Princess

So, I'm setting here today thinking about how I will begin this blog entry. There are so many directions my mind could take me, but I will stick to the subject matter at hand-our recent 2 week cruise to Hawaii.  Many have asked me about the cruise, Hawaii, Princess cruiseline, etc... I intend for this post to give everyone a general overview/opinion concerning our own personal experience.

First, you should know that we LOVE to cruise. It is, hands down, our favorite way to vacation as a couple/even as a family. I did want to preface this blog with this bias (our LOVE for cruising) out of the way immediately.

Many are probably wondering "what's so special about cruising?" Well, our response would be, what's NOT special about cruising? The only reason I can imagine ANY person not enjoying cruising would be if they get motion sick-now that would be pretty miserable and I wouldn't want to be in a stupor the entire trip from motion sickness meds. Fortunately for us, we do not get sick in this fashion and quite enjoy the gentle swaying/rocking back and forth of the ship-there is NO better way to go to sleep every night than to be gently rocked...ask a baby, they will attest to that!lol  Here are some of our own thoughts about WHY cruising is so wonderful. Following is a list of reason we LOVE to cruise: 1) You can TOTALLY disconnect from the outside world and relax.  You "can" use internet/cell phones, etc...if you have a burning desire to do so or perhaps "need" to do so...but it is the one way you can truly vacation without any of these things and feel totally "safe" doing so. I know many people don't like to "leave their phone" at home during a normal vacation because there is a nagging feeling that you may need the phone for some safety situation (car breaks down, etc..) On a cruise ship, this does not apply. We did (for the first time EVER) buy an internet package onboard this time because we were away for 2 entire weeks w/one of our daughters not "feeling well" the morning we left. It gave us peace of mind. But, we only used the internet once every 2 days-to check on her and for my hubby to "delete" his work email so he wouldn't have 10,000 to evaluate when he returned. Cruise lines "discourage" the use of technology on board by charging astronomically for these services that are used via satellite. 150 minutes of internet usage cost us $100...outrageous! But, again, this is the first time we've ever purchased this and it was for peace of mind on our part-not because we can't relax or "disconnect". I prefer to totally disconnect and just enjoy the people/activities on board...that is all of the "connection" I need.  2) Have the opportunity to be PAMPERED for X amount of days on board the ship. Truly, the cruise industry are masters of taking care of their customers. You truly want for nothing-pretty much the "way" you are pampered is up to you. You can choose "free style" dining-which means you can go to a dining room at whatever time you want, every night, dressed smart casual, etc...or you can choose to dress in smart casual and head to the main dining room every night(at an assigned dining time) where you will be seated w/other cruisers that you will get to know during the duration of the cruise as they will set w/you night after night-here you also get the SAME wait staff which allows them to learn your habits, make recommendations, and serve you more efficiently.  There is also the choice of a casual "buffet" line on the upper deck-you can dress VERY casually here-as long as you are covered and have shoes on...pretty much anything goes here. There is also the option of room service on board the ship. Room service is 24 hrs/day and is "included" in the price of your cruise. You never have to leave your cabin OR the ship if you prefer not to! Several cruise ships also have "specialty" restaurants onboard...these are reservation only and are usually about $25/person cover charge, but the restaurants are absolutely outstanding-each of them have their own chef/staff just for the restaurant. Normally it will take 2 hours for a 4 course dinner here-you can eat/order as much/little as you'd like while here. Besides the various "pampering" options of dining, you also have a special steward that takes care of your cabin (room on the ship). 3) Room pampering-this is another reason we love to cruise. Your room/beds/linens/etc... will be refreshed a minimum of 2X/day UNLESS you put out the "do not disturb" sign. Every night you will have a clean, turned back bed w/chocolate on your pillow-YUMMY! Every morning when you return from b'fast, your bed will be made-you literally don't have to do ANYTHING but take care of packing before you come on the cruise, then you can "unpack" once and enjoy this all-inclusive experience onboard a ship. I don't know about you, but if my bathroom gets cleaned, towels washed/replaced, bed made, etc...at home, it's done by ME and most certainly (w/exception of the bed) isn't done every day! 4) Value-a cruise can be an AMAZING vacation value! For many years it was thought to be a vacation just for the "elite" or "retired/elderly".  My only regret is that we bought into that stereotype and didn't do more research ourselves instead of assuming it was "out of our reach/range". We would have a LOT more cruises in our travel adventures if we'd only known. That's why I enjoy sharing everything I can w/others about cruising so they will have a "realistic" picture of what it is/what to expect.  After reevaluating previous vacations our family/we have taken through the years...yeah, cruising can be a pretty sweet deal-monetarily/comparatively. Don't misunderstand, there are some "expensive" cruises, but knowing WHERE to go to look for deals, etc...when to purchase, etc...is part of the adventure of cruising. Cruising is "all inclusive"...again, you CAN spend more money once onboard if you choose to, but you don't HAVE to, it is your choice. Once you arrive at the port of call to board the ship (your responsible for your expense to arrive there), the only "outside" expense you will incur is a $12/day per person charge for tips for your wait staff/room steward (even these can be paid in advance) or the expense of any "planned" excursions (trips off the ship at various ports) that you choose to take. Where else can you get a hotel, transportation, GOURMET food around the clock, room service, and broadway style entertainment/shows for less than $100/person per day? Like I mentioned before-it's WONDERFUL to get on the ship and know I pack once/unpack once and I'm DONE! This brings me to another reason we love to cruise 5) Seeing the world...what other form of travel allows you to see/visit so many DIFFERENT sites, places, etc... in just a few days time? You simply get on the ship and start enjoying your "city on a boat"-eat, relax, go to shows, activities on board, etc... until you arrive at your first "port of call"-then you get to "sleep" through the night while your driver (the captain of the ship) takes you to your next destination. What a fantastic way to see the world! 6) Food/Entertainment/Excursions on board-wow, I can't speak highly enough about these things. The cruise industry are absolute marvels at taking care of, entertaining, and making your vacation special w/myriads of activities, food, etc...that appeal to everyone. Truly, there is something for everyone. At times it can be almost overwhelming the "choices" on board a cruise ship. No matter what you enjoy- trivia, learning to line dance classes, exercise in a gym, learning ball room dancing, bingo, watching movies, learning about cultures of places you will visit while onboard, music-piano, symphony, classical, quartets, ratpack, relaxing in a hot tub, pool, lounging in the sun, karaoke,etc... there is almost always something for everyone's taste. The good thing is-you choose what and IF you do any/all of the activities, it truly is your choice! 7) Finally, I would say we enjoy cruising because we enjoy getting to know different people from all over the world. It expands our minds to consider the reality that we truly live in a very big world and it is interesting to share experiences/time on board w/other people from all over the globe.

