It's Five Minute Friday when I link up with Lisa-Jo of The Gypsy Mama.  Each week we are given a word.  We get to write for five minutes flat, setting our timers.  Our word for this week is STAY.


GO

There are days when I need to stay longer ...but I go.

There are days when I'm able to stay longer ...and I'm blessed.

As I stay in His presence each morning ...He changes me.  

When I venture out into the world ...He stays with me.

His Holy Spirit is within me.  He promised to never leave me.

How different my responses are when I stay in His presence even when I'm out in this world.

STOP

Blessings and love,

Do you spread joy?  Or are you so consumed with your day to day problems that you don't see the big picture?

I've been reading through my journals.  I worked as a cardiovascular nurse specialist for 25 years.  I used to write down my experiences.  Stories of the many people I met along the way.

In a journal entry dated 6/15/96, I remember David.

Talk about joy ...
David had a heart attack.  As I stopped by his hospital room to check in on his progress, he was a joy to behold.
David worked as a janitor in a local community college.  He told me how he gets to know the kids who attend the college. Many of them have problems and David is a steady fixture on the premises.  His smile is contagious and he has a gift for listening.
Many in a similar job would mope around all day.  But not David.  He sees his job as an opportunity to spread joy.  He always points them to Jesus.  After all, he adds, only He can truly solve all their problems.
Even now, David is smiling.  He's grateful to be alive after his heart attack.  And I find him talking and encouraging all of the nurses, doctors and healthcare workers who enter his room.

David's joy is contagious!

I want to be like David.

How about you?  Will you chose joy?


Blessings and love,

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day when we celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans.  How thankful I am to those who have sacrificed to help keep us safe.

I remember so clearly the day my brother Steve enlisted in the Navy.  Our family was so tearful as we said goodbye.  I think this was July 6, 1970 during the Vietnam War.  Steve was leaving for boot camp.  He served his time and then remained in the Navy reserves for many years.

We had a beautiful Veteran's Day ceremony at our school last week. Many of us had tears in our eyes as the band played our national anthem and Amazing Grace.  A 92 year old World War II veteran shared memories with the children.  He was the great grandfather of two of the students at our school.

I loved to watch our little cheerleaders in action.  I cannot remember a day when I was ever so flexible as this!  Don't you just love those outfits?

Birthday Celebrations


We also got to celebrate Heidi's birthday last week.  The kids were so excited about the surprise.  Each one brought a single flower to place in a vase.


Little Hilton was so excited about the surprise.  She ran with a rose behind her back.  When she finally reached Heidi, she handed it to her with the flower crushed in her little hand.  But it opened up nicely in the vase.


I discovered an idea on Pinterest but changed it up a bit.  I found a small pail and placed styrofoam inside.  After using the Ellison press to make flowers in blue and red, I cut out photos of the children in our class and pasted them on.  I then used long sticks to stand them up in the pail.  It turned out very cute!

#572 Veterans who sacrifice to keep us safe
#573 Never tiring of hearing our national anthem
#574 Hearing Amazing Grace played by children from our school
#575 A cool weekend in Phoenix
#576 Breakfast outside at The Farm at South Mountain
#577 My Neti Pot that helps me with my allergies
#578 Time this weekend at home with Greg
#579 Power restored to most in my hometown of Lindenhurst, New York
#580 My niece Katie returned home safely from her overseas trip
#581 Katie's Brooklyn apartment was unharmed by Hurricane Sandy
#582 Celebrating the birthday of my friend and co-worker Heidi
#583 Celebrating a birthday with children is so much more fun
#584 An extra day to rest and refresh before returning to work

I'm linking up with Ann of A Holy Experience as we continue to count our every day blessings.



Blessings and love,

In case you missed the Allume 2012 Conference (like me), you can access the videos here.  You need to create an account on the site but then you can listen to the keynote speakers.  Just look for the Allume 2012 logo on the right sidebar.

Here are a few quotes I wrote down after listening to Ann Voskamp's keynote speech.

• "You have to bury your fear in faith.  Other wise you'll bury your talent."
• "The secret of good writing is good living in secret."
• "Brokenness breaks us from our need to be right."

Blessings and love,