I'll be back!

Dear Siestas!

My daughter is coming in town tomorrow evening for the long weekend. This is her first visit home from New York since she left before Memorial Day. I'll pick her up at the airport after work. I'm so looking forward to some good quality time with her! She only has one request when she comes home. (Well, really she has a list of things we need to get accomplished!) Anyway, she asked if I would give her my full attention and not spend too much time on my computer. So... if you don't see me these next few days you'll know I'm "bonding" with Meghan and I will be back!

Have a great holiday weeked, friends!

Love,
Angie xoxo

I Love You, Lord.

Okay... this has been on my heart all day long...

During my devotional time this morning something came to me. This may seem difficult for you to understand, but this just hit me today. I've known for such a long time that I must praise God and give Him all of the glory for what He does in my life! Yes, I've prayed to Him, I gave thanks to Him. Yes... I have. I even sing about it! But...not until just THIS morning, I learned that He wants to hear that I LOVE Him. I know I should know this, I really do.

But...Remember the other day when my son told me through tears that he loves me, he appreciates me...and all of the other things a parent wants to hear from their children? Well, I HAVE NEVER talked to God like that. I've never been a daughter and REALLY thanked my Father for all He's done like my son did! This probably doesn't make any sense to you and is just very obvious. But the feeling I got when my son told me those things was overwhelming. I know how happy it would make Him! I feel so badly that after ALL He's done for me (and continues to do), I have never even told Him! I just have one thing I need to make clear...
and it's this...

I Love You, Lord.

You probably think I am the weirdest person you've known, (read about)!
~Angie xoxo

Happy Birthday, John

John Arthur... I will never forget that Tuesday evening back in 1986! We were eating a spaghetti dinner and I just knew it was time for your arrival. We went to the hospital at about 7:00 and you were born at 7:25! You were 6 pounds, 15 ounces! I've been proud to be your mother since that day!



It was so much fun helping you celebrate last night at Mitchell's Fish Market! We missed Meghan!



I LOVE YOUR SMILE!

I love you, John!
Mom xoxo

An Award?!

1 Thessalonians 5:10-12
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I was so excited, yet humbled by the very sweet gift I was given first thing this morning! My sweet siesta, Kim gave me the nicest gift I have ever received! I mean this...

I don't share with people about how my quiet time with God goes, but today I must share this with you girls! I had just been talking with God about my friendships and the insecurity that I have always felt in that area of my life. Then...just a few moments later, when I checked my e-mail there was this gift from Kim! I am not kidding!

She is such a NICE, neat girl and has been a great friend from the first time we met (in this blog world). I really hope I get a chance to meet her in person because I admire her so much! She has been an inspiration to me and I'm sure everyone else who meets her! Her courage to lead her Bible study is amazing. Even though it hasn't been easy, her perseverance is unbelievable! Thank you so much, Kim! If you stop by to visit her you will be blessed!

If you don't know about this gift, it is meant to be passed on to others who we think are very special women. I have been blessed by my sister-in-law, Stacey for many years since she married my oldest brother! I've watched her grow in her faith so much and it is so great to have her as my sister-in-Christ! We've had many special moments together. One of them was when we stood above my sister who passed away. I will never forget it and I'm sure Stacey won't either. I also admire her because she has a heart for God like no other! She and my brother have taken care of so many children in foster care over the years and have treated them as one of their own. She was also the one who gave me my first Christian c.d. ever! It was the beginning of my addiction! It was a Clay Crosse c.d. and definitely one of my favorites. So... long story short, I must give this award to my favorite sister-in-law, Stacey! I love you!



I'd love to give this award to every single woman who has commented on my blog! You are all so sweet and I've enjoyed the e-mails and all of the nice, encouraging, support you have given me since I started this. I can't believe I can have tears in my eyes while typing on my computer to total strangers! :)
Thank you all for being my Siestas!!!

In Christ Alone,
Angie xoxo

PROTECTION

This morning I decided that today I am going to surrender my life to Jesus...AGAIN! Sometimes I let fear take hold of me, so I decided that just for today, I am going to believe that God is watching over me (...and my son who is turning 21 this weekend, and my daughter who is flying down to South Carolina for the weekend and my husband who is stressed about starting his new Vet practice) ...and He has everything under control! So I need to surrender again to God's will!
I feel a lot better!

He is watching over you, too!

Much Love,
Angie xoxo

YEAH!

Thank you, God!

1). I am Thankful for all of my sweet sisters in Christ! I have such a big family! Your nice comments are so appreciated!
2). I am Thankful for our nice warm weather! We had a scare a couple of days ago (62 degrees in Michigan!) and I am so glad Summer is back!
3). I am Thankful that God keeps waking me up in time to do my "quiet time". My day just doesn't work as well if I don't start out seeking God!
4). I'm Thankful my computer came in the mail today... but I wasn't able to keep any of my data. Oh well! :)
5). I am just so Thankful for my life tonight!

