Can summer really be over???

Honestly, I feel like this was one of the fastest summers I have ever experienced. I don't know if it is because our weather was so un-summerlike, or the fact that we were in so much transition, or just because I am a mom now and watching Gavin grow up so quickly makes time feel like it flows through my fingers like water. Whatever the reason, all I know is that the cool weather has set in, the leaves are all sorts of colors and the days are shorter. I have to admit that I am actually enjoying my sweaters and finding myself looking forward to the holidays ahead. I look at the time that has passed since I blogged last and cannot believe what a horrible blogger I am. Hopefully I will be better this year, but............. probably not. But here is a picture of our little family on the only hike that we managed to do together this year. Hopefully there will be lots more next year.

Faith, Grace, Peace & Kindness

My devotions today in Hebrews were packed full of punches! I went in search of something to cling to, something to inspire, something to encourage. Truly, when we seek Him, we will find Him.

Hebrews 11:1&2
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:13-16:
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

We all have promises stored up in our hearts - that should we remain faithful - know will come to pass. Maybe not right before our eyes, or in the exact manner that we expected, but God does not break his promises to us. All of the promises in the Bible are for ALL of us, but in each of our individual journeys there are specific promises that God has wispered into our hearts to help lighten the load.

Hebrews 12:14&15 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Today I choose to look at the plank in my own eye.....forgive that I might be forgiven, give grace that it may be exteneded to me. Blessed are the peacemakers.....I ask the Lord to give me the strength to do all that He asks me to.

Hebrews 13:1&2 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

And now I go, to make dinner for some of my brother Sam's friends, who are on a journey accross the country. For if Sam loves them, they must be angels.

One year old

Gavin Isaiah Boeger

One year old today!

One year ago today.....there are so many things that could finish that sentence. I am in awe always of how much I love this little person that God has given me. This year has been filled with so many firsts that I will cherish always. First cry, first touch, first smile. First tooth, first crawl, first step. And last night, first birthday cake that I have ever made for my own child.

laughing

Laughing until it hurts is the best kind of laughing.
I love to laugh without worrying if I am too loud or if my face looks funny!
I only laugh like that when I am truly comfortable - with true friends.
I look over the past 20 years of my life and see seasons of laughter.
Some of my favorite memories are times that this sort of laughter came often.
If you are one of these friends in my life - who I can cut loose the goofy looking, belly hurting, sometimes loud and sometimes breathless laughing ...I just want to say that I am so thankful for you.
Laughter can be like a drug....in the moment you forget the worries & struggles, shortcomings & insecurities.....you are with friends and you are laughing. In that moment, nothing else matters.

the poor

Ever since I was a little girl I have been drawn to the sad realities of suffering in this world. In our kitchen pantry, my mother would have pictures of starving children in Africa. It sounds so cliche when we tell our children that there are "starving children in Africa" but there is nothing cliche about staring into their little faces. I don't think many of us like to think about these things. Most of the time we turn our eyes, ears & even our hearts away from these truths.

Worldwide, an estimated 10 million children are victims of today's sex industry.

An estimated 246 million children are engaged in child labour, with nearly 70 percent of them (about 171 million) working in hazardous conditions, including working in mines and quarries, working with chemicles and pesticides or with dangerous machinery

In South America there are at least 40 million street children; in Asia 25 million; in Africa 10 million and in Eastern and Western Europe approximately 25 million children and youth live on the streets.

Every year 15 million children die of hunger, Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger

3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day

I don't want to be numb. I don't want to be blind. I don't want to miss out on what I was meant to do here on this earth. I want to be part of something that touches lives. I want to love and love and give and give. It's so big and I feel so small.

New Leaf

Sad, Overwhelmed, Challenged.......these are the ways I have been feeling these last few days as I have been making my way through this book called Irresistable Revolution. Sad that Christians in America (including me) seem so far from what Jesus asks us to be. Overwhelmed by the saddness, sickness, pain, lonliness, injustice, and poverty that exists in this fallen world. Challenged to be a true follower of Jesus.

Matthew 25:40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

My time is probably one of the things I hold onto the most. I value my days, months, years and make notes in my heart of how each of these are marked. Through this self-evaluation I am realizing that I need to mark my time by caring for "the least of these."

Friendship

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C. S. Lewis

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

"The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice."- Samuel Johnston

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."- Mother Teresa

Anyway

Do It Anyway Sign In Mother Teresa's Office

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish,ulterior motives,DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow, DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable, BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight,BUILD ANYWAY
People really need help but may attack you if you help them,HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kickedin the teeth,GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.

-From a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, the Children's home in Calcutta

And recently a song was released with this peom as the inspiration.....
here is the chorus to that song that I like alot.

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I prayIt doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

-Martina McBride "Anyway"

purpose

I feel like I am living an extraordinary life, but I know I want more. I want to live with an extraordinary purpose.
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!" Matthew 25:21