Perspective

There are points in our life when we are given new perspective. Either because we have sought it out or simply because circumstances have crossed our path that we didn't ask for. This week I have truly been given a new perspective. My friend's husband passed away last week and I attended the funeral yesterday. It was a wonderful service and Mike was remembered well. As I watched Maria and Kaitlyn through much of the service I couldn't help but have a new perspective.

Last week Hannah had the stomach bug but it was just a stomach bug...not cancer ~ PERSPECTIVE

I am learning to communicate with my husband instead of holding a grudge ~ PERSPECTIVE

Yes, I have to work but I am blessed to have to only work 2 days of week ~ PERSPECTIVE

It's important to get excited over the little things and every accomplishment with my kids ~ PERSPECTIVE

Mike was remembered for saying thank to every nurse and doctor that took care of him; I need to be more grateful in this life for the big things as well as the little things ~ PERSPECTIVE

This has been a difficult and somber week to walk through. I can't imagine the feeling of losing your husband at just 33 years old. But seeing how Mike led his life and how he fought for his life for over 4 years has spoken volumes to me. And even more has been watching my friend Maria. She is an amazing woman, wife and mom. She is one of the most selfless people I know. She took care of her husband without one complaint. Even after his passing, I didn't hear one bitter word come from her mouth; not one word of anger. She just wanted what was best for Mike. And that I have been given a new perspective and have even a better understanding of short life is, I am going to be sure she knows how amazing she is and what a testimony she has been to my life.

Here is a picture of my perspective this week. Caleb and Hannah were yelling for us look outside. There they were...the 3 of them swinging on the swings...all by themselves. We tried to teach Josiah all summer how to pump his legs to he could swing by himself. Hannah even tried to teach him!! But to no avail...until now of course. Why not wait until January to learn??? From that you can tell we have had an extremely mild winter (and I'm loving it!). His siblings were so excited to see him do this and when that little boy came in, I was sure to make the biggest deal of his accomplishment...PERSPECTIVE.

A Heavy Heart....

I got the news yesterday. He is losing his 4 1/2 year battle with cancer and the doctors have only given him until the end of the week. Maria has been my friend since high school and I can't imagine what she is going through as she watches her husband of not even a decade slip away. We are only 33...this isn't how it is supposed to be. Nobody should be a widow at 33. This week as we are planning our summer vacation, I can't help but think this is what she should be doing...not planning her husband's funeral. My heart is absolutely breaking for her...and for their little girl. Two weeks ago Kaitlyn turned 5 and now she has to say good-bye to her daddy. What makes it even harder is knowing this family's story. In 2007, Maria gave birth to their beautiful baby girl. Memorial Day of that same year, Maria lost her brother in a motorcycle accident. Four months later, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. I can't help but ask the Lord, isn't it enough? Haven't they been through enough? Why are you taking him? He is a good man. He is a good husband. He is a good father. Why Mike? Why Maria? Why this family? And Lord, what do I say? How do I be a good friend? I have no idea what she is going through.

All I can do is pray for her and her family. I am asking for you to do the same. Please pray for Maria and Kaitlyn as they watch their husband and daddy leave this world.

As we wait to hear the news, I can't help but think of the song "Love Them Like Jesus" by Casting Crowns.

The love of her life is drifting away

They're losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

I am going to do my best to love Maria like Jesus. And in the meantime this week I have hugged my kids a little tighter, lingered with them a bit more at bedtime and rocked them a bit more than usual. More and more my eyes are being opened to the fact that life is so short and we only have so much time on this earth before our testimony is over.

Crazy...

I really enjoy the blogosphere world: family blogs, homeschooling blogs, mommy blogs, etc. Many of them that I read this time of year talk about a one word resolution. Instead of making a lengthy list of resolutions that will not be kept, a one word resolution is made instead. Some of the words I have seen are: patient, focus, simple, celebrate and the list goes on and on. However, I have yet to see "crazy". Yet that is my one word resolution for the year of 2012. No, I didn't choose that word because our house is a bit crazy these days with one more little one in the mix or because I feel a bit crazy with all that goes around me but I chose it because that is how I want to love this year...like crazy. I was recently listening to one of my favorite country songs "Love Like Crazy" and it dawned on me that I want to love like crazy. I want to love on people like crazy. I want to live a life that's a little radical in loving people. Sometimes we do things for people when we certainly don't have the time or we put our lives aside to help someone else through a situation. When we do these things, we often hear, "You are crazy!" "You don't have time for that!" But really, isn't that what Jesus did? Didn't he love people like crazy? Wasn't he always on his way somewhere else when he would stop to heal someone or take the time to minister to another? I want that to be my ambition this year...to love like crazy. I am not totally sure what that will mean or what it will always look like but I know God will open doors so that we can love people like crazy. Listen to this song and grab a hold of loving someone like crazy this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0f5g18EbG4

And what does this picture have to do with my post? Well, we just love him like crazy!!!