappointed when I neglect to pick up the phone to say hello...waiting in anticipation of my arrival... 

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.

Love like that."

Ephesians 5:1