Category Archives: Faith

Great things take great effort

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Yesterday was our 19th wedding anniversary.  Can I get a whoop, whoop?!?!?  It was also the last day of school….oh, GLORY HALLELUJAH, BRING ON SUMMER!!!  Anyhoo, I decided to re-post a piece from my prior blog (now private).  It is still very much applicable, almost 2 years later.  

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011

I’ve been reflecting on marriage a lot lately.  It seems there are marriages falling apart all around me.  I shouldn’t be surprised, really….what with roughly 50% of marriages ending in divorce, however, it makes me sad everytime I hear it.

 

I was talking to my hubby about it, because, quite honestly I was just feeling so down about it and the fact that, as a friend, I truly wasn’t encouraging any of my friends (who are currently separated and heading in the D direction)  to stay in their marriages.  I suppose it would seem easy for me to stand up and say “Seriously???  come on.  If I can do it, so can you.”  The reality is that every situation is different.  And that’s why I don’t say that.  People might say it to me, but I can’t say it to them.  We are all different people.  In our situation, we’ve been fortunate enough to receive the graces of forgiveness, humility and courage to start over.  We learned to communicate….and continue to practice, because we both still can’t quite get it “just right”….the bottom line is that we were both willing to work on the things that needed to change.  To recognize that it’s a lifelong process.  Much like faith.  Our walk is one that needs daily tending, pruning, communication and open-ness.  Marriage is the perfect opportunity to practice our Faith-walk.

 

These current separations and divorces among friends have reminded me that we all struggle.  Behind closed doors with our family we become ridiculously unfair, unkind, impatient and rude.  It’s easy to do and we rarely hear about it because it’s not shared until it’s all laid bare, naked and ugly for all the world to see.  Why don’t we share more often?  Are we that proud?  Stubborn?  Self-righteous?  Blaming the other?

 

Marriage is hard.  Communication and compromise are hard.  It’s a full on marathon.  Requiring endurance, focus and determination. If we don’t approach each task in love, our marriages will not survive.  And then what legacy do we leave to our children?  In this “Year of Marriage”, let us encourage one another in our marriages.  Encourage and honestly guide those engaged couples.  Newlyweds.  Friends.  Family.  That we can receive strength and guidance from those who are long married.  Let us re-prioritize our marriages and continually renew the love that got us here in the first place!

Carry on friends.  Anything worth having is worth fighting for.  Marriage takes effort.  It takes TWO.  And it’s worth it.

Blessings!

Mother’s Day Wrap-up

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Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, and all moms out there.  We’re having a nice day here so far….I woke up with a headache/migraine-starter, 50% chance of rain expected for the afternoon BUUUUUUUUT……I have Excedrin on board, with coffee, Hubby is making breakfast, our youngest couldn’t wait to give me her present (which promptly made me cry) and she promised to smile this year for our picture.  Here’s hoping for the best!

Today though, I realize that it hasn’t always been such a super day for me and it isn’t such a super day for everyone else.  In fact, today can be a painful reminder for many women.  Today I’ll remember my cousins who buried their mom a few weeks ago and other friends whose moms have passed away over the years.  I’ll remember friends who are estranged from their mothers and struggle and doubt their own motherhood and parenting (which, BTW is phenomenal!!) .  I’ll remember friends who’ve never had a chance to be a mother due to infertility.   I’ll remember friends who have lost children.  I’ll remember friends who  care for special needs children.  I’ll remember friends who are single mothers.  I’ll remember friends who are struggling with prodigal children.  I’ll remember friends  who might be let down by the commercialism and in-your-face-ness of the perfect Mother’s Day.

This morning and this day I cried a few times, tears of joy and love, from a heart filled with gratitude toward my husband who is setting a beautiful example for our children through our marriage and his parenting, for children who test me, teach me, love me, forgive me, make me laugh and make each day better just by being part of our family.

 

Blast from the past!

Blast from the past!

