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I’m here
This blog has been silent for the last few weeks. I think about writing often, but the desire is swept away in the chaos of life. You see, our family is in one of those seasons we all hope to avoid. We’ve gained a new appreciation for spiritual warfare and I’m pleased to report that we’ve all grown closer in the battle. It’s far from over, but we’ll make it…eventually.
Have you ever been in a particularly difficult time and felt like the trials just kept mounting?
On top of the darkness we’ve had a leak in the bathroom (both from the ceiling and the toilet), a flood, a lamb die, and a son with a concussion. That’s just in the last couple weeks. Actually, most of this has been in the last couple days.When it rains it pours, and in Oregon, we REALLY mean that!
Life’s not all bad.
My marriage is awesome, and my kids are amazing.
I’ve seen my children support each other and offer encouragement to one another.
I have, and I don’t say this lightly, the very best friends in the world!
I can see the protections that were set in place years ago.
The sun is shining today and the birds are singing.
And God is still good!
I hope you’re all blessed today,
Christina
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Reach!
My word for 2012 has arrived.
REACH
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
~Harriet Tubman
I wasn’t initially impressed by this word. It’s not as flowery off the tongue as other words. When you repeat it over and over, it begins to sound like my geriatric cat when she’s about to give me a mess to clean up.
But as I thought through the meanings of the word, I began to understand.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
A person can reach, as in reach for a dream. I’ve been stangent in this area for a couple months. Reach for me can mean to relight the fire that fuels my passions.
To reach a port, we must sail – sail, not tie at anchor – sail, not drift.
~Franklin D. Roosevelt
We also reach out for help. I’m so bad at this. Being a bit independent (okay, maybe more than a bit), I tend to try and fix situations on my own. This year I’ll focus on reaching toward God and accepting His hand rather than my usual, “I can do it myself!” plan.
Reach can refer to our own choices to reach out to those around us. In this way, reach is similar to compassion. I can offer mercy, grace and help to the people in my life.
Reaching out with forgiveness is a blessing for both participants.
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.~Muhammed Ali
This post wouldn’t be complete without one more quote.“Reach for the sky!”~Woody (Toy Story) -
Searching for my word
Searching for my word…
It’s a tradition I’ve never participated in. With the year coming to an end, many of my friends and acquaintances will be choosing a word to focus on during the 365 days of 2012. Granted, many of my friends are writers, so this may not be as common a tradition as it appears to me to be.
This year, I’ve decided to find my word. Some change in my life seems like a solid idea. Things haven’t exactly been going in the direction I’d like them to. This year has been filled with loss. Some loss of relationships, some realization of the fact that there never was a relationship to salvage, and much loss of security. I’ve struggled with fears and anxiety, disappointment and sorrow.
I’d like my word to be something like…HOPE. But I’m not convinced yet that this is the one.
2011 wasn’t all bad, and in the end, I still have an amazing husband and my children are healthy. So maybe GRATITUDE should be my word. I’m sitting here in my darkened living room, still able to write this post with the electricity out. There are so many things that I’m grateful for, and shouldn’t that be our focus every year?
I’ve watched helplessly as circumstances around me have taken seriously wrong turns with no way to stop the runaway train. Maybe SURRENDER should be my word…but maybe FIGHT would be better.
What about COMPASSION. There’s something this world is greatly lacking. I do hope I can be a person of compassion, FORGIVENESS, STRENGTH and MERCY. All wonderful words.
There are so many words to choose from. Each seems right in its own way. So I’ll wait a while and hope the right word makes itself known.
What’s your word for 2012?
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Christmas past
This will be the last Christmas with all of my kiddos considered children. Next year my oldest will be eighteen and will already have made his first vote in a presidential election. I don’t know where the time went. Sometimes he walks in the room, and I have to do a double take. My 21 inch baby has turned into a 6′ 3″ man.
It’s always the oldest and the youngest that make me feel nostalgic.
A couple of days ago I was wrestling with the fact that my littlest baby will soon be entering the middle school years and will be on her first mission trip this coming summer. It’s too soon!
Step back in time with me and see a few of our earliest Christmas cards.
1999
2000
2002
2003
