You're Already Amazing!

Courtney asked me to write a little blog on a favorite book I read a couple months ago!  She is giving one away!

Hop over to her blog to find out how to win!

Lil Light O' Mine

Happy Saturday!

Great People

Chip Ingram wrote a great book called "Good to Great in God's eyes".

He takes you through Ten Practices that Great Christians have in Common.

One being, Pursue Great People.

Michael Josephson says, "Toxic relationships not only make us unhappy; they corrupt our attitudes and dispositions in ways that undermine healthier relationships and prevent us from realizing how much better things can be". 

You are on to something there, Mr. Josephson!

We all know toxic relationships.  What concerns me is when you don't know you are in one, or worse, ARE one!  You are so far into it that you don't see reality.

I've been thinking recently about my relationships.  I've been doing a relationship check.  Do I feel alive and encouraged when I am with that person or drained and dead?  Am I sharped like iron as Proverbs talks about?  Do I feel safe with them and the things I share from my heart?

Who in your life do you need to pursue ?  Who do you need to take a couple steps away from?

Toxic relationships are everywhere because Satan is alive and well--- life is hard and hurtful---and people don't seek forgiveness, reconciliation and grace.   Sometimes you can't get away from them.

You can, however, Pursue Great People!

Treat yourself to someone who pursues greatness.  Your soul will be recharged, and your other relationships will bloom!

Board Exam Scores are out!

I never doubted my brilliant, Dr. Husband!  He passed Boards part 1!!!!

They say if you pass boards part one, you will graduate, and I say, lets wear the cap and gown, take the Hippocratic Oath, and be done already!  =)

I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of that man.  He has worked his rear end off for the last two years!

I would be lying if I told you that it didn't feel like we just climbed Mount Everest.  But we are at the summit now, resting and enjoying some down time before he wears his white coat, and hits the hospitals for his next 2 years of clinical rotations.

THANK YOU for praying with us and for him.  We serve a big God... who fills in big gaps when we have reached our limits.

Soli Deo gloria!

How's your foundation?

My parents took their 5 kids and spouses, and  7 grandchildren on a vacation of a life time.  It was an awesome, memory making, laughing our butts off 6 days!  I love coming from a big family, and love having siblings that are truly my best friends.

The reason for our trip was bitter sweet.  We were able to go because Nana's address was changed permanently to a golden Heaven PO box, and the inheritance that she left was divided between her 3 children.

My grandfather was a USPS letter carrier.  He walked faithfully in the hot Florida sun for 20+ years.  But more than that, He walked in the Son for even longer.  My grandparents lived a very frugal, simple life.  My grandmother stayed home with her children, never got her drivers license, but left a legacy that most only read about.

My grandfather never made more than $30,000 a year, but set my grandmother up to be taken care of with dignity until Jesus called her home 15 years after Papa went.  She was never a burden to any of her children because of the careful planning and simple living they did for years.

In her death, she gave her children and grandchildren an inheritance that allowed us to make amazing memories.

When I grieve, I tend to pour myself into something- may not be the best coping mechanism, but its just me, I guess.

I started cutting up Nana's clothes to make a quilt.  It was something that we could have forever.  In 8 days, I completed 3 of them.  One for my dad, and one for my aunt and uncle.  I smiled and with every stitch thought of all the times she had worn those shirts, dresses and pants.   I am forever changed by Grace Werner.

At the end of our vacation, my mom and dad gave the grandchildren a bear they had made out of one of Nana's shirts.  "Nana bears!"

Since we left I haven't stopped thinking about a simple truth.    At the end of your life, what will be given away?

At the end of Nana's life, there was 19 people gathered in a room, with one foundation.  Nana and Papa's desire was that the foundation of the Werner family be built on Jesus Christ.  The Werner girls have different last names now, but the foundation remains the same.

With all the events of this world, its quite clear that a lot of people do not hold true to that foundation.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

How is your foundation?  If it's cracked, fix it.  Quickly.  If it's strong, its likely you need to thank a generation or two ahead of you.

Nana's great grandchildren

Thanks Nana and Papa, Dad and Mom for an amazing week.  I can't stop smiling!

Light 'em up!

Let me tell you about Courtney.   She is awesome.  She is my moms neighbor and I have to fight being envious every time I think that she is mom's neighbor and not MINE!  I've prayed for a neighbor like her...in Miami...but alas, the Lord answered it in Orlando!  GO FIGURE!  =)

She and her family moved to Orlando from Atlanta and I have LOVED getting to know her, laughing with her, and running with her when I am at moms.  She has an amazing business and blog.

She is insanely creative and a brillant writer.  She's honest and transparent, and hello, I love that.  Her kids disobey, make a mess and laugh their butts off.  She's a Proverbs 31 mom and wife.

When we first met, I devoured her blog..reading all that she had written--the girl is hilarious!

This blog post I loved!! Going out of your way for strangers, teachers, friends or someone who needs a little "happy" around the holidays.

Of course I didn't know her at Christmas.  DERN!  But have thought about this idea ever since.

How can we make people smile in July?

July is the beginning of Christmas music, shopping, and merriness in MY house so this was the month to start for me!  But where?  How?

Then it happened...God spoke...and I kind of froze.  I had been asking Him to show me ways I could love on people...and there He was, telling me how, and I just stood there pretending He was talking to Gracie.  Gracie, obey your mother!   Ok, that wasn't what I heard.  At all.

Now Lord?  Right here?  On THIS guy?! 

Yes, Lis.  Yes. YES!  RIGHT NOW!

OK! Ok!

