Inspiration

I have learned that my inspiration is often powerful, but my perseverance is easily derailed. I have discovered that I am all too often inspired by what others do or say or accomplish, but then fail to find my own personal inspiration within to actually accomplish anything.

I don't imagine that the late Steve Jobs looked only to others for his inspiration. Somewhere inside him was a voice that told him to keep going, to keep creating, to keep pushing new horizons, even when those around him were casting doubt.

I want to teach Samuel that inspiration can be found in many places and take many forms, but that his source of strength and energy to push towards a goal must be found within. Ideas and aspirations must fuel one to press forward, to solve problems, and to continue on toward the finish, even when it is challenging to do so.

Inspiration is beautiful and accomplishment is life changing.

Wuv...Twu Wuv...

There's been a lot of talk about LOVE in my life lately - young love, old love, and all kinds of love in between.



How do people "fall" "IN LOVE".
Can people fall "out" of "love"?
There's the fairy tale version of "love" with rose petals, princes on white horses, and fair maidens...
There's the sweet love of child with a sticky face offering a parent a priceless kiss.
There's the movie "love" - the one where boy meets girl and despite obstacles of distance, age, finances, education, or even intense dislike, they fall head over heels for each other.
There's 'best friend' love, brotherly (and sisterly) love, family love, and then...

Then there's God's love - eternal love - the kind where He sends His only son to take away the sins of the world so that we may have fellowship with Him if we only believe.

In 1 Corinthians 13, love is laid out for us:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

I suppose that is the LOVE that I want to be known for having. A love that doesn't end when circumstances change. A love that endures storms and allows me to go on "without fail" even when my heart feels broken, trampled or ignored.

I pray that those in young love will realize all that God's love has for them as they grow, and that God's love will protect and guard their hearts, allowing them to also go on "without fail" in His perfect love forever.

First Post

Well, I've waited a long time to start a "blog". I'm a "journaling" kind of girl, but I just never seem to have the time to pull out a pen and actually write. However, I'm watching as my son is speeding through childhood, and he has NO journals, other than short blurbs in his scrapbooks. Nothing to record how wonderfully curious he is. No written accounts of his humorous anecdotes. I read dozens of scrapbook magazines, and feel guilty as tears stream down my cheeks after reading heart felt stories of other people's children! I want him to know how special he truly is. I want him to see what REAL LIFE is. Real struggles, real hopes, real dreams, real prayers...REAL. BUT, I don't want to be so busy recording life that I forget to LIVE life either. The times we live in are full of challenges. Those challenges are what will continue to change us as a family as every day zooms past. I want him to know that despite everything these LifeNTimes bring, we are first and foremost centered around our God, who is awesome and who created us and brought us all together. That is why I've created this Blog. To document our LifeNTimes and to be as real as possible in showing what REAL LIFE is all about.