tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25859346944484298992024-03-19T06:46:46.756-06:00The Courageous MommyCourage is fear that has said its prayers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16182909629222128657noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-4424150759723195932019-11-28T09:50:00.000-07:002019-11-28T09:57:20.045-07:00The Gift of Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thankfulness is a
gift of the heart. And what an amazing, life-changing,
attitude-redirecting, joy-sustaining gift it is! Some days thankfulness
comes easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wake up in the morning and
the sun is shining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days when so much
laughter fills my house it is bursting with joy. Times when my body moves
the way it’s supposed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seasons when
my children are healthy, happy and thriving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Times when my marriage is strong, Mike and I are in sync with each other
and our hearts are full. Opportunities to spend time cultivating deep
friendships that are about so much more than just getting together socially,
but are soul enriching and heart stretching. Instances when I experience
a strong sense of purpose and calling and am brave enough to act on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days spent outside with my family doing what
we love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chunks of times when worship is
automatic and God feels so close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moments when life is just good and blessings abound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the days that a sense of gratitude
fills my heart instinctively and doesn’t take any effort at all. </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But then there are
days that gratitude isn’t so instinctive. Times when being thankful is
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days that are dark and
gloomy, maybe in terms of the weather, perhaps in terms of my soul...the sun
may be shining outside, but inside my heart is dark & stormy. Days
when worry and concern about friends or family members overwhelm my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Situations that seem impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mornings that I wake up and everything hurts
and nothing moves the way it’s supposed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moments when grief comes upon me suddenly and brutally. Days when
I feel like I can’t do anything right as a Mom and wife and am constantly
letting my family down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relationships
are strained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days are hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God feels farther away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the days that thankfulness requires
striving and intentionality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days that I
have to work at being thankful.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Those are the
times that I have to stop and really take into account all that I have to be
thankful for. All the things that God has done for me, given me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How He has strengthened me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the ways that He has provided and
protected. I need to keep a record of them, speak gratitude out loud,
sing a song of praise about all of the many things that I have to be thankful
for.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Smack dab in the middle of the Bible are 43 Psalms of
Praise. I love all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I
am struck with the most as I read through these psalms is the fact that most of
these praises of thanksgiving were not given in times of plenty and
comfort. They were sung in times of distress, in seasons of war, as they
were coming out of exile, facing physical danger and even death. Or in times of
God’s discipline for their sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many
of these psalms began with a cry of pain, fear or discouragement, a plea for
rescue...and then their songs turned to praise and thanksgiving. Their
gratitude was not found without striving and intentionality...it didn’t come
easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it required looking
back and seeing how God had been faithful in the past and had never forgotten
or forsaken them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it required
them singing praises of gratitude from the heart while their outward
circumstances were hard. Not waiting to be thankful once God delivered
them, but while they were still in the midst of trouble.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have learned so many lessons by reading these Psalms of
Praise. Some days thanksgiving comes easy and is a natural response to
the wonderful blessings that surround me. But other days gratitude comes
from a heart that is crying out to God; it is hard fought for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comes with striving. It calls for
being intentional about seeking out what I have to be thankful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so often the very pain, trial, hard
circumstances that I am facing is exactly what I discover I am grateful
for. Because that’s where God is working on molding and shaping me,
strengthening my faith, making me more compassionate, giving me motivation to
follow Him above all else. </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thankfulness is a gift of the heart...and yes, what a wonderful
gift it is! I pray that you are overwhelmed with such a feeling of
gratitude no matter what your situation or circumstances are, that you are able
to see how God is working in those circumstances, and that you know the ever
faithful, never changing love He has for you. </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">His faithful love endures forever.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">That He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And has gathered them from the lands - </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">From the east and the west, </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">From the north and the south.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Some wandered in the desolate wilderness, </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Finding no way to a city where they could live.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They were hungry and thirsty;</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Their spirits failed within them.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He rescued them from their distress</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He led them by the right path</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">To go to a city where they could live.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them give thanks to the Lord</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For His faithful love</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And His wonderful works for all humanity.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For he has satisfied the thirsty </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And filled the hungry with good things.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Others sat in darkness and gloom -</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Prisoners in cruel chains - </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because they rebelled against God’s commands </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And despised the counsel of the Most High.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He broke their spirits with hard labor; </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They stumbled, and there was no one to help.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He saved them from their distress.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He brought them out of the darkness and gloom</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And broke their chains apart.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them give thanks to the Lord </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For His faithful love</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And His wonderful works for all of humanity.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For He has broken down the bronze gates</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And cut through the iron bars.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fools suffered affliction</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because of their rebellious ways and their sins.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They loathed all food</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And came near the gates of death.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He saved them from their distress</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He sent His word and healed them;</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He rescued them from the pit.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them give thanks to the Lord</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For His faithful love</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And His wonderful works for all humanity.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And announce His works with shouts of joy.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Others went to sea in ships,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Conducting trade on the vast waters.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They saw the Lord’s works,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">His wonderful works in the deep.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He spoke and raised a tempest</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">That stirred up the waves of the sea.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Their courage melting away in anguish,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They reeled and staggered like drunken men,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And all their skill was useless.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And He brought them out of their distress.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He stilled the storm to a murmur,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And the waves of the sea were hushed.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them give thanks to the Lord</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For His faithful love</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And His wonderful works for all humanity,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And praise Him in the council of the elders.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He turns rivers into desert,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Springs of water into thirsty ground,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And fruitful land into salty wasteland,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He turns a desert into a pool of water, </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dry land into springs of water.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He causes the hungry to settle there,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And they establish a city where they can live.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">They sow fields and plant vineyards</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">That yield a fruitful harvest.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He blesses them, and they multiply greatly;</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He does not let their livestock decrease.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When they are diminished and are humbled</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">By cruel oppression and sorrow,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">He pours contempt on nobles</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But He lifts the needy out of their suffering</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And makes their families multiply like flocks.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The upright see it and rejoice,</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And all injustice shuts its mouth.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things </span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Psalm 107</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Happy Thanksgiving all!</span><span style="font-family: "abadi" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-77748946128172342082019-10-09T20:01:00.000-06:002019-10-09T20:01:16.330-06:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTi8QBsFHr9aNGzuwn66OqTrKOhpslQoDQiy5CqOgpJqwrhl9ZolzIUmUNYMzNsNhWNwMyk_2B4En5X8BNMMkLgcJcfxo1KkolkBeRBej23xkzO0ZuEZYiND65Klg_g-caEfOLn-I5PI/s1600/99C3483D-E862-4391-B94A-528EA3EFAA06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="846" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTi8QBsFHr9aNGzuwn66OqTrKOhpslQoDQiy5CqOgpJqwrhl9ZolzIUmUNYMzNsNhWNwMyk_2B4En5X8BNMMkLgcJcfxo1KkolkBeRBej23xkzO0ZuEZYiND65Klg_g-caEfOLn-I5PI/s320/99C3483D-E862-4391-B94A-528EA3EFAA06.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Same~</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you ever stop to think about the diversity of
our planet? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did you know that there are over 1,000 different
breeds of cattle? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over a thousand!!! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know of probably 15, but had no idea that
there were so many different breeds! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Around 10,000 different species of birds as
well! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who knew! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over 15,000 species of fish.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And still counting! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just think about the diversity of our beautiful
planet.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers, deserts
and prairies, cities and rural areas. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So many unique and different topographical
wonders to explore. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not to mention all the other planets, solar
systems, stars and heavenly wonders. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nothing is the same. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every animal, every species, every breed, every
topographic area, every human being is different and unique.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am continually amazed at how creative the
Creator is. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He could have chosen to make each of us exactly
the same. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Same in shape, size, hair and eye color, skin
color.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All one big bunch of the same. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the Lord delights in different;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and He wants to delight us with different as
well! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just think about how boring our world would be
if we were all the same; </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Same in looks, ideas, interests, beliefs,
thoughts, opinions, dreams,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">passions, gifts, talents, abilities. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our differences bring color and joy to the
world. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diversity in nature and in the Human Race is
what makes life interesting and beautiful.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray that we could all learn to appreciate our
differences</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">instead of fighting against them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray that we could all be comfortable in our
own skins</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While celebrating other people being comfortable
in the skin that God gave them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray that we could learn from our differences,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not force someone else to be the same as us,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But share our differences in a loving and
respectable way.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We don’t want to be the same. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God never intended for us to be the same.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He created us each uniquely and gave us each
distinctive qualities…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Physical traits, character traits, passions and
dreams.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are not the same.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are uniquely and wonderfully made.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because the same God that created over 10
quintillion different kinds of bugs,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Created us each with intention and
purpose, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not so that we could each be the same.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-64194914929487143012019-10-08T06:56:00.000-06:002019-10-08T06:58:56.762-06:00Notice<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxJFiftRXr9YmXLD4Lfuw3TLN7fjv5KRZeCHWyWHiCSyAGBwA9S9hgbyZrcCPT2xUtN0Hal8ogUf1vj_8TOczZQ5gHBNrVo5SjXy_uva3fCuAaOix8dOgTgHingo27rcSEvcswIdwRvE/s1600/IMG_5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxJFiftRXr9YmXLD4Lfuw3TLN7fjv5KRZeCHWyWHiCSyAGBwA9S9hgbyZrcCPT2xUtN0Hal8ogUf1vj_8TOczZQ5gHBNrVo5SjXy_uva3fCuAaOix8dOgTgHingo27rcSEvcswIdwRvE/s320/IMG_5813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Notice~</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My friend Jessica took this photo the other day.
I love the way that the sunlight is shining through the leaf. She said
that she was just at the right place at the right time; I think that it was
more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that she took a
moment to notice this leaf, and the way that the sun’s light was shining
through the hole just right to create something of simple beauty. She was
able to take a pause and notice the beauty in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And trust me...if there is anyone who doesn’t
have many spare moments in her day to take the time to notice simple things, it’s
my friend Jess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her life is full and
crazy and overwhelming most days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in
awe of how much she is accomplishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yet...she took the time to notice something as simple as the
sunlight streaming through a fall leaf. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I want to be like Jess and notice what is put in
front of me. Don’t we all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
to wonder how many times I have been in “the right place at the right time” and
totally missed it because I was too concerned with all of the busyness around
me! How many leaves with sunlight streaming through them have I missed
because I have my eyes to the job before me and I don’t look up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many wonderful sounds do I miss, a melody
sung by a bird, the gurgle of the creek, the wind in the trees, the sound of my
son’s laughter. How many sights do I not take note of each day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The color of the sky as the sun both makes
its first appearance of the day and its last goodbye of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rich deviation of color as summer slowly
fades into fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unsuspecting doe
and fawn grazing in the hay meadow. The way that a flock of ducks come in
for a landing on the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older
couple walking hand in hand in the evening.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m always amazed at the skill of my photography
friends. I have to wonder if they have their cameras out and eyes on the
lookout for the perfect image to snap at all times. I think that they
have eyes trained to see life around them more acutely and notice what a lot of
us miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what if we started looking
at life around us with a photographer’s eye? I don’t know the story of
what’s going on in your life, what kind of hectic chaos you are facing
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that, like me, you will
be hastily walking from one task to the next, your mind on a to-do list a mile long.
Maybe you’re distracted by conflict; going over and over in your head a
conversation with a friend or family member that was hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that Jessica was caught up in the
chaos of her day as well, maybe she was just trying to figure out what in the
world to cook for dinner that night when suddenly God shone His light through a
leaf on a tree and Jessica stopped and took notice, really seeing the beauty in
front of her. At the right place at the right time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe, but she took a moment to notice and
actually appreciate it, and I imagine that it brought her a little calm in the
midst of her chaos. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-51189613732871733442019-10-07T19:48:00.000-06:002019-10-07T19:48:12.398-06:00"Other"<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some days I wake up just wanting to be someone
or something other than what I am. I have a desire to walk in someone
else’s shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be in someone else’s
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel someone else’s
emotions. Write someone else’s story. I see others as being more healthy
& fit, more qualified, more talented, more patient, more interesting,
younger with more energy, more attractive, happier, better house, nicer car,
bigger ranch, more cattle. That other marriage looks better than
mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other moms seem to have it
more together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That other woman is so
much further ahead in pursuing her passions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That other girl still has her mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days I just long to be someone other than me.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know it’s crazy. I know that it makes no
sense ...to want to live someone else’s life other than my own. Because I know
that I know that I know that I have a wonderful life and I couldn’t want for
more. And yet don’t we all do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Compare and contrast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday
Pastor Matt spoke on envy; on the trap of comparison that we often find
ourselves in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially in this day and
age of social media where other people's lives are front and center 24/7.
