I love Spring! I love the smell, the sights and the sounds of it. I love how after a long season of cold, damp weather everything around springs to life once again. Making all things new. Everything that has died off has regained new life and vibrancy. I have started some seeds of some of the perennials that I want to plant in a new flower bed that I am creating and I have been so excited over the sprouts that I think my hubby is ready to send me to the loony bin. I must look at them dozens of times a day....just to see their progress. I love the thought of how one tiny dried up seed can sprout fresh and new with a little nurturing and water. God does the same thing to me. Just when I think I am all dried up he waters me and nurtures me with his love and I feel like a new person all over again. I sprout forth with new energy and new life that I want to pass on.
This week was a hard one. My sister was rushed to the hospital with abdominal pain and she ended up needing emergency surgery to remove a cyst that had cut off the blood supply to her right ovary. Thank God- she came through everything ok -she is a little sore but she is feeling much better. We just wait now to make sure the biopsy is clean of cancer. I am strong when a crisis hits -its the after effects that aren't so pretty. So the day after she was sent home from the hospital I spent on an emotional roller coaster. Complete with what-if thinking and worry...neither one solve the problem of course...just end up making things worse. It is in these seasons that I end up feeling dried up. But today he showered me with his love and I am feeling better and better each minute knowing he is in control. Once again- he met me in my winter season and is showing me his love anew. Yes, its springtime alright...not just outside.....but also in my heart!!!
:)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Beautiful Blue Bird
This morning on my way to work, amidst all the dreariness of a cold winter morning, I saw a glimpse of heaven before my eyes. The road I travel to work -winds past fields that house beautiful wildflowers in spring and early summer, and sunflowers in the fall. They give me something to look forward to in the morning. I like to think of them as Gods gift to me each morning. This time of year, however, there is not much to notice or take in. The bushes and brush by the creek look dead and brown, sort of lifeless...and the fields of course have no life springing forth from them. But today, the most beautiful blue bird flew in front of my car and landed to the right of the road, on one of those dead and lifeless branches that sit by the creek. It took my breath away. I so wished I would have had my camera to capture that moment....the beauty and serenity of it all.
It reminded me that in the dead and lifeless moments of our lives...God appears and brings color and life once again. How sweet is his love for us...how much he cares for us.....how he loves to give us gifts for us to relish in. Thank you Jesus for always knowing what I need before I do.
It reminded me that in the dead and lifeless moments of our lives...God appears and brings color and life once again. How sweet is his love for us...how much he cares for us.....how he loves to give us gifts for us to relish in. Thank you Jesus for always knowing what I need before I do.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Love
This weekend we celebrated my parents 40th wedding anniversary. What an accomplishment! I am so thankful to the two of them...because they taught me about love. Love for one another and love for Jesus. Words cannot express how much they have given me. I wrote them a letter and read it to them at their surprise party... most of it may not make sense to an outsider but feel free to read! Oh and p.s. Dad will be turning 80 in 2 weeks so we incorporated that also.
Well surprise!
You both are so important to each one of us here today. We are here to celebrate your marriage of 40 years and Dad’s 80th birthday.
It’s hard to believe that over 40 years ago tomorrow your two lives were joined as one. I bet the two of you never realized then exactly how many people’s lives you were going to touch in these 40 years. Because of you both…all of our lives are connected as one. We may not all be family by blood but we are all family by the ties that you two have bound. Each of us have our own special memories of all the things we have done, the laughs we have had, and the tears that we have shared. We have all felt the joy of a new arrival and the tears and sadness of our family and friends who have gone home Heaven to wait for us. Many times we never take time to celebrate what is really important but that is what this celebration is about. You are so many things……..you are…first….a daughter or a son…a sister or a brother…an aunt or an uncle…a mother and a father…..a grandma and a grandpa….a great grandma and great grandpa….a friend and a prayer warrior for all those around you. You see you two are all these things and so much more. But out of all the things that you are…the most important is that you are LOVED.
Dad, its hard to believe that towards the end of this month you will be turning 80 years old. What an accomplishment! You have seen and been through so many things in these 80 years. More than many of us will ever see or do. Lets do a very brief recap…shall we?
