short, sweet and true

Was trying to catch up on some emails today... this school thing, mom thing, wife thing is just getting in the way of my email, blog, twitter life... ya know? But, anyway... in just looking quickly at some of the inspiring emails I get... there was one that had a verse that I decided I needed to focus on... so here I put it in my blog...

Ephesians 4:29 (The Message): "Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift."

Oh... and another thing... ya know the holidays are coming up, right? Time to get out your list... who will will show with a gift how much you appreciate them for them being THEM this past year... teachers, mailman, garbage man, family, Grace, bag boy at grocery store, cashier, receptionist at that dang doctor's office... etc... so go on over to Amy's and get all the info on the great online party she is hosting right now (includes a giveaway too). I bought some stuff earlier this year from Brandy (she is a sweetheart) from Scentsy... and they have a fantastic product... and wonderful scents. Now, go to the online party and (I guess if you have to... ) join the giveaway... But if you win, you gift it back to me, right? Good.

What a weekend

October 31st... Halloween... well, in my life it's also the reformation. When Martin Luther published his thoughts about how he thought the church wasn't doing some things correctly. It was to open a dialog and get the community to discuss things instead of blindly following the church (which was the political power 500+ years ago).


Then we have November 1st... All Saint's day... my memory has it as a day when we commemorate all martyrs of the church... But today we celebrate all people of God (those alive and dead). However, the focus is more on those that have passed on and are now with our Father in heaven.


These 2 days have been important for quite some time. I have conflict within myself over the commercialism of the 'holiday'... knowing that most people are just celebrating the trick-or-treat aspect of the day... not the deeper meaning. That's okay... I am not here to judge others... but I feel like a fake. When I join in the celebration I feel that I am making the true celebration weaker somehow.


This year I was wrestling with myself over it all again. It was a bit harder, because well.. this year I have been touched a bit more by death than in recent years past. The latest was just a couple of weeks ago... a sweet infant. Somehow this makes it all harder. We all know that there are 3 things in life that are a given... 1. Change, 2. Taxes and 3. Death. BUT when a child dies... it's hard to wrap our thoughts around that that's the way it's supposed to be.. because we also firmly believe that we should live 'long and fruitful' lives. So how is that possible if a child dies?


Some of what happened in church yesterday calmed me... that's a good thing, right? We remember and honor those that have passed on because it is our way to remember in special ways because by doing so we are extending beyond ourselves and our time. When there are people that have touched our lives and impacted us... we want to remember them and treat them special... while they are still with us and after they are gone. To remember and honor them is to remind ourselves that we are linked to something bigger than ourselves... to the universe and Our God.


As I said, in our church we honor those that have died... and not to detract from the adults known and unknown that have died this past year, especially on my heart and on my personal list this year are some children... and today with this post I am honoring their time on earth and praying for their families... as they grieve deeply.... won't you join me?

Jackson

Kaleigh

Sammie


This is not the end, but the beginning for these saints. It's always harder for those left behind. However, this brings me comfort, something Jesus said.. from Luke, Ch 23... Today you will be with me in Paradise...

HOPE springs eternal

Today a special person I met on twitter asked her weekly question for "Free T-Shirt" Friday. I almost hesitate to tell you about it... 'cause if you go and enter you'll lessen the chances that I get to win.... HA

So... Lisa (@livelifesolid) has this fantastic website and even more fantastic attitude about everything. You need to go check out her website. Each week she holds a "Free T Friday" contest. We are to answer or fill in the blank of the question. Today's question is a great one. After I submitted my answer I had to go see what other people's answers were.

I think I'm digressing a bit... this post was supposed to be about some other things too. I guess that's what happens sometimes when I let my fingers work before my brain does. Let me back up a bit... if you have been a reader of my blog for some time you know about my great friend Amy. If you haven't met her yet, you need to. She is well... just wonderful. Right now her family could use some extra prayer warriors...

Halloween and All Saints Day (November 1st) has always been a special time for her and Jim... as their oldest, Philip had a very long and hard brain surgery for removal of a mass and added shunt. 19 years later and this (now) young man still is their miracle.

But last year it was Amy's turn for surgery on Halloween... this ended up being the start of what turned into a cancer diagnosis. A lot has happened in this past year... and of many of the things that keep coming out of my thoughts....

Let me back up just another second... I think my thoughts are way to mixed up in my head today. So a small history... Friend to Amy, Amy gets cancer diagnosis, through other online friendships Amy is introduced to an organization called SpiritJump (find out later that Amy and founder Meaghan have been conversing long before cancer diagnosis about other things unrelated to cancer... small world sometimes). Fast forward to me getting to know Lisa (LiveLifeSolid) because of SpiritJump (@spiritjump). Okay.. back to my ramblings... lol

Anyway, of some of the many things that keep coming out of my thoughts is the word HOPE... Hope for the future and all that... well... a couple of weeks ago I finally decided that I needed to get one of the wonderful HOPE t-shirts that LivelifeSolid sells. The timing was perfect, as I was able to purchase while SpiritJump was involved in a blog Charity Smackdown Fundraiser Competition that Lisa was able to contribute to on my behalf ..The Giving Loop (tm) ... BTW.. the underdog, SpiritJump ended up winning.. Check out their site for more great info on the competition and what SpiritJump is all about.

I'm glad you are still with me... let me get back to the HOPE thing... I have been wanting these shirts for some time... and bought them a couple of weeks ago... I really wanted one for me... but I truly wanted to make sure that Amy got one too... so yesterday I SpiritJumped her with her own shirt.... no, I didn't get a pix... some day soon I hope... but you Need to see what the shirt is all about... What it says is:

"When the world whispers 'give up', I shout, 'Try one more time' SOLID HOPE" And what Lisa has on the website about it.... Hope. Many important things have been accomplished by those who keep trying even when there truly seems to be no hope at all. Great shirt for anyone who has, or is, facing a challenge in their life. Never lose hope.

AMEN

Now... go see Lisa at her blog and enter the Free T Friday contest.

Go see Amy at her blog and catch up... join me in praying for them today

and go see Meaghan at SpiritJump's site... to join SpiritJump and/or ask for a jump.

Have a blessed Friday all... me? I'm back to my dang homework... this college class is kicking my behind.

Wordless Wednesday

Some days this says it all...