We can sure get caught up in wanting something other than what we have!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, as Pastor Matt shared yesterday,
envy is not only a trap that will get us stuck & miserable; it’s a
sin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want what the other person has
and we completely lose sight of what God has given us! Envy always starts
with comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all fall into
comparing ourselves with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Comparison itself isn’t the sin, but it will most definitely lead to
envy if we don’t watch and avoid the trap of it! And envy is a disease that
will rot our bones, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the
bones.” Boy is that true!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we could just get out of the comparison trap,
and submit our lives to God, allowing Him to do in us and in our lives, our
families, our talents, our passions, our jobs, our hobbies, our friendships and
our ministries, what only He can do; then peace will follow, along with a good
dose of contentment. Instead of focusing on “others”....I choose to focus
on God and know that He is doing a good work in me.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-58941291043060087992019-10-05T07:29:00.000-06:002019-10-05T07:37:04.952-06:00<br />
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~Listen~<o:p></o:p></div>
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True confessions, real honesty and raw vulnerability
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love good conversations; I
thrive on visiting with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep
discussions or quick catch ups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the
phone, at the store, in the drive up at school, at my kitchen table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to talk...but I am not a good
listener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this about myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have known it about myself for a while; and
yet still, I am not a good listener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to
think about how I am going to respond while someone else is speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I interrupt…all the time I
interrupt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of course what I have
to say trumps what the other person has to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often, I don’t even realize that I do it until after the fact; but
sometimes it does register with me in the very moment that I am not listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have a bad habit of distracted listening…going
through the motions, but not being present with the one speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being on my phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or deep in my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or letting busy work keep me from
hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes my heart hurt when I
think about how bad of a listener I can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyone else relate?<o:p></o:p></div>
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At times I am not a good listener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the thing is that I want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be present and intentional with
listening to the words of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want
to be able to look at them, pay attention to them and really hear what they are
saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because isn’t that ultimately
what we want from others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To really hear
us, not just listen to us talk, but truly hear what is at the heart of what we’re
saying?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be a good listener because
I want to see to the heart of what those around me are saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God didn’t intend for us to do this journey
of life on our own, we need family, friends, community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one of the best ways that we can build on
those relationships is to take the time to really listen to one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Who knows what treasures we are missing because we aren't intentional with listening?</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19</span></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-29185118947141794602019-10-03T20:47:00.001-06:002019-10-03T20:47:57.879-06:00Problem<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not like problem solving. In terms of
math problems anyway...I go into instant panic mode when asked to solve any
kind of math problem. I think that there are people who do get some kind
of sick fulfillment over math problems...I don’t get those people...I admire
those people, but I definitely don’t get them. Nope, math problems are
not for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to do it on paper
with pencil just makes my head hurt and my anxiety rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have to be complex math...any math
problem tends to give me hives. Give me a calculator to solve a simple
math problem though and I am good to go, problem solved, life goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank the Lord for the invention of
calculators!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t like people problems either. Messy
relationships, misunderstood communication, hard feelings, resentment, bitterness,
hurt and destructive behavior. Problems that keep me up at night, cause
anxiety to overwhelm and disturb my peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t have to be my own personal problems. Any person who is
close to me & faces a problem I will take on myself and believe that it’s
my responsibility to figure it out, find a solution, discover the right
equation that will lead to the right answer. I’m working on this part of
my character; because although there is nothing wrong with loving others and
having empathy and being there for them when they need me, I have come to
realize that I am not the “Great Problem Solver”...in math or in people!
Only God is able to see all of the ins and outs of what problems people face,
what got them there to begin with, why they might be stuck in it, and how their
problems will ultimately be solved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have His
perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have His
power. I can be used as a tool to extend grace and mercy and wisdom and
understanding; but at the end of the day He alone is able to solve the problems
that we all face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might say that He
is the Great Calculator! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And what burdens that relieves! To know
that I am not responsible for fixing other people’s problems, and I can take my
own problems and give them to Him to solve rather than trying to take control
and do it myself. I usually only end up making more of a mess and a
bigger problem when I try and problem solve on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with God, He gives peace and
understanding that brings compassion and grace. And so I can confidently
say “Come on World...bring it on!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is no problem too big or messy or complicated or seemingly unending that God is
not aware of and working on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
firmly believe that God has our problems solved before we even realize that we
have a problem to be solved. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 4:6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we choose to make the Lord our ultimate
problem solver, we can rest in Him to do the hard work!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-40536310478986627672019-10-02T14:16:00.000-06:002019-10-02T14:16:09.317-06:00Gift<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love good gifts. I love giving good gifts, knowing that a loved one is opening up a gift from me that I have put a lot of thought into, maybe saved up for; a gift that expresses the fact that I know them, have paid attention to their likes, dislikes, sense of style, hobbies or interests, favorite colors or choices in music or books or scents. I love seeing the look on their face when they open the package and see my love reflected in the gift I’ve given them. I’m not going to lie, I love getting good gifts too. For all of those same reasons; when I open up a present and know that the giver has spent time thinking about the joy I would experience in unwrapping the gift, I know that I am loved and cherished. It’s less about collecting a bunch of “stuff” to add to an already growing collection of “stuff”...it is about the love and intention and sometimes sacrifice surrounding the gift than it is in the gift itself. I love good gifts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I think about the gifts that the Lord has given to me over the years, I realize that the same is true for Him. He loves to give good gifts! Our lives, our very breath, our families, our friends, our health, our jobs or careers, our talents and abilities, His creation, our salvation & hope for eternity, His unbelievable grace and mercy. All are good gifts from a loving and intentional Father who has put a lot of thought, and yes, sacrifice into gifting us with good things. Why does He delight in giving us good gifts? For no other reason than the indescribable love that He has for us. He doesn’t have to give us good gifts, He could give us mediocre gifts, just enough to get us through life, but not give us joy in the unwrapping. He could give us just enough breath and health that we could survive but not really thrive, a job that doesn’t fulfill, families that just coexist but don’t love or support, relationships that are shallow, creation that sustains life but doesn’t amaze and thrill us in all of its beauty and diversity, abilities that help us get a job done but don’t fill us with purpose and pleasure. Sometimes it feels like He is giving other people gifts that we would like for ourselves, but He always, always gives us gifts that are perfectly suited for us. And when it seems like the gift of health, relationships, fulfilling careers are passing us by, we can rest in the assurance that it’s because He has a greater plan and purpose for our lives than what those gifts alone can give us. Trust me, I have learned so many times that He knows best what a good gift is; my mother used to tell me “You can’t out-give God, Jana; He gives the best gifts.” </span>JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-5695892180796617082019-10-01T17:45:00.002-06:002019-10-01T17:45:55.850-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why? Why do I do the things that I do? Why do I say the things that I say? Why do I love the things that I love? Why do I get upset? Why do I become lighthearted and happy one minute & then let the darkness overtake me the next? Why do I stall out & get stuck? Why do I start in the first place? Why don’t I finish? Why do I make the same mistakes over and over? Why do I want to find balance? Why do I want to be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy? Why am I passionate about some things and not others? What is my why??</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These and a thousand other “whys” fly through my head...most often in the middle of the night when sleep eludes me. “Why” is the word given to me for today’s Five Minute Free Write. I think that in order to find my “Why” I have to go straight to the One who gives me the “Why”, the One who gave you your “Why”. Because God created us each so differently; no two of us are exactly the same...our whys might match up from time to time, but we are each wired individually and uniquely. God instills in each of us distinctive personalities, character qualities, bents and talents. Why does God give us each different “Whys” ...or why does He give us a different “Why” in different seasons (or heck even from one day to the next?). Because in each “Why” that He accords us He is shaping and molding us to be more like Him. He is teaching us and giving us wisdom and knowledge about His purposes and His plans. He is inviting us into the great adventure that He has written into our lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I make the “Why” all about myself...in an effort to glorify myself, to fit in better, to become thinner, stronger, better, more successful, having more stuff, being more happy or admired...then the “Why” of it all pretty soon loses its mystery and beauty and sheen and it then becomes an anxious question that cannot be answered. But when I look to Him as the foundation of all of my “Whys”, then there is no anxiety, no fretting or fearing. There is only peace in knowing that He has a plan and a purpose and He created me the way He did for a reason...to glorify Him. My “Why” is to glorify Him in all that I do....as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend; as a writer, on the ranch, in the classroom, at church and in ministry. He is constantly teaching me more and taking me deeper into the mystery of it all, and that is my “Why”.</span></span></div>
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JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-76828465601312327942019-10-01T17:33:00.000-06:002019-10-09T20:02:30.375-06:0031 Days of Words<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_rhSj9ie3h-4jyXZkd4Oq2Dt2uTWlCIuQF3zB3NfhJR4YI6XtVm6ZLnUpw6kDWrzsuwiuoJvRniTu8Ue9yCgvFpDu19sqASCJrwL7pqxGoLC6y-W_AsRZpzcSnw8T2u4H0dYCRJcR_Y/s1600/IMG_5746.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_rhSj9ie3h-4jyXZkd4Oq2Dt2uTWlCIuQF3zB3NfhJR4YI6XtVm6ZLnUpw6kDWrzsuwiuoJvRniTu8Ue9yCgvFpDu19sqASCJrwL7pqxGoLC6y-W_AsRZpzcSnw8T2u4H0dYCRJcR_Y/s320/IMG_5746.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love writing! I love writing prompt challenges! I love October! So why not take these things that I love and combine them all together?<br />
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I am participating in a writing challenge on fiveminutefriday.com/31days2019 during the month of October. Each day a different word that I will spend five minutes writing on and posting here as well as on each of my social media sites. Join me in this writing challenge if you want! Or just join me here, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest each day as I take the words given to me and expand on them!<br />
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Day 1:<a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/2019/10/why-why-do-i-do-things-that-i-do-why-do.html">Why</a><br />
Day 2: <a href="http://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/2019/10/gift.html">Gift</a><br />
Day 3: <a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/2019/10/problem_3.html">Problem</a><br />
Day 4: <a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/">Listen</a><br />
Day 5: <a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/2019/10/why-why-do-i-do-things-that-i-do-why-do.html">Other</a><br />
Day 6: <a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/2019/10/notice.html">Notice</a><br />
Day 7: <a href="https://fraleyfour.blogspot.com/">Same</a>JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-8089146916334074262016-08-29T22:25:00.001-06:002016-08-30T08:31:28.189-06:00Roots and Wings<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hrMQR_LkHb_y832eOnkUWM2E34K5Qe2TKVKoUqB1Gkm_3Oap6Uk2MayplJiqK-N13nIgkQ99drzpbeHxccUWNNQPtuvoR9Cqo-UuPOIzES__1n2Cb3N2ZrxC2ewLY1GZD0I57dCGVSA/s1600/DSC_7688-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hrMQR_LkHb_y832eOnkUWM2E34K5Qe2TKVKoUqB1Gkm_3Oap6Uk2MayplJiqK-N13nIgkQ99drzpbeHxccUWNNQPtuvoR9Cqo-UuPOIzES__1n2Cb3N2ZrxC2ewLY1GZD0I57dCGVSA/s320/DSC_7688-2.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Milestones
aren’t always fun…..sometimes they are hard and sad and heartbreaking and
exciting and joyful and victorious all at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have had some milestones in our house over the last two weeks…..first
Kade started the second grade, I took Hannah to school at the University of
Wyoming in Laramie, and she turned 19 on her first day of College.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me all of these various emotions are
just plain exhausting!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit
that I am not a huge fan of change…..I will avoid it at all costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let’s face it, reality has shown me over
the years that whether I like change or not it is going to happen to all of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years ago I posted about Roots
and Wings when Hannah went on a trip out of the country as an 8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
grader and I faced some anxiety about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered this sign in my Aunt Linda's house:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Two gifts that we give to our
children are roots and wings”….it has always made a huge impression in my life, especially
as I learned this week that my cousin gave it to my Aunt as a gift when she
graduated from High School. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I can’t help but remember this day 19 years
ago….I held this precious baby girl in my arms and had so many emotions raging
through my head, heart and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly
absolute terror!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here was this precious
little baby, so innocent and new and fresh; how in the world were I and her
father supposed to protect her, train her, raise her, love her, discipline her for
19 years until she was on her own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
bringing Hannah home and saying to myself ”What were they thinking at the hospital?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why in the world would they send this new
life home with me when I have no idea what I am doing?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think back to taking her to a picnic on
Labor Day weekend when she was two days old and had some older ladies scold me for
having her out so soon (meanwhile my own mother was more concerned with my own
physical well-being than my baby’s because “babies are so resilient”…that’s a
mother for you).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember the first
time that I put her in a car seat for the 30 minute car ride back to Cody for
her first well-baby check and forgot to buckle her into the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bawled to my mother for 45 minutes, sure
that someone would want to take her away from me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember the weeks of trying to nurse her
and failing miserably…..literally miserable (some of you Mamas know exactly
what I am talking about!), thinking that I was a complete failure as a
mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those thoughts didn’t leave
through the years, those feelings of failure continued to plague me for 19
years (especially during those super fun pre-teen and teenage years when makeup
and boys and curfews were involved); but here is the thing….these 19 years
have also been filled with unbelievable joy and fulfillment and contentment and
blessing in being Hannah MacCarrie Fraley’s mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do I remember all of those feelings
of fear and failure, I remember looking into those deep blue eyes and thinking “This….this
is what I was born to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was born to
be her mother.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if God had intended
for Hannah to be Mike’s and my child, then He certainly has equipped us all of
these years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including these past few
days when all of the years and love and emotion that Mike and I have invested in our girl comes down
to the end of the road this well traveled road....well not really the end of the road, we all know that she will still be calling for advice and will still need the support and love of her parents; but our role as her parents has drastically changed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have
learned a few things as I have prepared to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>take Hannah to college. First of all, no
matter how well we prepare ourselves as parents, we are never really
prepared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do our job right, they
are prepared, but we aren’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’m
speaking more as a mother of a first child leaving for college…..no matter how
much I prayed and read and spoke to Mike and myself about how we were ready…..I
was not ready to say goodbye…..and I really do think that that is ok…..as long
as it doesn’t get weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an appropriate
sadness that I think is ok to go through. When I took Hannah to school…four
hours away….I hung around for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of my friends didn’t make the trek to college, some stayed for just
that day, some stayed for longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
admit that because Hannah’s first day of college was also her birthday I was
prepared to stay for a week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But common
sense (and my husband along with a good friend) suggested otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless….it’s all ok!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are sensitive to our kids that are
going to college we will know how long they need us, and if they are
ready to kick us out, or if they want us to hang around for awhile….it’s all ok!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that for Hannah and I, we were both were
comfortable with her experience in moving into the dorms, making new friends
as well as catching up with old friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had no doubt that she was just fine where she was and I saw God’s Hand
in so much of this new transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet we weren’t ready to say goodbye for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact of the matter is that Hannah and I actually
love one another’s company!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I
finally left, it was after spending some time with a precious young lady that I
truly and thoroughly love being with and appreciate and consider a friend and confidant ….. not in fear
or anxiety of how she would survive and cope without her father and I; but in
confidence that God, Mike and I had prepared her for this next phase of her
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although Hannah was not ready
for me to leave, she wasn’t fearful or anxious, she was just sad to see her Mom
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">God has been so good at directing and preparing us for this transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that Pastor William and Pastor
Stephen’s sermons the past few weeks on “Wesley on Money” has actually prepared
me to let my girl go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it sounds a
little off topic to talk about our kids leaving for College in terms of how we
are supposed to use our gifts and money….and yet aren’t our children our
greatest gifts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sermon series has
prepared me to let my girl go (as well as convicting me on how I view our finances).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said
today in a Facebook Post to Hannah Mac on her Birthday…..”Happy Birthday to my
Sunshine Girl!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 19 years you have
brought love and laughter, music and beauty, into our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so hard that we are celebrating YOU from
a distance, but God never intended for us to keep all of that sunshine to
ourselves….He wants you to spread it around!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hannah is on loan to Mike and I, and He has great plans for her life
(Jeremiah 29:11); we were never intended to keep her all to ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because of that I have no fear…..just
sadness at the change in our family dynamics as I will enjoy a really great cup
of coffee and quiet time without my girl…..but I am praying that as she
ventures on her own she will be blessed by her very own really great cup of
coffee and quiet time at UW!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has very deep roots and therefore is ready
to fly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting";">Jana M.
