Quiet.  Life is quiet right now.  In the early days of no longer drinking, quiet is good. It helps me stay calm.  Last week was a whirlwind.  This week I feel like I can breathe, think, clean my house, cook, watch the birds, hear God.  I try to start each day with a 20-30 minute audio bible study.  Early in the morning it’s easier for me to just listen than try to read.  I sip my tea, slowly wake, and let the words sink into my soul, calm.

I’m looking forward to the end of school, to a new routine.  You might think me silly, but I think God knew that starting this journey when the local farmer’s markets were open for the season was the best timing for me.  Twice a week I buy glorious fresh fruits and vegetables that I can turn into yummy meals and snacks.  I find myself feeling the joy of childhood as I pop dark cherry after dark cherry into my mouth.  I savor the berries of early summer and look forward to the sweet fragrance and sticky juice of the fresh peaches that are soon to follow.

When my girl was little, I would push her stroller through the stands at the farmer’s market looking at all the beautiful colors and breathing deeply the smell of earth’s bounty.  I can still see her now, eating a big red tomato like an apple, biting into it with a big grin, the light pink tomato water and seeds dripping from her chin.   “God’s candy” I would tell her.  These treasures from the earth are God’s candy.

I love candy!

P.S. I changed the title – didn’t think it really fit the post… what do you think?