Come what may...

Through the ups and downs in life...
come what may...

There is one absolute...
God is good.

The truth is,
sometimes life is just hard.

We are blessed with those who hold our hands,
who walk with us,
who share our burdens...

Yet even when we walk alone,
we are not...
For God is with us,
He never abandons us...

On snowy days,
there are seed catalogs.

On hard days at work,
there are loved ones to welcome us home.

On happy days,
our dear ones share our joy.

When we are scared,
worried about the future...

When we have done our best...

Sometimes there is not a thing we can do.

We must leave it in God's hands.

Why...
When we know His complete trustworthiness,
is this so very difficult?

To let go and know that...
come what may...
God will be with us on our journey...

Now and always,
no matter if your day is sunny or full of shadows,
I pray that you...
that I...
be blessed with the faith to believe in our Lord
and to trust him to guide our adventure.

I give thanks for my family...
My husband, my children, my parents and siblings... my aunts... my uncles... my nieces and nephews... my inlaws... my friends... the list could go on into infinity... I am blessed...

Yes...
even on hard days...
I am blessed.

Happy

Half my conferences are finished. The other half are tomorrow. I can not begin to tell you how satisfying it is to speak with my parents. To share with them the joy of their children's progress. How blessed I have been to lead and learn with their little ones this year. I am tired. But, oh so very happy. I sit working on portfolios, pondering my students' progress and I feel such a deep sense of satisfaction. What a wonderful blessing it is to teach.

Frozen moments

When my eldest's name was called the other night,
she walked to the front of the church.

Tentatively she stepped,
as if she could sense she's on the brink.

She was recognized for who she is,
her intellect a shining example,
her sweet spirit a balm to those around her.

I smiled wide,
my heart full of emotion.

This is my daughter.
My dear one.
I held her when she was but a minute old.

Ready to walk,
her road ahead,
her adventure,
just beginning.

May she,
may we,
be blessed.

This day
and always
with the wisdom
to keep our eyes
on the One
who makes our adventure possible.

Yikes! Ticks!

After a very successful Girl's Night with my oldest kiddo,

we headed upstairs to chat.

Our dog of course came with us and as we sat on my bed,

we petted and fussed over him.

Suddenly,

I felt something not right in his undercoat

and looked down to find a tick.

I felt terrible as I had six months of K9 Advantix sitting unopened in my closet. It's been so cold lately that I hadn't even thought about icky insects and other nasty creatures.

My dear one ran for the tweezers and we made the dog nervous with our unhappy and slightly panicked noises.

We removed one tick and applied the medicine. By tomorrow night, Ben's blood and body should repel and kill nasty ticks, mosquitoes and fleas.

If you have a dear one that is furry and four footed, don't forget their meds. Especially, if you are like my family and love to take your "baby" to the park.

May your life be filled with companionship, be it human, furry or both! May your life be made better because of the love you share.

May you be blessed...

This evening,

tomorrow,

forever!

Ode to fishing line

Oh fishing line so clear and strong...
I'll sing your praises all day long.

A swing is not much fun you see,
if its seat cannot hold three.

With a needle and some time,
you helped to make my small son shine.

Happy and bright his voice we hear
when on his swing he parks his rear.


Ha! ... I know, I'm over the top here.
But, I couldn't resist. I really did fix our yard swing this afternoon. My son really was overjoyed and I was extremely happy that all it took was about an hour and a half and fishing line I already possessed.

I sincerely admire people who

repair cars,

set bones,

build homes.

Their talent,
their art,
is so necessary.

What a blessing that there are people who can

cut hair,

shingle roofs

and lay down roads.

Where would we all be without them?

Whatever your talent,

be it small or large,

thank you for sharing it with world.

May you be blessed each day as you use what you've been given.

Friday

As our week winds down.

You may be very weary.

You may be invigorated at the thought of the weekend.

Perhaps you're a little of both.

I pray.

I wish.

I hope.

That your day,

my day,

our day.

That it is filled with peace.

Whatever comes your way...

may you face it with the assurance in your heart that there is a God,

a Creator,

who honestly loves us.

That you,

That I...

That we...

That we are never alone.

Come what may...

(Dear me! Did I just say that? )

We will walk on...

with joy!

May I,

May you,

May we be blessed.

This morning,

this day,

this evening....

Forever!

Can't stop smiling!

In my driveway,

there is a car.

It's mine.

It is beautiful.

I squealed when I was handed the title.

I think I did a happy dance.

I may not stop smiling for quite a while.

The car...

the reason I am bouncing and silly...

would not be sitting there...
without the help of a friend.

Words will never be able to express my gratitude.