Fraley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Teach me, Oh Lord, to
follow Your decrees.” PsaLm 119:33</span>JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-3864463633676584712016-07-26T09:40:00.001-06:002016-07-27T09:29:19.128-06:00Justice Versus Vengeance<div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">"Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer- from lips free of deceit. Let my vindication come from you, for you see what is right." <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Psalm 17:1-2 HCSB</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Almost every day the media reports shootings, bombings, protests, cars crashing into crowds of people and other forms of terrorism where we feel completely helpless. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Almost every day.....all around the world. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>People of every race, nation, gender, and religion are so desperate to have their own personal causes heard that they are willing to go to whatever extreme, including taking other human lives, to guarantee that they have a voice. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>People who are so desperate to be seen as worthy and right in their causes that they refuse to see the evil that has taken hold. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Certain groups of people truly fear for their lives because of the color of their skin, or because of what they do for a living, or because of how they choose to live their lives. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And my heart breaks at the pain and fear that others feel, and my soul is tempted to give into despair at the state of the human race in this day and age. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Especially right now in the midst of a very dramatic and tense Presidential Election that seems to have no ideal outcome.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Ultimately we aren't dealing with a need for more gun control or stiffer immigration policies, or legislation on hate; although I know people from both sides that will argue that these are exactly what we need. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I personally think that these are just bandaides that we are trying to put on a gaping and bleeding wound....and that wound is sin. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our problem isn't racism or guns or immigration problems....it's a heart problem....it's a sin problem, and we all are vulnerable to giving in to it because at the root of this sin problem is selfishness and pride. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We feel that we don't need to take the time to listen and really try to understand where the other side is coming from because we feel that our side is the only one that matters. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We feel right in our causes, but do we ask God to examine our hearts and expose our true motives?</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">In the last week as I studied and meditated on Psalm 17, God has shown me that our circumstances are not new to Him. He has continually dealt with evil, and pride and selfish motives, along with His people's fears and pleadings for justice and mercy. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>life of King David has shown me that God hears our cries and knows that we want justice for our causes....the key is to seek His justice and not our own vengeance. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because that is what we are dealing with; groups of people who want their causes to be heard yet aren't willing to go to Him, instead seeking justice and vengeance on their own...in their own strength and power and wisdom. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And this is why we are seeing evil raise it's ugly head and seemingly gain an advantage in the world. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">But through this Psalm and David's life I see how God wants His people to react. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Psalm 17 is more of a pleading prayer than a praise, and I think that's ok....David shows us that there are times to sing praises, and times to cry out in prayer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His is a plea for justice; and if anyone had a cause to scream "Unfair!!!" it would be David. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the midst of false accusations and persecution, being hunted down by his own father-in-law, whom he had protected and fought for, David faced an outer, physical battle with Saul and his men, but he also fought an inner battle where he had to face fear. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Both of these battles urged David to make a choice....seek justice and vengeance on his own or fall on God's mercy, allowing Him to fight David's cause and right the wrongs done to him. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">David asks God to recognize his integrity and his heart. During this time of crisis, when his very life is in danger, David wants God to know that he is praying with no hidden motives or known deceit. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had confidence that God would hear his plea because his cause was just. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And David did not want vindication over his enemy if it didn't come from God. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>David teaches us through his prayer that we can give all of our struggles and pain, all of our fears, all of the ways that we feel we have been persecuted and mistreated and we can give them to God to take care of. We don't need to protest how unfairly we have been treated because God knows our cause and He will be the One to mete out justice to our enemies, we don't need to lift a finger. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Instead we can rely on Him to give us wisdom and discernment and to judge the motives of our own hearts. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>David's emphasis was on God's justice and not his own vindication. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe if we all focused on that then the world would be a less scary and hostile place. </span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>#EveryLifeMatters <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>#VengeanceBelongsToTheLord #Psalm17 #LessonsFromDavid</span></div>
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JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-61241306567809724492016-07-14T21:02:00.003-06:002016-07-27T09:00:03.207-06:00Ranch Kids vs Cowboys<div class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Today was one of those days that my son learned the difference between playing cowboy and being a ranch kid. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> That you might have the cowboy garb with a button down shirt, a good looking cowboy hat and chaps and spurs that give you the right cowboy look; but if you don't have the heart for this way of life you are probably not a ranch kid.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Today was a hard day. </span><span style="font-family: "sf ui text";"> </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Most days he and I both just revel in the fact that we have the life that we do, that we get to enjoy being outdoors, wide open spaces, cattle that look great, trusty horses that you love spending time on, good grass, mild weather, bonding time with family. </span><span style="font-family: "sf ui text";"> </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Life is good. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">And then we have days like today.....days that are full of lessons for a ranch kid. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mornings where you get up before the sun and it's chilly, but a few hours later it is blazing hot and dusty. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Days when cattle go into gates they aren't supposed to and those that are supposed to run right past them. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Mama cows forget they have babies and you have to remind them because you can't get to the holding pasture without keeping the pairs intact. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You have those days when that trusty horse that you love won't cooperate and you have to fight him to do what you want him to do. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Family bonding means getting yelled at because you're at the wrong place at the wrong time and hearing a few choice words from your Dad and Grandpa. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You learn the importance of paying attention and not day dreaming, of taking a wide circle and not riding too close to the fence when your Dad is bringing a pair towards you. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You have those days that after so many hours in the saddle your bottom and your knees start to hurt even if you are only 7 years old, but you just gotta keep on riding through it until the works done. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Those days that you learn while working cattle that it's not all fun and games and you'd better put your rope away unless you intend on throwing a loop at a run-a-way calf! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You learn to eat your breakfast because it may be a long time before lunch....unless you are lucky and your Mom packs you a few smooshed up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and then you learn to be oh so grateful for those! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And this time of year you learn all about the birds and the bees.....or rather the Bulls and the cows, which lead to a lot of questions that your Mom has to carefully answer. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-regular"; font-size: 17pt;">Days like today teach a kid that while the cowboy way of life might be glamorous and fun, the ranch kid way of life is not all that it's cracked up to be. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It means long days and hard work and not a whole lot of fun. But at the end of the day, the thing that separates a ranch kid from a wanna-be-cowboy is when he is ready to do it all over again the next day whether he wants to or not! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thank God for ranch kids!</span></div>
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JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-8820737304863739552016-05-08T03:27:00.001-06:002016-05-08T04:17:05.371-06:00I Am My Mother's Daughter. I Am My Daughter's Mother<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX852U9oV_ttohyphenhyphenmCR9WqeRk7YGKQnflRazWYF71RNq1R1HFKLKB0z1xfqgt5VFuUaJDovtFO5KN17QwtBWJdXeitnyktLNg2Fj9C9bg0h_BON8a0tQMghP3TwFhJyXl8By_qzOZRAQI/s1600/13164385_10209861506960576_1475083082134554830_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX852U9oV_ttohyphenhyphenmCR9WqeRk7YGKQnflRazWYF71RNq1R1HFKLKB0z1xfqgt5VFuUaJDovtFO5KN17QwtBWJdXeitnyktLNg2Fj9C9bg0h_BON8a0tQMghP3TwFhJyXl8By_qzOZRAQI/s320/13164385_10209861506960576_1475083082134554830_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">Yesterday</span> I
stood in front of the Mother’s Day and Graduation card section at Walmart and
burst into tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why in the world do
they have those cards right beside each other?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no controlling it, I was overcome with a sense of loss and
change and deep sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been
trying to hold it together for the past week as I have realized that my role as
a Mother and a Daughter has completely turned upside down and inside out; it
has changed and because of that I have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yet, now that my tears have subsided….for now….and I face my first
Mother’s Day without my mother and as I prepare my heart to watch my first born graduate
I am left contemplating what my Mother and Daughter have taught me, how their
lives have helped to shape and mold my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These two women (I can’t believe that I am actually referring to my
daughter as a “woman”) have had such enormous impacts in my life and I would
not be the woman that I am if it weren’t for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have
learned from both Mom and Hannah the fine art of laughing at myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times when I would rather cry or dig a hole
to hide in, they have both been an example of how not to take myself too
seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life would be dull and
colorless if it weren’t for the spilled coffee or chocolate sauce on our white
shirts or the times that we’ve tripped and managed to catch ourselves just
before hitting the ground with our faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How boring would it be without the toilet paper hanging from our panty
hose at weddings, or the times we’ve accidentally found ourselves in the men’s
bathroom instead of the women’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ability to laugh at our mistakes and blunders only adds to the beauty of our
days, it doesn’t diminish it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My
Mother and Daughter have also each brought music into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cherish the memories that I have of Mom and
I doing dishes together “harmonizing” to “Rocky Top” or “Country Roads”….it
wasn’t until I was an adult and able to laugh at myself that I realized that it
isn’t really harmonizing when one person isn’t able to carry a tune in a bucket!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
loved it when she would bring out her guitar and sing for the boys and me, or
share songs that she and her Dad used to sing together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never forget when she introduced me to
the music that she loved as a child and a young adult, listening to her old
records and singing songs like “Three Wheels On My Wagon” are some of the best
and dearest memories my brothers and I have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love of music that she and her granddaughter
shared was a precious gift to both of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll never forget how excited she was when she discovered that she
finally had someone to harmonize with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The days of cleaning up the kitchen had a whole new level of joy once
she and Hannah began singing together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the music that my sweet daughter has brought into our house has brought
immeasurable joy, not to mention the way that her face lights up whenever she
is making music or sharing her gift with other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy she has felt and exudes each time she
performs is contagious and blesses my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both have taught me that you don’t have to have the voice of an
angel, or any musical ability at all in order to receive and enjoy the gift of
music.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mom and
Hannah have each taught me about grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s one thing to read about God’s grace or to hear about it in a
sermon, but to actually see grace lived out in someone’s life…that is a
beautiful thing to experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
different times and stages in my life I have been shown and showered with grace
by my Mom and my Daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not been
so terribly long ago that I can’t remember what being a teenager was like….those
years were full of selfishness and insecurities and hurt feelings and hurting
other people’s feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet through all
of my messy and sometimes ugly teenage years I was given grace by a mother that
loved me unconditionally and who taught me that my true identity came from the
Lord who had created me and gave me gifts and talents and characteristics that
made me unique and precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
have to earn her love I just had it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
learned during those years that no matter how ugly or inadequate I felt,
knowing that my Mother loved me and thought that I was beautiful and full of
potential was enough for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried
to gift this same grace to Hannah, but more often than not over the last 18 ½ years
my daughter has taught me about grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Forgiving me when I have failed as a Mom, overlooking my shortcomings
and instead focusing on what I’ve done right over the years for she and
Kade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her grandmother have
always been my biggest supporters and cheerleaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them have encouraged me to not let go
of my own dreams and goals, but to keep on chasing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they each have shown me the beauty and
joy of extending grace to those around me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> L</span>astly
my Mother and Daughter have shown me the importance of having a right perspective
in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because life is hard and messy
at times, full of disappointments and sorrow and regret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But life is also beautiful and full of joy and
victories and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something that my
Mom would always say about herself was that she was an “optimistic realist”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t a Pollyanna, she didn’t look at
life like nothing bad could ever happen as long as you just lived the right way
or did the right things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a ranch
wife….she knew that life could be tough and sometimes not turn out the way that
you wanted or expected it to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Life
was still good and at the end of the day when you go to God with all that you
are blessed with, you can’t help but be thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught me that all of the hard things in
life just kind of fade away in the light of eternity and God’s plan for each of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the fact that the Lord does
indeed have the power to work all things together for the good of those who
love Him (Romans 8:28); the realist side of her would say that this doesn’t
mean that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all </b>things are good, but
it does mean that God has the ability to take even the most tragic of circumstances
and turn them into something beautiful and useful for our good and His
glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Hannah has been such an
example of this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has faced many great
victories but also some pretty tough disappointments in her 18 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been things that she has worked so
hard for and found herself coming up short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have watched as she has discovered that she could allow those
disappointments to destroy and take away something of value to her, or she
could just put her nose to the grindstone, keep on working hard and forge ahead
to the next thing, refusing to give up or give in to self-doubt or pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen how my girl has weighed those
disappointments in life on a godly scale, not a worldly one…. determining whether
or not in the grand scheme of life it really mattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve watched as she has maturely let some things
and some people go who have not had a good influence on her soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hannah and my Mom have taught me that life is
precious and too short to allow things into our lives that steal joy and keep
our character stunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I reflect
early on this Mother’s Day morning I am struck with the realization that I am
the Mother that I am because of these two precious women in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I ache deeply with missing my
Mom, and as I prepare my heart to watch my Daughter go out on her own, I am
overcome with joy and awe at just how blessed I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy Mother’s Day to my sweet Mama in heaven
and to all of the other women in my life who have blessed me!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Her children arise
and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:28<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-25962084518368491582015-08-28T15:04:00.000-06:002015-08-31T21:42:53.845-06:00Lessons Learned In Grief<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the last two months I have found myself an
unwilling student in the classroom of grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not where any of us want to be, and yet at some point in life we
will all likely find ourselves in that place; and grief will teach us some hard
and cruel lessons. However, I’ve also discovered that there are some lessons
that I’ve learned in grief that have served a purpose and have been a blessing
rather than a curse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ten
weeks ago, on June 18<sup>th</sup>, I lost my Mother unexpectedly when her
horse fell over backwards on top of her while working cattle at our family’s
ranch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have lost loved ones before in
my life, but the sudden loss of my Mom has left me reeling, feeling numb, lost
and adrift in a sea of indescribable pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the two months since that Thursday morning phone call I have felt like I’ve
been in the middle of that stormy sea and have struggled trying to find my way to
shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, like so many things in
life that are hard and painful I have two choices: I can keep on moving forward
and let the grief mold and shape me and my character as well as strengthen and
endure my faith in the Lord; or I can allow grief to destroy me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some days that I allow the sadness,
regret, anger and fear to take over and I am oh so tempted to just bury my head
under the covers and not come up for air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I have also discovered through the loss of my mom that she has given
me a rich heritage of faith in God’s plans as well as a sense of fortitude
that keeps pushing me forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here
are some of the lessons that I have learned through this grieving process; it’s
a list that I keep adding to as the days go on, a list that I will probably
continue adding to over the years as grief continues to teach and change me.
