Live.Laugh.Love...and Cry

Photo Credit: Thank you, Kim for the adventure and for sharing your incredible talent...you are the dearest of friends!


Today is one of those days I would rather just post a recipe and call it good, but by now we are all friends and we can just chat about things...

If you are a Momma you will be able to relate and for those of you who don't have children maybe you will understand how things may have been or how things are for your Momma.

Nothing quite tugs at your heart as much as watching your child cry and not be able to say anything that will help or be able to soothe them. When they are babies, it seems to be a bit easier to offer a favorite blankie, toy or binky...but the older they get...it seems to be silence and the act of pulling them close to your heart, kissing their forehead and running your hands through their hair and out of their teary eyes. NOTHING ELSE.

This morning we took David, Rissa's boyfriend, to Seattle. He is leaving to serve in South Korea for 12-18 months. He has become such a part of our family and is one special young man.

We love him!

Sometimes it is so easy to question God. Seriously, who am I to think I know better! But it's true. I question Him all.of.the.time. Like...what on earth is a 19 year-old doing so far away from home? I was looking at some pictures from David's class and thinking to myself, "those little boys should be HOME...not off fighting a war!" But I thank God that those boys are as unselfish as they are and are willing to fight whatever the risk may be...and I also think what amazing Mommas brought up those young, strong boys, and if they didn't have Mommas who took care of them and taught them...maybe they were brought up to be courageous men by a single Dad, grandparents, foster care, other family members etc...but I just hope and pray they had some kind of affection and love in growing up to be able to fall back on when they are out at war fighting! Do you ever think of things like that???

As we said goodbye, Rissa's eyes filled with tears, there was not much to say. I am praying that tonight will not be a sleepless night filled with worry but that God will comfort her and that she will know that David's plane is in the grip of God's hand and that every move and step David takes...God will envelope him and keep him and the other soldiers safe and out of harm's way. I am praying that shelter will be provided for them. Not so much in the form of the four walls of barracks...but that these soldiers would be given others who might take care for them and nurture them along the way!

I pray that David, as a man of God, will be able to continue to LIVE out John 13:34 and 35. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." I pray that he will be able to carry out THAT love. I pray that he will be able to stand strong and continue to demonstrate God's love to fellow soldiers and possibly at times his enemies. That he will be able to love the unlovely and care for those around him even when nobody seems to be caring for him and that he will be comforted by the very words of God.

I pray that David and Rissa will have lots of times to LAUGH. Fun times to look back on and even more memories to look forward to.

I pray that God will bring him home safely and that they will be able to be best of friends!

As a Momma, I pray that I will keep praise on my lips and be able to trust the fact that God is in control. No amount of worry, no amount of fear is going to change anything.

Today as we traveled North, I saw a hint of a rainbow off in the distance. It was misting...and within seconds...the sky grew dark and then it began to POUR, but the rainbow quickly became brighter and the colors were VIVID in the distance and a second rainbow suddenly reflected the arch of color across the sky. HOW appropriate! As we are at our darkest times of sorrow, possibly at our point of breaking and feeling completely overwhelmed...His promises have never failed and never will. Riss, how good is God to give us such an incredible reminder!






"Hear my CRY, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:1-3

To you who LIVE.LAUGH and LOVE...it is good to be able to CRY out to the One who is strong enough to handle your biggest fears and who is concerned about your tiniest of worries.


, titus 2sday