Friends, Chosen to Be ~

Friendship, is not by chance....

Of course my mind is on the family of our sweet Debi who has gone on to glory !

Our old neighbors had moved away...the house was for sale.

So much curiosity as to who would fill the space across the street...

Of course we were hoping they would have kids, playmates, friends!!

As life would have it, 

Mom, Dad and three kids, 

Debi, DeDe and Joe.
Below is a photo of them with their wonderful Mom, Herminda.

As my memory would have it we became fast friends,

and spent much of our free time together in the hood :-)

We grew up together, watched each other go on to graduate, 

move away, marry and become parents ourselves.

Their beautiful Mom became such and inspiration to me as what someone

who walks the talk of their faith looks like.

I watched how under the worst of circumstances when she fully trusted God with it all.

Her faith oozes from her pours...
So when you think others aren't watching how you do things....they are!

Debi had this faith as well ....she knew where she was headed and it gave her peace.

I read the quote below today, and it just seem to fit,

 as I am thinking of the 

family that filled that space.
Our friends....

~

“In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

We are chosen for one another, its what echos from my heart today...

In Memory of a Childhood Friend ~

My childhood friend Debi took her last breath on this earth yesterday,

her next breath in the presence of Jesus.

Below is Debi in yellow, with her husband, her children and her 

beautiful grandchildren.

Debi had some very tough times in life, and if you would have spent any amount of time

with her you would never have known.

She never complained, she was never a victim of her circumstance.

She lived life to the fullest, always with a smile.

Her family was everything to her, they were her greatest joy.

There are many heavy hearts today because we never want to say good bye to those we love.

We never feel as though we had enough time.....

Debi on the other hand is worry free, pain free, and will never want for a thing.

We will meet again, perhaps she'll live across the street from me in heaven as when we were

kids, brings a smile to ones face...

Childhood friendships, echo from my heart today....

Hodgepodge Wednesday ~

1. I've read several posts and status updates recently describing end of year school field trips. Do you remember taking school field trips as a kid? Where did you go and do you recall a favorite? For any parents responding today, have you ever chaperoned a school field trip, and if so where?
My favorite field trip was in 2nd grade and we toured a dairy and learned how we got milk start to finish! I have always loved cows (okay its out) so it was exciting for me! 

2. What's something you're tired of seeing online?
That would be all the miracle weight loss products. It all really comes down to this, nothing will correct the problem like magic. There are somethings that may help in getting the weight loss started, but truth be told I believe it's about creating new eating habits. Then there is the annoying fact, if you don't get some daily exercise you won't see results. Sadly I've bought  many products over the years, I just kept hoping it can be as simple as a drink or a Green Tea pill :-) If you do find that drink or pill that may help you get the weight off, the bottom line is at some point we need to understand portion control, what you eat and the dreaded
 ( how I hate it) exercise will have to become a factor or we find ourselves back a square one.....again.

3. June is the month for roses. Which of the following expressions would you say has most recently applied to your life-'everything's coming up roses', 'there's no rose without a thorn', 'came out smelling like a rose', or 'wearing rose-colored glasses'? 
  'there's no rose without a thorn', I love roses, something my Dad taught me to love...I still have two rose bushes he bought me and planted when I first bought my house. To see or smell a rose, I always think of him.  Now, back to the question,  I think 'there's no rose without a thorn', it not just recently applied to my life but true to life. It's never all good, there is always a thorn that may appear. For me I keep my eye on the rose despite the thorns....

4. When grilling outdoors do you prefer gas or charcoal? Who does the grilling at your house? What's the last thing you ate that was cooked on a grill? Buster, aka Bob, aka hubstir, does all the grilling. He has been referred to as Barbeque Bob many times...he sometimes ends up at the grill by invite at the homes of our friends. He prefers charcoal no question...he often uses hickory chips, grills fish on a board (?) ....he knows what he's doing! The last thing he made on the grill was burgers :-)  Me, if I were alone I would need a gas grill so I had some control over that heat.  I'm amazed he knows when to put something on, with the assurance he will have enough heat to finish the job...His best dish, ribs to die for!

5. Are you afraid of the dark?
Oh yes, didn't have to think about it.  Was as a child, still today.....I hear a sound in the night and it's never a tree limb against the house, it's a person! 

6. Share a favorite song with a number in it's title.
Three Times a Lady, by Lionel Richie/Commadors , but I really enjoy hearing this song sung by anyone...

7. "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."(C.G. Jung). Do you agree? Why or why not?
I suppose in some cases that would be true...but there are things about others that irritate, that I don't do.
I'm always trying to better understand myself, in the areas of myself that I don't like. I have plenty of me to fix..... This question could lead to very long conversations, the kind that would reveal  reasons as to why we are the way we are :-)


8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Looking forward to getting away next week on a writing getaway...have always wanted to go somewhere and just write!!! Very excited ~Requesting prayers for a childhood friend Debi as she is in her last days of her battle with cancer. Prayers for all who love her to have peace with their loss, as I know she will run into the arms of Jesus!

Monday Minute ~ Conflict and Grace

 Our Women's Ministry Core Team attended a team building weekend at 

a beautiful home in Mountain Meadows this last weekend.

~

Surrounded by beauty and quiet...

 

I love love the hearts of these women

.

Gathered together, we filled this place and prepared to learn

of this thing called,
 Conflict and Grace

We weren't alone in this place..
some were unpaid guests.
For example, this apparent tree person.

We were all aware of it's presence, it was no bother at all....

 But....
there were others,
 M_ _e.
Also known as the M word.
Often starts with, Mickey and ends with Mouse...
but of course the
answer is in plural form.
MORE THAN ONE!


