Wow! a week of life, death and hope!!

Lots of things to pray about this week!

• The accident on Monday, that I last posted about... took the life of Peggy Baumann last evening - she was 37 with two adorable small boys and a great husband! I worked closely with her at Heartland for 5 years and she had a heart of gold... how sad! It tears at my heart that she never got to say goodbye to those that she loved the most - especially those precious boys!
• My brother Ken - through his work - knew the man who died that day from the same accident. And the one that is critically injured and still in the hospital goes to Ken's church. How bizarre that between the two of us - we would know all three random people that were injured or killed!
• Last Friday, Aaron and I attended my uncle Ray's memorial service. He was 88 and lived a great life but... still... hard to say goodbye to his earthly body! Even knowing that he is in a better place! Harder still for his daughters, his wife of 33 years and his two brothers (my dad and Uncle Matt!)
• The same day, at the funeral service - I got to celebrate life! I met my cousin Riley's baby Rafe! When Riley was a tyke, she was connected to my hip (that was the joke) I was in 8th grade and I spent every spare minute at their house! ( I have always loved babies!) I can tell she is an AWESOME mom already!
• I am loving spring this week and the "new hope" this time of year brings! I am "re-discovering" all my perennials that I planted in my yard when I lived there before!! How often does that happen in someones life, hey? Lilacs, iris and roses from my Grandma Doris' garden... roses, spider wart and chives from my mom's garden... and my tulips from when Lisa went to Holland. My rhubarb and grapevines and hyacinths and daylilies and hostas and peonies and crocus and daffodils! AND yesterday, I spotted my two Asiatic Lillies (my absolute favorite) Wonder what I will find next week??
• My mom had her cancer re-check this week - hard to believe that she has been cancer free for 18 years!!! Hoping for the best news possible - STILL no cancer!!
• Aaron will be confirmed on Sunday!! It is twice bittersweet because he is my baby - my last one - to go through this AND because Pastor Doug just resigned and it would have been so sweet to have him perform the ceremony but hey... change is good right??
• My cousin Heath - out west - has been diagnosed with cancer. Metastatic Seminoma... a type of cancer that is non-aggressive in nature and has a pretty good prognosis BUT it is still cancer... and scary... and overwhelming! He is a fighter... he has a great, strong supportive wife - pray for strength for them all!
• Lastly, (and minor in comparison) my back!!! I am so frustrated!! I had just gotten back to Tae Kwan Do (I would love to say I injured it there - NOT!) I moved wrong on Sunday night - one small twist and... I have been miserable all week!! The hot tub helps - my stretching excercises help... but when your back is miserable... it kind of makes everything miserable! :(

Oh well - this too shall pass!!

Happy May everyone!

Gentle reminder...

There was a terrible fatal crash on Hwy 141 this morning...

my heart goes out to those people and their families.

on a typical day, I would have been in just about that spot...

at just about that time.

I left early this morning to avoid the summer construction that had started...

grumbling the whole time...

His eye is on the sparrow!

thank God.

Happy Belated Birthday mom!!

It seems like I am behind in everything this year!

Luckily I did not miss mom's birthday...

BUT I am late in posting this!

bEtTeR laTe tHaN nEvEr??

I know that I was not always the perfect child...

I know we had years of strife...

when I thought I knew it all...

when I had to learn to spread my wings...

and even as an adult... when I make wrong decisions...

when I need parenting advise...

or help in making career decisions...

or a vacation...

or help with a quilting project...

when I make mistakes and have to start over...

you are always there!!

Thanks mom...

for your endless example...

your godly nature...

for loving me no matter what...

for giving me wings...

for knowing when I have a bad day (even an hour and a half away)...

for teaching me to be strong...

for showing me what family is all about...

for always listening...

for your never ending support...

and most of all...

for being my best friend!

On Friday, an old family friend commented that I look

more like you each time she sees me!

That is one of the best compliments that I could ever receive!

I am so thankful that God has blessed me with you as my mom

and for giving us so many wonderful years and memories together!

I thank God for you every day!!

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

*I just realized that Reba's song was on here because it was Brit's and my special song...

but it sure rings true for all the you have been for me mom!

Thank you!!

and as life goes on...

and our roles merge...

I'll be...

for you too!

Aaron - second degree black belt

Look below - I edited the pictures so you can actually see them this time!!

Also, congrats to Aaron - he got his temps the day before! Stay off the sidewalks!! Ü

Life is a Theatre

Invite Your Audience Carefully.

Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in your life.

There are some people in your life who need to be loved from a DISTANCE.

It is amazing what you can accomplish when you

let go of - or minimize your time with

- those draining, negative, incompatible,

'not-going- anywhere' relationships or friendships.

Observe the relationships around you.

Pay close attention...

Which ones lift, and which ones lean?

Which ones encourage, and which ones discourage?

Which ones are on a path of growth uphill, and which ones are going downhill?

When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?

Which ones always have drama, or don't really

understand, know or appreciate you & the gifts that lie within you?

Remember that the people you have around you will have

an impact on your life, your values and your income.

So, be careful when choosing the people you hang out with,

as well as the information with which you will feed your mind.

We should not share our dreams with negative people,

nor feed our minds with negative thoughts.

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind,

love and truth around you...

the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to

sit in the FRONT ROW, and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

Ask your God for wisdom and discernment,

and choose wisely the people who will sit in the front row of your life.

You cannot change the people around you...

but you CAN change the people you choose to be around!

WHO IS IN YOUR FRONT ROW?