So, now that I've shared why we love to cruise. Let me speak specifically to cruise lines. To date, I have taken 7 cruises w/6 different cruise lines. Though there are some "standards" that are true among cruise lines across the board-there are some things that make each line a little "different"-hence their own little niche in the market. We have purposefully tried various cruise lines while trying to decide WHICH line we would be "loyal" to so that we can begin building "reward" points/specials for cruising again/again. This cruise, we decided that Princess Cruises will be our "official" line of choice. Let me say that there are some "things" about other lines that we liked better...onesies/twosies...but when we evaluated the "entire" experience, we decided Princess would suit our needs very well in the future. I'm sure you are wondering WHAT were the things we liked better about other lines. Our favorite cruise line food, overall, is Celebrity cruises. WOW-their sushi bars, etc...really were "stellar" and "included".  HOWEVER, the thing you need to know about Celebrity is that it is a MUCH more expensive line to cruise and does not have the overall "availability" of cruise ports around the world that Princess does. Princess is the ONLY line that offers "significant" discounts to military/retired military families (up to $250/person per cruise)...this is a big consideration for us considered this benefit will "pay us" again/again as we cruise. The only line that had "stellar" bedding was Holland-America-I refuse to be loyal to a line that's theme is "those dam ships" (out of Holland-hence, all of it's ships end in "dam"-Amsterdam, Zollendam, etc...). Some may say that is petty-but to me it's a matter of principle. We did like the "set up" of the interior staterooms on Princess...it's the only ship we've been on that has the closet area/bathroom area "behind" a wall and doesn't come directly into the room.  Hands down, the "entertainment" on Princess was the best we've ever experienced. Every night you have a "choice" of 2 different main "after dinner" shows. On all other lines, there has only been once choice of show. There are also 3 different "seating times" for these shows-on all other lines-only 2 seating times. The activities on board-offerings, etc...were excellent on Princess...choices many/varied w/fantastic "schedule" that changed every day(free Zumba classes w/licensed instructor-fab!). A couple of other "extras" on Princess we had not experienced on other lines-"Movies under the stars" is a program where they have a GIGANTIC outdoor theater screen above the main pool area and show movies while a "popcorn" steward brings you freshly popped popcorn while you enjoy a "new" motion picture film.  The choices were many/varied in this as well...something for EVERYONE by the end of the cruise. Also, the staterooms/cabins had an EXCELLENT choice of tv viewing opportunities...changed EVERY day...NEVER the same/no repeats. Had modern TV, retro TV, family programs, discovery, new movies, etc...so if you didn't want to leave your cabin-you could have a LOT of choice of things to watch in the cabin!  Princess and Celebrity are the ONLY lines that offer their OWN tenders to shore. Tenders are "small" boats that hold about 250 people that take people to shore when the ship has to "anchor" offshore because of depth of water, etc... in particular ports. IF a ship has it's own tenders/system, they operate so much more effectively than "waiting" for a hired company, offshore, to take passengers back/forth. We were VERY pleased w/that as well. The clientele aboard Princess was suitable for us. It was the FIRST cruiseline that we felt, overall, everyone was "classy"...not SNOBS by any means, just classy and respectable. 75% of the cruisers aboard were over the age of 60-just about the exact opposite of Carnival (our least favorite). Given that we are getting older every year and hope to cruise twice/year once John retires-we want to be on a line that "caters" to those that are older. Though these folks were older in age, many were not old in stamina. Wow-they would stay up and dance w/their spouse for hours on end...true ballroom dancing which is TOUGH stuff to do hour after hour. However, the "excursions" were primarily for an older audience which appeals to us. Though we enjoy the beauty of tropical islands-we are not INTO the beach/bikini scene per se. We prefer to see the islands, get out among the people, have experiences, etc...a beach is a beach as far as we are concerned.  Another thing w/the older crowd is that there was a very high level of "respectability" in the way people dressed/behaved throughout the cruise-this was nice. A final thing that helped us decide Princess was the line for us was the "diminished" push for alcohol sales and casino on board. The cruiselines make their "money" off of casinos and the sale of alcohol on board. They don't make money off of people that choose NOT to gamble or drink only the complimentary beverages (ice tea, lemonade, coffee, hot tea, water).  Most other lines are VERY pushy about the sales of these items. We did NOT find this to be the case at all on Princess. Though some people did have an occassional glass of wine w/dinner or after dinner cocktail-the use of alcohol was GREATLY below what I've seen on other lines and we did not see even ONE person that had too much to drink and was obnoxious because of it during the entire 14 days. That was certainly a first for us. Again, some lines are worse than others in reputation concerning this.