In an effort to get our family out in the great outdoors…..we went on our first initial camping trip to Camp Swatara and the first thing you did was sprain your ankle by stepping in a gopher hole as we walked around the lake. But have no fear that didn’t stop us each and everytime we went something else happened…like the camper flooded, we were stalked by a mallard duck…you never put the wheel on the hitch up before we left the campground…everyone heard us leaving that day… That must be why we started camping with the Shompers…we needed somebody to keep us in line….
You kept your nieces (when they were young whipper snappers) on the up and up while they were in the back of your car on the way up to the cabin. Uh hmmm…Enough said.
You know how to really sport some really cool head gear…we’ll see more on that a little later
You were able to fly through a locked screen door when running to a fire call when you ran with the fire department.
You really got in touch with your “nature “ side last year when you told the guy in lowes that your lawn mower …um…looks like a ……you know a butterfly. He may have looked at you like you were crazy…but we all know better.
No one else on earth knows how to announce your arrival to Shady Maple Camp any louder or clearer than when you set off the alarm system that echos throughout the entire mountain range.
You really are a quick learner….I mean mom shouldn’t have to wrap you up in the vacuum cleaner cord and trip you ever again.
On a more sentimental note…you are the best pinochle partner a gal could ever have… J. And yes we do have to let them win sometimes or they get cranky.
Well you know what they say…birds of a feather flock together….
Cause mom …look at all you have seen and done in the last 40 years that you have been together….
You like to trip a lot…not like a vacation…like to trip. Umm like tripping and stumbling in the door of the dollar general store while you were with Sara years ago….skinning both your knees while walking down the street with me when I was like 8 years old…oh an don’t forget tripping on my back deck and flailing around like a turtle on its shell that can’t get up.
You have a vocabulary all your own….. do …tock of flurkeys or cheese putzes ring a bell?
You are the only person I know who would go through the Burger King drive thru and order a Frosty and then back all the way out of the drive thru because the lady on the intercom was kind enough to tell you ”Ma’am we don’t have Frosty’s”. I bet she is still wondering where you got to cause you never came through the line…….
Some here today may say you are an instigator. I am not sure where they would get that idea…I am sure it would have nothing to do with …..
***you scaring the pants off aunt joan years ago when you two were on the Mississippi Queen….”Hey Lady” has gotten a lot of usage since then.
Or lets see…I am sure you never have run up to anyone in our family and yelled “touched you last” and then quickly darted the other way.
All kidding aside…..
We want you both to know that you are treasured. For the little things as well as the big things. I personally want to thank the both of you, now, for the sacrifices you made for me. I know I never may have come out and thanked you…but know , they have never go unnoticed, and unappreciated. Thank you for providing a home with a roof over my head and food on the table. Thank you for bandaging me up when I had bumps and bruises, thank you for praying me home on the nights that I would be out boots scootin’ till all hours of the night, thank you for just being there and holding mine and Shannons hand in a hospital room on Thanksgiving Day 6 years ago.
God is so good…for he has blessed our whole family with you both in our lives. No words could ever truly convey how grateful we are to you for the precious times, the precious memories and the love and prayers that you have showered all of us with.
I have a picture that says Home is where your story begins and its so true…because for me Home began with the two of you.
All my love, Julie
Well surprise!
You both are so important to each one of us here today. We are here to celebrate your marriage of 40 years and Dad’s 80th birthday.
It’s hard to believe that over 40 years ago tomorrow your two lives were joined as one. I bet the two of you never realized then exactly how many people’s lives you were going to touch in these 40 years. Because of you both…all of our lives are connected as one. We may not all be family by blood but we are all family by the ties that you two have bound. Each of us have our own special memories of all the things we have done, the laughs we have had, and the tears that we have shared. We have all felt the joy of a new arrival and the tears and sadness of our family and friends who have gone home Heaven to wait for us. Many times we never take time to celebrate what is really important but that is what this celebration is about. You are so many things……..you are…first….a daughter or a son…a sister or a brother…an aunt or an uncle…a mother and a father…..a grandma and a grandpa….a great grandma and great grandpa….a friend and a prayer warrior for all those around you. You see you two are all these things and so much more. But out of all the things that you are…the most important is that you are LOVED.