My kiddos and I can go to our favorite Metro Parks again.
I can go to work without waking up my dear father.
I can run to the store without actually "running"!

I am giddy.

I actually kissed the car.

...not fibbing!...

I am so....

happy...

grateful...

blessed.

May the prayers on your heart...
may your needs...
even the unspoken ones...
that seem too big...
that seem too impossible...
I pray that they will be met.

Rejoice with me today!

Sometimes a blessing is so wonderful,

you must shout it from the proverbial mountaintop!

A New Home

This evening I signed my lease and got my keys.

Before I left my house to go in to finish up the paperwork, I loaded three things into the car. I took a Bible, my grandmother's ceramic garden toad and my statue of Mary.

After I had access to my new abode, my parents, my eldest daughter and I drove to the house.

I got out of the car and placed Mary in the center of where my front garden will be.

I placed the dear sweet toad that has been a part of happy gardens longer than I have been alive, on the side of the house near the downspout.

I motioned for the rest of my dear ones to come and handed the Bible to my dad.

I know my eldest thought I'd gone a little kooky, but it just seemed right to me.

I asked my dad to read from the book of Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 to 33.

I would have to say that these are the verses that have sustained me in my darkest hours.

They speak of trust and love; the assurance of an unending and unshakable, loving God.

Life holds no guarantees.

Sometimes sad things happen.

I really believe...

I honestly do...

That there is someone who made us...

Who loves us...

Who hears us when we cry...

I am on a path that I would never have guessed would have been mine to tread. I am sometimes scared. Sometimes I worry about the "what if's" in life.

Then...

I see a tiny toad...

Get an email from a dear friend...

Find a wonderful deal on tiny tomatoes...

Receive a hug from my children and a enthusiastic tail wag from my dog.

It is then...

that I stop...

that I realize...

How blessed I am.

That regardless of my future.

I will walk on!

That I still have a lifetime of adventure!

Tonight, I wish for you...

Peace and assurance,

joy and adventure!

May you be blessed.

Scurrying about!

The last few days have been quite productive. Next weekend I move and I have been scurrying about taking care of all the last minute details.

I've bought renters' insurance, copied my dog's shot record for my new landlord's management company and I've even purchased new door locks for the bedrooms and bath. For some reason, not a single door has a "pop lock". I don't know about you, but I for one like to shower and dress in relative peace!

I spent today with my parents as we ran errands and enjoyed each other's company. Patient and kind, I believe they could stand in an earthquake and only the ground would tremble. It is from them that I learned faith and trust.

Though my father is a retired pastor and my mom's been part of more church events than anyone I know, it has been their lives, not their words that have impressed me.

They are the kind of people you meet in Hallmark movies or read about in inspirational novels. Retirement age, they have spent their whole lives in the service of their Lord and their fellow man. Materially, they have nothing to show for it. And yet... they are the richest people I know.

The woman, who used to give me her cup of orange juice because I wanted more and there wasn't any extra, is in poor health and often in pain. Yet, she calls me to see if I need anything!

The man, who is hands down the most honorable person I have ever met, is also one of the most understanding and kind individuals you would ever meet.

Tonight, I have a simple wish for you....

I pray that you will be fortunate to encounter people like my parents. They are the type of people that make you know the world is still beautiful even when it seems rainy from where you are standing.

May your life be filled with the honesty and kindness modeled before me my whole life.

Not perfection... true people who do make mistakes... good people who live what they believe...

May you be blessed.

Walking my pooch!

After enjoying a lovely evening out with my family, I came home and decided to avoid my "Half Hour of Power" dvd by walking for about an hour instead. I figured in the whole scheme of things surely that would count. And, I reasoned that I could stop at Tim Horton's and maybe even Target just for fun while I was out.

My dog had other ideas. Upon seeing my coat, he jumped up and down and looked at me with his big brown eyes.

What's a mom to do? I took the silly critter with me. The walk was still lovely and I do enjoy the companionship in the dark. However, with the pooch, coffee was not an option. Sadly, walking up to a drive through window is frowned upon.

Sometimes in life we make choices for the benefit of others that mean we can't have everything we want. Tonight a cup of my favorite coffee had to be forgone.

However, all is not lost, I do have some instant coffee and I guarantee I'll drink it in my Tim Horton's mug.

I have found that life is still beautiful even when I must sacrifice what I want for the good of those under my protection and care.

Isn't it nice that this is true?

The world is still full of beauty and blessings...

Full of friends and family...

Full of good things that are ours for the asking.

I wish for you this night.

A peaceful sleep,

restful dreams,

calm in your heart,

and the knowledge that you are loved.

May you be blessed.