Graduation day...

Today is graduation day for the Class of 2014. This is such an exciting time - the end of one chapter, the beginning of another.  There will be new challenges to face, new opportunities, and new friends to be made.  For me... today is the day my sweet niece graduates!  It is hard to believe she is 18 and will be moving on to start a new chapter in her life.  From the moment I received the phone call that my sister was in labor... I could not wait to meet this sweet baby.  I sat in the hallway at the hospital patiently waiting.  The moment she was born...she stole my heart! 

When she was in kindergarten, I would pick her up and we would have "our time" for an hour before the boys got out of school.  There were many trips to get ice cream, to the park or we would just go home and be silly! There have been many cookies made and Easter eggs dyed - all while making me laugh.  It is truly the little things I enjoy with her! I have watched her grow into the most loving, kind-hearted, compassionate and caring young lady.  Her sweet smile lights up a room, and steals my heart over and over again.  I could not be more proud of her!!! She is truly one of a kind & I could not imagine what my life would have been like without her in it!  I am so very excited to see what the next chapter of her life holds!  

Congratulations Class of 2014!

Plans...

How many times in life do we simply hold on to things when we should have let them go?  Maybe it's a relationship, a friendship or anger.  How many times do we let our need to be right get in the way of being happy?  Or... how many times do we let our need to be right get in the way of forgiving another, because we are trying to prove a point? Being angry, holding a grudge.. these things use emotional and physical energy - and honestly, I believe they are a waste of our time.  Is it not easier simply to leave the past in the past, and let go of what you cannot change? Maybe things did not work out the way you wanted them to because God has a bigger and better plan for your life.  Maybe... while you are praying for one thing, God is answering you and you are not listening.

In Jeremiah 29:11 He tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Isn't it time that we all start trusting in His plan, and not our own?  As I look back over my life, I am so very thankful that He had bigger and better plans for me than I had for myself.

Happy Sunday y'all!

21 years ago....

This week 21 years ago, my life was getting ready to change forever... and I really did not have a clue.  I was 21, married and pregnant with a sweet baby boy.  I was absolutely miserable - he was due April 15, and was no where close to being here.  I had no idea where to begin with a baby, and I certainly had no idea how to take care of one.  Honestly... I was still a baby myself.  On April 30, 1993 at 2:59 p.m. a 9 lb. 11 oz., 21 1/2 inch baby boy was welcomed into this world!

As I look back over the last 21 years, it is hard to believe how much has changed in my life.  It is also hard to believe how much one sweet little boy can teach you about love and life.  Over the years, I have watched him overcome obstacles, and succeed time and time again.  He is a true inspiration to anyone who knows him, and he is definitely loved by all.  He is the best son, big brother, grandson, nephew, and cousin that anyone could ask for.  He is a loyal, and faithful kid - who has his own beliefs and truly marches to the beat of his own drummer. I am so very blessed to have been chosen to be his mom!

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!