But two months later, this is what grief has taught me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
all process grief differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
father, two brothers and I, as well as the rest of my family have all reacted
and responded differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad and my
brothers were rocks, handling the responsibility of making those oh so very
hard phone calls, making most of the funeral arrangements, calling in friends,
family and neighbors to help with cattle work that couldn’t wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were hurting and upset, but they were
calm, as was my sister-in-law and niece when they showed up at my door that
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband was also a calming
presence, holding me and holding our children while our world - while his world
was collapsing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Dad called me early
that morning to tell me, I lost all sense of peace and calmness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind could not rationalize what my father
was telling me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sick to my stomach. I felt like someone
had hit me over the head with a hammer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
others were making decisions around me I was just trying to breath. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, in the months following I have
found that in order to get through this grief I need to have lots of time with
God, praying, writing, reading His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I need to keep life and death in their proper perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Aunt led me to the book “Heaven” by Randy
Alcorn, and I have found so much comfort and peace in this book because it
leads me to what Scripture says about heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that ultimately, although I’ve “lost” my mom, I haven’t really
because I know exactly where she is and I know that because of our salvation
through Jesus Christ, I will see her again someday in a place that is more
glorious and amazing than anything we know here on earth. (My mom always hated
the terms “passed away” or “lost”….she preferred just cutting to the chase and
saying that ‘someone died’ or to say that they had "gone home"….it makes me giggle now about how adamant she was
that we not say either of these two things when she died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death did not scare her one little bit
because of her belief and trust in God and His plan for eternity).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolNKvDq0aT7WhlXR3zIben7e7K7xkeEZSyE_7NUR_Nqm14qvdEZr4CdwwSN5__3YBk6Y_23anuE0D93zzIqev91fLypwl8erbOVkR0Swtns-OTIjhysYZXBdkj1aJB0AneMWlqd4tpA4/s1600/11921643_10207980604339186_6749821639656571466_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolNKvDq0aT7WhlXR3zIben7e7K7xkeEZSyE_7NUR_Nqm14qvdEZr4CdwwSN5__3YBk6Y_23anuE0D93zzIqev91fLypwl8erbOVkR0Swtns-OTIjhysYZXBdkj1aJB0AneMWlqd4tpA4/s320/11921643_10207980604339186_6749821639656571466_n.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Heartache
is a real thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about
the idea of heartache…. I’m talking about the literal ache in your heart. It is an intense, sharp, and overwhelming
pain that my heart felt, especially in the days that followed my Mom’s death,
and that even plagues me occasionally still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It totally
caught me off guard how physical grief was; I felt like someone had their fist
around my heart and was squeezing the life out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly wondered if I was going to follow
right behind Mom and join her in heaven, the pain was that intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked around with my hand over my heart
saying, “It just hurts so bad.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a reason why it's called “heartbreak”, you actually feel like your heart is breaking
in two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0gD8Iog_4Ia8DBTQdq14Hxu7TcFm4N5wJ44DmVRUZJAvlZqFMIGWrug9VK5saQsATe6urngmkNzUlqM3V-zGrS2Y5CSWVSzpl01iEsUSTfSkGUNxUKNTzCokBnKI31aXCmk85YIvi8/s1600/11880557_10207908596539036_686849737439307762_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0gD8Iog_4Ia8DBTQdq14Hxu7TcFm4N5wJ44DmVRUZJAvlZqFMIGWrug9VK5saQsATe6urngmkNzUlqM3V-zGrS2Y5CSWVSzpl01iEsUSTfSkGUNxUKNTzCokBnKI31aXCmk85YIvi8/s320/11880557_10207908596539036_686849737439307762_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
can’t do grief alone; we need to let others come alongside us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that I did know to do in that instant was
to start calling in reinforcements because all of a sudden I was paralyzed and
couldn’t put one foot in front of the other much less make any kind of decision.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two of my best friends as well as two
pastors from our church dropped everything that they were doing and came
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what I would have
done without them, they helped my kids pack their bags, they packed my bags,
thinking about all that I would possibly need in the days ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They followed me around in my dazed state and
made me eat and drink and sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
made phone calls for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They prayed
over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My precious friend Deb sat
beside my bed with me and wept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sweet
friend Roxanne drove the kids and I to Lusk so that Mike could tie up loose
ends at home before leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She never
stopped praying for me the whole way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
began receiving phone calls and texts from family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how I survived that first day because
everything is such a blur, but I do know that I was able to because of the
people that surrounded me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends and
neighbors began to circle around Dad and the boys and I, helping with things on
the ranch, bringing food, offering all kinds of help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family began arriving
and showering us with so much love and care that we were overwhelmed. Everyone's kind words and love covered us all like a warm quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were times over the next
several days, however, when I needed to remove myself from everyone else and be
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would sometimes find myself as
fragile as spun glass, feeling that if one more person hugged me or said a kind
word to me telling me how sorry they were, I was going to break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those moments were fleeting though and I did
discover that grief most certainly cannot be faced alone. I’ve just had to
learn when I’ve reached that point where I feel fragile and need to escape; and
I’ve discovered that after a time of quiet retreat I am then ready to face
people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxR7eXSstKRiFhBku9_DwLrgEihNRiEifC97trs-51CdOnLYc3qlfVVKVjPTMYsjcP5T_xzQtxy_-4uNmh9ufL6BC7aTe9HfVae3R0Rko5EAGQtJwaWxOliltTHrQzUsUBTpOpih7hJM/s1600/11953202_10207980602339136_9070353650861745045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxR7eXSstKRiFhBku9_DwLrgEihNRiEifC97trs-51CdOnLYc3qlfVVKVjPTMYsjcP5T_xzQtxy_-4uNmh9ufL6BC7aTe9HfVae3R0Rko5EAGQtJwaWxOliltTHrQzUsUBTpOpih7hJM/s320/11953202_10207980602339136_9070353650861745045_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I've
learned that grief is exhausting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
days that followed my mom’s death I was overwhelmed with all of the decisions
that had to be made, with things on the ranch that still needed to be taken
care of, with people that needed to be called, arrangements that needed to be
made and on top of all of it dealing with the anguish of losing the most
important woman in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, it
felt like I was in the middle of a raging sea; in the beginning the waves were
enormous and kept slamming me to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I felt like I was continually fighting them, just trying to come up for
air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t sleep or eat or think or
breath and had to take things one step at a time, one minute at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the weeks went on the waves became smaller
and less frequent, but they still hit at unexpected times, knocking me down and
taking my breath away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned to
just ride the waves with the knowledge that it won’t last and I can trust that ultimately
God is in control of the sea and He won’t let me drown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also had to learn to “be kind
to myself”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was such a hard concept
for me, but something that people told me over and over again....I didn’t realize
that I was being unkind to myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
discovered that it meant being patient with me and making sure that I was
taking care of myself and my most basic needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to figure out how to get enough sleep, force myself to eat even if
I didn’t feel like it, escape to a quiet corner of the house - even if it was
just the bathroom - when I was starting to feel like things were closing in on
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to grab my Bible and begin
searching for scripture that was going to calm my spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've had to be patient with myself and ask my
family to be patient with me in the weeks and months that have followed because
my sadness isn’t letting up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that
it has an effect on Mike and the kids, but I can’t fake being ok when I’m
really not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've needed to give myself time
and realize that grief doesn’t have a timetable; it’ll take as long as it takes
and I just need to let it happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPybTcPNT_eXHiPv2UcG4eMs14i6qRdfRfuszkZWg0uFgfbMIfjstZAjX9fXbVUHCeJj0rNJZI-rBhZrum2Z5aIvtI1WrVV78IKu7DWrHZFCtTsESHojsCC2qJ6kkXZUVqpwaIGNqf0Ns/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPybTcPNT_eXHiPv2UcG4eMs14i6qRdfRfuszkZWg0uFgfbMIfjstZAjX9fXbVUHCeJj0rNJZI-rBhZrum2Z5aIvtI1WrVV78IKu7DWrHZFCtTsESHojsCC2qJ6kkXZUVqpwaIGNqf0Ns/s320/IMG_2726.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnhEUsqZcdoSuzaI7dBMMVvT5thlZeE1y9vcRIJywGDcFB-pfH7ex2pezIPRZyznni0KwCOfm2JHEXRWEUKyZ4V_EZICJH868j60YDdsauvMlfFRN7K5c6vtc4ILF8rHJicxuYjev4nQ/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnhEUsqZcdoSuzaI7dBMMVvT5thlZeE1y9vcRIJywGDcFB-pfH7ex2pezIPRZyznni0KwCOfm2JHEXRWEUKyZ4V_EZICJH868j60YDdsauvMlfFRN7K5c6vtc4ILF8rHJicxuYjev4nQ/s320/IMG_2725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grief
will hit you at the most unexpected times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A picture, a smell or a memory are triggers for the grief to return with
a vengeance. What I’ve discovered is that it can be anything; certain foods
that Mom made or just loved, the sight of decaf instant Folgers coffee (because
that was her drink of choice</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">),
a book that she loaned me, a sweater that she wore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in her home or her favorite places on the ranch have taken on a different feeling for me now because it hurts. State Fair was hard because
everywhere I went I was reminded of her, seeing so many people that she would have loved catching up with, checking out the booths on the Midway, eating at our favorite spots, hearing her give Hannah words of encouragement, having her take Kade for a few hours to a couple of days so that they could enjoy their usual favorite spots. When my kids went back to school this
week I had two days that I allowed the grief to wash over me because it was too quiet and I missed our phone calls that happened so often after they had left the house. Those phone calls and uninterrupted visits with my mother were a lifeline to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The urge to call her was
so unbelievably strong, I had to keep reminding myself that she wasn’t there to
call anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the quiet moments of my
day my mind will start thinking about all of the milestones that are ahead of
us that she is not going to be here for and I am overcome with such an intense
longing that all I can do is let the tears fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I get that certain dates,
celebrations and occasions are going to be hard to face without my Mom, what I
didn’t realize is that sometimes grief will catch me completely unaware and hit
me like a freight train…..at the most inconvenient of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the other day while I was in Walmart,
something as simple as shopping…all of a sudden I was thinking of all of the
times that we shopped together because we were so similar and both hated
shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would fill our carts but
then inevitably when we would get to the checkout counter we would decide that about a third of
what was in our cart was unnecessary and give them back to the checkout
person to put away. The tears came right
there in the middle of the toilet paper aisle, the realization that I was never
going to experience Walmart shopping with my mother ever again. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve learned to just welcome the tears, no
matter when or where or who I am with, to just let them flow and if someone
asks if I am ok, to be honest and say “No, I really miss my Mom.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw699zGSpOzhaiCymI92LQPAbjrvB6DXQPa00ArZxqQfKatn4eI98LzWLowC6CInXC1r4N-gUJVopXKKUU5ZBdgkPhQ-r10nINmP4KfNTv0JNGePCV9GtPNIuIZxO8engS0GQHcCVWSSw/s1600/10404254_10155767024875422_2452190128173987057_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw699zGSpOzhaiCymI92LQPAbjrvB6DXQPa00ArZxqQfKatn4eI98LzWLowC6CInXC1r4N-gUJVopXKKUU5ZBdgkPhQ-r10nINmP4KfNTv0JNGePCV9GtPNIuIZxO8engS0GQHcCVWSSw/s320/10404254_10155767024875422_2452190128173987057_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ2ffmovFCLFh2M2DnlVnXz6girnzT1qDBcEHqzIbJ-rczThU3p76ta94n3TRod0HllDizMDb0fog0zzFg9leyPeOkGMuv47rhl-hY_UN2nrwQITvuhsDArHW0jmgIe1cNpB7IH6EvDk/s1600/11667383_10155767024895422_4181730687574610662_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ2ffmovFCLFh2M2DnlVnXz6girnzT1qDBcEHqzIbJ-rczThU3p76ta94n3TRod0HllDizMDb0fog0zzFg9leyPeOkGMuv47rhl-hY_UN2nrwQITvuhsDArHW0jmgIe1cNpB7IH6EvDk/s320/11667383_10155767024895422_4181730687574610662_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There
is freedom in grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was given a book
by a dear friend at church about understanding grief; in this book C.S. Lewis
was quoted from his book “A Grief Observed”, he said about his experience after
the death of his wife, “An odd by-product of my loss is that I’m aware of being
an embarrassment to everyone I meet….Perhaps the bereaved ought to be isolated
in special settlements like lepers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I think that our society tries to encourage us to just push
through our grief as quickly as we can; I think that this is in part because we
don’t want someone else’s grief to touch us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t want to see people sad, or upset, or crying so hard that they
are a blubbering, snotty mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would
rather say “Wow, he/she is so strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are really getting through their loss so well”, and then go on about
our lives. In our culture I think that we try to avoid pain of any kind at all
costs, wanting to bury it or ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this because this was how I thought before
my mom’s death. As a result we are ashamed if our grief is too much, if it affects
those around us, if it goes on for too long, if it’s too emotional or
demonstrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think that we should
have better control of our grief instead of it controlling us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the fact of the matter is that grief
hurts, and the first step in healing from it is to allow ourselves to feel the
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does a burn victim no good to
just ignore his burns, he has to go through a very long and painful healing
process until scar tissue forms and eventually becomes less painful and less
obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true for
grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The painful process is part of
the healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t allow ourselves
to go through the process then we won’t have freedom, we will remain prisoners
of grief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6DDu0aEsU35y33UCXwBxt8D9N8JlrSYFOfJpXPcbrHShHD80jgksaKqd_lvQoPvw_72feWhkm2nXb7ao4bCwgSDPPrGWfQInELnwZXJX1okqx85E8cqcTkAFa_bpiZyHPjbB8mXgS1U/s1600/IMG_2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6DDu0aEsU35y33UCXwBxt8D9N8JlrSYFOfJpXPcbrHShHD80jgksaKqd_lvQoPvw_72feWhkm2nXb7ao4bCwgSDPPrGWfQInELnwZXJX1okqx85E8cqcTkAFa_bpiZyHPjbB8mXgS1U/s320/IMG_2816.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God
does not waste grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned
that 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is absolute truth: “Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two of my best friends lost their mothers just
months before I lost mine, and one of my best friends lost her father and her
mother-in-law in the past year. I also have many dear friends who have lost a parent over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband still
hurts from the death of my sweet mother-in-law, Barb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hurt
for them at the times of their losses, but my compassion for each of them has
