Life

I saw this posted on Facebook today and felt the need to share:

“This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once; seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. Live your dream, and wear your passion. Life is short.”

 Are you living your dream? Are you living your passion? Are you doing what you have been called to do?

Sunday Thoughts about Time

     I thought of staying home from church today. I'm glad I decided to go.
     I thought of staying home from church today. Then I thought, "Since I don't feel like going to church, I'll go as an act of sacrifice to Him." Not my will, but His. I go to church to worship and fellowship. It is not just a ritual; not just going through the motions, but a living offering. A time to meet God and see what He might speak to me as I praise and worship Him; as I focus only on Him.
     I sat lost in the maze of my mind. I learned a few things I didn't know. I heard Him whisper my name and call me to come closer to Him. I asked His forgiveness for neglecting my time with Him. I resolved to spend more time in His word, more time with Him.
    I make time for the things I want to do; as do we all. I want to know Him. I want to praise Him. I want to hold tight to His hand. So, I must take the time to do these things. I must take time away from reading, time from the computer, time from television, perhaps even time from work. These things are a meager sacrifice for all He has done for me.
     To know Him is to also know His people by spending time with them. Time spent enjoying them. Time listening to them and praying with them. Time spent in serving each other and the world.   
     Time. 

Snowfall

Snow falls again this morning. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

The beauty is amazing: White clouds mound up along tree limbs and surround the base of the trunks, the extreme quiet of the day, joyous children, creativity expressed in snowmen and other snow sculptures.

These bring wonder to me and praise to my Awesome God, my Creator and Sustainer.

Snow also brings inconvenience to our way of life: We are disturbed by snow routes, donning layers of clothes, more chores, extra care when walking and driving, and being housebound because of icy roads.

The animals in our woods are hunkered down. No sign of the rabbits, squirrels or deer who share our small plot of God's earth. The birds, too, are mostly absent. Only a few venture out in search of food.

I give thanks often during the day. I am thankful for my warm home and coffee and hot chocolate. I am thankful, also, for my family that gathers here and for the ones too far away to join us.

Even in the dull, gray, diminished light I find hope. Spring is only weeks away -- Not months!

When the snow melts and the mud dries (and from this much snow, there will be LOTS of mud) flowers will bloom, grass will grow, animals and birds will have their young.

Winter is survival time, but it is also the resting time. Nature is storing the energy Spring will need to be reborn, to produce the new life, to burst forth in all its glory.

Like so many, I count the days until sun and warmth and color. But for today, I will make the effort to enjoy the Winter.

January Journal

Winter tries my spirit. 

"Cold, dreary, gray days fill my soul with sadness. I long for Summer with sun and warmth. How will I survive? I'm not sure that I can!"  I wrote this in my journal a few days ago.

Another day I said, "I'm just crazy. Stuck in a rut of sameness. Dreams are dying. Joy is fading. Is this my life?" 

Since then it snowed again. Frigid temperatures kept me housebound and cabin fever raged within me.

How long until the bright skies of summer return? How many hours must I struggle until the days lengthen and joy returns?  

My gratitude list fails me. I am bereft. I drag myself through the day.

But wait! The sun pushes through the clouds! A bird flits across the yard. Squirrels dash up the oak trees. My grandson laughs. Life is bearable again.

Each day I am amazed by God's Grace to me. When feel I can no longer stand, when the darkness of the abyss pulls at me, when hope grows faint then He pours His grace on me and I rise up thankful again for a cup so full.

It's His Birthday Today

I feel nostalgic today. Today is my son's birthday. 


I look through the window of the past days and see him as a baby: happy and laughing. I see him as a toddler: blond hair, brown eyes and laughing. I see him as a boy: learning manners, playing T-Ball, growing and laughing. I see him as a teen: deep in school books, playing sports, on the phone with friends and laughing.

Today, I see him as a man. I see him with family. I see him working to improve his health. I see him with his nephew. I see him striving to be a good husband and father. I see him laughing.

I feel proud of the man he has become. He is full of love, kindness and compassion. He is all I ever hoped he would become and so much more.

Three Days in D.C.

This Fall brought me new adventures. . . a  three day trip to Washington, D.C. with my sister to visit my niece. I haven't flown since 1989 so this was a very new experience. I've never traveled with my sister. I rode the Metro, took my first taxi since 1994 and rode in a car rented by the hour.

We flew from Tulsa to Dallas and then on to D.C. (a non-eventful trip!) Picked up at the airport by a friend, we arrived at my niece's apartment just before she got home from work.

