Isn't the day bright and the moment special? Miracles happen every day and God is about miracles in every circumstance. Take time to rest in His goodness today, won't you?
Celebrate!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Celebrating the Joy!
Celebrate each day and each blessing! Make each gift of God the BIG picture in your mind and each distraction or disturbance tiny. Be amazed at His goodness in the midst of chaos and realize He is here and He is God. These are pictures of my kids: my DS on His college graduation day and my DD dressed for prom with her date. Aren't they wonderful?
Isn't the day bright and the moment special? Miracles happen every day and God is about miracles in every circumstance. Take time to rest in His goodness today, won't you?
Isn't the day bright and the moment special? Miracles happen every day and God is about miracles in every circumstance. Take time to rest in His goodness today, won't you?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Superwomen
Sometimes we just do.Life is busy, crazy, full....alarms, kids, houses, husbands, hobbies, breakfasts, joys, sorrows, obligations, decisions, holidays, lunch, surprises, homework, housework, dinner, snacks, track meets, sports practices, assemblies, awards, concerts, taxi-ing, scouts, 4H, field trips, parades, graduations, birthdays, proms, school lunches, hospital visits, phone calls, meetings, sleep, and then we start all over again!!
How DO we do it? We just do. God is still good and present in times of need and in times of joy. He is ever faithful and ever strong and without His guidance and His goodness, we just couldn't. I know I couldn't. How 'bout you?
Happy Memorial Day.
Blessings!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Joy in all things
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. I Peter 1:8
Hi friends and family!
My mom continues to have some serious health concerns and I continue to covet your prayers! She needs her kidneys to function better and her lungs to clear, so specific prayer would be great!
Through all that is going on we continue to press in to our God, the maker and perfector of our faith and believe that Mom will be well soon! The other day when I was visiting her she said, "God knows. God knows." And I was joyful in her proclaiming that truth, even though she had an oxygen mask on and could barely speak! She is right, God knows! He knows that this is hard on our family! And He knows that I am going through a very stressful time at work! And He knows we are a people who are weary and worried and afraid. And He knows that we all need to know that we are not alone and we are not to despair! There is a joy in knowing that God is in control even when we feel our lives are spinning out of control!
God is so good! I continue to believe He is with my mom and she will be healed!
I trust He is blessing you as well!
Hi friends and family!
My mom continues to have some serious health concerns and I continue to covet your prayers! She needs her kidneys to function better and her lungs to clear, so specific prayer would be great!
Through all that is going on we continue to press in to our God, the maker and perfector of our faith and believe that Mom will be well soon! The other day when I was visiting her she said, "God knows. God knows." And I was joyful in her proclaiming that truth, even though she had an oxygen mask on and could barely speak! She is right, God knows! He knows that this is hard on our family! And He knows that I am going through a very stressful time at work! And He knows we are a people who are weary and worried and afraid. And He knows that we all need to know that we are not alone and we are not to despair! There is a joy in knowing that God is in control even when we feel our lives are spinning out of control!
God is so good! I continue to believe He is with my mom and she will be healed!
I trust He is blessing you as well!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
For moms and aunts and godmothers.....
Happy Mom's Day!! This was in an email sent to me by my oldest best friend, Liz. It's a bit long, but I loved it and cried and wanted to share it with all of you! Have a blessed day!!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this?? Can you tie this?? Can you open this?Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.? I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'? I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well? It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte : With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was as almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my ownself-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Great Job, MOM! Share this with all the Invisible Moms, and aunts, and godmothers you know.
PS My mom is still healing, but in lots of pain! Keep praying! My son is graduated from college and I'm so proud! My DH is coordinating a big Mom's day brunch at church and I am so exhausted from his coordinating efforts! I've all but finished grading my grad students final projects and I think there's a faint light at the end of the tunnel! Busy days! Promise to post soon!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this?? Can you tie this?? Can you open this?Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.? I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'? I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well? It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte : With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was as almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my ownself-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Great Job, MOM! Share this with all the Invisible Moms, and aunts, and godmothers you know.