multiplied since losing my own mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the love and compassion that they each shared with me is something
that I can’t even put words to; it’s a compassion that moves into empathy
because they actually feel the pain along with me, they don’t have to imagine
what I am going through, they KNOW what I am going through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God does not waste our
grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that my Mom would not want
this grief to be destructive in any of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would want us to give it to God and allow
Him to use it to glorify Him and to honor her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grief is so unbearably hard, and yet there
have been so many beautiful moments of joy and blessing that I have experienced
since the loss of my beautiful, sweet Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think that I am feeling things more sharply, seeing things more
clearly because I realize that life is so unbelievably precious and so fragile
and can’t be taken for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou3TsYhdEPojUVtvlOKzV6pTOtX49Kzw4yLGo83qjmucadOTNYPg5R7mzvdLNY2aK684st2WaBDPAs69cgp2HJgvIhkTwfeqnjZ3vpgIH06tL4DBxxn9b0tPogyBiS1btor3O8i1oOYY/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou3TsYhdEPojUVtvlOKzV6pTOtX49Kzw4yLGo83qjmucadOTNYPg5R7mzvdLNY2aK684st2WaBDPAs69cgp2HJgvIhkTwfeqnjZ3vpgIH06tL4DBxxn9b0tPogyBiS1btor3O8i1oOYY/s320/IMG_2779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSta3kY9iInSjVGoHj00UfdJCtNklRlutgLM2v3dzGa1gFJEH6YYS_IgCLyMicMjI-z5OPZfpZRUZzw9c_gakaH6sKnGnYPpa5FSdmLlcghwd86hoikrLBoV9kVkBuc8JpZQbdXCRsjgc/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSta3kY9iInSjVGoHj00UfdJCtNklRlutgLM2v3dzGa1gFJEH6YYS_IgCLyMicMjI-z5OPZfpZRUZzw9c_gakaH6sKnGnYPpa5FSdmLlcghwd86hoikrLBoV9kVkBuc8JpZQbdXCRsjgc/s320/IMG_2858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndkKBVvo8QAyc5vexq9mdrhaq0EqeJ_Jd5KCKfUlL2dzqIidEX76BDWTuNodA64HVMyRJciKym3wSb8Qu1nncS_5JwJxBR2JeejfenPC_HFCn1werRzPqNe0-Zbls0JRfVbXZYX8-rdc/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndkKBVvo8QAyc5vexq9mdrhaq0EqeJ_Jd5KCKfUlL2dzqIidEX76BDWTuNodA64HVMyRJciKym3wSb8Qu1nncS_5JwJxBR2JeejfenPC_HFCn1werRzPqNe0-Zbls0JRfVbXZYX8-rdc/s320/IMG_2860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our loved ones may not be here tomorrow for us to tell and to show how much
they mean to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found myself
measuring time now based on the day that my Mom left us, and I also gauge time
by how many days/weeks/ months it’s been since I last talked to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many days have gone by since the last
time I saw her face and felt the warmth of her hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had known that she would be gone on the
morning of June 18<sup>th</sup>, would I have done or said anything
different?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bet I would….actually I would
have just said more…..and yet I know that I can’t rewind time as much as I’d
like to. So I have come to the realization that what grief teaches me is that I
don’t take any of my relationships for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am going to love hard and completely, I never miss an opportunity to
say “I love you”, or “I appreciate you”, or “I am here for you” because death
is real and could happen at any given moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t want the pain of death to be because I have regrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have experienced that one of the reasons
that the death of a loved one is so incredibly painful is because we love so
incredibly much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I want
grief to teach me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Jana M. Fraley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-30429922548609821322015-02-15T22:56:00.000-07:002015-02-15T23:06:10.081-07:00The Intentional Wife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OYgrrgnhIJMqTMTCaoI1nqW9HbugmGF2mh3-B6D7jThjkZI8K_SKeRMRaFBvtaykMHsC_eYmqitb02zBGLCqDDmljyKjk4NIIg8eV7mXDDMIi1qBCrjbH9zG3HnyuhLMWHfWMxvqZqw/s1600/392946_2832297332801_1003641943_n+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OYgrrgnhIJMqTMTCaoI1nqW9HbugmGF2mh3-B6D7jThjkZI8K_SKeRMRaFBvtaykMHsC_eYmqitb02zBGLCqDDmljyKjk4NIIg8eV7mXDDMIi1qBCrjbH9zG3HnyuhLMWHfWMxvqZqw/s1600/392946_2832297332801_1003641943_n+(3).jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Focusing on being an intentional wife during February…..the
month that we associate with love….was completely unintentional (pun totally
intended!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just happens that after God,
the next important area in my life that I want to focus my intention and
attention on is my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
let me precede this by saying that I am in no way speaking or sharing from a
place of authority in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in
the midst of the battle of trying to become a more intentional wife because I think
that it is a very important aspect of marriage; I am simply sharing what God
has laid on my heart in regards to what steps I need to take in order to become
a more intentional wife to Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
being said, Valentine’s seems to be the perfect opportunity to focus on being
intentional with my husband because this is a way that I can show my love,
respect and appreciation for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can buy the sappiest, most poetic card at Wal-Mart, but if I don’t
show Mike love and respect, if my love doesn’t have some action to go with it, then
it’s just words (someone else’s words at that) on cardstock….words without
meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being intentional in the way
that I love my husband is something that brings real value to our marriage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I think about being intentional to Mike I think about loving him on purpose,
doing things for him that makes him realize that he is on my mind and in my
heart, that he is a priority in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think that Mike and I are in the stage of marriage where raising our
little family takes every bit of energy that we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is busy making a living in order to
provide an income as a Ranch Broker as well as helping his dad run the family
ranch, and making sure that he carves out time to spend with each of the kids; and
I spend every last resource of mental, physical and emotional energy on making
sure that we all have clean clothes, a clean space to call home, healthy meals
that everyone likes (an endeavor that I have come to the conclusion is almost
impossible!), make sure that everyone is up to date on dentist and doctor
appointments, as well as helping with ranch work…..etc., etc., etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My point is that life is busy, and why is it
that the thing that ends up being the last priority is our spouse? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
remember the days when being intentional about showing my love to Mike was
easy, and really didn’t require much thought because all of my thoughts, all of
my emotions, my whole life was pretty much focused on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days of new love when everything that
he did was sweet and endearing and not at all irritating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days before kids when every minute of
my day belonged to him and him alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
days when the stress and strain of daily life were few and easily handled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those early days of our marriage it was easy
to give him all of my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
perfect example is that when Mike and I were first married I began the habit of
bringing a cup of coffee to him to wake him up in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been more of a morning person so
I am the first one awake and it was such a joy to be able to wake my husband up
with a kiss and coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know at
what point this no longer was a habit; occasionally it will be an afterthought,
but I generally don’t wake Mike up this way any longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More often than not I catch myself snapping
at him to get his own coffee!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning,
during that honeymoon phase, paying special attention to Mike was easy…..and
now fast forward 20 years it takes a bit more of an effort!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is where I feel that God is really convicting my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have fallen short in making my husband feel
that he is priority….that he is deserving of my intention and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I desire to change that because the fact
of the matter is that I want my marriage to thrive and not just survive. Mike
and I are committed to each other, we are in this for the long-haul, and there
is no question in either of our minds about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost 20 years ago we stood before family
and friends and God and we promised to love each other for better or worse, in
sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We made a covenant that is more binding than anything else in our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve survived some hard things
in those 20 years, and have come out stronger and closer to one another because
of those struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is tough is
dealing with the tiny, seemingly insignificant and mundane details of the day
in and day out parts of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
are the “little foxes” that work to destroy our marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If I
don’t work on loving my husband with intention then those little, seemingly
insignificant problems will grow into big and very significant ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the deal with loving intentionally…..it
requires being selfless, it means putting my husband’s needs above my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so good in theory but soooo hard in
reality!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know that the more that I give
of myself to be intentional in showing love to Mike, it goes a long way in making
all of those little foxes disappear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-39119453098763882722015-01-29T21:52:00.001-07:002015-01-29T21:52:56.480-07:00Intentional Faith
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJhOGc2nC1MWSiQnFJtuAUiJF0yktYzezp9atT_n24M6Sc0FpkEqB98jA7HZC2tTP7hNMYybyKkm3rGvzExn_zK3vodZotbLoW47WexZyWzs-r_yyEpYuScMugO9Bnojqc6PUPR7yU4A/s1600/9385f0e9cf49ec7c6f8f815634706fbc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJhOGc2nC1MWSiQnFJtuAUiJF0yktYzezp9atT_n24M6Sc0FpkEqB98jA7HZC2tTP7hNMYybyKkm3rGvzExn_zK3vodZotbLoW47WexZyWzs-r_yyEpYuScMugO9Bnojqc6PUPR7yU4A/s1600/9385f0e9cf49ec7c6f8f815634706fbc.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I want
to share with you one thing that I started in 2015 as part of my journey of
intentional faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hannah and I got
Journaling Bibles for Christmas and we have thoroughly enjoyed immersing
ourselves in God’s Word in a whole new way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I became interested in Bible Journaling a few months ago when I discovered
it on Pinterest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning it was
just another outlet for journaling my thoughts and gleanings as I was in God’s
Word; but as I saw more examples of what others are doing with their Bible
journaling I decided to get a little creative!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is my first attempt:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B-dYdcbcTx1B9nYwOzIQ13YC_OEoCMb75tbZceLg3Ut7jJE8-veTtEdy05JoNS57sE4B9sY0j3U99UL_CgDPuFP_u_7ouZWPeLu-Cmvg4eG9W9hMG9TMsNB4CjcKvHXUqJMXpVcxCSY/s1600/10271611_10206252616660574_5329704913376195949_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B-dYdcbcTx1B9nYwOzIQ13YC_OEoCMb75tbZceLg3Ut7jJE8-veTtEdy05JoNS57sE4B9sY0j3U99UL_CgDPuFP_u_7ouZWPeLu-Cmvg4eG9W9hMG9TMsNB4CjcKvHXUqJMXpVcxCSY/s1600/10271611_10206252616660574_5329704913376195949_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By
nature I am not artistic; I love words and making thoughts, ideas and dreams
come alive through them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drawing does
not come naturally for me, I have a hard time drawing anything past a stick
figure; but I have really enjoyed getting creative with lettering and drawing
simple images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also excited about
the prospect of utilizing some of my abandoned scrapbooking paraphernalia with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
joined a Bible Journaling group on Facebook…..and oh the ideas and inspiration I
have gotten!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love sharing in these
stories and ideas and seeing how God’s Word comes alive through the process of
Bible Journaling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have journaled along
with my daily Bible reading for years…..notebooks full of my thoughts,
feelings, what I feel that God is saying through His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days I just write those things down…..or
words that others before me have discovered through Scripture….or words to
Hymns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just read His Word and go from
there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many out there who
are much more talented than me, their drawings are amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is mine, unique and personal and
full of how God is revealing Himself to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
Bible that I found was from Chistianbook.com, I know that Amazon also carries
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent right under $30 for mine;
if you don’t want to invest in a new Bible, or if you feel funny about writing
and drawing over your Bible, then a lot of women have taken devotion books and
journaled <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in them or have gotten
creative with a notebook journal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYB1cJlUXNLbnKTcKNdS2-vhONpZ3Yc7rpcE4z7p7_yerDx_EoNqSgW9Nr1F-c0hXx-hJ9I_b1JyVxpwEBnpcyg6PSYBfIAmGoNiSTn0iiNqpEDlj5_bvvaraAYavP_Byg6UBBKWB3k24/s1600/531910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYB1cJlUXNLbnKTcKNdS2-vhONpZ3Yc7rpcE4z7p7_yerDx_EoNqSgW9Nr1F-c0hXx-hJ9I_b1JyVxpwEBnpcyg6PSYBfIAmGoNiSTn0iiNqpEDlj5_bvvaraAYavP_Byg6UBBKWB3k24/s1600/531910.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/esv-single-column-journaling-bible/9781433531910/pd/531910?event=AAI">http://www.christianbook.com/esv-single-column-journaling-bible/9781433531910/pd/531910?event=AAI</a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Hannah
and I use colored pencils and I am planning on trying my scrapbooking pens to
see if they won’t bleed through the pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a little intimidating to begin with…..I was afraid of ruining my
Bible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think that it’s like
anything that we do for the glory of God…..we move forward in faith and give it
to Him……and then I think that whatever we bring to Him is a sacrifice of
praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been a blessing for me
and for Hannah, another way that we have to look forward to being in His Word
every day, a way to be intentional in our faith and walk with God.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-472055198296087132015-01-27T23:00:00.001-07:002015-01-27T23:11:00.405-07:00An Intentional Walk<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">My plan was to begin writing about being intentional in my faith
and relationship with God weeks ago; but each time that I sat down to begin I
didn’t know how!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This area of
intentional living is probably the most important aspect of all; I believe that
it is the foundation for every other area in our lives in which we can begin to
live with intention and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
I feel such a burden and passion about this I have had about a million thoughts
and ideas running through my head over the past month as I’ve thought, prayed
and soul searched what I wanted to share with all of you about having an
intentional faith in the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
finally decided just to start at the beginning of my journey and go from there,
because it<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> has</b> been a journey…..a
journey of daily walking with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
journey of faith is different for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us walk towards God dragging our
feet, digging our heals in, resisting Him for years until something in our life
brings us to our knees before Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
some we run…..we run hard…..in the opposite direction!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then maybe someone comes into our life
and introduces us to The One that desperately wants us to stop running <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">away</b> from Him and instead run <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to</b> Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe some of you are still running and are not at all convinced that
you need or want God in your life; or maybe you are running because you don’t believe
that God can ever truly love you because of the messiness that defines your
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then for some of us the journey is a
gradual walking towards Him, trusting and following Him without too much
difficulty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that when we decide
to trust in Jesus when we are younger it’s an easier journey because we have
the simple faith of a child; it doesn’t take a whole lot to convince us that
God is there, that Jesus is real and that He loves us and has a plan for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love
