Lumberton

I am so overwhelmed by the generosity shown this week for Lumberton.  I am blown away.  God moved in a big way to provide a lot of great things for Lumberton.  I am so grateful to have been able to be just a small part of it.
For years I have felt a strong pull to do mission and disaster relief type things.  I haven't been able to do any relief trips yet and as Hurricane Matthew came in, my mind began to churn.  I really wanted to do something.  For a few days I tried to play out every scenario in my head to try and make it work.  I was going to go work in one of the areas that had been devastated by the flooding.  I didn't care how...but I was going!  I prayed and asked God to make this work.  haha!   Well long story short, God helped me to see that that was not His plan and that this was not my season for going and doing.  While I am coming to this realization, I am seeing all of the posts from my friend Shannon, whose husband had family in Lumberton, NC.  I don't know that I had ever heard of Lumberton before that.  So I followed her page very closely and I truly feel like God wanted me to do a drive for Lumberton...by way of Shannon and Kelvin.  So this is where my season is...helping and providing for others to be able to go and do.
My heart breaks for the people of Lumberton and the other areas that were effected by Hurricane Matthew.  I can't imagine how devastating that must be to lose everything you own.  It seemed like everything on TV was still focused mostly on the election, and just about all of the negativity and hate in the world.  I really wanted to see more on the flooding.  I felt like they were being pushed aside.
Ya know...here's the thing.  Lumberton is not Republican or Democrat.  Lumberton is not white or black, hispanic or indian.  Lumberton is not gay or straight.  Lumberton is not christian or atheist.  Lumberton is not pro-life or pro-choice.  Not right now anyway.  Lumberton is/was under water.  Lumberton is out of jobs.  Lumberton is without homes.  Lumberton is without clothes.  Lumberton is just plain without.  I obviously don't know anyone there nor am I going to pretend to know what they are thinking or going through.  But I would venture to say that none of those things matter to Lumberton right now, but what does matter is where is the next meal coming from; where are they going to live; or how are they going to take care of their children.
You see...I needed to follow what God wanted me to do.  (And man what a blessing it has been to me.)  I wanted to be something positive with all the negative things going on.  I wanted for Lumberton to know that they were not being overlooked.  I really do want them to know that people care about them and haven't forgotten.  I want them to know that we stand with them even if we can't go and serve beside them.
So...here I am now...with a full Uhaul sitting in my driveway waiting for me to take to Fort Mills and then it will go on to Lumberton.  I am beyond honored to have been given the opportunity to help make a difference.  There are so many people that donated and I am forever grateful!  Lumberton, we love you!

I protest!

I am a Miami Dolphin fan.  I know people who love the Cowboys.  And yet others that like the Broncos.  And for some reason there are Steelers and NY Jets fans.  ;)  I don’t know all of the stats on other teams, but I am going to point out some of Miami’s.  However, don’t worry, this post is still relevant to all NFL fans.  So read on!

I am going to start with 2006...just to go back a nice round 10 years.

2006  W 6, L 10

2007  W 1, L 15

2008  W 11, L 5

2009  W 7, L 9

2010  W 7, L 9

2011  W 6, L 10

2012   W 7, L 9

2013  W 8, L 8

2014  W 8, L 8

2015  W 6, L 10

A little inconsistent…and definitely not a winning streak.  We have remained steadfast fans…weary…but steadfast.

I point out this record to show that they are not perfect…this is not a perfect record.  This record shows struggle and failure…as well as the wins.  I mean look at 2007.  Yikes!  Man if I was them I would not want to be judged by that one year alone.  Hmm….we are fans even though I feel like they have fallen below my expectations of them.

