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In memory of…

Written on April 12, 2010

A little boy.

Taken too soon.

A life ended when it should have just been beginning.

Cancer strikes again.

A 2 year old little boy, Ethan Loney passed away on Friday. I didn’t know him, but through a bloggy friend – Supah Mommy – I learned that his last wish was to meet Crosby… the mascot for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Unfortunately his wish didn’t happen… but instead - this little boy is in heaven now. Cancer free. Playing with the angels… because that’s how I imagine all kids who go to heaven too soon. Healed and playing like they couldn’t do while here on earth.

So I - along with a number of other bloggers from around the country – released a white balloon in this little boy’s memory.

I decided to draw a penguin on mine — only because I knew how much he wanted to meet Crosby.

In memory of Ethan.

Ethan’s family will be remembering his life this week. Please be praying for them as they go through this loss — that God gives them peace and comfort where they didn’t think any could exist. I pray that their family and friend surround them now… but also on the days when things will seem so difficult, the birthdays, holidays — and the days that they would be doing everyday things as a family.

To look at more memories/balloon releases for little Ethan from other bloggers – go to Supah Mommy’s blog here.

And please, please, please keep Supah’s friend Jaden – another little guy with cancer – in your prayers as well. His story can be found here.

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What is next…

Written on February 28, 2010

Last night I listened/watched online (to be honest I listened much more than I watched) the Help Haiti Live event that Compassion put on to raise money and re-ignite some of the interest that has been lost now for the plight of the Haitians since the media presence has dwidled. Especially now that there has been another major earthquake in Chile. (From what I understand, Chileans are pretty used to having earthquakes… but this was MAJOR… so definitely keep them in your prayers along with the Haitian people.)

Anyway, during the concert – Shaun Groves told some stories and then near the end… gave a challenge. He said “Now that you know, what will you do?”

This question speaks to me on so many levels. After seeing the need in the Dominican Republic, I truly didn’t know what more I could do. I’m not someone (or at least as of this writing) who is going to get up, move to a 3rd world country and serve God’s people that way. Not saying that God won’t call me to it, I just don’t think that’s where God wants to use my talents in this life.

I know that God has big plans for me. I’m just not entirely sure of what they are… other than that I have to keep writing about my weight loss journey. That I know. After all, HE needs to be given the glory for what he enabled me to accomplish… and now maintain. I’m just not sure how this will completely finalize itself out yet… but I’m looking into some things. Good things.

Next week I am taking another writing workshop. I’m hoping to get back into my “groove” (so to speak) and get another segment of my weight loss story completed. One step closer to getting it all in book form. One step closer to helping others learn from my mistakes in life… or even my regrets… and hope that they can begin living their fullest life sooner than what I did.

I’m also trying to take this blog to “the next level”. I am going to be signing up for at least 1 — if not 2 — blog conferences for later this year. I’m hoping to get sponsorships for this, but I am also trusting that God will provide what is needed before the plane (or car) is set to travel across the country. I’ll tell you more about these events as they get closer — but I am SUPER excited about both — and am hoping to meet some awesome bloggy friends… and see the sights of at least one city I’ve never visited before (and maybe even see the Pacific Ocean?!?!?)

Anyway… so that is kind of what’s next for me. I’m seeking out what God wants… I striving to lean on Him so that I can follow where he is leading me and not going down the wrong path. Although, as a final thought here… even if you travel down the wrong path in your life for a while, God seems to bring you back to the path HE wants you to be travelling… whether through friends, family, or even a random stranger… at least that’s what I’ve seen in my life.

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faith, life

The Hallelujah Monks…

Written on December 24, 2009

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I hope that today, tomorrow and the remainder of this weekend – you can spend time with family & friends… enjoying their company, enjoying the food around you (although not in a “I have to scarf it all down at once” kind of way) and most of all enjoying the memories that you are creating.

Tonight I will be with my family, going to my parents church then opening gifts and spending time with them. I already know that I will be incredibly blessed tonight. I truly have a very special family and I am so glad to be surrounded by them.

Over the last couple of days, I’ve done some blog stalking and have run into this video a couple of times. I thought it was invaluably cute… and just plain cool. I hope you enjoy.

Have a blessed Christmas eve… and maybe I’ll be back tomorrow to report any significant going’s on that happened at tonight’s party. (I’m really not expecting anything… but you never know!)

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faith, life

Last Siesta Scripture…

Written on December 16, 2009

Today is my last memory verse post with the Siesta’s at the LPM Blog for 2009. And while I said in my last Scripture memory blog on 12.2.09, I would only be doing a recap of the verses I’ve learned this year so far… but after reading Amanda’s post there — I’m feeling compelled to learn the same verse as she is. Not for the same reason though.

Psalm 27:4 NIV
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

Amanda is memorizing this verse because it has provided her great comfort in recent trials the family has experienced with Beth’s surgery and recovery. It is her mom’s favorite verse as well.

I am choosing to memorize it because the moment I read it on the LPM blog, it struck me so strongly that I want to LIVE this verse… not just memorize it. I want to seek the house of the Lord all the days of my life and gaze upon his beauty.

A few weeks ago, our DR Mission team group did a recap for our church… and our team leader, Mary, spoke about how struck she was about the faith of the people that we were serving. Especially when they saw the Jesus video. I don’t know if they knew the whole story of Jesus before this (I presumed so), but when these grown men were shown the part of the video of where Jesus took on the sins of the world and was cruicified, they began to cry… and then a short time later after the resurrection they were so happy. So happy that God had gone to the grave and then rose for them. For me. For you.

Mary was so struck by this… has our faith become so mundane and “everyday”-ish that we don’t find even the fact that Jesus was cruicified for us to be an amazing and emotional thing. Think about it… he did it for you. So you could spend eternity in heaven with him.

I want to find the story of Christmas, Easter, Ascension, and everything in between to be an amazing miracle. Really that’s what it is. After the fall, God could have scrapped the human race… but instead he chose to save us. He chose to give us life in him by sending his son to earth… to live and grow up among us… and then allowed him to be scorned and killed — so that he could raise him back up.

It’s just so amazing.

And we’re just entering the season for it.

Do me a favor… enter this season with amazement. Think of everything as something new. Be stunned that God loves you and wants to be a part of your life.

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