Jesus, when I didn’t believe in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet there were plenty of years when I believed but didn’t give Him the proper authority
in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believed and worshipped
and loved the Lord….when it was convenient for me…..Like on Sunday mornings….but
then the rest of the week belonged to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then in my early 20’s life got real for me…..I felt real
discouragement and real disappointment and real shame and real fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden I needed Jesus in my life
more than just on Sunday mornings when I was sitting in a pew in church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed Him desperately to show me which
path I was supposed to take, who I was in Him and who He was supposed to be in
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed Him to be in my life
every day, every minute of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
needed Him to be real and I needed to be real with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
was a turning point in my journey with the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was when I realized that a relationship
with Him required attention and intention…..not just once a week but every day
for a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so blessed to have
a mother who has built a “Quiet Time” into her days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing up I remember Mom getting up before
the sun and sitting in her favorite chair, with just one light on and her
Bible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A box that holds her Bible,
notebooks and a journal has been a constant in my parent’s home no matter where
they have lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched as she made
this chunk of time that she spent with the Lord a priority in her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I grew older I remember many days spent
doing chores, feeding cattle, riding horseback or cleaning the house where our
conversations turned to what she had gleaned from that morning’s Quiet Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shared with me once that on the days when
she missed this time spent with the Lord her entire day was completely off
kilter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught me that it was hard
to trust in Someone that we didn’t know, and the only way to know Him was to
spend time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother instilled
in me a strong sense of the importance of spending time with God in His Word
every day. But not until that point in my early 20’s did I choose to make it a
priority for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I can say
with my mom…..if my day doesn’t start with the Lord, my day doesn’t start off
right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some of
you may be wondering “what in the world is she talking about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does she mean by a ‘Quiet Time’?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that I mean by “Quiet Time” is time
carved out of your day dedicated to and spent with the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joke all the time that I am refreshed, rejuvenated,
and ready to face my day as I spend that hour to hour and a half with the Lord
in the morning…….I can face anything and anyone as I sit at my kitchen table
after spending time with God……that is until my family wakes up and I actually
have to put into practice whatever I learned during my Quiet time…..that’s when
it gets difficult!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is a joke….the
time that I spend with God first thing in the morning is what sets the mood and
my focus for the entire day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending
on how early I wake up (anywhere from 4:00 to 5:00 in the morning) I spend time
praying, reading from either the Old Testament or New Testament and the Psalms
or Proverbs in the Bible, I generally have one or two devotions that I read
(Our Daily Bread, Streams in the Desert, My Utmost For His Highest, and In
Touch are some of my favorites), and then I journal for about 15 to 30
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I spend the entire time
in prayer, sometimes I spend the entire time in His word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day I come ready for Him to reveal
something to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I
first began reading the Bible I bought a Student Bible and wondered where in
the world to start, and I wondered if I was going to get bored quick……after all
this was the Bible, how interesting was it going to be??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I discovered the truth of Psalm 119:
103, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s word has proven to be true and life
giving and comforting and full of wisdom and love and grace and peace…..His
Word is full of adventure and real life trials and pain and victories; however His
Word has never once proven to be boring!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The more that I have read it the more that I have desired to be in His
Word every day, His word to me is sweeter than honey……I learn something new
each time that I read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now, I
have to be honest and tell you all that I am naturally a morning person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite time of the day is early in the
morning, when the stars are still out and everyone is still in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It probably has something to do with my ranch
upbringing, but getting up before the sun is not a hardship for me, it is the
time of day when I am at my best, my mind is clear and I am ready to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I realize that for a lot of you it is not
that easy…..you wake up with more of a fuzzy mind than a clear one, you can’t
focus enough to see the coffee pot much less your Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know so many women who become discouraged
with the thought of having a consistent Quiet Time because we tend to correlate
“Quiet Time” with “Early Morning Time”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe you are in a phase of life when your
kids are little and having any kind of “quiet” seems completely out of the
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what that’s like!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, when Kade was a baby to about 3
years old I had to get real creative on getting that Quiet Time into my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Hannah it was easy; she seemed to have
been born with an innate sense of my need for this early morning quiet time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with my second child I was not so
fortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For three years this boy
could hear me the second I got out of bed….he had an innate sense of me being
awake and then it was “early morning Kade time”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having ten minutes to myself in the bathroom
in order to read a devotion or listening to a sermon online while cooking
dinner was sometimes as good as it got during those years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my most precious memories are of
praying as I was nursing my children in the middle of the night or early in the
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I know what it’s like
during those years when our children are tiny and oh so needy….and God knows
even more so! He recognizes and appreciates how our lives are consumed with
those little humans; and yet He still wants us to give Him the best part of our
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In God’s economy, if we are
willing to give him the best and the first part of our days, He is able to
supply for the remainder of our hours!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you
are in this phase of life, or if you just aren’t a morning person, then
maybe you simply need to get creative in how you spend time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about giving Him your leftovers,
but rather look for opportunities to spend time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you have a commute to and from work;
there are so many great podcasts or sermons online that you can download and
listen to on your drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or spend your
drive praying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Hannah was a baby
until she was two years old I had about an hour on the road as I drove from
Meeteetse Wyoming to my aunt’s house 15 minutes outside of Cody Wyoming where I
worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent that hour in the morning
praying for everyone that God brought to mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever had that deep of a time for prayer
since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have friends who have a real
struggle with sleep at night, so they use that opportunity to read the Bible or
pray, figuring that if they are losing sleep they might as well give that time
to the Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you aren’t a morning
bird like me, but are more of a night owl like many of my friends, then carve
out a Quiet Time with Him after your kids have gone to bed and you can enjoy
the solitude of the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
think that God is as concerned with what time you give to Him, as long as you
are intentional about giving Him time in your day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
being said, I would like to encourage you to choose one or two mornings a week,
or even once a month, to sacrifice sleep and get up before the sun and your
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There truly is something about
early mornings spent with the Lord, pouring out our hearts and expectations and
concerns to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are able to do
that first thing in our day, and then give the rest of it to Him, we are then
able to have a proper focus for whatever the rest of the day has in store for
us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning,
Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait
expectantly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we intentionally choose
to go to God in those early morning hours, He will meet us there and it will
set the tone for the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However
you choose to spend “Quiet Time” with God, I just encourage you to begin to
carve time out of your busy schedule and give it to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make an intentional decision to put Him first
in your day…..giving Him your schedule, your time, your energy and your talents
to use to glorify Him and build up His Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God bless you as you intentionally draw closer to the One who has called
you by name (Isaiah 43:1).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-80905166911341357742014-12-31T09:25:00.001-07:002015-01-28T06:44:44.059-07:00A Journey Into Intentional Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM53Pd8YE73oheksGiG3BayeJiY8ljo8XANbcbh8oPqRfrBgGbELWwYrJvaS9A6ctzef5UiJdonuG5ijnCjA5lHfk5KiPE3t3N6Z6Dp2NQKbsu-15sd4kLtmNVsyaegZUFHgFnrYSLzfE/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM53Pd8YE73oheksGiG3BayeJiY8ljo8XANbcbh8oPqRfrBgGbELWwYrJvaS9A6ctzef5UiJdonuG5ijnCjA5lHfk5KiPE3t3N6Z6Dp2NQKbsu-15sd4kLtmNVsyaegZUFHgFnrYSLzfE/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, I’m
at that phase of the holiday season where I am starting to pack up all of the
Christmas decorations, getting rid of all the uneaten Christmas goodies, and putting
away beloved ornaments for another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s in the single digits in Wyoming today and so I am enjoying a cozy
fire, a plate of Swedish Kringler, and a cup of coffee while taking some time
to think back over this Christmas, and actually thinking over the entire
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been remembering the
blessings, the pain, the disappointments and the victories of 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the time when I begin thinking
about the New Year, wondering what 2015 holds in store for me and my little
family…..and I have been contemplating that sometimes loved and often hated
tradition of making resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know about you, but making New Year’s resolutions ultimately ends up
overwhelming and discouraging me rather than motivating me to have a better,
healthier, happier year than the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s too much that I’d like to change, improve on, new things to try or
bad habits to let go of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you with
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I the only one who struggles with
making resolutions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I start trying to
figure out what my New Year’s Resolution is going to be and before I know it I
have so many to pick from that I just throw my hands up in the air and give up
before I even verbalize what my resolutions are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I go ahead and make one or two and within
a month have completely given up or forgotten what I had resolved to do in the
first place! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No, New
Year’s Resolutions are not my favorite…..and yet……I love a clean slate, a fresh
page, a new start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I really do love
what is behind the meaning of making New Year’s resolutions; the meaning of
resolution is: “a firm decision to do or not to do something.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried for a few years now to figure out
a way to make resolutions without really making a “New Year’s Resolution”; how
to take advantage of the newness of the New Year, of resolving to do or not do
something, without being unrealistic in what that is, as well as not losing
steam in my resolve one or two months into the year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all of my soul searching, praying and
thinking about this I have ultimately come up with one resolution for 2015…..the
resolution of intentional living....but this one resolution leads to so many
more areas in my life that I want to make a firm decision about living with
intention or purpose…..12 different areas in my life that I feel God is drawing
my attention to live with intention; areas that I need to either completely
change, shift in a different direction or areas where I need to just keep on
keeping on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opposite of “intentional”
is “accidental”…..I would so much rather live by intention than to live by
accident! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I began
thinking of this idea of intentional living this time last year; and have been
thinking about what aspects in my life I would like to live with more intention
and purpose since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to invite
you to go on this journey with me; each month I will focus on a different area
that I have chosen and share my thoughts, feelings and experiences with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may just be one post a month
dedicated to intentional living in that certain area or it may take a few different
posts depending on what subject I’m covering!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These 12 disciplines in my life are places where I feel God is drawing
my attention to live with meaning, intention and purpose; you may have areas in
your life that are completely different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If so please share them with me, I’d love to hear about your journey as
well! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The 12
areas in my life that I have chosen to live intentionally for 2015 are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional in my faith and relationship
with God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional in my marriage<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional in my role as a mother<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional in my attitude towards food<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional about physical exercise <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional with my finances<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional with my thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional with my relationships<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being intentional with my time<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being intentional with my words<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being intentional about my responsibilities
and jobs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being intentional about my calling, gifts and
talents<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My hope
is that by dividing this resolution up into 12 different areas, I will spend an
entire year focused on living with intention and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The definition of intentional is “something
done on purpose or deliberately.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, that’s
the key for me; I want to live deliberately and on purpose!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to thrive, not just survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m tired of feeling like I am just barely scraping
by day in and day out…..spending a lot of my days low on energy, motivation, joy
and intent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like so many of you out
there, I want a full and abundant life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of my favorite verses is John 10:10 where Jesus tries to explain to the
Pharisees who He is and why He has come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He tells them “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus came to give us full and abundant lives;
He doesn’t want us to just “get by”, going through the motions of our days,
doing what needs to be done but no more than that…..living flat, dry and
intentionless lives. I think that especially for those of us who are
stay-at-home-moms or ranch wives that work at home with our husbands, the
