In the Storm

52 Weeks of Giving | 22

While it is our habit that Jeff takes the meat out for dinner, one Wednesday morning he forgot. Darn. That meant we just had to go out to eat. Darn. Out to eat.

If we must, right?

We decided on Texas Roadhouse. It's a hop, skip, and jump from the house - like 3 miles away. Because it was a Wednesday we figured there wouldn't be much of a wait, either. And there wasn't any wait. We had a table in the elevated section around the bar. In the lower section there was a military couple with three little kids. They kept catching my eye for no obvious reason (i.e. the kids were well-behaved, the parents spoke to each other and to the kids, quietly and politely it seemed, and they seemed to enjoy their family) and, yet, I knew this was a prompting of the Spirit.

It isn't uncommon these days to experience the leading of the Holy Spirit as my spirit is in tune, listening for those prompts of giving.

I knew I was hearing correctly when Jeff asked, "You want to?" And, I knew he'd been prompted as well. Because I knew exactly what he was asking without clarification. We got our server involved who got their server involved and we secretly paid for that family's meal. Here's the really cool part:

Our server was so excited by this act of giving she said we had made her day.

We didn't mean to do that. But, God did!

52 Gratitudes 2019 | 18

Healthier decisions. Doing the hard thing. That is pretty much life right now. Making healthier decisions means I will be doing the hard thing. Did I want that donut yesterday morning that was offered to me? Yes. Yes. Yes, I did! But, I politely declined. Even after an 'are you sure?' was expressed temptingly, I refused. I made the healthier decision but it was seriously hard because I so wanted a cinnamon wave-y donut. Or, the apple fritter. I did. I wanted a donut and it was hard to refuse. But, I refused and made a hard, yet healthy, decision.

And, that is where life is at for me. I am losing weight slowly because I have made a couple conscious decisions that allow me to do life - happy - rather than restrictive - like eating homemade tacos on Tuesday and eating dessert on date night if I want. But, even those are hard decisions. I had to weigh losing weight fast but living a very restrictive life or losing weight slowly and being considerably happier.

The other healthy decision is continuing physical therapy. Making it happen. It is hard pushing through my therapy sessions. It is even harder to continue those sessions on my off days at home. But, I must do the hard thing to continue to heal my body. And, I am healing. While I'm not there yet I am so far ahead of where I was 4 1/2 months ago I cannot even describe. Except to say I once was without hope but now I have hope.

Stories 2019 | Say Yes

I recently read the book, memoir, by Kelly Corrigan, Tell Me More, the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say and one of the chapters, one of the 12 hard things to say, is Say Yes. The chapter was simply a running list of things Corrigan would always say yes to.

I was inspired to create my own list of saying yes. A running list of the things I will always say yes to. Go ahead, test me on this. I'll say yes. Ian asks me to play Yahtzee: Yes, in a heart beat. Jeff asks for sex even though I might have a headache: Yes, because I've learned that saying yes usually takes away the headache - or at the very least takes my mind off my problem. Can I make you some homemade tacos? Ah, Yes! See - I'll say yes, every time.

Digital speaking, I created this page using ingredients from Ali Edwards' digital Story kits

52 Weeks of Giving | 21

I go around and around my decision to share my 52 Weeks of Giving. But I keep coming back and laying on these four things:

I am sharing because maybe it will inspire someone else to make the practice of giving a priority in their life. I can, without a doubt, tell them that it will change their life in so many ways. Their heart will grow three sizes this big. They will in a small way become more like Jesus everyday because He was the supreme example of a giver when He gave away His life for us so that we might be saved.

I am sharing because in making this album it becomes an Ebenezer. In the Bible, an Ebenezer is considered a Stone of Remembrance. It is an altar erected by the Israelites when they wanted a physical reminder of what God had done for them so they will always remember when they see, return, to that altar. What God has done. I don't ever want to forget what God has done. I give because God first gave to me in His Son. But, also, because God continues to bless I want to also continue to bless.

I am sharing because I can't not share how God is showing up in my life. Before I began this project, and regularly still, I ask God to show up in this project. I ask Him to direct my path toward giving. He hasn't let me down. He places - usually in my face -  a way to give, a need to fill, a family to bless, a place to serve. Every week, without fail!

I am sharing because in sharing I am letting other people know where there are needs to be met. If I share where I'm giving maybe you will too. I think also I am sharing because I want to be an example of a cheerful, generous giver to my kids.

