Retreat-Word of the year

This a.m., I have been blessed to enjoy some time of reflection. I am preparing my mind, heart, and soul for the upcoming weekend retreat at my sister Dana's cabin.  Dana issued a challenge to consider one word to focus on for the year and one word to "sacrifice" or give up for the year.  It is a word that we will use to keep our minds focused the entire year.  A word that will change something about who we are, who we hope to be for others, etc...something about our character. She has challenged us to focus on "being" instead of "doing".  Letting this word sink into our hearts and take hold in our everyday experiences w/ourselves and others. As I was considering several words that I may use this year, I remembered that in 2005 I actually did focus on a word, "balance".  Didn't realize it at the time, but I did spend that year trying to balance things in my life. Trying to balance time, money, family, friends...keeping everything in a healthy balance.  Trying to focus on saying "no" when I needed to make time for other priorities, saying "yes" when I needed to spend more time with God, etc... I am such a deep thinker that I found it very challenging, this year, to narrow my resolution to a single word. After much prayer and study this past month, I've settled on the word "health". I reflected on the idea that health really has 6 dimensions so it can cover a lot of different areas in my life. The 6 I came up with are 1) emotional-which is the heart, the care/compassion/concern I have for myself/others  2) intellectual-the ability to think, learn, and understand information-process rationally  3) occupational-that I will love my own work, excel in it, grow in it  4) physical-proper nutrition and exercise, be a good steward of my body which is the temple of God   5) social-being w/others, forming connections, building relationships  6) spiritual-developing the knowledge of God in both my head/heart through regular bible study, prayer, teaching, fellowship and mentoring.  As I came to this word "health" I thought about the scripture that says "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."  As a disciple of Christ, my aim is to be more Christlike-therefore growing/developing in "health", as Jesus did, is one of the ways that I can be more like the Master. To be more Christlike often requires "doing" something. Even James said, "Faith without works is dead. I will show you my faith by my works."  However, all actions should be motivated by the idea of who I am. I am a human being-a being uniquely designed by the almighty God, Creator, that loved me enough to send His Son to die for my sins.  No matter what I "do", I will never deserve His marvelous grace, but I do want to "be" what He calls me to be. He calls me to be holy, "set apart", for His glory and His purpose.  One of the ways I can "be" holy is to focus on health. So that is my word for this year. I also looked into the scriptures and found "many" references to the idea of health in the 6 ways I previously mentioned.  Scriptures that remind me where my focus needs to "be" on health. "Season" speech-Colossians 4:6-it's so important to be mindful of what I say and learn to speak in encouraging ways that help another.   "Fruit" of the spirit-Galatians 5:22-25-what a beautiful list of character words-love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness, faith, meekness, self control".  "Fruit"- bearing good fruit, "being" fruitful in every good work-Colossians 1:10.  "Walk"- walk in wisdom, Colossians 4:5, the list goes on and on with references to things involving "health" in God's word. I suppose the thing that has struck me the most about this during the last month of contemplating my year's "word", is that "health" is a journey, not a destination.  While I choose this word to focus on in the coming year-I understand that it will not be a word that I can use to obtain some earthly goal.  While I am here on this earth serving the Lord through love, I will never reach full "health". This is a word that will remain a part of all that I am through my everyday experiences until I reach that final destination, which is Heaven. Only in Heaven will health, in all it's facets, be perfected in me-for Heaven is the destination. Until I reach the destination, I will journey in health and enjoy the process.

Inspirational Thoughts Jan 21-Jan 26

These will be a bit more brief than normal. However, I do want any that may be following along with me to have opportunity to keep up.

Jan 21-"Let go of limiting illusions that have held you back from knowing that just to be alive is a grand thing."

Jan 22-"There is a prosperity of living which is quite as important as prosperity of your bank account. It's time to invest your soul with all the creative energy at your disposal."

Jan 23-"Accepting and blessing our circumstances is a powerful tool for transformation. Acceptance illuminates reality so that we're better able to take the next step. Whatever situation exists in your life right now, accept it. Let go of the struggle and allow the healing process of change to begin."

Jan 24-"After accepting our circumstances, we must learn to bless them. Blessing our current circumstances is spiritual surrender and can change even troublesome situations for the better as well as teaching us to trust. Start to count your blessings, today. Make a spiritual inventory of all your blessings-try to get to 100.

Jan 25-"Stop waiting for life to be perfect and start working with what you've got to make it as satisfying as you can. Accept, bless, give thanks, and get going! Call forth the riches of your everyday life. Move from lack to abundance. Waiting to get our acts together, for things to slow down, etc..keeps us from enjoying authentic pleasures today. Think of one thing that would give you a genuine moment of pleasure today and do it!"

Jan 26-"Give yourself the gift of one hour per day to just journey within. You can break up the time if a solid hour is too much. Perhaps a half hour in the a.m. and half hour in the p.m. Write in a daily journal, plan your day, spend it in prayer or meditation. Just sit and listen attentively and wait expectantly. Each day offers its own gift."

Perhaps I will spend a bit of time later to comment on some of these thoughts. Right now, the word of God is calling to me:)

ROMANS 8:28

As I sit here in my recliner this afternoon, my soul is overjoyed at wonderful news that I just received about some very dear friends repairing relationships with their loved ones/brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am reminded of the scripture in Romans 8:28-"ALL things work together for those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." 

In my own life, I can so easily recall time and time again that this scripture has absolutely become a reality in my daily life. The scripture was written to give strength/courage to the Christians in Rome, to remind them that even though the hours were dark that they were facing-there is good/blessing that will come from it as one endures with the Lord faithfully.  I have found a true blessing always follows the darkest hours of my life. Right after a time when I am feeling the most depressed, the most grieved, the most sad, the most disappointed-the blessing arrives and BAM, there are all the pieces of the puzzle fit together! As I've seen the reality of this scripture play out in my life, I will often find myself praising God in prayer and asking for His wisdom/guidance to more readily recognize (while going THROUGH the dark hours) and be looking for the blessing to come. For me, the "good" (blessing), is not usually a physical thing. It is most often a lesson God is trying to teach me through the instrumental lives/intertwining of relationships with others. It is that "aha" moment when I understand that "Wow, this is what God means about love, forgiveness, compassion, etc...whatever the character trait/fruit of the spirit is that He knows I need to implement in my own life.