PS My mom is still healing, but in lots of pain! Keep praying! My son is graduated from college and I'm so proud! My DH is coordinating a big Mom's day brunch at church and I am so exhausted from his coordinating efforts! I've all but finished grading my grad students final projects and I think there's a faint light at the end of the tunnel! Busy days! Promise to post soon!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Keep praying! And a few cards!
Thank you to everyone for praying for my mom and my family. Her surgery is now being done on Wednesday so they can get a better picture of what is going on. Medicine is certainly NOT an exact science and it is a maze to work through. Mom is in good spirits but still very worried. I have been able to pray with her and that is GOOD. My sister comes in from MI today so it is good that all the sisters will be together for tomorrow.
Here are some cards I did last week and hadn't posted for my SBS9 sister Gina's challenge of using ribbon, images, flowers and DP. Hope you like them!
The images are Gina K (hat boxes and sentiment on dog card) and an SBS9 swap image that I think is High Hopes (dog and cat).
I gave the dog and cat one to my hubby because he is helping me with all this family stuff...he is an unfailing rock to my furriness!! The ribbon on that card is actually the leaves on the flower! The DP on the dog card is from scraps. The DP on the other is PTI, with a CAS flower stamp on the pink.
I'll keep you all posted on everything! Blessings! :)
Here are some cards I did last week and hadn't posted for my SBS9 sister Gina's challenge of using ribbon, images, flowers and DP. Hope you like them!
The images are Gina K (hat boxes and sentiment on dog card) and an SBS9 swap image that I think is High Hopes (dog and cat).
I gave the dog and cat one to my hubby because he is helping me with all this family stuff...he is an unfailing rock to my furriness!! The ribbon on that card is actually the leaves on the flower! The DP on the dog card is from scraps. The DP on the other is PTI, with a CAS flower stamp on the pink.
I'll keep you all posted on everything! Blessings! :)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Prayers would be appreciated!
Hi all!
When we need prayer, the best thing to do it ask for help...God's word tells us: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
So I am asking for prayer for my Mom. She has had many health issues over the years and losing my dad last year has only put more stress on her. She had a heart attack this week and is in the hospital. They did an angioplasty on Friday and it looks like heart surgery is our only option; I ask that if it comes to mind, you will pray for our family and my mom's surgery. I know that God wants to work in this situation and I pray for open hearts to let Him comfort and calm my sisters and Mom. Thank you!
In this crazy, busy time, I am trying to carve out time to look at blogs and do "normal' stuff....in case you haven't seen it yet, there is a blog candy giveaway over at Michelle's blog...you don't have to like purple, but check it out!! And more blog candy at White Ribbon cards here....blog candy is free and free is always good!
Also, if you often stop here, I encourage you to check out some of the blog links of my SBS9 sisters...I haven't had time to blog surf lately, but made time today....they are so inspirational and creative in their cardmaking!! Click on a few links over there on the right ---> and you will be blessed! I know I am!
Have a happy week and thanks for praying with me!
When we need prayer, the best thing to do it ask for help...God's word tells us: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
So I am asking for prayer for my Mom. She has had many health issues over the years and losing my dad last year has only put more stress on her. She had a heart attack this week and is in the hospital. They did an angioplasty on Friday and it looks like heart surgery is our only option; I ask that if it comes to mind, you will pray for our family and my mom's surgery. I know that God wants to work in this situation and I pray for open hearts to let Him comfort and calm my sisters and Mom. Thank you!
In this crazy, busy time, I am trying to carve out time to look at blogs and do "normal' stuff....in case you haven't seen it yet, there is a blog candy giveaway over at Michelle's blog...you don't have to like purple, but check it out!! And more blog candy at White Ribbon cards here....blog candy is free and free is always good!
Also, if you often stop here, I encourage you to check out some of the blog links of my SBS9 sisters...I haven't had time to blog surf lately, but made time today....they are so inspirational and creative in their cardmaking!! Click on a few links over there on the right ---> and you will be blessed! I know I am!
Have a happy week and thanks for praying with me!
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