Friday, April 27, 2012

Takin' Five on Friday - Community

Community, it's what makes where you live a home.

9:55

After the death of a loved one the love of your community is what shines through.  Upon the death of our grandmother this week the community around us pulled together in amazing ways.
Be it the people from church, work, school or neighborhood.  They are the community that wrapped us in their loving arms and shared the sweet memories of years passed.

They are the community that held our hands during a long day full of tears and aching hearts.  She is the one that drops me a text saying 'hello' after weeks of busy distracting us and showing just how great God is.  It's the ladies assisting at school and helping me through a crazy day.

10:00

Oh, and it is HERE. Community found in Five Minutes, SDG, facebook, blog circles and yet online in(RL).

Oh, how I love that God has me right where He wants me!

DV-NMV

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Until Next Time

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but my posts this month have dealt often with death.  That's because it is everywhere I turn these days.  Death isn't a bad thing, but it is a very sad thing.  It's a happy thing though too, because all those sweet loved ones are whole, healthy and happy again.
It's so hard to accept that they're gone though.  No more phone conversations, no more hugs and I Love Yous, you've had the last laugh, shared a last memory.

Until Next Time

Michael, Karen, Jack, Fred, William, Sara and soon sweet TJ as well.  Oh, I'm sure there's so many more, these are the only ones that I either know or know of.  I have a feeling I even forgot someone.
It's so overwhelming, so emotionally draining, so sad and such a reality check.  I just keep remembering these three words...Until Next Time...it does bring a bit of peace.

Until Next Time

When I see you again, healthy and whole, happy and carefree.  I know that you'll be watching over us, your loved ones and enjoying the beautiful company of our Father and Jesus.  I know that you're smiling, laughing and loving, having been reunited with your family and friends that I never even knew.  I know that some day there will come a time when I (and everyone else) will get to see your smiling face again.  That we will feel those arms around us in a loving hug and feel a sweet kiss on our face.  I know that you are with the ultimate caretaker and lover, the one that cares for us through everything and loves us exactly as we are.  He is the one that gave me you and for that I will be eternally grateful.

So, Until Next Time, I Love You!!

LuvnHugz - SupportNPrayerz to any and all dealing with this, I am here for you!

Deo Volente
Nicki Marie Veenstra

Friday, April 20, 2012

Takin' Five on Friday - Together

This is what the third Friday in a row? I think I've set a record quite possibly.

:0)

8:50

Oh,  so many choices today.
I'm feeling the theme of community this week and I believe I'll take a leap in that direction.

My first thought is that "together we can do anything."

The simple care that many hands make light the work.  Rather than lugging a burden around alone, share it with someone else.  I don't mean to hand off the burden to someone else, but to ask for help.  If you're feeling lost and alone, drop to your knees and ask Your Father for some help.

It doesn't mean that He will take away the pain, hurt, loneliness but He will provide comfort in the best way He can, through His unconditional love.

When you're working on a project or having a stressful day there is always someone there to be a shoulder to lean on.  Be it a dear friend, family member, co-worker, fellow church member, another parent or even a stranger.  Every person in your life is there for a reason.  Put the request for help into God and He will provide everything you need.

Together, we (God and any one of us) can do anything!!

8:55

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!
DV-NMV

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Another First

I did it, I linked up with a group.
AND I'm figuring out how these "button" things work too.
Ah,hahaha
Anyway, I linked up with the Soli Deo Gloria group, what a sweet little place to be!
I've been a lurker over there at different times.  I'm good at that, lurking.  Reading and absorbing all this encouragement and love from all these wonderful people I've never met.  Happy to be a lurker.
I'm learning it's so much fun joining in on these conversations and experiences though too.

It's been a month where I've needed it.  Seems like every where I turn I need to feel God's love.  The best part about that is whenever I feel the need, He meets it by sending me right where I can get a dose of that beautiful amazing grace blessing love.

Anyway, not much but a random ramble today, simply because I can.  It's gonna be one of those weeks.  Some sweet friends are saying their final good-byes to an amazing man, their grandfather.  The man that once made this house a home with his family is now also enjoying his days with Our Father.  Another family is dealing with the amazing experience of saying good-bye to their 14 year old son after a farming accident this weekend and yet finding the strength to share him with the world by blessing others with his life as an organ donor.  More work this week on finishing up the house projects of soffit and landscaping.  Friday and Saturday will find me and our school family spending time laughing in fellowship and whipping up a few dozen batches of homemade ice cream for the Tulip Time festivities in 16 days.

Every day there are a million blessings for us to count.  The hard blessings, the beautiful blessings, the blessings that bring us to our knees in pain and gratitude and the blessings that build us up in our love for our Father.

Go, enjoy your day.  It's the only Tuesday, April 17 2012 you'll ever have, so make the best of it and live every minute to it's fullest.

God is so great, so great is He!

LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz, for you in all that you do!
DV-NMV

Friday, April 13, 2012

Takin' Five on Friday - Good-Bye

Oh, sweet Gypsy Mama this one could go so many ways, so many ways.

Ready - Set - Go

11:17

My month has seen good-byes.  Good-byes are spoken on any given day at a million moments in a million ways.  Love You - Bye, See Ya - Bye, all the many ways that we end a conversation, bump into at the grocery store, meeting, fellowship, work day, all ended with a "Bye" at some point.

What is hard to grasp is that sometimes this "bye" is the last one.  It brings me back to Bob Perks.  He has a little ditty that was penned in some way many years ago.  I have it taped in my bathroom and read it daily.  I'll include it at the end so as not to waste precious minutes finding it and retyping it here.

Never let the chance go by that you wish for a moment for the "good-bye" you wish you could've said.  Life is too short to not take that moment to say "Hello!" carry on the chat and share a little love on this day and send someone on their way with a little lovely "Good-bye!".

Remember that for every precious good-bye moment there are a million more of the moments that lead up to it.  Enjoy those, don't focus on the good-bye, because thanks to our most amazing Father, good-bye only ever means, until I see you again.

11:23 (sorry I pushed it)

Now to credit Bob for the inspiration he shares with the world.
I Wish You Enough
I wish you enough sun to keep you attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye".
--Bob Perks

Love you,  Good-bye!
DV-NMV

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

in(RL) Registered

http://networkedblogs.com/wfj0m
I did it, I'm registered.  So, if I'm curled up in front of the computer alone, or gathered with friends, I'm registered!  Go, do it!  Yes, you!!  You probably need this love, encouragement, hand holding, friendship and God Spirit just as much as I do.  It's $11.54, you have to be registered yet today, but go DO IT.  I'm sure we won't regret it a bit!!

LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
DV-NMV

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Takin' Five for Friday on Saturday

Gypsy Mama prompted me with "light" yesterday, so here goes.

I think light, as in light at the end of the tunnel. It's also a pretty timely subject for Good Friday.
Having dealt with death and loss of friends, family and friends loved ones I keep thinking about these loved ones dancing in the beautiful light of heaven now.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life...the light at the end of this tunnel of life.
There is so much pain, suffering and human trials and errors here on earth.  We have amazing and beautiful experiences too, don't get me wrong, but sometimes our hearts are heavy with pain and sorrow.  There are beautiful days light and enjoyable, full of laughter, beauty and memories.
There is a father that loves us unconditionally, wholly and truly just as we are, exactly where we are.
He truly is the light we need shining upon us every day warming us with His love. Feel the light upon your face, soak it up.

Five Taken!
DV-NMV