Fear Not!

It is easy to tell someone else not to worry or fear but to the worrisome or fearful soul, their fear is so real, something they cannot help, and certainly do not want. I was reminded of my fear last week when I had an MRI on my knee. I knew I wouldn't have to go completely inside the tube so I had no reason to fear but as my head inched closer and closer, my eyes got wider and wider. Dave, the kind, perceptive tech noticed and settled my fears by telling me at what point the traveling bed I was on would stop. Let's just say my entire body would have gone inside that tube. I know I would have come completely unglued! The reality, though, is that it would not have hurt me one bit, I just think it will. It is an irrational fear of being closed in. My husband and my son could do that without blinking an eyelash, no problem. I cannot understand how they can and they cannot understand why I can't.

I read something recently about worry and fear that was helpful so thought I would get it down on 'paper.'

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Tim. 1:7

Below I quote Dr. David Jeremiah, the well-known senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, CA. We had the pleasure of visiting his church on Easter Sunday in 2006 while visiting our son in San Diego. I've been a regular radio follower ever since.

• Worry is fear - not necessarily the white-knuckle kind of fear, but a fear that leaves us unsettled and anxious.
• Fear is a lack of faith in God.  Not worrying requires faith - but not blind faith. It is faith in a God who has promised He will never leave nor forsake you.  Heb. 13:5

"Nothing can cure us of fear till God cures us of unbelief." Francis Burkitt

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. Any by him we cry, "Abba, Father."  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Rom. 8:15-16

The More Things Change...

It's been said, "the more things change, the more things stay the same." I find this to be more and more true. I guess it's because through life things do change but as things change, in some cases, they bring you back to where you started. This is the time of the year when parents, mostly moms, are getting their children ready for 'back to school' and usually that includes new school clothes. I'm a shopper so that was something I looked forward to, and still do. Not every year but once in a while my daughter and I still go 'school shopping' together. Her role in the school has changed, she is now the teacher. I think she was in kindergarten when she decided she was going to be a teacher when she grew up. Well, even the teacher needs new school clothes, right! So this morning we went to our favorite store, T.J. Maxx, and just couldn't resist these, so we both got a pair! How cute will they look with a black outfit and a splash of red!

A couple new black tops and we were good to go! Shopping at T.J. Maxx is always fun but it's the best when you go with another Maxxionista!
Happy school year Meg! I'm so proud of you and the work you do in the classroom to touch the lives of your students!
XOXO

Forever Young (at heart!)

Yesterday was a beautiful summer day! After sweltering all last week in Washington, D.C., the cooler temps are more than welcome! It's always good to be home and especially so because home now includes frequent visits from our darlings, Collin & Madelyn. We played in the backyard after dinner and I don't know what got into me but I was trying to entertain and keep up with the energy and antics of a three year old. After looking at these pictures, I think the two kids must think their Grammy is a little nuts but we had ourselves some fun...

Easier said than done!

This is them....

....watching me do this!

I know, but look at that smile on his face!!!

and look at the smile on her face too!!!

I can't think of anything I would have rather done than frolic in the summer breeze with these two beautiful blessings! I want our home to be a place where they feel loved and have fun! I promise not to pretend I'm some spry chic too often so I can be around for a lot more love and fun times!!!

Washington, D.C.

We had the pleasure of taking a trip to Washington, D.C. last week with my brother and his family. We've been several times but there is so much to see you need to go several times! It was fun going with them on their first trip and seeing their reaction to the sites. We take so much for granted living in America but when you go to Washington, D.C. you see why our country is so great. Great men sacrificed all to defend our country and others were slain while serving the highest office in the land. I wish I could capture it all in a blog but it's just not possible. I will let some of our pictures speak for themselves.

The Washington Monument at dusk

The White House

World War II Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery, a sobering site.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy gravesite/eternal flame.

Gary searches until he finds the name of
his friend who died too young in Vietnam.

This is always a touching moment.

I think of the many who must come here to touch the names of loved ones lost to war, left only with their memories. Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed so much for our freedom and for the men and women of our day who continue to defend our country and protect our liberties!

The week was filled with activity, laughter, walking - LOTS of walking! I enjoyed being with my husband, THE best tour guide to go to D.C. with, and will treasure the time spent with family, something I do not ever want to take for granted. 

Nick in his Capitals tee

E&T ~ Elise & Trevor

Ed & Shells

Me & G

My brother, Ed, and me.

They are already talking about going again. I am waiting for me feet to recover.  :0)

Friday the 13th

I love Friday the 13th. I am not at all superstitious, I don't believe in being lucky or unlucky. Some think Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. If I believed in luck, I'd say it's a lucky day! I was born on Friday the 13th, right along with my twin sister =)  Imagine being parents - having your firstborn son who is 18 months old, your second child, a beautiful daughter, just 11 months old, then delivering your third beautiful daughter and being told "WAIT, there's another one in there!" That would be me! Mom called me the bonus baby, dad said something about the after..... well, let's just leave it at bonus =)  We were born six weeks premature, weighing in at just a little over 3 lbs. each. In those days they kept you in incubators. I don't know how many days/weeks we lived there before going home but our early and tiny start to life didn't hold us down for long. Did I mention we are identical? People always ask, "what's it like being a twin?" I ask back, "what's it like not being a twin?" I know no other way and would want no other way! It's been fun, other than the constant question, which one are you, Barb or Bev? We heard that over and over and over again. I understand now, though, because I know some identical twins and cannot tell them apart for the life of me! As much as I hate to ask that dreaded twin question, you do like to refer to a person by their name, so inevitably the question comes....

~ my sweet sister-best friends ~

Barb and I always spend our birthday together. This year we are both on vacation, I am with our brother and his family in Washington D.C. and she is in New Hampshire with our sister. I will miss seeing her this year but think it is fitting that we are with our other siblings. We are reminded a lot of our closeness and how we seem to gravitate to one another as if we are one person. I think that is pretty cool. 

~ me and Ed on my birthday heading out for out last day in D.C. ~

However, being with the other two this year is a reminder to me that our love for them is as strong as our love for each other and they both know that. We are all blessed to have each other and we count it a privilege like no other to spend time together whenever we get the chance.

~all four of us with mom celebrating her 80th birthday~

Here's to birthdays, brothers, sisters, memories,  making more memories, and to the love that carries through the years and continues to grow!

Love you my sweet siblings ~ Ed, Jan, and Barb!