Now that you know WHY we, personally, have chosen Princess-let me tell you a bit about this particular cruise. Let me explain that until this cruise, the longest we have been on is 7 days. This was 14 days at sea. We had no idea if we'd "like" the longer cruise, if we'd get "bored", etc...for us it was absolutely amazing! We LOVED having a relaxing 5 days at sea-going to Hawaii-4 days in 4 different Hawaiian islands-then 5 days returning to "recuperate" from the hectic/busy days in the islands. Before, we experienced 2 days at sea, 3 days in ports, and 2 days back at sea. In retrospect-not "enough" time on the ship. That's just our personal preference. We "like" to relax, spend time in activities on board, get to "know" people on board, etc...it's part of what we love about cruising-the CRUISE itself-not just the destinations! Hawaii...well it was beautiful. We would LOVE to go back to Maui in the future. It was our favorite island. We would like to fly in, rent a car, "camp"around the island at the various "free" public beaches and eat very simple whole foods while enjoying the full island experience. We enjoy "village hopping" wherever we visit and Maui is exactly the type of island to enjoy different little towns/shops/etc... Our favorite excursion was the visit to Haleakala Crater on Maui-most amazing site I have ever seen. Truly, looked just like the surface of the moon. Just outstanding display of God's creation.  Yes, Hawaii was beautiful-but we were surprised by a few things. First, we were surprised that Oahu was SO commercialized/it was just like an average big American city w/high rises and all-really took away from the simplicity of the island. John had opportunity to be stationed there about 4 years ago-I'm glad it wasn't God's plan for us to go there. I would NOT have liked living on such a beautiful island w/so much modern architecture. We were also surprised by the lack of wildlife/birds, etc... in the Hawaiian islands. Never thought about it before we were there...but the islands have all of these GORGEOUS tropical plants, foliage, etc...but VERY few animals (except CHICKENS and a few javalina-which they EAT!) and wild birds. It seemed very strange to be in a rain forest like environment and not hear birds, monkeys, etc... just weird to us.

This was our favorite cruise ever, thanks foremost to God, then Princess cruises and it being a TRULY relaxing vacation for 14 days. We felt that it was well deserved after being separated for an entire year-this was our first "get away" (except our trip to Cali in Nov which was unexpected) since John returned from the desert. We could not have chosen a better vacation to focus on "us" again. This was the best vacation we've ever had-because it was just the 2 of us, alone, being pampered, and focusing/enjoying just being together. I felt like a PRINCESS the entire cruise-like I had found my Prince and was being treated like royalty w/no concerns for housekeeping, meals, children, schedules, etc...for just a few days. Dressed up every night and went to a LOVELY fancy/gourmet dinner w/the love of my life then enjoyed after dinner music, shows, etc...truly, it was amazing. It was amazing because God granted us this wonderful gift...this gift of a special cruise vacation to celebrate 25 years of commitment/love to one another in holy matrimony. Throughout scripture, God talks about the beauty of marriage and I appreciate His blessing to us in this cruise vacation to celebrate our love!

I will close with this final thought that may seem "totally" unrelated to this blog, but think about it and perhaps you will see the connection. I mentioned I felt like a Princess during this cruise-while experiencing God's wonderful gift of Creation and having time to just "reflect" on my life, I realize how much I look forward to Heaven. In Heaven I will have none of these concerns either-what I will eat, wear, responsibilities, housekeeping, etc...Because I am ALREADY God's Princess, I will simply "relax" and "be" in the presence of my Heavenly Father. Singing praises to His great name in such fantastic "classy" company as the apostle Paul, Moses, Joshua, Joseph, etc... and mostly Jesus, Himself! So, until I reach Heaven, I will be God's Princess here and let Princess cruises remind me of the glories to come each/every time I have opportunity to cruise with them!

Christmas and what it means to me

As I sit here on this Christmas Eve, I type by the lights on my tree-one of the joys and pleasures that I cherish each year during this season. I have enjoyed reading all of my fb friends post this evening about their various celebrations w/family and friends as well as the preparing that Santa and Mrs. Claus is doing for children I know all over the globe. I don't normally post about Christmas, but this year I find that my heart is full to overflowing with what Christmas has come to mean to me over the years. I have ALWAYS enjoyed every holiday, but Christmas has always been my favorite. There are several reasons for this, I loved it so much that I CHOSE to be married at Christmas time and even had Christmas flowers in my bouquet! However, the main reason that I love Christmas goes back to my childhood. I have SO many memories involving Christmas and not just during the holiday season. Part of my "legacy" is that I have parents that worked at a Christmas decoration factory for a large period of my childhood. They manufactured ornaments-particularly beautiful glass balls w/glitter, bands, pictures, etc...and eventually even "shaped" blown glass style ornaments which have come to be my favorite over the years. Christmas was around me ALL year...not just at Christmas time. One of the first times I ever remember earning money was during the summer when I was about 9, I sat for several hours during the day and used an old fashioned paper cutter to cut boxes of "bands" (on the dotted lines) that would be melted around the glass balls at the factory. Of course this was before automated machines did this job, so yes, I suppose this statement "dates" me a bit!lol But, perhaps this gives you a bit of insight into WHY Christmas is special to me.

Last year at this time, my family was not all together for Christmas. My hubby was half way through his 1 year tour in Qatar and we "postponed" our Christmas celebration until mid-January when he returned. Last year, the girls/I were with my sister and her family in Blackwater, Missouri(our future retirement home in 3 years time:) For the first time, my girls were blessed to help play the role of "Santa" for my nieces and got to see the way things work "behind the scenes" at Santa's workshop-we have some great memories from our 3 days at my sister's last year and wouldn't trade them!  It was fun to "step back in time" and see Christmas through the eyes of very young children. It had been many years since my own girls have experienced that childhood "wonder" that comes during the Christmas season, so it was a joy for all 3 of us.  This year, we are blessed to ALL be together again. John has been "home" with us for 6 months now, Rebecca has "returned" home to us (in a new abode in Arizona) from her sophomore year in college after being away for 5 months, and we are all healthy/well just enjoying "life" together during this most wonderful time of the year.  It's interesting how as we and our children grow/mature, the meaning of Christmas can grow/mature with us.

