Monday Minute ~ Hubby Home

This is a special Monday,

my Buster returns home today, 32 days after he left to be with his son.

Joseph has begun his long road to recover,

still we are thanking God that he is here to recover!!

Again, heartfelt thanks to those who prayed in the darkest of hours
alongside us.

There have been miracles along the way... and  people put in our lives for a time such as this.
 I am forever grateful and thankful for two special men, total strangers,  in Florida

who came along side Bob in a way only true friends would do...

 I'm sure they were God sent.

He does stuff like that .....

I'm so thankful for our family and friends who were such great support to me 

in Bob's absence, that made it so much easier.

Thankful for the many who kept in contact with Bob while he was gone...

We learn so much about the character of others at times like this, those

who truly think of others, who offered many encouraging words to both of us.

It's times like this people only need lifting up!

 I'm asking that you will continue to pray for Joseph and his family, the journey ahead is a long one.

They need positivity, encouragement, patience and Faith....this journey has no room for anything less!

Praying that in the process they become stronger, closer, and that
the stuff that really matters becomes clear and remains a constant in there lives.
More than anything I pray their faith in God has grown and that they
 never forget it was
 He that brought them through!

I hope should you ever need prayer for yourself or someone you love that you will 

let us repay you by doing the same for you and yours!

 ~

Me-  Khloe, what are you going to say to Pa when you see him?

Khloe -
 Surprise!!!!

Ready to hug and be hugged!!

Reunions with loved ones is what echos from my heart today.....

Fresh on Friday ~ A Need for Silence

A friend posed the question:

"How could you make more room in your life for silence in order to listen to God? "

My initial reply was to have less commitments, which allows more time to find the silence.

Years ago my husband and two of our besties drove up to a high point in Big Sky Montana.

Upon our arrival we set up our beach chairs to have a good look.

What I saw up there was the most beautiful view I think I have seen ....

it took my breath away.

I had just lost my Dad two weeks prior, and oh how I wanted to call him to share

what I was seeing.

  

 I realized as I sat there that,  the beauty created the silence.. 

For as far as I could see, there was beauty,

and nothing to hear but silence.

In that silence, I heard God's whisper, I felt His presence.

I find silence mostly in nature, mountains, beach, river or lakes.

Nature is all I hear, nature, it's the whisper of our Creator.

In life, noise is pretty much a constant.

Cell phones, television, kids, traffic, music, not

to mention all the clutter in our heads.

So much competing with God's gentle whispers.

I have a desire to hear God's voice, and I find I have to seek it out...the silence that is.

In the absence of noise I more easily find and hear God.

Silence is a great tool for growing in oneness with God.

Jesus went away to be alone when he prayed, to the silence to better hear his Father's voice.

I embrace silence as if it were a long lost friend, a friend I can't wait to be alone with, 

just me and silence.

For me it's an essential component of my spiritual life, in my efforts to grow in His likeness.

I try and start every morning in the silence with God.

Before the cartoons, before the news, before any electronic device.

So much peace comes from sitting in silence.

I often think of running away to it!

A weekend of silence, ahh, now that would be priceless..... 

In that silence,

asking for guidance over my day,  my words and  my activities.

Amazing things happen in silence.

Have you found yours?

I encourage you to seek it out.

Psalm 46:10 

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

The many benefits of silence, it's what echos from my heart today......

Guest Blogger ~ Rest

I was asked to be a guest blogger on my pal Lori's blog;  Such and honor to be asked.  This is my post, I hope you will check out her blog, it's awesome, as is she! http://mylifeaslori.wordpress.com/

Authentic Thursday | Guest post by debi Horton – REST

Message from Lori:   Authentic Thursdays are here!!!  And that means it’s guest blog time!   On Thursdays we will be joined by various blogging friends who have agreed to join forces with the purpose of simply being themselves.  I cannot take credit for their skill or gifts or natural abilities … but I am happy to say that I dig their style and friendship and authenticity!
Introducing debi Horton… our inaugural Authentic Thursday guest blogger.  Yes, “debi” with a lowercase “d”.  My dear friend thinks and feels deeply, speaks truth in love and cares immensely for others.   And without further adieu…

