Five Minute Friday: On Forgetting

Got five minutes? Here’s a great way to spend them. {straight from Lisa-Jo’s the 5 Minute Friday Queen…}

1. Write for 5 minutes flat without editing your voice.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Pony up the comment love for the five minuter who linked up before you.

I love reading what you write – it’s five minute art that lasts a lifetime. And it gives me a chance to give one of you a little somethin’ somethin’ from DaySpring, who I love more than cotton candy!

 

 

This week the My Beloved Photo Frame is up for grabs.

OK, are you ready?

Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

 

 

 

 

On Forgetting….

Go:

I fear forgetting.  For isn’t that the way it should be?  When Israel of old went far away from Yahweh, it was because they forgot.  forgot His faithfulness and deliverance countless times and doubted and fled to false gods and ways…forgetting made them lose the way.

I fear the forgetting.  The losing the way.  The forgetting where I come from…it was hard when the time I spent on the farm as a little girl equaled the time I’d been away.  Now it’s double away to what was spent there.  I forget often the smells which to a farm girl were home.  I forget the early rising to do chores and the diligence in working together to make a life.  I long for the togetherness of us five and our mama and papa…

Now, this week, 9 years since she went Home…away from here.  I fear the forgetting of her voice and ways…I fear that her memory will distance and I won’t live like I ever had her.  I fear our collective forgetting of what it was to come together in her last days.  I fear the forgetting of family itself as brother goes to the other side of this country and I go over an ocean.  Will we ever be together again in this life?

Maybe not.  So what does NOT forgetting mean when it is all but memory and the tangible touch is not possible?  Is it living your life like it is so real you wouldn’t be alive without it?

Stop.

Five Minute Friday: Motherhood Should Come with…

I love this Gypsy Mama…here is this week’s prompt straight from this encouraging woman that blesses so many:

For five minutes flat. The rules are easy.

1. Write your heart out for five minutes and show us what you’ve got.
2. Tell your readers you’re linking up here and invite them to play along.
3. And most importantly, go visit, read, and encourage the fellow five-minuter who linked up right before you.
   {Pretty please turn off word verification for the day to make this easier!}

Easy peasy.

Oh and there’s always a little fun something-something in it for one five minute artist. Last week I got to give away this All Things Are Possible Water Bottle to random winner Abby@Fan the Flame. (Yeah, that’s me!)

This week DaySpring’s Love Letters from God Flower Pot is up for grabs.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Go:

Motherhood should come with…

Grace. oodles and oodles of Grace that falls like syrup down big stacks of pancakes and oozes onto laps and hands and sticks with love and smiles at all the mess. 

Grace that runs to fields and oceans lakes and pools with little toddling feet that grow and grow too quickly.  Grace to see and be free to enjoy and throw away ‘shoulds’ and with caution to the wind and wild abandon to dive in deep and en-JOY all that this little soul gives!

Grace to look deep into eyes that are so vulnerable from day 1 and that never lose that even when hard hurt covers with scales and threatens to stay forever.  Grace to pursue and Him who gives greater grace when deepest mother heart has lost hers.  Grace to win an enemy with love that will not die.  Grace to fight for all the best all the days of ones’ lives who you know will break your heart but that Grace will see what cannot be seen and fall to knees and cover whatever comes…

Grace to live, laugh, love and to hold tight and tender from day 1 until in life you part…Grace to never fix but to receive the story He writes over your life in this hallowed journey and theirs as they love you and you walk with faltering steps holding His hand all the while.

Grace for all to be what they are created to be.  And when you realize Mother is deep, deep imprint, to let what flows from soul spill out in song and color Life as it is meant to be.

Stop.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Precious Mama’s the world

over whoever and wherever

and however you be Mama!

Grace is Real and yours in this

messy journey where love and

Gospel and God who is All,

Above all and Through All

covers!

May all the love you give come

back manifold this Mother’s

Day and always

 

As of Late

Lately, I’ve been realizing how little I truly love.  (doing Loving Well by Beth Moore with my wonderful small group from church.  suffices to stay started with a bit of pride, asked Him to show me my heart…and He very much did.)

Lately, I’ve been seeking to love better by receiving His love and not settling for ‘no’ as it regards if I will love another.  I must love…and not in indifference or numbness but in thought, word and deed.

Lately, I haven’t been enjoying my kids as I know is the life-giving path I need.  I’m praying to BE HERE. PRESENT. AND LOVE THEM BY SIMPLY BEING WITH THEM.

Lately, I’ve been learning about homeschooling through the homeschool pre-school my friend, Anita, and I have been doing.

Lately, I’ve been saved by beauty, in particular sunsets and glorious moons, but I’m praying it grows to seeing the beauty in the four walls where I live.

Lately, I’ve started writing a Twin Book with my…TWIN!  Very early and we may poke at it for years, but we’ve started and were raised, ‘you start something. you finish it!’  It will be a wonderful keeper of us as we move to being an ocean apart.