HOMETOWN

(LAST YEAR)

Sunday my son left to go back to college. It was quite an emotional day! Reality was setting in for him "big time"! He realized that the next time he will be home again for any length of time will be for Christmas break! After that his plan is to transfer to the University of South Carolina to finish up there and go to graduate school down there.

He was sentimental the last couple of weeks. He wanted to spend time with me! He realized how much he loved our small town growing up. He just looked at things differently knowing he is moving! He is sure this will be the best thing for his future!

As we were packing his stuff to go back...
He told me what every mother wants to hear...but rarely does! He told me that I was a great mom and that he appreciates me and all I've done! He needed me to know that. We both shed a few tears and it was a moment I will never forget as long as I live!



Our Lives change, kids grow up and move away, but Clarkston, Michigan will always be their hometown!

Words Of Wisdom

Sisters in Christ...
Why is it that we come to a crossroad and have to choose to do the right thing and it is so difficult? I am trying to obey God in a situation, but I always want to take the easy way out!

Let's just say for fun that I have this friend..........
She recently started a new job in a new city. She has met a lot of new people who are very nice to include her in social gatherings. The friends want to go out after work for drinks, appetizers or dinner. She wants to join them, but doesn't make as much money as they do and they want to split the bill evenly. My friend says that when you are out of college it is not appropriate to ask for a separate check. Recently she has found it easier to make excuses so she doesn't have to tell them that she cannot afford to join them. Now... they are all planning a party for one of her co-workers. They are definitely "out of her league" when it comes to the elaborate celebration they are planning. What does my friend do? She doesn't want to seem "cheap"!

I want to give my friend good, christian advice but I am confused as to how to help her.
I would appreciate any words of wisdom from my sisters!
Thank-you in advance!
Angie xoxo

SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY

My parents have a lot of grandchildren and way back when... They had a tradition to take each one of them on a "SIX-YEAR-OLD TRIP". When it was Meghan's turn to go, my parents decided to take a week long boat trip on Lake Michigan. As I recall, the first couple of days went well... until there was a storm! She got VERY nervous and wanted to come home early. My parents tried to settle her down, but there was no changing her mind. She wanted off that boat! They finally decided they had to call me because she said she missed her Mommy and she wanted to "smell" me! With that said, I drove up north to pick up my little girl! Don't tell them, but I missed her too!



This is a favorite picture of mine. This is my Dad and John. We decided to name him John after my husband's father and Arthur after my Dad. When my kids were young they spent a lot more time with my parents than they did as they grew up. My parents moved to Florida and California before they settled in North Carolina. I love how John wanted to snuggle with his Papa!



This picture shows the grief of a family that was torn apart after my sister passed away. This was the first Christmas without her! I wanted to post this picture simply as a reminder for me! I need to have more compassion for my mother. Like we all say, we aren't supposed to bury our children. I cannot even think about having to do this. Since this picture was taken, my mother has also been grieving the loss of my Dad, her husband and best friend of 51 years! This woman has had so many losses in her life and she needs so much grace! Please pray for my Mom!

Am I taking this empty-nest thing a bit too far???

Blessings

It's Thursday night and I only have a little while before it is actually Friday morning, so I better hurry to finish this!



1). I had heard this message told by John Ortberg, and I listened to it again on my way to work this morning. He has recently published the book," It All Goes Back in the Box". If you have never heard this I highly recommend it!

Here are a few of highlights I wanted to remember...
--To recklessly eliminate "hurry" from my life. Jesus was never in a hurry!
--To remember that "it could be worse".
--Live my life wisely... Don't be a "fool".
--More will never be enough!

2). I am also very Thankful for my health tonight! I had a patient today who has some pretty heavy duty health concerns that required me to "double glove"! I could list all of his issues, but that wouldn't be right... but they are all in my mind! It's only by the grace of God that it's not me... Thank you God! Extra prayers go out to this dear patient who has a lot on his plate, yet still wants to take care of his teeth!

3). I am also Thankful for all of my blog friends! It's such a gift to have met all of you! If you want a real treat, read Crown Laid Down's series on horses! She is such a gifted writer and I promise you will be blessed by reading it! Since my computer is still not working, I can't add her link, but it is:
http://crownlaiddown.blogspot.com/

Well, I better "hurry" and publish this so I can "hurry" and get to bed!... oops... I almost forgot I'm not supposed to hurry!
Love,
Angie xoxo

OUR Offering... It's the least we could do!

I can't help but wish I would have started this blog a long time ago. It is a journal of all of the precious times I've had along this journey of life! This was definitely a... GOD STOP!





