I've been missing from here for a while. I'm prone to prolonged blogging absences, so that's probably no surprise. The reason for my absence though, is one that took everyone close to us by surprise.
On May 21, 2010, MM's ex-step-sister, Crystal, was hit head-on by a drunk driver as she was headed out to be the designated driver for a friend. As soon as we heard about it, I drove up to the hospital to check on her. It was several days of waiting and praying, and on Wednesday, MM & I went back to check on her for the last time before we left to watch her little bro graduate high school. When we left, we were all in high spirits and looking forward to the future and her recovery. The neurologists felt fairly confident that it was no longer a life-threatening injury.
On Thursday, May 27, we headed down the road to Corpus Christi. Once we got there, we received a phone call from her mother at the hospital that she had taken a severe downturn. At 9:10 a.m. on Friday, we received confirmation that Crystal was gone.
It was shocking and hard to deal with. There were many of us that had left the hospital for various reasons and wondered if our absences left her vulnerable. I think we're all at peace with that now, but it was a hard emotion to shake.
At first, the days blurred together and we all clung to each other. Then we started to think clearly again. Her viewing was the following Thursday and I received the blessed confirmation that Crystal was resting in our Father's arms. Crystal was a born-again Christian. Praise Jesus! Crystal and I had spoken about it before, after MM was baptized, but to see her mother smiling and confirming it for me was SUCH a blessing. I know that I'll see that sweet ball of energy and laughter again and I cannot wait!
Crystal was a wonderful sister to MM and a loyal-to-the-end friend to me. She was one of those people that everyone wanted to be around and she was always willing to be-friend those who others wouldn't. She really made the best out of any situation and was full of mercy for people. My heart aches that she is gone, but I'm rejoicing at the same time. She lived an in-the-moment life and stayed close to those she loved. That has been the most important lesson I've learned out of all of this.
There were a lot of prayers throughout the whole situation, and I thank you all for that, but I would like to ask for a few more prayers, if I could. The funeral was beautiful and the call to salvation was made to everyone. Please pray that the seed was planted in many and that, through Crystal's death, at least one will face an eternity in heaven. Also, please pray for "Mr. Crystal", the man who has had Crystal's love since she was 14 years old. He is one of MM's dearest friends and is heart-broken. A part of me thinks he saw his future buried with her. Also, there are many people in her life that are angry and truly hurt by her death. They are questioning everything they believe. For some, that is a good thing, but for others, it is terrible, though understandable. Finally, Crystal donated 4 organs in her death. Please pray that those pieces of Crystal remain healthy and allow the recipients a long, wonderful life.
Thank you so much for reading this and letting me get this off of my chest. I know there will be days ahead when her absence will be overwhelming, but when the time comes I will reach for the comfort of my Savior and remember that we will meet again.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Please pray
Please stop and say a prayer for the Lorick family today. They need His comfort more than ever now. Their story.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Slowing Down
I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Reflecting on my life at this moment, reflecting on God's word, reflecting on His purpose for me. My one BIG conclusion is that I'm supposed to slow down. I'm supposed to be taking care of myself and my home. No, that doesn't mean cleaning it to perfection. It means making my house a HOME, not a show-house. I struggle with perfection daily. I want to eat perfectly, work out perfectly, cook perfectly and clean perfectly! It is EXHAUSTING!
The past few days, I've slowed way down. I haven't done what didn't have to be done. Guess what? The house is cleaner because I don't stress over details, I just get it done. I work out more! I've decided to enjoy our family more, so I'm walking each of my dogs almost daily. (They have a HUGE back yard to run around in, so it's not as if they're suffering if we don't go on a walk.) I'm cooking simpler meals, but we have more time to sit and enjoy them. I'm feeling more fulfilled and happy than I have in a while. I'm doing what I want to and not what people expect me to do and that's a huge step forward for me.
My fervent prayer is that I stick to this slower pace. It is so easy for me to get stressed and start rushing and fretting about details. I have come to realize that nobody in my life notices half as much as I do. They don't care if I didn't put my shoes away last night or if I forgot to change out the scent in the wax warmer. They just want me happy and healthy and that is what I will strive for every single day!!
The past few days, I've slowed way down. I haven't done what didn't have to be done. Guess what? The house is cleaner because I don't stress over details, I just get it done. I work out more! I've decided to enjoy our family more, so I'm walking each of my dogs almost daily. (They have a HUGE back yard to run around in, so it's not as if they're suffering if we don't go on a walk.) I'm cooking simpler meals, but we have more time to sit and enjoy them. I'm feeling more fulfilled and happy than I have in a while. I'm doing what I want to and not what people expect me to do and that's a huge step forward for me.
My fervent prayer is that I stick to this slower pace. It is so easy for me to get stressed and start rushing and fretting about details. I have come to realize that nobody in my life notices half as much as I do. They don't care if I didn't put my shoes away last night or if I forgot to change out the scent in the wax warmer. They just want me happy and healthy and that is what I will strive for every single day!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thrashing Around
Ever have one of those months? You know what I'm talking about. When you feel like, rather than just cruising through life, you're thrashing around, trying to get it all done and trying to enjoy it? That's how I've been feeling lately. It's been one thing after another; all of them fun, but still throwing us off of our routine. I'm doing my best to keep it together right now. I'm not especially stressed or anything. I know that God is just challenging me right now.
