Mixed Up Weekend
As this weekend draws to a close, I have to say that I've had such a range of emotions.
Friday night, I got the whole evening to myself. Can you say, "Happy, happy, joy, joy?" And you know what I did? I spent the whole time working on my photography business stuff. Yes, you heard that right. I'm going for it ... more to come on that whole thing, but I have to say, the excitement level is high, the passion is there and I'm ready to make this dream a reality; with the Lord's help, of course!
Saturday morning brought the complete opposite end of the 'emotion' spectrum. A funeral for the tragic death of a 15-year-old girl. I didn't know the girl, but her grandmother, Pat Duckhorn, holds a very, very special place in my heart. She is a mentor to me. I served alongside her on our Women's Ministry team for years, and also for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). I love her dearly. My heart has been so heavy for her since finding out about her granddaughter on Thursday. And the fact that her granddaughter lost her life due to the tragic 'choking game' that so many teens are doing these days. I'm not sure where I've been, but I just had no idea this was going on. And it frightens me; just the fact that our sweet Maddie and Jackson right now are so innocent and young and carefree, and the reality is, these are the types of things they will face some day, in the not so distant future. I'm not sure why, but I've just struggled with fear on this one and the burden to just pray so fervently that God would protect our children from unnecessary harm.
And then we had family time in the afternoon, which I loved. We went downtown to the Air and Water show, for I think the third year running.
(only brought the little point and shoot with me - no sand in the good camera!) 
Jackson was completely in awe of the planes. 
However, he did not like the loud ones. Notice him covering his ears? 
In fact, his bedtime prayer was so cute. I love experiencing things through the eyes of a child. "Dear God, Thank you for we got to see the planes today. But I did NOT {emphasis his} like the loud ones. In Jesus name, Amen."
Sand time with the Daddy while Mommy sat in the lawn chair completely spent.
And then we got home from the Air and Water show, only to find a message on our machine saying that Hiyam was in the hospital. She is still there, having been there for one week and one day now. So we've spent a lot of time at the hospital, getting information, trying to find Maryam, etc. My heart is so heavy for the significant burdens she carries. So heavy.
And so went my weekend. Good then bad then good then bad. And so, this verse has been one I've continually thought of all weekend long.
1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."
Simple verse, way easier said than done. But in the midst of anxiousness for situations completely out of my control, I always rest when I remember to cast (I believe in Greek it literally means to throw) my worries at/on the Lord.
And so, what I love about God, is the fact that He really does care. He really does want us to give Him our anxious thoughts. He really does have the ability to calm our emotions in the midst of our storms. I always go back to the verses in Matthew where they talk about the fact that God takes care of the little wee birds. So if He cares for them, how much more does He care for us?
Friday night, I got the whole evening to myself. Can you say, "Happy, happy, joy, joy?" And you know what I did? I spent the whole time working on my photography business stuff. Yes, you heard that right. I'm going for it ... more to come on that whole thing, but I have to say, the excitement level is high, the passion is there and I'm ready to make this dream a reality; with the Lord's help, of course!
Saturday morning brought the complete opposite end of the 'emotion' spectrum. A funeral for the tragic death of a 15-year-old girl. I didn't know the girl, but her grandmother, Pat Duckhorn, holds a very, very special place in my heart. She is a mentor to me. I served alongside her on our Women's Ministry team for years, and also for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). I love her dearly. My heart has been so heavy for her since finding out about her granddaughter on Thursday. And the fact that her granddaughter lost her life due to the tragic 'choking game' that so many teens are doing these days. I'm not sure where I've been, but I just had no idea this was going on. And it frightens me; just the fact that our sweet Maddie and Jackson right now are so innocent and young and carefree, and the reality is, these are the types of things they will face some day, in the not so distant future. I'm not sure why, but I've just struggled with fear on this one and the burden to just pray so fervently that God would protect our children from unnecessary harm.
And then we had family time in the afternoon, which I loved. We went downtown to the Air and Water show, for I think the third year running.
(only brought the little point and shoot with me - no sand in the good camera!) Jackson was completely in awe of the planes. However, he did not like the loud ones. Notice him covering his ears? In fact, his bedtime prayer was so cute. I love experiencing things through the eyes of a child. "Dear God, Thank you for we got to see the planes today. But I did NOT {emphasis his} like the loud ones. In Jesus name, Amen." Sand time with the Daddy while Mommy sat in the lawn chair completely spent. And then we got home from the Air and Water show, only to find a message on our machine saying that Hiyam was in the hospital. She is still there, having been there for one week and one day now. So we've spent a lot of time at the hospital, getting information, trying to find Maryam, etc. My heart is so heavy for the significant burdens she carries. So heavy.And so went my weekend. Good then bad then good then bad. And so, this verse has been one I've continually thought of all weekend long.
1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."
Simple verse, way easier said than done. But in the midst of anxiousness for situations completely out of my control, I always rest when I remember to cast (I believe in Greek it literally means to throw) my worries at/on the Lord.
And so, what I love about God, is the fact that He really does care. He really does want us to give Him our anxious thoughts. He really does have the ability to calm our emotions in the midst of our storms. I always go back to the verses in Matthew where they talk about the fact that God takes care of the little wee birds. So if He cares for them, how much more does He care for us?
And so my mixed up weekend was simply another reminder to give my mixed-up-ed-ness {I love that I get to make up words if I want. I mean after all, if Dr. Seuss can do it, why can't we?} to the Lord.