Five Minute Friday: Tomorrow

It's tomorrow, Saturday, and I am finally getting to my Five Minute Friday.  That's ok though. I lived yesterday and didn't go by timelines and schedules other than knowing my son had a baseball game and spending time at the ball park.

I am not worried about tomorrow.  Sometimes, though, I put things off for tomorrow, and yet, never get to them.  Do you do that?

I don't do things because I'm chicken. I am fearful.  You know, I don't even pick what's for dinner because I don't want to be responsible if it's gross or we have poor service.

What does that have to do with tomorrow?

I have to remember not to put things off. Not to be fearful. I have to remember to live and take chances and try new things.

My husband has been encouraging me to register for the Five Minute Friday Retreat. I told him, "I've never done anything like that before."

He responded in this way....."And I had never gone to Afghanistan before either."

He knows how to put things in perspective.

He is so much braver than I am, always willing to take a risk and try new things.  I wish I could be more like him.

We are not promised tomorrow. I can't live for tomorrow. Now is the time. Now is the time to live and try and experience...

I'm excited to tell you that I did it! I registered and I couldn't be happier.  I have NEVER in my life done anything like this, but I am super excited to be able to attend the first ever Five Minute Friday Retreat. 

Thank you for stopping by this lovely day!  Enjoy your weekend!  

I LIVE to give thanks for the daily gifts

Since starting my one thousand gifts journey, these are a few of the things I have recorded in my journal:

~ how he serves our country ~

~ gray, bubbly storm clouds ~

~ sleeping in with 5 children in the house ~

~ hanging out with an old friend ~

~ how he talks with his eye brows - like his mama ~

~ the medicine that helps him breathe ~

~ teachable moments ~

~ a cool beginning to June ~ 

~ sweatshirts and jeans at the ballpark ~

~ baby feet ~

~ Happyland kids ~

~ helping a friend ~

I decided to start my one thousand gifts journey after reading Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts.  I crave to find the "ugly beautiful," the gifts I take for granted, and the unsurpassing joy found in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. 

I will LIVE....

.....by making the most of my time.

Have you ever thought about how much time you waste? Or maybe you aren't really wasting it, but what you are spending your time doing doesn't amount to anything?  I have considered that often, but yesteday, I got slapped in the face with it (not literally). 

Our Sunday School lesson talked about things that influence us, making wordly (or even highly unbiblical) things seem, well, not so bad.  When we spend our time watching programs or reading books that almost glorify an ungodly way of life, we almost become immune or numb to the fact that it is wrong.  Then last night, as I read my devotional, there it was again....

Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time."

If we spent less time being consumed by worldy affairs and spent more time in the Word, imagine what a difference that would make in our lives.  Knowing God's Word and His expectations of us would guide us to make better decisions.  The use of our time would be spent more in prayer and worship with Him. We would be consumed by HIM! 

As I taught this lesson yesterday morning, I (hopefully) let my class know that this is an area that I need growth in.  I love my iPad.  It is so easy to check the whether and email by cell phone. And sorry to say that sometimes after several nights of little sleep, vegging out in front of a TV is all I want to do.  But I can't live my life by that.

In order to become the person God has intended for me to be, I MUST spend time with Him through prayer and Bible study. I MUST listen to Him.  My guidance MUST come from Him and Him alone, not these talk shows on TV. 

We all gripe and complain that there just isn't enought time.  As a mom of three, I am right up there in front of the line yelling that some days.  But honestly, there is.  We just have to step back and look to see how we are spending our time. Then we need to make adjustments to put our priorities in line.

So, to LIVE the life God has laid out for me, I will make the most of my time, putting my focus on Him and His will for my life.

Today, I LIVE...

...the life of an Army wife.

Jeff is at drill this weekend, taking part in a change of command ceremony. He will also have a worship service at his unit and the unit he may be transferred to.

As for us at home, Colin has Robotics camp at 10. Carson has his FIRST EVER basketball game at noon. Then we have round two of basketball with Colin at 5:00. A busy day for us.

This is another first that Jeff will miss. We have learned that it goes with the territory of being a military family.  By no means am I pouting or thinking we have it so terrible. I know how blessed we are.  Jeff is only a state away instead of a totally different continent in harm's way.  I will take that any ol' day!

But as I go, I wonder why I get so lucky to teach the adult Sunday School lesson that begins with "sensuality vs sexuality."  Afterall, I'm supposed to be teaching my kindergartners, not the adults!  Thanks, honey, for having drill on the weekend of this lesson!

I LIVE...

....for moments like this



Joy is....

Several bloggers I enjoy keeping up with have chosen their word or theme for the new year. You may remember that mine is LIVE.    I thought a good way to live is join fellow blogger Nicole in finding JOY  in my everyday life. 

So today, I LIVE by the JOY found in the innocence of 5 year olds.  These moments won't last forever.