Five Minute Friday: Remember

 I am linking up with Lisa Jo for Five Minute Friday.   Join me here. 

 1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing! OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

 REMEMBER......

Start.

Remember when we said "I do."   Standing in front of our friends and family, we had no idea what we would happen in our lives.   

 Remember the birth of our children, and how you didn't leave my side for a moment during labor and delivery?    

Remember the times where we sat and talked long into the night and cried because of the difficult situations that we were going thought, the times that I wondered what the next day would look like?  

Remember when I was struggling and didn't think I could make it one more step, you were there encouraging me, telling me I could do it? 

Remember the times you would come home tired from work and ready for some down time, but you spent time helping the kids with their projects and talking to them about their day? 

I remember each of these moments, the joys and the sorrows, and what I remember about each of them is that we did them together.  

I am who I am today because you have been by my side for over twelve years, and I am so thankful that we do life together everyday.   What a gift you are in my life and I thank God for you every day.

I don't know what our future will hold, but I do know that we will do it together. 

I love you. 

STOP.

Letters from Around the World

I was in the garage cleaning out my car when the mail carrier walked up with my stack of mail.   Before he was even half way up the driveway, I was already scanning the mail in his hands to see if there was a cream colored envelope, and guess what!  There was!! 



We received a letter from Angel in Mexico.   He is the one that in his last letter to me was asking about the rainy season here and telling us that he had to take care of himself as to not get sick.   Today's letter was full of more details about his life, and I love it! 

We learned that he was promoted to 8th grade, his favorite subject is Spanish and that his teacher is "really cool".  (I love it!)   He tells us he is participating in a parade with flags and that he likes to do that.  He also shares which days he has PE and what sports he is playing and that one of the teams he supports is named "America". 

I am so excited to finally be getting some more details about his life and what he is doing and what he is interested in. 












Late last week we received a letter from Mary Grace in the Philippines which, as always, was so much fun to read.   She thanked us for the journal, stickers, and poem that we sent.  She was glad to hear that E and Addy are doing well in school and their "performance in their studies."   

Her letters are fun for us in the fact that she is one of the only ones who really references the letters that I send to her.   If I ask her a question, she will respond to those questions.    Being she is our most recent addition, we are getting to know her a little more quickly because of it.   

A Way to Give

In a conversation with a friend last night, she told me about a program in which you can bring your Halloween candy to certain locations and on Veteran's Day, they will gather all of the candy and send it to the soldiers fighting across seas. 

I was intrigued by this idea for a couple of reasons.  First, honestly, the amount of candy that my children acquired in an hour of trick-or-treating is a little overwhelming to me.

The other reason I liked this idea is because Mark's cousins are in the military.   One of them has just returned from duty, and the other has just left for a seven month tour.   In conversations with Mark's aunt, I have gotten a small glimpse of what life is like for a marine on the font lines and have developed a deeper sense of appreciation for what these men and women are doing for our country.

In one of my conversations with Mark's aunt, she was telling me about the things she sent in a care package for her son.   Items that we have access to 24/7, become a huge blessing to a person sitting in the hot and dry sandy climates.

I brought up the idea to the kids about sending half of their candy to the soldiers fighting for our country.   Addy, without a moments hesitation, said "Yes, I am going to do it."   E, as a normal ten year old would, hesitated and asked if I really meant half of his candy.

Addy looked at E and said, "Soldiers do a lot for our country and this is a way we can help.  Just like in the movie Mom showed me this morning."

The movie.

Yesterday I received a link to a website in an email that encourages us to give, even if just to one person, it makes a difference.   The video she watched is at this link:

http://ilikegiving.com/story/i-like-military

Addy did not see the entire video, in fact, she saw just the last minute or so of the video, but that minute was enough to make a difference in her day, and I had no idea.  

Both kids divided out their candy last night, giving half to the cause.   While it helps cut down on the unnecessary sugar in the house, the bigger picture is that the kids gave what they could with a cheerful heart, hoping to make someone's day just a little better.

I am so lucky to have the children that I do. 









 

Wordless Wednesday

Dedicated to the puppies that bring so much joy to my life. 

Halloween Fun

This is the first year the kids did 

(almost) all of the pumpkins for Halloween. 

Of course Dad came to the rescue to help

All cleaned out and ready to carve....

They are careful and precise. 

And we have masterpieces! 

And....  the costumes....

  Adam Savage & Kari Byron

of the Mythbusters! 

Just A Little Faith

I told Mark I just needed more faith.  It was something that in all reality could happen, why did I doubt that God could pull through?   

As a young girl, I had learned the verse about having faith the size of a mustard seed and moving the mountain.  Where was that child like faith in this instance?



As I look up the verse again, in the Message version it reads as follows: 

"Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. 

"The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, 

you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. 

There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."  

Matthew 17:20-21 Message

"Because you're not yet taking God seriously..."

I pause and wonder about these words.    These words seem strong, and yet, if I am really taking God seriously, why do wonder and doubt that something can happen?   He promises that if we ask and we believe, we will receive.

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, 

and if you believe that you’ve received it, 

it will be yours."

Mark 11:24 NLT

Mark and I talk about how we continually need to take God out of the box we so easily put him in.   He is greater than I can ever comprehend. 

Again, I find that I have to take Him out of the small box that I build and let Him be the big and awesome God that he is. 

If I lack faith, I miss out.
If I lack faith, I limit God.

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Matthew 13:56 NIV

In the book of Mark, a father is standing before Jesus, his son is having seizures.   

"...If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!"

Mark 9:22 Message 

In verse 23 Jesus responds: 

"If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." 

Mark 9:23 Message 

I don't think Jesus is saying this just to the father of the son.   I think this is something that He is saying to me today, as I sit in my family room and ask Him if he can do something.    

The father's next words have become my prayer at times like these. 

No sooner were the words out of his (Jesus') mouth than the father cried, 

"Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!"  

Mark 9:23 Message

I believe Jesus.  I believe that you can do things I think are impossible, but in the times that I do doubt,  please help my unbelief.  With You, all things are possible.  

Five Minute Friday: Relevant

It is Friday, I am joining up with Lisa Jo for her Five Minute Fridays.   Join me here if you would like. 







1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!






Relevant

GO.

World English Dictionary

relevant (ˈrɛlɪvənt)
—adj
1.	having direct bearing on the matter in hand; pertinent dictionary.com

Perhaps this means that we live in the moment.   To be relevant is to see a need, acknowledge the need and do something about it.    If we are going to be relevant, we need to pay attention to the people around us.   It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and miss the people who are in need.   It can take just a moment to offer a smile and brighten a day.   Perhaps, just to be noticed and acknowledged makes a difference in a day.   A quick hug to say I know and I care, or to listen when there seems to be no one around.  

Jesus was always present in the moment, seeing those in need and extending love and care. 

That to me is being relevant.

STOP.