My key bible verse this week is 1 Corinthians 10:31; "Because whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God." What a fitting verse for me to focus on at this time. Some of you know me well and know that I'm a creature of habit. My cleaning routine is flawless, I know where everything is and when it was put there and we do the same things every day at the same time. God's decided, with His loving humor, to shake my routines up. He has declared to me, "Having a clean house is fine, but not if it interferes with your ability to spend time in My Word, socialize with fellow believers, stops you from spending as much time as you want preparing Sunday School lessons, or negatively affects your relationship with your husband." We'll He sure told me!
Now, don't get me wrong; I know that the good Lord wants me to enjoy my home and wants it to be a clean home that I can relax in. He does not, however, want me to be such a neat-freak that it thwarts my spiritual growth. He does not need an alphabetized hotel-toiletries drawer in order to work through me for the glory of His kingdom. I know I am a work in progress and that He loves me in spite of the fact that I avoid decluttering my heart by obsessively decluttering my home. I pray fervently that He will help me to ignore the stack of magazines on the coffee table and just enjoy the company of my hubby. I pray that He will turn my eyes toward Him and His Word every morning and allow blinders to keep me from seeing the craft clutter from Sunday School preparations that distract me.
Life has, and always will, require balance. God knows what my perfect balance is and I pray I'm attentive enough and willing to hear Him tell me what it is.
My key bible verse this week is 1 Corinthians 10:31; "Because whatever you do, eating or drinking or anything else, everything should be done to bring glory to God." What a fitting verse for me to focus on at this time. Some of you know me well and know that I'm a creature of habit. My cleaning routine is flawless, I know where everything is and when it was put there and we do the same things every day at the same time. God's decided, with His loving humor, to shake my routines up. He has declared to me, "Having a clean house is fine, but not if it interferes with your ability to spend time in My Word, socialize with fellow believers, stops you from spending as much time as you want preparing Sunday School lessons, or negatively affects your relationship with your husband." We'll He sure told me!
Now, don't get me wrong; I know that the good Lord wants me to enjoy my home and wants it to be a clean home that I can relax in. He does not, however, want me to be such a neat-freak that it thwarts my spiritual growth. He does not need an alphabetized hotel-toiletries drawer in order to work through me for the glory of His kingdom. I know I am a work in progress and that He loves me in spite of the fact that I avoid decluttering my heart by obsessively decluttering my home. I pray fervently that He will help me to ignore the stack of magazines on the coffee table and just enjoy the company of my hubby. I pray that He will turn my eyes toward Him and His Word every morning and allow blinders to keep me from seeing the craft clutter from Sunday School preparations that distract me.
Life has, and always will, require balance. God knows what my perfect balance is and I pray I'm attentive enough and willing to hear Him tell me what it is.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Surprise in the Mail!
Some of you may remember my Handmade Favorites post from March 1, 2009. In it, I extolled the glories of some of my favorite handcrafted items that I thought would remind me of my faith in the Lord throughout the day. One of my favorite favorites ;) was a beautiful prayer journal made by noteworthy on Etsy. It was such a beautiful and practical journal and I don't mind saying that I coveted one for myself.
Well, imagine my surprise when I ran to the post office this afternoon for the mail and found the exact journal I blogged about waiting for me! I was so excited. My dear Mom, one of my most faithful readers, saw my post and thought it would make a great "just because I love you" gift for me. Well, she was right! I love it! It's the perfect size for me to be able to carry all the time and I love the pattern on the cover. This is something I'll have with me until the last page is filled out. I can't wait to start entering things and being able to remember what I'm praying about!
Thanks, Mom! You always make me smile, even without the "just because" blessings you always shower on the five of us. You truly are the best mother a person could have.
Well, imagine my surprise when I ran to the post office this afternoon for the mail and found the exact journal I blogged about waiting for me! I was so excited. My dear Mom, one of my most faithful readers, saw my post and thought it would make a great "just because I love you" gift for me. Well, she was right! I love it! It's the perfect size for me to be able to carry all the time and I love the pattern on the cover. This is something I'll have with me until the last page is filled out. I can't wait to start entering things and being able to remember what I'm praying about!
Thanks, Mom! You always make me smile, even without the "just because" blessings you always shower on the five of us. You truly are the best mother a person could have.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Handmade favorites are coming back!
Hello, friends, family and all my loyal readers!
I've missed searching the world of hand-crafted goods to bring you my favorite selections. The past few months have been crazy, but I'm bound and determined to start bringing you a weekly feature again.
