Refreshing Day 28 ~ Life of Relevance

It's Friday! I just love hangin' out with you all and Lisa-Jo. 


Your life is highly relevant. Yes, yours and mine. 


Once again, I've written today's 5 minute post as part of our 31 Days of Refreshing. 


Come join us over atGodsDreamsForMe. We'll be so glad to have you visit.

Beyond What I Deserve

Lisa-Jo's prompt opened up all kinds of wonder inside me. The word, beyond, is so refreshing to me.

This week I've embarked on an adventure of living out my dreams. 


All of a sudden, I hear it again...

"You can't live this dream."

"You don't have what it takes."

"How can you even think this is something you should do?"

"No one will even want to be a part of it."

I pause, breathe in an out deeply. I remember to slow flow. "Easy as she goes, Jeri." I tell myself. Then, there it is. God's refreshing life words to my soul. A song we wrote years ago.

Beyond what I deserve, You breathe your life into me.

Beyond what I deserve, You give your grace so freely

Beyond what I deserve, You make me right with you

You make me right with You

Beyond what I deserve.

The dream I'm embarking on is His dream. It's beyond what I deserve. It's beyond me. That's why I know it's His to live out in and through me. The dream will bless, encourage, and change me and so many others. 

You have His dream inside of you. He wants to bless you with it and in turn bless others...beyond what we all deserve.

Thank You for your heart Lisa-Jo

So much more to chew on here

We are on Day 21 of 

31 Days Refreshing - come join us.

Check out other 31 Dayers and their wonderful topics here.

Refreshing Day 14 ~ Caught in His Tenderness

Isaiah 54:8 ~ It's with lasting love that I'm tenderly caring for you.

I've written today's 5 minute post as part of our 31 Days of Refreshing. Come join us over at GodsDreamsForMe. We'll be so glad to have you visit.

Growing - Our Family

We were three for so long. David and I married and we became four. Challenges-victories....struggles-bonding...heartache-healing. I got sick and Shadow came. He helped heal me physically and emotionally. He's my best furry buddy...we became 5.

Shilo got married Mele and we became 6. The excitement of a girl...finally!!! Someone for me to relate to...lol. They had a son in July. Ezie has made us 7. It's an amazing ride being Yaya!

Growing family...growing pains...growing into a new season of motherhood for me. I shared at Bonnie's place on my fall season and all the letting go.

He'll be on his third tour this year...with his band...letting his fly. Giving him wings. Growing.

Growing is hard, brings pain of stretching and joy of receiving the beautiful new.

Growing to entrust them all to Him and His care...hard stuff...Growing.

Everyday - How My Days Are Changing

Photo by SweetHoney (that's us!)

My everyday is taking amazing winding roads. Every so often a sharp turn suddenly appears and everything goes whacko!

Every day has held same old and new.

Every day has brought awareness in allowing space for the imbalance of new so it can find its home in my ongoing.

Every day holds opportunity, challenge, blahs. That's normal. I really dislike the unexpected's and blah's. But, even in those there are these gifts that pleasantly surprise me.

Every day I grow closer to the ones I love. The dreams for my future are more real as each step realizes a part of my dreams.

Everyday is not ordinary. Simple joys, slow flow, wonder, and gratefulness make me mindful of all it holds.

This is 5 minutes of writing without worrying if it's right. Unedited and all heart.

Five Minute Fridays with Lisa-Jo and the gang

Motherhood Should Come With....

I'm on jury duty right now and we're in deliberation which truly leaves me 5 minutes or less to write. Here goes...

Motherhood is a wonderful, amazing, and challenging privilege that should come with required days off. Days off for...
sticking our toes in the sand
playing over  in our heads the fun moments with our family
reading more than just a page in our current book
waking up when we're ready
doing just plain nothing

Motherhood should come with an extra shot of energy, vitality, and stamina because it truly is amazing fun to play with our kids.

Motherhood with adult children should come with wisdom to know when to let them be their own man and woman.

I'm glad it doesn't come with it all though. It truly takes me to my knees and keeps me close to God for wisdom, discernment, insight, and overflowing filling of love. We do motherhood together and it makes it an adventure.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2011 

TO

MOMS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION

I'm joining Lisa-Jo for 5 minutes of unedited writing...so much fun!

and with...


Bonnie and the Faith Jam Community

5 Minute Friday: On Distance

It's Friday and that means 5 minutes of non-edited writing on a theme given just in time to write. I get to do this with a beautiful group of women at Lisa-Jo's site The Gypsy Mama. 


As you will see I took a little longer today to include photos so dear to my heart. Un-edited writing to 3 minutes. I love these ladies.

Here we go:

We breathe different air. We live in separate spaces. Mom and sister. I pray for their hearts always, but reality is that we are distanced. Not in my heart though. Not ever.

I’ll never be able to explain the why, but God has been so gracious to fill the space with many a significant who. 

He surrounds me with many a mother to mentor me as I live out failures and successes of woman, wife, mother, friend. 

My mother-in-law awesome mentor

He blesses me with the privilege of having young women call me their second mom with love filled hearts. 


I am blown away by the big and little sisters, nieces that have crossed my path for short and long seasons. 

Strong, beautiful, amazing, dream-filled, LiveOutLoud women. 

My prayer partner and sister-in-law, Sonya...Love You!

Annette what would I do without her

These ladies have seen me through many years, more to come!