As a fan it can be tough.  You want to walk into work on Monday and be proud.  You get tired of catching crap at the water cooler in years like 2007.  It’s tough for the fan of any team!  But die hard fans…well…are die hard.  We continue to support our team!  You continue to support the team you love no matter what their record is.  They aren’t perfect!  The receiver doesn’t catch every pass.  The quarterback doesn’t connect with every target.  Sometimes our offense goes off sides.  Sometimes there is a flag for a face mask.  I could go on…but I will admit…my football knowledge is not 100%.  I am working on it though.  My point is that there is not a perfect game.  Even when my team wins, the other team didn’t play as hard.  If my team loses, the other team played better.  There are flags called on plays because someone dropped the ball…and in this game that means literally dropped the ball.

If every fan of every NFL team protested every time their team “dropped the ball”, or even less…if they protested every time their team ended in a losing season, there would most likely be no more fans and essentially no more NFL.

Stay with me…it’s coming!

Well this is what I compare the NFL players protests by kneeling during our National Anthem to.  Your protesting what is going on in racially volatile areas, and what you feel is ALL police brutality.  You are judging the actions of a very few and protesting a whole group.  You are not standing for our National Anthem and showing your pride in our country, no matter how tough things are getting.  You won’t stand for pride in the country that pays you overinflated salaries.  You make more in one game than most people that are fighting to protect you make in a year.  I get that there is a huge difference between racial diversity and whether you caught a pass or not.  However, the support is the same.  The support, or lack there of, is what I am questioning.  I do not understand this. 

For me, the wife of a firefighter and the sister in law to a Navy diver…who both happen to be HUGE Dolphin fans…where is your support of them?  Where is your support of the people working hard to protect this country?  Standing for OUR National Anthem supports the efforts of those who fought for you to have a right to play ball and earn that ridiculous salary.  It supports what they do daily.  And of all days…you feel like 9/11 would be a great idea?  I just don’t get it.  I don’t get it today…and I won’t get it any day.  For me…this does not make me sympathetic to your cause…nor does it start a conversation that you want started.  For me you feel like a spoiled rich kid with nothing better to do that wants to get their way.

For me, this also just makes more division.

So for me personally…the 4 Miami players that took a knee today...disappointed me.  I was looking forward to a good football game today with my firefighter hubby…yeah the big Dolphin fan.  A day that should be a day of AMERICANS…doing AMERICAN things…like watching a great American past time…football.  I felt like this was the best way to remember those that died on 9/11…to spend it with my family being an American.

I love this country!  Right now I am terrified about the election...not gonna lie.  However, I love our country.  I wish we could go back to the days after 9/11...when it felt like everyone was an American!

Crazy storms!

So, we celebrated our anniversary this week.  Our plan for the day was hiking and just goofing off.  Eat at a couple of different restaurants we had heard about and then call it a day.  I had been watching the weather and knew to expect rain.  I was kind of bummed a bit to be honest...but I was determined to have a good anniversary day…celebrating!

Funny thinking back to our wedding day…we got married on a Sunday….in August.  I have no idea what I was thinking because it was outside.  Hot!!  Anyway, it was rainy that morning.  Nothing like we have had this week, just a little rain shower.  I don’t remember thinking anything of it at the time.  Well maybe a little worried because I think someone said it was bad luck. Haha!

Last weekend we decided to go hike at Graveyard Fields with the girls since we hadn’t been in so long.  I forgot two things, that the girls were so little when we went before that they couldn’t really remember the parkway and that I myself forgot how beautiful it is.  It is definitely something I take for granted living here.  It was fun to watch the girls watch the mountains.  And of course they wanted to try and find our house.  Haha!  It was so incredibly beautiful!!

So when Kenny and I went for our hike this week we decided to go back up and find Skinny Dip Falls.  Somehow neither one of us had been and we wanted to scope it out before we took our girls back.  And just for the record...you do have to wear clothing there...it is not optional.  And no I did not try to find out otherwise.  Haha!  Oh goodness!  As we were driving we literally drove right into the clouds.  It was amazing...a little unnerving...but amazing!  (The unnerving part is having zero visibility and coming up on cars either with no lights on...or one car stopped in one of the many tunnels.  Geesh!)  Back to the "beautifulness".  Wow!  Even though you couldn’t see in parts it was pretty.  At one point we came into a clearing and the sun was peaking through on the mountains.  Kenny and I both were just like WOW!  We pulled over just to see how crisp everything looked.

