A time of thanks...

As Thanksgiving weekend draws to a close and we hit the ground running into the Christmas Season, I am reminded that I have much to be thankful for. I don't want to get so wrapped up in the "getting and doing" of this season that I forget to cherish these days and to be thankful. It's hard to do. With the holiday get togethers, Christmas programs, shopping, baking, wrapping, decorating, checking of lists (twice!), maintaining a (somewhat) clean house, and just doing the daily routine can really make us forget to be thankful. What I need to remember is that I have been given a life that is full of people who love me and a Heavenly Father who cares more for me than I will ever know! These busy times come and go (EVERY YEAR!!) but those two things remain the same.
Giving thanks and looking forward to each moment of this season (and beyond!).

Praise you in this storm....

Today after school, Michael shared with me about an incident at school during lunch. Long story short, he ended up with his arm covered in salsa and was not to blame. As he was telling me, he began to cry and tell me that he doesn't have any friends in his class and he feels lonely sometimes.
As a parent- you want to drive to these kids' houses and give them and their parents a good tellin' to! Your heart breaks to hear this.
What do you do?
Well, I prayed as I hugged him. I prayed because as a parent it is hard to have the clarity enough to know what to pray for when your emotions are so raw. I know that things will change, they always do. Today, though, I am so thankful that God does not change and He is ever present and listening. Our heavenly Father listens as we cry and sees what we go through and is always there with us.

So, even though my son is going through something not so great - I will still turn to God and praise Him and continue to teach my children to do the same.

How do you measure a year in the life?

A very good friend of mine put together a slideshow of pictures from this past year of her life and one of the songs she selected was, "Seasons of Love" from the musical "Rent". Hearing the song again after not having heard it for a while made me start thinking about how my year has been "measured" -
has it been measured
in love?
in heartache?
in disappointment?
in trials?
in anger?
in confusion?
in grief?
in happiness?

It might be better for me to look at how much of this year has been spent truly in love ~ loving others as I have been loved, in loving my family and accepting everything that they are and do, lovign the life I was given and making each day count as if it were the last?!?

I look back and the things that have meant the most have been those times that I have not held back my emotions and truly lived life to the fullest. Over many cups of coffee with a good friend sharing our lives, during a "rare" quiet time with my husband after the kids have gone to bed, in a long phone conversation with my mom - these are a few of those times when I was enjoying my life the most. I cherish these times and want to make sure the next year has many more of these moments.
I do know one thing, from here on out I am no longer going to be making my "bucket List", I am going to be living it. We are not guaranteed tomorrow so I know that I would be a much happier person to start living and stop wishing. Who's with me?

I have included the lyrics and song for those who may not know it or those who love it (like I do!)

SEASONS OF LOVE
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?

In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.

It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!

Oh you got to got to
Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love.



(Thanks Cricket!)