Memorial Day

Today’s Memorial Day and as American citizens we should never forget what this day means. There is a cost to keep us free, and sometimes our Service men and women make the greatest sacrifice death in order for us to remain free. I am leaving with the song lyrics and video by Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave all that sums up what this day means.

Artist: Cyrus Billy Ray Song: Some Gave All

I knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many don't understand
About the reasons we are free.

I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me.

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through
For the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all.

--- Instrumental ---

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man.

Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died
America can't you see.

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through
For the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all.

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties
And recall, some gave all.

Some gave all...

My Memorial Day Weekend

I am another year older, and hopefully a little bit wiser than this time last year.  I am not where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I use to be. I’ve enjoyed the weather this weekend that holds two important days. Memorial Day and my birthday, to me Memorial Day has always been a day to remember why the United States is a free country. Growing up in a military family the day and week was about remembrance not going to the lake or being able to get in the pool.

When I was little and my birthday would either fall on the weekend before Memorial Day or on Memorial Day itself I would get a little mad, that I couldn’t have a party till the following week, because all my friends were gone. Now as an adult I don’t mind, because I can honor those who died protecting my freedom on a day that it is also important to my family and me, the day of my birth.

Yesterday my mom, my sister and I went to Joe’s Crab Shack for my birthday dinner.

Afterwards we walked on the riverfront and saw flags on the lawn in honor of those who served and died for our country.

Today went to a local farm to get fresh strawberries my favorite. In order to make homemade strawberry shortcake, my “Cake” I don’t like the icing on bakery cakes. Where my sister got a kick out of feeding fish

  Then to Half price books a bookstore in town where you can get books half price. With the half price and a twenty percent off sale I was able to get three books for the $13.07, books that I couldn’t find at any other book store. With Barnes and Noble’s I am lucky to get out of there without spending more than 30 $.  These are the three books I got:

I want to thank all those of those who have served, are serving, but especially the families’ of the one’s who died to keep us free.

“My little mess is just that little”

“My little mess is just that little”

I have a new favorite song that I just love; I heard it this morning on my way to church. The song fit in a little bit about what we talked about in Life group this morning. The song was This is the Stuff, by Francesca Battistelli. The first part of the song goes like this

This is the Stuff

Francesca Battistelli

“I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use”
     The opening Line got my attention mainly because I am always losing my keys and my cell phone. When I am in a mess, because I think nothing is going my way. God uses that time for me to grow, to challenge me. Just like the lyrics say, “In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I’m blessed.” Which is so true; going through everyday trials I do forget how much I am blessed. By the grace of God I am blessed because I am live in the United States. I have the freedom to worship my God and be a Christian without free that I am going to be killed because of it. Christian’s in other countries aren’t granted that guaranteed that freedom.  

     In my Life Group (Sunday School class) this morning we had a guest speaker from India told about her life there, how she became a Christian. How she faces persecution everyday when she shares her faith, but she does it anyway. This is because she believes that it is God’s will for her live, that no matter what happens God will always be there with her walking ahead of her.

     I can learn so much from her life, I just pray that if God asks the same of me, that I will trust His will no matter what happens.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever-do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Psalms 138:8

Finding my copy of Lady in Waiting and my list

With school being out for the semester I have been in the process of going through some of my things, to see if I could find stuff that I could get rid of in order to clear out some of the clutter.  In the process I found a tub of books from high school. Most of the books in the tub were teen fiction books that I had read in high school; however there was one book that caught my eye: Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall / Debby.  This was one of the books that we study in my Sophomore Sunday School class. I really enjoyed the book as a high school student, and I am rereading it as a college student. It is a reminder to young girls that it is worth waiting; the book is encouraging to anybody. I recommend that every teenage girl and college age women who are waiting for God’s timing should read the book.

Finding the book was great, but it was what fell out of the book that was even more rewarding, my list. As part of the study we had to make a list of the qualities that we wanted in a future husband if it was God’s will for our lives. It reminded me that I have to trust God.  Now that I am older some of the qualities that I listed don’t seem as important as they were when I was a teenager however there are a few that I will never wavier on, they are a must. 

