G.oing O.n P.urposefully...

from "If You Ask Me(And of Course You Won't) by Betty White
"If you've ever lost a loved one, or witnessed it, you can't help but see that the body
is an envelope for the letter."  A verse from my devotions that week: Psalm 139:16b "All
the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Also couldn't help but think of John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God."

I've become increasingly aware that I don't know what the experience of having a child that
has graduated from college is like.  2012 was "out there" for a long time thinking of both Garrison and Grant being graduates--Garrison from college and Grant from High School. ( I remember as a teen thinking-wow in 2000 I'll be OLD--35--perspective y'all.)

Mark and I both went through a time this Spring as Garrison's classmates-were graduating, getting married and having babies that we grieved in a new way.  Certainly we were happy for these young ones, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some pain as well.

My memory bank holds this snippet of conversation while our family was in the car one Saturday afternoon.  It must have been around the time that Garrison turned 9.  I said something like *Garrison-you are 9--we're half way through...* and Garrison quipped *Yeah mom, you're half way to getting rid of me...*

 A couple things run through my mind as I reflect on this 1)  Time on car-trips with the fam is a blessing.  We've had some great, silly, intense, upsetting, deeply heart-felt talks in the car.  2)  If I think about it too much that empty 4th seat just makes me cry.  3) 9 and a half should not be middle-age.

We thank you Lord that our lives were so rich and so blessed to have Garrison for the time that we did.  If he cannot be this side of Heaven, I'm blessed to know that he is safe with his Heavenly Father.

***Parents, I know that raising children is a demanding, tiring sometimes down-right ugly and messy adventure--in the midst of it be thankful for what God has trusted you with.***
Remember this: 
Psalm 27: 13-14:   "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." His Word is just sayin....

24, 25, 26......

After about 27 takes--finally got the shot we were after.

It reminds me though of my walk with God.  There are days

I can find at least 26 ways to do something wrong. Doing

things God's way-always leads to success.  So, thankful

for God's grace and mercy which is new each morning. 

Life with God is Picture Perfect....I'm just sayin...

Anastasia - At the beginning with Lyrics in subtitles!!!

CARE MORE

So--it's been awhile... guess I was just "not" sayin...
In the past few weeks I've even done some pen to paper journaling--so blessed by that--shout out to Sue Kubley--for giving me a journal.  It's a great way to look at what God has done--to see what he brings you through and reflect on HIS glory.
6/3/12 Devotion  "Careless Speech"  (Our Daily Bread)
I was reflecting on the title for  this particular devotional entry this morning.  Why can't I have "Caremore" speech.  I need to care more about what comes out of my mouth and care less about sharing my thoughts on whatever.  Does it really matter and am I glorifying God by it?  Perhaps what brought this earlier devotion to mind was today's.  The scripture reading is from Matthew 26 where Jesus is being questioned by the high priest.  In this hostile enviroment, Jesus chose silence.  Why do I choose to spout off whatever comes to mind most of the time---ugh?!?
Today Lord-help me to CAREMORE about you-your character-reflecting that and honoring you with my lips.
I'm just sayin OR I'm just NOT sayin...

Blessings--

One day I'll learn to post these together-but today is not that day. 
A friend at church asked if I had ever heard this song and then promptly went to her car and let me borrow the cd.  I hope you are blessed by Laura Story's  "blessings"...
Over the last several months I had not been feeling well. Not physically--but emotionally...For whatever reason I decided to stay in this place.  I thought somehow maybe it could make me empathize with Garrison--the hopelessness he felt, the belief that life is not going to get any better.  As I've started to recover, why would I chose this?  My husband and friends suggested I get help and gently reminded me.  My husband shared that I would suggest to others in the state I was to go and get help.  And yet, I decided to stay in this pit.  One friend suggested I write in my blog and I told her--I have no words.  When asked about counseling, my reply was the same--I have no idea what to say.  Enough was enough and my husband scheduled an appointment.  And I really didn't have a lot of words--a lot of tears-but not many words--but it was a start.  I realize now the irony now of a blog titled, I'm just saying...and I could say nothing.  My pattern in life has been if I am able to write--to express how I feel (instead of being angry, bitter or sad and stuffing those feelings) then life feels right to me.  I am glad to say that through counseling and a med change my life is on the mend.
This song has blessed me and reminded me of God's love and faithfulness--they are constant--even when we don't know how to feel them.  I'm just sayin'...

Laura Story - Blessings

Tenth Avenue North - You Are More