Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Making up your mind to CELEBRATE and ENJOY!

I would imagine most of you have precious memories of Easters when you were little, hunting Easter eggs, Easter baskets, family dinners, going to church or a number of other things.

At different times in life the celebrations change.

When I was growing up it was one way; Mom always made sure we had new dresses for Easter, I remember always having an Easter basket filled with out favorite goodies.

Fast forward to when we were raising our kiddos; Easter morning began with our kiddos waking up to their Easter baskets chock full of fun goodies (not just candy), we went to church in our spring attire and enjoyed the wonderful blessing of worshipping our risin Savior!!!
That was the highlight and the greatest focus of the day.
Afterwards we usually had a family BBQ. It was then that the kiddos would be able to hunt the Easter eggs that they had decorated. My dad (the kiddos' beloved Papa) would contribute a golden egg, or two. (those plastic eggs with $$ inside!) He loved to hide them himself so he could make it more challenging.
It was always a fun filled day!!!

Now fast forward to the present time and you will find us (me & my sweetie) at one of our grown kiddos' homes. Now they are the ones hosting the afternoon BBQ and Easter egg hunt for THEIR kiddos!!! We are the ones providing the "golden eggs" and watching with great glee as our precious little angels scamper around the yard seeking out their colorful eggs.


My point is this: Life is full of change.

No matter how hard you try, nothing stays the same.

It is just the progression of life!
Some of it good, some of it not so great.
Nonetheless life ebbs and flows.
It does no good to fight this....I know, I have tried!

It is best if you just embrace the change and figure out how to enjoy every moment and appreciate it for what it is worth.

Some of you find yourselves at places you never expected or wanted...you wish life were different, that you had different "scenery". I can tell you that it is all in God's hands.

If you love Him, serve Him and dedicate your life to Him, He will take care of all those little details.

Some things are not "ideal", no matter how old you are or what season you are in.

Both my parents have passed away long ago, what is left of my "birth" family does not get together any longer for holidays, one of my sisters died when she was only 29....My kiddos' Papa was never able to hide a golden egg for his great-grandchildren, neither he or my mom ever met them.

This year our little family will not be ALL together for the holiday. In fact we spend more holidays apart these days than together due to living in different areas (and my son being a U S Marine).

HOWEVER...we do get to enjoy the majority of our family and we will focus on THAT!!!

We will be together, having fun, enjoying, treasuring one another and thanking GOD that even in the changing of seasons HE knows more than we do and we accept that and live in that understanding.

If we continue to live in the past, in the wish I could, wish I had, wish I was.....then we will never fully enjoy and appreciate the life we have RIGHT NOW!!! HERE! TODAY!!!

I understand it may not be ideal....really I do!
I also know what it is like to be at a place where life is plain ole difficult!

Here is the thing.................God has you here, in this time and place, for a reason! It is up to you to celebrate and enjoy the life He has given you, the life and the people in it. We are here for and with the people of our lives and we need to take the time to make precious memories with them. To enjoy ever last moment we have!!!!

I hope and pray that no matter what you do this Easter, a new tradition, an old one or a new twist on an old one....ENJOY it!!! Make a memory and ENJOY every bit of it!!!!!

Lots of love and blessings to you!!!
XO<3

Sherry

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Living in the Moment

This seems to be the common theme running through my heart and mind lately.
Living in such a way that I am aware and present in each moment,
for you never know how precious this moment will be to you later.
A couple of days ago my daughter texted me that she was enjoying a precious memory as she heard a familiar song come on the radio. The song "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman was one of our family favorites for some time.
In fact it was our "theme song" when we made our trek out to Tennessee.
Just by hearing that song on the radio she had images of riding along in our aqua blue truck, music blaring, her brother singing his little heart out, with his peculiar round sun glasses on!
:)
It was a common occurrance that stuck in her memory and caused her heart to smile big as she remembered it that day. Yet it was nothing we conjured up at the time, it was a simple
happening, one that was as common as any ride in the car was in those days!
You see, you never know when you are making a memory.
When those mundane, every day things will cause you to smile big as you remember them.
"Our days weave together the simple pleasures of daily life.
Which we should never take for granted."
~A.S. Byatt
I am making an effort to S L O W down in the hustle and bustle of my every day life.
I find it hard when things get so overwhelming and overload my schedule...
but it is my aim to treasure each moment as it exists.
I hope that you find the pleasure and treasure of every moment of your life...
today and every day.
Much love!
XO
P.S.
I wrote this craZy post FOUR times...each time it became different, I kept on losing it in some mysterious way!!! SO...I hope it actually posts this time!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Welcome!

I finally did it....I finally created my very own blog!

Honestly I have struggled with the decision to do this for some time now. I have a heart that longs to share and to be used by God...yet the idea of being so transparent and so visible is a bit frightening.

It is my heart's desire to share that which I know, what I have learned and experienced, with others so that their hearts would be lifted and they would know the amazing love of God!!!

My main goal in life is to be a tool for God. To live in a way that is pleasing to Him, to do that which He has called me to do and to BE who He has called me to BE. I am constantly inpired with these thoughts and how I would like to present them to others (especially women) so that I can effectively communicate the amazing LOVE of Christ.

His love is unconditional. Perfect in every way!!! There is nothing you can do to earn it or even to lose it! He loves you and cherishes every fiber of your being. He created you (read Psalm 139) JUST AS YOU ARE...perfectly, wonderfully, beautifully....He mixed together the specific talents, gifts and abilities within you to create the you that YOU are and that God intended you to be.

It is mind-boggling really, to think that He mixed together the perfect recipe of "YOU".
In fact I doubt most of us can really, truly wrap our brains around that.
I would like you to do just that....try to wrap your mind around who you are, what makes you YOU, what ingredients are within you that makes you so unique....Read Psalm 139 and ponder this.....

I am looking forward to this journey and where it takes us as we travel this road of life together!
Love & Blessings!
Sherry
XO<3