Showers of Blessing

It has been a while since I have written.  Life has been very busy and
most women know what I am talking about.  There is little time to
ponder the moments of a day.

Wherever we find ourselves in life, we are busy.  If we are young, we
are busy with schooling and marriage.  In mid life, we are busy raising
children and making a good home for our family.  In later life, we are
 busy being grandparents and coming alongside our children to encourage them.

In each of these seasons of life, we are also a silent mentor to someone.
There are always people observing our lives.  There are women that
watch us and listen to us while we are doing one day at a time.  They
see something in us that they would like to add to their life.  Perhaps
it is kindness, gentleness, encouragement, etc.  We do not think about 
this enough.  We all have gifts to share with other women that can help 
them to do life in a better fashion.

When we focus on this, we begin to see how God uses willing people to 
bless others.  I have been blessed by kind words that have been spoken
to me or sent in a card exactly when I needed it.  God has given me opportunities to be the best part of someone's day.  We need to leave a
place better than we find it.  We need to be women who are a blessing to
other women not a curse.

Many times I will think about how God has blessed my life.  It is over
whelming to realize that God cares that much for me...and you.  God
has done things that I would have never asked him to do.  He has given
gifts that have thrilled my heart and He was the only One who knew
what I needed.  He cares that much for each one of us.

I have been given the opportunity to spend time with my children and
grandchildren.  What a thrill to see what He is doing in their lives. 
He allows me to be a part of what He is doing.  I can share His love
with family in word and most importantly in deed.  I love the way God orchestrates each day.  He knows what is best not just good enough.

May His shower of blessings cover you and amaze you.  He is so good.

GOD IS IN CHARGE

I believe that God is in charge of all things.  I know that this is difficult for people to handle when bad things happen.  It is not up to us to question what
God is doing.  Our responsibility is to pray for people and be available for Him
to use in people's lives.  God is our model for really loving people.  We cannot
love without His love flowing through us.
Recently, I have been reminded that my days are ordered by the Lord.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

Recently I have been reminded about the way people treat one another.
As a child I remember being told that if I had nothing nice to say, don't
say anything.  I think we need to review this thought. "Be ye kind to
one another..."
Women have such a problem with never being good enough.  Where do
those thoughts come from?  I think it is one way for the devil to get us
down.  We never focus on our strengths but rather pinpoint our short
comings.
It is amazing how many women deal with "friends" who can only find
fault in them.  "You are not good enough so I will help you with my
accusations about who you really are."  I am sure that if we look at the
word "friend" it has nothing to with downtrodden, negative people in
our life.  Have you ever thought about the person giving you advice?
How does their life hold up to scrutiny?  Do you want to model your
life after their life?
Because I have lived a long time, I know that people who criticize are
motivated by elevating themselves.  You drink too much coffee means
that she is better than you because she drinks 3 cokes a day!  It is funny
when you think about it.  Why is it that people cannot see their own
flaws but can easily spotlight someone else's? 
My title explains my view of the critique that people give.  The only One
who can change anyone is God.  So, if your "friend" really cares for you
she can spend more time in prayer and less time telling you what to do.
God has a time frame for change and it is individual.  He only expects
to deal with one thing at a time.  He will never give you more than you
can handle.  Everything He does comes from Love.
What can you do?  Let go of those people who are weighing you
down.  Surround yourself with people who realize that we all have our
strong points and our weak points.  Women need friends who pray for
them not people who try to fix them.

Love you girlfriends.

A Few Things I have learned along the way

You are always a mom no matter how old your children are!

Today my son is coming for the weekend.  I was thinking about how
long it has been since we have had time along to talk.  I know that some
sons do not like to talk but mine does!  We will just keep talking until
we sleep.  Ofcourse eating is also a big part of a man's life.  I have a
special restaurant picked out for one night.
My son is married to a wonderful girl and they have an adorable daughter,
Emma.  They live in Portland.  He will enjoy our great Arizona weather.
I know he will enjoy relaxing with no agenda.  That is what mom's home
is like.  Just breathe and relax.  My husband is on a trip so I have Tim
all to myself until Sunday.
Yesterday, Emma called to ask if we could Skype.  My answer is always
YES.  What fun that is.  I think that Skype is a blessing from God.  Now
I don't have to miss seeing the kids grow.  Emma loves ballet and I love
seeing her show me a move and her tutu.  I visit Portland in October and
we do all sorts of Fall Festivities.  I brought a sparkly pumpkin t-shirt and
ruffly little skirt for Emma to wear.  She loves dress up.
You can tell that I am excited.  I will let you know how wonderful it is.