Relationships are so important. Relationships (which are formed from our souls/hearts) are the fundamental difference between human kind and mere animals/creatures that God created.  As human beings, we have so many relationships with so many different types of people throughout our lifetime. Parents, spouse, children, siblings, God's family, coworkers, etc...the list goes on and on. These relationships range from mere acquaintances to the deepest oneness shared in marriage.  How well we "do" relationships (whatever type they are) determines how well we will "do" in our own relationship with God the Father.  Our earthly relationships are the proving ground/the testing ground. If we cannot love well those that we meet here on this earth day to day-how will we ever truly love the Father in Heaven? We can feel, taste, touch, hear the human beings we relate to here...but God is Spirit and is not reachable in the same tangible ways.  Instead, we are called, by faith, to love a God we cannot physically see and to know that He is EVER present. God wants a relationship with each person. He wants that relationship to be personal, real, deep, meaningful, etc...but it the response we have to God is our choice. Will I choose to love Him, even through the dark times, the difficult days?  I am so grateful that an ever perfect God loves me enough to desire relationship with me despite my own weaknesses-if I only repent and choose to put Him first through the obedient life that I live each day. Such a humbling proposition. I deserve death-yet He gives me opportunity for life eternal. I deserve to be alone-yet He gives me opportunity for an eternal relationship with Him!

I have had the blessing of sitting in an audience and hearing many fine men of God preach gospel sermons. Sunday, I heard a very timely message and yes, God, I heard you. Once again, I am listening to Your wisdom and moved to action as you use brother David Brown as your instrument in my life to bring about "good" that is promised in Rom. 8:28.  You see, brother Brown's sermon was entitled, "Your life in a sentence."  It was about summing up our life in just one simple sentence we would want to be remembered by. What is the sentence that you want permanently engraved on your tombstone? What will others truly remember you for? How each single/individual thought, choice, word will impact our ending legacy.  Pretty heavy stuff, huh? But, so true. So many times we get so caught up in our day to day existence that we truly neglect the things that are really important-the things that we really want to do for God, the relationships with others we know we need to work on, our relationship with God that we long for, etc... I suppose that I have always been a more serious "thinker". While certainly I can laugh at a good joke, be part of some laughter/fun, I am also very aware of the fact that eternity is not far away and I know I want to live it eternally with my God, the great Creator. I have often thought about why, perhaps, I am so inclined to think in such deep ways that seem to sometimes allude others.  I would say it is merely that I have had the blessing (through many dark hours in my early life)-at critical points-of experiencing the loss of people close to me. When I was 13, I lost a cousin in a car accident, he was only 1 yr. older than I was. When I was 16, I lost his sister in a car accident, she was only 3 yrs. older than me and we were very close at that point in our lives.  At 16, I saw a very dear H.S. friend of mine lose her Dad suddenly in a trucking accident.  When I was 31, my Dad lost his youngest brother (44) in a vehicle accident. When I was 33, my Dad lost his oldest brother (54) to cancer.  When I was 34, I lost my Mom in a tragic/sudden way after surgery complications. You see, I have known loss-I have known pain-I have had numerous opportunties to see for myself that "life is a vapor" just like James says in the N.T.  I have had numerous opportunities to "go into the house of mourning" as the Proverbs writer says. God has blessed me with the opportunity to search my heart time again so that I may seriously consider my own mortality.  I will NOT live forever. I am going to die. Those are the answers-but what is the question? The question is, "What will I do with my life between now and that day that I die and my vapor disappears?"  Will I live it up with little/no thought to the greater purpose for which God has so graciously placed me here on this earth?  Will I live it for His glory/honor, humbly showing gratitude through my relationship w/others and w/Him?  I choose the latter. Again, relationships are so important.  Life is not perfect, people are not perfect, but praise God that He is perfect and through Him I can have a perfect/eternal relationship that will never fully be known/understood this side of Heaven. While I await that day when I will understand it all-I pray that while I am here I will always continue to cultivate love into the relationships I have with others. This is the blessing God grants me each day-His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace, breath/opportunity to "do" life better. Thank you God for relationships, help me to treasure each one in its own unique way. To appreciate each person that I am blessed in relationship with-weaknesses and all-as they journey on this path of life.  Most of all, to appreciate that the highest relationship I have is with You and that is the purpose for which I live my life each day. I want my epitaph to read, "She was loved by God and loved God/others."

Reunions?

So, I was up early this a.m. because I couldn't sleep. Funny how your body gets accustomed to so many hours of sleep and then you're done! I never believed that could happen when I was younger, but now I've experienced it for myself. I woke up and did a bit of reading from my inspirational guide, bible, and then checked fb. I am always so grateful for modern technology and fb has been one of the many forums that I have been able to connect with people from my H.S. days. I was elated to see yesterday where our class President had posted about our upcoming reunion. You see, I have not been able to attend any of the reunions. I have been out of the country for both of them! I was living in Germany 8 months pregnant w/Michaela the first time-not exactly a good time to fly! The second time I was living in England. I could possibly have flown back, but it was short notice and there wasn't enough time to make arrangements because of previous commitments/plans.  Here I sit only 3 hours away from where I went to school and I am really quite excited about attending my first H.S. reunion. Oh, I know things aren't the same-everyone has their own lives-you can't go back in time, etc... But, I also know that I went to a very small school, 53 graduates in my class! This type of environment made it possible for me to go to school nearly my entire life with most of these people! We spent our entire childhood together. I also know that growing up in a small community/attending a small school the way that I did-that is a foundation that is laid for a lifetime. Many things have changed for me since H.S., and I know that is likely for most of the others that I went to H.S. with.  However, we all share personal childhood history, and as I've aged/gained other experiences, I realize that personal history is important. It's part of what has made me what I am today. Without having made some of the mistakes I made during H.S., perhaps I would not have chosen the path toward Heaven I am on today. Without have had some of the successes I had during H.S., perhaps I would not have the confidence I have to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. Without having made some of the friends I made in H.S., perhaps I would not be able to experience the depth of friendship I am able to experience today. It is all joined and it all helps make me who I have become. I have longed for my girls to have the same type of experience that I did in H.S., the close knit community. That has not been possible for them. They have been here at Cabot H.S. w/660 graduating Seniors this year:( We didn't have that many students in our entire H.S./J.H. combined! My girls have felt like they are "isolated", they are just a "number", etc... It has saddened me for them. Though Rebecca will finish her H.S. years here in May and go on to college, I pray that Michaela can finish with a different experience because we should be moved between her Sophomore and Junior year of H.S.  I am pleased that Rebecca has chosen a small Jr. college to attend for her first 2 years and that she will be living in the dorms. I know that she will be able to enjoy her experience so much more there than she has in H.S.  She will be able to be involved in activities and not just be a number.  I'm praying that it will set the foundation for her when she goes on to the large university at UCA 2 years later. Much like my H.S. experience provided for me in life. But, my girls have had the blessing/opportunity of a lifetime to live in 2 foreign countries, travel to MANY more along this journey of life. Those are things I could only dream of when I was in H.S.!  So there's give/take in their H.S. experience-I think overall, they would choose the experience of travel over a small community school. The foundation that their life will be built on is the experience they've had-not the classmates they share a history with.  I have volunteered to be a part of planning this H.S. reunion. Event planning is something that is my niche-so it should be no problem to help make the event a success.  What success means to me, of course, may not be what it means to someone else I went to H.S. with. We all have different experiences in life and choose to respond to things based on that experience.  My idea of success would be to get as many of my H.S. friends together as possible and share a day of just catching up, remembering the good times, sharing our life stories, etc...  It would not be a fancy sit down dinner or involve tons of fancy decorations. Keep it simple is my motto! Focus on the people...enjoy our time together.  I enjoy a good party as much as anyone else-but a good party has never equaled "fancy" for me. There is a time/place for that, but a H.S. reunion is not it.  Formal night on a cruise ship, awards ceremony for my husband, etc...yes, that requires a bit of fancy! I pray that all of those that choose to help with this reunion will work in harmony so that we can create even more memories for our hearts to share until the next time a reunion comes around:) 