 I suppose, for me, the "root" of what Christmas means to me is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Besides the short period of time in my life that I was a VERY young child and only thought of "myself" and what Santa would bring ME-Christmas has always meant a time of love spent with those that mean the most to me.  My experience has been that it doesn't matter what's under the tree, what food is on the table, who the day is shared with, etc...but the LOVE that is shared is what Christmas is all about. Love is such a beautiful word and one that the bible speaks of again and again. Though it's a very misused/abused/misunderstood word in our modern culture, when we return to the root of the word-we find God. GOD IS LOVE! Without God, we would not know love nor understand it. I am thankful for love-the love of my husband, children, parents, siblings, friends, brethren, and most of all, the love of God. At Christmas time, more than any other time of year-I am reminded of love. It is expressed every where I go. Sometimes in a material gift-the idea that someone "thought" enough about another to take the time and financial resources to purchase something for them. Sometimes in a party/festivity-someone takes the time and financial resources necessary to arrange a place for others to be together/enjoy one another's company. Sometimes it's in a meal-someone takes the time to prepare special foods and shares it with others. Sometimes it's in a beautifully holiday decorated home-someone took the time and financial resources to plan, decorate, and display special things for others to enjoy.  Sometimes in "time"-the fact that so many slow down for this ONE day a year and just spend "time" with those they care about. Any/all of these things CAN express love, however they don't always. The motivation behind these "acts of kindness" speak more to the idea of real love. Real love can be found in Jesus. Jesus came to this world to be born as a baby, live His life as a man, and die on the cross/was raised again so that ALL mankind could have the opportunity to come into relationship with God. There was NOTHING in it for Him. He did it, because He loved us and chose to obey His Father in all things. So, tonight I am reminded of what Christmas means to me....love. The love that I have for others, the love they have for me, and most of all the love of God which came through His Son, Jesus. While I know the bible does not speak of "Christmas" as a holiday we are commanded to celebrate as Jesus birth, I am thankful to have a time of year that I am reminded how very important love is. A love I could not know if it were not for God sending His Son into this world as Emmanuel-God with us.

It is my prayer that we can ALL live our lives as Elvis Presley sang in these words of a song:
"If every day were like Christmas, what a wonderful world this would be!"  I challenge my readers-until next Christmas-make EVERY day like Christmas. Share love w/others-just "do life"with them, no matter the day of year. Take time to spend a day off with those you love, purchase something special for them-for "no reason" in particular, plan a special meal for them using the "good" china, decorate for a "special" day together that isn't "on the calendar" as a holiday, etc...I challenge all of us to do LIFE as though every day were Christmas. It is possible, if we don't get "caught up in the details" (like so many of us can/often do this time of year). Keep the focus on love-mainly the love of God and all that He has done for us. Merry Christmas to all that may read this blog and may we keep the spirit of Christmas(love) alive every day in our hearts.

Tragedy-lessons to learn

In light of the mass shooting event that occurred at an elementary school in Connecticut, I thought I would share some of the thoughts I've had w/regard to many posts I've seen on fb and in the news. First, let me start by saying that it is absolutely inhumane what has happened. It is without natural affection that any human being can take another human being's life, much less dozens of them. My heart breaks for all involved in this tragedy, but my heart also breaks for all of us that are trying to process such a godless act.  I thought I would hit on a few, not all, of the things I have observed with regards to this event. Please know that these are my thoughts only. They are based on the experience I have in life, my love for discovering the truth of what God would have me know/learn, and on my own common sense given the situation. You may disagree with me and that is o.k. I use this forum simply to share my own thoughts and give all of my readers something serious to consider. I do not use it to cause dissension, disagreement, or to set in judgement on anyone else's opinions. It is also not my intent to cover every issue in great detail, just hit a few that I've recognized initially.

Let's just get the big pink elephant out of the room...gun control. Is gun control the issue at hand? Absolutely not! Self control is the issue at hand, or should I say the lack thereof. God has every answer for every thing we may face and He tells us a fruit of the spirit is self control. It may be cliche-but it's true-guns don't kill people, PEOPLE kill people. Let's get real-it is evident that the teachers at Sandy Hook did EVERYTHING in their power/control to protect the lives of their students.  That is to be admired in this society when so many of our citizens think "every man for himself" and are so self driven. It makes me proud that we had so many HEROES trying to do the right thing to preserve the lives of the students they loved.  Here's my thought about gun control...it will be an absolute disaster if we take guns out of the hands of "law abiding" citizens that will use them properly. Those that want to "kill" will use whatever methods are necessary to do so...look at history. GUNS are not the "weapon of choice" for brutalized killers in history. Gas chambers, bombs, etc...numerous other "devices" have brought millions to their deaths, not because of the "device" used-but because of the hearts of the men using the device! The men's hearts are evil, lack self control, and the root of course is that they do not respect GOD! If they did, they would NEVER take the lives of another person that contains a soul that was created in His image. Here's my common sense solution-let's allow the teachers in the classroom to have a gun to protect their children. That's what we did on aircraft after 9-11.  Things would certainly have turned out differently on Friday in Connecticut. These teachers PROVED that they would do anything-even stand in front of-to protect the children. So, why not give them the means they need to keep something like this from occurring, let's "level" the playing field. If just ONE law-abiding,  God-fearing, child-protecting staff member had a gun in that building on Friday-the shooter is possibly the ONLY one that would have died and the innocent could have been preserved/protected. I don't understand why anyone would believe that "guns" are the issue....guns are a TOOL and there are plenty of other tools a person that "sets his heart" (scriptural language for you there) to murder another person WILL use. In this case, it is OBVIOUS that this young man had his "heart" set on murder. We need to keep guns and make sure as many GOOD people have them/can use them as the enemies.

