HOPE*ann*FAITH

Learning to Live , Again, On Purpose.

Monthly Archives: May 2011


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Forgetting I…in 5


Happy Friday morning my friends…We are joining Lisa-Jo for her 5 minute friday challenge.

So if you have 5 minutes in your very busy day. I invite you to join us…Follow the links I’ve provided (there are 3) to go and link your 5 minutes post over at the Gypsy Mama blog

Got five minutes? Here’s a great way to spend them.

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.

READY???

Share your best, unedited 5 minutes …

...on the edges

On Forgetting…GO!

I forget sometimes…don’t you. My thoughts float away from me more frequently these days it seems.

Distractions…

Sometimes I think it may be the medications from the Heart Event almost a year ago, next week. Sometimes I think…the hormones are changing…it’s that season.

Sometimes it worries me…I forget what day in June my anniversary is. My husband finds this amusing. I forget the what of why I walked in the room…

There is something…what…where…and then there is the HOW…

How does life become so stressed and so busy that the human memory wears thin to spilling? And, yet, it seems that what falls through the slats of this mind are the little things…

a dentist appointment with the hubby

the milk while shopping…I literally forget 3 to 4 things, important but little things, at the grocery, often!

Forgetting the I….

If only I could forget what I think is important…and focus on what it is that is important to God…

a friend posted this yesterday on their FB status:

Is what’s important to you important to God?  This is the benchmark for every believer to live by. ~Unknown Author

What I’m forgetting is the little things…forgetting because my focus is on the importance of getting through a day…getting where the I of Me wants to be, rather than living in the NOW of the day God has provided.

Maybe if I thought, “well is the milk so important to what God would have me do today?”, and realize that if it was He would have made sure I got it, then I wouldn’t be so stressed unto…

FORGETTING!

STOP! 

Now for a 1 minute cheat…there is a Forgetting that is biblical…and oddly it helps me reconcile putting aside all of the things I didn’t remember to do today…

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14

I practice daily to accomplish this type of forgetting. God’s rules on what to forget…

Blessings Loves!

♥ ♥ ♥

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Few Words Thursday is Visiting …A Woman’s Heart …


Happy Thursday Loves!

My FWT post is written over at A Woman’s Heart today…and it isn’t short…however, many of the Words are God‘s so maybe the ones that are actually mine are few?…But don’t count on that…

I would love it if you would join me, today, in writing your heart…after all this a Writer‘s Prompt…and the rules…well they are FEW… 😉

So join me for my post: Called to Peace –  A How to Heal a Heart Post…on Thursday.

We are called to peace, by God. His is a covenant of peace, with us and in us.

Thursday Partners: Please go visit and show some love!

1. Holly @ Withoutado…an OUTSTANDING POST! Philemon

Blessings Loves ♥

Blessings Loves

♥

Few Words Thursday


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A Moment of Inspiration


I was inspired, just now, by Lysa TerKeurst’s post: The Moment. Please take the time to go and read her blog post today. It will bless you.

Home Coming...My Love

My love and I have been together for 22 “Wonderful” years. There are many moments throughout our day that would cause deep heartache if they did not occur. If for some reason they ceased. Like Lysa, the mere thought causes my heart to contract with an ache so deep, at just the thought…

♥ actually the “Wonderful” after the 22 is also one of these moments. Without a relationship with God early in our relationship, we now know that God was forming us into who we are together! We began, without any teaching about the biblical Covenant of the Marriage (while living together, I might add.) that this was forever…that it was a “death do us part” deal. Somehow we knew. Then there was the rearranging of how we handled each other, even during the fights and disagreement (by the way there, blessedly and miraculously were not many; in fact I believe we are still only at maybe 5 that are memorable and more than a simple spat! Yes! in 22 Wonderful years!). We made an effort to speak positively, even before hearing and understanding “speaking those things…”, as scripture tells us.

Even in a strained conversation when I would begin (it’s always the woman who begins with this…) with, “We’ve been together ### years!!!” My loves response would be…”that’s ### WONDERFUL years…you forgot the wonderful!:” and then we would…

laugh… 🙂

So I bet you now can imagine … what that one moment in a day, if missed,  that would leave an eternal echo in my heart, should it not occur…even just once, let alone ever again…

After 22 “wonderful” years…there are so many…but I’d have to say…

It would be the laughter in the morning…

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.  ~e.e. cummings

Most times this man of mine and I, even on the not so pleasant mornings (My love is NOT a morning person, though…God…), somewhere we laugh!

