Thursday Thirteen #14

This will seem a little ah... odd. But my list today is about what my perfect world would be like. It's mainly due to the melancholy mood I've been in lately. But that's alright, I know this too shall pass. :o) This is off the top of my head. There is lots more that I would add to my list, but since this is a TT list, I had to limit my list. In my perfect world...

* There would be unconditional love.

* The color of our skin would not matter.

* What we look like would not matter.

* There would be no physical, verbal or mental abuse.

* We would not be selfish.

* We would all greet each other with a hug.

* Time with family would be a high priority for all.

* We would respect one another.

* We would appreciate the here and now, not take it for granted.

* We would realize that hard work does pay off.

* We would be more open with one another and willing to share our experience to help others along.

* Babies would not be aborted. Who knows, maybe the babies that are being killed are the ones that will find a cure for aids, cancer, diabetes and other diseases.

* Everyone would abide by the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

My perfect world does exist, it's just not here. It's called Heaven. One day He will welcome me with open arms. I hope to see you there too...

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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"Do" Even When You Don't Want To

The harder it is for me to do something for him the more I want to do it. Why, because I love him. Do I do this all the time? No, but I try. Do I feel like this all the time? No, but my heart's desire it to want to be like that all the time.

If I left the things I do up to feelings, I probably wouldn't do it. Think about it. Who really "feels" like taking out the trash? Who really "feels" like filling up the gas tank? Who really "feels" like ironing or doing house chores? Who really "feels" like running errands? See what I mean? These are only the little everyday things. The same applies to the bigger things.

I think it all, like most things, comes down to choice. I chose to do because I love my Knight. Guess what, because he loves me, his heart's desire is to do for me too. Wow! Imagine that.

Without meaning to, I am a selfish creature. I don't like to think of myself this way, but it's true. I daily have to chose to die to self. By doing that, it frees me up to love others. Throughout God's Word we read, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I looked it up, it's quoted seven times. (Leviticus19:18 , Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8)

When I first became a Christian, I thought this scripture applied to my neighbors, friends or other people I come in contact with. Well yes, that's true. Then one day it dawned on me, "HELLO! Those I LIVE with ARE my neighbors!" They are my closest neighbors. Ah... it all made sense. These "neighbors" see the ugly in me and the not so ugly. I also see this in them. Which makes it all the harder. At the same time makes it all the sweeter.

In "doing" for others we are blessing them. Without realizing it, we get blessed in the process. I know I get this joyous, full feeling within me when I "do". There are times that I can't physically "do" but praying is certainly something I can "do" at any time.

So even when I don't want or feel like "doing", I remind myself, that it's not about me. It's all about Him who died for me. When I "do" for others, I'm "doing" for Him.

Thursday Thirteen #13

My Abuela Caky (abuela is Spanish for grandma) was an extraordinary woman. She was kind, loving and giving. Not just of her time or love... she shared and gave what little she had. If you want to find out just what an awesome lady she was and how she came to be here... hop on over to A Glance Into My World.

Today for my TT list, are songs that are helping me grieve the passing of my Abuela Caky. I will share songs that will express how I'm feeling. Songs that God is using to comfort me. Songs that continue to give me hope and keep my faith strong. May they give you hope and strengthen your faith...

To read the lyrics, click on the title of the song. To hear part of the song click on the artist.

* Beauty From Pain by Superchick

* My Savior My God by Aaron Shust

* Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns

* For Such A Time As This by Wayne Watson

* Volare by Gypsy Kings

* Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day

* When I Get Where I'm Going by Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton

* Homesick by Mercy Me

* Whispers In The Dark by Skillet

* What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

* Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World by Israel "Izzy" Kamakawiwo o'le

* Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crown

* This Is Your Life by Switchfoot

Beauty From Pain

My heart is heavy. My spirit is light. I just can't bring myself to share right now. My Abuela Caky has gone to be with our Lord and Savior. My soul rejoices, but my heart weeps.

My Savior is comforting me. I know she is no longer in pain or suffering. She is in the presence of the Creator. Knowing that makes my pain tolerable. I hold on to the hope that one day we will be together again. I love you Abuela. You are missed, but you will live on in my memories.


Beauty From Pain
by Superchick

The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I've died

And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God let me walk through this place

And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames

Here and I am at the end of me (at the end of me)
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise there will be a dawn

Friday Feast

{Featured Flickr Feast by Pastor Rob}

Appetizer
When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?

