Count Your Blessings

Each day I am amazed at the things we take for granted. I hear coworkers, students, random people complaining about something. It seems we tend to often complain about all the minor things: nails breaking, bad hair day, weather, other people, the way a person looks, talks, chews their food, acts, the trash is overflowing, food isn't cooked just right, wanting to sleep more, life is just too hard. We often complain and wish our lives away. I am so thankful for each day that I get out of bed. Just since Sunday, three beautiful people that I know passed away. One was a member of our Wednesday night nursing home church. She was a very sweet, older woman that loved the Lord with all of her heart. Even at her age, I'm sure she still had many years to live down on this earth. The other two were from a sister church of our's. One died from a sudden stroke and heart attack, the other died of cancer. One had a short battle, while the other had a long battle. Both of them were loved and are missed. All three women are in heaven today. So many people don't get a tomorrow. Or something happens suddenly, and their life is over way too soon. We need to remember to count our blessings and really start living every day as if it is our last.We need to make every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year count. It is over in the blink of an eye. It seems like yesterday I was five years old and just starting kindergarten. Now I'm almost 24, married, and teaching. Time passes too quickly. Each day is such a gift. Life isn't always easy. It has a lot of moments that we would rather not have to go through. In fact, to quote from a book I am writing, "Life is full of both tragic and beautiful moments. And there [have] been plenty of both in [my] life. Some [I] [want] to hang onto forever, others, [I] [want] to let go. But they [have] all made [me] a stronger person. " Don't let the tragic, difficult moments keep you from enjoying each day and counting your blessings. There's always a rainbow after every storm. Even though all three of those ladies, in my opinion, went to heaven too early, they left a legacy here on earth. Their lives and death spoke volumes to people about their love for Christ. There is so much rejoicing in heaven because of them coming home, and their work here on earth. And that is beautiful.

Statements

I don't have a profound statement. Just a statement. Human beings are too busy, unaware, self-centered. Some do not fit this description, but most do. We are in such a hurry to reach our destination that we whip in and out of lanes speeding to get around whatever is slowing us down. We don't think about the sick, hungry, poor, or hurting. Or if we do, it is only fleeting. Maybe today will be different. Maybe today we will smell the roses, breathe fresh air, enjoy God's goodness. Maybe today we will slow down, look around, and show kindness to someone. Yes, maybe today we will remember that life isn't all about “me”. Maybe. Just maybe.

Heroes

The last few days I have felt like a superhero. I don't know why, but I guess I have realized that I can be a hero to my students, and to some, I already am. We don't really think about how many lives we influence each day for the good or the bad. My children come from backgrounds and places I can never imagine. I was raised in a loving home with all of the food, clothes, and anything else I would have ever needed. I had stability, responsibility, and guidance. Many of my students don't have that. They just want to be loved...and they will get that love from something or somewhere...why not from postive places and people? To me, a hero can be anybody who is willing to make a sacrifice in order to better someone else's life- no matter what the cost. Heroes don't have to be extraordinary people; they are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Thanks to some of the heroes in our world goes to those who selflessly serve in the military and other agencies that protect our country's freedom and rights.Who can you be a hero to? Figure it out? Quick! Strap on your cape and go! Make a difference!

Life

Life gets
Overwhelming
And
Frustrating
Sometimes
Every once in a while
I would like to
Pause
Take a
b
r
e
a
k
Breathe some fresh air
Rest.
Then press
[PLAY]
or maybe even
[rewind]
And start over.
New.
Erase the mistakes
As if I never made them.
G
O
N
E
But then again
Those mistakes helped
Shape me
*Mold* me
Grow me
Into who I am
TODAY
I {embrace} myself
my past <-----
my present x
my future ---->

I will not be.........moved
I will continue
Never give up
Not f

a

l

l

under the load
Hope is the substance
That gives me the strength
Courage
Will power
To continue................