Jan 20-Inspirational thought

"Within each of us lies a wellspring of abundance and the seeds of opportunity. For each of us there is a deeply personal dream waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. When we cherish our dream and then invest love, creative energy, perseverance, and passion into it, we will achieve authentic success. If you could do anything in the world, what would it be? Let your imagination soar, for it is the soul's blueprint of success."

It's so interesting how at different stages in our lives we have various personal dreams about what we ultimately want to be. When I was young, I spent a lot of time playing w/my kitchen set, pretending I was a mom, playing school teacher, secretary, and cleaning/serving food to the farmers at my Granny D's house every summer.etc...Lots of "career" ideas at that time! As I came into about the 6th grade, I remember thinking I might want to be a doctor. By the time I was in H.S., I knew I didn't like science enough for that.  I LOVED my office classes in H.S., particularly the accounting. It seemed logical to me that I would like to be an accountant due to my great affinity for numbers. Only took being in my second college accounting class for me to realize that there was no way I could do that day in/day out.  Solitude-just me and the numbers together all day...can you imagine an extroverted/people oriented person like myself in such an environment? I would have been depressed! It was at that point that I decided perhaps I would like to teach H.S. business classes. I did complete an associate's degree in Business Administration, but decided that I needed to change direction in my life shortly after that.

More recently, I went to college-at night-and received my CDA (child development associate) so that I could retain my position w/HIPPY that I had worked for 3 years. Just last semester, I had the pleasure of taking some culinary classes which gave me some very practical experience in the professional kitchen and was just frankly-fun for me! So, here I sit reading this thought for the morning pondering the question..."if you could do anything, what would it be?"  For me, the answer would be that I have attained my dream and I live it everyday. I have been/am a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, Christian sister-I have had the opportunity to improve myself in all of these areas of my life. I have had the time necessary to focus on what really matters to me in this life and prepare for the eternal life ahead of me.  I have spent a lot of time planning parties for my family, friends, brethren-sharing meals and laughter both in my home and through arranged lunch/dinner dates w/all of those I love. I have been able to spend time growing spiritually-spending much time alone w/God, in His word, praying for the needs of those I love, etc... I have been able to cook meals for families in need, drive elderly to the doctor, shop for the elderly, purchase medication for those that couldn't afford it otherwise, etc... I have even had the extra blessings of travel/living in foreign countries.  I have supported my husband in his career by willingly moving to these places-not pouting about being away from family/friends, instead embracing the experience and making it an adventure every time no matter the location.  I even had the blessing of working for HIPPY for 4 years and got paid for it! I have done (and still do) a fair amount of housekeeping/cleaning for others to earn extra funds for my family without interfering w/putting my family first.  I have been able to volunteer and take leadership roles for various organizations/causes that I felt supported my beliefs/value systems at the time and/or benefitted my family. I was a soccer team mom when the girls were little. I took care of scheduling snacks, planning/hosting after season parties, etc... I was co leader of girl scout troop-again, helped plan meetings, organize events, etc... I was available to go on all field trips w/my girls and not miss a moment of their childhood. I served on the PTO board for all of my girls year in elementary and middle school-I helped w/all fundraisers. I was on the board of the Junior Auxiliary here in Cabot where I served as an active member for 3 years. JA helped me to give vital help to children living here in Cabot school district. I was VP of a spouses group in England that involved planning monthly meetings, fundraisers, etc...for the squadron wives. I was head of the PTO hospitality committee in England and I hosted a monthly themed parent/child lunch at the elementary school. I was able to travel to Mexico on a mission trip w/my entire family to help share the love/message of Jesus.  Currently, I am serving as a MOPS mentor-helping guide/direct these young mother's as they are raising their young children as well as support/advise the steering committee as it makes decisions for the monthly group meetings. I have served as a cook at a summer youth bible camp that my girls have attended for the last 3 years. So many blessings, so many opportunities, and all of the pieces of the dream for me have fit so perfectly w/my priorities in life.  I realize that a lot of women do some of the things I listed above and have held down a full time job at the same time.  This is certainly not to criticize or condemn anyone else in their decisions or fulfilling of their own dreams. It is also not meant to brag about myself. It's merely meant to share my own reality of fulfilling my dream. I thank God every day for the blessing of allowance to fulfill my dream each day, through the simple things. It is a blessing that I know others may desire, but have not been able to attain for various reasons. I'm thankful that I have been able to live my dream.  It is not through anything that I've done that has allowed me to fulfill this dream. It is only through God's strength, His blessings/provision, and my relationship w/Him that I have been able to experience living my dream. The change in the direction of my life came when I obeyed Christ. From there, a new dream developed in me and this dream came to me through the knowledge I was gaining in God's word every day.  So, without Jesus, I have no idea what direction my life would be taking today. I do know that without Jesus, nothing I would ever do in this world would have any benefit except for in this life. I desire that my life provide more than physical benefits for myself and those I love-I want it to count for something far greater-eternity.  Eternity is the dream hidden in my heart and it is the reason behind all of the faith moved activities that I have been blessed to engage in that make my dream a reality. Thank you God for talents, gifts, and abilities. Help me to always use them to the best of my ability and at every opportunity so that I may continually bring glory/honor to You. It is my prayer that I may ever live with eternity in my heart so that Heaven becomes my reality when this journey of life is over.

Jan 18 and 19-Inspirational thought

Jan 18
"Today, explore ways to see your world differently. Let your eyes drink it the beauty that surrounds you. Gaze into the faces of those you love, set the table with care, relish the preparations you make for dinner, delighting in the presentation of your meal. It is in the details of life that beauty is revealed, sustained, and nurtured."

