MinnDixie Mom has been absent, at least online. It could appear as if nothing has happened to inspire a fresh post. It’s more likely, however, that I’ve been so busy I haven’t taken the time to recognize, or appreciate, inspiration.

Work has been busy! At the institute, we hosted the first Genome Circle dinner to recognize our amazing major donors. Now we are gearing up for the second annual Double Helix Dash 5K! (Runners of all levels will love this race.)

Home has been busy! My mother, who lives with us, has had dental issues, health insurance issues, driving issues and peripheral neuropathy issues.

Serina, 7, and Sophia, 5, at the AAA Fine Arts Festival on March 2, 2013.

Kids have been super busy! Basketball is finally over, giving me a chance to breathe, but dance is picking up. Dance pictures, dance rehearsals, dance hair-dos — ugh!

There was also the Fine Arts Festival for the Academy for Academics and Arts. Awesome fundraiser for this gem of a school that nourishes my daughters’ minds and souls.

Then a friend gave me a jewel of a book, The Simple Truths by David Nerburn. Lots of food for thought, especially the chapter on the spiritual journey:

We all have special gifts of character. Some of us are blessed with compassion; others, laughter; others a power of self-discipline… You must find the gift that you have — the source of your belief — and discover a way to cultivate that gift.

Now I will try to identify my gift so I can figure out how to cultivate it. Hence begins the next phase of my spiritual journey. Perhaps I will be inspired to write about it. Perhaps I will be inspired by the training rides I take as I prepare for the 2013 Bike MS event on June 8 in Athens. Or perhaps I will remain quiet, at least online.

As I venture out onto this mysterious path, I will try to keep God, my higher power, at the forefront of my journey. How reassuring to know that He is never absent.