Dad, its hard to believe that towards the end of this month you will be turning 80 years old. What an accomplishment! You have seen and been through so many things in these 80 years. More than many of us will ever see or do. Lets do a very brief recap…shall we?
In an effort to get our family out in the great outdoors…..we went on our first initial camping trip to Camp Swatara and the first thing you did was sprain your ankle by stepping in a gopher hole as we walked around the lake. But have no fear that didn’t stop us each and everytime we went something else happened…like the camper flooded, we were stalked by a mallard duck…you never put the wheel on the hitch up before we left the campground…everyone heard us leaving that day… That must be why we started camping with the Shompers…we needed somebody to keep us in line….
You kept your nieces (when they were young whipper snappers) on the up and up while they were in the back of your car on the way up to the cabin. Uh hmmm…Enough said.
You know how to really sport some really cool head gear…we’ll see more on that a little later
You were able to fly through a locked screen door when running to a fire call when you ran with the fire department.
You really got in touch with your “nature “ side last year when you told the guy in lowes that your lawn mower …um…looks like a ……you know a butterfly. He may have looked at you like you were crazy…but we all know better.
No one else on earth knows how to announce your arrival to Shady Maple Camp any louder or clearer than when you set off the alarm system that echos throughout the entire mountain range.
You really are a quick learner….I mean mom shouldn’t have to wrap you up in the vacuum cleaner cord and trip you ever again.
On a more sentimental note…you are the best pinochle partner a gal could ever have… J. And yes we do have to let them win sometimes or they get cranky.
Well you know what they say…birds of a feather flock together….
Cause mom …look at all you have seen and done in the last 40 years that you have been together….
You like to trip a lot…not like a vacation…like to trip. Umm like tripping and stumbling in the door of the dollar general store while you were with Sara years ago….skinning both your knees while walking down the street with me when I was like 8 years old…oh an don’t forget tripping on my back deck and flailing around like a turtle on its shell that can’t get up.
You have a vocabulary all your own….. do …tock of flurkeys or cheese putzes ring a bell?
You are the only person I know who would go through the Burger King drive thru and order a Frosty and then back all the way out of the drive thru because the lady on the intercom was kind enough to tell you ”Ma’am we don’t have Frosty’s”. I bet she is still wondering where you got to cause you never came through the line…….
Some here today may say you are an instigator. I am not sure where they would get that idea…I am sure it would have nothing to do with …..
***you scaring the pants off aunt joan years ago when you two were on the Mississippi Queen….”Hey Lady” has gotten a lot of usage since then.
Or lets see…I am sure you never have run up to anyone in our family and yelled “touched you last” and then quickly darted the other way.
All kidding aside…..
We want you both to know that you are treasured. For the little things as well as the big things. I personally want to thank the both of you, now, for the sacrifices you made for me. I know I never may have come out and thanked you…but know , they have never go unnoticed, and unappreciated. Thank you for providing a home with a roof over my head and food on the table. Thank you for bandaging me up when I had bumps and bruises, thank you for praying me home on the nights that I would be out boots scootin’ till all hours of the night, thank you for just being there and holding mine and Shannons hand in a hospital room on Thanksgiving Day 6 years ago.
God is so good…for he has blessed our whole family with you both in our lives. No words could ever truly convey how grateful we are to you for the precious times, the precious memories and the love and prayers that you have showered all of us with.
I have a picture that says Home is where your story begins and its so true…because for me Home began with the two of you.
All my love, Julie
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Nuggets
I collect sayings. Yeah I am weird. I may be reading something a verse or a poem and something just speaks to me and I have to copy it down and keep it where I can look back on it. Well, this morning, I decided to clean up my desk at the office and lo and behold I found little nuggets to brighten my morning. Here is some of what I found. If there is anyone else reading this please, please, please add some of your own!