drudgery of our days takes out the intention and purpose that God wants us to
live with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to resolve to change
that.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, I
invite you to go on this journey of intentional living with me; commit, not to
making another New Year’s resolution that will leave you overwhelmed and disappointed,
but instead commit to living the next 12 months with the intention and purpose
that God intended for you to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
want to wish you all a Happy New Year……No more than just “happy”…..I want to wish
you a joy-filled, abundant and full 2015, a year that is lived with meaning and
purpose to the glory of God!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-65548674698908049902013-12-23T08:25:00.001-07:002013-12-23T08:36:46.610-07:00Are You Ready For Christmas?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Are
you all ready for Christmas?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
familiar topic of conversation this time of year; for some reason we all like
to see if anyone is more or less prepared than we are!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Am I
ready for Christmas?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes to
all of the traditions and preparation that our family does to get ready for
this holiday, I usually answer with an exasperated and frazzled, “No, not at
all!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shopping, Christmas Tree hunting,
decorating, cookie baking, wrapping, cards written and sent, packages sent,
school parties, Church programs, concerts, dinner planning; whewy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes a body tired just writing down all
that needs to be done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s always been so interesting to
me how as women at this busy time we can divide ourselves into two groups:
those who start Christmas early and are ready well before the big day; they are
organized and have a well thought out plan as to what needs to be done in order
to create a memorable holiday with the least amount of stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there are those who procrastinate until
the very last minute and are scrambling like crazy to get everything
accomplished in the last few days before Christmas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fall into that category.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each morning Kade changes the cactus on his
Cowboy Santa Advent Calendar and comes out to announce to me how many days we
have left until December 25<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each morning I find myself shocked that it’s getting closer and
closer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is December 23<sup>rd</sup>,
and we are just now getting ready to take a trip to town to do our Christmas
shopping!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so frazzled trying to
get a tree cut that I was actually prepared to (gasp) buy a fake tree (much to
the dismay and adamant refusal of Hannah!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe we’ll get some Christmas baking done on Christmas Eve, but more
than likely I will go and buy some of those really soft & yummy sugar
cookies at IGA, just so we have something to leave for Santa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think
that one of the reasons that I find myself so harried this time of year is
because I refuse to even start thinking about Christmas until the day after
Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to enjoy one
holiday at a time; and although I don’t think that there is anything wrong with
that way of thinking, I end up about a month behind every year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of every Christmas season I always
tell myself that next year is going to be different, and yet each Christmas I
find myself scurrying around trying to get things ready to make a picture perfect
holiday for my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile my
family is telling me that I’m acting like a crazy Christmas person, sucking all
of the fun and joy out of a celebration that is supposed to be joy filled and
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so grateful that God has
blessed me with a man who balances out my crazy with his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>calm, because Mike continually reminds me that
I need to settle down and remember what and why we are celebrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
and why are we celebrating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I ready
for Christmas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These questions have
given me reason to pause and ponder my answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suppose that it’s different for everyone; we each have our own
attitudes, mindsets and beliefs about what this season is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really do love all of the celebrating that
goes along with this time of year, and yet I think that I tend to allow all of
the outward trappings of Christmas to get in the way of celebrating
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The presents and the decorations
and the baking and the parties and the Christmas meals are all wonderful
“wrappings”, but the true gift is Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love the simplicity of the story told in Luke: “And she gave birth to
her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This story has been told so many times that I think we lose the wonder
and majesty of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I wonder if I’ve
become like one of the many people in crowded Bethlehem at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if I am bustling around so much
preparing to celebrate Christmas, that I’ve missed seeing the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve left no room for Jesus in the Inn
either; I’ve allowed my life to become so crowded with stuff and activities
that I’ve not allowed myself to slow down and look for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If it
were just the story of the miracle of this baby’s birth, then I think that the
way we go about our days preparing for Christmas would be just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the story of his birth is just the
beginning; it’s the story of the Cross and the tomb that make the difference as
to how I want to celebrate Christmas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because it all comes down to the fact that in Jesus, in this little baby
that was born in such lowly and humble circumstances, we have life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 20:31 says, “but these have been written
so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing you may have life in His name.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we believe in Jesus, the Messiah, our Savior, Lord and King, we are
given life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not just abundant life
here on earth, but eternal, everlasting, never ending life with Him in
heaven!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that </b>is something to celebrate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think
about the shepherd’s reaction to the message they received from the angels, it
immediately had them seeking Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then when they found Him, their excitement couldn’t be contained; it bubbled
over and motivated them to go out and tell everyone about what they had just
seen and experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“After seeing him,
the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to
them about this child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All who heard the
shepherds’ story were astonished.” (Luke 2:17-18 NLT).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to be like one of the crowd; going
about my day, going about this holiday focused on all of the things that need
to be done, all of the presents that need to be bought, worried about whether
or not I’m leaving someone out and then stressed about all of the money we are
spending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be like those
shepherds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want the excitement and the
wonder of Jesus’ birth, of the fact that God came down to us as a tiny baby, to
just bubble over in my life. I don’t want to contain the joy that I have
because of Jesus, and I want to share it with others so that they can also be
amazed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
next time that the question,“Are you
ready for Christmas?” is asked,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan on changing
the context of it to mean “Are you ready to celebrate Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you thought about what it means that God
came down to us as a newborn baby?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you believe that Jesus wants to give you joy and peace and everlasting
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you made room for Him in your
heart, or has He been moved to a stable in some far off corner of your
life?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that asking myself these
questions has changed the way that I see and celebrate this Christmas
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that it does the same for
you, and that you find that celebrating Christ doesn’t need to happen just
during the Christmas season, but is something that we can celebrate every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men
whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-85445328496153206152013-06-12T22:02:00.000-06:002013-06-12T22:02:43.602-06:00Goin' Showin'We're heading to Lewistown, Montana for the Montana Junior Beef Expo; thus begins our summer travels. A couple of years ago when Hannah decided to take market and breeding beef we realized that it would take up a big chunk of our summer, what we didn't know is that it would take up the whole summer!! This summer our livestock show travels will include Lewistown (which is a great little cowtown that I have fallen in love with), Laramie for the Wyoming Hereford Field Day, Kansas City, MO for the Junior National Hereford Show and then back home to get ready for the Johnson County Fair and Rodeo and then the Wyoming State Fair. We are going to put some miles on the pick-up for sure!<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">We've spent the last couple of months in the barn getting 2 steers and three heifers ready. </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Trust me when I say that we spend way more time on their hair than I ever spend on my own! Over the years my brother Joel, his wife Karri and their daughter Lauren have acquired so much knowledge and skill in the world of show cattle, we have been blessed with their expertise as well as their willingness to give of their time and energy in helping Hannah. Showing cattle requires a lot of hard work and it </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">may not be what the average person would choose to do with their summer, these</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> cattle shows are not the relaxing, fun filled vacations that most people are used to, but it's what we love!! Catching up with good people, looking at good cattle, working together as a family. Traveling to cattle shows in the summer makes up a lot of my childhood memories; so many of the people that we run into at these shows are people that I got to know through the years at various Hereford shows when I was the one at the end of the show halter. One of the most vivid and treasured memories was when Coby was a baby and our single cab pick-up no longer had room for Joel or I, so we got to travel in the comfort of the nose and front end of the gooseneck trailer, with our steers in the back compartment. I still see the looks of surprise on people's faces when Dad would let us out of the trailer at gas stations! Can you imagine the trouble that we would get into today if we stick our kids in the nose of the horse trailer and proceeded down the road? Right this minute I am pretty tempted as Kade has reached the limit of what he can handle being contained in his carseat and Hannah insists that she is most comfortable with her feet stuck up in my face! </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">We are going to need all of the prayers and helpful tips we can get when we hit the road for Kansas City in a month!! No, it may not be everyone's cup of tea for a family vacation, but it's part of the life that I love and I feel blessed! </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Tomorrow look for a guest blogger, Kendra Thornton, who will be sharing some really great tips and advice about traveling with your family for the summer. Kendra is a stay-at-home mom who was formally the Director of Communications for Orbitz. She is a great resource for summer vacation know-how. If, however, you are needing tips and advice on how to survive a summer filled with traveling to cattle shows....ask me at the end of the summer I bet I'll be a lot more in the know :-)</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Blessings from the Courageous Mommy</span>JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-5419277468264218022013-05-27T12:56:00.003-06:002013-05-27T12:56:58.956-06:00Remembering and Honoring <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8MUbGUsiL5k5J7SKPMQTyrWtU_krsBRsAg7V3v_3lDo7o_nkXmiFjkp3jeR9z8sErOBxBZYKbxkmTmGwJfN6G3VXvF327hLJBBy210Gorug2T0UafLlEMxKxi7AN24mH2efGwAaWLeY/s1600/945318_568090886563859_1595159023_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8MUbGUsiL5k5J7SKPMQTyrWtU_krsBRsAg7V3v_3lDo7o_nkXmiFjkp3jeR9z8sErOBxBZYKbxkmTmGwJfN6G3VXvF327hLJBBy210Gorug2T0UafLlEMxKxi7AN24mH2efGwAaWLeY/s320/945318_568090886563859_1595159023_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">I love Memorial Weekend, mainly because it’s signals
the start to summer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We usually kick off
this first weekend of the summer by taking in a little bit of the High School
Rodeo where we catch up with family and friends from around the state, then we
spend the remainder of the weekend at Lake DeSmet where the boys take in the
annual Lion’s Club Fishing Derby, and of course lots of barbeque action!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I love all of the recreation that goes
along with this weekend, but this morning as I was driving downtown I caught
the beginning of the Memorial Day Service that is held every year at the
Veteran’s Memorial on Main Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
stopped for a minute and took it all in; the flags that lined the streets of
this town that I love, Veterans who visited with one another as they waited for
the Veterans parade to begin, children holding flags as they sat on their
mother’s laps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brought tears to my
eyes and a flutter of emotion in my heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this</b> is what Memorial Day is about, and I’m afraid that we’ve lost
the true sense of why we celebrate this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that we’ve turned it into a
nationwide “Kick-Off To Summer” celebration instead of a time to honor and
remember those who have fought and died in order that we may have the kind of
life that we enjoy in this wonderful country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ve taken for granted what has been given in exchange for our very
freedoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t want to take for
granted what these men and women have suffered and endured, what their families
have sacrificed for me and for my family so that I can enjoy a beautiful summer
day in peace, without fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think of
the young men and women I have known through the years who have chosen to join
the military and go to places like Iraq and Afghanistan; I repeat, they have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chosen to</b> go, and I am humbled and just
a little bit shamed because I don’t think that I could do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an amazing thing they do for all of us,
and yet we go about our days, our summer, this weekend and we forget that those
who are serving right now don’t get to enjoy a long weekend with their family,
they aren’t recreating on a lake or in the mountains and eating a big juicy
hamburger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the men and women who
have died, their families have a noticeable hole in their lives, a hole that
will never be filled again, because of what their sons and daughters, brothers
and sisters, moms and dads were willing to give up in order that we can live
the life we enjoy in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, I am humbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s such a picture of what
Jesus did for us and all that I can think as I sit here and type away is what
an incredible honor for these men and women to have the willingness to be a
picture of the sacrificial love that Christ has for each and every one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like our Veterans and the men and women
who are now serving our country, I think that far too often we take for granted
what He gave so that we could all be free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May we remember and honor what has been given to us, and may we not
waste those freedoms, but use them to build up our families, our communities,
our country on the premises of what they are fighting for, what they have died
for, what Jesus came for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love and
honor, courage and respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s give a
little bit of ourselves instead of living as if we were entitled to all that we
have, let’s live beyond ourselves and not only remember, but honor those who
have given so much of themselves for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><o:p>"This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends." John 15:13 The Message</o:p></span></div>
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<br />JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-64236065873193601372013-04-19T11:43:00.000-06:002013-04-19T11:43:06.190-06:00Today I Choose....