debi Horton | debi-echoofmyheart.blogspot.com

++++++++++

REST
I was curious, “rest” defined? I Googled it, well, because it’s what I do with most every question that pops into my head.  No surprise the first thing I read was repose, sleep… no surprise there, it’s my first thought.  Upon further reading, there was relief, peace, tranquility; freedom from worries, troubles, and the list goes on.
My Mom was a worrier. I suppose I received the worry gene from her.  I spent too many years in worry mode, worried about what ifs, and then I tried to find a way to control things that may cause a what if? I got to the point that if things were going well, I’d worry that something bad surely is about to happen now. Oh the drama in my head…
To my surprise I learned not to worry in what was my greatest worry: the idea of ever losing one of my parents.   It was days prior to the loss of my Father that I no longer had the strength to worry, in fact I needed a rest from it!  It was in the heartbreaking thought of losing him that I realized I couldn’t control a moment of it, and I was in desperate need of a God who then showed me that I could rest.  I could rest because I had hope… hope and the promise I would see my Dad again. Realizing I could release something that big to a bigger God, and have peace in that? Who am I and what did I do with me? What sweet relief there was realized that night, while pacing the halls of a hospital. It was still extremely painful to let go of my sweet Dad’s hand for the last time, but oh the peace in knowing it I will be able to hold it again one day. REST
In the months, year, okay, the years following, God saw to it that I would find rest. Rest in His Word. The more I began to know God on a much deeper level, the more I grew in my faith. I realized His loving intentions for my life. I felt a very unfamiliar peace, a calmness that everything would be alright.  I no longer could turn to my earthly Father, but I had constant access to my heavenly Father.  The truths I studied led me to a different lifestyle, a lifestyle that did not include worry. (This is where one would do the “thank you, praise you Jesus” dance!)
This new way of living has been a long process, and it continues so long as I spend time in His Word. In one of my daily readings from Sarah Young’s, Jesus Calling, she reminds us, Do not to worry about tomorrow; it hasn’t even been released to you yet!  Well if that didn’t make sense Sisters…the cherry had just been dropped into place on my now worry-free hot fudge sundae! Just enjoy the sundae, tomorrow will only take away from it!
So I choose rest, worry never changed one outcome in my life. When things don’t go as planned….well frankly I know it’s part of His plan.  It’s not about me and my plan, it’s His plan.  When things begin to fall apart, I just ask Him to give me rest in it. If I do that, I have a strong awareness of His presence; if I’m aware of His presence then it’s not me aware of my problems, my self-awareness, which allows self-pity to enter in.

Matthew 11:28 ~ Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Thankful I can now do life, frankly speaking, with a cherry on top!
REST.  It’s what echos from my heart today.  

++++++++++

BIO - debi Horton has a heart for people… blessed with the gifts of mercy and encouragement she is drawn to those who need someone to come alongside them or could benefit from a refilling of the heart.

debi loves family, authentic and transparent friendships and her faith. She  enjoys blogging especially about what echos from her heart; sharing what she’s learned in her life experience thus far, the good, the bad and the ugly; and especially her personal “ah ha” moments. debi enjoys her book club of nearly 16 years, random photography and road trips with her husband, but most of all being “Namaw” to their seven grandchildren.

Hodgepodge Wenesday ~

1. March is known as the windy month. Which of the following phrases best fits your March so far...'throw caution to the wind', 'three sheets to the wind', 'run like the wind', or 'see which way the wind blows'? 

See which way the wind blows, it's been a month of waiting, waiting on God...a good lesson to learn.


2. Your favorite green food? Your favorite dish made with your favorite green food?

I love raw spinach, so I would say spinach salad with walnuts, feta, and strawberries. (thanks Nonny)


3. Ever been locked out of your home-car-office-anywhere? Do tell!

 Yes, locked out of the house, sent one of my sons through a tiny bathroom window..


4. Yoda, Kermit, Shrek, The Wicked Witch of the West, Oscar the Grouch, The Grinch, or Mike Wasowski (Monsters Inc.)...of the green characters listed, which one's your favorite and why?

That would be the Wicked Witch of the West...she is in my favorite movie of all time The Wizard of Oz...well, it's  tied with The Sound of Music :-)

5. "The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive."~Joe Batten Do you agree? Why or why not?

I think the first task of leader ship is not being to into your leadership "title", but by  being the example of servant. My Pastor Chico does just that... My Father too, as he was promoted to the top, though proud of his accomplishment he wasn't impressed with himself, full of himself or his title. Never tooted his own horn, nor did he want others to do so on his behalf.  He continued to work along side his employees and many of them shared with me, that was what they respected most about him.

6. Share a favorite song with an emotion in it's title.

Are You Lonesome Tonight ~ Elvis ....I am missing my hubby.....


7. What's a road trip you'd like to take?

Always ready for a road trip, very ready for one to Montana/Colorado....