I am in line at Publix getting a few groceries.  Gracie is in the 'car cart' and asking for a red balloon.  The red balloon that was over his head by only an inch or so.  He is a tall, slender man.  If you go to the Baldwin Park Publix, I am sure you know who I am talking about.  He is a sweet and precious guy who has worked there for years.  When I lived here, I would look for him to go to his line.  I would try to start up conversations.  He is either very introverted, or just doesn't like people.  I'm going with the introvert.

There was no bagger in his lane, so after he scanned the groceries, he bagged them himself.  It took a little while longer because of him doing a two person job, but he didn't seem to mind.  He probably preferred it.  Since I'm not an introvert I don't get it, but those introverts tell me they'd rather be alone!  =)  Isn't that the weirdest thing you have ever heard?!  Who wants to be alone????

"$35.16," he says.

I freeze. The Lord chimes in.  No, thats not the right one, Lis.  Ask him.

I get brave.  Pointing to the candy section behind me, I make eye contact, "I was wondering which of these treats are your favorite?"

He looks at me puzzled.

I continue.  "I appreciate the work you have done for me, and since Publix has a no tipping policy, I would like to buy you a little treat."

He looks shocked.  "Really?"

Yes!

He stumbles, I smile.  Now at least he knows how I FEEL!

"I love Reeces, they are my favorites."

"Great!  I love those too!"  I hand them to him to ring up.

$36.18 the cash register now reads.  Now can I swipe my card, Lord?

Yes, now.

A smile.  "Thank you so much...that was so"....he pauses... because he can't find the words..."kind."  He becomes chatty and finally hears Gracie say, "May I have a RED balloon, please".  He never seemed so excited to give a balloon away.

Gracie waves as we start to drive that car cart away..."goodbye!! See you next time!"

I smiled the whole way home.  I found my way to light 'em up.  No matter the time of year!

I dare you to try it!  I kind of can't wait to go back to Publix!

Thanks Court!

Life Partner

Do you have a life partner?  Someone besides your spouse?

A sister? Friend? Mentor?

The older I get the more I am convinced that the greatest thing the Lord has given us on this side of heaven besides our salvation and the word of God is people.  Relationships.  It is the only thing that will remain beyond this life.

I don't want to sound like a hallmark card, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

In the middle of the night, when this treasure was born, she was there.  In the OR I knew she was on the other sides of the door waiting to snuggle Gracie and praying.  She is an amazing prayer warrior. 

She is the worlds greatest mom.   Never a time goes by that I am not with her that I learn something, or want to be more like her.  I love that when she goes out of town, and she gives me the honor of watching her girls, they often say, "you do things just like my mom does, you must be sisters."  I love that her girls let me love them, and feel safe with me.   I love that when the girls are with me, and a stranger refers to me as their mom, or them as my kids, her kids just smile...then we get in the car and they say, "they thought you were our MOM!"

I love raising babies with her.  I love that she loves Gracie like her very own.  Gracie is crazy about her Sassy.  I am pretty sure Gracie thinks that Sassy's one and only role in this life was to give her cousins that she refers to as, "my girls."

There was a time in my life when she wanted to kill me, smack me, shake me, thought I was annoying, obnoxious, and immature.  Ha! She may still think that BUT she didn't give up on me.  She believed God had bigger and better things.  Of course she was right.  Aren't older sisters always right?

She gives me perspective.  Isn't afraid to tell me when my thinking is off, lets me vent, lets me cry and even on the hardest of days says, "even on the hardest of days, WE choose JOY!"  

She is selfless, funny and extremely generous.   

There was this lie I believed when I moved...it really was my biggest fear of moving away from Orlando...that I would be forgotten by her or replaced.  She has made it a point to be my biggest support, cheerleader and the person I do life with.  We are closer than we have ever been or I ever thought possible. 

We share some very good secrets, inside jokes, and stories.  But I am pretty sure we share a part of our brain and heart.  

That's the joy of having a sister.

I understand the rare and God given relationship we share- and I don't take it for granted. 

Sassy Joy, you are exactly that! Sassy and full of Joy!  I love your love for life, your family, friends, orphans and your selfless quest to do all that you can to make this world more like Jesus.   You are an inspiration to me and many others that call you a friend.  Sucks for them they can't call you a sister!  Thank you for loving me, crying with me, dreaming with me, and making me laugh until my face hurts!   I love doing life with you but even more than that, love that our mansions are going to be right next to each other on those golden streets.  Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Happy D Day, dear Baby Hope!

If you prayed for me today, thank you.  I felt them.  My sister and her girls were here all day and we really had a great day.  I only cried for a few minutes, a few times!  Your prayers worked...carried me, and I am so thankful.

Tim had a big exam today, and then we went to cheesecake factory.

Then it was back home to decorate and write notes to Hope to send to Heaven.

We got Gracie's off---well, kind of.  We went to the roof (7th floor)--mistake number one.  Trying to launch them with some wind.  Mistake number two.  Tim dropping if off the 7th floor and it falling to the ground---mistake number 3!  BUT thank the Lord, it then took off.. the bad part, we missed half of it as we were running for cover afraid we were going to set the whole building on fire.

We have concluded that our other launchings will happen on family vacation at the beach in a couple weeks---we will all be together and over WATER which sounds very safe!

Here are some of the pictures I did get before running for cover.  

It was a precious day--and as Lauren said when she was leaving tonight, "just imagine, Nana and Hope smiling in Heaven."  That makes me smile, and cry happy tears! 

Today ends one chapter, tomorrow starts a new one.  I am thankful we get to play with Sarah and the girls tomorrow too!

Thank you for all your prayers.  They mean more than you know!