Five Minute Friday - Beuatiful

What's 5 minute Friday? Everything you need to know.
 1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
 2. Link back Lisa-Jo Baker and invite others to join in.
 3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you.
Want to join in the fun? Then head on over by clicking the image or link above.  Have fun!

Today's prompt is Beautiful! Love it.

Go.

Beautiful. What is beautiful? Well, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.  It's beautiful when a child needs their parent. It's beautiful when teaching moments present themselves. It's beautiful when a marriage lasts and is strong. It's beautiful when children learn to problem solve and put others before themselves. It's beautiful when others look at you like your strange because they have no clue what it is like to be you. It's beautiful when the house is quiet or loud. ;) Everywhere I look it is beautiful. When I stop to think Why is it beautiful? I know it is because of my Saviour, God. "He makes all things beautiful, in his time". - Ecclesiastes 3:11. "In all things give thanks." - 1Thessalonians 5:18. I am not bragging on myself, but my God.  He is ever working and molding me into the person he wants me to be. And that is Beautiful!

Five MInute Friday - Change

It's time for Five Minute Friday.  To join in and to get the rules of the game hop on over to The Gypsy Mama.

I haven't joined in in a while.  It's amazing how even 5 minutes can be hard to find sometimes and sometimes honestly I'm just too busy enjoying my family and having fun to make the time to join in.  I'm up early, the kids are still sleeping and I got the urge, so here I am. 
Today's topic:

CHANGE-
When I read or hear the word change my mind automatically sees everything whirling and twirling around.  That is how it is.  Things are constantly moving and changing.  Even when we feel like life is at a stand still and we are going no where, before we know it our circumstances have changed yet once again.
Some things we wish would change faster. Other things we don't want to change. Sometimes I think we spend too much time being concerned with the change or not the change when really we should be enjoying the stage of life we are in because before we know it, it will change and if we aren't careful we are going to miss it.
My oldest is 7 1/2. WOW! Where did all the time go? When did my newborn change into a little girl who is ever changing so quickly into a young lady?  Don't get me wrong I don't want to keep my children babies, although I do love my babies. I simply want to enjoy them while I have them.  If I spend all my time wishing and dreaming and waiting for them to be in a different stage so that I can do other things I won't enjoy them in the stage they are in.  I will miss out on doing things with them now.  And I don't want to miss this!  Each day is a gift that I want to use to prepare my children to grow in the love of the Lord and to be used by him, not in the future but now.  Life is ever changing.  Don't fear the change, don't rush the change instead embrace the moment of change and go with the flow.

Five Minute Friday - Connected

Happy Friday.  I am taking part in another Five Minute Friday.  Head on over to The Gypsy Mama to find out what it's all about.

Connected-

Are you connected with others?  I think most of us are connected, but a good bit of that connecting is with electronics and not people.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the benefit of computers, cell phones and more, I just don't want to lose sight of what is truly important.  Am I connected with people?  You never know when a word fitly spoken will be just the encouragement a person needs.  Am I connected with my children or am I browsing blogs and facebook while they play without any interaction from me.  I do believe it is good for kids to play on their own, sometimes.  I also know it is good for kids to play with their parents, tying those strings of relationship that are so important and so lacking in many families today.  Am I connected with my kids or am I simply shouting orders and giving lessons?  There is a lot of truth to the saying "actions speak louder than words".  What are my actions telling my children?  Am I teaching them the most important things in life by my actions?  How do you teach a child about true joy?  They will put their joy in what you put your joy in.  I have been thinking about little topics like this lately and purposing to be more connected with my kids and making sure I am living the life I want them to live.  "Life is but a vapor" and soon my days with my children will be over.  Will I have spent them wisely, as God would have had me do or will I have wasted them?  I hope in the end I will hear a "Well done".

Five Minute Friday - Remember

Another Friday is here.  I haven't participated in Five Minute Friday for a while, but am excited to give it a go today.  Five minutes of writing no editing. For all the details and to join in, hop on over to The Gypsy Mama blog.




Today's topic: Remember

I remember the first little flutters of movement I felt, how precious and special they were.  The first time daddy could feel the kick. I remember the smell of  a newborn baby.  The sweet sight of something so fragile and new.  The awe and amazement I felt and still feel at the creation of such a tiny life.  The first cries from a new innocent life.  The first tingling sensations of milk.  The first time I nursed. I am blessed to have these memories. They are special and not to be taken for granted. I remember all this and am looking forward to experiencing it all once again.  There was a first time and there will be a last time, and each time is as special as the first.  Remember to cherish the moment.  Don't rush it or wish it away in the middle of a sleepless night.  There will come a day when it is gone and you will not get it back. Remember, cherish the moment!

Five Minute Friday - Growing

It is time for another Five Minute Friday.  Hop on over to the Gypsy Mama for all the details and to join in.

