The holiday weekend was great. With five days off, we had a lot of time together as a family. We avoided the stores after Thanksgiving Day, as I am not about to get out in the crowds and try to get the deals, that is not really my thing. Rather, we spent the weekend visiting extended family, watching movies, pajama days, and decorating for Christmas.
As I sit in our quiet house this morning, the routine of life has begun again, and my mind is clear. Because I am a planner by nature, I look ahead at the upcoming month, and I do not feel the stress and anxiety that seemed to crowd in during the middle of November. Close to breaking point, something needed to give. Thankfully, a day off with Mark closely followed by Thanksgiving weekend, I am feeling like things are right again. The schedule is still busy, but I am better rested and better prepared for it now.
My hope and goal for the next month is to be able to get through the next month with the same clarity and peace that I feel this morning. I do not want to get wrapped up in the busyness and hype of the holiday without remembering the reason that we celebrate this season. I set up a month long reading plan for December about the biblical roots of classic Christmas songs. If you would like to join me, check it out here. If this one does not interest you, there are other reading plans that you might find interesting as well.
Happy Monday Friends! I hope you find many blessings in your day.
11.28.2011
11.24.2011
Giving of Thanks
I love the holiday season because it brings more time with family and friends. Time spent together enjoying each other. Mark and the kids are home a little more, it is some of our best times together, when we just stay home and do what we feel like doing.
While the schedule does not always permit time to spend with each friend or acquaintance, I am grateful for the people that we call friends. Our lives crossing sometimes daily, weekly, monthly, or maybe even less, and yet, each friendship has made a difference in my life.
Our life is rich with many blessings. In this time of reflection and gratitude, I have much to give thanks for, and I do not take that for granted.
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
While the schedule does not always permit time to spend with each friend or acquaintance, I am grateful for the people that we call friends. Our lives crossing sometimes daily, weekly, monthly, or maybe even less, and yet, each friendship has made a difference in my life.
Our life is rich with many blessings. In this time of reflection and gratitude, I have much to give thanks for, and I do not take that for granted.
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
11.17.2011
A Loss
My heart is aching for a family in our church who has lost their wife and mom. She was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor and loved God deeply. It is a bittersweet, because I know she is sitting with Jesus, and yet, I feel for her family members still here. To have her one minute and not the next is brutal. On this week when we are celebrating what we are thankful for, a family is grieving over their loss, a pain so deep and so acute.
Today, as I lift this family in prayer, I hope that you hold the ones you love close. Nothing is guaranteed, and I am reminded of that again.
Today, as I lift this family in prayer, I hope that you hold the ones you love close. Nothing is guaranteed, and I am reminded of that again.
11.16.2011
11.14.2011
Making a Difference
Yesterday in church we learned about living a bold life for God. The illustration given was that of a balance beam. When we begin our walk with God we are so excited, standing tall, ready to walk across the beam with enthusiasm.
As life continues on, many of us find ourselves on the balance beam, yet now we are crawling across, yet still feeling like we are living a bold life for God.
More time passes, and now we are hanging on to the beam for dear life, arms and legs wrapped around it, and our bold move is to lift one hand off the beam, raise it to heaven and pray for safety.
The message has challenged me to examine my life and see where I am living the life that God has called me to live, or if there is an area where he is asking me to move forward, but I am clinging with dear life to the safety of my life right now.
I read this post by Shaun Groves this morning from the Compassion Bloggers trip to Ecuador. It touched my heart in so many ways. Because everyone needs a hero, and sometimes being a hero is loving someone. Isn't that what God does for us? He loves us just because.
This week I am going to continue to pray about the message yesterday, but I find comfort in the fact that what we are doing already, loving the children in our home, city, and around the world makes a difference. Maybe there will be more I am supposed to do, maybe right now I am doing what I need to do, either way, I want to live a bold life for God.
As life continues on, many of us find ourselves on the balance beam, yet now we are crawling across, yet still feeling like we are living a bold life for God.
More time passes, and now we are hanging on to the beam for dear life, arms and legs wrapped around it, and our bold move is to lift one hand off the beam, raise it to heaven and pray for safety.
The message has challenged me to examine my life and see where I am living the life that God has called me to live, or if there is an area where he is asking me to move forward, but I am clinging with dear life to the safety of my life right now.
I read this post by Shaun Groves this morning from the Compassion Bloggers trip to Ecuador. It touched my heart in so many ways. Because everyone needs a hero, and sometimes being a hero is loving someone. Isn't that what God does for us? He loves us just because.
This week I am going to continue to pray about the message yesterday, but I find comfort in the fact that what we are doing already, loving the children in our home, city, and around the world makes a difference. Maybe there will be more I am supposed to do, maybe right now I am doing what I need to do, either way, I want to live a bold life for God.
11.11.2011
Five Minute Friday: Unexpected
Happy Friday! It is time again for Five Minute Friday. If you would like to, 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:
Unexpected. Out of the ordinary. A gift from heaven.
God has so richly blessed my life with the unexpected. A husband that loves unconditionally. Unexpected. Children that accept and forgive me for who I am, even when I make mistakes and they bear the brunt end of it. Unexpected. Friends who are like family, that we met when our lives would not normally cross paths. Unexpected. A peace that sinks deep into my soul in the middle of a stressful week. Unexpected.
A beautiful sunset, the colors of autumn leaves, the excitement of children over the first snowflakes, an embrace, an "I love you", a note from a friend saying, "You are making a difference." Unexpected.
He continually provides, and while I know this is what He does. It is unexpected.
Stop.
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:
Unexpected…
Go.Unexpected. Out of the ordinary. A gift from heaven.
God has so richly blessed my life with the unexpected. A husband that loves unconditionally. Unexpected. Children that accept and forgive me for who I am, even when I make mistakes and they bear the brunt end of it. Unexpected. Friends who are like family, that we met when our lives would not normally cross paths. Unexpected. A peace that sinks deep into my soul in the middle of a stressful week. Unexpected.
A beautiful sunset, the colors of autumn leaves, the excitement of children over the first snowflakes, an embrace, an "I love you", a note from a friend saying, "You are making a difference." Unexpected.
He continually provides, and while I know this is what He does. It is unexpected.
Stop.
11.10.2011
Thursday and Thankful
Mark, you were waiting with open arms and a hug when I walked in the door.
Thank you.
Mom, you called with an "I love you".
Thank you.
Dad, you were there when I didn't think I could do it one more time.
Thank you.
Sister, you often say that you have the benefit of being the younger one because I lead the way. Today you took my hand and walked down the path ahead of me.
Thank you.
Today, I am reminded again, the blessings and support God has surrounded me with, and I am ever so thankful.
Thank you.
Mom, you called with an "I love you".
Thank you.
Dad, you were there when I didn't think I could do it one more time.
Thank you.
Sister, you often say that you have the benefit of being the younger one because I lead the way. Today you took my hand and walked down the path ahead of me.
Thank you.
Today, I am reminded again, the blessings and support God has surrounded me with, and I am ever so thankful.
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