Flashback... (Spring~ 2004). My son was going into his senior year of high school and my daughter was finishing her first year of college. I had always wanted to take them on a snorkeling trip to one of my very favorite places on earth... the Island of St. John. This place is paradise! I asked them if they could take a week off of work in the Summer??

THEN, God began to nudge me... I mean, grab me! I had been thinking about going on a mission trip with our Church to West Virginia... Long story short... I talked the kids into going on this trip! Actually, if I remember correctly, I told them we were going to do this, just this once! They were not happy! (I know, in a perfect world my children would want to do this.) We went to a couple of the meetings and at the final picnic before we left my kids each said one thing... 1). My mission is to not say ONE thing all week long to these people! 2). These people are weird!



Fast forward to our ride home from the trip... My kids both told me this was the best trip of their lives! (And they've been on a lot of trips!) They thanked me for making them go! I mean seriously... they had a great time thinking about others and appreciating what a great life they have! They worked very hard for a week solid! They tore down a roof and replaced it with a new one for a very needy family! It was awesome! Meanwhile I was at another house painting! My husband was at another site.

My son went with us again the following year. In fact, it was his idea! He was going with or without us! My daughter would have gone had she not already planned a study abroad to England!

Once again... God has a way of working things out perfectly, in His timing! We were blessed and changed forever!

There's always a song to go along with a memory...


Offering

Magnificent Holy Father
I stand in awe of all I see
Of all the things You have created
But still You choose to think of me
Who am I that You should suffer
Your very life to set me free
The only thing that I can give You
Is the life You gave to me
(Chorus)
This is my offering, dear Lord
This is my offering to You, God
And I will give You my life
For it's all I have to give
Because You gave Your life for me
I stand before You at this alter
So many have given You more
I may not have much I can offer
Yet what I have is truly Yours
(Chorus)
This is my offering...

by Third Day

Crunch Time!

Okay... Here we go again! In exactly one week from today my son will be back at college to start his junior year at Michigan State University! It's always the same for me the week before they leave...

I try to pack in EVERYTHING I can with them. We played golf yesterday. Last night went to the movie to see Bourne Ultimatum (Which I have to admit I didn't get! John said it was because I got so overwhelmed by all of the killings that I couldn't get past it.) Today we both worked and by lunch time I was on the phone making tee times for this evening! We ended up playing one hole because it was sooooooo slow and it was ladies league night. Just for the record, I am sure we ladies are way faster players than the guys! We decided to just get a bite to eat together instead. We got a rain check and will play Friday morning! My husband was so sweet to ask me if I wanted to have "alone" time with him. I took him up on the offer. Tomorrow I want to play tennis with him. When I was at the grocery store tonight I found myself buying extra soap, laundry detergent and those little extras for him to take. I want to make all of his favorite meals this week. I want to do his laundry for him.

I have such a difficult time with saying goodbye to my kids when they leave. I try to be strong for them and fight the tears... and it never works! I know he hates to leave home too, really. He would never want to admit it, but he likes it here. He's excited to get back to his independent life and his lacrosse and all, but I think a part of him loves his hometown.

I get sentimental because I really don't know if he will come home next Summer. The chances of that are quite slim. I just want to cherish each moment until he leaves!!!

I'm ready for my daughter to come home from her internship in New York! Wait a minute... she isn't coming home or going back to college. She lives there permanently!! She is working in the real world!

I LOVE being a Mom... but I'm not so sure about this empty nest thing!?!

p.s. God has everything in control!

Team Annika!

I had the best time this past Friday! I played in a golf scramble with my friends, Hannah, Jason and their brother-in-law, Dan. It was to raise money for Hearts of Hope. Hannah and Jason lost their daughter last November from complications from a congenital heart defect. Annika Elizabeth lived for about 12 days! You wouldn't believe how much faith my friends showed during the difficult days that little Annika fought for her life! There were literally hundreds of people who were touched by this little girl and I'm sure many people came to Christ because of her!!! God continues to do so much in the lives of Hannah & Jason!

I was honored to be asked to play with my dear friends and I hope it turns into an annual event!

LOOKING FOR LINCOLN? WWW.BAYLISANIMALHOSPITAL.COM

Lincoln...
The LOVING, LIFE-FILLED, LAUGHTER-FILLED, LOYAL, LIKEABLE, LOVE OF MY LIFE!

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years"
By Abraham Lincoln


I Love You!
Angie xoxo

Thankful Tonight!

It's Thursday evening and believe it or not, I woke up this morning thinking about what I wanted to remember to be Thankful for tonight!