*Stop telling God how big your storm is...instead tell your storm how big God is.
*A man is what he thinks about all day long.
*When God places a burden upon you, He places His arms beneath you.
*If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer-Frank Bianco
*Hope is like the sun, which as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. -Samuel Smiles
*Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.-Helen Keller
*Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you. 1 Peter 5:7
*Stop telling God how big your storm is...instead tell your storm how big God is.
*A man is what he thinks about all day long.
*When God places a burden upon you, He places His arms beneath you.
*If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer-Frank Bianco
*Hope is like the sun, which as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. -Samuel Smiles
*Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.-Helen Keller
*Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you. 1 Peter 5:7
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The gym
I started back to the gym. Let me just say that ugh- its rough. Yesterday was my first day back in 2 weeks and boy, I feel like I am starting all over again. I did not want to overdo it so after 25 minutes on the treadmill- I was outta there. Tonight was a little better than yesterday.... 20 mintues cardio plus strength training. (That's gonna hurt tomorrow!) I feel better after I go to the gym...so why is it sooo hard for me to stay motivated?
Now that I think about it....why is my spiritual life like that sometimes? I feel so much better when I take the time to soak Him up! I need to flex my spiritual muscles more instead of trying to handle everything on my own. Weight lifting takes on a whole new meaning with Jesus. I should be giving my weight to Him instead of holding onto the weight and making myself tired, out of breath and sore. When I give Him the things that weigh me down....He lifts them up and makes me feel so much stronger. Thanks to a bloggy friend that posted a wonderful reminder that that is what we all should be doing!
I think I will go flex some of that spiritual muscle right now!
Now that I think about it....why is my spiritual life like that sometimes? I feel so much better when I take the time to soak Him up! I need to flex my spiritual muscles more instead of trying to handle everything on my own. Weight lifting takes on a whole new meaning with Jesus. I should be giving my weight to Him instead of holding onto the weight and making myself tired, out of breath and sore. When I give Him the things that weigh me down....He lifts them up and makes me feel so much stronger. Thanks to a bloggy friend that posted a wonderful reminder that that is what we all should be doing!
I think I will go flex some of that spiritual muscle right now!
Monday, January 19, 2009
I'm Back!
Yep! That's right...I am back. I know its been a while but it has been really hard getting back into the swing of things since we got back from our cruise on January 11th. Our first week back was absolutely brutal. Going back to work, trying to get the house back in order and trying not let the daily grind get the best of me is quite a task it seems.
The trip was amazing and I really feel it was the first time in a long time that I allowed myself to soak up some peace. I stayed on track for the challenge from Wendy Pope which is a great accomplishment for me. I saw some of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen and met some really interesting people. I just didn't want it to end. I came back to work that needed caught up on...laundry that had grown to something short Mount Everest and ....a family member who learned nothing from the consequences of his stealing stint last April. By Wednesday, I just wanted to turn around and go back to the islands!
Then I read today's reading from the challenge. I have it good compared to Job. But even so, Job never took his eyes off of God. That is what I want to do. So, this week that is what I want to do. I want to take my mind and my anxious thoughts off my issues and focus of God. That is a good way to start the new week. Wish me luck!
The trip was amazing and I really feel it was the first time in a long time that I allowed myself to soak up some peace. I stayed on track for the challenge from Wendy Pope which is a great accomplishment for me. I saw some of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen and met some really interesting people. I just didn't want it to end. I came back to work that needed caught up on...laundry that had grown to something short Mount Everest and ....a family member who learned nothing from the consequences of his stealing stint last April. By Wednesday, I just wanted to turn around and go back to the islands!
Then I read today's reading from the challenge. I have it good compared to Job. But even so, Job never took his eyes off of God. That is what I want to do. So, this week that is what I want to do. I want to take my mind and my anxious thoughts off my issues and focus of God. That is a good way to start the new week. Wish me luck!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Excitement
Well, here it is at 4:30 am and I am sitting in the lobby of the Comfort Suites in F. Lauderdale. I am excited and I really can't sleep. This is very strange for me because as my husband will tell you, there isn't a time or place when I can't sleep. I love to sleep-lol. Well I think it is because I am excited and I felt that as I woke at 2 a.m. this morning the Lord was directing me to begin my day in His Word no matter how early it may be. So, here I am, I just finished my reading for today. ( I am doing the challenge Wendy Pope brought to over 1000 people for the New Year).
