I love you Dad - I love you Father!

Hi there, hope your day is going great. We got to spend today, celebrating my dad’s 68^th birthday. My mom is recovering from MAJOR surgery, but she’s hanging in there like a trooper - up and moving and bossy as ever! LOL that’s what we love about here. My dad, who normally would get mad if you made fun of him, took today in stride and even laughed at himself several times today, without a hint of anger or insult. He didn’t even flinch when my 10 year old exclaimed, “Grandpa, look…your candles say 68. We can save those and use them again when you turn 86”. We all started laughing so loud…yes, even him. I love that.

I think that in this past month that he has been taking care of my mom, God has been softening his heart towards things. He appears to be molding, and changing my father and his spirit. See, prior to my mom’s surgery, my dad had started to become bitter, closed off, too proud to laugh at himself or to be super silly with his grandsons. He had a wall up. I thought I would never see that wall come down (or even a little crack to begin). But just as I’ve always known, God is a God of the impossible, the improbable, the miraculous and the unbelievable.

Over the course of two months my father has grown closer to Christ, his family and has found, I believe, an inner peace that he’s not found before. Really all he wants to be is loved…but it’s hard to be loved when you don’t quite love yourself. This isn’t my mom’s first surgery; in fact she had a nearly identical surgery almost exactly 1 year prior. Yes, he was helpful and took good care of my mom then too, but he wasn’t as thoughtful, caring and understanding as he was this time around. He was bitter, almost resentful and sometimes disrespectful. This time, he’s become more patient and loving, and although sometimes he has moments of frustration, I think that is due to something caregivers ALL suffer from - exhaustion. He has now begun to center Christ into his life and the results are quite obvious and beautiful. I have to say, he’s not the only one. My mom has also begun to focus more on God and really delve into his Word. She’s always loved God, prayed, and Christ has always been a driving force in her life - but it always seems that she kept him boxed in and within arms reach. He was there, but only as a last ditch effort when she really needed him. She’s made some major spiritual changes, and I see her relying on him daily - and praising his name (I’m assuming daily). These new resolutions and a strengthened relationship with God, have not only changed her, but also has begun to change my father as well and has strengthened and renewed their marriage. Praise God! God is the God of new beginnings, of forgiveness and of restoration; I’m never surprised by the wonderful way God moves in people’s lives - but I’m always grateful and joyful in them.

How is God inspiring you to grow closer to him? Do you feel that tug? That urgency? Have you been feeling like there’s something missing inside of you? Like a piece is missing and you’re always trying to fill that spot with SOMETHING? Does nothing quiet ever seem to fit? I suggest maybe nothing quiet has fit yet, because you haven’t tried the matching puzzle piece. Maybe that spot that feels empty is a “God shaped” hole and only God can fill it and make complete. Just a thought.

My husband use to always say, “I just feel like something is missing. I need a nitch. I need a hook. I need….something”. When he became a believer and a follower of Christ, that need was filled. And he then said to me one day, “Remember when I used to say I needed a hook, or a nitch, and that something was missing….it was God. I had forgotten I felt that way, but I no longer do. It was God that I was missing all along. I’m complete!” What a wonderful, beautiful way to fill up your heart; with the most love and joy that is overwhelming and oh so powerful: the love of God.

Have a wonderful weekend friends….hugs & love!

Moment by Moment - they all count!

Don’t just live in the moment - be present in every moment, learn from every moment…take as much joy from every moment; but know that every moment shapes your future moments.

My husband and I both know people that have or do practice “living in the moment and for the moment”. They didn’t know, realize, or care that those mishandled bits of time would lead them to making continued future bad choices; thus resulting in pain, addiction, divorce, poverty and even death.

Remember to live IN the moment but not “for the moment“; and remember that every minute is a prelude to the next - don’t waste them but spend them wisely creating a life and future you can rejoice in!

These folks that we know (that have had some very self made difficult times), didn’t realize that those moments were shaping their future moments. Sometimes by doing want you want when you want, especially when its bad for you or not productive in some positive way, can result in future moments where you NEVER get to do want you want.  

Doing what you want now, sometimes keeps you from doing what you really want to do later!  Hope this note finds you happy and healthy and living each moment with your mind and heart present in everything you do - striving for the best happy you that you can be!  Hugs & Love friends!!!!

HI THERE, hope your day is a good one!

Hi there, thought I'd take a moment to write you.  My mom has been ill lately so my time has been split up and I haven't made in here to say hello to YOU in a few weeks. I'm sorry!!!!  I miss writing you all.  She finally got her surgery this week, and although she's in a lot of pain, she is on the road to recovery.  A lot has gone on over the past month, I'll have to catch you up. There has been some great things!!!!