When I take one of those mindless surveys in an e-mail or on facebook…you know the one where your friends want to know more about you…the one you begin out of boredom or stress and realize half way through some thirteen year old developed it…there is always, ALWAYS this questions:

What is your favorite sound?

and my answer is always…the SOUND OF MY MEN LAUGHING…

On the off days, and though I know they have occurred, I cannot recall one at the moment, that there is no morning laughter the day just isn’t the same until that  MOMENT in our life, for that day, manifests. We are blessed to say, that even in the hardest of trials we have enjoyed laughter…

ENJOYED…

IN JOY WE HAVE LAUGHED, each day of this Wonderful 22 years! Seriously!

Like the caress Lysa and her husband share while turning down a collar; Our laughter is like that caress. Truly touching our hearts and marking a true “I Love YOU!” in the heart, on the day.

Psalm 126: 2-3

Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

A MOMENT between the two of us…that is so intimate that I cannot explain it in words.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.  ~Victor Borge

We all have these moments in our day…in our lives…There are those who do not realize that these moment occur in their day, even to the point of  denial, believing that these moments do not happen for them. I ache for these sad ones and I say to them…Focus, yes, focus on your day…what little moment with your love; be it a husband or a beau or just a friend…what is that…

INTIMATE MOMENT that you have with this person that defines your love?

And when you find that MOMENT…treasure it, mark it on your heart…find scripture that speaks it to your memory and leads you to creating the moment, on purpose…

I hope this and Lysa’s post inspires you to find, or today CREATE, a moment, a thing between you and your love that becomes an ingrained practice in your relationship.

The one thing that when there is trouble…when the world tells you, you should just end it…walk away…your spirit says …

BUT WHAT IF I NEVER HEAR…SAY…SEE…FEEL…THIS WITH MY LOVE AGAIN…what if…

Don’t let that happen. It is these moments that create the foundation of a strong relationship!

PLEASE SHARE WITH ME AND YOUR FELLOW READERS/FOLLOWERS WHAT THAT MOMENT IS IN YOUR DAY, WITH THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE…we would love to share this with you!

Blessings Loves

♥

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Friday’s Hero and Rockin’ Robins…


Yesterday…May 20, 2011, was a rough day. Closely following a sleepless night and it’s following rough day!
Infact, I believe I would not be remiss in saying that the last two weeks have been rather rough.
 
Yet…not without blessings! Many blessings!
Rather than recount all of the events of the last two weeks let me just tell you the blessings…
 

Grandma came home from the hospital and went directly back into her routing. My mom, aunt and uncle were, miraculously the answers to many prayers! They are stepping up to do what kids should do when their parent begins that NEW SEASON in life that involves quality of life…independance and personal care issues. Not easy, and something I would have bet they (the siblings) would have avoided until her death!

My Honey Had her pups…

Honey's Expectations..

…and while we lost our “Little Guy” 26 hours later; we have 5 robustly healthy and happy Dachies…:)

Then, in the midst of Terrible Yesterday, Friday’s Hero was born…

First thing in the morning of the last day of the world (today was supposed to be judgement day according to some crackpot radio host…) while the sun beamed lazily through my lace curtains my son, James came down streaming great complaint!

“What’s your problem boy?” I asked

“There are birds in my room!!” He answered sleeping still, yet iritated! He continued on about how they started chirping at 5 am and wouldn’t shut up! Didn’t I hear them??? He asked, grumping.

I didn’t hear them, and our day went along it’s seemingly distructive path…

#&* My passenger window fell off it’s track, while open, with a rainstorm on the way!

#&* Little Guy was passing away…

….what else could go wrong I was thinking when I heard the noise!!!

Birds, loud and sounding distressed…

JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called out…Jaaaaaammmmmesssss…

…and down he came with a baby bird in a shirt of his. “MOM! What do I do???”

We thought and I said, well put him outside and see if the mother comes….”and first bring in the serial cat!” (we have baby cat, she is quite the serial predator! Killing, seemingly for sport.) Baby Cat, safely in isolation we remained unsure of what to do…

So I called Lanoka Oaks Veterinary Center, where a friend of mine works. I was referred to Carol…who I was told handles baby birds fallen from nests…

as I called James went to check that their were no more orphans in the closet…and with that he brought down two more, angrily chirping baby birds…

There feathers simply fluff…their pinions not yet feathered, except for beautiful brown tips…and bright yellow open mouths. These babies were very hungry…

She asked some questions, and we came to the conclusion that since there didn’t seem to be any sign of the mother bird (at the time I had no clue what kid of birds these very noisy babies were) that we would bring them to her and she would raise them.

Orphan Robins

James took the birds to Carol…but not before I shot these:

Feed Me..