I didn't get around to posting the thought yesterday because my heart was very heavy with the loss of a dear friend's son.  However, I find it so intriquing that the thought revealed exactly what I needed to hear yesterday. Another subtle reminder from God that while my heart was sad, there is still joy to be found in the details of my life. I shared a lovely dinner w/2 friends and my daughters last night here in my home. I enjoyed preparing a meal for them, setting the table, preparing new foods for them to try, etc... While we shouldn't sweat the small stuff (as a very popular book title reminds us), certainly it is the "small stuff" that makes up the bigger picture in life. The loving details of everyday living are the things I remember about my life growing up and the things I treasure about my life as an adult. My focus in life is not on the acquisition of more money, more things, etc... Instead, my life is framed around the every day small details in the choices I make. Better to use my time making extra money to play around with or to take that time and enjoy the life/blessings I already have to make memories with the ones I love? These are the little details that make a life of beauty for me. I don't want to miss a precious moment with those I love. My friend Robyn has lived her life that way. She chose "the road less traveled" and has always been a manager of her home-this has been her solitary job for over 20 years. Sure, she could have went to work after the kids went to elementary school, but she chose a more noble path. This allowed her the freedom of taking her son to Italy for a H.S. graduation trip and allows her to attend her girls award ceremonies, etc...without the concern of whether she would lose a paid job, have enough vacation time from a paid job, etc... I am sure that today, this decision has brought Robyn much comfort. She knows that she used every opportunity available to spend with her son while she was blessed to have him here. I am sure she has no regrets and now has many every day detailed memories to carry her through the days ahead.  This is how I choose to live my life as well. Enjoying time with my family, God's family, and my friends-like Beth and Danny-that I was so blessed to have with me just sharing the beauty of life last night.

Jan 19
"There is a longing in each of us to give up the path of struggle as a way to learn life's lessons. Finally, we are ready to embrace the path of joy. Learning to live in and enjoy the present moment is part of the path of joy. Many create unconscious drama in their own minds, expecting the worst from a situation and struggle from day to day from one crisis to another. Instead, let us stop the dramas and start trusting the flow of life and its goodness. Expect the best from every situation. Declare today that you are willing to let go of the struggle and eager to learn through joy."

This reading reminded me of a fb post I seen on a dear God peeps wall the other day. It was about his deciding whether to remain in the AF or get out after 6 years of service. The post seemed to indicate that his reason for leaving is because of "drama" in the workplace. When I read this I thought to myself,  "Being surrounded by drama is not escapable while living in this world. Drama is EVERYWHERE because people are everywhere and people are always creating the drama!"  Drama is such a tool of Satan and so many do not even realize this. Satan is always looking to "stir the pot" in your life so that you will forget about the joy available to you.  Even Jesus said "in this world you will have trouble."  But isn't it a blessing to know that we can choose whether to participate in the drama or not and we can choose to instead focus on the joy that already exists in our lives.  My joy comes from the Lord-"Rejoice always" Paul exhorted in the N.T.  Yes, even in the darkest hours of this life, among the deepest drama swirling around me, I can choose to have joy and rejoice.  Sounds like a no brainer to me! I'll choose joy every time:)

Memories of Daniel

Writing has always been so very refreshing to me. It is relieving, enjoyable, and sometimes even therapeutic.  This writing (blog) will share moments of joy/blessing, but it is coming to you as a means of therapy for myself. Please indulge while I pour out my heart on this page.

Today I received the message that a very dear Christian friend, Robyn, lost her 20 year old son, Daniel, in a car accident last night.  Grief immediately overcame my soul as I sat here thinking about the many/varied thoughts/feelings that my sister will face in the days ahead.  I am reminded, once again, of the brevity of life and how precious it is.  In the N.T.,  James said it best when he reminded us that "life is a vapor, it appears for a little while and then vanishes away."  For some of us, the vapor disappears at an earlier point than others. This is the case today for my friend's son, Daniel. I feel so incredibly blessed to have had the privilege to know/watch him grow up as a young child and to spend time with him in the summer of  '09 as he began his journey into adulthood.

Anytime I feel a sense of loss, I take the time to sit and reflect upon all of the many memories that I shared with a person. The first memory I have of Daniel is a picture I have of the 2 of us in our first house in NC. At the time, his mother was not yet a Christian, but she was attending the services of the church very regularly with her husband (Keith, who was a Christian).  Robyn and Keith were studying with our preacher at the time, Monte Hampton, and John/I were blessed to have Daniel spend time with us on this night.  He was 2 years old, it was 1991. This picture is so silly and the memory even sillier.  You see, this was before John/I had children of our own and we were undergoing infertility...so for us to have a toddler in the house was such a joy.  We enjoyed the nights that it was "our turn" to watch after Daniel! Daniel was not your typical toddler. He was very big for his age, had a great sense of humor, and SO smart...I mean this kid was obviously gifted! The picture is of me reading a book to Daniel and he found these really silly green larged frame glasses and put them on my face while I read to him! I am quite a sight and he is just laughing! I remember that night-can't believe it was nearly 20 years ago!  The second picture memory I have of Daniel is the year that we all lived in Germany together. Poor Daniel was the "only" boy in the bunch of our kids...besides Daniel-Robyn/Keith had 2 girls (our girls ages) and of course so did we.  But, Daniel never let that stop him-if there was fun to be had-he was there! I have some actual scrapbook pages of all 5 of the kids trick or treating together in 1998-Daniel was Robin Hood...and boy was he a good one! The photos that mark that night have been in my girls scrapbooks for nearly 6 years. It is so precious to me that of all of the pictures I could have chosen to put in the girls scrapbooks-I chose the one with the Rogers kids/my girls going trick or treating.  I chose it because it was a special time in our lives together-but now it will be even more precious for other reasons.  The final picture memory I have of Daniel is right in my facebook pic albums.  I had the blessing of traveling to NC with my girls in '09 to see many dear friends there.  The girls/I stayed at the Rogers home for 2 days. I stayed in Daniel's room because of course he was already away at college living in the dorms.  However, Daniel did come to visit that weekend (as he always did) so that he could help his Dad conduct the worship services.  I had the blessing of hearing Daniel preach a bible sermon for the first time that morning.  It was not Daniel's first sermon, but it was my first time to hear him speak.  I spoke with Robyn later about how proud I know she had to be...he had become such a well rounded young Christian man.  In honors college, planning to go to medical school, so much biblical knowledge to share, so much love for God and his family, etc...  I got to talk to Daniel as he shared pictures and favorite memories of the trip he/his mom took to Italy, the summer before, to celebrate Daniel's graduation from H.S. Daniel talked with me about his job at Starbuck's on the campus and how he was able to bring his mom (a HUGE coffee lover) home a cup of fresh beans from time to time. We ate lunch together and then I insisted that we take a few photos together.  I took one of this precious family, our dear God peeps, the Rogers sitting on their couch in the LR on that Sunday after the worship services. This is the picture on facebook in my Trip Out East album.  Daniel washed his own laundry and packed his things back up at the end of the weekend and said goodbye as he headed back to campus that Sunday afternoon after lunch. This was the last time I saw Daniel. 

