~ A Matter Of Time and Keeping The Moments ~

I hear it.  I feel it.  I see it.
It rushes, it slows, it disappears. 

It births light and shadow.  Day and night.
Sunrise and sunset - every second a new Masterpiece.

It gives. It takes.
It spends.  It exhausts.
It's young, it's old.
It's a first and a last.
Before and after.
It's a race.
There's never enough most days.
It tests patience and long suffering.
It has within it, love etched forever and love lost.

Time.

It is visible right now as I look out my window -
gilded Spring beams of light and shadow, lay planked across emerald blades,
closing the end of day. 

I see it visible in my children's faces who are not so small anymore, as time has grown them up.

Amidst this battle of time - every day - every hour and second ...
I armor self with camera in hand, pen to paper and rely on
synapses to keep the moments forever. 
Thousands of photographs captured - frozen moments of time,
held forever in print,
are kept within albums, books, scrapbooks,
and memory on my computer ...
endless moments.
This is how I keep them.



The moments that fade every second.
The moments that once held small babies, now span into mid-teen years. 
Did I do good with the time I've had with them up until now?  

Still - the moments that at the end of the day, reflecting back I wonder -
where did the time go?
And more important - what did I do with all this time I had today,
beyond the everyday mundane living? Did I do my best with my time given?
Where was my attention during the seconds ticking along? 

This precious commodity within these ticking moments of life breath.




And in time-stress moments, pounding down - knees to the floor, God-time
I remember ...

I am guilty indeed, as conscience pulls at the heartstrings ... family, friends, God. 
I know I can do much better. 
Service.  Love.  Time spent with value and meaning with those around me.

Not more time - but enough time.

In a truly touching book I am reading titled: "Before My Heart Stops" (by Paul Cardall) he quotes:

"The reality is that our time here on earth will not last forever, so every minute is precious. 

Once we gain perspective about our own mortality, realizing that our time is limited,

we have the opportunity to accomplish important things for our family and our community. 

And since we usually do not know how much time we have,

we must work hard today to accomplish those things."

"Every minute is precious."

If only the world could grasp this simple statement. 
If only I really could. 

And when the world is saying otherwise,
pages skin-thin
teach me to "trust in Him at all times, pour out your heart before Him:
God is a refuge."

A refuge. Every minute. 
I re-commit.

"Life is not an emergency. Only amateurs hurry.

Race for more and you'll snag on time and leak empty.

Hurry always empties a soul.

We don't need more time - we just need 'enough' time.

Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give,

rest, give you Glory.

sing joy.

And just enough time in a day to not feel hounded,

pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done - yesterday."

-Ann Voskamp

~ This Day ~

"For unto you is born
this day
in the city of David .... a Savior
which is Christ the Lord."

"And his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
-Luke 2: 15-17

May this Christmas be one filled with the best gift of all.

The love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Which love surpasses all understanding,

beyond any comprehension.

A love so immense

that He gave His life for us ...

so that we may live

with Him again.

Let Him in.  Make room for Him.

Be filled with His love.

A sweet touching reminder of

The Real Meaning Of Christmas.

Enjoy.

~ Merry Christmas ~

~ Christmas Oranges ~

A joy that is shared

is a joy made double.

--John Roy

May we all at this Christmastime, remember that even the smallest portion we can give, has the biggest meaning of all. 

Even if it's just a smile, a hug, a note or being there -

that can be the best gift ever given.

~ Christmas ~

"Oh Come Let Us Adore Him ...

Christ - the Lord."

Can you believe Christmas is upon us?  It seems like just last week that I put up all of my decorations, and now it's almost over.  I love this time of year.  I love it for WHO it is we remember and focus upon.  I love it for the reason that the world is feeling the Spirit of it as well - within their own way of celebrating. 

A union of all humanity, gathering us together in one purpose - for a season.

What does Christmas mean to you? 

I have a few touching stories below that we read each year.  Video's to enjoy as well ... our family favorites.

So!  Here's to your own Christmas celebration.  May you enjoy being together - united in hearts.  And may you remember the REAL reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

"Christmas Love"

This December, I vow to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I will have to cut back on nonessential obligations, extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. I do not want to find myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, is in kindergarten this year. It is an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he has been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Program." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of his show. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I arrived 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas" I didn't expect anything other than fun songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love", I was slightly taken back by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, all adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas", a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy", and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message,

"Christmas Love".

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her, a small quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down, totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W" . The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high…the message read loud and clear:

"CHRIST WAS LOVE”

...and He still is.

And finally, these videos will surely touch your heart.

Wishing you miracles this Christmas!!  See you next year!! : )



p.s....I did it!  What began as a New Year's resolution as a goal - I have blogged an entire year at least once a month!  What an accomplishment!!  Here's to 2011!!  You never know what it may bring!!

~ How to make it through the rain ~

 

 

 

 

 

-Life lessons through nature-

Same location, within moments of each other...transformation

with patience, endurance, and gratitude through it all.

 

It's what we do when it rains - how we react, our attitude, that determins our character. 

That will help us arrive with arms wide open with joy

drenched in gold

at sunrise.

 

How do you make it through the rain?

 

 

 

 

~ Count Again ~

Something is
missing,
I feel it in the fiber
the marrow
the deep-heart soul.
Fatigue and weariness
overpower
and there feels to be
no escaping it.

Joy is amiss.
Smile on the lips - forced.
Laughter, inaudible.

Stress conquers at every turn,
in every form of life.
The smallest task
becomes a mountain to climb.
Energy has collapsed
and the will -
halted.

The pressure of it all,
lingers unwanted ... draining life energy.
Things like this can weary a soul.
Not only physically, but mentally and
spiritually.

A voice whispers in the darkness ...
"You're not counting.  You haven't for awhile now.
Start today! - right now! - count your daily gifts."

"Ahhhh...that's it!  This is what has been missing."
I feel the void within being -
at every turn.  In every thought, deed and action.

I quickly go to my pages lined in silver
laying open on the kitchen counter ... just waiting.
Waiting patiently for me
to again open my eyes and see!
See His gifts - no matter life's circumstances -
right before me
inbetween all of the mess, stress, chaos and life-living,
hovering there in the quiet to be
clinged onto and claimed by
seeing, thanking and writing.

Pen to paper I write as if it's a last moments hope:

* Remembering to count - again!

*Dear friend carving time out of her day,
  just to spend some precious moments with me.

* The word: "possible."

* Hope

* Him carrying me when I can't walk

* Kind words

* Sunshine day

* Enduring

* Hard-working hubby.  Always.  Wherever he goes.

* My children stepping up and doing their best.
   Not someone else's best - their own.

Burden lifted.  Oxygen more freely flowing through heart-veins,
the empty is filled
once again. 

Who knew that such a simple act of
counting
could fill the void with joy and
proof
of His love?

I will never stop counting again.



"Count blessings and discover
Who
can be counted on."
-Ann Voskamp

~ Where To Look ~

When life gets you down ...



Look up.

 "I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you."

-John 14:18