Family- What Really Matters!

 

What a busy few years!  I haven't had much time to contribute to my blog.  Having our nephew Joey living with us forever-full-time has started us back into soccer, baseball, and school activities.

Our daughter Natalie got married to a wonderful man named Nic.  They have started their own memories, while adopting two dogs and buying a house.

My husband Steve retired last month after serving 33 years for the LA County Sheriff's Department. Whew!  Now he gets to stay at home and relax a bit, until he gets bored and asks for a To-Do list.

Our son Kyle will be graduating for a technical school as an Electrician in May.  And, our son Chris continues to manage a cell phone store while plugging away at college courses.

I thank God everyday for my family!  This is what it's all about, serving and building relationships with the people that God gave to me to care for.  I need to remember that everyday.  The World will still revolve even if I stop pushing it. 

Faith- Survival Skills for Relationships

This month my church, Saddleback Church, started a new series on "Survival Skill for Relationships called "You Make Me Crazy."  I find that this series has been very helpful to me since I have a lot of "Crazy Makers" in my life.  What I also found out is that I can be a "Crazy Maker" too.  I'm sure that my family, friends and coworkers will agree.  Topics from "Six Keys to Peace in a Relationship," "Who's Pushing Your Buttons," to "Resolving Conflict," I have learned that we all take part in both sides of the Craziness.  My goal this month is to not miss a weekend sermon and to apply the strategies that I learn in my everyday life with my family, friends and coworkers.  This is in fact how God wants us to learn, by applying His words to our lives and affecting those around us in a positive way.  Check out this series in the archives of the Media Center at saddleback.com/mc/archives/.

Food- Summer Fruits & Vegetables

My favorite time of year is when I see the fresh summer fruits and vegetables at the market.  I'm an emotional eater so the textures and colors do me good during the summer.  This is usually the wake up call for me to get back on track in my life long challege to eat healthier.  My goal this summer is to visit every Farmer's Market that I can, no matter where I visit, enjoy the local fresh summer fruits and vegetables.  So it's time to get out the wok and blender, or your Magic Bullet, and cook up a colorful storm.

Fun- Family Weddings

Here we go!!!  Our oldest child is getting married!

Wow!  I guess that I have to get older sometime.  I am so excited to help our oldest child, Natalie, plan her wedding.  It was funny, I gave her my book, "The Brides Book on Etiquette" that I so carefully selected by going to the public library back in 1986 and checking out at least 20 books about weddings and planning.  I liked this one so much that I went to the book store and had to order it and wait for 3 weeks for it to come in.  Natalie said something like "Wow, this is old."  What's wrong with it?  It was new at the time as being last published in 1984.  Times have changed when you can see a whole book online.  Forget to book, there are so many magazines and websites for weddings that you can almost stay at home and purchase everything at the tip of your keyboard.  I was happy to see her carry it alongside her brides magazine.  One thing that is timeless is etiquette.  I'm sure there will be more exciting updates to come when I have to find a "Mother of the Bride" dress.  Yikes!

Family- Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Jessica Joy Rees was such and inspiration to us all with her "NEGU", (never ever give up) attitude and her sweet caring spirit.  Jessie's parents, Erik and Stacey Rees, obeyed Jesus a long time ago and brought her to Him.  They raised her to love the Lord and to be as close to God as possible.  Jessie was the most unselfish 12 year old that I have ever known.  With each of her posts on Facebook she either shared her daily struggles, never complaining, or she asked everyone to pray for another of God's children who where also fighting cancer.  Her posts where always upbeat as she also posted photos of those children receiving a "Joy Jar" filled with love and fun to help them endure their pain just a little longer.  Even though it is always hard to see a child loose their battle with any illness, I feel comforted that she no longer feels pain and is dancing with Jesus.  She has experienced the Hope that we all can have in Jesus Christ.  Jessie has fulfilled God's purpose for her life and memories of her will continue to bless and encourage others to do the same.

Faith- I know that Our Hope has Arrived!

As I watch everyone during this time of year I see so much chaos.  People trying to get their holiday shopping done, going to holiday parties and decorating in holiday themes.  What I also see is the commercialization of the "holidays" in full force.  This year it seems to be especially noticeable.  The media are highlighting the stories of people that are upset because they feel intimidated to drive down a city street where a banner was hung across the road that read "Merry Christmas."  Complaining that the "Christmas" part was forcing Christian beliefs on them.  Some of our elected officials in certain states have forbidden anything that suggest "Christmas."  Our potential Presidential candidates are questioned about their Christian beliefs and made to look inadequate, even though our country was built on Christian beliefs and ethics.

I like to wait to decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving.  The favorite part of my decor are my nativity scenes.  When I send out my Christmas cards, I want to share then message of Christ's birth.  It's funny how our the entire country, and other countries around the world, set this time aside to celebrate.  I am and they are also celebrating the fact that on Christmas Our Hope has arrived in Christ's birth. 

God loved us so much that he came down to Earth in human form so that we could relate to Him.  We were not getting it back then, as we aren't getting it now.  He came so that we could learn from Him and go out and tell everyone else about Him.  I await for the day the Christ comes back again and I can tell him that I tried my best as an imperfect human.  I want to tell him thank you for being relatable, for being forgiving and for reaching out to me.  For helping me to grow and learn from Him and for giving me the courage to share about Him to others.  It's so easy to give in to what is dishonest or just not good at all.  It's hard to do what is right and honest.  I struggle every day to do my best.  Sometimes I fail and sometimes I am victorious.  In the end I know that I have not denied that I am a Christian and that Christ has forgiven me and loved me.

So as I watch everyone run around during this Christmas time of year I can pray for them that they "get it" and share with then if they don't.

Have a Very Blessed Christmas!!       

Fun- The Fun and Madness of Family Get Togethers

Steve and I say this every Thanksgiving.  "Well, we pulled off another one."  I have had Thanksgiving at our home every year for the past several years.  For one reason, I have Wednesdays and Thursdays off work.  Another reason is that Christmas dinner and gift exchange is just too crazy with this crowd.  Really, I love this Holiday.  Thanksgiving has such a great historical meaning and message.  I love this time of year as the season changes, even in Southern California.  Even we get a glimpse of Liquid Amber trees in the neighborhood.  My home is in full Autumn bloom and I can start to wear my sweaters. 

(Dad, Mom and Bruce Thanksgiving 2010- This year is the first Thanksgiving without my dad.) 

I feel like the rest of society has almost forgotten what the true meaning is.  I heard so much talk of "Turkey Day."  I want to make sure that our family and friends remember that this is the time of year that we truly thank God for what he has given us and the blood that has been shed by those who fought for everything that we are thankful for.  We hear so much about how the rest of the world is suffering in poverty and that we who live in the United States of America are in the top 10% of the wealthiest people in the world.  And that number is based on the poorest in our great country.  Wow!  I am so thankful to God for putting me where I am and giving me the means to help others.  In a nutshell, if you are truly thankful, then you will give back.  Everything you have is indeed God's anyway.  How will you now give back as we enter the Christmas season?