Loss of an Uncle

Today has been a sad day, for a mixture of reasons... the only one I'm going to mention here is the one that lies heaviest upon my heart.  We found out late in the night that my brother in law, only 45 years old, passed away on Thursday... on the anniversary of my father in law's death.  It appears he had a heart attack, but at the moment it is really uncertain.  Unfortunately, that whole side of our family is on the west coast, and we are unable to be there to offer a hug or a shoulder.  I can only offer mine to my husband and my girls, who are very sad to have lost their uncle who they have barely gotten to know.  We had planned taking the girls to visit their family out in LA this August.. nothing set in stone, though, so I believe now their father will be traveling out on his own.  I just don't want to put them through another griefstricken week when they just went through Nana's death.  It would be so hard for them, especially Mailee, who feels every emotion as deeply as her mother, and cried for days about Nana.  She really never knew him, and hasn't spent time with her uncles and aunt since she was a baby.  Maybe I'm not making the right choice,  perhaps it's selfish, but I just want to keep them home with me...

I don't have a lot more to say today.  It's been tough on many levels, and I just wanted to post this for now.

"Live each day as if it were your last, because someday it will be..."

Monday Photo Shoot (slightly tardy..)

This Entry Brought to You By The Letter "M"

Blogger John Scalzi asks us to post an entry with a photo starring the letter M.   I found a few, not so very good photos, but I'm looking for something different to write about, so please forgive...

Mandy, Mailee, and Mickey Mouse (Disney World 2005)

Manatee (Don't go into the light....)

"Be Still...."

My friend Barb has two very inspiring journals:  Hey, Let's Talk, and Hope For Today.  She has been a favorite read of mine for quite some time... she writes uplifting, thought provoking, and sensitive entries... some centering quietly around God, and his power in our lives, and some centering around life.  Or love. 

 Her latest entry was especially inspiring to me today.  I wanted to one, link you there:  http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HOPEFORTODAY/entries/36/  and two, touch on the subject myself. 

I often forget, in this busy life, to stop and just let myself be still.  Okay, so every day, I do take a moment here and there to "be still" and feel at peace.  But to really take more than just a moment in time.  Feeling at peace, and feeling God's love, and letting all my worries just slip away into His hands.. I have to admit, I usually save this for Sunday mornings...  mostly my prayers are those of thanks.  I don't feel right if I don't say thank you, for keeping my family safe, healthy and comfortable.  Taking even more time to "be still" seems almost inappropriate! 

But it's a necessity, isn't it?  We all need to take the time, no matter what your thoughts are on the Holy Spirit, if any.  It's not only for those who pray.  Being still is for anyone who wishes to feel a quiet, peaceful moment in solitude, to just BE.  There are a number of ways of understanding what it is that we should do, or be, or feel...  when there is doubt, or indecision.  It can be felt in the gentle wind....or heard in the soft cry of a mourning dove.  It can be whispered in the crickets' song... or seen in the stars.  Go now, and take the time to be still. 

I also want to thank everyone of you who left such wonderful, thoughtful comments in my last entry.  I am truly blessed to have all of you as friends in MY life!  Wishing you a fabulous day full of love, happiness, and PEACE! 

                      

 

 

"End of the World....?"

"What if it turns out that a life isn't defined by who you belong to or where you came from, by what you wished for or whom you've lost, but instead by the moments you spend getting from each of these places to the next?"    Jodi Picoult  Vanishing Acts

                                    

I got this from Penny, who got it from Betty who got it from her friend Fran!

 

Some people are expecting the end of the world tomorrow -- since it will be June 6, 2006. (6.6.6)

I think this is just plain silly -- but it does bring up something that isn't acted on enough in our busy lives... IF tomorrow were the last day of the world:

1) What do you want to be remembered for? 

I have not had great success stories in my life.  Nothing I am overly proud of inparticular... I have looked the other way on more than one occasion when given the chance to do something meaningful, out of fear of failure, or something else.  But the one thing that will forever stand true about me is that I put my children first before anything else, and that I am entirely devoted to being a good mom to them.  Of course, I make mistakes like any mom will, but I am never afraid to admit it, or teach them the value of an apology. 

2) What would you wish you would have done?

Bear with me on this one:  I wish I would have taken more time to smell the roses.  It always seems to be "hurry, and hurry up now, before we are late!!"  I also wish I had worked harder in school so my 6th grader wouldn't make me feel so inferior!!!  I wish I hadn't fought with my dad every single day during my teenage years.  I wish I hadn't veered off down a destructive teenage path, even though I learned from it.  I wish I had listened to my heart.

I wish Ihad waited...

Michelle

 

~Spirit, spirit of gentleness... Blow through the wilderness, calling and free. Spirit, spirit of restlessness. Stir me from placidness.
Wind, wind on the sea.  

You moved on the waters, You called to the deep, Then You coaxed up the mountains. From the valley of sleep, And over the eons You called to each thing, "A wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings." ~

                            

This is a familiar hymn, sung often in churches throughout.  It happens to be one of my favorites, and singing it during our morning service today lifted my spirits.  

I want to mention two significant accomplishments my girls have made recently.  Today Mailee recieved her bible, a yearly tradition at the end of the church school year, when all 3rd graders recieve their bibles.  It's been a rather difficult year for her to remain positive about her faith and getting her to go to Sunday school is no easy task.  (Although once she is there, she enjoys it and is learning much about Jesus and the bible stories)  She was very proud to recieve her bible today, a new, child oriented version, and is taking time to read as her heart moves her to.

Amanda, while she has had a somewhat trying year with this particular teacher (first time for everything), was accepted into the Advanced Placement math program for next year in the jr. high.  This class is for very highly qualified students, with only a select few being chosen.  Considering she was sick and not there for the review of material being presented on the test, for her to be selected is quite and honor and I am very proud of her!

Just a few highlights in our day, and hope you are all having highlights in your's as well.

                                            

She ran...

When she ran to him, he slowed and stood before her...  she fell to her knees and clung to him, desperately holding on, for fear of the dark night.  He held firmly, yet gently... knowing how fragile she was and it was as if the world had stopped spinning just for that one moment in time.  He knelt to her and held her face with the silk of his hands and kissed her delicate tears.  "Here, you are safe..."  and she knew.  She knew with all of her entire being that it was so. 

Then she pushed.

She pushed so hard that the birds of the night took flight, and the angels cried, "NO!"

The crickets played, the stars danced, and the trees ~ they laughed in the shadows of the moon.

And still she ran.

                                  

Thursday Thirteen

First of all, a quick update:  Amanda is on the mend with some good cough medicine and antibiotics, which hopefully will help if in fact what she has is bacterial.  They think it's probable that she has walking pneumonia... at least the walking part is good.  Also recieved a very positive email from her teacher, so hopefully she will be able to return to school soon and make up her missed work.  I was glad to return to work today, as it was our school's field day.  It was extremely hot and humid, but I was deemed "Picture Taker" so I had a very easy and enjoyable job!!

SOOOO, I thought I might post a Thursday Thirteen, for lack of something more profound to offer you.

It's a list of my thirteen favorite movies, not in any particular order... as you'll see, I'm a drama queen!

1. On Golden Pond

2. Legends of the Fall

3. Joy Luck Club

4. Dead Poet's Society

5. Titanic

6. Narnia

7. Steel Magnolias

8. North Country

9. The Notebook

10. Gorillas in the Mist

11. Mr. Holland's Opus

12. Dances With Wolves

13. When A Man Loves A Woman

I have soo many more favorites.  Share some of yours with me!

Wishing you all miles and piles of smiles....