Lately, I’ve had the chance to bless my best friend and neighbor, Anita.  She has blessed me immeasurably since I moved to Florida…become family.  Been everything a friend (or sister) could be…I was able to nominate her and she won ‘Woman of the Week’ for our Christian radio station!  (funny aside, they announced it this morning, but played the pre-recorded message of another winner! oops! first time it’s happened.  They recorded me yesterday morning and I knew they’d have to edit, but joked, ‘it really was bad! they had to use someone else’s!’…they’ll run it next week, Thursday morning at 7:20am)

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed with our overseas transition.

Lately, I’ve wondered if I should just let go of ‘order’ in this year of transition…

Lately, I’ve been so encouraged to walk more intimately with my husband as he’s joined the blogging world He’s my hero and I cannot wait to follow as he shares more intentionally the conversations he has with others about the Gospel.

Lately, I’ve been stressed about money/finances and been breathing in and out and feeding on Philippians 4:4-8 in particular.

Lately, I’ve been so blessed by these free sermons of Tim Keller’s that are all from the Story of the Prodigal Son and go with his book, ‘The Prodigal God’.

Lately, I’ve been seeing how inconveniences are preparing me for when I will not have some of things I have here…over there…in Eastern Europe.

Lately, I’ve been wondering what life will look like this same time next year.  Colder (for sure)…and so much more…different.

Lately, I’ve been carrying a beloved couple in my heart (our hearts) and tears have been close and praying Romans 8:26-39 for them as times are uncertain and the extent of cancer unknown…

Lately, I’ve wondered almost constantly if I’m a good mom.  I always feel like I’m falling short and this certainly doesn’t get me anywhere better.  The Gospel is hard to receive when you realize your failures are affecting little impressionable people.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my Dad and have written several posts that include something about him, like how he has prayed with a Papa heart for me (and my husband, kids, siblings, spouses, and kids and many more) every day since either of us can remember

Lately, I’ve been wondering about my two blogs.  The one is my ‘family and ministry blog’, though very much just the family side and I’ve been posting less and missing more of bringing our friends and family far away into the life we live where we are. That’s because I noticed that a fire was so lost inside of me I was forgetting who I was in the doing and then watching (i.e. tv, movies, to ‘relax’ etc.) because I was tired and all of these thoughts of something more were there, I just didn’t do something about it until I started my ‘writing blog’.  But, lately, I’ve been longing to bring the two together. somehow.  Or at least feel like the friends and family I’ve lived near and we’ve shared life that are my reason for keeping up the family blog can share life as my new and dear bloggy friends do even though we’ve never met.  And, vice versa.  I want my blog friends to share more of my family’s life.

So, lately, I decided to make this my first post that I am posting exactly the same in both of my blogs.  Family and friends, I would love if we connected not only here, but there.  And blog/writing friends, I would love if we shared more of the daily stuff that I post here (with some of you, we do!)  And maybe someday I’ll figure out a way to have it all come together in one place. 

What have you been up to lately?

So thankful to find out about this monthly link up, ‘As of Late’, hosted by Christy at CrittyJoy, through my blog friends Natalie and Jen.

Also with Michelle at Lost in the Prairies for Caffeinated Randomness on Fridays

Join us?

As of Late

Lately, I’ve been realizing how little I truly love.  (doing Loving Well by Beth Moore with my wonderful small group from church.  suffices to stay started with a bit of pride, asked Him to show me my heart…and He very much did.)

Lately, I’ve been seeking to love better by receiving His love and not settling for ‘no’ as it regards if I will love another.  I must love…and not in indifference or numbness but in thought, word and deed.

Lately, I haven’t been enjoying my kids as I know is the life-giving path I need.  I’m praying to BE HERE. PRESENT. AND LOVE THEM BY SIMPLY BEING WITH THEM.

Lately, I’ve been learning about homeschooling through the homeschool pre-school my friend, Anita, and I have been doing.

Lately, I’ve been saved by beauty, in particular sunsets and glorious moons, but I’m praying it grows to seeing the beauty in the four walls where I live.

Lately, I’ve started writing a Twin Book with my…TWIN!  Very early and we may poke at it for years, but we’ve started and were raised, ‘you start something. you finish it!’  It will be a wonderful keeper of us as we move to being an ocean apart.

Lately, I’ve had the chance to bless my best friend and neighbor, Anita.  She has blessed me immeasurably since I moved to Florida…become family.  Been everything a friend (or sister) could be…I was able to nominate her and she won ‘Woman of the Week’ for our Christian radio station!  (funny aside, they announced it this morning, but played the pre-recorded message of another winner! oops! first time it’s happened.  They recorded me yesterday morning and I knew they’d have to edit, but joked, ‘it really was bad! they had to use someone else’s!’…they’ll run it next week, Thursday morning at 7:20am)

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed with our overseas transition.

Lately, I’ve wondered if I should just let go of ‘order’ in this year of transition…

Lately, I’ve been so encouraged to walk more intimately with my husband as he’s joined the blogging world He’s my hero and I cannot wait to follow as he shares more intentionally the conversations he has with others about the Gospel.