Interesting thing is, there are all of these picture memories I've shared about Daniel, but there are so many more memories I have of him.  Most of them came through stories that his mom, Robyn, shared with me each time we had the opportunity to talk on the phone-which was every couple of months.  She was so proud of her son, her firstborn.  She has 2 daughters and she's very proud of them as well.  But, I always likened Robyn's special affection for her son to be that special bond between a mom and son that I've witnessed in others.  I remember the phone call when Robyn shared that Daniel had obeyed the gospel and was baptized into Christ at a very young age. I was not surprised because Daniel always had a tender/compassionate heart and was so very conscientious-2 very admirable traits. They were living in Germany at the time, but we had already returned to the U.S., we rejoiced together over the phone!  I remember many conversations that Robyn and I had about a girl that Daniel was dating.  She was not a Christian, but he taught her the gospel because he knew that was the most important thing he could do to show that he cared about her.  Daniel was always such a good influence on those around him.  He stood out in a crowd-took a lot of ridicule from other students because he wasn't a party guy. He was a serious student that wanted to do something for his future-not waste his youth away.  Daniel really was very mature beyond his years-even from a very young age. He lived his life with serious reflection upon bringing God the glory in all that He did.  Now Daniel has gone on to his reward, what he truly lived his life for...with purpose! There are no tears or pain for Daniel.  He will await the day that his Mom, Dad, and sisters will join him in that glorious home above where Jesus reigns.  I plan to join them all and what a sweet reunion that will be.  

My thoughts are with my friend Robyn because I know that her heart is shattered. I watched my grandmother bury my Mom nearly 10 years ago.  It broke my grandmother's heart and she is forever a changed person.  All I could say to my grandma on that day is "Thank you for giving me the blessing of such a wonderful mother.  Without you giving birth to and raising such a wonderful woman, I would not have had the privilege of being raised by her.  So many people in this world do not have good mother's, I did for 34 years and I thank you."  To Robyn I say, "Thank you for sharing a piece of Daniel with me.  For raising such a strong young Christian man that demonstrated that there are young men that want to live for the Lord and put Him first in their lives, that do have a tender heart, that honor/respect their mothers/women/sisters, and are such a blessing to know."  Yes, God gave Robyn a treasure in her son, but it is through God's son that she will now find hope, peace, and comfort in the days ahead.  Thank you Daniel for being a valiant warrior in God's Army to the end.  I look forward to the time when we shall meet again my dear brother.

Inspirational thought-Jan. 17

"Harmony is when we're able to strike the balance between expectations of our families and responsibilities in the world on one hand with our inner needs for spiritual growth and personal expression on the other.  This is a difficult challenge because it requires us to make choices every day. When distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we tend to eliminate is one we need the most: quiet, reflective time. Time to dream, think, and contemplate what's working and what's not so we can make changes for the better."

Today as I visited HIPPY families for the first time since resigning from the job last May (I'm just subbing for a while), I thought about how I knew last year that it was time for me to get my life back in harmony and that would require me to quit my job with HIPPY. I loved the job, enjoyed my coworkers, treasured the relationships I made each year with the families...but it was all coming at too big of a price for me-my quiet/reflective time had become a thing of the past. Maintaining "balance" in life-the harmony if you will, changes with the stage of life you are in at the time. There was a stage in my life that working for HIPPY allowed me to keep the balance-that time had passed because the job was no longer part time. . The cost to my family was too high-I needed to have time to think, plan, dream about my future as I rapidly approach a new stage of life.  I wanted to be available to seize the day and enjoy my daughter's final year at home with our family.  I didn't want to miss a single opportunity to go on college days (which we have done), plan a trip to NYC to celebrate her accomplishments, etc...I understand the value of counting the cost of a commitment and establishing boundaries for myself based on where my life is today.  I learned about knowing your personal limits from watching my parents always push WAY beyond what any human being should endure. I'm thankful to have had that experience to learn from...perhaps without it I would not be able to sacrifice a few luxuries so that I can do the things that truly matter and are priorities for me in the long term. I thank God every day for a husband that so willingly earns a living for our family and  understands the importance of my being at home to manage our household.  He supports me and encourages me in that decision-always has. Never been any pressure to "make money" so we can have more stuff.  Instead, we have always agreed that time is precious, money will come if we are patient, and some things money just cannot buy!  I praise God for giving me parents that taught me how to "budget" and ways to scale back so that I can be at home doing the things my soul longs for, things of eternal importance.  Today-I have such peace in my heart because I finally feel like my life has returned to a state of harmony and it is such a wonderful place to be...at peace with my God and myself!:)

Inspirational thought-Jan 16

"Have you every noticed the direct correlation between the days when you're feeling depressed and the days when your house is in disarray? It's hard to think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter, chaos, and confusion. Bringing order to your life doesn't mean following a list of "shoulds", instead it's about keeping order so we can tap into our creative energy. Invite order into your life today and you will have a more serene tomorrow."

So this thought really made me think here at the end of my day. This week will involve developing a new sense of "order" for me given that I will be working Mon and Tue for the next few weeks as a HIPPY substitute.  I'm thankful this is coming 2 weeks after my family has begun a simpler healthy eating pattern. This is the week I intend to add some cardio/strength training into our daily lives. John and Rebecca are the self-disciplined ones that already run/work out each day. Michaela and I will be adding this to our "order of the day". I'm praying to have the self discipline to implement this as I had planned given that anytime there is a major change in routine it takes me a couple of weeks to "order" my life around that change.  So, we started tonight by going to the base gym as a family after evening worship services...alas, it was CLOSED! Rebecca and I did a "salsa" aerobic dance workout (I should say we attempted!) when we got home on netflix. Tomorrow, the plan is for Michaela and I to walk 2 miles when I get home from work.  I praise God that I still have the physical ability to exercise and pray this is something I will never take for granted, but instead take this blessing and use it! I decided that I will just take it one day at a time this week. Be thinking about me as I try to keep order in my life:)

Jan 15-Inspirational thought

The title of today's thought is "Embracing Simplicity". 