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Joseph is doing so great. Sitting in a chair for 30 minutes at a time.  Took a few steps, bed to chair. Eating real food. Talking!! I have no doubt this event has happened to this family for many reasons, all of them part of God's plan. A plan for all to get the importance of life and family, for it to be fully understood, not taking a moment for granted.  It's time to start again, today, and fully live. To live fully loving and appreciating those we call family. God's greatest commandment...to love.... Live fully knowing that the kindness of strangers, in both prayers and generosity showed up, they loved! If total strangers can step up to the plate at times such as this..and love?? Imagine what its possible... It's when we take our minds off self... we can  live like God wanted us to ... I'm amazed at the outpouring of support from our friends and family for Joseph and Angel...by people who don't even known them.  Because they love us, they've reached out to this young family that we love and  want the best for.  Praying that everyone who reads this...gets it!  It's times like this true character is exposed...when we are raw without pretense. It's about real life and the desire to live it well, taking nothing for granted. Especially the importance of ones life and family!

Monday Minute ~ But God !

Shouting it from the roof tops,

Joseph is off the ventilator, breathing on his own,

feeding tube removed, talking, recognizing people, eating...

Can you imagine the joy and excitement after weeks of worry, after 100's of posts

requesting prayers for our Joseph...trying daily to find more ways to spread the word 

for the need of prayer....updating these same people a couple times a day.

It's what I've been living and breathing....

I met this young man at age 12, he was calling me Smom before I knew it.

So imagine the excitement in his fathers voice to share this news with me after

weeks of not knowing what we would be facing.

A Father who couldn't wait to share it with his wife, the smom..the joy was just not measurable.

I'm sure anyone with a child gets that!

Sunday Bob called me and said someone wants to talk to you :-)

Heck yes! 

Praising God, for the countless miracles that have taken place, some we may not even 

be aware of...

thankful for phones that allow us to see each other,  specifically the people we love!!

Thankful for the countless number of friends and family that have been faithfully praying.

Please continue to pray....

This time in our life is about Joseph and we hope you will see it through with us.

Excited to see what God has in store for him and his little family.

At times we weren't sure, at times Dr.'s didn't leave an impression of being optimistic...

but God!

Happiness nothing can take away from it, ...it's what echos from my heart today!!

Fresh on Friday ~ Joy!

Wow Friday already~

Our son Joseph will have surgery 11:00 A.M. California time.
Big day as the Doctors plan to remove him from the ventilator.

Thanking God in advance for what I trust he will do.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

 James 1:2

What ever you might be facing I may not know, but I do know that if you can consider it joy, 

you will find it drenched in God's goodness!

We know that God has something good to achieve in all of this.

May sound strange to some, it did to me the first time I heard the term call it joy used.
Then I experienced it first hand and learned that,

it's joy because no trial touches us unless He first allows it to.

 God knows it's through our suffering we actually grow spiritually...

He also knows those of us who, without trials, may not draw near to Him.

It's His deepest desire that we do so.....

From our standpoint it's painful as can be, but God sees it as a connector

to a deeper relationship with Him.

It's in the knowing and believing just that, 

that I can find joy in this season we are in!

God will use this trial in our lives to achieve something awesome in our lives and the lives of others.

I know this experience of ours has had some wondering,

 "how would I handle it if it

were our family  in this situation?"

I ask my self over and over, what this would be like without God?

I'm glad I will never have to know the answer to that.

~

Trials will put our faith to the test....

are we going to believe the scriptures?

I rest in His promises.

In this, our faith will mature, our character will be polished until we shine and reflect Christ. 

This time in our lives, we will grow our endurance...not to fear or complain, but to develop 

an attitude of amazing trust and learn to completely rely on His strength not our own..

I pray if you are going through a trial or hardship that these words have encouraged you!

Oswald Chambers;
But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely.  
If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal 
that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

Oh how I love that!

Resting in His promises, is what echos from my heart today....

Throwback Thursday ~

The year was in 2000,

the occasion was a celebration of Bob and I's start of a new life together.

We had just married weeks prior on the rivers edge in Montana.

We had a celebration in our backyard, catered Mexican Food,

 and our favorite D.J. playing so wonderful music.

 Below is a photo of one side of my new family.

Our daughter Jackie, Joseph and Bob's sweet Momma, Gaye.

How fortunate for me ......I feel as though they have always been a part of my life.

It felt natural.

Thankful me.

~ 

Joseph was originally scheduled this past Monday for surgery but that was rescheduled. He's now due to have surgery Friday on his arm.  The Doctor is planing on removing the ventilator after surgery while in the operating room. Should they need to they will do a tracheotomy , but we're praying he is successful breathing on his own.  

Would you please join us and pray as we approach Friday?

~

The latest......

Eyes were open Wednesday evening.

His wife Angel asked him if he knew who she was,

he nodded, yes.

She asked him if she was his wife,

he nodded yes!