Which brings me to my second point. The hearts of men. THAT is the issue here. WHY did this young man commit murder against so many young lives? That seems to be the question that everyone wants an answer to. Unless there is significant proof that the young man was mentally impaired (which would mean he should have been institutionalized to protect others)-so far, this is not the case. So, for the sake of this blog entry-I am going to assume that he was just your average person with no lack of mental capacity. Some may say, "Wait, how could you NOT have a mental problem and kill all of those innocent children?" Because of lack of self control and the lack of God being the center of a person's life. WITHOUT God as the center, guess WHO reigns in men's hearts?  Yes, you guessed it, Satan. Each individual person chooses whether they will allow God or Satan be at the center of their lives. Only one of them can be your ruler. So, when Satan is your "ruler" of choice, you will perform the evil works of darkness. My fear is that so many people believe they just don't have to "choose", that they can just be a "good person" and that means they are on God's side. NOT TRUE...if you want to be on God's side-you must do the things necessary to join "HIS army". So, therefore, if you have not CHOSEN to be in the Lord's Army, you are by "default" in Satan's and don't be deceived, you WILL find yourself among some of the world's most deceitful, disgusting, criminals in Satan's army. I challenge us all to look seriously at our own lives and "declare war" against Satan. Make GOD the King of your life, let HIM be your Commander and ruler. If the young man that committed this crime in Connecticut had God as his center, he would NOT have been a part of this tragedy. We have to be about changing the "souls/hearts" of people. This starts by bringing God back INTO our homes, schools, society at large. If we buy into the philosophy that so many schools teach as "truth" today-then we are all just "animals" that evolved and when we are dead, we are dead-there is nothing else. We cannot allow Satan to take more innocent lives through this vain philosophy-it is a LIE! We are created in God's image, we have an eternal soul, and EVERY life is valuable...even the life of the shooter-Jesus died for HIS sins too-he just chose not to recognize that fact. Will you, dear reader, recognize that fact? Will you take and learn this lesson from the crime against us?

Finally, I just want to finish with something VERY positive. The fact that God is such an amazing/awesome God. His ways are perfect and His promises are true. NONE of these events comes as a surprise to God. He has told us over and over throughout history (through His Word) that man "cannot live on bread alone"...we NEED HIM! It is in times like these that I take great comfort in God's word. I know that every one of these children are now safe in the arms of Jesus. Interesting how in one moment a shooter can "mean something for harm" yet God brings good from it. This shooter was evil and inflicted "evil" on these young lives, but God took all of that away the moment their breath left their little bodies. They will NEVER know any more pain in this world, no more suffering, no more tears, they will never have to hear about future shootings/tragedies-for they are in the safe place of the arms of Jesus-forever comforted and happy. We can rest assured that the shooter is not. Because God's word is true-He is a just God and promises that all those that partake in the evil works of darkness will meet eternal condemnation in hell. I am sorry that the shooter did not choose a different path for himself. But, God allows us to "choose", He does not make us robots. He wants us to CHOOSE to love/serve Him and choose we all must-either God or Satan-those are the ONLY choices we have. So, today, I rejoice in knowing that these innocent young children are with our Savior, resting in His arms. I pray that each/every family member, loved one, etc...of those children will KNOW this truth. The truth that the children are now safe. I pray that they will CHOOSE God to be the center of their lives. That they will join their children and be reunited once again.

My final thought is simply this. This life is meant to prepare us for eternity. We are created to love/serve God here on this earth...journeying through until eternity. The question is-will we pass this test? ARE we living our lives, every day, with God as the center? God will not FORCE anyone to choose Him. He gives us free will. No matter what happens in this life-even tragic events like Friday in Connecticut-we can know FOR SURE that if we are following God, it helps make life so much easier to understand/process. We realize that God wants us to DEPEND on Him, that's what we are created for. To learn, through life's circumstances, that without Him, there is NO HOPE! But, with Him, there is great hope and the choice is ours.

WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT...

October 23, 2012

Haven't blogged in nearly 2 months. Mainly because I am just living my life in a new place. Still getting "settled", making it our home, adjusting to new surroundings, enjoying new experiences and building new relationships.  Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. To my readers I ask the question, "What is life about?" For all that know me, truly understand my "heart", they will already know the answer that I would give to that question. I am curious what others out there in blog land believe life is about.

For me, it's very simple. Life is about 2 things-both of which can be found in the Bible, God's holy word. These 2 things are fairly simple, yet Jesus reminds us that they are the "greatest" commands.  Even though they may sound fairly simple, they are sometimes difficult to keep in "focus" during our day to day lives.  Simply put...#1-love the Lord God w/all of your heart, mind, and soul and #2-love your neighbor as yourself.  The wisest man to ever live tells us in Ecclesiastes that "The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments".  Because I am a child of God, this is what I try to live in my life each and every day. I try to remain focused on what is important for "eternity"...not just today. Eternity is what life is all about!  I read this morning, a challenge, where someone had suggested that everyone read in the  book of Ecclesiastes. After reading the passage, someone else commented that the writer needed "prozac" and how we should just live and enjoy this life for all it is....the implication being that this IS all there is.  Oh dear reader how that made my soul sad.  I am sorry for anyone that believes that this earthly life is all there is. I am sorry that they don't understand God/His love and desire to dwell within the hearts of all mankind.  However, though many perhaps would not be as bold to say it, I fear that we often live our lives as though we believe that lie. The lie that Satan tells us all-"this life is all there is...live it up, enjoy it, then you die".

Why is this on my heart today? It is because once again, the crushing brutal reality of this world and the "death" Satan brought into it has yet again affected those that I love.  My heart aches because my niece, Amber, has lost her Mom (only 40 yrs of age), in a sudden/unexpected way. I have seen a lot of tragedy in my lifetime that has affected myself and those I love dearly. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I am always so sensitive to those that are affected by tragedy, I understand the pain, I've experienced it. You might say, "isn't every death tragic"?  For me the answer would definitely be "no".  Some death is "expected".  We all know that our bodies are not designed to keep functioning effectively for periods of time longer than about 70 years...that's what God says and He is the Creator. Yes, there are people that live longer lives than that. But, still we do understand that death is an imminent part of living in this world. For me, that's what makes it SO sad when others believe that this life is all there is.  What a hopeless thought. Tragedy is when someone that is "young" leaves this life well before what is considered their "appointed time". Granted, a loss is a loss, regardless of the age of the person we have lost. But certainly the affect that a given death has on a family/community is VERY different when that person is young, has young children, etc...