My sister-in-law and her daughters part of my "women"

My sisters, Niece and Mom in the middle

Shadow brought Tammy and Donnel into our lives

Neighborhood: A second mom to our boys, aunts, more nieces!

New to my life Mele and her sweet Mom, Kristy

All that I’ve ever prayed for, wished and hoped pales in comparison to all God has blessed me with.

I am the mother of 2 adult sons and blessed now with a new daughter-in-law. 

The distance is getting shorter and shorter as the space in between is filled by God’s beautiful people.

I am loved! I am accepted! I matter! Woohoo!!! I get to pray with and pray for all of these and more every day. I am prayed for.  


Is there a woman who needs you to be the difference in her life? Look what it's doing for mine!

Waking up to Celebrate their lives

Shilo:

He's 27-years-old today. I remember it. He came so quickly and my life became so much more worth living. Tonight we all celebrate together. The driving range is our destination. It's gonna be a whole lot of fun and laughter.

He was just married a week ago. He married a beautiful young woman who lights up his eyes. I see joy all over his face and hers. They'll be welcoming our first grandson in the summer. This amazing miracle lights all our hearts.

Reid:

He's 25-years-old tomorrow! No joke. They are 2 years and 1 day apart :D He'll celebrate with his friends tomorrow. He took a little while to be born, but when he arrived his big brother was so excited. Hugging gently, kissing his cheek softly and it was a sweet site to behold.

He's on an adventure in music and some travel. He loves teaching kids to swim where he lifeguards. Boy does he love sleeping in. Try waking that one up! :D

Both men now. Both on new adventures. Both on an amazing journey.

What a privilege! I got to wake up this morning knowing I'd be a part of celebrating their lives.

Much love and appreciation to my sister in Christ, Lisa-Jo the one and only Gypsy Mama for bringing us together as a community with these awesome 5-minute prompts.

Overjoyed in the Waiting

Job 29:23 They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.


David is on a four-day weekend. We’re waiting for our eldest son’s wedding on Saturday.

The waiting went by quickly as we had the wedding dress fitting. My daughter-to-be was thoughtful enough to invite me along. She remembers I don’t have a daughter, only two grown sons. She makes the waiting sweeter.

We visited the wedding site last weekend. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We turned a quick visit into a 2-hour family time of connecting in-laws through rest, refreshment and relaxation. We sat on the grass, laughed, talked, and connected. They make the waiting worthwhile.

Last night was the wedding rehearsal. They ran through the program at least three times. So much laughter in the playing around. So much life in Kathryn Scott’s, “I Belong”. So much beauty as the girls march and the boys wait. The little ring-bearer and flower girl. Little one’s oblivion to time fade the waiting away.

Saturday’s almost here. The kids ‘wedding party’ overnight at a vacation house tomorrow. The waiting is almost over.Mr. & Mrs. Taira are waiting to be pronounced. I’m overjoyed in the waiting.

Much love and appreciation to my sister in Christ, Lisa-Jo the one and only Gypsy Mama for bringing us together as a community with these awesome 5-minute prompts.

Five Minute Friday - I Feel Most Loved When

The Tsunami watch really changed my answer. I was just about to sit and write when the news blared on the television. Here's my heart:

I feel most loved when...I'm surrounded by people who really know me and accept me for who I am.

I feel even more loved...with all the supportive social network posts from friends all over the world sent to assure us of prayers while we "waited".

I feel most loved when...I can give love too. It's so complete :D

Today, especially, I feel most loved because in it all God kept saying to my heart, "I'm with you in the waiting."

And...there's the timer calling me to finish dinner.

Much love and appreciation to my sister in Christ, Lisa-Jo the one and only Gypsy Mama for bringing us together as a community with these awesome 5-minute prompts.

Five Minute Friday - When I look in the Mirror

Before I look in the mirror, the day wants to dictate away from my sense of well-being and rev me up to take off in a nano second.

Before I look in the mirror, everything that goes against all I know is true of who I am and all God promises me tries to sweep in and fog up my view.

In that moment, I pause and remember that I am His, He loves me, and a smile breaks across my face.

Then I look in the mirror I see a healthy, vibrant young woman versus someone with an ailment who is healing.

As I look at her in the mirror, I think how crazy awesome that she’s going to be a mother-in-law in two weeks and a grandmother in 5 months!

Looking at myself in the mirror, I see the grays of 45 turning 46 in July and think “I truly want to leave a legacy”. 

In the mirror, the mirror of His word, I see. I see as El-Roi sees. I am chosen, loved, forgiven, made whole, and set free.

I look at me in the mirror on the wall and in the mirror of His word and I smile at His creation. Far yet to go and how very far already come.

When I look in the mirror, adventure stares back. He takes my hand as I reach for His and off we go. 

When I look in His mirror, I see I am safe.

I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo & the 5 Minute Friday gang every week.
Please feel free to join in :D

Each week is a new prompt for 5 minutes of un-edited writing.

Hello’s and Introductions

Hesitations made brave by hearts that dare to welcome and embrace friendship. The words of women - filled with emotion, compassion and care. The beautiful moments of “I relate and acknowledge where you are, who you are”. The stories exchanged build bonds. Women are faithful, so friendship means family. 

It’s time to go back to our families now. We take each other home in our hearts. Our stories now intertwine our lives, forever. 

5 min. prompt each Friday. Join in on the fellowship & Fun.