I'm usually pretty shy. I'm not one to draw attention to myself for any reason. Today is different. It's my birthday! When you're a stage IV cancer survivor, birthdays are HUGE! Birthdays are a reason for celebrations. As a friend of mine once said, "Better to have one than not to have one." So true. Whoo Hoo!Tears come to my eyes as I write this. I've been through a lot, more than most people could imagine. But, the thing is...God has been with me every single minute. I'm so very, very thankful for God and what He has done for me and my family. I'm here to tell you if you every doubt, if you every feel discouraged, if you ever feel like you're all alone, turn to Him. I promise you He is forever faithful!So, today I praise the Lord for allowing me to be here another year with my family ... read more
Marveling in Silence
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 Sitting in utter silence I'm amazed at His goodness. As the stillness of the evening engulfs the creation around me I marvel at the beauty of His world. He did this all for us, for His children to enjoy. Sometimes I am so quick to rush through my day without stopping to think of how unspeakably amazing He is. If He can create such beauty, hang the moon and stars in place, how much more does He love His children? So much more!That problem that seems so overwhelming.....give it over to Him. Are you afraid, He doesn't understand or might not be able to help? Look around....oh yes He can!If He loved us enough to give us such beauty, HE LOVES US ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EVERY NEED. Don't forget this. Don't doubt this. When you get to the ... read more
Life is Not Meant to be Easy
This past week as I was working on a task, I said to my daughter, "I just wish things came easy once." To which she replied, "Mom, life's not meant to be easy." Such wisdom out of the mouth of a seventeen year old. The truth is....she's right. God does not say in His word that everything will be a bed of roses. Just like a caterpillar struggles to grow and mature as he emerges from his chrysalis, we at times also go through a process of struggling through the hard of life. We have times of uncomfortableness, and pain to mature and grow into something new. In the midst of the growth I don't want to miss out on the blessings in the process. Sometimes it's so easy to get stuck in the rut of complaining that, I/we can miss the beauty of the butterfly that emerges from the struggle.How do ... read more
I Get a Little Frazzled
Sometimes, I have pretty high expectations for myself. I like things to be perfect, in a certain way, in a certain order, and when they're not.....I get a little frazzled. Sometimes, I've even put these expectations onto others. I think....hmmm...well, I would do this, that, and the other thing for them, so why don't they do that for me? ( Chuckle...Who do I think I am anyway?)Having these high expectations for myself and others, gets me into trouble. I often feel as if I don't measure up, or I am not good enough, if I can not reach that elusive goal. I also get my feelings hurt, if the famous, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto", statement is not met in my eyes.Through all of this, God is teaching me that it's ok, not to be perfect. The truth is I can't be, nor do I even have ... read more
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 At a Holy Experience we are seeking 1000 gifts in 2012, please join us.Also take a moment to join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers! 281. Good test results. 282. Opportunities to trust. 283. Saturday afternoons with family. 284. Warm chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven. 285. Encouraging words from the doctor. 286. Chicken dinners. 287. My mini blog makeover. 288. Getting ready for some exciting things to happen at Leaving a Legacy within the next few weeks. 289. Learning when to hold my tongue. 290. Planning Love and Action Days for our church teens. 291. Family devotions. 292. Realizing change is a good thing. 293. Cool Spring breezes. 294. ... read more
Words of Wisdom, Marriage and Motherhood~ Part 2
Once you find out that you will soon have a precious baby boy or girl in your arms, your world will change forever. Children are one of God's greatest blessings, Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him." In the following words you will find advice that I wish I would have known 20 years ago before my babies were born.1. Seek the Lord in prayer about how He wants you and your husband to raise your children. Be in daily communion with Him about anything and everything concerning your precious children. He is where you will great your strength and wisdom from.2. Remember that your job as a mother is a high calling, treat it as such.Martin Luther once said, " What you do in your house is worth as much as you did it up in heaven for the Lord God. We should ... read more
God’s View
We all look at things differently. Our legacies, everyday life stories, and beliefs about the world cause us to look at things from different perspectives. The problem with perspectives is sometimes they can be skewed. We can get a distorted vision of what's in front of us when the fog of who we are, and what we have been through gets in the way. This is an area that God, and my husband have been working with me on. God has been revealing to me that the way I see things and believe in things, is not the only correct perspective of a situation. I'm constantly being reminded to put on the glasses that God has provided for me so that things can be revealed in a new light. When I do this I am reminded that there are two sides to every story. This view, God's view, a view that's made possible ... read more
Reflections
~A light in the world for You I'll be, an image, a reflection, of the love You've shown me.~ "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 {My life's goal and verse that I choose many years ago when I was my daughter's age.} ~Please take a moment to click on this link and enter~ Leaving A Legacy's Mother's Day Giveaway! ~This giveaway ends tonight, Saturday May 12th, at 12:01 am EDT.~ If you've enjoyed your time here at Leaving A Legacy, please take a moment to like us on Facebook or through Networked Blogs. You can also follow us through Twitter, Pinterest or Google Friend Connect. Leaving a Legacy can also be delivered right to your email, just by signing up through FeedBurner. Thank ... read more
In Christ Alone
~Please take a moment to click on this link and enter~ Leaving A Legacy's Mother's Day Giveaway! On a Spring day when the sky is bright blue and the clouds sprinkle the heavens, I love to turn my gaze upward. The clouds seem so peaceful as they float from one place to the next. That's the way it is with our identities. When we find our identity in the only thing that matters there is unmeasurable peace. The identity that I am talking about rests in Christ alone.If I falter and seek my identity in things of the world, the clouds are no longer serene. They turn from pure white, to a gray, tumultuous storm. Choosing to keep my identify in Christ keeps me calm. It gives my life purpose. It creates harmony instead of chaos.My identity in the Savior can be described in many ... read more
Teaching Our Children About Suffering
~Please take a moment to click on this link and enter~ Leaving A Legacy's Mother's Day Giveaway! Sometimes suffering causes scars. Scars that are visible to the human eye and that can be traced with the fingers of our hands as we remember exactly when they were formed. Some scars are only stored within the recesses of our heart fading with time, or with the healing touch of the Master's hand. At some point in our lives we have all gone through forms of suffering which causes these permanent reminders. Chances are we will probably go through more. What makes the difference is how we deal with them. While in the midst of suffering we can sit and complain and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can turn away from self, away from the hurt, and fix our eyes on God. I choose the last one.Which one ... read more