"Once we take stock of our lives and let gratitude begin to transform us through the appreciation for how much we already have, we feel the urge to pare down, get back to basics and learn what is essential for our happiness.  Less can mean more, just think about how appealing simplicity can be. Sunlight streaming through sparkling clean windows, the glow/fragrance of a scented candle, time just watching our loved ones enjoy their activities. Through simplicity our weary soul can discover the place it ought to be."

While I was reading through this thought, it reminded me of some changes my own family has undergone in the last couple of weeks.  Our family has always participated in a bit of a holiday food "detox"  (like most Americans) after the first of the year.  Most Americans will make "resolutions" to lose so much weight, implement more daily physical exercise, etc...when the New Year begins.  However, our family has always just tried to come down off of the "high" we've gotten from all of the over abundance of food/sweets that we eat beginning with T'giving through the New Year.  This year, we decided to go a step further.  We decided to return to more "simple" foods while detoxing.  That has meant eating fish twice a week which my family has found that we actually enjoy very much.  This has also meant my grocery cart has been half full with fruits/vegetables the remainder being nuts, poultry, fish and dairy. So what has been my family's response to this simple eating? Rebecca loves to eat this way-she is the health conscious member of our family.  I'm proud to see Rebecca find a "niche" that has brought her so much joy-interest in healthy lifestyle choices w/regard to eating simpler and exercising has lead her to the decision to become a dietician/nutritionist.  John is the "exercise" guru in our family. He, however, LOVES to eat lots of rich/lavish foods, but even he seems to enjoy this new simpler way of eating. It has certainly made things easier for him-eating 6 times a day-smaller portions-allows him to remain fueled for his run each day and more easily prepare/pack the things he needs for meals/snacks each day given that he has class 3 nights/week after work.  Michaela has found this to be quite an adjustment. However, I knew that she was turning a corner and being "converted" when she remarked that, "wow, it's hard to believe that such small portions of food can actually be so filling."  For me, this has been challenging for SO many reasons. Reasons that go way back to the beginnings of my life. I was NOT raised eating simple/whole foods. I have spent most of my adult life trying to adjust some of my eating patterns by implementing more of them into my day. I remember the first time I ever had broccoli (that I could remember) and say that I liked it was in my late 20's. The way I was raised, a salad was iceberg lettuce (yuck!) with a bit of tomato, imitation bacon bits and loaded in ranch dressing.  Now I can't stand this type of salad!!!  I prefer the very dark green mix of salad greens-particularly w/spinach and romaine in it and of course load it with fresh mushrooms, broccoli, tomato, carrots, etc....you get the picture. Typically, the more flavor food has and more variety that is in my daily food, the more I like it! I've already made huge strides in eating/enjoying more healthy choices since my childhood.  Fish-that simply was not something I ever ate/enjoyed (except the southern style fried catfish I was raised on) until the last couple of years. I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to go on cruise ships that have offered me the blessing of trying fish in a variety of ways and finding out that I really can love it! You see, on the cruise ship, if I don't like it-I can send it back and order something else-FOR FREE!!!!  As we know, fish is VERY expensive to try in restaurants, particularly here in the south.  Not to mention the fact that getting "good quality" sea fish here in the south is virtually impossible.  So, I have always resisted trying it because the few times I did, it was absolutely terrible:(  I'm thankful for the commissary that actually brings in some frozen salmon, shrimp, tilapia, mahi-mahi, etc...that is actually decent quality.  Of course not the quality of fresh that I've had on the cruise ships, but good none the less.  Here I sit, with my experience in the culinary school, loving to "cook", being a foodie, etc...adjusting my entire way of thinking/eating.  I'll have to say that I have enjoyed this change.  The negatives for me-1) I have to go grocery shopping every week because the amount of fresh produce you need for a "grown" family of 4 is just too much/disappears to quickly to do otherwise  2) The huge sticker price shock of buying whole/simpler foods-wow! 3) The amount of time it takes to plan 3 meals 3 snacks for 7 days for a family of 4. This has greatly increased planning time and is a job in itself.  The positives for me-1) I feel more energetic/healthy  2) I know that you can't put a price on good health-I look at my Dad's state of declining health and think about the loss of my Mom because of poor health decisions and know that investing $$ in my family's healthy living practices is totally worth it 3) One of the many roles I'm blessed to have as manager of our home is the meal planner/shopper and readjusting my schedule so that I can make this a priority is a privilege.  I'm thankful for the biggest loser club online which has helped make this task a bit easier as I adjust my life to fit this planning into my schedule/routine. You may be asking yourself,  what does all of this have to do with the inspirational thought for today? Simply put..."simple IS better!"

Inspirational thoughts-Jan 13 and 14

"We should be humbled by our riches and regret the times we take for granted the abundance that already exists in our lives. When you look at life's ledger, you will realize that you are a very rich person. Even when we have temporary cash flow problems, it helps to take an inventory of our life's assets. Allow your heart to awaken to the transforming power of gratitude."

God says, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" If we are God's child through the washing of Jesus blood-we are the richest people on this earth:)


"Gratitude journal-find a special journal to write down 5 things per day to be grateful for. Some days these things may be amazing, other days it may just be the simple joys of life. Acknowledging what IS working in our lives can help us not only survive but surmount our difficulties. As you focus on the abundance rather than the lack in your life, you will design a wonderful new blueprint for your future."

Give thanks continually to God-all praise and honor is due Him!

Inspirational thought-Jan 12

"What should remain constant is our realization that abundance is our spiritual birthright. Money ebbs and flows in our lives. Don't let worries about money mock you and steal your joy of living. We have the power to change our lifestyle and move from feeling deprived to feeling fulfillment. The simpler we make our lives, the more abundant they become."

The scriptures remind us that love of money is the root of all evil. Today, choose to remember God's promise to His children in Matt. 6:33-"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you."  Those that have chosen to obey God need not worry about money-we will be provided for just as the birds of the air and the lillies of the field.  Today, let us remain grateful to the God of mercy that provides for His children. God said it, I believe it, I'm standing on His word:)

Snow days...