I have always loved how things look after the rain.  It just kind of washes all the dirt and grime away.  The trees look fresh and clean.  I love it!  That’s how it was that day.  It was fresh and crisp on the other side of the rain and the clouds.  Up past Pisgah View, where you couldn’t see 2 cars in front of you by the way, past the Brevard turnoff.  Truly Amazing!

Sometimes storms seem to engulf us and we think the rain will never stop.  The lightning pops around us and the thunder sounds like it could take your house down.  I do love a good thunderstorm!  Especially lately though, it seems like there are just so many storms. Everyday there is a storm.  I drive home from work and it looks like there has been a tropical storm with all of the limbs and debris laying around.

The storms of life are no different really.  Man they can truly wreak havoc on a person.  And just when you think you can catch your breath and pick yourself up off the ground…BAM...another clap of thunder and the storms roll in again.  Sometimes we go through whole seasons of storms.  I honestly think my name could be April sometimes.  (April showers bring May flowers.)  I personally am ready for my name to be May!!  All the time!  Lol!

What about when all of that mess starts clearing?!  Does it begin to look more vivid for you?  Sometimes the storm in your life is over but you got a big old, ugly, black eye from that limb that smacked you square in the face when you weren’t looking.  It may take you a while to open your eyes and to even be able to see the clear trees against the skyline.  The crisp, clean leaves on the branches.  The blue sky in the background.  You might be hurt and don’t want to look.

As much as I love to sit and listen to a good thunderstorm roll in when I am at home...I hate them in my personal life.  I know we need the rain for the earth but I don’t want the refining storm that comes with life.  Personal storms hurt too much.  But we need to learn to look at it after the fact, with eyes wide open.  Now there are some that I am still waiting to see the “Why?” or the “Oh I get it!”  And unfortunately I may not ever see that. 

Storms are new beginnings.  Fresh starts.  Cleaning off of the dirt that builds up.  It is grace washed over you.  It is a “hey...my child...let’s get you rinsed off and cleaned up”.  It’s “you’ve been through some ugly stuff...now I am going to help you get that cleaned off.”  And when the storm is settled and you are sitting there tired...weary...from trying to stand on your own...the Father says...”let Me help you up.”  “Lean on ME!”

Now God is with you during the storm, I am not trying to say different.  I will say that sometimes we get so caught up in the storm that we don’t look for Him or at Him.

I know that I need to do better about looking to Him…and keeping my eyes on Him during my storms.  And I definitely need to run to Him when they are there and when they are over.  How about you?  How do you do when the storms are raging all around you?  Do you stay focused on Him?  Or do you get caught up in your storm?

I want to be better about seeing the crisp sky after my storm.  I want to be better about basking in the sun…and the son!  I want to be better about remembering to not be scared or nervous!  I want to be better about looking on in awe when the rains are so heavy and the thunder so loud!  I want…to feel and to know that I am safe!  THIS only comes from prayer and from spending time in His word.  Something else I need to be better at.  So easy to get caught up in the everyday crazy!

These are some verses that I go to…that I depend on.  I hope they help you too.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matt. 11:28

An incredibly kind woman, Anne, gave me this next verse after my cousin passed away last year.  That year was already off to a miserable start and it was only March. When he died it literally sucked the wind out of me.  It was that branch that whopped me in the face so hard and gave me the biggest black eye.  Honestly, I think the branch had already hit by that point...and this was the whole tree coming down on me.

Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am He, I am He who will sustain you,

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

I have clung to this verse because to me it sums up what I just got really long winded about. Lol!  Oh now...there are days (more than I care to admit) when I am right back down on the ground laying underneath that tree trying to figure out how I got there and how on earth to get up.  I have patient friends.  Haha!  They have prayed for me, offered an ear over ice cream, taken me to lunch, given me countless hugs, and even offered to go all Ronda Rousey on someone for me.  ;)  Really good friends can help see you through…and point you in the direction of the one that can!

He will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.  Deut. 31:8

He said to the, “why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”  Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.  Matt 8:26

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  PS 107:29

And we know that in all thinks God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand from forever.  Prov. 10:25

I pray you will look to Him during your storm!  I pray I will too!

Jumping...rather diving in here...H...B...2

Okay so...there is so much talk about the HB2 on social media..it is quite overwhelming.  I am not sure who I am going to irritate the most on here.  Yes, I have done my research and read up on both sides.  (Just putting that out there because I get accused of not doing that a lot.  Or at least people "like me" do.)  And for those that think I am not open minded...most of my reading was from sites I don't typical agree with.  Oh!  And please excuse my not so politically correctness.


So here is what I do know.  This bill is called House Bill 2 and the document states that it is:

"AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM AND CHANGING FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES AND TO CREATE STATEWIDE CONSISTENCY IN REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS."

Let me take a moment right here.  Bills!!  Why do they have to be so long and wordy?!  Geesh, cut to the chase!  Oh, and why do we have to tack on fifteen things when we want one thing passed?  Never understood it or cared for it.  But I digress...

This bill, as with others, is long and tedious.  I won't bore you with the details, but feel free to go read the whole thing yourself:

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015E2/Bills/House/PDF/H2v4.pdf

I would merely like to point out that there really is more to it than letting a transgender go into your bathroom.  No really!  Did you know that a mom can't take her 8 year old son into the women's bathroom if she is out with him alone.  Yeah!!  It's true!  I just read it.

Exceptions include:

"For a minor under the age of seven who accompanies a person caring for that 4 minor."

So if you are 8....forgettaboutit!  Don't know about you but my husband didn't leave our 8 yr old daughter outside at a store when he had to pee.  Just sayin!

There is even stuff in here about minimum wage.  (Don't get me started on that as far as the national level is concerned.)  But, local gov't can't make a higher minimum wage than what the state has set.  Fine by me, I don't know how that effects me personally.  So a none issue for me.  But it's in there.

One other thing I find interesting though...you can no longer sue for discrimination in state court.  These types of lawsuits now must go to federal court...where (shockingly...jk) they are more expensive and there is a shorter period of time to file.  NC is already an "at will" employment state and there isn't anyone out there that really has protection.  You can pretty much be fired for any reason, at any time, almost without even knowing why.  There is just very limited protection in this area.  So yeah...that one kind of ruffles my feathers a bit.  That includes discrimination based on religion.  Which, just gonna be honest here, I don't feel very protected with my religious beliefs anyway.  This certainly doesn't help.

So I guess I sound like I am against this bill.  Ok so...I probably am.  If my only thing was to be mad about was the bathroom issue...well not sure I can jump on board there.  Think about it.  Does anyone honestly think a ban on the bathroom is going to keep a really twisted person from going in that bathroom to do bad things.  Nope!  I don't believe that anymore than I believe a ban on guns will keep an idiot from committing a crime or killing someone...WITH A GUN.  Yep...I totally just made that comparison.  This bill will not keep anyone safe from a pedophile or a rapist.  I am not going to argue which demographic is more perverted than the other.  I think we all have our share of cuckoos.  Just like every family has their share of crazy.


Please be for certain...I am  Christian and I am a conservative.  I don't necessarily agree with most of the LGBT community, I would imagine, on political issues.  I feel like I can say that somewhat confidently.  But wait...don't hear that I don't like them....I am saying we don't agree politically.  I like all people...well not mean people.  haha!  I would much rather have coffee with someone that doesn't agree with me politically than someone who claims to be a Christian that is full of hate.  Okay that is a lie...I hate coffee.  ;)


Which, if I may, takes me to another point.  Why can't we just sit down and talk like civil folk?  I mean there is so much hate spewed on social media on both sides.  (And not just about this topic.)  So much anger.  I am not going to get anywhere with anyone if I show anger, call them names, or be dismissive.  The other side is certainly not going to get anywhere with me if they are degrading, shouting, or angry either.