This weeks prompt- Growing.

Go.

Growing, every growing never stopping.  Do you ever wish you could pause time?  Does it seem like it just flies by and you don't have enough time to soak in each stage of life?  It does for me.  It seems like yesterday I was getting married.  It seems like yesterday we brought home our first baby.  It seems like yesterday we brought home our second baby.  It seems like yesterday we found out we were expecting our third baby.  And today where are we today.  We have been married 7 1/2 years, our first is 6, our second is 5 and we are already into the second trimester with our third.  Where did the time go?  When did my babies grow up?  And I still can't believe I will have another baby, Lord willing sometime in Feb or March.  We are all growing, we cannot stop it or control it.  Only God the giver and taker of life can control our growing.  And yet while we are growing we are dying.  Are we prepared?  Do we even know what this means?  Are we sharing and helping other to be prepared for this reality?  Are we growing closer to God or are we dead spiritually?  These are some questions to think about.  It is good to examine our hearts and see where we are compared to where God would have us to be.  I hope I will continue to grow spiritually until the day that I die.  My hope and prayer is that I will be able to guide, teach and train my children as they will grow up in the Lord and so they can continue to grow closer to God throughout their lives.

Times up.  I am sure my thoughts could have kept on coming with this one.

Five Minute Friday - Joy!

It's time for another Five Minute Friday.  I haven't done one in a few weeks so was excited to do this weeks.  For all the details and to join hop on over to The Gypsy Mama.
Today's prompt- Joy.


Go

I love joy.  Joy is more than happiness and sometimes there is joy without happiness.  That seems hard to believe, but I know it to be true.  Only Christ can give us true joy. 

Things that bring joy into my life:
Being a wife to The Man
Being Mom to my kids
The expectation of another sweet little bundle that will grown into a wonderfully unique person all their own
A new day, a fresh start
A completed job
A place to call home
Being with family
Special friends that add to my life in so many ways
Seeing God work in the lives of our children
Salvation-knowing no matter how rough things get here, in the end it will be worth it all.

Five Minute Friday - New!

Here we are again, it's Friday and time for another Five Minute Friday. To join in on the fun and for all the details click the link.  Today's topic New.





Go!

New...
What do you think about when you hear the word new? New shoes. New clothes. New experiences.
What is new? Something that is purchased with the tags still on. Something that has never been done before.  Something that is new to you.  An old piece of furniture, beautiful with age and we say look at my new_____. 
A few things that I think of when I hear the word new are.  A baby that will be here hopefully before I know it.  The sweet smells that only a newborn has.  Another person to experience life all anew.  A new big sister, a new big brother.  A new definition of our family, it will be larger with one more tiny person.  A new way of life that we will have to adjust to. And then I think "there is nothing new under the sun."  God knows, he has seen everything past through the future and he will be with me through it all.  What a comfort to know that there is nothing new to the Comforter.  He will never be caught off guard by surprise.  He knows.

Done.

Five Minute Friday - Beauty!

Wow! It's time for another Five Minute Friday. Click the link for all the details. Today's topic beauty.





Go!

There are many forms of beauty, but none that I know of can be seen without first dealing with the mess and work.  Even a women/girl of natural beauty has to brush her hair.  In order for a house to be neat and tidy, you have to pick up the mess. For a garden to be beautiful you must clean up the garbage and trim the bushes so they don't overrun everything.  This same truth is true in our lives, the only difference is that we cannot clean up the mess ourselves. We must have the help of the Master.  He tweaks and pulls to help us to become beautiful jewels in His hands.  Its the hard times in life that bring out the beauty.  I would rather have the hard times and have to rely on Christ than to have it easy and not need him in my life. I am so thankful for the beauty He shows.

Five Minute Friday - Still

It's time for another Five Minute Friday.  Click the link for all the details.





Today's topic is Still.

I am still exhausted,
still nauseous,
still starving,
and still thankful to be pregnant.  Although I still think I am getting to old for this.
I leave you with this song on Still.

Happy Friday

Five Minute Friday - Grateful

Five Minute Friday! Visit the link to find out more about it.




Are you ready? Go.

Grateful for God who saved a horrible sinner like me.
Grateful for a husband who encourages me to be and do my best while loving me all the time
Grateful for a father who cares for his children's needs not just physical, but spiritual as well.
Grateful for a home that is sweet and family that loves to be together no matter what the circumstances.
Grateful for all my needs that are supplied.
Grateful for lessons learned even when they are hard to learn.

Done.
I could keep going and going, but right now I am grateful for the distraction to my post, my family wants me.  Have a great weekend.

Five Minute Friday - Welcome

Its time for another Five Minute Friday. For details click on the link.