 

Right now I'm watching Peter Pan (the play version with Kathy Rigby) with my littlest guy! I love watching him get involved in the play from his seat. He was just closing his eyes pretending to try to see Never Never Land in his head.

 

MY middle child just managed to pull out his loose tooth with his R/C Mustang (the fast one, is there any other KIND of mustang, really?). I tied dental floss (don't read this Mi...chelle) to the bumper and he tied the other end to the tooth. He drove it and got the string taught and then wanted to take a second to think about it and sat up and when he did the floss got TOO tight - that sucker flung right out! LOL poor guy. But he was in so much pain, it needed to come out. 

 

MOM is doing well, she is home...even though the doctor recommended a few more days in the hospital. I think she is better off. She has all the machines at home (per his order) and a nurse coming in to help during the day. I think she'll see a lot more progress. She's not ready for visitors yet, but she's finally getting some sleep tonight...she needs it. Hope you had an excellent day!!!! HUGS!

Amazed

Christmas is an annual reminder to be amazed. A time to reflect on all that was offered to us in the stable so many years ago. Now is the time to understand that the Christ child was born for all of us, regardless of where we are in our lives.  He didn’t wait until we had everything in our life in order; he came while we were still in our sinful ways. This Christ child came to save us all. At the time of Jesus’ birth, when kings were born the debts of the people in his kingdom were wiped clean; when King Jesus was born, he wiped away the debt of all mankind forever. All we have to do is to believe in him. Be amazed in Jesus this year - because he is amazed by you.

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the
King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and
mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them
up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King
of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.

Revelation 1:5-6
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the
dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed
us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to
serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Daniel 7:14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and
men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be
destroyed.

I entered an Authur's Challenge!

Hi there! I entered this writing contest for children's books...they just started voting and the top few winners get ebooks/library stuff for the children's school....I'd also win some moola! I wanted to share this with you to see if you'll take a second to read my story and vote for it!

http://meegenius.com/challenge/the-missing-happy-face-by-kimberly-murray

I am truly horrible at asking friends to vote because I don't want to inconvenience you, but if I win it would really benefit my son's school. So here's goes: will you vote for me? and share with your friends? or in any groups you're on in facebook if they're okay with it?

You can vote once a day, but the cool thing is, no one has to register, they just have to be signed onto facebook, go to my book and click like. I didn't realize it was going to be a "VOTING" system like this...I hate asking friends to vote on stuff, but would love to earn some gear for the boys school and cash would be nice for me! LOL

If not I totally understand, but thought I'd ask ya. Here's the link: http://meegenius.com/challenge/the-missing-happy-face-by-kimberly-murray I wrote 2 books, but this one is probably the better of the two, so I'm just sorta sharing this one. I hope it doesn't stink! LOL I wrote it for a younger demo so it'll be a quick read and they'll illustrate it with fun pictures. Not sure if it's good, but I thought I'd try...who knows?

Thanks in advance....hope you're doing great...HAPPY MONDAY!!!! HUGS!!!!

No limits!

If you think you're not worthy...you're right...none of us are.  That's totally the point of why God sent Jesus Christ to us, to bridge that gap to God that WE have created. God uses the meek, the flawed and the broken to do all sorts of beautiful things.  Things that those people never thought they could accomplish. In fact, without God, they wouldn't have accomplished them at all.  You know, it doesn't matter where you've been, the thing that truly matters is where you're going; what is your direction today?  If you need to make a change - then make it!  Hugs and love friends...have an awesome weekend!

Chocolate Chip Cookies....yum!

YUM! I got selected for a COOKIE Campaign at BzzAgent...they sent me 2 boxes packed full of chocolate chip cookies - it's Kroger's "The Truly Awesome Homestyle Chip Cookies". I had never seen them before, but they taste yummy...especially warmed up in the microwave!!! I spoke to family members and even shared a few (a few LOL) of my cookies. WOW these taste great I was impressed. You totally have to microwave these to get that just out of the oven taste; they're still SUPER yummy even if you don't heat them up! Love these!!!

The Slow Fade

In my opinion, one of the most dangerous things in a Christian’s life is “the slow fade.” The bad thing is it happens so slowly that you don’t usually even feel it happening. When we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are on an emotional high, some call a mountain top experience. You’re doing the things of God like praying often, reading your bible daily and going to church and tithing weekly. Then the adversary begins his slow and subtle attack. It starts in one area, maybe your prayer life; you begin praying a little less. Or in your bible reading you find yourself skipping days or even weeks without reading or studying your bible. Satan chips away little by little, until at some point you’re so far away from God that it’s easy to simply walk away from him forever without any of the guilt. The best way to protect ourselves from this is to have an accountability partner to share our struggles with and to encourage one another in times of need.

Ephesians 6:12   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Proverbs 27:17   As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.