I care for everyone equally...and there are some I dislike equally.  lol!   Seriously though, I don't hate anyone.  I believe that as a human being I am allowed to believe how I want to believe BUT I need to be nice about it.  And so do they.  I don't always feel like I am given the same opportunity. 
And just in case you don't what I believe...here ya go.  And for me...it is the only thing that will matter in the end anyway.



So...I guess my point is this.  I don't believe this bill is going to keep a creeper out of my bathroom.  I don't believe this bill is going to protect my two daughters from that creeper either.  Creepers are gonna creep no matter what the law says.  (PS-that is why I carry a gun.)  I certainly don't want, what appears to be, a grown man in the woman's bathroom because he/she has girl parts.  If she looks like a dude...umm...not gonna lie...I am gonna think she is a dude and pitch a fit.

Last point.  And it is really meant to be tongue in cheek...so please don't get all pissy.  This is all probably started by a Trump campaign employee anyway...or an NC Trump supporter.  So Trump supporters...you win.  You successfully distracted the whole country while Trump made a clean sweep in the primaries yesterday!  Seriously!!  ;)

Bitter Pill to Swallow

Forgiveness...is definitely a bitter pill to swallow.  I guess that is shallow of me to admit...but man...it really is tough sometimes.

Now I'm NOT talking about those times when someone hurts you, or you have a disagreement with someone, and you both talk and work things out.  Nope, not those times.  Those times are going to happen.  And, they can actually be good.  You may learn something about yourself and/or grow....same can be true for the other person involved.  There is not one perfect person on this planet...and we all make mistakes and bad choices.  People are going to disagree.  And ya know what...that is ok!  Those times deserve forgiveness in my opinion.  They feel "legitimate" so to speak.  I feel like those give a disagreement or hurt a kind of "closure".

The times that are the hardest are the times when someone hurts you and there is no closure.  No apology from the other person.  No conversation to "clear the air".  Those times...wow those times...blah to those times!!

It is so very hard for me to want to forgive them.  I truly struggle with that.  I feel like that "let's them off the hook" so to speak.  Why should I do that?  Why would I do that?  Forgiving means that I have to be nice to them now.  Forgiving means I have to be nice to them now.  Forgiving means they don't have to "suffer".  They don't have to "pay" for what they did.  Right?  It means that what they did to me (or you) didn't matter.  My hurt (your hurt) doesn't matter.  Right?

Well while all of those things are true (for the most part).  They are true for our earthly flesh.  Those are things we tell ourselves....things the devil wants us to believe.

A few days ago I received a text from my friend Kim and she shared her devotion for the day with me.  (I won't post it all here because I don't know that I am allowed to do that...and I am not even sure of the devotional it came from to give credit.  I do know it was Wendy Pope though.)  This is my favorite line that she wrote:

"God was teaching me about forgiving others and requiring me to deal with

self-righteousness by having me live right in the middle of offenders."

I say favorite because it felt like she was talking right to me and I knew I wasn't alone.  She goes on to say that "forgiving others is a choice" and that basically, as I stated earlier, the devil likes for you to relive the hurt you felt and will continue to remind you of the hurt.  The more you remember that hurt or offense, the more you focus on it, the less likely you are to focus on forgiveness.


Oh forgiveness!  Here it comes!  God calls us to forgive those who have offended us...whether they ask for it or not.  Whether we feel like giving it or not.  Checkout The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18: 21-35.

Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother

 when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you,

not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  Matthew 18:21-22

Yikes! SEVENTY-SEVEN??  Really?  Well there ya go!  Hmm...well I don't know about you but I have some work to do!  haha!  Oh but wait!  There is more!  In the story the servant refuses to forgive a debt even though his debt had been forgiven.  His master "turns him over to the jailers to be tortured."

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive

your brother or sister from your heart.  Matthew 18:35

Jesus is teaching us how our debts have been forgiven and we in turn need to forgive those that are indebted to us.  If we don't, it really is a slap in the face to The One that has forgiven us.


Today I saw a post from a friend of mine, Melody, about a funeral she had been to yesterday.  Her words struck me.  They go perfectly with how I feel.  It really is beautiful.

"It is so hard for we humans to forgive; It is a journey for us. Words and actions

hammered into our hearts can be so mean and hurtful that we can't find it in

ourselves to forgive easily. Yet God forgives us in an instant and etches

over the ugly with his own words. His own love."

This!  This takes away that bitterness.  God's words of love cover up those ugly words spoken by others.  Think about this as we head into Easter.  God sent his son to take on all of our sin, to bear that on the cross, and to set us free!  How can I not forgive when I have been given all of that?!  I have been given life!  So yes!  Yes forgiveness is painful at times.  But compared to the pain of the cross...there isn't a comparison!

If it's good...tell them!!

Well look at me...twice in one month!  ;)


I was talking with one of my teachers yesterday afternoon after classes were over.  We were just catching up really.  Things are always so nuts on Tuesdays that it is something that neither one of us get to do very often.  I would like to first that we have a lot of great teachers...all of our teachers actually.  Some I know better than others.  This particular teacher I have known since we started homeschooling and I absolutely adore her.  She is an inspiration as a homeschooling mom.  She has two grown children that are amazing!  She has been teaching with us for a very long time and she truly is one that loves to teach.


Many, many years ago she had gotten a complaint and it effected her so deeply that she did not teach the following year.  It is amazing what that can do to someone.  Those types of things can...sometimes...truly shake someone that has a heart for what they are doing...and what they feel God has called them to do.  It hurts your heart to hear those things.


She went on to say how over the years she had kept cards from her students.  Most of the time a teacher just gets a card that says "love so and so"...but occasionally they get a heart felt note expressing deep appreciation for their investment in that student's life.  A thank you note!  She told me how she will look through those from time to time and how good they make her feel.  How special those cards are to her.  What an awesome feeling that must be to know that you impacted someone in a special way.  That impact could be a year of teaching, an incident of extended grace, a shoulder to cry on, or any number of things.

Not all "incidents" need to be extensive or "life changing"...and it doesn't have to be a teacher either.  It could be anything, or anyone, that had an impact on you in a positive way.  A waiter that is super patient with your two year old.  Someone offers you a job when you are down on your luck.  It can be as simple as someone being kind to you. I could truly go on all day...but I think you get the point.


Too often we are wired to only comment or send an email when we are NOT happy.  Why?  Why not use our words for good.  Why not use our words to lift up...instead of tearing down.  (I'll come back to this in a moment.)


Now don't get me wrong, sometimes there is a need for constructive criticism.  But shouldn't we make sure we handle those situations the way God would want us to...and let's be honest...in an ethical manner?

I will be the first to admit...I am not the greatest at this either...I am not a fan of conflict.  Sometimes things in life can be a huge misunderstanding...and your conversation could be all that is needed to clear up that misunderstanding.  You don't know what kind of day that person was having...and they don't know what kind of day you were having.  

So now to the point...say thank ...to someone that matters!  Aren't we always teaching our kids to say thank you!  You never know what an impact your "thank you" will have.  Say it to the person!  Say it to their boss!  And say it to their boss's boss!  haha!  What if your waiter did 100 good things and only 1 bad (or perceived bad...because there are ALWAYS two sides to EVERY story).  That one "bad" thing may be the only thing his boss hears about.  Let's use our words to encourage and lift up others.

