Thankful Thursday

                           Grief does not change you. It reveals you.” John Green


32 year old Tim Bosma - son, brother, friend, husband, father....all around good guy. 

A couple of weeks ago, he tried to sell his 2009 truck on Kijiji. A couple of guys came to test drive it, but their real intention - a thrill kill. The family - Christians struggled to understand why.

And that tornado that destroyed so much. How do people even rebuild after that?

At Tim's funeral....his sister made a firm declaration, 'no matter what - we won't let go of hope. And we're going to trust something good will come out of this.'

Faith, hope - incredibly powerful stuff.  This week I'm grateful for:

-My faith  - it's an anchor that holds me steady and strong no matter what happens.
-Hope - a force that can overcome anything and everything. And something I've learned - 'giving up is never an option.'
-Family and friends....they're there in the fun times....the rough ....the sad - all times.
-Gift of prayer. Just knowing someone's praying for me makes a huge difference. Somehow it gives me greater courage and strength. 
-And mostly....His love that taught me love is stronger than anything else. Love that goes the distance. Love that never gives up or lets go. Love that sticks around and love that's the basis for hope and faith and everything good.    

Linking with  Spiritual Sunday and Faith Filled Fridays 

Thankful Thursday

“When people ask me why I run, I tell them, it's the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you're a winner no matter what place you got.” Courtney Parsons

Sometimes things pay off in ways I don't anticipate: recognition, awards, wins. It's fun when that happens....but it's not the reason I do what I do.

Real winners to me, are the people who stand up, do what's in their hearts and reach for their best and don't give in to fear. 
This week I'm grateful for.....

-My daughter receiving a prestigious award for her humanitarian work in the community. She's a great kid....kind, giving and gentle and someone who inspires me to live my best life. 
-My dgt winning the writing contest at the school board. I love that the two of us share a love of writing.
-Writing a chunk more of my latest book, The Game Player. The characters are coming alive again. For awhile it was touch and go but now, I'm running with it again. Yeah!!!!
-For people everywhere who stand up, follow their hearts, have their voice and are making a difference in other people's lives. 
-Mostly - that He loved me enough to pull me out of darkness. He's the reason I wake up smiling. He's the reason I reach for my dreams. He's the reason life is so totally amazing now. 

Thankful Thursday

"Although the world is full of suffering it is also full of the overcoming of it." Helen Keller

Watching the news this week hit home that evil really does exist in the heart of some very deranged people. Some people though....don't give up. They refuse to. Instead they hang on and fight....sometimes for years with no indication of ever getting free......yet they keep holding on and  somehow they do it.....they overcome.
This week I'm thankful for.....

-The bravery of the women in Cleveland to fight for their freedom and realize it.
-The neighbour who heard Amanda's cry for help.....and got involved. He is a total hero. 
-People everywhere who care....in big ways and small and aren't afraid to get involved. 
-My oldest is part of Jr. Achievement. Last night we were at the awards night. I"m grateful for all the dedicated people volunteering their time and expertise to inspire kids to dream big. 
-Mostly for the touch of His gentleness. It's what kept me holding on....and making it to side of freedom.  

Thankful Thursday

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring......all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo F. Buscaglia

The quote's right on. It's amazing that a simple smile can be so incredibly powerful. 

We were hiking the trails and came to the top leading to the exit. A woman stood there, gripping onto a walker barely able to move her feet. I smiled and said hello. We started chatting. She told me she used to love going on the trails...seeing all the birds....breathing in the beauty of nature. Now she can't. 
 
I didn't ask what happened to her. I wondered if she had a MS. She wasn't old. She said she had been wishing her life would end but my smiling and taking the time to talk to her....changed her mind. 

This week grateful for.....

-big wide smiles from my girls when I pick them up from school or activities.
-smiles from strangers in the grocery store....on the streets..... anywhere and everywhere. 
-weather. love it. It feels incredibly good....makes me want to run....fly....sing. And makes everyone smile more.
-smiles from friends when we meet up for lunch or to hike or to spend time together.
-Mostly....that He touched me so incredibly that he turned all the bad into a reason to smile. I  lived angry and sad and lonely and broken. I am totally and forever grateful that He changed all that.  

Thankful Thursday

How did it get so late so soon? 
It’s night before it’s afternoon. 
December is here before it’s June. 
My goodness how the time has flewn. 
How did it get so late so soon?  Dr. Seuss

Time flies. Really flies. Even my youngest said the other day....she can't believe school is almost done.

Time....I want it to count...to mean something....and use it well. I don't always. Sometimes I get lazy...I put stuff off thinking I can do it tomorrow or the next day or the day after. Sometimes I let weeks...months...even a couple of years go by and still don't do that thing that plays in my head. 

Other times....something pops into my mind.....and it's all I can think about until I make it happen. Time....we're only given so much.  Okay....my new commitment - not to waste any more of it. Grateful this week for.....

-Time with my girls...laughing, goofing around and even having deep talks.
-Time spent mentoring a couple of people...Weird how helping them helps me too and reminds me how far I've come.
-Time wandering the woods, listening to the sounds of nature....feeling the power of His presence - I come home infused with incredible courage and bravery and feeling as if I can leap tall building and touch the sky.
-Time with friends....friends that make me feel loved and special.
-Mostly.....Time He's given me. I used to think I wouldn't live past 20 or 26 or 30....but He let me live. And everyday I wake up grateful for being alive.....and given another day to live my best life. 
 

Grace

Linking with Charlotte Spiritual Sunday  at and Laura at Faith Filled Fridays

"Sometimes grace works like water wings when you feel you're sinking." Anne Lamott

I had some free time today so I went to this open field and stood near the small pond, watching the solitary swan and the lone blueheron.

It was crazy windy. I loved the feel of the wind whipping around me as I listened for the whisper of His gentleness. He didn't disappoint. 

I didn't care that my hair was totally wonky or even that it started to rain softly. I didn't care about anything. I just soaked in the calm...

And then the bluey (blueheron) spread his incredible wings and flew off. I think before he did, he turned to me and winked. 

To me....that moment was Grace....gentle trusting I'm here kind of grace. 

I knew as I watched the bluey fly away.....no matter what happens....it'll all be ok.

You gave me wings so I can fly.....Grace. I'm nothing without you.

Thankful Thursday

“Somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive.” Melina Marchetta

It's been a hard week.....watching the news...seeing the terror, the pain and loss in Boston....and then this morning....an explosion in Texas. More people devastated. How does someone move forward after the unthinkable happens? 

Somehow we do....life may change in the way we move in the world..maybe with more caution...maybe with gratitude for each day given b/c none of us knows how long we got. 

It makes me want to live my life with more purpose....shining His hope wherever I can. This week grateful for 

-Today....living, breathing.....alive. 
-A woman at the prison yesterday shared her poems with me that left me stunned and almost in tears. Her life has been horrific....yet she pens powerful words about life and love and God and hope. 
-The group of women I met who desperately want to live their best lives.I feel incredibly honoured to be a small part of their journey's.
-My second book, Dancing Softly, shortlisted for The Word Guild Award. Winners will be announced June 12.
-Mostly...for Him being in my world.....and knowing He holds every minute, every hour...every day in his hands.-