As I think about the days ahead for my niece and her siblings, I am reminded of so many passages of scripture. First, that "life is a vapor".  So, knowing and understanding this-how do I live my life each day that demonstrates this?  Do I live "like there's no tomorrow"? Am I careful to be thoughtful in my words-encouraging those around me to remember what's important-to love God and others. Do I keep my life activity/busy schedule/priorities in an order that God desires...remembering that this life is here one day and gone the next? Am I living my life prepared for eternity by "loving" Him first and others second?

Second, I am reminded that God is the giver of all good things.  Satan brought death into this world, but it is God that brought the resurrection of the dead through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Do I live each moment of the day reminded of all of the "good" God has given to me/blessed me with? Do I complain that life is "unfair" or do I fully understand/accept that this life is not supposed to be "fair"? This life is designed to be a preparing ground for eternity. A time that we become "dependent" upon God for His strength, love and support. A time that we learn without Him, life is meaningless and eternity hopeless.

Finally, do I live in such a way that would honor the lives of those who have gone before me? Whether we are talking about  military members who have fought for my freedom, a family member/friend that was tragically taken from this life, or most importantly Jesus who bought freedom from sin to all those that obey Him and are washed in His blood.  The life I live affects other people. Just as those that have left this life before us affected many lives-whether for good or evil. A person is never an island. We are built/designed to live in community, therefore our lives will/do affect other people. Even the most introverted person's life affects other people in some way. Perhaps it's only in a person's death that we come to understand/contemplate the affect that they have had on others. That's a shame. We really should take notice NOW/TODAY of the affects that other people are having on our lives and that we have in theirs. We should take the time to TELL the people around us those things-whether good or bad. We need to make one another accountable for our time here on this earth. Remind one another to live for eternity. If someone is making/has made a positive difference in your life-tell them that. Encourage them so that they can live/love others even more deeply and positively affect even more people. If someone around you is affecting you negatively-tell them that. Explain to them how they are hurting you and those around them while reminding them of the importance of eternity and keeping life in proper perspective.

I was blessed to know/spend time with my niece's Mom, Christy. She was a part of our family for the last 16 years.  She was a blessing to all that knew her. I am glad that I told her that/encouraged her-for she in turn did the same for me, many times.  Christy would comment on my blog-particularly when I wrote about my Mom. She knew/adored my Mom and always reminded me of the powerful influence my Mom was on her. Christy was "there" for our family during my Mom's death.  She was loyal beyond measure in helping my Dad keep the house cleaned "just the way" Mom did.  She often remarked about how she knew that would make my Mom happy and that it was helping my Dad get through that time until he could find his OWN way and figure out what he could live with in regards to housekeeping.  When I think of Christy, I think of love for family, loyalty to family, and lots of laughter. She had a heart full of joy and laughed often. She had her share of trials in this life and she did not live her life in perfection. But, she certainly was a woman that understood what was "important", she lived her life in love. Now, she will live on through my niece and her 2 siblings. Her legacy is left behind in 3 breathing souls that now have the opportunity to honor their Mom's life through living their own with "remembrance" of all that she taught them. The irony of it all is that Christy's life/my Mom's life mirror one another so very much. Christy was a YOUNG Mom (17)-so was my Mom (16).  Christy was a YOUNG Grandma (39)-so was my Mom (38). Christy's life ended in a sudden/unexpected way at a YOUNG age (40)-so did my Mom's (50).  Another irony...my niece and I have lives that have mirrored one another-we both had YOUNG Mom's-but were blessed that they loved us enough to keep us, raise us as their own, and become strong women that others admire/look up to. We both lost our Mom at a very tender time in our own lives-when our own children were young. I know what pain/heartache my niece is experiencing. I know how difficult it is to think about your own children never having the blessing/pleasure of KNOWING your Mom.  But, the one thing I have perspective on that my niece hasn't had enough life experience yet to understand-is that though her Mom is removed from her physically, her influence is ever with her. My niece wrote today on her fb page, "I just want to hear my Mom's voice".  I told her to "listen" and she would hear it. I believe that. No, she will not "audibly" hear her Mom's voice w/her ears...but she will with her heart. She will KNOW what her Mom is saying to her, wants for her, etc...because she has been blessed to have a Mom that loved her, taught her about the important things in life, showed her how to love others through her example, etc...her "voice" will always be with her through each day of her life.

So reader-what is life about. Life is about "hearing" the voice.  What voice you may ask? The voice that Jesus repeatedly reminded the disciples of during His time here on earth.  The voice of God.  Numerable times throughout scripture, Jesus tells His disciples to "he that has ears, let him hear."  Jesus is saying the same thing to us..."listen" to His voice. Hear what He is saying. Come to know and understand WHY you are put on this earth and what this life is all about. Loving God and loving others. It's THAT simple. Now, let God speak to you, hear His voice through His holy word. Live your life in a way that honors God-through loving Him first and others. THAT my friend is what life is all about. I feel blessed to have shared just a little part of "life" with Christy and am thankful for the love she showed me.

Our "Marley"

As I sit here this afternoon, my head is swirling w/ideas of things I could blog about. So much has happened in the last couple of months since I blogged here that I have plenty of subject matter for sure. However, today, I have decided to share a thought that came to me after watching the film "Marley and Me" earlier this week.

