Over nine years ago my daughter called me at work and said.
“Mom are you sitting down?”
I remember asking her why I should be and
she told me she was expecting not one but two babies.
I could not believe it.
Our miracle babies were born the day before Valentines day 2004.
Two little hearts beating together.
Two little identical girls one weighed 4.6 and the other weighed 4.10 both 18 inches long.
Hannah got to stay in the room with mommy while Alexis had to spend some time in the neonatal room.
Our angel babies
At their baby shower
sleeping at the baby shower
One year old
They have been totally fun to watch.
I remember the day at our house they hugged and hugged each other and said to me,
“grandma we are likey’s”. Yes little ones you will always be… likeys’.
Today they are nine.
Happy birthday little likey girls.
You are a joy to be around.
I remember we were talking on Sunday when I gave them their birthday presents.
The topic was about college and Hannah said,
“when I go to college I am not going to room with her. All my life I have spent with her and I need a change.”
I just laughed and laughed. All your life… A whole nine years.
It has been a comedy over and over to see the two of them play and grow.
We love them and we are so blessed to have our miracle babies.
Happy Birthday Hannah and Alexis praying your day is wonderful.
An old Oak tree in the snow on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Reminding me of the parched places in our heart
when the coldness of our soul sometimes stays near to us too long.
Then slowly and steadily like this tree in the spring
new life comes to the surface and the
leaves abound in beauty and the
glory of the magnificent tree is evident to all who look and see.
Lord give us strength to know that sometimes the barren feelings are not always
going to stay ~
help us to be patient and wait with joy
for the newness of spring to arrive so we can smile again.
joining Deidra on jumping tandem with the Sunday community.
(photo by Sarah B of Oregon)
Philippians 1: 9-11 So this is my prayer:
that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.
Learn to love appropriately.
You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.
Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
When I read this passage this morning it ministered to me on many levels. The first one was in the first line.
So this is my prayer.
How many times in our lives have we shared the prayers of our hearts to one another?
Isn’t it hard to do? It is a vulnerable place to pray when another is listening or reading what we say.
He said “this is my prayer” meaning he wanted to share to them because it was important.
Then he continued to encourage the reader.
That your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.
Isn’t that a wonderful encouraging line to those he cared for?
Then he continues. Learn to love appropriately. That is a strong line. I looked up the word appropriately and the meaning is this: suitable for a particular purpose, person, occasion. belonging to a person. to set aside for some specific purpose. So he is encouraging them to be careful and cautious.
Then he continues.
You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.
Wow that is very direct and to the point reminding me of high school days when we ‘felt’ we were in love with the one simply because they gave us a love note or a special gift. The admonition to use your head is what every parent has said at least once in their lifetime.
Then he continues.
Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary: which means careful, watchful, discreet, prudent, vigilant and guarded. Also it means: worthy of imitation.commendable.serving as an illustration or model. serving as a warning.laudable.noteworthy and praiseworthy.
A life JESUS would be proud of
bountiful in fruit from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. Take a deep breath.
When we read it again with the meaning inside it
the verse is powerful and convicting and certainly does give us
‘something to think about’.
We went to a memorial service a week ago.
As I was sitting there listening to the friends talk about the one who passed away
it made me think of my ‘life’.
If I died suddenly what would others say about me.
What unfinished work would I have left.
What would my life’s statement leave behind.
The legacy that I have tried to pursue is good and honorable
but would the real value of it speak
to the ones who would be sitting at my service?
I wonder
what others would say.
I wonder
did I make enough impact.
I wonder
how can I change the vision or direction right now.
Just in case.
None of us knows if we have tomorrow.
The one who passed away most likely didn’t know although they said he might have known.
He had his bible open.
(very similar to the story of my husbands brother who left too soon).
I wonder
how that would feel to anticipate the passing of time.
Part of the reason I have a word of the year is
so that I can center in and become quiet.
It is necessary in order to do things differently.
As I have been sitting and pondering
thinking and praying
a song came to me.
A song I dedicated to my husbands mother several years ago after she passed from our lives.
Perhaps it means a lot to me too.
Perhaps it would be a part of my legacy should I ever leave early.
Just wanting to share a few things I am thinking about today.
One Word 2018 Simplify/2019 Simplify/2020 Rest, 2021/Comfort
Simplicity
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my 2017 picture
Philipians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ==================== Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Courage is not the absence of fear but it's taking action in the midst of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.
It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. Matthew 12:34 (msg) version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below you will find a few of my favorite websites or blogs. They have given me encouragement and challenged me on this journey.
Ann Voskamp's blog A holy Experience This image of a bleeding heart represents a journey of healing from brokenness to wholeness. Some of my favorite books: One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Married over 46 years and entered into my 65th year of life.
I am a mother of two and grandmother of six and mom to two very spoiled kitties. I love to worship and encourage and of course write whenever I can find a topic or subject to share about.
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Thank you for visiting my blog.
I hope you find it encouraging and that it gives you
'Something to think about'. The vision for this is to challenge the reader into a new and different way of thinking. I appreciate and always value your comments. Having others walk alongside and join in the sharing is part of the process.
Thank you for joining me... on this journey. As we get encouraged ~ Lord help us to encourage others. "And the day came when the risk to remain a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin my blog button The crosses are found on a beach at Winema Christian Camp on the Oregon coast.. a place to relax and find God in the process. My favorite place ....to rest and restore my spirit.
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