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TODAY…..I choose gratitude over grumbling…..I choose to look
at the sink full of dirty dishes and see a family that is well fed….I choose to
look at the mountain of laundry and see a family of four who are clothed…..I
choose to look at the mud and dirt on the kitchen floor and see a little boy who loves
to play outside…I choose to look at the messy bathroom with clothes and towels
thrown on the floor and see a beautiful and healthy teenage girl….I choose to
look at my messy bed and see a husband who loves to cuddle and hold me….I
choose to look at all of those “chores” that are seemingly endless and
thankless and instead see blessings that are never ending and be thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TODAY….I refuse to allow peace and joy to be
stolen from my day because I am feeling overwhelmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TODAY…..I am going to choose contentment
over covetousness……because I have so much to be truly grateful for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and more “stuff” is not going to fulfill my
life….TODAY I choose to look for opportunities that God is putting in my path
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>serve Him instead of complaining that
I am of no use to Him….This is what I’m going to do TODAY……What about you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-83578573324838925552013-02-02T08:13:00.001-07:002013-02-02T08:13:43.636-07:00True Love<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> It’s February!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
month of love and romance, the time of year that flower shops and card and
candy manufactures look forward to and dread all at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, at some point in my life it turned
from being about romantic love and became all about the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which isn’t bad, I love showering my kids in
love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t want Mike to get lost
in the shuffle because he has been my Valentine for 18 years now, and will be
for years to come. I want to be sure and let him know how much I love and
appreciate him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so excited because
this month we will actually be in Portland for Valentine’s Day and I am really
looking forward to a romantic get-away with my Sweetheart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
post, however, is not all about how to make your Valentine’s Day more
meaningful for your Sweetheart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
think that celebrating our love for our spouse is important, but something else
has been on my heart the last couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our church has a wonderful Children’s Program called “Kings Kids” which I
am involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been blessed in
so many ways by being part of this ministry, both by the kids and by what I am
learning alongside them about being a child of the King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each month I submit something for the
Church’s Newsletter/Website that shares what we are learning with the rest of
the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This month our theme is “The
Greatest is the Least” and comes from John 13:1-35 when Jesus washed the feet
of his disciples at the Last Supper. When I first started preparing for this
month’s theme I really didn’t consider it to tie in with Valentine’s Day, but
the more I dug into scripture and thought about it the more I realized that it
fits perfectly with this holiday that celebrates love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ve shared in part what I wrote for the
February Newsletter for Kings Kids:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What does love look like in Kings Kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s putting others above ourselves,
ministering to one another in joy, love and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means sharing, taking turns, being kind,
helping one another and having compassion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jesus was getting closer and closer to the
crucifixion, he was burdened with the responsibility of sharing with his
disciples what it means to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
last supper he took the opportunity to show them true love in action by washing
their feet, a task meant for a servant not a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus wants all of us as his
followers to understand that true love means considering others greater and
ourselves less, to take up the bowl of water and towel and wash one another’s
feet in love and humility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that
this is easier in theory than in action because it doesn’t come natural and
it’s not what the World teaches us; but it’s what Jesus calls us to do so how
can we do anything less?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So while this
month will mean giving and receiving cards, flowers and candy to some, may it
mean something different to those of us who belong to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Valentine’s Day (and everyday) let’s
show love by giving of ourselves in Jesus’ name.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>This was so good for me, because as I was writing it and tying it in to this holiday associated with love, I came to and important realization. The best way that I can show love to my husband and my children, and really anyone who God places in my life, is by loving them with this selfless, sacrficial type of love that comes from a servant's heart. This is so contradictory to what the World teaches us, the examples that society gives us of love is not selfless or sacrificial, and it certainly does not require taking the role of the servant! </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> I also realize that it takes a lot of courage to love this way, it's risky to put ourselves in the postion of the servant and love in a way that is opposite of what the world says. </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>But I am telling you that in my own experience, when I love in this way, where I am willing to become less in order for others to become greater, Christ's love in me is increased! And this is worth far more to me than flowers and candy!</o:p></span></div>
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JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-11283850471191442462013-01-12T21:03:00.002-07:002013-01-12T21:03:38.558-07:00The Return Of The Courageous MommyI've been gone from the blogging world for awhile. I don't really have a good excuse other than life is incredibly busy right now with a High Schooler and a preschooler at home. Honestly by the time I get a chance to sit down, I fall asleep! As I catch up with some of my friend's Blogs, I see that they must be in the same boat as I am because they've let months go by without blogging as well!<br />
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In all honesty I have to say that the biggest reason I haven't written on "The Courageous Mommy" blog is because I have felt less than courageous for the past several months. Dis-"couraged" is more like it, along with defeated, disheartened, and at times in despair, but not very courageous. I suppose that every mother goes through periods like this, but sometimes it feels like a very lonely place. As a result I haven't felt like I am qualified to write a blog about parenting. I've felt like a failure more often than not, have had more days that have ended in frustration and regret than in victory and confidence. Each day that I sit down at the computer and try to figure out what I'd like to write about, I end up closing the lid on my lap top and giving up because I feel that I have nothing to offer in the way of encouragement to other mothers. Not every day is like this, just too many of them.<br />
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So, what has propelled me to write tonight? Just the realization that this is life, part of a phase that I am going through as a mom; and maybe, just maybe, others will gain as much from my experiences of failure and discouragement as they will from my experiences of victory and joy in motherhood. Maybe even more so. <br />
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Why am I feeling discouragement and defeat? Because I am the mother of a teenage girl and I can't do anything right in her eyes right now. And I am the mother of a preschool boy that never stops... never stops moving, never stops talking....unless the t.v. is on.....and the t.v. has been on a lot lately. I feel like most days are spent either arguing with Hannah or apologizing to her. Most nights are a literal fight to get Kade to bed. I feel like most nights I go to bed close to tears and feeling like a failure, wondering how I should have handled certain situations differently. Each morning I wake up with a new perspective and determination, spending time in Quiet study of God's Word, reflection and prayer. And then my family starts waking up and I begin making those mistakes all over again.<br />
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I look at other mothers in my sphere of influence and it seems like they have it all together; they have good relationships with their teenage daughters, they have a handle on their young son's or daughter's energy and enthusiasm (or they at least have enough energy and enthusiasm themselves to handle it). They don't forget orthodontic appointments, or show-and-share at preschool. They don't talk too much and therefore irritate and annoy their teenagers. So many of them are preparing beautiful, nutritious meals and then sharing them on Pinterest or Facebook, while more often than not I am serving cold cereal or hamburger helper because that's all I have the energy for. I'm sure that no other parent eats their words more often than I do. I don't see any other mothers embarrass their kids, but I seem to do it every time that I open my mouth! I have a hard time imagining other mothers being as cranky as I am. I describe myself as "prickly" because that's what it feels like to me and my family; like if anyone gets close enough to me they're gonna get poked! And I've often convinced myself that I am alone in my fear that I am irrevocably messing up the lives of my children by the mistakes that I am making as their mother. OK so realistically I know that other moms are struggling every bit as much as I am; but oh how it feels like I am all alone in this challenging phase of parenting!<br />
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So, even though I am feeling overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy and insufficiency, why am I choosing to write now? It's not so I can complain and bemoan my life in order to gain sympathy (trust me, I know that most of you will either say "Me too!" or "Toughen up Mama, this is life!"); but it's so that through my discouragement others may find encouragement. Because deep down I know that I'm not alone in all of these feelings. And I do know that this too shall pass. Maybe at that point, the point where Mike and I are old and grey and our kids are grown and raising kids of their own, I will be able to lend some wisdom, but right now all that I can offer is empathy and support.<br />
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Because I know that ultimately none of us is adequate or sufficient to handle this responsibility given to us. Without the Lord and His wisdom and grace I know that I can't move forward but will be stuck in a parenting rut where fear and despair take over. This isn't what I want for me or for my children. I want an abundant life for my family, where we are intentional about the life that we lead, where we respond to one another and not react, where we are guided by love and respect for eachother and not selfishness and pride. <br />
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I know that I've been in a pit for a while, and I also know that I don't need to remain in that pit. God has given me the tools that I need to live life and make the choices that I need to make in order to insure that we are living for His plans and purposes. Each day is a matter of making those choices and using those tools that He's given to me. We all have struggles that we are dealing with, some are much more serious than having a teenager and preschooler in the house. I know that there are some of you who are facing health problems or behavioral problems with your kids, some of you are dealing with difficulties in your marriage or financial hardship. Life is a struggle, but it's also good and I feel that goodness when my little boy wraps his arms around my neck and tells me that I am his best friend, or when Hannah and I have a long conversation about things that are deep and meaningful, or when Mike and I take advantage of the quiet and can just be in eachother's company. The only way to gain victory in the ups and downs of life is with courage. I refuse to lose courage just because life gets a little rough! So the Courageous Mommy is back, hopefully with as much grit and determination as ever!JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585934694448429899.post-5581100312415892502012-05-21T09:30:00.000-06:002012-05-21T09:30:40.709-06:00Guest Blog.....May is Pregnancy Awareness MonthDid you know that May is Pregnancy Awareness Month? I did not, but was made aware of it by a fellow blogger, Katie Moore. Katie writes a blog called "Moore from Katie" which covers everything from motherhood, DIY projects, fashion, baking and healthy living. One thing that Katie is passionate about is new life, I love that, because I too am passionate about life and especially when it comes to that miraculous gift of new life. So I was honored when Katie found my blog and asked if she could be a guest contributor on "The Courageous Mommy". Of course I jumped at the offer because the first step in that courageous journey of motherhood is pregnancy. If you are currently expecting or have recently made the decision to begin the process of starting a family, or even if you are like me and are through with having babies but like to reminisce about that amazing time of your life, you will enjoy this article. And be sure and check out Katie's Blog, she's got a lot of really great stuff on it!<div>
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<b>Preparing for the Big Delivery
Day.....Guest Blog by Katie Moore</b></div>
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Labor and delivery can be a
highly anticipated time for expectant mothers. A variety of emotions, ranging
from a few nerves too much excitement to confidence, can be present. The truth
is no matter how prepared a mother feels going into labor and delivery; she
should be open to the idea that inevitably something will surprise her. To
better help prepare for the experience consider these suggestions. </div>
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<b>Attend Classes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A mom-to-be can find some solace
in her preparations for the unpredictable experience by educating herself; one
way to do so is to <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/childbirtheducation.html">attend
a childbirth class</a>. There are several different birthing methods, some
considered more natural than others. Talk to your ob/gyn too about birthing
options. He or she can help choose a method and birthing plan that is right for
you. </div>
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Many new moms assume that breastfeeding
is natural and easy, but many obstacles early on can cause physical and
emotional stress to both mom and her newborn. Taking a class can help clear up
any questions that you have and give you some good tricks to help. The Internet
also provides education through pregnancy websites on topics you’d cover in a
class. </div>
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<b>Pack for the Hospital<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/hospital-pack-list.pdf">Packing
your hospital bag early</a> can prevent new mothers from forgetting essential
items, like a change of clothes, a "take home" outfit for the
newborn. Other items to consider packing are toiletries, a book or movie for
entertainment or to relax during down time, or any additional items that will
help you feel comfortable during your stay.</div>
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There are also several decisions to be made before the
newborn arrives. Selecting a pediatrician is an important one. Hospitals will
have the pediatrician perform all of the necessary tests and screenings before
they go home to make sure they’re not at risk for certain infant diseases. In
trying to plan for the future health of your baby, an option to consider is <a href="http://www.viacord.com/">cord blood banking</a>. With cord blood banking families
choose the collect and save the umbilical cord blood that remains after birth.
The cord blood is then stored at a facility for potential use to treat future
medical disease.</div>
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Although the labor and delivery
experience can’t be mapped out, an expectant mother can educate herself in
order to prepare for the decisions she’ll need to make and the exciting moments
that will bring her newborn into the world.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This
article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the
blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health,
childbirth and other topics within this niche. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">If you have any
questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her
blog, </span></span><a href="http://moorefromkatie.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moore From Katie</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> or her twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/moorekm26"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">@moorekm26</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">."</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>JanaMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09385359363099503830noreply@blogger.com0