The thought is simply this reader...what is your "Marley"?  Perhaps I should clarify what I mean by that. In case you have never seen the film, it is about a young couple that becomes engaged, married, has children, change jobs, change locations to live, etc... but during this entire journey of their life, they have a dog, named Marley, who is with them every step of the journey. Of course, dogs do not live forever and they face living life without Marley for the first time.  I know that many may disagree and perhaps I "think" too much and really should learn to enjoy a film strictly for entertainment-but, I believe that Marley is a metaphor for all of our lives. We all have a "Marley" that at some point we must release and let go of.

For myself, I would suppose that my "Marley" has been the life of being an AF spouse. This is the ONE external/earthly thing that has been present w/my husband and I from the beginning. However, it will be coming to an end in just 30 short months.  I know, to many of you 2 1/2 years seems like a long time-but at this stage in my life it truly is just a blip on the screen! So, I've reflected (as the movie did) this week on my life as an AF spouse and this wonderful journey. Yes, it has been wonderful. I have been SO blessed to be able to meet so many people, visit and live in many "foreign" lands (of course anything is foreign when you are born/raised in small town America like I was), interact with many from various cultures, etc...  Of course I don't mean to indicate that everything about our "Marley" has been without difficulties. Yes, there have been difficult people, scary times in living in/visiting foreign places, etc... Much like the movie-Marley was described as the "worst dog ever" and was even kicked out of doggy obedience school.  So, yes, this life has offered challenges.  But, again, thinking about the end of the movie-in the end-when Marley is dying-all of those around him whose lives have been affected day in/out by him realize that truly, he was the greatest dog EVER!  That's how I feel about my "Marley". Even through the difficulties of being separated from family during important life events/day to day celebrations, trying to communicate with and learn the cultures of foreign lands, trying to navigate roads and drive in foreign lands, learning to work with Christians from various places around the world and respect their judgements/cultures/etc..., being separated from my spouse for deployments/AF conferences/training schools, being a stay at home Mom w/toddlers and a spouse that worked 12-14 hour days, unpacking/setting up a household every 3-4 years, etc... and the list could go on and on. I wake up every day and thank God for such a blessing. Without it, I would not be the person I am today.  I would not have grown in the ways that I have.  Grown to appreciate/enjoy life wherever the AF sends us.  I would not have learned to "jump right in" and just become the best friend, sister in Christ, mentor, wife/mother, etc... I can be regardless of where I am living at the time. Through this experience I have learned that time is precious and we should make every moment count. I have learned to invest in people-for truly no matter where you live in this world-it is the people you surround yourself with that will make a difference in your day to day life. Foremost, I have learned to appreciate/better understand the providence of God and the ways that He has uniquely gifted me and that my job is to get in and figure that out/use my talents to His glory wherever I am living at the time.  Love as many people as possible...no matter what their age, skin color, heritage, etc...that we are all created by God and He put each of us here to serve Him. I've learned to help others learn from my experience/perspective on life. Truly, I have been blessed in ways innumerable.

But, my Marley will soon be leaving my life. In just 2 1/2 short years I will say "goodbye" to my Marley. Just like the movie-I have mixed emotions about it. I am so very proud of my husband that will have served this great nation of ours for 30 years.  I have made some wonderful memories with friends/brethren/and my core family members all over the globe and am thankful for each/every one!  I've never known an adult life "without" this Marley. It will be another first. But, as every part of this journey has been...I face it with great anticipation of what is to come. I'm sure I will find a new "Marley". Perhaps it will be my "place" in the small community or church where we retire.  Perhaps it will be my newfound "empty nest" with my husband.  It may even be grandparenthood.  We all have a "Marley"-whether it is a person/comfort zone/job/place we live/etc...  The one thing I do know is that we all must say "goodbye" to a Marley at some point in our lives.  This is how God created it to be.  For ultimately, God wants us to be dependent ONLY upon Him.  He is the only sure thing. He is THE thing that will be here with us not only during our journey in THIS life, but also eternity in Heaven if we seek His will and obey Him.  I look forward to discovering my new "Marley" in a couple of years time-but for now, I will continue to enjoy my "Marley" and treasure every moment of the journey no matter how simple, complicated, or insignificant it may seem to anyone else and I will praise God from whom all blessings flow:)

6 months gone?

It does not even seem possible that I have not blogged in a half year???? Life has been just a little hectic since my last blog the end of December. For those of you that are friends on fb, you totally understand my crazy life since January! I won't even begin to try to recount everything that has happened in the last 6 months. However, given that my last blog was about the idea of contentment, let me just say in the last 2 weeks, I have not done very well in that department:(  I have been extremely edgy, almost depressed at times, definitely not my normal self. I could give a million "reasons" for that, though really they would be nothing more than excuses. Though some of you might find them "justifiable" even (given my current life situation), I have been disappointed in myself, the way that I've let life "handle" me instead of me allowing God to handle my life-truly giving it to Him and leaving it there. I haven't slept well, a million thoughts have swirled through my mind given the "to do" list I've had, I haven't had the time to exercise regularly/eat "clean" the way that I've grown accustomed in the last year and a half. So, yes, it's all been a bit stressful and I have not been a person of gratitude/contentment. I admit that, humbly, and can only say that I have learned a lot more about myself and the areas of character (like Christ) that I need to grow in. It has also "reaffirmed" that truly, without God, I am nothing. I am weak and I cannot imagine a life without Christ as the center. Without God, I would certainly have resorted to many sinful/non-helpful habits in the last few weeks to get me through the days. Praise God that I was at least aware enough to keep myself from outward sin that might harm my influence/example with others. However, I did struggle inwardly. I admit that I just wanted to throw a big tantrum at times and "tell a few folks off"...though certainly that would not have been the way Jesus dealt with it. Oh, don't misunderstand, Jesus DID correct those that were in sin-He even overthrew the money changers tables. However, in my case, I know He would have said, "Get over yourself, change your attitude, things aren't going "smoothly", big deal, it's not the end of the world-things didn't go smoothly for Me either and I was crucified on a Cross for sins I did not even commit!"  So, you see, I've basically been a big baby, a big selfish baby that just wanted people to "do their job" so there was no inconvenience to me. Well, that didn't happen and I allowed myself to be frustrated, even angry, about it at times. I allowed it to become an excuse to not speak kindly to others (as I normally try to do and am characterized by). With this realization I have prayed forgiveness from God for my unholy attitude of the heart and I am "forgetting what is behind and pressing forward to the goal".  I have another 6 months this year to make some real difference with my "word" of the year, contentment and I pray that I will be able to report that I have done just that. In the meantime, I pray that each of my readers will learn from me, there's NO circumstance in your life that can occur that can steal your joy unless you allow it.