Welcome-
I want to be a good welcomer.  Am I a good welcomer?  I don't know.  It seems that at times I am just not prepared to welcome anyone.  I feel guilty and I determine to do better.  I feel life tricks me into this crazy thing of every day tasks until I don't have time to be very welcoming.  I am coming and going and checking off lists, but what about that person that could use a kind word and maybe a welcoming ear. I am so busy I don't see them.  Christ is and was the perfect welcomer.  He never turned a single soul away.  He was kind and friendly especially to the ugly.  How many times do I avoid the ugly for fear of dirt on my oh so seemingly clean life? But wait if I were to stop and think He did the same for me why wouldn't I do the same for others.  The cleanness in my life is not mine, but his. It is his work that I am seeing.  He welcomed me, a dirty sinner, into his clean perfect love.  I want to be like him. I want to welcome those that need a light to find the path to Christ. I want others for feel the welcome I feel when I read his Word and kneel to pray.  I am not talking into the air, he hears, he is a friend that welcomes my every care.
End.

I am reminded of Luke 6:35 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping nothing again; and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

Wonder of Wonders

Time for another Five Minute Friday.  To join along and for all the details hop on over to thegypsymama.




When I hear the word Wonder. My mind automatically thinks of Creation and the wonder of our Creator.  Have you ever stopped just to think and meditate on how wonderful our world is?  To think that God created it all.  He put everything into motion.  He thought of every tiny detail and how it would interlock with every other tiny detail in our universe.  It is simply amazing and beyond all comprehension.  Think of how nature works together plants, animals, people.  We couldn't really exist without each other.  God designed bugs and animals that help keep our world clean.  Trees and plants that help give us fresh air to breath and man to help take care of the world God gave us.  What a wonderful world God has left us.  Take time to take in the Wonder of Wonders, God he who is responsible for all that is.  Now isn't that a wonder?

Home is Where...

Its Friday again and time for another Five Minute Friday.




Go

Home is where...
things are calm from the storms of life
you know you are loved even in your toughest state
you can let your hair down and be appreciated for it
cuddles, hugs and kisses are always waiting
chores are never done, but you wouldn't have it any other way
story time is never just story time, it is another excuse to cuddle together
you can breath that breath of relief
you are safe
you are happy
you are content
The list could keep going and going.  I am sure you get the idea.  Lets remember to keep our homes heaven on earth.

Done.

Happy Friday!

Backwards Can Be Fun!

I know I have been a little hit and miss with the 5 minute Fridays, but that's because I am one busy mama and sometimes I don't even realize its Friday until its Sunday and Friday is gone.  This weeks topic Backwards.




Go!

Backwards is the way my brain works most of the time.  I do things only later to find out I skipped a very important step.  I say things and then realize I did not make  any sense at all.  It made sense in my backwards mind before I said it.  Sometimes I wish my mind wasn't so backwards all the time and sometimes I am thankful for my backwards mind because it gives  me yet another reason why I am nothing apart from God.  Having a backwards mind can be a challenge, but it can be fun too.  Just think of all the things that I have said and have given a good laugh.  It is like walking backwards, it is different and sometimes it is good to do things a little different.  It gives a new perspective and brings diversity to what would otherwise be a very boring day. 
Sometimes going backwards in time can be a good thing.  Reflecting on the good times of the past.  Where we have come from and all God has done in our lives.  Just remember don't get stuck in backwards time.  Don't remember what God has forgotten.  And always remember to go forward after going backwards!

Done.

Five Minute Friday: On Forgetting

Ready for another Five Minute Friday?  You can read the rules and her latest post at The Gypsy Mama.

Here we go:

Forgetting that is a perfect topic for me.  Now what was I going to say?

Sea what I mean.  Okay all kidding aside. Seriously sometimes I think I have lost my mind.  Take grocery shopping for instance I make a list, I study my list and I still forget something.  Without fail I will forget at least one item when I do my shopping this weekend.  I can't remember a time I haven't had to make a second or third trip to the store.  Even when going on a trip, I make lists and I check them twice, but it never fails after we are a good 2 hours down the road I will remember what it was that I didn't know I forgot.  This bothers me sometimes.  I just wonder if I am this bad now with lists what will I be like when I am old.  My Nana doesn't know who I am anymore.  Sure I could tell her my name and remind her that I am her granddaughter and which of her children I belong to, but it is not the same Nana that I grew up loving.  I don't want to forget who I am, who my children are, my husband or any of that.  One of my prayers is that I will have a sharp mind until the end.
There are good things about forgetting though.  Forgive and forget.  This doesn't mean we are to be foolish and keep getting duped because we 'forgot'.  It simply means that when we forgive someone we don't hold it over there head, keep bringing it up or use it against them.  I am glad that Christ forgave me and put my sins as far as the East is from the West, never to remember them anymore.

Times up.