We Remember You...

"In Memory of those gone from our lives too soon... We remember you in the morning, in the night, when we look at the stars, hear a song, revisit a place, and catch a familiar smell. You are always with us in our hearts." ~ Unknown #quotes #stuckinindiana

Do you miss someone and grieve for them? Grief and loss come in many forms. We miss those who have passed on. We miss those who once were cherished friends or family member but are no longer a part of our lives. Although not experienced in our family... I can imagine "missing & grieving" a child who passed prior to or at birth. 

Love comes with some sort of expectation of what the future will bring. The absence of a loved one can be strongly felt at the most expected times -- clearly out of the blue. Love doesn't necessarily stop when a person is no longer a part of our day to day lives. One of the most wonderful things about love is that it lives on and survives and even thrives when the loss happens.

Hold tightly to those feelings of love. They will bring comfort in the most uncomfortable times. They will be an inspiration that love is worth the cost of losing it.

At a Loss for Words...

I'm finding myself at a loss for words... and the funny thing is... it's okay...

Finding myself in the midst of Him, beyond the music - beyond the noise

Word of God speak; pour down like rain; washing my eyes to see Your majesty

Be still and know that You're in this place...

Please let me stay at rest in Your holiness...

All that I need is to be with You and in the quiet to hear Your voice...

Word of God speak; pour down like rain; washing my eyes to see Your majesty

Be still and know that You're in this place...

Please let me stay at rest in Your holiness...

I'm finding myself at a loss for words... and the funny thing is... it's okay!

Us The Duo - Take Me Home / Finding God In The Ruins

Trina won her heavenly reward today - cancer lost its battle against her body. 

This is a GREAT video for anyone who is hurting, who needs encouragement or wants to provide encouragement, etc.  Make sure to read the script that goes along with the video.

Home is where the heart is... God will take you home to His arms.

RIP Trina! Prayers covering your loved one who are grieving your presence in this earthly world.

From Death Into Life

Today I, along with many in my corner of the world, will celebrate yet another wonderful, loving woman who has stepped from death into life. As I was talking last night with the LOML (aka my hubby) about her, I told him:

"The wonderful things that I could stand up & proclaim about Karen as we celebrate her life are the very same words I would have stood up & proclaimed years ago & throughout the years that I knew her. She was a remarkable woman."

First Monday In Heaven

My "JoyDare" from
a few weeks back.

This morning I awoke with the thought... "Yep! This is her first Monday in Heaven!" Why my mind works like that is a mystery to me. But, it was how I greeted the day in my mind. And, the thought made me smile AND yet feel a little lost at the same time.

Today will be the first weekday in quite awhile that I won't be getting ready to drive over to my friends house to keep her company as she prepares to meet the Lord. She went to be in His arms early Saturday evening. Her diagnosis 5 months ago took us all by surprise. But, she didn't seem to skip a beat as she put everything in place for her passing. If this was her time to leave this earth in God's plan, she was okay with that. She didn't want to die. She'd leave a grieving husband & many grieving friends. But, she had a peace about whatever God's plan was. And, she wanted to

That SATURDAY Feeling!

I've been thinking a lot about SATURDAY this week... it seems to get over-looked in the story of Easter. And, many people in this world are living in the "Saturday" right now -- feeling as though the "Saturday" will never end. There are so many things which plague us in this fallen world:

• grief
• shame
• poverty
• guilt
• loneliness
• insecurity
• despair
• pain (physical, emotional, etc.)
• human trafficking
• sorrow
• depression
• persecution
• loss

Many know that Sunday is coming... but aren't feeling it at all! Seasons of brokenness can feel overwhelming & without end. Times of hopelessness can nearly consume us. Grief & pain can break us down, robbing us of the strength we need for even the simplest things in life. Many things can make us afraid to take chances again or take another path. And, it's easy to allow our poor choices or weaknesses to cause us to begin believing we don't even deserve a better life. Often we can become so weary from the battle that we want to throw in the towel... and just give up. We want to cry out "it is finished" without a glimmer of hope.

I can't imagine how the SATURDAY after Christ's crucifixion must have felt to so many. It had to be a day of much anguish... questioning... fear. I wonder about those who'd stood by the side of Jesus as he spoke the words to bring Lazarus back to life... to bring the daughter of Jairus back to life. I wonder if those people even considered the possibility that their Lord could also come back to life? Or were they overwhelmed with the knowledge of what was at that very moment. There was a separation on that day. And, that separation was horrible. 

I was able to capture this photo during the Good Friday service at
my church which was lead by Alanna Story.
What a blessing that service was!!

YES... I've been thinking a lot about SATURDAY this week... and about how so many people in this world are living in the "Saturday" right now. May our hearts be moved to walk alongside those who are going through that "Saturday" feeling.

"They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip and kill him, but after 3 days he will rise again." Mark 10:34

#JoyDare No. 2497. reflecting on SATURDAY

No Presence... Only Prayers

I'm feeling a bit lost today -- without words -- with no way to support some dear loved ones with my presence... only with my prayers. Today will be a day of relying on many promises which I believe to be true. Today will be a day of reflection, a day of tears, a day of trusting the One who makes this life worth it - worth living. When I'm feeling lost or numb, I take comfort in jotting down some of my thoughts.

 

Today a young man's body will be laid to rest.

Who knew I was this strong?

What a week this has been. The nation cried out in anguish at the senseless terrorizing of the Boston Marathon participants & the Boston community. With the apprehension of the second suspect, there was a slight sense of relief. And, this tragedy has once again reminded us that... there's still a lot to be learned. 

My week began with a bang. My heart sank as I walked through some pretty scary things for a few days with a loved one. I was reminded that I have no control over many of the things that happen in my life & in the lives of those I hold dear. I only have control