The permission requests for this week's theme of "Garden favorites" have gone out, and many have already replied with positive results, so be looking for Saturday's post. If you have an artist, theme or item you'd like me to feature, please leave me a message! I have approximately 52 themes a year to determine and search for, so any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Other than my love of all things handcrafted, life is going well. I would like to request some prayers, if I may. First for my maternal grandfather, Papa, who is having hernia surgery this morning. The other prayer request I cannot go into too much detail on, but it is for Jason and I and a life-altering decision that we will be making in the next few weeks. I will fill you in when the time is right, but we really need the Lord's guidance on this one as it will affect us profoundly over the next few years.
Thank you all and of course, many blessings to you and yours.
I've missed searching the world of hand-crafted goods to bring you my favorite selections. The past few months have been crazy, but I'm bound and determined to start bringing you a weekly feature again.
The permission requests for this week's theme of "Garden favorites" have gone out, and many have already replied with positive results, so be looking for Saturday's post. If you have an artist, theme or item you'd like me to feature, please leave me a message! I have approximately 52 themes a year to determine and search for, so any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Other than my love of all things handcrafted, life is going well. I would like to request some prayers, if I may. First for my maternal grandfather, Papa, who is having hernia surgery this morning. The other prayer request I cannot go into too much detail on, but it is for Jason and I and a life-altering decision that we will be making in the next few weeks. I will fill you in when the time is right, but we really need the Lord's guidance on this one as it will affect us profoundly over the next few years.
Thank you all and of course, many blessings to you and yours.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Finally Blogging Again
It was pointed out to me today that I hadn't blogged since Monday. (Thanks, Mom ;)) What an anomaly! Life was throwing me some curve balls and, while I'm still not completely through them, I know God will see me through. I've got lots of family and friends interceding on my behalf and I've put this in His hands. I know that there is a reason for all of this and I trust Him.
The Lord did remind me that He is in charge of everything by sending us a little snowstorm yesterday. Most of the snow is gone, but it certainly brightened my day and blessed our dry land with about an inch of precipitation. Here's me, after work, smiling, for a change!
I took this one of the courthouse across the street from my office at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday. It was just starting to accumulate then. This morning, everything was white.
Here's the back yard. Thank goodness yesterday was my workout day of rest! It was coooold!
And Toby. Poor Toby. He LOVES to play in the snow, but hates when it's coming down. He wanted to be inside all night.
I have tons more I want to post about. I finally downloaded all our pics from Thanksgiving at my parents' and I had such a great time that I really want to share! I might be a bit sporadic with my posting, though. Jason and I are continuing our "Santa Clause" marathon and are watching #3 tomorrow night. The Spurs are playing Friday night, so I'm sure I'll have blogging time during the game.
One last thing for the day. Jason has been so incredibly understanding since my "emotional distress" started. He is truly my best friend. Sometimes I'm astonished at how much songs mirror real life for myself and many others. Jason Mraz is one of my new favorite artists and his song "Lucky" perfectly describes my Jason and I right now.
Do you hear me? I'm talking to you
Across the water, across the deep, blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm tryin'.
Boy I hear you, in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me, in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
They don't know how long it takes
Waitin' for a love like this.
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you, I promise you I will.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday.
And so I'm sailing through sea
To an island where we'll meet.
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair.
Though the breezes through the trees
Move so pretty, you're all I see.
As the world keeps spinnin' round,
You hold me right here right now.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday.
Yep. That's our love! Sorry to be sooo terribly mushy. It's just how I'm feeling right now. Lol!
As always, thanks for reading and good night!
The Lord did remind me that He is in charge of everything by sending us a little snowstorm yesterday. Most of the snow is gone, but it certainly brightened my day and blessed our dry land with about an inch of precipitation. Here's me, after work, smiling, for a change!
I took this one of the courthouse across the street from my office at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday. It was just starting to accumulate then. This morning, everything was white.
Here's the back yard. Thank goodness yesterday was my workout day of rest! It was coooold!
And Toby. Poor Toby. He LOVES to play in the snow, but hates when it's coming down. He wanted to be inside all night.
I have tons more I want to post about. I finally downloaded all our pics from Thanksgiving at my parents' and I had such a great time that I really want to share! I might be a bit sporadic with my posting, though. Jason and I are continuing our "Santa Clause" marathon and are watching #3 tomorrow night. The Spurs are playing Friday night, so I'm sure I'll have blogging time during the game.
One last thing for the day. Jason has been so incredibly understanding since my "emotional distress" started. He is truly my best friend. Sometimes I'm astonished at how much songs mirror real life for myself and many others. Jason Mraz is one of my new favorite artists and his song "Lucky" perfectly describes my Jason and I right now.
Do you hear me? I'm talking to you
Across the water, across the deep, blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm tryin'.
Boy I hear you, in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me, in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
They don't know how long it takes
Waitin' for a love like this.
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you, I promise you I will.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday.
And so I'm sailing through sea
To an island where we'll meet.
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair.
Though the breezes through the trees
Move so pretty, you're all I see.
As the world keeps spinnin' round,
You hold me right here right now.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday.
Yep. That's our love! Sorry to be sooo terribly mushy. It's just how I'm feeling right now. Lol!
As always, thanks for reading and good night!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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