Key Chains and a Devotional

Three weeks ago I started a new lifestyle, a lifestyle of healthy eating and (holy moly!!) EXERCISE. 

The facts of the exercise – group setting, five days a week, women of varying fitness levels, weights and ages pushing ourselves to the max and encouraging each other every step of the way.

The first two weeks were rough to say the least.  I obsessed over going to class ALL DAY LONG.   I was fearful every time I walked in the door.  I did not understand why I kept subjecting myself to this mental torture and physical pain and exhaustion.  I had to miss a Thursday & Friday class because of injury.  I took those two days and the weekend to get a hold of myself mentally.  Monday evening I prayed all the way to class.  I survived it.  The following Thursday, fear came over me again.  I struggled with going into class, but I did it.  After class a woman delivered a gift to me from another lady that was on vacation and hadn’t come to class.  This lady was worried about me.  Here is a picture of what she gave me.

It’s a key chain with the name of the workout program on it.  But it is more.  She attached a keychain that Tom & I had made to raise money for the PDJ Memorial Scholarship fund.  Here is a close up of that keychain.

“I ain’t skeered”,  something Peyton would say .  That boy was fearless. 

I got into my car after the workout and cried and cried and cried.  How dare I let fear keep me from doing what I knew I should be doing.  I could go into the reasons I was afraid – getting out of my comfort zone, doing something I was HORRIBLE at, etc, etc, etc.  I don’t want to write about that; I want to write of God’s goodness and faithfulness because that is what matters.

When I went to read my devotional that night, this was at the top of the page.

God has never left me.  He loves me and He wants me to know that He loves me.  This time He showed me through key chains and a devotional. 

He loves you too and will show you in ways that will amaze you!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading : )

Evidence

When Peyton was around 3 I took him with me to a women’s clothing store.  To keep him occupied, the store clerk gave Peyton a book that had been left at the store.

Have you ever read this?  It’s about a bull, that is being bullied .  When it came time to leave the store, Peyton wanted to keep the book.  I tried to give it back to the clerk, but she let him keep it.  Ferdinand continued to be one of his favorites for several years.

This was one of his favorite toys, probably his only favorite toy. 

It was kind of expensive for something that wasn’t for his birthday or anything, but he would ask for it every time his Meme (Tom’s mom) would take him to Wal-Mart.  He wasn’t going to forget about it.  She bought it for him.

Peyton would play with this rodeo set A LOT. 

 

57 teeny tiny pieces.

I have been thinking about this rodeo set and book for awhile.  I finally got the set out of storage.  I don’t know what I will do with it, I just knew I wanted to make sure nothing had happened to it.  As you can tell from the pictures, Peyton took very good care of it.  Even the box is in very good condition.

I don’t have a great message or purpose for this blog post.  I only wanted to share a little more about the boy I love so much.  I am amazed at the interest and passion Peyton had for this sport at such a young age.  I do sometimes wonder what it would have been like if we had let him pursue rodeo when he was younger.  Would he have gotten over it? Would he have excelled?  There’s no way of knowing, so I will continue to look forward, carrying my Peyton with me wherever I go.

Thanks for reading : )

 

Divine Appointments

Tom and I have had some good experiences in the last 4 years and 4 months.  God has brought amazing people across our paths.  Some we encouraged and many that encouraged us.   One of the most public of these experiences was the story on ESPN.  You can read about it in this post and I hope you do (because I’m not going to tell the story again here ).  After we were interviewed, I became friends on Facebook with Paula, the reporter.  Several months ago I felt God was telling me something was going on with her and I needed to pray.  So I messaged her and asked her if she needed prayer about having another baby.  She answered me that she was already pregnant………….with twins and would appreciate prayers.  I did start praying for those babies to be healthy and I asked a handful of people at my church to be praying too. 

Here are the babies.  Paxton Wyatt & Penelope Wyette, born on Mothers Day.  They are healthy babies.

 

Here is their namesake, Wyatt.  Such a beautiful boy.

I don’t know how everything works concerning God.  I do know He needs us to pray out His will on this earth.  He tells us to pray.  We are His hands and feet and voice on earth.  I don’t claim any credit for Paula’s babies being okay, but it is very cool to play a part in God’s plans.  I want people to be aware that God will use them to be a blessing to others.  God wants to divinely connect His children so they can stand together against the plans of the devil.  When Tom & I said “yes” to the ESPN interview, that was a Divine Appointment.  Maybe Peyton and Wyatt were together in Heaven that day, watching and cheering on their parents for making their “appointment”.  

Here is a link to the website that can educate you on the motor neuron disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  This is what Wyatt had and what we were praying against.  www.fsma.org  Please take a minute and read about this disease.  Here is Wyatt & his parent’s story about their fight with this disease.  It will bless you.

If you are so inclined here is a LINK to the story that we were interviewed for on ESPN.