I will tell you this
I prayed often, and  once again  the power of prayer was displayed before me!!
:-)
No visual by me..but oh the
 EVIDENCE!!!!
Enough to prove a case and convict..
I would be in favor of m_ _ e hangings if there was such a thing..

Lots of tiny little ropes, I know crafty creative people!
Okay, nuff said.

~

It wasn't going to stop this group of women from doing what we came to do.

 Thankful for the printed word of a beautiful hymn,

Amazing Grace indeed...

I truly don't think I have adequate words to describe to you the kind of friends these women are.

A group I'm so proud to be a part of, as we each desire nothing more than to serve

God and the Women of our awesome church.

 Constantly being reminded to turn to Him in all things...

ensuring what we do is done in love and our purpose is to bring honor to Him.

We shared meals, laughter and tears.

As a team we learned about conflict...what it is,

how to recognize it, and that is doesn't look the same for all.
We all have different triggers

and

conflict is unavoidable, it will always enter in from time to time.

Our hearts desire, when it makes an appearance, is to handle it in love

with a willingness to allow grace to enter in..

 each and every time.

 ....and know that I am God

~

We each have a precious rock with our own words engraved them. They were given as gifts from our
Director Dawn back at the beginning of this year...

We each shared how we have put our words to use in our lives since choosing them.

Several of us may or may not have taken the slide down to the pool :-)
Funny how with age it seems much scarier and faster than as a kid..
so I was told...

 Girl stuff !

 Time...a precious thing.

This sweet one below arrived on the wings of prayers....

Love our Victoria's heart. Happy for her restored health!

We are never without some fun and games

and 

oh, the stories!! 

~

We were reminded that if you only have a piece of the picture

we all perceive different things about what the full one might really look like. 

 Each chose a piece of a photo and were challenged to draw the rest 

of the scene...

 The results..

 

~

 We discovered what our love languages are.

 

(who used a capital letter in my name?) 

grin

~

 Being on a team is never without some element of conflict,

be it a team of employees, a team in marriage, 

and yes

it includes women's ministry teams. :-)

I leave reminded that we are not quitters,
regardless of what conflicts come our way.
We are a team doing work on behalf of
the
Most High God. 

Conflict will surely come our way,
feelings may even get hurt, and we will disappoint each other.
Which is why it's key to constantly remind ourselves, 
this journey we are on together is
 not 

about us as individuals, but Him. 

We will show each other grace because we are committed
  and
 because God shows us grace time after time. 

We will  do so in love, even when its hard.

1 John 4:19

¹ We love because he first loved us.

He doesn't say to love only those worthy of it...

if that were the case...?

Not one is worthy,

yet 

He loves us.

~  

This particular rock is not mine,
however I think it should be our 
 TEAM rock...
we don't quit,
we

~

We've got this because we are following and trusting 

 God...

He is the lead, He is who we chose to follow.

~

Thankful always for this group of women I have the privilege of serving with and spending an occasional weekend with....

I wish for all women to have friendships such as these...it's what echos from my heart today.

Fresh On Friday ~ Worry Not..

Worry

God knows that we worry,

and with that knowledge He give us a better way!

"Spend some time with me"

Then Jesus said, "Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden

 you have been forced to carry.

  I will give you rest.

Accept my teaching. Learn form me. I am gentle and humble in spirit.

And you will be able to get some rest.

Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy.

The load I give you to carry is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

God does care about all the daily stuff that brings us worry.

He is never too busy to be bothered.

Ask, then trust Him to provide

just what you need....

Have a great weekend bloggers...

I'm off for a weekend of team buliding

with our Women's Ministry Team :-)

I encourage you to worry not...it changes nothing.

Encourage someone today....its' what echos from my heart today..

This One Time On NightCrest Cirlcle ~ Friendship

I was going through some old photos of days long past...

14 years ago to be exact (say it isn't so!).

When Bob and I first married we lived in Temecula, on a really nice

cul-de-sac. We spent almost every weekend hanging out with the six households to the 

left of us....basically the entire end of the cul-de-sac.

We were younger, so much younger then...we had some great times.

Eventually we moved back to San Diego, another couple sold and moved to WA., 

another to Colorado, one to nearby Murrieta and yet another to Scotland.

I looked at the sudden departures as, time to move forward,
 our friendships strong enough to endure the painful separation. 

 We had a farewell dinner at our home and it was an evening of mixed emotions, to be sure. 

 Trying to focus on the great times we've had, with the reality of

living in different states/cites throbbing in our hearts like a sore thumb would...

We survived, kept in touch and still have the memories.

Real friendships survive the years,

and never leave our hearts.

My younger sister lived just around the corner back then, that was nice!

Below, a shot of myself, my friend Missi and my sister Dona on a safe Harely Ride...

safe = sitting still, parked in the garage -)

Below at the Mira Mar Airshow together....

Many Halloween Parties

 We gathered at someones place every weekend, so many laughs....

 New Years Eve was no exception ...

 Of course there was dancing!

 Below our limo to the Jimmy Buffett concert,

 we spent more time with the party than the actual

concert...times have certainly changed :-)

Each, was a weekend celebration to be sure... I miss them all so much, 

and we do keep in touch!

I think it was good we all went our separate ways, it was time :-)

Each so special to me still.

We all made changes, and continue to be there for each other, still.

Miles don't change the hearts.....

Oh how I will always love these dear friends,

from the hood..... (grin)

~

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way -

Charles Dickens ~ A Tale of Two Cites

in this case, One City....
maybe not just as in the Dickens story,
but what a tale it was.... :-)

Enjoying the memories, it's what echos from my heart today....