Lately, I’ve been stressed about money/finances and been breathing in and out and feeding on Philippians 4:4-8 in particular.

Lately, I’ve been so blessed by these free sermons of Tim Keller’s that are all from the Story of the Prodigal Son and go with his book, ‘The Prodigal God’.

Lately, I’ve been seeing how inconveniences are preparing me for when I will not have some of things I have here…over there…in Eastern Europe.

Lately, I’ve been wondering what life will look like this same time next year.  Colder (for sure)…and so much more…different.

Lately, I’ve been carrying a beloved couple in my heart (our hearts) and tears have been close and praying Romans 8:26-39 for them as times are uncertain and the extent of cancer unknown…

Lately, I’ve wondered almost constantly if I’m a good mom.  I always feel like I’m falling short and this certainly doesn’t get me anywhere better.  The Gospel is hard to receive when you realize your failures are affecting little impressionable people.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my Dad and have written several posts that include something about him, like how he has prayed with a Papa heart for me (and my husband, kids, siblings, spouses, and kids and many more) every day since either of us can remember

Lately, I’ve been wondering about my two blogs.  The one is my ‘family and ministry blog’, though very much just the family side and I’ve been posting less and missing more of bringing our friends and family far away into the life we live where we are. That’s because I noticed that a fire was so lost inside of me I was forgetting who I was in the doing and then watching (i.e. tv, movies, to ‘relax’ etc.) because I was tired and all of these thoughts of something more were there, I just didn’t do something about it until I started my ‘writing blog’.  But, lately, I’ve been longing to bring the two together. somehow.  Or at least feel like the friends and family I’ve lived near and we’ve shared life that are my reason for keeping up the family blog can share life as my new and dear bloggy friends do even though we’ve never met.  And, vice versa.  I want my blog friends to share more of my family’s life.

So, lately, I decided to make this my first post that I am posting exactly the same in both of my blogs.  Family and friends, I would love if we connected not only here, but there.  And blog/writing friends, I would love if we shared more of the daily stuff that I post here (with some of you, we do!)  And maybe someday I’ll figure out a way to have it all come together in one place. 

What have you been up to lately?

So thankful to find out about this monthly link up, ‘As of Late’, hosted by Christy at CrittyJoy, through my blog friends Natalie and Jen.

Join us?

Shutterfly Offers For Bloggers

 
Hey Everyone!  Here I am again (same day) with another great offer from Shutterfly for bloggers! I am excited to get some great pictures or projects with the help of this gift certificate!  Nothing blesses us or our family as much as a piece of us through pictures:)
"Help us (Shutterfly) spread the word. Embed a project and receive a $25 gift certificate. Here’s how:
Embed your project on a blog or Web site you own. Email an active link (no screenshots, please) to the Web page containing your embedded project to: shareproject@shutterfly.com. We will confirm placement and reply to your email with a discount code.
Limit one per customer.
How to Get this Deal
1.Login to your Shutterfly account
2.View your projects
3.Choose one and click “Share Project”
4.Give it a name
5.Embed the code on your blog
6.Send the confirmation email to shareproject@shutterfly.com

Here is the Mother's Day Photo Book I did for Jared's mom.  It was a great gift to be able to give her.  I love Shutterfly's photo books.  If you haven't made one yet through them, you should!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Thanks Jules!

Thanks Julie, for helping me fix my blog posting screen! It was simple. In case it happens to you I had selected the "Edit html" in the top right instead of the "Compose" button. So simple, but I had lost my font colors (really tough for me to lose colors!!!), and alot of other things and couldn't see my pictures when I was writing the post!

Blurb

I don't know how many of my blogging friends know about BLURB. If you blog on Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad (and one other one??) you can "slurp" your blog posts to Blurb and create a Blog Book!!! Depending on how much you blog, it will be an investment to use it as a yearly chronicle of your life, but compared to what you could spend on scrapbooking supplies and the inner stress that comes from not being able to do "all of it", it is definitely worth it. I just downloaded the free book-making software and will finish this summer (hopefully by the end of July, if not before) a book for 2008 (as long as I was on Blogger...since April, I think).

I am totally indebted to my friend Julie who just did her massive volume for 2008 (almost 600 8x10 pages or close to it!) and I am so proud of her. In the future she (and I because of her) hope to be caught up to "real time" so that when the year is done, you also have your 2009 Year-in-Review book done. On Julie's blog she kind of chronicles the pitfalls in layout, etc. that she found in doing her first book. I will let you know how my journey goes, but I'M EXCITED! It is great to feel like I can streamline what I do in blogging with memories that we can have in our hands to look at...like an album! I still want to scrapbook because I enjoy that format, but will never be able to catch up and this way I can work on some of my backlogged scrapbooking projects (JJ's baby book, our year in Hungary! trip to Spain while there, etc.)

I hope that some of you will be able to do this and that I could let you know about something us bloggers can do that you might not have known about.