Tuesday, September 27, 2016

"Love Isn't About Agreeing... It's About Sacrificing"

I found this nugget of truth when I signed on to my Facebook this morning.  It's so refreshing when God brings hearts & minds together even through people we may never know or meet this side of heaven.

I have been thinking on this very subject for several days (actually longer, but contemplating a blog post for several days)...
I have Ann Voskamp starred as a "see first" in my newsfeed.  She is so encouraging with her devotions & messages...
and yet this can be a challenge as well.


"Love isn't about agreeing with someone"


I love my husband dearly... and I love my daughter & her family dearly... I love my parents & family dearly...

but we do not agree on everything...
and that's okay.
God made each of us as unique individuals who have minds of our own...
and we use them.

"It's about sacrificing for someone"



I grew up physically surrounded by my family... my Granny & Aunt Karen lived in the homeplace in the center -- with my family, my aunts, uncles & cousins a stone's throw away (each of Granny's children were given part of the homeplace to build their homes).
In such a big family, we all loved each other...
but we didn't necessarily agree on everything...
but we all loved each other (and still do).

I watched as sacrifice after sacrifice was made in each household... and collectively as one family.
And I've also seen the opposite side of this --
"if you loved me, you'd agree with me"
or
"since I don't agree with you, I'm withholding my love & support from you"
There's a scene from one of the UPtv movies that hits this nail right smack on its head. 
Ed Asner played the old grandfather who had disowned his daughter when she married the son of his "arch enemy".  Years had gone by...  then his granddaughter came back to the hometown to take care of her Mother's estate.  The young lady had never met her grandfather... no relationship... no bond... no anything.

Here's a closing scene from the movie that brings Ann Voskamp's message into perspective.






We don't have to agree ...
and if we don't, it's still okay.

Sometimes it's our own pride that we must sacrifice in order
to cultivate our relationships with others.


in families
in friendships
in the workplace
in our communities
in our churches

Just because we may not agree with someone...
it certainly does not give us God's permission to withhold from them.

After all,
didn't God give His One & Only Son for us?










Sunday, September 25, 2016

33 Years Later... A Grand Birthday Weekend

And so in the middle of a busy birthday weekend ... there's Granny's pneumonia.
I had thought (wished) that when the doctor told me "early stages of pneumonia" that she actually meant -- well, there might be a "tinge of something but you'll be good as new by Friday" (Lucy's birthday).

However ... that was not the case. But as I sit here in a quiet house, this weekend was so much more than me missing out on some of Lucy's birthday activities.


Yesterday (Saturday) marked the 33rd year of my first date with Dan.  I'll be honest -- I had been head over heels for him since I first saw him at my high school.  He was the new guy at school in his junior year and I was a freshman (with 3 cousins who would graduate with him).  So when he asked me out on a date 3 1/2 years later ... yes, I was over the moon.

... and then we fast-forward 33 years ... 





 

 
~~~ we celebrate our granddaughter's 8th birthday ~~~


Heaping upon heaping of God's grace in between
September 24, 1983 to September 24, 2016...

lots of life
lots of grace
lots of God

{{Lucy's birthday September 23, 2016 ... since I was recovering from pneumonia & her Momma had a doctor appointment that morning, Lucy & Tag spent the morning at the mall with their Grandad (who rearranged his work schedule to be available to hang out with our grands while I recuperate) ...
then on with Momma for special birthday treats & Lucy new tap shoes ...
then 2 dance classes Friday evening ...
then on Saturday, her Daddy brought Maci down for more birthday celebrations --
Maci is Michael's new service dog & is already part of our family}}




... and Life is Good ...



Friday, September 23, 2016

Happy 8th Birthday!!!

Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet granddaughter ~~~

Lucy Michaela

She's a 2nd grader!

It's so remarkable how fast time flies by with our grands...
and we try to get in as much "grand" time as we possible.
She stayed up late to see him ... tax season 2009

Big smile when we asked "are you talking to GG?"
 God is so good and I just know that He has some mighty big plans
for this girl. 
Welcome to our family, little brother! February 2012


I've got sunshine on a cloudy day... with my girl, Lucy, my girl!


She lives to dance ... May 2016
 And she always wears her heart
on her smiling face!

An early birthday bouquet ... September 2012

Introducing Tag to Krispy Kreme ... March 2013



Granny & Grandad love you,

Miss Lucy Michaela

Disney 2016
May you always allow God to direct your steps and
always show the world your
big heart and big smile!


Me & my girl ... Fall 2014


Dancing at the "Top of the World" at Disney... December 2012



Time flies when you blink ...




















 









Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Inopportune Motivation

I don't know if this has ever happened to anyone else...
when motivation hits like a ton of bricks!

 

Maybe not to anyone else, but certainly to me...
just since 10:45 this morning, I have renewed motivation to tackle my list --

** ramp-up my workouts and healthy eating
** return to my blogging community
** revitalize our household projects

... and ALL of these I feel a refreshed desire to accomplish soon ...

as in by the end of the week

or the end of next week (at the very latest)

But then there's that little doctor appointment from this morning ...
early stages of pneumonia

and since I had pneumonia 8 years ago just before Lucy was born ...
well, I need to take it easy for the next week or so.
I just started my antibiotics this afternoon, so I'm winding down right now.



We're beginning a new dance & karate schedule this week ...
and
we will celebrate Lucy's 8th birthday on Friday the 23rd

so Granny needs to spend the next couple of days completely resting...
or my doctor said I'll probably land in the hospital.
Since the hospital is not an option for our exciting week,

I -- SHALL -- REST

Hope you all have a wonderful and healthy week!

~~~ I'll check in soon ~~~