Tag Archives: Friendship

Wonderful ~ Day 1 ~ Write 28 Days

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Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
Day 1: Beautiful

 

“Isn’t she lovely.
Isn’t she wonderful.”
~Stevie Wonder~

Isn’t She Wonderful
Dedicated to my special circle of friends (you know who you are) with gratitude.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who encourages your dreams and pushes you further than you think you can go.
The one who takes time out of her busy schedule just to meet you for coffee and a chat.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who makes you feel beautiful when you don’t think it’s possible.
The one who, during difficult times, just steps in to help without being asked.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend with who a lifetime of years and many miles doesn’t change a thing between you.
The one who writes you letters, sends cards, orders flowers right when you’re at your loneliest. 

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who keeps your secrets and trusts you with hers.
The one who prays for you in hard times, good times, and all the times in between.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who you can’t imagine walking this journey without.
The one who lets you be yourself, sing off key, laugh too loud, and she loves you anyway.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who inspires you with her strength, creativity, courage, and wisdom.
The one you aspire to be like.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who you know without a shadow of doubt, is a gift from God.
The one you thank Him for every day.

Isn’t she wonderful?
That friend who is forever entwined in your heart and soul.
The one that makes you want to be that kind of friend, too.

“A friend loves at all times,”
Proverbs 17:17a (NIV)

Carry ~ Five Minute Friday

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The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)

Carry

Growing up in the days of vinyl albums and record players, I can remember lifting the arm up off the record and moving it to my favorite song over and over again. Back then the album I listened to most was Carole King’s Tapestry. And the song that was repeatedly played? “You’ve Got a Friend.” The chorus went something like this:

You just call out my name,
And you know wherever I am,
I’ll come running.

To have friends that when called, meet us in our need is a priceless gift.

“Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.” Mark 2:2-4 (NLT)

These men not only committed to carrying their paralyzed friend to where Jesus was, but they  didn’t let it stop them when they encountered the large crowd. Knowing the wait would keep them longer didn’t deter them from seeking help for the one they held in their hands. They’d come with the intent of walking home alongside their friend so, they came up with an “over the top” idea that landed him right at Jesus’ feet. The result? After encountering Jesus, the man jumped up, grabbed his own mat, and walked through the crowd toward home. 

To have friends who will go out of their way to lay our needs at Jesus’ feet, is a priceless gift.

I am the recipient of this priceless gift. Friendship abounds in my life! I’m sustained by a circle of women who don’t just walk into my challenging times, they run. When it seems impossible, they lift me up. Unable to move under the weight of my burdens, together, my dear friends help bear them and they don’t hesitate to lay them out before Jesus. Without thought, their plans change when my pleas for help reach them. They hold me in my grief, are a support when I fail, and offer solutions when I can’t see my way. And you know what? I do the very same for each of them.

But more than this, the love of friends spans all seasons of life and so, we also share in each others’ joys, encourage dreams, celebrate victories, and laugh. A lot! Through thick and thin, ups and downs, happy and sad, laughter and tears, we’re always there for each other as we walk hand in hand through this life, looking forward toward Home. 

I am truly blessed to know what it means to have friends. I pray, that you do too.

“A friend loves at all times,” Proverbs 17:17a

Share Four Somethings ~ November

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Share Four Somethings ~ November 2021

Time…. The days can feel as if they fly by and yet, minutes also feel like they last forever. So here we are at the end of another month and believe it or not, almost another year. There were parts of it that ticked on by and others that had me waiting for what felt like a long time. I think that’s why I love “Share Four Somethings” so much. It is a way to capture bits of our month to share. Here are a few moments from my November:

Something Loved

“Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.'” Luke 5:26 (NIV)

After being away for a month, I counted the days until I was able to return to visit my daughter and family. Was it ever worth the wait! The hugs, the laughs, the adventures, all balm for my soul! What fun it was to be there to help put up their new Christmas tree. I loved every minute! As I looked back through the pictures I took, I realized that I’d captured the pure wonder only a child can bring. And isn’t that exactly what the Christmas Season is all about?

Something Read or Said

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

Lament. I’ve done my share of it in the past few months. I know many of you have too. When I came upon these words this month that Lisa Appelo shared on her Instagram page, it felt as if time stopped for a moment while I caught my breath. “Wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness” is exactly what I’ve been experiencing but just couldn’t put into words myself. What a gift when God uses someone else’s to encourage and reassure me!

Something Treasured

“A friend loves at all times” Proverbs 17:17a (NIV)

I’ve talked about them before, my heart friends that I couldn’t do life without. This month we gathered for a delicious brunch and lively conversation. When we took our seats at the table each of found a keepsake at our place. The framed photo may remind us that we’ve aged a bit, but it’s also a treasure that shows that true friendship is timeless.

Something Ahead

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (NLT)

There she stands, waiting. Waiting for Christmas to fill each branch and change her. I’m looking forward in this Advent season to spending time in Scripture and readings, preparing my heart to celebrate the Babe in the manger, letting the pure wonder of Christmas that only He brings, change me, too.

Well, that’s it for another month. How’d you spend your time? I’d love to know your Four Somethings for November! You can share them with me in the comments. I wish you a Very Blessed Christmas. Let’s not forget to cherish every minute!

Read 16/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I’m continuing with 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes which means I’m writing for five minutes on a prompt each day in October.  I’ve fallen behind a little (flu and traveling) but here I am back at it.  You can follow along or join in at http://www.fiveminutefridays.com

 

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)/pixabay

Time Starts Now….

As a teacher, each year I would read “Charlotte’s Web” to my Second Graders. The wonderful classic would capture their tiny hearts and mine, too.    