Family is so important.  Love one another.

Women are girlfriends you have not met yet!!

I have been in Kansas City this week.  I am spending time with a young
friend I have known for 14 years.  She is married to a wonderful guy and
she has 3 great kids.  Their home is lovely and it is easy to just relax and
be.

I came to speak to some of the moms and mentors at her church.  Wow!
What a terrific group of women she has in her life.  I would feel very
comfortable coming back and would know several of the girls by simply
spending one week here.  It has been such an encouraging time for me.

It is good to get away from our "home" place.  It is good to expand our
relationships.  It is good to allow other women to appreciate our gifts.
It is good to experience a different Christian community.  I will miss
some of the women that I have met. 

I spoke to the mentor moms about how important their life is to
younger women.  By their life experience and their walk through
difficulties of life, they give younger women hope.  They love these
young moms.  What a blessing to have a vision for training and
teaching young women what life is about.

I spoke to the moms about how important prayer is to their daily
life.  We talked about the peace it brings, the restoration that we
can experience, the attitude adjustment prayer brings and
finally that God wants us to say YES to His plan for us.  What
beautiful babies and toddlers I saw.  This group was so open
and anxious for God's help in their lives.

Tonight I will be teaching them about closet organizing and
wardrobe.  It will be so much fun.  I just love helping women
in this way.  What a joy to be able to use the gift that God has
given me for the benefit of women.

God is good all of the time.

You are not alone

I think that sometimes we feel as though we are all alone.  For those of
us who know in our head that God is always with us, it is more difficult.
Being human, we need other human beings to be a part of our lives.

If we do not reach out to people when we need them, we begin to feel
isolated.  Then, our mind starts working over time to convince us that
nobody cares for us.  I have been there.  It is not a fun place to reside.
Who is at fault?  Who can I blame?  How can I move from this place?

I write journals.  I have always been a writer.  It helps me to think more
clearly.  Oh yes, I write exactly what I am feeling but it gets it out of my
head so it does not fester there.  I tell God all about it.  He already knows
me and knows exactly what I am feeling.

Sometimes we just don't give ourselves a break.  A break from working.
A break from being "better".  A break from people who are difficult.
A break from "out there".

If you are feeling like this, here are some tips.  Listen to soothing music
and close your eyes.  Allow the relaxation to cover you and don't fight
it.  Look at fun magazines on home decor, flowers, fashion, travel, etc.
Drink a cup of flavored tea in a pretty china cup...if you don't have one
you need to buy one!!  Go for a walk and notice the beauty of nature
which God created just for you.

After this, do something daring.  New haircut, new color, new makeup,
a new pair of jeans, a new cell phone cover (mine is so cute).  Go to places
you have not gone before.  Talk to someone at the mall that you have
never met.

You are not alone and neither am I.  There are people who care about
us even when we don't feel like they do.  Get out there and take care
of yourself, girlfriend.

A Few Things I have learned along the way.

Women Need Girlfriends!!

This is so important.  Only women can understand one another.

I know that our husbands are our best friends but they were
not created to be emotional beings.  We need sisters who can
really feel our joy and sorrow.

We carry burdens that only another woman can understand.
When we have trauma in our family, a woman understands.
When someone that we trusted betrays us, a woman under
stands.  When we say or do something we wished we had not,
a woman understands.  When we are ready to crumble, a woman
will give us a hug.

A woman can rejoice with us when we are celebrating something
foolish...I did not eat chocolate cake today!!  Women can talk
and laugh about nothing important.  A woman has an open,
caring heart for the feelings of others.

When girlfriends get together they all benefit.  We never know
how our sharing can encourage someone else.  My sister loves
it when I share my flaws.  It gives her pleasure and so I just
keep making mistakes!!!  Girlfriends are people that love us and
we can just relax in their presence.  Girlfriends are REAL. 

Girlfriends come in all shapes, sizes and ethnicities.  We are
drawn to other women as if there is a magnet in each of our
hearts.  God uses women to come alongside and be of help.
I know that all women do not have the blessing of girlfriends
but maybe you can start looking for a few girls to try out.

I love spending time with my husband but I need girlfriends.