In todays reading I find myself sad, happy and excited all at the same time. I am sad because I look at the begining verses under Noah and he flood and I see how disappointed the Lord was with his people so many years ago. He was sorry that he ever made them and put them on the earth. How can it be that he is not that disappointed in his people today? Many of the same things happening then are still happening now- only now we have the promise of forgiveness and love and eternal life through Him. Before that though I was struck by what the Lord said to Cain in Genesis 4. Cain so angry with God because Cains sacrifice was not heart felt. His response to Cain..."You will be accepted if you do what is right....But if you refuse to do what is right...then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it." Boy did that speak to me this morning. The same words that he spoke to Cain so many years ago - he speaks to us today. We too struggle with right and wrong with pure and unpure thoughts and ways and we must learn to subdue it or it will control us. God wants so much more for our lives and this is what he desires to have a right relationship with us.
He found favor with Noah, though. And He knew that Noah desired to live and serve Him. So he spared Noah and his loved ones. Even back then he was int he business of forgiveness and grace. WOW! How wonderful is that?
I am glad that I didn't just lay in bed thinking of a bunch of things this morning...I got up, came to the lobby and read His Word and I do feel refreshed. I was concerned at first with this challenge of reading through the bible in a year because I don't follow through with a lot of things. I must admit I am afraid of failure but I know that if I keep my eyes on Him he will see me through. This of course was a challenge for the new year and I am away on vacation- (going on a cruise-we board the ship tomorrow afternoon. In my human-ness I wanted to make excuses...like well I probably won't have time...I won't have access to see what others are thinking about this same challenge and coax me along....and the excuses go on and on and on.... but then I said" There is always time and why not start this challenge in the midst of Gods wonderful creation that I have never seen before?" So here I am in awe of the opportunities that He has placed before me in this New Year already.
Thank you , Lord...as always...you know what I need more than I do.....
xo
Julie
In todays reading I find myself sad, happy and excited all at the same time. I am sad because I look at the begining verses under Noah and he flood and I see how disappointed the Lord was with his people so many years ago. He was sorry that he ever made them and put them on the earth. How can it be that he is not that disappointed in his people today? Many of the same things happening then are still happening now- only now we have the promise of forgiveness and love and eternal life through Him. Before that though I was struck by what the Lord said to Cain in Genesis 4. Cain so angry with God because Cains sacrifice was not heart felt. His response to Cain..."You will be accepted if you do what is right....But if you refuse to do what is right...then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it." Boy did that speak to me this morning. The same words that he spoke to Cain so many years ago - he speaks to us today. We too struggle with right and wrong with pure and unpure thoughts and ways and we must learn to subdue it or it will control us. God wants so much more for our lives and this is what he desires to have a right relationship with us.
He found favor with Noah, though. And He knew that Noah desired to live and serve Him. So he spared Noah and his loved ones. Even back then he was int he business of forgiveness and grace. WOW! How wonderful is that?
I am glad that I didn't just lay in bed thinking of a bunch of things this morning...I got up, came to the lobby and read His Word and I do feel refreshed. I was concerned at first with this challenge of reading through the bible in a year because I don't follow through with a lot of things. I must admit I am afraid of failure but I know that if I keep my eyes on Him he will see me through. This of course was a challenge for the new year and I am away on vacation- (going on a cruise-we board the ship tomorrow afternoon. In my human-ness I wanted to make excuses...like well I probably won't have time...I won't have access to see what others are thinking about this same challenge and coax me along....and the excuses go on and on and on.... but then I said" There is always time and why not start this challenge in the midst of Gods wonderful creation that I have never seen before?" So here I am in awe of the opportunities that He has placed before me in this New Year already.
Thank you , Lord...as always...you know what I need more than I do.....
xo
Julie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