Bring on 2012!

I sit here this morning w/dozens of thoughts running through my head. Thoughts of happenings during the last year and of things that I anticipate that are to come. This post will primarily be about my word of the year for 2012. I was talking w/a friend yesterday about my 2011 focus word, "health"-she was actually congratulating me on how far I've come in accomplishing my all around goal of health.  I appreciated her encouragement and thought to myself, "but, I'm not finished yet!"  This had me thinking about how focus words should be like the Christian virtues listed in the NT book of Peter.  Just because I am choosing a new word for the year doesn't mean I get rid of the one from the previous year.  Instead, it is like building with blocks-I will merely be adding to my focus and continue on the path I've set all year for health.  It doesn't mean I'm "finished" or that I've arrived-it just means that "setting my mind" (a very biblical principle) on health this year has allowed me to instill/practice new habits for a lifetime-not merely for a year. So though I am only halfway to my physical goals, regarding health, I am not discouraged-because I am MUCH further along and healthier than I was at this time last year:)  So, without further delay-my focus word for 2012 is contentment. 

Generally, I am a fairly content person in most areas of my life.  However, with the "possibilities" for the year that I will be facing, I know that this will be a word that will help bring me back to my center when things get to be a bit crazy!lol  Though I am generally content, it is something that is based on the fact that I am a planner/scheduler/routine oriented person-however, this year is going to TOTALLY throw that off balance.  It is going to be a year full of change.  I don't mind change, I actually embrace it on most days.  Change is not a "bad" thing, but the changes I will be undergoing this year are changes that are fairly major as life goes...not day to day little stuff that I normally deal with.  So, like the apostle Paul, I intend to "learn" to be content wherever I find myself in the coming year. 

Thinking about why I chose this word, I am reminded that my husband is just half way through his remote tour overseas-I will be without him for another 6 months.  You may be thinking, "Well, surely you're accustomed to him being gone by now".  Yes, my day to day life has taken on a new "normal" as it were, but no doubt it will be during this second 6 month period that being without him will start to get OLD!  This is when I will need to call on my "focus" word-contentment.  On those days that I'm just sick and tired of being without my companion/best friend/lover, I will remember that this is only a temporary season and that I am blessed-therefore I will "learn" contentment while waiting.  Then there is the entire preparation for moving ordeal.  So many things to think about, lists to be made, house to be sold, medical/dental/dog/school records to be retrieved, find a new house to call "home" for the next 3 years, etc...  So many things involved in just the physical act of moving itself.  I will definitely need to remind myself to be "content" during those times-to not become discouraged if prospects to view our house aren't as regular as I hope, that I don't forget any of the really important physical things that need to be done, etc...  It's interesting, I have read and even heard in a few sermons over the years-that moving takes 7 years off of your life.  If that's the case, then I must have 9 lives like a cat, because I am running in a deficit at this point if the average life expectancy is 70-80 years!lol  Of course, I don't believe I have 9 lives(and neither do cats!)-I know that the truth is that it is God that has been my strength through each and every move that I've been blessed to make in the last 24 years of my married life! Another reason I may need to call upon my word of the year, is with regards to the "emotional" part of moving.  This year, I will be leaving behind some very dear friends/brethren-some that I have been blessed to be a part of their lives for a total of almost 13 years and others that I have been so incredibly blessed to know/love for the last 5...now that is going to require a LOT of contentment.  Content to be seperated from such great friends/important relationships.  I know that this seperation is a more permanent one.  They will now become a part of my "past" and we will keep in touch from time to time-typical things like holidays, special events in one another's lives, etc... But, the daily/regular connections and experiences together will be gone Then there is the biggest change...leaving our college aged daughter behind to only visit us a couple of times a year.  That is going to require a LOT of contentment on my part! This year has been somewhat of a dry run with her living on campus-it's been fine and we've all adjusted well to that.  However, she has been able to come "visit" once a month or as often as she wants-once every 6 months will be quite different for all of us.  Instead of focusing on what I'll be leaving behind-I will choose to be content and focus on the blessings that God has in store for me.  A new house to live in with all of the comforts it will provide, a new "adult" relationship w/our college aged daughter, a new enjoyment/appreciation for the last 2 years w/our "baby" girl before she heads off to college, a renewed relationship w/my husband after being seperated for a year, all of the new friendships that await us all in Arizona, the new congregation that we will work/worship with for this remaining 3 years of our military life, the new experiences/travel that we will be blessed to enjoy during our time in Arizona, just so MANY things to be grateful for...how can I NOT be content!  It all sounds great and it will be, but it's just the "getting through" part that sometimes makes it difficult to remember how important it is to be content. 

So, dear reader, what are your thoughts for the coming year? Any focus, goals, resolutions, etc...that you'd like to share?  I pray that each one of us will remember how very important it is to remember that each year brings its own share of heartache, laughter, joy, trials, etc...but that no matter what, we are blessed if we have been given another year to "ring in".  Blessed to use every day in 2012 to know our God better, serve Him more, love others w/the love of Christ, etc...  Never be afraid of new things-instead be content with where you are at and smile at the future:)