A Parents Love

It's amazing what a parent's love for their child will get them to do...

*step out of their comfort zone, and become an extrovert, if only for the evening.

*put fear aside to teach the child that it is possible to overcome what they fear the most.

*act silly and dance as if no one is watching, even though you can feel the hundreds of eyes glued to your every movement.

*put aside all the housework that needs to be done just to sneak in one more snuggle before bed.

*sleep on a lightly carpeted cement floor with 400 strangers because your child wants to attend this once in a lifetime event.

*coach a Cheerleading squad even though you know nothing about the sport, and never cared to learn in the past, just because your child asked you to.

*allow your almost 12 year old to attend a dance because he wants to jump on the bounce houses that will be there, not actually attend the dance to dance.

*write a blog post on a bleacher, in a cold 4H building because your child needed to get in a few rounds of Archery this month.

A parents love is amazing, unfailing in its truest form.  A child can get their parent to do just about anything for them, just for the sake of love.

Yet some children do not have these type of parents, and some parents don't have a child to do this for.  

And for that very reason, I will hug my children just a little bit tighter, and just a little but longer than needed tonight.  Just for the sake of love!

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God..." (NIV)

How often in our crazy lives do we stop and think, "If only things would slow down, I could find some peace and quiet in my life."

• If only I hadn't agreed to help with __________.
• If only I hadn't signed my children up for __________.
• If only I would learn to say "No."
• If only things would slow down...

Our lives today are so fast paced compared to that of generations before us.  Gone are the days of lingering walks to town, visiting the neighbors while sitting on the front porch watching the kids play,  and slow cooked meals simmering over the fire. We no longer have time to help our neighbor's, putting up food together for the coming seasons, sharing the household chores through work frolics, or sitting around a quilting bee sharing the latest news.  It is said that it takes an army to raise a child, but what happens when that army is to busy to assist in the raising of the child?

I often times find myself surrounded by the busyness of family life, and I'm not talking just the physical aspects of busyness.  The type of busyness where your mind never shuts down, not even when you find yourself lying in bed in the wee hours of the morning.  Your thoughts are filled with replaying the previous days happenings, thinking what needs to be done around the house, going over tomorrow's schedule, all while praying you are able to keep it together while juggling so many things.

I often find myself thinking, "I am sure this is not how God intended life to be spent."  And then I remind myself of Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God".  Wow - I don't know about you, but that being still part is what gets me every time!

So for today, I vow to slow down.  I will take 5, 10, or however many minutes I can grab, and just sit each day and be still with my God.  I  may only be able to shut life out for one minute in the beginning, but that is one minute more of being still than yesterday.

I will learn to say "No", to choose more carefully what my family and I take part in.  Yes, every activity may be tempting, something we would love to do, but is it what's best for our family?  We may have to learn to let some things pass us by, and that is O.K.

God does not command us to fill our minutes or hours to the max, he commands us to live a life abundantly, loving one another as He has loved us. 

"Be still, and know that I am God..." (NIV)

A Place Called Blessing - Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins

 

"Josh lost his parents in a drunk-driving accident and lost track of his two brothers after a tragic fire.  By age eighteen, he is an angry young man who only wants a job, an apartment, and to be left alone.  Instead, he meets Mike and Anna, an unusual son-and-mother team who draw him into their lives.  For the first time, Josh receives unconditional love and something every human being craves, the gift of "the blessing."  But tragedy strikes again, and a shocking secret is revealed.  Can Josh hang on to what he's learned about blessings, curses, and family?"

Wow, what an amazing book!  When I requested this book online, I didn't really understand what I was getting into.  I had read the back of the book online, and it sounded like a good "story" to me.  But when I received it in the mail, I re-read the back of the actual book and saw the "Focus on the Family" stamp on it, and then noticed who the author was, John Trent, PhD. 

In The Blessing, John Trent discusses specific ways to move toward others and bless others using these 5 essential elements...
~ a meaningful touch
~ a spoken message
~ attaching high value
~ picturing a special future
~ an active commitment

What an amazing read!  I read through this book in one day, in 2 different sittings.  I don't want to give anything away, but suffice it to say, make sure you have a box of tissues close by!  From beginning to end I was fully enveloped in the story, feeling as if I was there with Josh throughout his life.  From the disappointments he faced to the achievements he accomplished, I was there cheering him on.

I give this book 5 Stars and highly recommend it!  Every parent should be required to read this book and learn of the "Place Called Blessing"!