Me, my Mom and my sister

Me, my Mom and my sister

Last year. Just keepin' it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Last year. Just keepin’ it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Mom's photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

Mom’s photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

And so the kid photo is a little blurry…Hubby is no fan of the iPhone camera and gave me full permission (demanded) I get my real camera fixed….beautiful necklace of which you can design your own HERE, the Publix cake and sweet girl’s card/letter to me.  And just think, my birthday is only 4 days away and we can do this AGAIN!!!!

Could YOU befriend Paul?

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My sweet friend sent me a small booklet to read a little bit ago and for a gagillion reasons I’ve not been able to get into it.  Until this morning.  You see, I had a wedding to go to last night in St. Augustine for two former co-workers (just seriously the sweetest couple) and this morning I awoke before my friends did and had 2 HOURS OF TOTAL QUIET.  Unheard of, people.  Unheard.  Of.  Just me and my coffee and after working on my 1000 Gifts book I dove into the booklet:  Uniformity with God’s Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.    

I can see why I couldn’t get into it initially.  God wanted my full and undivided attention.  Focused.  Small bits.  It is powerful.  I’ll share with you my insight this morning…all 2 pages in.

Some back story:  in talking about Saul, who persecuted Christians for their faith.  Not only persecuted, but hunted down and killed Christians, routinely.  Until…….God got his attention with a little episode of blindness.  Enlightening Saul and converting him to Paul.  (God often likes to change your name when He drafts you to His team).

Paul asks God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

The Lord calls him a vessel of election and apostle to the Gentiles:  “This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles.”  Acts 9:15

So, Paul, previously Saul, is a huge player in the Bible and on Team God.  He’s a huge instrument of God in spreading the Word, instructing Christians in how to live and love according to God’s will.  And….Paul has a past.  A really bad past.  Yet, God USES him.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Amongst the very people he previously persecuted.

Think about it.  We ALL know a modern-day Paul.  People who have failed us, who have fallen, who have a past.  Shoot, realistically we ALL have our Saul-seasons.  With God’s grace we can ALL enjoy our Paul-seasons as well.  The best thing is, God can and does use Paul.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Among the very people they have wronged.  However, how many of us fail to see the Paul and only see the Saul?  How many of us fail to see the blessings and instructions of the Paul because we can’t move beyond the Saul?

God forgives.  God moves on.  Beyond the “Sauls”.  God uses ALL things.  May we be more like God and focused on the “Pauls” in the world,  God’s new creations and let us let go of  the “Sauls”.

 

 

Fasty Friday and Favorites…

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not fasty as in fasting, but more like quick..you know?  Fasty.  Or you can just say Quick Takes and 5 Favorites combo’d.  QTs is over @ CampPatton again this week because new Mama Jen FINALLY GOT TO TAKE THE BABY HOME FROM THE NICU!!!  Awesome news in this week of ickiness.  Superb, in fact.  AND……in a bid to bring joyful and useful news among the rough news week, I am ALSO joining in with Hallie and her 5 Favorite Things link up….but mine will have 7-ish.  A two-fer if you will.  It’s always fun to see what people are up to during the week and I’ve been enjoying the  5 faves and seeing what folks around the internets consider their favorite products and such.  Go check ’em ALL out!!

It’s a clean eating theme.

This week marks the end of my 2nd week of eating clean.  It’s not a hard and fast “Clean” and/or Paleo, but a bit of a combined, best-of-both worlds and guess what???  It’s totally working.  Of course, the fact that I have planned out our meals and have made sure to have adequate food for my eating purposes has certainly helped….but, I think this is something that I could totes live with.  Now, that said, I’m heading into week 3 which is where I have generally sputtered and run out of motivation in the past, so pray for me and feel free to send on some encouragement, etc, etc!  Ok, ok, here’s my 7:

  1. Adoration.  I’ve been TWICE this week.  I love  Adoration.  Peace.  Quiet. Prayers.  In light of all the tragedy this week in Boston and Texas amongst other family and friend urgent prayer needs, it was a welcome respite in which I highly recommend.
  2. Pat Gohn.  Love her podcast.  And she has a new book out, “Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious!” which is on my night stand in the next-to-read position.  This week she interviewed Mary Wallace and they talked of working moms OUTSIDE the home and incorporating your faith life in your work life.  It was a stellar podcast and has encouraged me to begin a “Positivity Project” .  Without going into detail, I’ll just say office morale is totally in the toilet…BUT Mary and Pat encouraged me to “be the change”.  Every person can make small efforts to turn the tide even if those who should be setting the example don’t.  I started yesterday with Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.  I’d like to see a lot less whining, griping and people just doing their job and helping others…..
  3. Pre-cooked food.  Eating Clean-eo has been much easier with cooking up some roasted veggies and hard-boiled eggs on the weekend for some ease in putting together lunches and snacks for me for the week.  However, I’ll just say that I’ve now given brussel sprouts THREE separate tries and they really are not good.  I ate them.  They weren’t horrible.  However, I won’t be eating them again.
  4. Pre-planned meals.  Meal planning for the week just helps me stay focused.  No guess-work in the morning on what to take out, no fumbling after work for what we’ll eat.  It’s just working for me.  Winning.
  5. Almond milk.  Since I’ve cut out dairy, this is my substitute for my coffee additive in the a.m. and my smoothie base after workout.  No dairy.  No gluten.  Tasty.
  6. Spin bike and burpees.  Actually, I hate them both.  However, to get my cardio in on non-workout days the spin bike fits the bill and when I break it up into 5-8 minute sessions with a set of 10 Burpees in between it goes much quicker.  Not to mention I am sweating like a sweaty person when I’m done.
  7. Choco-cado smoothie.  Before you get all EWWWW, sounds gross on me….let me just say….it is so delicious I thought I was cheating.   The fact I’ve had no sugar and/or processed stuff for twoweeks probably increased the yum factor, but seriously…..DELISH!!!!  I’m including the link on the pic credit, but here’s MY version:  8 oz Almond Milk, 1 frozen banana (go ahead and peel that BEFORE you freeze it so you don’t have to nuke it to get the peel off…ask me how I know this.)  1 giant handful of spinach.  1/4 of a avocado.  1 scoop of chocolate protein powder.  Blend and enjoy.  You are welcome.

Now go check out all the other people and their QTs and Faves…Happy Weekend!!

Friday….bring the thunder

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Fun Friday, Folks.  You know what that means…..well since Jen is a leetle busy post-birth and all and spending her days trekking it to and fro to the NICU for baby Joseph, she’s handed this weeks QTs off to Grace.

  1. Day 7 of  clean Eating, people.  Day 7.  Proud to say I’m toeing the line.  The whole planning thing really panned out this week.  And I’m feeling good!!!
  2. Week 1 of my gym’s 6 week Challenge and……..I worked out one day this week.  Totally need to re-group on the exercise deal is I plan on winning.  The whole life-getting-in-the-way ain’t gonna bring home the 2K, you know?!?
  3. I’ve been doing lots of praying this week.  For gals in labor, babies in the NICU, parents in the ICU,  those suffering from cancer, their loved ones, the struggles go on and on and sometimes it’s a little overwhelming all this suffering in the world and then I was reminded of this by Ann Voskamp….because I am a “fixer” and like to make things right and suffering frustrates me because I’m helpless and yet:Screen shot 2013-04-12 at 6.30.27 AM
  4. Back on the upswing….we bought our beach pass and have used it.  Twice.  Two weekends in a row.  Don’t hate.  Man I love the beach.  Love.

    Riding her cruiser!!

    Riding her cruiser!!

  5. I’m running out of things to say.
  6. Really I’m running out of time, because I need to get ready for work!
  7. In reply to Grace’s query of kitchen furniture and the like….we have a super hutch/dresser/furniture, thanks to some super awesome friends!  Sadly time is limiting me from finding the picture!!!

go check out the rest of the crew and jump on in so Jen has plenty of reading material in the NICU and keep those prayers coming, people!