His first Christmas in Heaven

The time has come.

We never really thought it would. He has done better than any thought and we just kind of figured he may defy science and medicine.

Death, in our shared faith of Christianity, is actually a birth into Jesus' arms. It's a temporary separation for us as a family because we know that we know we will soon be together.

As we talk about this process with our children we describe it as holding hands with their grandpa and walking into the foyer of Heaven, as far as these earthly bodies can take us.

What an honor.

My sweet Betty whispers in his ear how much she loves him while stroking his face tenderly with her hand. His eyes open momentarily as she begins to pray.

We gather round bout the bed recalling our favorite memories, stories and jokes that caused him to giggle.
Like...
"What do you get when you goose a ghost? A handful of sheet!"

We love you Ruben Melvin Larrabee and though we are so thoroughly heartbroken for our loss we know you are so excited to spend your first Christmas in Heaven!

Just the way He wants it

Tuesday's Quotes

~photo via pintrest~

The beautiful people

This week I fight hard with dirt beneath my nails to find things to give thanks for.

As always thankful for my family

This was no pretty week!

The temptation; to not blog at all. To stuff down the ugliness because after all I'm a mature God fearing Christian woman. Don't we reach a point in our maturity where we no longer need to see such ugliness in our hearts?

This is the month of blessings and giving thanks for said blessings.

Not speaking it...well then it's somehow not committed to.

I feel as though I just crawled through the muck and mire to this keyboard. Somehow it seems an injustice for "Laughtershock" to be so heavy and downtrodden of late but it real, it's life.

Truly at wits end. Ready to cash it all in...whatever that means. I drive about with thoughts of a one way trip out of town. Could I do that to my children? So hemmed in and yet shocked that the thought even finds it's way into my entertainment.

As I wrestle my flesh I know that caregiver fatigue is mostly the culprit but I don't seem to be able to right myself. This boat sees itself about to capsize.

The frailest of people, needing love and support and care. Striving to deliver their happiness but it seems to merely evaporate in thin air as it leaves my hands.

Ahhh Lord give me strength.What more can I do?

This downcast, discouraged and drained of all strength soul.

My strength is in You and right here at the end of myself may I find You and Your rest.

Worry is my bedfellow and I rebuke it.

May this time next year Lord I look back and see a reflection of a beautiful person...woman. Refined and with Your reflection!

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

--Elizabeth Kubler-Ross--

 

#217 Your promises
# 218 Faith
# 219 Family

Pigment on the canvas

 

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Color…

Ahh the vibrancy of life! Sometimes with luster and shine and others with a matt finish....

Definition @ Dictionary.com

1. The quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light; saturation or chroma; hue.

I absolutley love this definition.

The first image gathered in these dusty tired brain cells is one of my Father. My Heavenly Father who tossed the stars in the heavenlies.
His quality is pristine and pure. The light reflected from Him is warmth that rains down in a luminescent golden hued shower.

Secondly- I think on personalities, conversations and life lived in this little house. A house full of people young and old that bring sparkle and pigment on this canvas called life.

Thirdly- Girly giddyness over comes me as I muse over glorious tubes of lipgloss/stick, eyeshadows, blush, jewlrey, purses and shoes that bring me such girly delight!

Best man ever

sweet Betty

From this

To this

STOP

A mother's love

1,000 Word Thursday



~picture via pintrest~

Behind the scenes

Wednesday's Word

 

Im a sucker for a good quote. 

Below is just one of thousands that I bump into, then can't wait to paint a canvas with.

I oft think on the masterful flesh and bones behind the exciting equation of words. Comedians, political figures, actors, writers, bloggers..

The Bible, Movies, books, ...

                                                     

Today my eyes fell on this ...

The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.

Steven Furtick

Immediately an Amen spilled from my lips.


Is this not so incredibly true?!?
I recently read somewhere online that upwards of  95% of people in this country suffer from a strong sense of insecurity.



Hello world, it's me Robin...is this true?






Anxiety, despair, doubts, lack of trust seemingly leaves no one immune, even amongst us Christians.

The Bible is chalked full of awesome people who dealt with this. First to come to mind is poor Elijah. In spite of his triumph over the prophets of Baal, Elijah fell into deep despair.



Hmmm. Where does this leave us, especially as Christians? One could most certainly write a thesis on this. I don't fancy myself much of  a writer and can barely spell the word but I will say this...

OPEN HIS WORD! GO TO HIM! CAST YOUR CARES TO HIM!

There is no man or woman alive that can fill your cup like He, the Lover of your very soul. He yearns for YOU! He formed you and knitted you so perfectly. Just how it gave Him pleasure.