This morning my girls are back in school for the first time this week. As I sit here in the quiet of my warm home, I am reflecting on a few things I noticed the last couple of days that they have been home. It's interesting that until this year, Rebecca generally despised snow days because she knew that meant they would go to school longer into the summer. Not so this time-she has finally arrived and doesn't have to be concerned about making up days because she is a Senior! She was thrilled to have the 2 extra days off from the boring Senior year that she's having. Poor girl, she has Senioritis BAD...school is boring/uninteresting and she's ready for a change (she says). The thing I know (that she has yet to live long enough to realize) is that college can be boring/uninteresting at times-not to mention "adulthood" when she finishes college. I mean really, how uninteresting is the same M-F routine of getting up, going to work, making a living, paying bills, managing a household, etc...for the rest of your life-or at least until you retire or can draw social security (which I'm sure won't exist by the time she is aged). I enjoyed my H.S. years...oh don't misunderstand, the lessons I learned then were not always pleasant and I made my fair share of stupid mistakes, but overall-I had fun. I also enjoyed my college years-probably because it was during that time that I became engaged and got married to the love of my life:)  I have enjoyed my years as a boring adult-same basic routine year in/out.  No matter where I've lived, what stage of life I've been in...I always make a way to enjoy the simple things and create my own fun with friends/family.  Granted, some days it's easier than others.  So, I've tried to encourage Rebecca to change her perspective and just try to find moments of joy and create her own fun during these final few months of childhood until graduation. To appreciate where she is right now! Doing nothing, being bored...that will change soon enough for her, at least the opportunity to do nothing will! Once she graduates-her life will change forever. She will be working every summer to save money for the coming college year unless of course she wants to be in debt until she's in her mid 30's-because as we all know there is always someone out there willing to lend money to college students and allow them to pay it back at an affordable (ha) monthly payment for the first 10 years she's out of college!

Then there's Michaela. My lovely second born who has this philosophy about snow days that I find quite intriquing. It doesn't really matter that these days will be tagged to the end of the school year-after all, it's too hot here in Arkansas by the time the school year ends to enjoy yourself anyway.  So, the days off might as well come during the winter where she can be nice and snug in the house doing the things she loves anyway-reading, listening to music, watching TV, playing games, etc... All of those things just seem more natural to do when it's winter anyway, right?  Having more summer off just means having to listen to classmates gripe and complain about it being so HOT when they return to school...so less summer and more snow days certainly is the answer to some of that complaining!lol That's my Michaela-btw, she's a "thinker" like me, it's just that if we were competing-she would definitely win-because this girl thinks WAY outside the box! I admire that in her:)

Another observation I make is all of the status you read on fb on snow days. Most seem to start out excited...day one is usually high intensity, everyone feels blessed by God to have the snow-most are out building snowmen, throwing snowballs, sledding, four wheeling, having hot cocoa, just having snow fun. Then by day 2, the excitement is gone-the snow is now a curse from the devil, most are more than ready to send their kids back off to school/spouses off to work so that they will quit arguing/fighting/making a mess/eating all of the food in the house/etc...  Schizophrenia-look up the definition. Isn't that what all of these people have on snow days? How can a person just flip a switch and change their behavior/thought patterns so drastically day to day? Personally the thing I love about snow days is that it is cold-because I can't STAND the heat of summer! Of course I do love to watch a snow fall and the snow covering the ground sure does brighten up a dreary winter day outside-reminds me of God's presence even in winter. Other than that, I'm a little like Michaela. Snow days mean more time to read, listen to music, "think", just chill because I can't get out and go anywhere to do anything else! Every day is a blessing-snow, sun, rain, whatever it may bring-each day is a gift from God and full of moments to be savored. Now it's time to go off and savor another normal winter day with kids back in school, spouse back to work, and boring routine-indeed I am blessed!

Inspirational thought-Jan 11

"Learn to be an optimist. Start today. Smile at everyone you meet. Expect something good to happen no matter what occured yesterday. Don't allow the past to hold you captive. The past can only hurt you if you hold on to it."

As the Apostle Paul said-learn to be content in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.  We are blessed to have another day of life, that always means a new beginning. Make today a positive one:)

Lessons from Toy Story 3

Last night our family watched the movie Toy Story 3 together. The girls have seen it 3 times before, but this was our first time. While watching the movie, it reminded me of some life lessons. First, things do not remain the same.  Life is in a constant stage of "change". For instance, the definition of "family" changes every year.  Family members we love die, new family members are born, some are added through marriages, and sometimes if we're blessed-even through fostering/adopting, and sadly some family members choose to leave our family because they don't want to be a part of the unit, etc... Not unlike the toys-accepting that things are changing is not easy and we often struggle to keep things the same.  Second, the value of friendship. Friendship is such a precious commodity, one that is marked by quality of time together and sharing of the heart.  Distance and time apart will never seperate the hearts of true friends. Woody understood that though he had been a special toy to Andy, he could remain behind with the other toys and still be in Andy's heart while he was away at college.  Third, the schizophrenia that occurs in our hearts when we are growing through different stages of our lives.  Andy was facing the war within himself-the letting go of childhood  or releasing it so that he could embrace the college life that he (like most teens) had longed for.

I am often teased by my family about "thinking too much".  Let me start this story by saying that if you have never played Apples to Apples or you have never watched the show, Monk... you just may want to skip this paragraph!;)  Just last night while playing apples to apples, my family members were playing their own version-it's called apples to oranges.  In other words-forget trying to play the game as it was designed, instead let's find the word that is the most "opposite" to play.  Rebecca likes to "taunt" me by reminding me that I think too much...so I say to her, "Alright smarty pants, why is this game called Apples to Apples?"  Of course she proceeded to tease with, "Who cares? Only you, Mother, would sit around and evaluate why a game is named the way it is."  I shot back with, "I beg to differ, those that sell games think very long/hard about what they will name a game because it could make/break a sale. Truth is, you don't KNOW why the game has this name and you are just avoiding answering the question." After this, my entire family jumped on the bandwagon of calling me "Momma Monk" which in reference to the show, "Monk".  Oh my family, got to love them!  But then, I digress.  They say that I can't enjoy a movie/game/book/etc...because I evaluate it too much.  I beg to differ-for me, that is enjoyable. I love to see what I can learn from many different sources (even entertainment) through evaluating them.  While I may not enjoy a thing "simply" for the entertainment of it-I do enjoy it very much. How?  I believe it's because I am always looking for lessons that God may be trying to teach me-I don't want to miss even one thing my Creator may have to teach me through any circumstance/event in my life. 

