My family and Mike’s family have been so wonderful for me but I have also learned that I have a much greater family in the community. Mike would have never realized the legacy that he left. He just liked preaching, teaching and sharing God with people through missions. He taught me so much too. The one thing that has stuck with me is that we never know when our time is finished and when we will face God. What we do know is that our lives need to reflect God in all that we do. The last movie that we watched together as a church was, “Do You Believe?” We wached it just three days before he left this world. It was the story of 12 people who each had different encounters. They were all intertwined by God. It is funny how that happens. God is our common denominator. He is the one that brings us all together. We all have the choice to follow Him. He doesn’t force us to do that. He gives us the choice. So many people go through hard times, tragic times, times when they may get mad at God because they feel like they received something that wasn’t fair. I understand now. It wasn’t fair for Mike to be taken from me leaving me to raise Hannah alone. I know that Mike is in heaven because he made the choice to BELIEVE – Believe in God. We will see him one day because I know that I have made that choice to believe too. When you ask forgiveness of your sins and believe that Jesus took them all away, God promises to save a place for you in heaven. It doesn’t mean I am perfect and doesn’t mean I will not miss him because I will. Hannah and I will be thankful for the time we had with him and know that his legacy will continue in us. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:13.
Building the heart full of treasures -- by living, laughing, loving and learning together as a family.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Do you believe?
Trials will come--how will you handle them?
I was thankful when October was over and November began. October brought much sadness and trials to our family. It ended with Hannah getting hurt while at cheer practice as she fell from a cheer stunt onto her knee. It was a minor injury and she will heal quickly. However, it just was another thing in October that was another trial to face.
When trials come, we are faced with options on how we can handle it. We can cry, get angry, shut down, get alone, or give up. Our first option should be to turn to God but one of the previous options usually comes first or comes along with it. Throughout the last month, I have relied on my faith in God. I know in my heart that He is with me and that He surrounds me with people who are praying for me and for Hannah. While we sometimes look forward to heaven and want to be there with loved ones, God has given us a purpose on Earth. We may not know or understand what that purpose is while we are suffering through a difficult time. I truly believe that God reveals that to you. Sometimes we don’t see it when we are in the midst of the trial but when we focus on God, he promises that He will guide us. Mike mentioned in a recent reminder that just checking your Bible app or your “verse of the day” is not enough. It is important to interact with a body of believers as well as read God’s word each day. Pray and ask God during that trial or difficult time to reveal to you your purpose. He will do that in His own time. Romans 8:18 says “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Mike always referred to the words of the hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The lyrics say: “The things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” I can almost hear Mike quote those words because he did so recently. The sufferings that we face are so minimal compared to the glory that we will one day see. This was the glory that Mike saw immediately and is walking in each and every day.
This past fall, Hannah and I watched the movie, "God’s Not Dead.” It is a great movie and one thing that I got from the movie was that pain and suffering from a broken relationship, sick loved one, or family troubles are temporary compared to the joy that God wants us to have. We must live our lives to show that God is alive in all that we do and our purpose is to share that with everyone.
There is a song called “God of this City." Some of the lyrics are:
God is not finished with me. He is not finished with Hannah. He is certainly not finished with MHBC and this community. Psalms 30:5 says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but the joy comes in the morning.” I definitely weep a lot lately. I know it is normal because I miss the man I loved so much. People say that I am strong but I feel weak. It is the strength of God that is coming through because I do not have it on my own. I keep getting up the next day and going on because I know that I have a purpose. Regardless of the trial that you are going through, God has a purpose for you. Give Him that chance to lovingly reveal it to you.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
A Good Season
We can also have seasons of life. Some seasons we wish we could live without. It is during those times that we have learned how to grow stronger like the roots of a little sapling that is planted. We went through what I would call a long winter, not the weather kind, but the kind that brought a lot of not-so-happy times and difficult times. We had to learn to forgive people and rely on others. Throughout it all, God held us and helped us be strong.
Now we are at a good season, one where we can see the blooms and where we can see how we have grown. Our daughter is flourishing and having a good third grade year. Her young author book won at the school level, district level and went to the regional level. She did an art project that advanced to be judged at a state level. She is on a great cheer team that has taken 1st place at each event, except for one where almost the whole team got the yucky stomach flu. We are in a wonderful church that is so loving and encouraging to us. They truly love each other and desire to share the love of God. It is a good season.
Seasons of Life
Winter comes, whether I like it or not. That is how it is with life. The rough times may come but how we deal with it reflects to others. Do you sit around and mope about it or do you get up, get going and appreciate the change and the hope of a new season? I like to have the hope that even though a bump might come in the road, that hope for spring is right around the corner.
Spring is like God's little surprise party. Things start popping up out of the ground. Sometimes you might not remember they were there. It is also a time to plant new seeds for things to bloom later. How many times during our seasons of life do we plant seeds? Sometimes we see them bloom and sometimes they don't. Our children are only young once. I try to be careful about the things I teach our daughter. I want her to grow up to be a nice young lady who is conscious of her values and to love others. Sometimes it is hard to protect her from outside elements while she grows. All we can do sometimes is cultivate.
Summer is one of my favorite seasons. What I don't like about summer is weeds! Weeds seem to pop up so easily and can be hard to get rid of. Weeds are always strong and can seem to take root and hold on tight. During seasons of life, we must not let "weeds" take hold of our lives. These can be anything from bad habits, negative people, or poor attitudes. What I like to see in summer is the way the flowers can burst with color. We should allow positive actions, people, and good attitudes to be that burst of color.
Fall is when we usually prepare our yards for the winter. It is also a time when the leaves change colors. We can also use this time to look back on the year and see what we could change for the better or what we can learn from the past several months. It is also a time to reflect on how God can change us and help us to be an example of the beauty He wants us to share.
Whew...keeping up!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Poodle skirts
Poodle Skirts
My daughter was going to a Brownie Sock Hop. Last year I made poodle skirts for her and her friend. Since they still fit, I decided I would use the leftover material to make poodle skirts for their dolls. They turned out super cute and the dolls had a great time at the sock hop too!
So if you need a poodle skirt for your doll and one to match your girl, let me know. We can bling it up with anything you want.
Dr. Seuss!
- Dr. Seuss was never a doctor. He only used it as a pseudonym at a university and added the Dr. as a joke to his dad who wanted him to be a doctor.
- He almost burned his first book after being rejected by 27 publishers. And to think that it might have not happened -- "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" was the beginning of Dr. Seuss.
- His grandparents lived on Mulberry Street.
- Dr. Seuss never had children and claimed to be nervous around them but he developed a close relationship with his nephew. His nephew was said to be the inspiration of Green Eggs and Ham.
- One of his most popular books was Green Eggs and Ham. It was the result of a bet that he could not write a book using only 50 words.
- He is credited with jumpstarting reading among American Children. He is also credited with killing off "Dick and Jane." (I know I am dating myself but I loved Dick and Jane. That is how I learned to read.)
- One in four children in America have a Dr. Seuss book.
- Dr. Seuss' penchant for rhyming was inherited from his mother, who used chants to memorize pie recipes in their bakery.
- More than 200 million copies of Dr. Seuss' children's books have been published. His 44 books have been translated into more than 15 languages.
- If he were still alive today, he would be 107 years old.
