Brad...

Hello Dear Friends,

I know I have been making myself scarce lately and am working on fixing that but it seems as though one thing piles on top of the other and by the time I go to sit down and blog it is going on 11 PM, much to late to start anything.

One of the things that has taken precedence this week is a sudden and tragic death of a family friend. My sister-in-law's family and mine have been intertwined for many years (like 50). Her aunt and my mother were best friends in high school. Then to have their children marry, well that cemented a relationship among all of us. Unfortunately, those ties lead us to the sadness I have today. My sister-in-law's nephew, Brad, was killed early Sunday morning in a traffic accident at the age of 25.

We have spent much time with Brad over the years, watching him as he grew from a mere infant at my brother's wedding to a teenager graduating from high school to a young man with a son of his own. His loss is having a ripple effect throughout their family and my own. It is a tragic loss and saddens my heart to no end. His son, Gabe (4), will have no memories of his father and will not understand this at all (like any of us do??).

While Brad is no longer among us, I am thankful to say that he will live on, as his wife and parents agreed to donate all usable organs. I am also thankful to say that this accident was simply that, an accident. There were no alcohol or drugs involved. This knowledge helps me know that it was simply Brad's time to go home and join his loved ones in Heaven.

While we cannot understand the loss of one who had barely begun to live, we can rest in peace in the Word of God.

"The Lord will hear your crying and he will comfort you. 

When he hears you, he will help you." Isaiah 30:19 NCV

“The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, 

and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18(NRSV)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, 

and the life: he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, yet shall he live. 

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”  John 11:25-26 (KNV)

And with those comforting words, I will leave you now. May God Bless each and every one of you. May he shower you with his protection, love and peace.....

Yours in Christ,
Sheila

Praying for my Boyfriend....

Hello Dear Ones...

Once again I have left you for the long days of being a single parent, winding down the school year with two very busy children. We have had dance recitals, band concerts, parades, graduation and parties and many other activities that keep me away from my computer at home. I will be posting pictures of these as soon as things settle down a bit... maybe next week :)

But today, my friend Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom started a new series that I just had to post. She is spending the next 31 days praying for her husband. She is an Air Force wife, however, this works for all non-military families as well.

So many times we spend time praying for everyone and everything. We, as prayer warriors, can get besieged with prayer requests and we end up spending time praying for people we may not even know. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, how often do we spend time praying for our husbands or significant others?

I don't know about you, but I pray a lot for my kids, my brothers, my nieces and nephews and father. I pray for my friends, for our government, for our military members and for my congregation. How often do I bend my knees and beseech God for my boyfriend and his well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally?

This man, this gorgeous, wonderful, supportive, loving man, who would do anything for me. The one who takes care of my children as if they were his own. Who steadfastly pushes me to better myself and makes me want to be a better person. The one who believes I am capable of anything and that I am prettier, sexier, smarter, kinder than I ever thought I could be. He is the one who makes me want to be the person he believes I am. Why do I not pray as much for him?

So starting today, June 1, 2011, I will join Sandra and many other women as they set apart a moment of their day to raise husbands/boyfriends/significant others up to the Lord and watch the blessings of our Great God rain down on them.

Please consider joining me...

Much love and blessings to you all!