Takin' Five on Friday - Stretch

It seems as though this five minutes I ever take to write over here.  That makes me sad, in some ways.
Anyway off to take my turn after Lisa Jo does the prompting. As always, thankful to be here and to have you stop by.

10:11
I ponder on stretching past my comfort zones often.
I rarely do it, but I ponder it a lot. A LOT.
I'm getting better about it but it's so easy to stay where it's comfortable and safe that it makes it quite tough.
Once again I sit in the quiet and enjoy this moment (I'm camping with the five kiddos tonight) of peace after another day come and gone.
I love my job...the wife/mom/sister/daughter/woman/being me one.
I spend my day watching others as well. Watching how their lives are impacted by everything around them. That is making me more passionate about my "other" job, the one as part of The Finding Freedom Team.
We all deserve amazing things and we'll never have them without stretching once in a while.
10:17 (I ran long, that's what happens when I do this from my smartphone.) ;0)

Have a blessedly beautiful weekend!!
DV-NMV

Takin' Five on Friday - Stretch

It seems as though this five minutes I ever take to write over here.  That makes me sad, in some ways.
Anyway off to take my turn after Lisa Jo does the prompting. As always, thankful to be here and to have you stop by.

10:11
I ponder on stretching past my comfort zones often.
I rarely do it, but I ponder it a lot. A LOT.
I'm getting better about it but it's so easy to stay where it's comfortable and safe that it makes it quite tough.
Once again I sit in the quiet and enjoy this moment (I'm camping with the five kiddos tonight) of peace after another day come and gone.
I love my job...the wife/mom/sister/daughter/woman/being me one.
I spend my day watching others as well. Watching how their lives are impacted by everything around them. That is making me more passionate about my "other" job, the one as part of The Finding Freedom Team.
We all deserve amazing things and we'll never have them without stretching once in a while.
10:17 (I ran long, that's what happens when I do this from my smartphone.) ;0)

Have a blessedly beautiful weekend!!
DV-NMV

Breathe Deep

Ugh.
How in the world does this happen?  My family sucks.  Now, yes my husband and I have issues and I'm learning more everyday about parenting my children but I'm not even talking about them.
I'm so frustrated with MY family, my brother, my mother and my father.  Our family is quite interesting.  If you look back through my posts you'll find bits and pieces of the story so I'm not gonna cover anything I possibly already have.
My mother lives with us, having a financial mess to deal with she moved in December 2011 so that when she had her knee replacement surgery we could help her.  We also wanted to be able to ease financial burdens in the meantime as well.  My dad is living who knows where and we "talk" to him maybe once a month.  My brother is eight years younger than me and I attempt to help in any way that I can whenever I can.  I know that I wasn't there in times he needed me and I will always feel bad for that.  In the last five years I have gone to court with him, taken him to probation meetings and pretty much felt like I was on call as I needed to be.  In the last two years I have had the pleasure of watching him mature and manage the details of his crazy life.  I am so damned proud of him in all honesty.  This is where the guilt comes in.  I feel bad in the times of his life that I wasn't there for him because I was wrapped up in my own life as a young wife and mother.  Yes, I know that it wasn't my job to raise him and give him the tools to get through life as a solid man, he is my brother.  I also am quite aware of where my parents lack in their abilities to teach us and love us in the ways that which they should have.  There again I fully understand that when they launched into a life of marriage and parenting they were 17 and 18, so they had a crazy long road ahead of them.  What I don't get is why I, at 33 years of age I feel like I am failing the three of them in some major ways.
I am never more than a phone call away.  In order to help my brother save money we helped him manage a bill which we credit card auto pay and he is to reimburse us for each month, last paid in May.  In April he was given the ability to have a "work permit" and since he didn't have a car borrowed ours for "a couple weeks" until he figured something out, still has it.  I attempt to rarely assume that my mom can "just watch them" (the kiddos) because she's not just a built in and free baby-sitter, she deserves her own life.  In knowing that paying bills is a task I give my brother the benefit of the doubt and figure he'll pay the bill eventually.  I in turn take plenty of heat from the hubs about it.  I will occasionally ask for his help with mechanic type stuff because he knows what to do and I'll happily consider us "even" in turn.  Dad, well he's not around much.
The frustration comes when I get ignored for days or then cursed at for bringing it up.  I had no idea I'm so freaking dis-repectful and in turn that's what I deserve.
Ugh.
I don't have anyone that I want to "bother" with this so I came here to vent instead.  I could go on and on, this really is very much a short version of the story.  I feel somewhat better already.
If you stopped by this is proof that I am real and willing to "run off at the mouth" sometimes.  Something I ask of you, say a prayer for me (and my crazy, messed up family) I think I need it!
Deo Volente
NMV

Takin' Five on Friday - Here

Lisa Jo dares us to write every Friday, just write for five minutes. No editing, no thinking, just writing.

