Heart Choices: 2013-07-21 -->

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Five Minute Friday: Broken


It's Five Minute Friday when I link up with the Gypsy Mama.  This week Lisa-Jo's blog has been having some issues so we're linking up on her Facebook page instead.  Our writing prompt for this week is BROKEN.

GO
I like to think of myself as strong and capable.  Maybe it's the Norwegian genes that I inherited.  Or maybe it's because I suffered as a child sitting on the sidelines before my heart surgery.  I was determined to be strong and capable, not having to depend on anyone but myself.  After all, I didn't want to be hurt and disappointed.

I work hard.  I give my best in all I do.  Isn't that enough?

But life happens.  We don't live in a cocoon after all. We are impacted by others. Challenges and trials came my way.

Everything changed in the last three years.  My life as I knew it became different in so many ways.  I felt broken.  I didn't know what to do. I came to the end of myself.

That became the beginning of a new adventure.  Instead of looking to self, I began to look to God.  I began to depend on Him to supply me with what I needed.  He became my strength and my anchor in the valley of difficulty.  In my brokenness, I discovered that He is the One to turn to.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

STOP

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

When it Rains it Pours


Rain is rare in Phoenix.  The monsoon season has arrived and Sunday we had a downpour.  It rained so hard that the drains couldn't keep up.  There are many washes in our area and they filled up quickly.  Some drivers had to be rescued when their cars became stranded in deep water.  

In our condo, we have a back patio that runs the length of our place.  Since we've downsized considerably, we still have many boxes stored in the back. When the skies were getting dark, Greg and I went into the back and began making sure all the boxes were off the ground and covered.  While we were working, it seemed like the skies opened up and down came the rain.  I got so soaked it looked like I just stepped out of the shower.  I struggled to open the side gate so the water would flow out.  We had about 5 inches accumulating in the back.

I'm so glad the rain came during the weekend and not during summer camp with the children.  After all, they love to go swimming.

Last week our theme for camp was Asia.  They are on a trip around the world. They learned to say hello in Chinese.  All week they were saying "Ni hao".  They learned about customs, chopsticks and panda bears.  I was so proud of them when they told our principal what extinct and endangered species were.  They had fun doing crafts.  I brought in a bag of fortune cookies. They were so excited when they discovered 'notes' inside each cookie.  They laughed when I read the 'notes' (that's what they called them).  I must admit that I changed a few of them to things like "Mackenzie's daddy loves her".

I especially love to watch the children during free play time.  I found our youngest child under the table talking to a doll.  

There's so much in life that we can't control.  But I've found that I do have a choice in how I view things.  I prefer to focus on what's good and to be thankful.
  
So I continue to count my every day blessings ...

#873 Much needed rain
#874 Greg and I got everything covered up just in time
#875 Hearing my dad's voice each weekend
#876 Spending time with Greg's sister who is visiting from Maryland
#877 My morning quiet time
#878 Looking forward to my daily morning workouts
#879 Seeing photos on Facebook of my classmates from years ago
#880 Only one more week of summer camp
#881 Watching the children interact with one another
#882 Seeing the delight on their faces as they discovered 'notes' in their fortune cookies
#883 Finally getting into a rhythm of changing 12 children into bathing suits and back into clothes again
#884 Discovering and trying new recipes from Pinterest

I'm linking up with Ann of A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Mondays.



Blessings and love,

QuickEdit
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