52 Gratitudes 2019 | 17

I am thankful for the gift of laughter, because it is a gift. I believe there are those people who rarely laugh. Either they have no desire to laugh or they have no sense of humor. But, for me, laughter is what I do best. And, it is my most favorite thing to do. No kidding! I am thankful for my daughter Elizabeth's Mother's Day gift - a Rae Dunn LAUGH big mug - and I mean BIG - because she knew I would love the - laugh - mug.

Jeff, regularly, makes me laugh and I NEVER take this part of our marriage for granted. In fact, it is one of our plusses, probably at the top of the list for a good marriage. We laugh together. And, my kids, man, they make me laugh. Love them to pieces.

Life would be different without the gift of laughter. I'm so thankful I get to do life with laughter in mine. The Creator of laughter knew exactly what He was doing when he gifted us this ability. Can I just say? You Rock, God!

Stories 2019 | Watched This

Okay, not really in one weekend, but Jeff and I have been watching Bosch, regularly, every night, or, whenever we have some down time. We have only been watching it for a couple of weeks and we're flying through the shortened seasons and we recently finished the episodes that are available on Amazon Prime. Love the show so much I'm going to give the Bosch series, written by Michael Connelly, a chance, even though I prefer reading books before I have seen television shows or series' - because they're - the shows - are just not the same.

The other day we were watching an episode of Star Trek Voyager (because we'd finished Bosch) and who did we spy in an episode - the actor who plays Bosch - very young actor who plays Bosch. 

25 years

It's been a hard journey. these 25 years. but, God...

...and so we've made it to 25 years. a vow. a covenant. a promise.

...and so we'll make it beyond 25 years. we will love - and cherish each other.

we will forgive and offer second chances and we'll grow closer.

even in the hard I'd pick him - still.

Happy Anniversary, honey!

Here is to 25 more years. Let's make them good.

52 Weeks of Giving | 20

I simply love what The Dream Campaign stands for and what they do - they serve the inner-city at risk youth right where they are at. They speak into their lives and love on them. Always teaching them and loving and accepting them.

And, I love how loudly God speaks to me when I'm willing to listen. He is consistently placing in front of us a way, a call, to give. All we have to do is, in obedience, answer His call.

When the Dream Campaign needed scholarship funds for a week of summer camp we blessed because we are blessed.

'It is better to give than to receive' - Paul, quoting Jesus.

Stories 2019 | my heart is full

Design-wise circles are pleasing to my eye. My grandsons in one of those circles on a page makes my heart full. A page like this challenges me to think creatively outside my design box because clean and simple and minimalist is more of my design love language. Lots of white space, subtle colors, black and white. Ironically, I've got that with this page - just not so minimalist. Matching patterns are difficult for me too. It's only in the last couple of years that I've been able to mix plaids with florals and leopard skin with color - no, seriously!

Inside me is chaos when I have to design a page beyond clean and simple. Yet, I continue to try. Most of the time I love the results. Like this page! I adore this page. Every single circle, color, mix of color...white space, black and white...and depth.

Speaking of chaos...when these three come visiting it's chaos. Don't think of chaos in negative terms, instead think, 'bedlam, mayhem, commotion, furor, behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.'

Then...add joy.

Stories 2019 | Plink

The past couple of years Jeff has been part of a team of guys who have built sets for Compassion Christian’s Christmas production, the Journey. Through that ministry, a core of men, with like-mindedness, have built a bond, a strong friendship that has extended outside of serving together. These guys are builders, servant-hearted men who also love to shoot. One of the guys has a membership to an exclusive gun club and he can bring guests. Jeff has been several times, and this month he took John and Jarrod with him. There ended up being about seven shooting that morning. Two of the guys shoot ALL THE TIME! When John and Jarrod were shooting, one of those guys exclaimed to Jeff, “Your boys must get in a lot of time shooting your gun?” Jeff told him they’d never shot his gun. While John and Jarrod have shot other pistols and rifles, they’d never shot those particular weapons that day. Both boys, Jeff as well - have an eye for shooting. Impressive! This morning they spent until after lunchtime shooting everything from hand guns to automatic rifles and had a blast. Jeff took my handgun to the range with him and shot up a few targets with my personal SIG Sauer P930 and I haven’t even had the opportunity to shoot it yet. While the shooting is awesome. Not doubt. It’s this building of friendship, being there for each other that does my heart good. Jeff and this group of guys, through the week group text each other - it’s only about 5-6 guys (and it can get busy when they’re going back and forth) but I love that Jeff has those men he can go to when he needs to vent, when he needs to bounce off things, and them him, also. But, I also love that these guys welcomed our sons, who are 21, and while that is adulthood, these guys treated them with unreserved respect - as if they were one of them. Jeff is beyond blessed with this group of friends. APR ‘19