I will finish this post by saying that the movie, Toy Story 3, came to me in a very timely manner. You see, I have a daughter that will soon be leaving her childhood behind and she is becoming more aware of this every day. Not unlike Andy, she will be parting with childhood and embracing college life.  Though she has seen this movie three times, she informed me that she "cries like a baby" every time at the end.  Sure enough, there she was setting on the couch with tears flowing-the same daughter that accuses me of "thinking too much" found herself in the middle of a moment of realization that this movie indeed applies to her own situation in life.  Because I am the "thinker", she was questioning "why" this movie still gets to her and I reminded her that she, too, will soon be leaving childhood behind and she can relate to Andy in this movie.  Upon further evaluation, I came to realize that though Rebecca doesn't have any special "toys" that she will be leaving behind that symbolize her childhood, her family unit is the "toy" that she leaves behind. We are the ones she has laughed with/at, played with, we will be the ones that she must leave behind. I, however, am excited for her and us.  Not unlike Andy-she will go away and be blessed by new friends and new experiences-some of those experiences will be with us/most will not.  Not unlike the toys, we will remain behind in a new place in life experiencing a different stage with new experiences-most of those will be without her and even those that we're blessed to share with her, will be different.  Most of all, the one thing I know that will never change is that just as the toys will FOREVER be a part of Andy's childhood and a part of what makes him the young man he is becoming, so it will be with our Rebecca.  We will always be the foundation of her childhood years and that foundation will be a part of who she becomes in her bright future.  Just like the butterfly struggling to get free from the cocoon, so it is with a young person leaving their childhood behind and embracing their adulthood...but oh, what a beautiful thing that is to come!

Why blog is entitled "simply abundant living"

As I sit here in my recliner reading my bible, doing my daily study, and reading through a couple of daily guides I have-I thought I'd take time to share why I chose the title "simply abundant living" for my blog.  While I was living in England, my sisterchick-Lori-and I were scooterpootin' (our title for a girls day of running around having fun:) when I came across this book in a thrift shop.  The title intriqued me, so I picked it up and skimmed the first few pages.  The book is entitled, "Simple Abundance a Daybook of comfort and joy".  I ended up purchasing this book and going through it day by day in the year 2007.  It has a daily "reading" that inspired me to look at my life from a different perspective.  Though it is not a biblically based book, many of the thoughts contained within encourage you to live authentically as God created you to and also the thoughts come from principles found within the word of God. The theme of the book reminds me of the scripture in John 10:10 where Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  Jesus was speaking spiritually in the context of this scripture. He was a poor man and many of His followers were also poor by the standards of the world. However, a life lived as a follower of Jesus Christ will bring MUCH abundance to the soul, both here on this earth and finally in eternity with God! Satan (the thief) would love to take away our joy-this theme is also repeated throughout scripture. While I was reading through the "simple abundance" book, all of the things I read, I read within the context of my life being abundant, spiritually, through Christ.  I enjoyed this book so much, that I promised my sisterchick Lori that I'd send her the book upon completion at the end of '07 so that she could go through it the following year. I received the book back from Lori in Jan '09 and decided to take this year to go back through the book again.  I will try to remember each time I blog to share a snippet of the guidance/wisdom that I've found helpful from this book.  For now, I'll use this blog to update you on the highlights from Jan 1-Jan10.  Hope you each enjoy it as much as I have.

Jan 1-"Today carve out a quiet time for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand.  Only dreams give birth to change"

Jan 2-"What if you new that a year from today you could be living the most creative, joyous, and fulfilling life you could imagine? What would it be? What changes would you make? Love the questions, they are so important for your tomorrow."

Jan 3-"Become aware that you already possess all the inner wisdom, strength, and creativity needed to make your dreams come true. You already possess all you need to be genuine"

Jan 4-"Life's not a dress rehearsal, though many of us unconsciously act as if it were. We hold back. Examine the quality of your real life journey."

Jan 5-"Though we may accomplish much of what we set out to do, we sense that something is missing in our lives. We are disconnected from an authentic sense of ourself."

Jan 6-"Choose today to live the "good life", by acknowledging the good that already exists in our own lives. We already have everything we need in life to make us happy but simply lack the conscious awareness to appreciate it."

Jan 7- "It's difficult to experience moments of happiness if we're not aware of what it is we genuinely love. Save the small authentic moments that bring contentment. Simple pleasures waiting to be enjoyed but often overlooked. Let us consider our personal preferences and learn to recognize and embrace these moments of happiness that are uniquely our own."

Jan 8-"Start making happiness a habit right now Every morning is a wonderful gift-another day of life-let's make the most of it.  Stop thinking that things outside our control will bring us happiness. Happiness that the world cannot take away flourishes in the secret garden of our souls."

Jan 9-"Do you have everything you need right now? Our sensibilities become confused and overstimulated by a mass media. It's easy to lose clarity about what it is we need to live authentically. Make peace with fact that you can't have everything you want, but you already have everything you need."

Jan 10-"realizing our heart's desire is possible every day if we recognize what it is that makes us happy. We cannot afford to throw away even one day by failing to notice the wonder of it."

I will end this post by saying that without God I am nothing.  It is through Christ that I have become everything that I am.

January 10, 2010

Here I am, writing my first post on my new blog...hopefully I won't have any problems getting back into this blog now that I've created it! It was suggested to me, a few times, that I create my own blog because I'm one of those peeps that when they change their fb status each day I end up having to "delete" and rearrange words because I have too much to say! Thanks to those of you that suggested it, now I sincerely hope that my inability to use technology will not interfere with my using this blog.  I have been journaling for years, starting with keeping a diary in the 2nd grade, continued into my early married life, kept journals for my girls when they were little, and have kept a prayer/spiritual journal for 22 years that I've been a Christian.  On this day as I begin this blog, I am sitting in my home here in Cabot, Arkansas looking at the gorgeous snow covered lawn that God created overnight.  We have about 4-6" this morning.  Indeed that is a rare occurence here and the TV news proves it as it is declaring that the National Guard is having to call out folks to the Interstates because vehicles are stranded in a nonmoveable state for a couple of hours now. Today, I am thankful that my family is safe in our home. My hubby will not have to get out until noon to report to work-not sure the roads will be much better then given that AR does not have proper equipment to deal with these conditions.  However, I have great confidence in my hubby-he lived in northern Indiana for the first 2 years of his AF career and in Germany for 4 years where he received MUCH experience driving in hazardous conditions.  He will be taking Rebecca out in the neighborhood today teaching her how to navigate these hazardous road conditions.  He had her drive her car, with him as a passenger, to worship service last evening and she was very nervous/anxious/upset about it.  It's no fun to be a young driver and face hazardous roads-but it is an experience we all must face as drivers at some time.  Today-we may play Apples to Apples before John heads to work. Started watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy last night-have 2 to go! Of course I'm sure that the Wii will be on tap at some point as well.  I was supposed to begin subbing for HIPPY today at group meeting-but of course I won't be doing that now. Perhaps I will begin tomorrow with home visits to families.  Only going to be working Monday/Tuesday for a few weeks to help out another home visitor that has a very sick toddler she needs to be home with.  Guess I'll close this first post in my new blog and get b'fast as well as have my alone time with God today.  Keep safe if your on the roads in hazardous conditions today. Blessings to all!