7:24
Here, I am, here.
Things have been crazy the last few weeks.  (You've seen my posts.)  I just keep conversing with God about it all.
ME - I know you know what's going on, but isn't this a bit much to handle?
GOD - Patience
ME - Buuuuutttt, Daaaad!!
GOD - Peace
ME - Okay, fine, I get it, you're doing BIG things.
GOD - Yup, some day, you'll understand more but for now be right where you are, I'll guide you.
7:29

Well time is up so I guess that's all but the prompt of "here" is quite timely for me right now.  I'm trying to remember to be "here" as I walk through these days. 
Physically, emotionally, faithfully - HERE.

LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
Deo Volente - NMV

Takin' Five for Friday - Beyond

Okay, yes I know it's 6:14am on Saturday but I need to catch up in Five Minute Friday fashion.
Today's prompt "beyond" is a good one too!

6:15
There is life BEYOND where you are right now.
When we get lost in the chaos that is life as we know we wonder what really is next.
Why all the sorrow and sadness, weight and worry?
It's simple because there is laughter and happiness, flight and freedom in it as well.
With new life there is also death to face.  With health comes times of sickness.  There is a victory at the end of the race, sometimes it is just a REALLY LONG race.
I hear people questioning why God let "this one" live in the Aurora, Colorado shootings, but let "that one" die.  I really don't see it that way.  It's not as simple as Him "letting" something happen.  It's the trial of life as we know it.
The good with the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.  Without trials we wouldn't know true joys.  I'm not sure why I "understand" that, I just get that there is something "beyond" what we have going on right now.

Maybe it just gives me peace about it.  Maybe it makes the troubles more bearable, whatever it is, I take great comfort in knowing My Daddy cares and knows the bigger picture.

The beautiful bigger picture of what's beyond today.
6:20

LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
Deo Volente - Nicki

Takin' Five on Friday - Enough

It's been a while but I'm sitting at the county fair and two kids are wandering aimlessly with friends.  Then there four are playing in the dirt, either sweeping up repeatedly or driving tractors through "their farms" ahh, sweet childhood.
Okay on to stealing five minutes for me.  I definitely need it.

Enough

Yup, I've had enough. I'm walking around in a fog lately. Friends with twins that get crazy sick then a month after they start to return to wellness (on their 3rd birthday) their home burns to the ground.  Leaving this awesome family homeless and with nothing but charred memories.  Then there's my dear friend working on rebuilding his marriage.  That tender moment when he thought all was well and then his breath is knocked out of his lungs when he's told otherwise.  How about the sweet young woman that is now watching her family from heaven instead of loving on them here.  Grandparents in hospitals.  Car accidents prevented by listening to God's priceless whispers.  A shooting in Colorado movie theatre.
Worlds turned upside down.  People brought to their knees in prayer.
I've had enough heartbreak I want to see these amazing things God has planned in action.
Off to see the beauty in the day, as it is all around us.  Just like this sunrise and the flowers that are dancing here in His light.  This is where I'll find the beautiful works of our Father, in the every day blessings.

Oh, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Shattered Pieces at Your Feet

How do you know which direction to go when your world has been turned upside-down?
Trials can make us or break us.  The trials of life can be the crutches of why we struggle, the stairs where we stall and fail to finish our climb or the mountain peak that we scale to see the beautiful things in the valley with a bird's-eye view.
What's hard is seeing the precious pieces of life as we know it laying shattered at our feet.  When everything around you has been turned upside-down which way do you look first?
UP! So now you look at me like I'm nuts, right?  Up, what in the world do you mean by that, you wonder.  Look up to your heavenly Father.   The one that knows you, inside and out, for the good and the bad, through the rain and drought, the happy and sad.  He will ALWAYS be there to walk through life with you, He will never abandon you to fend for yourself.
Just this week I have seen trials that would send anyone to their knees.  A family home burned to the ground on Sunday.  Nothing left, there may be a few things to save and put up as keepsakes but honestly practically nothing left but the clothes on their seven bodies.  Monday a young mother was called to heaven far too soon in life.  I know that not all of us will have the privilege of growing old but knowing she leaves behind a grieving husband to a young son and infant daughter makes the loss of her sweet life so difficult. Don't forget the man that on what should be an average week night finds his marriage crumbling around him.  When we hit a crossroads in life we wonder "if this is all there is" and look to see if there is "more put there".  The struggle is in how to forge through on that road WITH the one you vowed forever to.  Is it easy?  Uhm...no, but in the long run it will be worth it to face your trial in the moment and deal with it.
Do I have any advice for any of these people?  Look up. Look to your Daddy that cares about everything you ever do and lean on Him, let Him carry your burdens.  The ones with the burnt home? They said, we always knew that if we lost it that it wasn't where our true treasure lies.  What a priceless sentiment.  If only we could all remember that.
What of the quote...Your actions show what your heart is made of...cuts me to the quick today, that one does.  What are your actions showing today, this minute.  They say the true character of a man is how he treats animals, children and the elderly. Why? Because they have nothing to offer him in return but love and appreciation.
Pray for those you know are struggling and just in general those around you.  Look up to your Father for guidance and listen to what He tells you.  You've got this because He's got you!
LuvNHugz - SupportNPrayerz
Deo Volente - Nicki