Resting...or Angry???

There you have it…Terrible Yesterday (May 20th) had it’s many blessings.

While we experienced great loss…

Little Guy

We also enjoyed great blessings…

Blessings Loves…

♥•*¨*•☼•*¨*•♥

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New Life…In a Few Words…♥


Let My Words Be Few...HoneyHoney

Good Thursday Morning!

<< This photo here is linked to Thursday’s page with the rules, if you can call them rules…go and take a look. I hope you join us!

First let me apologize that this post is kinda late, in the latter parts of the morning. I was up all night with my Dachshund Honey…
       She is about to have pups…and it is now morning and the Dachshunds Mid-wife is weary and excited…

Honey

My post today was going to be on new life…the kind God‘s provides when we choose to believe…
          In His Son, Christ Jesus…I have these awesome pictures of my Wisteria adorning a ancient and near dead tree in my back yard.
I was struck this week by how God took this skeleton of a tree…very little greenage, except for at the very top, and made it alive with vibrant color and beauty for spring.

God gives us NEW LIFE when we choose to believe in Christ Jesus.

ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Isaiah 60:1 

New Life

Like my near death tree…God gives to  us…

comfort for all who mourn and provides for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty 
instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.  ~Isaiah 61:2-4

God definitely displayed His Splendor in this photo…

God is good…

So share with us, if you’d like, what new life has God shown you this week?

Write your blog post…or simply leave a comment, and I will link you up!!

Few Word Thursday Partner Links. Please click to their sights and have a read…and show the Love.

1. Holly…my faithful partner @ Withoutado…She has found NEW LIFE in rest!

Blessings Loves ♥

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One of These Days… … …


Because of and inspired by a wonderful writer I know…My favorite Miss M; please hop on over to her blog Quips and Quibbles… and show her some love…

I am here to consider, quickly, right off the top of my heart, what I want…desire… and strive to do…

One of these days… … …

I am going to understand…

Be more than okay with me…

Write the book, the history, the biography of a life like mine…

Be a real writer without the angst of whether or not I am good enough.

Visit Ireland with my Love and learn fluent Gaelic…

Be the mother of the groom(s)…

See my children prosperous and happy…REALLY HAPPY!

Be the best grandma on the planet…

Know that I have pleased God…

One of these days I am going to look back on this life and be pleased with my accomplishments, know that I have made a mark and a difference…

One of these days…I will tell stories of the JOY experienced, here in this, MY life…

OK…so it’s 11…but I was never really good at math…

maybe one of these days…hehehehehe

Tell us what you are going to do …

ONE OF THESE DAYS… … …

Blessings Loves ♥

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Breathe…A Five Minute Friday Post


 What can you write in 5 minutes…while that 2nd cup of coffee brews…while you wait for the weather report…the traffic report…

We Spend much too much time seeking a perfection that frustrates our very fiber, and if we write…Well EVERY WORD teases us with it’s desire to be profound and edifying…Each sentence desperately needs to be informative, with tools and tricks to improve…

But what if we simply wrote, for 5 insignificant minutes…300 minute seconds…

WHAT IS ON THE HEART…THE MIND…

   WHAT IF WE WROTE FOR US…ABOUT US…WHAT WOULD THAT CALM WITHIN A SPIRIT…

Today we join the gypsy mama…and other amazingly profound 5 minute writers…and simply share 5 minutes of ourselves!

                    The rules are simple…
Write your heart out for five minutes and show us what you’ve got.
Tell your readers you’re linking up here, on gypsymama’s blog, and invite them to play along.
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!}
 
A HOPEannFAITH suggestion: Consider the prompt and write your 5 minutes before reading any fellow five-minuter’s post so that your five-minute gem is all your own!

Wisteria Watercolor

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

Deep Breath…GO!

Morning breaks with a deep breath…the aroma of fresh coffee brewing wafts in on the colder than cool spring breeze through the lace curtains…Stretching, the salty breeze slowly fill the very cells of the belabored lungs that did not rest enough…

The morning sounds soothe the spirit and slow the labored breath with continual prayers of thanksgiving…Breathing in the presence of God and a hot cup of joe, while searching for a devotional that speaks to the spirit…

Breathe…in and out…on prayers of gratefulness for the morning sun streaming through the floating curtains…for the snoring of a resistant to mornings soul…Breath as you caress the well loved face of your love to awake…

Breath as this day the Lord has made begins…another…with the stresses and concerns. Embracing it’s joys and laughter…

Breathe deeply the scents and essesence of a life…well lived.

STOP!

Blessings Loves! Have a Wonderful Week…

♥ ♥ ♥

 
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