I am encouraging you today to tell someone when they have done a good job.  I am encouraging you to write a thank you note to someone that has been a shoulder to cry on if they caught you in a "moment".  Your friends are supposed to be there for you...the Lowe's guy...not so much!  :)  Tell Bob's boss how appreciative you are that Bob at Lowe's didn't freak out when you started crying on him....or how he played with your two year old why helping you pick out the perfect toilet seat.  That might be the only thank you that Bob gets in his "file".  Or heck send Bob a thank you note too so when someone loses it on him one day he can go to his locker and read your heart felt thank you note and remember what a good guy he is.  Anyone that has helped you in any way!  Even if you think it is insignificant to them.  Even if it was a year ago.  I plan on being better at this!  I hope you will too!

Can't do it alone!

Sooo....been a long time since I posted anything.  I hope that will change and I can do better at this and post more often.


I have always been a "no I got this", "I can do it alone", "nope I don't need any help" kind of girl.  I don't know why that is.  I could start making guesses as to why and I have a few really valid reasons I am sure, but none of those are really important.  I am just super independent.
I know my last post mentioned why I love trees so much.  If you haven't read it, I would love for you to check it out.  I have always loved paintings of a single tree on a hill...or off to the side of a pasture.  Trees make me happy.  It makes me think of that family tree that I love so much.  I mean come on....look at that picture!  Beautiful!!

Recently my brother in law had to have a sextuple bypass...rather unexpectedly.  And yes you read that correctly...SEXTUPLE!  That would be 6....count them....6!!!  He was only supposed to have a quadruple (4).  My sister and her husband's family and friends immediately rallied when they told everyone.  My mom and I drove out to help with my nieces and to be there for my sister and her husband as well.  I was beside myself with worry.  I trust the Lord entirely and know that His way is best...but it was so hard not to give in to that worry.  I am a doer and a fixer so I wanted to do anything and everything I could to help.  I would have preferred to make it just go away all together.  I had to "settle" for praying and just being there.

Surgery was a success and he is doing great!  It was blessing to see God move that day for him.  He is a great husband, father, and friend!  So thankful God heard our prayers and he is on the mend!


On our drive home from Arkansas we left just before dawn to avoid traffic on the way.  It was hard to leave but we needed to get back.  It always is difficult to say goodbye because that area just screams "home" to me and my family is there, but this time is was harder.  My girls were tired so they went straight to sleep and my mom dozed off as well.  I had some quiet time to just drive and reflect on our week.  The sun was coming up over the fields (lot of flat, farm area through there) and the trees.  I always feel like it is one of the most beautiful drives.  I really wish I could have taken a chance to take a picture of the sunrise.  This picture is from last June when we were headed home...so you get the idea.

As I was driving...watching the sun come up from behind the trees...I couldn't help but notice the families of trees.  The trees that were together...not the single trees...were just as beautiful and mesmerizing as my single tree on the hill.  Those trees were huddled together on the side of a field or surrounding a family cemetery.  The sun...The Son...was showing me something I had been missing. He wanted me to see them with Him shining through in the background.  For me, it was just a visual of what I had been experiencing that week.  We need family.  We need people in our lives that speak truth to us.  We are not made to function alone.  He has designed us in that we shine the best when we are surrounded by family.

Whether your family comes together for you in times of need to pray, give up a day of work to come sit with you, cook a meal, love on your kiddos, change a flat, listen for hours at your struggles...or the many other things that they could do...that is what God's design for you us is.  Community!  The great thing about that is...sometimes we are blessed for that family to include friends.  And in some cases friends are our family.  I am thankful I have a great mix of both!  We can't do this alone!  Thankfully I don't have to and I hope you don't either.

I leave you with these:

(I love the different versions of this verse!)

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. "  Prov. 17:17 (NLT)

"A friend loves at all times..."  Prov 17:17 (NIV)

"Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. " (MSG)

"And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities".  Hebrews 10:24 (AMP)