Saturday, October 26, 2013

With a heavy and happy heart

I greet you all with a heavy and happy heart. Today is the day of 2 funerals of friends who have passed away after struggles with cancer, one in Colorado that my parents will be attending and one here in Virginia that we'll be going to. Both of these people were wonderful, strong, faith-filled and had wonderful laughs. :) Fortunately, knowing these two people were a brother and sister in the Lord, this is more of a "See you later" ceremony rather than a "Good-bye". Neither of them are in pain any longer, but left behind spouses, children and one also had grandchildren.

Memorials are never easy, they shouldn't be, but they are good. More and more I'm realizing that the "good" thing is rarely easy. Memorials bring us together, allow us to grieve, cry, laugh and remember our cherished ones together.

But you know most of this already. What you don't know... is why I have a happy heart. :) I have a very happy heart because my brother and sister-in-law welcomed the newest edition to their family yesterday!! I'm an AUNTIE!!!!!!! Again!! :) And I'm absolutely over the moon about it. :)


She had a very smooth and easy labor, which was a big answer to prayer, especially since sweet Bella was over 10 lbs!! :) I'm so excited for them and the rest of their kiddos!

So today my heart is heavy, but also bubbling over. Lots of answered prayers have revealed themselves very differently over this past week.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Is that too much to ask?

All I want is to make sad people happy, happy people dancey, dancey people ecstatic and have ecstatic people share it and pass it along. That's my plan to change the world. How to start? Smiling at people. Making eye contact. Neva randomly smiles, waves and says "Hi!" to people. I've yet to see this absolutely tick anybody off.

We live in such a paradox, we are closer than ever to people but so isolated! Reach out and love on people. Invite them out to coffee or over for a meal. Share you life with others! One of my biggest fears is saying the wrong thing, so I don't usually say anything. Then it hit me, if I never say anything I don't have much chance of saying the right thing either.

One of my favorite things about parenting is being able re-discover everything I've taken for granted. I'm able to watch my girls figuring out the world (how cool is that?!) and finding out how absolutely amazing it is. I've got to take some lessons from them. Here are a couple that I've figured out so far:

1. Never be too busy to play in puddles.
2. Kisses make everything better.
3. Snuggles are the best way to end every day.
4. Life is messy... and that's okay.
5. Music is everywhere! Don't forget to listen for it.
6. Everyone is happier outside.

There are about a million more but are a little hard to think of when I'm still only on my first cup of coffee. I've gone a little off-topic from where I first thought this post was going, such is life. Most things I've done have rarely ended up how I've planned. I kind of like it that way. :)

Thursday, October 17, 2013

And the world spins madly on...


I'm not totally sure what to write, but just wanted to say that we keep on keeping on. If I could put a word on the feeling... "tempestuous". Everything seems up in the air and it's all very unsettling.

 It seems like cancer is making quite the run through some of my friends and family, which is always hard. Some are winning their battles and some are finally being able to rest. But in the midst of the sadness and hurt, there are babies, there are rainstorms, there are rainbows and there is laughter. Life has been really hard for so many people the past... while. I have learned to find comfort and solace in the Lord and in my relationships, both new and old.  My beautiful and sweet cousin reminded me this morning that the Lord will never leave us, especially when we feel down and discouraged; otherwise He couldn't be our Comforter.

So in the middle of loss, heartbreak, discouragement and frustration, let me remind you of the beautiful things. :)


  
Beautiful smiles from beautiful babies!
Friendship!
Messes :)
Puddles!!!
Taking tea in the tub :)
Discovering new worlds


Making connections
Cupcake cones with extra frosting!!
More friendship :)
Self Discovery
Life is crazy. It'll always be crazy. But so long as you're grounded in who you are, who you love and who you serve, there will always be beauty.