The next three days were spent laughing, eating, walking and talking. I saw my niece as a grown up and not just as the little girl who used to stay up late watching movies. I acted like a tourist with my niece as my guide to monuments, memorials, the National Cathedral, Arlington Cemetery and more. I wanted to see everything and took pictures everywhere I went, at times taking pictures for others or asking them to take one of all of us.

We ate burgers and fries at Good Stuff Eatery, (I had a Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake), chili dogs and a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl, home cooked fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, and home-made meat loaf (cooking lessons that ended well), a lunch at the Old Post Office food court, and one night we finished the day with dessert at Kramer Books and After Words Café (I had the Dysfunctional Family Brownie. If you knew my family, you'd know how funny that really is.)

Our trip home  (D.C. to Dallas) was a little bumpy as we diverted south to skirt around storms. The clouds looked awesome from above! We landed late in Dallas, but so did everyone else. Delayed an hour, we arrived in Tulsa just fine.

I spent the night at my sister's house. The next morning I woke early, ready for the drive home and I arrived at my house before noon.

The days flew by. I wasn't quite ready to leave the big city excitement for my rural lifestyle so it took me a few days to get back into the things that are my routine, but I finally settled in and got down to business.

I look at the pictures (nearly 200 of them!) and remember the great time I had. I give thanks to my family for their understanding, taking up the slack and making do while I was gone. And most of all, I thank God for the privilege of traveling to our nation's capital. Everyone who can, should go see what our forefather's created for us. Everyone should see the war memorials and the thousands of white headstones at Arlington that stand as reminders of the men who gave their lives. 

The names on the Wall brought tears to my eyes at the sacrifice of so many in Viet Nam. A lump formed in my throat as I watched the precision of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. So many lives given; so much sacrifice.

Yes, it was good to go and see.  It was good to spend time with my wonderful sister. It was good to know my niece as an adult. All in all, a great three days in D.C.

Thanksgiving, 2010

This Thanksgiving, we spent the holiday at home; alone.

Both of our sons and their families went to their in-laws for the day. We missed them, of course, but realize that we must share them. Others love them, too.

Friday was almost a normal day. Both sons had to work, so we (my husband and I) were on our own again.  That is until supper time. Our younger son and his wife share our house with us so they were home at the usual time. Then our older son and his wife arrived and the "party" began. We laughed and talked and caught up on all the news. We played cards until late. We went to bed happy to have them under our roof for a time.

Saturday started early. Coffee on and showers taken, the cooking began. The men went to pick up our grand-daughters from their mother's house while we started dinner. The turkey in the oven and details delegated, I felt I could take a few minutes to rest. So, I fed the baby a bottle and cuddled with him.

I watched the road for the first glimpse of the car. "Where are my men folk? Dinner is ready and they are not here yet. I need to see my girls!" My girls are teens now and no longer little girls. I enjoy talking with them and learning all about what is going on in their lives. 

Finally, they came up the drive. I put the rolls in the oven and greeted them with hugs and kisses. 

Dinner was ready. I called the family to the table and we gave thanks for the many blessings in our lives. I fought to keep tears in check.

There around the table, I remembered why I am alive: I am here for this family. I love them. I serve them. I share my faith with them. God has a plan for my life; even when I'm not clear on what that plan is, I trust Him and follow Him.

  

It has not been that long since I had to remind myself daily that I am necessary and needed. I kept a Gratitude List in my journal so I would never forget. The Father has shown me that these people, these eight souls, depend on me for my unique outlook and contribution to their lives. Who would take my place with them if I were not here?

My Family~~The Guthrie Gang

The Holy Spirit whispered to me that no one else can minister to them in the same way that I do. No one else can show Jesus to them like I do. They will become who God desires them to be and I am a part of that. 

These days, I look forward to seeing what He is doing in each life. I look to see how my sons are growing and maturing in their faith. I watch my grand-daughters for signs of God's touch on their lives. I look at my daughters-in-law and am delighted with their love for my sons and how God is using them. I look at our grand-son (6 months old!) and hope and pray for his life. My husband shines God's love on me, and on our family.

I am greatly blessed. I am deeply grateful. God has brought me through the dark valley into the light of His love. 

The day passed. We ate and laughed, played dominoes, watched some football, (the girls) drove the tractor, told stories and loved on each other. Then it was time for them to go. I watched them load their things and start down the drive.

I miss them already.