Here is my list keep in mind that I originally made the list as a fifteen year sophomore and a new Christian.

My list Qualities in a future spouse

·         Christian

·         Loves Jesus more than he loves me

·         Leader of his house

·         Loves kids

·         Wants to be a father

·         Has Godly friends

·         Great sense of humor

·         Has a heart for orphans

·         Alright with adoption

·         Can accept me wanting to go to Africa to work as a nurse

·         Loves me for me not who wants to be or thinks I should be, but who I am in God’s sight and what the Bible says.

·         Loves the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing etc.

·         Can make me laugh even when I am having a bad day.

·         Sense of humor that I can understand

·         Can cook

·         A country boy/cowboy (I added this one joking, but put of me wouldn’t mind being married to one if it was God’s will for my life.

 The list is now in my Bible where I can see it on a daily bases. I am also enjoying looking at the notes that I made in my books during the class study of Lady in Waiting. I cannot believe how much I’ve grown in the last few years. I hope to one day be able to share the rubies of wisdom that I have gained with a new generation of Godly young women. I just love Proverbs 31:10-31.

thoughts on a Sunday Sermon

Yesterday at Church our Pastor preached a sermon about “The Last Lecture” he got the idea after the Book The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Our Pastor used examples of “last Lectures” from the Bible. How Moses’ last lecture was for a blessing on Israel. Joshua’s last lecture of reminder of “Who were are, and Who’s we are.” David and his prayer for his son Solomon, Paul’s to encourage Timothy.

What got me was the question that our Pastor asked at the end, “What will be your “Last Lecture?” I am now thinking about what my Last Lecture will be. Will it be advice to my children if that is God’s will for my life? Being able to pass on knowledge and raise a generation of Christians living for God.

I do know one thing I want my Last Lecture to have an impact. An Impact for Christ, that I lived my life for Him. I want to be remembered as a nurse (once I finish nursing school) as a Christian Woman, wife and mother. A woman who made a difference not only for changing the world for Christ by reaching the lost, but also to help people with the skills I’ve learned as a nurse. I now know that I have to add this book to my reading list. What will your Last Lecture be?

My Mom

I hadn’t planned on doing a Mother’s day post; because I assumed that most blogger’s out there would be doing one. I decided to go ahead and do a post about my mom, because everyone’s mother is special and my mom is no different.  As long as I can remember she has been there for me; when I needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to vent to, when I needed a hug.

We had some tough times when I was a preteen who thought I knew better and didn’t need my mom telling me what to do. The more I pushed her away the harder she hung on. I am thankful she did, because without her standing by me and her love I don’t know where I would be now.

My mom and I grew closer through my teenage years, when I realized mom did know what she was talking about; when she would tell me not to do something. Now as a twenty something college student my mom is by best friend.

Even though she worked/ (works) full time outside the home, she always managed to pick me up from school every day; from kindergarten till junior year when I started driving. She even made time to get me to soccer and softball practice, violin concerts, as well as girl scouts meetings.  She also never missed a school program or field trip when I was in Elementary school. She always came to our Thanksgiving lunch at school during our Elementary school days, even being one of the volunteers who helped serve the lunch.

My mom has made plenty of sacrifices though the years to make sure that my sister and I had the things we needed. There were plenty of times that she went without new clothes and shoes so that my sister and I could have new clothes and shoes for school. Now she is trying hard to help me pay for college, and I know that it is not easy for her and sometimes I feel guilty that she is still going without some of the things she wants so that I can attend college and have a better life than she had.

I know I don’t tell her near enough that I love her, but I do. She gave me life, even when it completely changed her life. She says it changed her life for the better. She has always been there for me, putting my sister’s and my needs above her own. I just hope that when I am a mom that I can be half the mom that she has been.  I know that having a child doesn’t make you a mom or dad. But being there for you child or children and putting them first; giving love, your time, nursing them when they are sick, helping heal their hurts makes you a mom. I know that I had the best mom. I love you mom.