Thanks for reading……………..and clicking on all these links : )

Purpose

While having lunch with a co-worker the other day, the subject of purpose came up.  She was saying she had purpose, she had a full time job.  I said my job was not my purpose.  After a pause, she asked me what my purpose was.  I thought a second and said, "my purpose is to be a light to the world.  That is every Christian's purpose"  She thought a moment and said, "but a person needs a way to show that light" 

I am going to stop using the word "light" and use "love" instead.  I don't want anyone misunderstanding and think I am some "new age" person.  Is "new age" even something people say anymore?? 

Showing people the love of God is bringing light into darkness.  So ultimately, my purpose is showing people the love of God.  So while I know being involved in ministry, programs, etc. is necessary, how I treat people in my everyday life is VERY important.  I have to be aware of others' needs and hurts.  When I am focused on myself, there is not much light/love in that.  My prayer life should include praying for others and asking for wisdom in meeting needs, spiritual and physical.  

Father, I ask for an observant and tender spirit. I want You to love through me.  I'll be your hands and feet.

Thanks for reading .........and loving :)

Easy Pinterest Project

I downloaded some pictures from my camera and found some pics of  a fun & easy Easter project I did.  So I thought I would share.  You could use this method for a variety of things.  It would be a super easy pinata.

I blew up some balloons, using a couple of different sizes.  I cut squares of tissue paper and used a paint brush and liquid starch to cover the balloons.  You get the starch in the laundry aisle.

I didn’t document the process.  It is easy, but too messy to touch my camera.  Here’s the finished product.  To make the polka dot ones, first cover the entire balloon with a couple layers of WHITE tissue paper.  Then using a large hole punch, punch holes in some colored tissue and place it over the white, being careful not to overlap any of the holes. 

After the tissue is completely dry, you pop the balloon and pull it out.  Then make a cut where you pulled the balloon out so you can open it enough to fill it with goodies.  You have to put 3 layers of tissue so the finished egg is strong enough to hold the candy.  That’s what I did with these, filled them with Easter candy for our special boys .  If you want them to look really good, after you fill them, you can close them back up by laying more tissue paper over the opening and applying more starch.

It was fun to watch the boys tear into them!!!!

Thanks for reading : )

Relaxing and Rejuvenating

Tax season is over and my life has gotten where I can breathe easier.  Last week I had an adventure.  I went to the beach with some wonderful ladies.

I was gone for 5 days!!!!  Tom & I have not been away from each other for that length of time before.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, but I did and had a good time. 

Our itinerary:

On the beach by 10:00

Sandwiches, etc. around 12:30 or 1:00

Back to the beach

Return to the condo around 4:00, get ready to go out to dinner

Back to the condo for a chick flick

Go to bed

We repeated this grueling schedule for 4 days!!  I wasn’t sure I could do nothing for that many days, but I managed.  The toughest thing we did was deciding where to eat dinner every night. 

While on the beach, I read Hunger Games.  I’d already seen the movie and decided I needed to read the books.  Enjoyable

I know there are lots of people out there who do things like this all the time.  I don’t.  I like being at home and it is hard for me to leave my comfort zone, especially if Tom is staying behind.  God is expanding my horizons and I am following.  Isn’t it cool He would want me to step out and do something so fun?  God is good and He loves us so much.  Maybe He is telling you to step out and do something exciting and fun.

Hear are some pictures to show you how wonderful it was.

 

Thanks for reading : )

What to say?

I talked to the gentleman who delivers our copier paper where I work.  I heard him mention to a co-worker something about a tattoo and then I heard her express words of condolences.  I put two and two together and got up from my desk to see him.  I asked him about the tattoo.  It was very prominent on his upper arm.  It was a portrait of his daughter.  She went to Heaven in January of this year.  His tattoo impressed me so  I ask him who did it for him.  I’m still considering getting one, but the artist has to be just right.  The place he told me about may be the one.

Even though I wanted to see the tattoo, that’s not why I spoke to him.  I wanted to know about his child.  He was working, so we were only able to talk a minute or so.  He told me people tell him it gets easier, but he doesn’t see how.  He misses her more every day.  I’m tearing up right now just thinking about it. 

I wanted to tell him so many things.  I gave him the address to my blog.  He may be reading it now :)

All afternoon I thought about what I should have said to him.  Grief and missing your child isn’t for casual conversation. 

I would like to say:

You’re not going crazy; it just feels like it.

You WILL NOT FORGET HER.

Don’t think about what you “should” be feeling or how much “progress” you should have made in your grief journey in the next year or two or ten.

Don’t compare yourself to other grieving parents.

Don’t try to avoid your emotions. 

Don’t be surprised how many times a day you have to make a conscious decision to keep going.

The heaviness on your chest is “normal”

God loves you and He cares about every emotion and every tear.

God loves you

God loves you.  I can’t say that enough.

I hope these words speak to someone.

Thanks for reading :)