Visit www.TheBlessing.com for more information and an opportunity to join THE BLESSING CHALLENGE, one million people choosing to change the life on one child - their child!

**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**

The "uglies"...

(sigh)  It started out as a great morning.  The sun was shining, the kids were up and getting ready, it was going to be a wonderful day.  How quickly the evil one likes to step in and derail us from our happiness.

The sun was actually shining so bright this morning, that at 7 am I had one of the kids turn the TV on to see what time it was, surely it couldn't be 7 am with as bright out as it was.  You see, it has been raining here for quite sometime.  When I wake up in the morning and look out my window, I automatically expect to see overcast skies with at least a little drizzle coming down.  The ground is saturated with standing water, basements are taking on the fluid as well, and it seems we are just waiting for the ducks to move in!

Now, back to my original story...once we figured out that yes, it was the right time, I asked (OK, told) the kids to each get their footwear on and any sweatshirts/jackets around they would be wearing today.  With 20 minutes left before we needed to leave, I went to the computer to check my email (and yes, my facebook updates as well).  We were running on such a good schedule this morning, it felt like we had all the time in the world.

I warned the kids when we had 5 minutes until leaving time, and then I announced when it was time to go.  Well, the 9 year old couldn't find the socks I told him to put on 20 minutes ago, so instead of looking for them, or coming to me for help, he decided to sit down and read his new book.  He was not ready, to say the least.  The two 7 year olds failed to inform me that their hair was still wet and it needed to be dried.  Let alone, only one of them had their sweatshirt on.

And then it happened...the "uglies" set in.  Now this is a term I learned in one of my bible study sessions, and it is the only word I now use to describe my behavior sometimes.  The yelling, the cajoling, the stressful nastiness that sometimes creeps up, usually on school mornings when we are running late.  It's not pretty, it can bother me the rest of the day, and it is definitely the "uglies". 

Why did I spend that 20 minutes on the computer?  Why did I allow those situations to stress me out?  Why did I lose my temper?

Because I am human, and I am flawed.  I could spend the rest of my day feeling guilty, allowing the devil that foothold in my life.  But instead, I rejoice in the forgiveness of our Lord, and His promises of renewal. 

Isaiah 57:10
You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.

Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

So I ask you this morning, are there "uglies" in your life that you need to put to rest?  Lay them at the Savior's feet, the only true one who can wash our sins away.  He does not promise us it will be easy, or that we will never let our "uglies" show.  But He does promise that we can have new beginnings, if we only ask for them.  A fresh start is always welcomed, just like the sun breaking through the clouds this morning!

**sighs, and takes a deep breath**

It's been awhile...to be exact, it's been 4 months since I have even thought of this blog.

I'd like to say I've been extremely busy working out and watching what I eat.

I'd like to say that, but I can't.  I've just been busy living life.

Busy spending time with family and friends, busy reading Christian Fiction, busy learning to knit (my new all time favorite thing other than reading), busy volunteering at the school my children attend, and oh yeah, busy losing 1 pound.  That's right, ONE pound.  Let's look at it this way...I could have gained ** pounds instead of losing only 1!

I know it's a little early, and I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I am already looking ahead to the future.

• I have several books I cannot wait to start working through, including an Amish Romance novel I will be doing a review on!
• My book club/bible study group will start meeting at the beginning of the year!
• I hope to start exercising again, once I am rid of this nasty bronchitis!
• And, yet again, I will attempt to read through the Bible in one year!

Looking ahead to your future, what are your plans?  To spend more time with your loved ones?  To slow down the pace of your life?

What ever it is...I urge you to rethink the past year of your life.  Make some changes, re-evaluate where your life is headed.  Make sure to take the time to make yourself a priority.  Life is short...God is good...take the time to make the most of what He has given you!

Neglectful...

That is the only word I can use to describe my care of this blog! Here it is, day 11 of the new year, and I realized I have not posted here in some time...

New Year Resolutions?

• Read through the Bible in a year
• Exercise more
• Fully committed this time to my Wednesday night Bible study/weight loss class at church

How am I doing?

• Up to date on my Bible reading!
• Finally set up my WII Fit Plus the other night and love doing the different exercises/activities it has. I know it is not traditional exercising right now, but it has me up and moving - don't knock it until you have tried the Super Hula Hoop, talk about an aerobic workout!!! I love the fact that it weighs me each time, tells me my BMI, and lets me know when I have missed a day of "training".
• Week 1 of Wed. night class...so far so good. I am still writing down (tracking) the foods I eat. This is an important key in my weight loss!