What makes the story so enduring?  I think it’s because it is a story of friendship.  Friends are such a vital part of our lives.  Whether you’re a second grader, a retired teacher, or somewhere in-between, our friends help us celebrate, grieve, recover, survive, and laugh.  Oh, do they help us laugh!

I’m blessed to have a “web” of Godly friends.  Women with whom I can be myself.  Women who have seen me at my worst and at my best, yet treat me the same in either situation.  Women who encourage me. Women who pray for me.

Reading about Wilber and Charlotte sharing a friendship to my students was always a joy, but sharing God’s gift of TRUE friendship day to day is better than any story we will ever read!

Time’s Up!

Recipe for Success

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I’ve been blessed in my life with wonderful friends. Their love, support, and encouragement keep me from going too far off track in my life’s journey.  Lately, my friend Debbie has urged me to try something new on this blog.  I liked the idea. A lot!  The problem was, I wasn’t sure I had the “ingredients” I needed to mix it up a bit. It’s taken preparation and used more brain power than I had anticipated to whip it into shape, but here I am, ready to add something new to my menu.  Debbie, this is for you:

It wasn’t long after retiring that I began to realize that the exciting new opportunity I’d envisioned being laid on my doorstep wasn’t going to be delivered.  To be honest, I was crushed.  I questioned myself and my decision to retire.  Afraid that I had not prayed hard enough or listened carefully enough I became discouraged and began to wallow in my failure and disappointment.  And oh, how I love to wallow there! We’ll save that for another post,  it was a recipe for disaster though and I’d probably be stuck there still if not for my afore mentioned friends.  Their kindness, wisdom, inspiration, and understanding stirred a feeling of peace within my soul.  I was able to relax a little, enjoy my free time a little more, begin to take little steps toward new goals, and to cook up a little challenge for myself.

I love to cook!  Watching food shows on T.V., reading recipes in magazines, and finding delicious sounding dishes on Pinterest feed my desire to be in the kitchen.  Nothing makes me much happier than preparing something special and sharing it with others!  Like most cooks, I have my tried and true, no fail, family favorites I make again and again. Thus the well worn recipe book you see in the picture above that was a bridal shower gift from my mom 32 years ago.

Not too long ago, knowing we had a dinner with friends coming up I decided to step outside the “recipe box” and try something new. Now, taking an untested dish to someone else’s table is probably not the brightest idea but I did it just the same.  I waited anxiously as everyone tasted my new creation.  It turned out to be well received and pretty tasty if I do say so myself!   That was the beginning of my Recipe Challenge.  With echoes of compliments filling my head and  recipes I’ve collected for years filling everything else, I decided to  challenge myself to try at least one new dish every week and that’s just what I’ve been doing!

 Over the past months my family and friends have graciously been my guinea pigs and for the most part the job hasn’t been too hard to swallow….literally!  So now, with the help of a little heat from a certain friend, I’ve decided to share the recipes with you. It may take me a while to get them posted but my hope is that when mealtime is approaching and you don’t know what to fix or you just want to try something new, you’ll click on the “Recipe Challenge” tab at the top of the page and take a helping from my kitchen into yours. Finding the right recipe can sometimes be tricky but you can be sure that whether it’s for a friendship or a casserole, if it’s made with love you’ve found the recipe for success!

***Click above to see my first recipe post!

Abundant Friendship

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“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it.  I’ve never done anything for you” “You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte.  “That in itself is a tremendous thing”     ~E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

     I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very blessed in my life with wonderful friends!  Over the years some have come and gone, but they’re still part of who I am today.  Some friends live and work close by and we’re in touch regularly.  I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.  And then there are those special, priceless few who almost know me better than I know myself.  They are the ones who get me.  They understand my weaknesses and  encourage my strengths. We laugh together. Grieve together. Celebrate together.  We experience life together.  They are my life preservers, my sounding boards, my voices of reason, and I know that they will always be there when I need them.  Whether we’re near or far my “heart friends” and I share an abundant friendship and today I  rejoice in those relationships through this poem:

Abundant Friendship

Friendship.                                                                                                                                        Abundant, strong.                                                                                                                                    Rare, lucky to be found.                                                                                                                           Time and distance don’t dim the heart.                                                                                        Precious.

Count Down To Retirement~Day 5

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Well let’s see, since I last posted,  I’ve ridden a school bus for my final class field trip, cheered through my last Field Day, and today, graded the last set of papers of my career.  I have to be honest.  I won’t miss field trips, field days, or grading papers too much and yet it makes me melancholy just the same. As I reflect on that, I guess even though they weren’t my favorite things about being a teacher, they are still part of the job. As with anything, you take the good with the bad and if you’re lucky the good outweighs the bad.  I’ve been very lucky.

For the last 32 years I have been honored to work with the most wonderful teachers and staff.  Our school has been a place of support, cooperation, and encouragement for our students and each other.  My fellow teachers have been my sounding board, shoulder to cry on, and at times the voice of reason that I needed.  I truly couldn’t have made it this far without them.  I’ve tried to figure out a way to let them know what they mean to me but have decided it’s impossible.  How do I put into words all the feelings that fill my heart?  First of all, I am an emotional wreck in the best of times. This week will probably be a super storm of feelings for me anyway, so actually saying the words (if I had them) will be virtually impossible.  I only hope that a smile through my tears, hugs that are tighter than usual, and whispered thank yous will convey to them more than just those simple gestures.  I hope it will let them know that they are blessings in my life and have given me the best gift anyone can receive.  They have turned a school into so much more…..a place to turn to when I am troubled, a place to share my joys, a place of protection, a place of inspiration, a place to laugh, and a place to grow.  The good has abundantly outweighed the bad. I may have been a teacher for 32 years but I have learned more from my school family than they’ll ever know.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.  Yes, I have been VERY lucky!