I enjoy traveling by plane and RV's. Being that we are a family of seven, RV'ing is the best and most affordable way for us to travel. We've had some great vacations. We've been able to travel all over the South all the way up to Canada. My Knight and I, thanks to the military, were able to travel all over Europe. :o)

Soup
Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?

No. There are many that I would like to meet.

Salad
When was the last time you were really, really tired?

I have chiari malformation 2 with a 12mm herniation & hydrocephalus. I also have lupus & fibromyalgia. With these bag of goodies, I tire easily. BUT, I don't let it get me down. I've learned to pace myself. Key words are... rest often.

Main Course
If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?

Forrest Gump. I would love to hear his other stories.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.

...my loved ones saved. The thought of being eternally separated is too painful.

Thursday Thirteen #12

This past Saturday, we went to the MacDill Air Force Base Airfest 2007. Our main goal was to see the Blue Angels. We got to see the Blue Angels and much more. We took over 400 pictures! AND we got to video tape too. I was a happy camper. :o) Oh and guess what it was all free!

I have more and better pictures on my family blog. Feel free to check it out at: A Glance Into My World. Should the Blue Angels ever come your way... go see them. you'll be in for a treat.

Today I'll be sharing 13 pictures we took at the Airfest...


























Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



Not My Will But His

Since he was a young Squire, my Knight had always dreamed of being a pilot. Flying planes was all he ever thought of. Well, that and girls. LOL! Come on he was a boy after all. :o)

Our school was pretty big. It offered lots of different types of classes that other schools didn't offer. One of the classes was an aviation class. He got his private pilot license while in high school. He had a goal. He wanted to go to Annapolis. He wanted to serve his country and fly jets. That was his dream. Annapolis accepted him. He was well on his way. Until a a more extensive eye exam showed he was color deficient. He is not color blind, that's a different problem. His deficiency was not bad enough to prevent him from getting his private pilots license. But bad enough not to be able to fly commercial or for the military. His dreams were chattered.

God had other plans for him. Something beyond his wildest dreams. You see had he gone on to Annapolis, he would of had to be in the a academy for 4 years. While in the academy, the cadets can not be married. Once you graduate from the academy you are an officer. You have to serve a minimum of 6 years in active duty. Oh, after you graduate, they can get married.

He decided to join the Army. While in basic training my Knight and I started courting... via letters. Back in 1981, email wasn't around and neither were cell phones. Ooops, I almost started to chase the rabbit again. Sorry about that. Let me get back on track.

Had he gone away to Annapolis, we wouldn't have been able to get married in the summer of 1982. There are many questions I wonder about. Would we have set up our first home in Ft. Polk, Louisiana? Would we have met Don, who impacted our lives that can only be described as, "seeing Christ light shine through him"? He walked the walk and talked the talk. Would we have been able to live in Germany? Would we have traveled all around Europe? Would we have made the life long friends we made? Would we have settled in this Sunny place? Would my Knight have become a software engineer? Would we have been blessed with our five precious children? Would he be working for the wonderful company he works for? Would he love his job like he loves his job now? Would we be living in the country? Would we have accepted Christ into our lives when we did? So many "would we have...".

My Knight is not one to dwell on "what if" or " why". He's all about choosing to move on... to persevere. I love his attitude. His "can do" way of being. His "you can do it" way of thinking.

Today we spent the day at the MacDill Air Force Base Airfest 2007. Our main goal was to see the Blue Angels. We got to see way more than the Blue Angels. They had all types of different kind of airplanes, helicopters and machinery. Not only were they there for us to see, but we could go "in" them. We got to talk to different soldiers regarding the different things we saw. It was an eventful day. We all had a "beyond" wonderful time. The maneuvers we saw the pilots do with their airplanes will forever be embedded in our minds. We even got to see paratroopers. They all put on a spectacular show.

I was in awe by everything I saw. Most of all, I was in awe of my Knight. I had thought that maybe going to see the show would make him think of what could of been. I was wrong. He loved every minute of it. He loved being there with his children and his Lady. Showing us all, all the different planes and telling us all about them. He's so wise and knowledgeable. I couldn't help but look and admire him. He was watching others live out their dreams. While he is living the dream, he never dreamed possible... following God's will for his life.