Life changing...

As most people know, my favorite time of day is before my kids wake up, and everything is calm in the world.  I'm sitting in my kitchen (my favorite place) and enjoying my coffee.   Last night K got home from her first mission trip.  We left the church, went to dinner, came home and unpacked her bag. As I sat and listened to her tell me stories from the week, I was in tears.  I asked her one question at the end, "how would you describe your week?"  - without hesitation, her answer was very simple,  she said "life changing". 

Over the past week, I have thought about the mission trips I went on as a teenager and the impact they had on my life.  When I was 16, we went to Lake Bambi in Michigan, where we were camp counselors.  While we were there, the lady that ran the camp (I wish I could remember her name) told us the first night there were three things we should always remember - "who you are, whose you are and whom you represent".  Those words have stuck with me over the last 26 years, and they are still written in my Bible today.  

So... this morning I am very thankful for the blessings that my sweet daughter received this week, and for the impact she made on these kids lives. We just all need to remember that God is good... all the time!

Pain....

As I sit and look back over the last 10 years of my life - I have a lot of truly great memories. There are memories that are simply sad and I have a lot of painful memories.  When we look back, our memories that were good, we cherish and relive.  When we have a bad memory that is sad or painful, we tend to want to simply forget.  We just want that thought - that memory to go away.  We only think about the negative aspects of pain, we do not typically find anything positive in it.  For me, I know I tend to learn more from pain than from pleasure (maybe it's my stubborn nature). If you get hurt (whether physically or emotionally) chances are - you will try to figure out what you have done wrong, and correct your actions so it does not happen again.  For example, if you have a failed relationship - when it ends, there will be pain.  But.... it doesn't mean that nothing good will come from that pain.  What if you ended an engagement, yes... the initial action is painful - but it is a lot less painful than a divorce years down the road.  Or... if you are suffering from physical pain, it could be an indication that you might have an undiagnosed problem.  Since you are suffering from pain, that could lead you to go to the doctor and have them examine you - and be able to correct the issue.  I am a believer that just the passage of time will not fix pain.  You may have to take corrective action for the pain to subside.  You may have to ask for forgiveness, there may need to be a reconciliation in a relationship.  Although, you may want to avoid emotional pain - you cannot live your life avoiding relationships.  Although some people may cause you pain - others will bring friendship, meaning and purpose into your life. I believe that in order for us to truly appreciate what life has to offer, you have to experience pain - you must take the good with the bad. The key is for you as a person, to figure out how to deal with your pain, and not be a pain towards others!

This week...

This week has been one of those weeks, when I am really having to remind myself of how blessed I am.   It has been a week of ups and downs, and a week of stress.  It has been a week where I have had to remind myself that me and my kids are surrounded by people we love dearly and who love us back.  It has been a week of navigating the waters of things I never thought I would have to. It has also been a week of being reminded who my friends are, and why I love them like family! This week has reminded me that I work for an organization that truly cares about its employees, and for that I am very grateful.  Above all else, this week has been a reminder that God has a plan and is in control of my life... not me and I must remember to put my faith and trust in Him!

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

Psalm 91:2 

 

Love and appreciation...

Last Sunday I received a phone call that a high school friend of mine had passed away unexpectedly.  As I sat and listened, I was in complete disbelief.  He had been a friend since junior high, we were in youth group together at church, we graduated together.  Then, we fast forward several years.  We had our boys about one year apart and they played ball together, at first against each other, but as they got older on the same All Star team. We spent many weekends at ball fields, and I can honestly say there was never a time he wasn't smiling or making the boys laugh.  As my kids got older, and J was a senior... it was time for senior pictures to be taken.  There was never a decision to be made on who it would be... it would be Mike.  The day we had everything scheduled, he met us at the farm (where J worked), got in an ATV - and we started on our adventure for the day (I was squished in between J and Mike). It was one of the best days for us - I had a child who despised having photos taken, and then I had a friend who absolutely brought his personality out in every photo. Not only did he capture the perfect moments from my child, he truly captured the beauty of the farm that J worked on (and still does today), and the beautiful animals that my child has such a passion for.

 
Yesterday, I got to the church I had grown up in, to say good-bye to a friend.  As people came in, it was amazing to see all the faces through the years to come and pay their respects to our friend.  We all talked, reminisced, told stories... there were tears and there was laughter.  There was music, and there was worshiping.  It was absolutely a beautiful service, planned by the loved ones who love and miss him so very much.  

After the service was over, several us went to eat, talk catch up, and simply visit. When I left there yesterday, I was so very appreciative of having grown up in a loving, Christian home - where an emphasis was put on building a relationship with God. As I looked at the people who were in the youth group I loved so much - I was overwhelmed with knowing the love that is still there for one another after all of these years.  We all get busy, and have our lives... but at the end of the day, in the time of need - everyone is there for love and support.

The other piece of this for me, is that some of those sweet people I grew up with going to Wednesday night church and going on mission trips with, are now my daughter's leaders on Wednesday nights and they are helping her prepare to go on her first mission trip in a couple of weeks. I pray that my kids will have the same friendships in their small groups at church, that I had growing up.

So... I will leave you with this.  Life is short, we do not know when God will call us home.  Be sure to cherish and appreciate every minute with your friends and loved ones.  Be sure to hug their neck and kiss those sweet cheeks.  But most of all...be sure to support them, pray for them, and love them every day!

I have...

As I look back at the last year of my life - there have been really high highs and some really low lows.  There have been high expectations and broken promises.  I have realized that the people I thought would always have my back, really do not.  I have realized that I can count my true friends on one hand, and I am completely at peace with that.   I have learned that I am not a very trusting person (something I'm working on), and I am loyal to a fault with people I love.  I try to see the best in everyone and to be forgiving. I know that I carry stuff with me, long after I should let it go. I have also learned that just because you have the best intentions, doesn't always make it right. I have also learned that as a friend, even if you don't agree with someone's thoughts, opinions, decisions... you should always respect them. I have learned that people change and grow, circumstances change and relationships develop and change. I have also learned that things are definitely always NOT what they seem to be. I have learned that if I forgive those who have hurt me, I am at peace. I have learned that although my kids may not always do what I expect them to, and I may get angry - I will always support their crazy decisions, be there for them and love them to the moon and back!!

I have also learned that no matter what my plan is, God has a bigger and better plan - I just have to be patient and willing to open my heart and listen. I have also tried to remember that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so we should not miss an opportunity to tell someone how we feel, spend time with our loved ones or simply hug their necks!

Most importantly - I have realized that I have been blessed beyond measure.   I have a great job and work with a team of people I genuinely love, I have parents who support my craziness at all cost and who never fail me, I have a sister and brother who as I get older I appreciate more each day, I have nieces and nephews who I would move mountains for and I have the most amazing kids in the world. So, all in all... I am one blessed girl!!!