~picture via pintrest~

OPEN HIS WORD! GO TO HIM! CAST YOUR CARES TO HIM!

   

The Scriptures, especially the Psalms are resplendent with words of courage, strength, resiliency, faith and the means to prevail over our fears, our feelings of inadequacy.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” 

David's words whilst being relentlessly pursued by Saul.

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation”

The key to triumph over  fears and insecurities?

 Fervent trust in God.

Let's quit grabbing hold of our "behind the scenes" while holding it high next to others "highlight reel" and push to FERVENTLY trust in our Big God who doesn't' make mistakes!

Do I hear an Amen in the house =)

Each of us an Innkeeper

Tuesday's Quote

~picture via pintrest~

“Each of us is an Innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus”

Neal A. Maxwell

Purposeful Gratitude

Once again I sit in stillness and contemplate.

I cherish how Ann (without the fanciful 'e') pulled the covers back and exposed a thankful heart of praise.

Not only demonstrating how, but engaging us in what I like to call

Operation PURPOSEFUL GRATITUDE!

I'm not going to pretend this is always easy, in fact there are moments as I type away on this keyboard I want to yell, and complain and whine and cry. I'm tired...just posted below, is exactly how I feel in my bones. As though I've been running against gale force winds.

Giving thanks is a purposeful and intentional exercise.

Just as a physical exercise regime will increase heart and lung capacity while toning muscles, purposeful routine exercises in gratitude increases our ability to spot things to be thankful for, endure hardships and strengthen our faith.

On occasion I've heard from the Christian community this msg...

 "thanks should flow naturally out of understanding of what He did for us on the cross".

Believe me I am thankful to my inseams for that sacrifice. I am in love with Jesus and this will not change unto death.
However if I'm being honest, that knowledge has not made this Christian woman always grateful for the plate life sets before her.
This very week has spied me grumbling and complaining more than I care to admit. I've been short with my family, friends, co-workers and patients. I've eaten things I know I shouldn't and just plain felt sorry for myself.

Thank goodness for His grace.

This purposeful exercise of GRATITUDE, family, friends and His word hidden in my heart has pointed me in the direction...In His direction.


Join us in the journey of INTENTIONAL THANKSGIVING

# 202-216

• Hospice (The whole team are angels)
• Respite to shop
• The caregiver who sat with my father-n-law for the day
• New Red lipstick
• Random findings on Pintrest
• Listening to my daughter play her heart out on her drums
• Friends (yes again)
• Family
• My sweet sons hugs
• Watching/listening to my mother in law squeal as my dtr put her electric w/c on high and sped through the mall
• My enduringly patient and loving husband
• My Christmas tree that looks like a circus hijacked it
• Christmas lights at night
• Build-a-Bear
• Enjoying friends I haven't seen in ages. Laughter with this man

whizzing fast

Pursed lip breathing

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

TIRED:

Bahahahaha!!! Oh I can't even believe this is our word this week. A week that started with...

Hairdresser: "Robin what would you like me to do with the gray coming in at your temples"
Me: Wha?
Hairdresser: "Yes it's really taking off"
Me: Wha?
Hairdresser: "Most women want me to color it, what would you like me to do?"
Me: I need time, (Pursed lip breathing insues)  I can't make such a daunting decision in a 2 hours span.
Hairdresser: "Wha?"
Me: Color around it until I decide
Hairdresser: "Wha?"
Me: This news is making new gray come in I can feel it so color around it.......

And well the rest of it pretty much went round the mulberry bush and I will have to blog on it at some point but today it's about Tired.

GO:

Tired has had me in it's grip this week. Threatening the surrounding air, threatening peaceful thoughts, rest and peace.
Forgetting to breathe, the frenetic thoughts squeeze my head like a vise. Tears would be a fresh rain in this drought but they do not come.
I don't want to always complain and I want to capture and savor every moment but caring for a terminally ill parent is daunting in itself but adding in children and work, well "TIRED" almost defies my fingers from this keyboard.
My heart beats with love, and care for this tender frail being and other days I just pray Lord take him! He wants to be with You Lord. 
How does a person EVER come to grips with such a battlefield of thoughts and emotions?
I'll tell you were I have to start...EVERY TIME!

The place to start at the end of our road, is at the beginning of His!

• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

• I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The peace that God gives you will guard your minds. The peace that God gives you will strengthen you. The peace that God gives will you will keep your heart tender The peace that God gives will gird you in your time of need.






 STOP

Love

1,000 Word Thursday