“At the time I did not know that stories of life are often more like rivers than books.”
~ Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories
I read a perfect description, on Paige Strickland’s blog (https://stricklandp.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/a-teachable-moment/) of what it feels like to be an adoptee: “It’s like what if I was born with 3 missing fingers instead? Ya know? You learn to compensate, you move on. You find a way to have a life, but 3 missing fingers sucks even though it won’t kill you. You might want to hide your bad hand from a lot of people and wonder what it would be like to have normal hands even if you do figure out how to hold a pencil. You learn to deal but you still would like to not have those missing parts.” (Emphasis mine.)
Exactly.
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I purchased some disgustingly-expensive specialty tea yesterday and I’m kicking myself. It’s good and delicious but flies in the face of my simple happy mantra. I will think of that every time I brew a cup, I’m afraid.
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So, simple happy.
Soup bubbling on the stove.
Daughter chats.
Coffeeshop conversation.
Carrots harvested.
Antique store browsing with hubby.

Thanks for the X-post Linda!
You’re very welcome, Paige.
Perhaps you might drink that expensive tea and inhale deeply the truth of God’s love for the souls of humanity. You are in fact a specialty that has been handmade and lovingly named. The flavours of your personality, the aromas of your character have been specifically chosen, intimately gathered in small batches of time, then gently preserved with amazing and exacting care. Our Father allows the harsh steam of this life to steep our hearts to release all those oils and essence so that we may become more than the mere sum of our parts. As He draws us aside for intimate quiet moments, perhaps He is the one to inhale deeply and smile as He remembers the exorbitant price He paid for this closeness. You are in fact, worth every penny.
Nice
Wow. I will think of this every time I enjoy a cup of that tea. Thank you for this gift, Tamara.
I love Tamara’s response! Drink the tea and enjoy it. You can, package, and pulverize every known vegetable known to man/woman, and save so much money that way. So instead of simple happy, enjoy exorbitant happy this one time!