1). I am Thankful that I really didn't "lose" it too much about losing ALL of my data on my computer! For some reason I had a feeling of peace around it! It wasn't me... I am positive it was the Holy Spirit who helped comfort me! It brought up many emotions... Don't get me wrong, I am still VERY bummed about it! It turns out that my husband did back up some of my older photos. But, I still don't have any of the other stuff! Everything else will have to just work itself out!

2). This next praise report is just about too much! I was in Church last night and my favorite pastor announced he is moving to New York to start a Church there! Did you get that? New York, where my daughter lives! When I went to visit her we talked about how important it is for her to find a Church to make some connections. They will be taking the next year to get a location and all of the details worked out, so they asked us to all pray to ask God if He is calling us there. I doubt very much He would call us there, but I was thinking about Meghan! Maybe she could get involved! This brings me to tears! I LOVE our Church!

3). I am Thankful that I have been able to wake up early enough to do my quiet time almost every day! I am enjoying my study of David!

4). This is kind of shallow, but I am Thankful that my girlfriend asked me to play in a Golf Scramble tomorrow! It should be a fun day! I love scrambles! And.. it's for a great charity!

I LOVE how God works things out!! ;)

Thank You!

Thank you, Siestas!

Thank you for all of your kind words and encouragement for me leading a small group! I will keep you posted! I never thought I could get this kind of love and support on a computer! I still find it so amazing how I feel I have a whole family by being a Christian! I am SO blessed!

It's been a rough day, but I still have so many reasons to Praise God!

Much love to all of my siestas,
Angie xoxo

Self-Control

I am so upset right now that I seriously don't know what to do! My laptop hard-drive is gone! I just took it into the A**le Store and found out that it is ruined!!! I lost all of my music, all of my pictures, all of my addresses, all of my checking accounts...EVERYTHING!

I am trying to keep things in perspective but I have to tell you... it's so hard! I don't mean to sound like such a drama queen, but I am SO bummed!!!

I should have bought the extended warranty or I should have bought an external hard drive to back it up, or a .mac account, or burned copies of my photos or something, but no... I didn't! I want a do-over!


All I can do is pray this...
But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL! Against such things there is no law.

Thanks for listening! Now, hopefully I won't take it out on any of my family members! I feel much better!

Is He talking to ME?

I was in Church this morning. I saw an old friend from our community who goes to our church. As we were talking she asked me if I was in a small group. I told her that my husband and I are in a couple's small group. I could sense that she was looking for a group. So... when I asked her about it she said she had been looking for one.

The Holy Spirit has been nudging me to start my own small group in our home town. Our church is about a 25 minute drive from here. Oh... Did I tell you I have never been a leader? Well, if you knew me you would know that I am not the kind of person to be a leader. I have always been the follower! What is God thinking? Me? I don't feel I am equipped to be a leader. I don't know a lot about the bible. What if someone asks me a question that I have no idea about? But when I think about it, when will I ever be smart enough to do this? I am the most messed up person I know!

When I told this friend I was thinking about leading a Beth Moore study she started to cry. I mean almost cry! She said she had been praying for a small group just this morning! Now I have to do this! I have a couple of other friends that may want to join in on the study! Which study do I do? I bought the c.d. version of the Daniel study in February when I went to see Beth in Detroit.

Let's see... Do I obey God and do this? Or do I just stay in my comfortable, safe life? I must admit, it is a bit very scary for me! Can I just pray about it for awhile?

To be continued...

Legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

Song by Nicole Nordeman


If you haven't noticed yet, music is my love language!
I'm not sure if this is a midlife crisis thing or what, but God is doing some interesting things in my life these days! The words of this song mean so much to me... How will I be remembered? Am I pointing to Him enough? Am I choosing to love? Am I blessing His name unapologetically? That's my goal!!!

Meet my family in a Fun Way!

This is my sister-in-law...and blog siesta...Stacey

This is my son, John...who hopes to end up in South Carolina one day!

This is my wonderful husband's client!

This is ME!

This is my favorite Starbucks friend & daughter! I'm looking forward to Labor Day Weekend!


This blog is so much fun!!!

You look cute in your helmet!

My heart has been heavy these past couple of days because there has been an accident involving a very loving mother of four daughters in our communiy. I met her a couple of times and don't know her well, but I am sure she was an amazing woman and nurse. She was in a fatal biking accident while on a ride with her husband at their summer cottage. The news made me stop in my tracks because I have been guilty of riding my bike without my helmet. This is such an important reminder for all of us!


It has also made me think about how GRATEFUL I am for having God in my life! Where would I be without Jesus? How can anything make sense without Him? I can only pray for her family and hope they know our God!!! I have no idea where they stand, but I do know that if God should bring me home suddenly, I want my children to know that they will always have a place to find comfort!

I also hope they remember this:

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;


I love God more today than ever!