One of the little miracles along the way.....

Thankful for the addition to my life of these three special ones,

it's what echos from my heart....everyday.

Another Hodgepodge Wednesday ~

1.  Thursday marks the first day of spring...to celebrate would you rather plant a garden or go for a walk in the woods? Would either of those activities be possible on Thursday where you live?

I would be planting a garden for sure...and yes it's possible here in beautiful sunny San Diego!
I still have tomatoes on last years tomato plants...and they are flowering again???? 

2. When did someone last spring something on you? (or when did you last spring something on someone?)

 The motorcycle accident with our Joseph for sure.  Thankful we were secure in our faith prior to 

this happening.  I can tell you, it makes all the difference at time like this especially.....

3.  We often think of spring as a time for new beginnings. What's something you'd like to start doing this spring?

I really do it all year round, but I would like to really purge my house of stuff...the older I get I feel less is more....and there is always someone with very little who will gladly take it off my hands...

4. Where do you like to sit in a movie theater? When did you last sit there, and what were you watching?

We like to sit at the very top, center...I don't like people behind me...plus it's the row with the 

most leg room. We seldom go to the movies...so I really couldn't tell you the last movie.....

5. When you meet someone for the very first time, what do you want them to think about you?

Above all else, I would love them to think I am of woman of faith and the real deal.

For them to walk away feeling they met the real me! 

6. March is frozen food month (yes, really!). Besides ice cream (gotta make you think a little) what's your most often purchased frozen food item?

Texas Toast for sure!!!

Great with pasta or with those meat/salad dinners....

7. What's something you avoid?

Funny you should ask....as this topic was recently brought up....

CLICKS.

Dislike them very much.  In high school I purposed to make friends

with many "groups" of people.  I didn't want to be connected to just one group.

Never felt above anyone and it was, and still is important to me that no one ever think that of me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Random thought(s)

The time we have with each other, how it's spent and that we make it meaningful,

 and memorable should matter.
Make it count.

If your spending it fighting with your spouse, keep in mind...women your showing your kids

how a wife should treat her husband. Men, your showing them how to treat a wife.

Ask yourself...is this what I want for them?

If your doing anything other than loving your parents for loving you,

raising you, giving you what you needed.... maybe you should rethink that...your kids

will be adults one day. Your showing your kids how to treat you down the road!

If you didn't have model parents...choose to do it differently for your kids.

If your days are about you.....you may end up with just you. 

If you have issue with someone, how about you go to that person rather 

than sharing it with everyone but them??

"If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone.

Matthew 18:15  

If your still blaming someone else for why you haven't got it together,

truth is,
 how you live your life is your choice every day.

If you take on a task, don't grumble and complain about the responsibility.

We all have a responsibility.

 Do all things without grumbling or disputing

Philippians 2:14 

Prayer....it's powerful.

In the distant past I realized how often when someone shared a need with me, I would respond

with, I will pray about it for you.

.....and then would forget to do so.

When I realized I was doing this I changed it.

If I tell someone I will pray for them....I do it as soon as I'm done saying it.

It's become a good habit!

Thankful for all your prayers for our Joseph.

Still in the trauma unit, another surgery scheduled for this Friday on his arm.

Still on the ventilator, with plans to remove it after surgery.....

Please pray specifically for strong lungs, normal strong vital signs, the anxiety he often

displays, and that they find the cause of him vomiting daily......

Praying for God to make him brand new :-)
Please share Joseph's story with all you know who are willing to pray :-)

~

Below is a photo my great niece Ruby Lu made for me at our last visit.

It's the reason for my first random thought,

she always leaves me thinking.

 ~

I will sweet Ruby Lu, I will....

Making it count, always striving to do better...it's what echos from my heart today...

A Monday Minute ~

Out for a much needed few hours on Saturday morning for a brunch with

my book club friends of 15 years..

We toured the gardens of  a popular wedding venue in nearby Fallbrook.

It was a warm day with blue skies...

Friendship was in the air.

Enjoy the tour,

there are several photos, possible only my book club 

 is interested in them all ... :-)

~

Meeting up...felt like, home.

Loved the stamped concrete ~

Wall of succulents...

Check out the beautiful plants on that wall....

It's what friendship looks like......

The heart shaped lake .......

My favorite, the California Poppy :-)

I think the bucket makes the photo :-)

Kale, who knew?

Heading to lunch.

A short tour,

a beautiful day, 

a delicious meal,

with

friends....

Some needed and good conversation with my friends.

These friends at one time were my family,

turns out,

they still are :-)

So blessed to have each one of them in my life.

Full of thanks, it's what echos from my hear today....