The strengths of my mother-in-law stand out so clearly for me. She has been a wonderful example of being strong, courageous and faithful. Sensitive Traditional Righteous Observant Noteworthy Gentle Concise Outspoken Unrelenting Respectable Amazing Giving Encouraging Overjoyed Unique Smart Fabulous Ardent Intuitive Thoughtful […]
My Mom Is One Of A Kind
The things I learned from my mom are perseverance, strength, wisdom and loyalty. My mom is: Practical Economically minded Resourceful Supportive Effective Valuable Excellent Rational Authentic Needed Courteous Encouraging Strong-willed Tenacious Realistic Engaging Necessary Generous Thoughtful Humorous Wise Intentional Selfless Daring Outgoing Magnanimous Logical Original Yielded to God Ambitious […]
Before and After: A Matter of Perspective
It’s been 2 months since my dad’s passing, wow, to the day. My timing isn’t planned, just lucky coincidence. This picture accurately represents something unexpected for me. My dad is smiling here. He was happy because my husband was able to visit him. When my dad was alive, it […]
United We Stand
God has sure been stirring up a lot of things in my heart and thoughts lately. One of the recurring issues I deal with is that I am still missing out on a father figure for my life. I understand that Scripture teaches us that God is our Heavenly Father, and He has never disappointed […]
Love Is Tough
Our American culture has adopted this practice of Tough Love when we see others doing stuff we don’t like. I can see how this has been helpful in some situations. Some people are hurtful towards others, and destructive forces for themselves and others. Sometimes we need some kind of kick in the pants to wake […]
“Don’t Apologize”
I’ve spent most of my lifetime apologizing for who I was and who I am, for simply being here, maybe in someone’s way, or saying something that might have given the wrong impression or just didn’t get my point across. I’ve apologized and been completely introspective, believing something was wrong with me, because someone was […]
To Know Me Is To ______ Me
1Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” (NASB) I have a jumble of thoughts built up. Hopefully I can get them all out and place them in good […]
Being Falsely Accused
“‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Deut 5:20 ) Don’t take hold of a misunderstanding, giving it no opportunity to be resolved or cleared up, and instead tell others about it as if it were the truth. Misunderstandings happen. I have often hoped for grace from others when I have either misunderstood […]
What My Mom Helped Me Learn
My mom has helped me learn some things that I now have the opportunity to purposefully make sure my daughter gets from me. 1) Always have her back. Even if I don’t agree with her or she doesn’t handle things the way I would, never make her feel as though she has to deal with […]
When Trust is Gone
Trust does not come easy for me. As a young girl, I searched for someone I could trust to bare my soul to. It was years of being alone and afraid before I finally found someone who would listen, and not repeat what I told them, who didn’t treat me nice to my face while […]
My Dad (A Soggy Account)
Well, what can I say about my dad? Where do I start? I guess I will introduce him to you. He is James Roy Bennett Jr. He is the oldest of 3 children, the only boy, and both his parents have passed away. He’s a musician (plays/played the guitar, sings, and wrote his own songs, […]
How Have You Grown?
I was inspired to write this by this blog: http://thingstoadore.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/and-before-you-know-it/ There is nothing like becoming a mom and being responsible for the lives of our little ones who are so vulnerable and completely dependent on us, to make us both grow, and grow up. I became a mom at 29. I had almost 3 decades […]
Who Controls Your Time?
This is painfully honest, but it’s “real”. There are some days when I have a heightened sense of awareness concerning how very little control and input I have in my daily life’s circumstances. I am writing this as I sit in our one vehicle waiting for my husband to finish something he’s volunteered to do […]
America the Great
Life. Liberty. The Pursuit of Happiness. The American Dream. This is how America was described to me as I was growing up. I was taught to love and appreciate the country I was blessed to be born into. I was taught to be a giver, and to fight the need to be given to. I […]
Living out Titles and Roles
Throughout our lives, we acquire many titles that attempt to define us. I have been given several: daughter, wife, mother, violinist, Mrs… I am the wife of my husband, my life has been molded under that title, by that title, by God’s, my husband’s and society’s definition of “wife”, but the way it’s lived out […]
Grandad’s Teaching and Example
I had 2 Grandads, growing up. Well, actually a Grandpa and a Grandad. My Grandpa taught me by example how little I mattered by never getting my name right. He called me “Janey” the whole time I knew him. He never teased or joked, he just didn’t like me. I learned that because I’m a […]
Jemtree's Heart 