Journey With Jen

Do you ever feel like this? Barely holding it together? Pieces of you breaking off? It may take just one more thing... Until, we fall apart. I've have been there. I have felt like this rock...or like Humpty Dumpty. Barely holding things together. Just hanging on. Hoping for all of it to end. And, one more thing ~ it doesn't even have to be a something big. Just a little splash. And, here comes the great fall. Have you ever been there? One more thing ~ and you all fall apart? I like to think that we all have. But, unlike the nusery rhyme where all "all of the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty together again," we can be put back together. Not by any horses. Or by an earthly man. Only one is capable of putting us back together again: Christ. He takes my tired body, my weary soul, my love, my anger, my everything. He takes it all and puts me back together again. But, He loves me too much to put me back the same way. He changes me. He renews me. ...

Berryville Memorial Cemetery Long lost relative we can barely read Kids with their great, great, great, great grandfather (yep! that's 4 greats!!!) On this Memorial Day we went on a treasure hunt. A treasure worth much more than gold. We recently found the names of some relatives with the last name Baker. Our wonderful grandmother, Lorene, it is her father's family. Her father died with the flu epidemic of 1919 and she never knew him. Yet, his relatives are buried in a small cemetery over the hills and through the woods. While we were close by, we also went to the Berryville Memorial Cemetery which holds more relatives. It is wonderful to be able to pass on this appreciation to my own family. So many graves are old, cracked, and illegible. Their families have moved on or passed away. Markers from long ago. I wonder about their lives and what they were like. What were their hopes in this life? I like to think that they smile from above when my three kids find their stone with...

I just love wildflowers! God's Garden! Faith, Luke, Aaron (Joey's Friend), and Joey I love those moments that turn into memories! This morning started bright and early. My Dad's birthday is in a few days, so in honor of his day ~ we went out to breakfast. That was always his favorite meal. There were many mornings of setting the alarm just to meet him. Then, as the kids got bigger, we would take turns on who go to go with me. It's funny that they never mind getting up early, if they knew they were meeting papa. It's been about a year and a half since he's passed away. For me, I think of the last years with a very thankful heart. It was a time of forgiveness. It was a time of love. So, Happy Birthday Daddy!! Then, we headed to one of my favorite places: Devil's Den. The beauty of the outdoors to refresh your spirit. I love being outside in the middle of God's creation. (except when it's 100 degrees out! I wimp out then!) One of Joey's friends wen...

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love for all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me." Psalm 86:5-7 So often in life, this is me. Crying out in distress when conflict enters my life. Or tragedy enters. Or even confusion. Help Lord!! And yes ~ in this life, there is a lot of that going on. It seems like we are either starting that time in our lives. In the middle of it. Or just coming out of it. (remotely sounds like P.M.S. heehee!) Lately, I've become a lot more sensitive than I used to be. I've always been that person in the card isle reading one after another trying to find the perfect card. Wiping tears away on some. Oh, yes, remember Touched by an Angel? Yeah, cried. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Yep, cried. Funerals I went with my husband but didn't even know the person? Oh, yeah, cry like a baby. Oh, one of the worst for me is that Christmas Shoes song. ...

In this world today, there is very little security. Each day holds new challenges. Every moment is insecure. Mat Kearney's song, Closer to Love, speaks of it beautifully. "We're all one phone call from our knees." How true is that?!? Just turning on the news, it is clear how little security we have. Tornado's whipped through Joplin, Missouri on Sunday night. In a moment, their lives were changed. Over 100 lives have been lost. Homes being destroyed. Businesses gone. How do you even pick yourself up from that? There's no going to Wal-Mart to pick a few things up because Wal-Mart is gone. There isn't a job to go to in the morning. A bed to tuck your kids in a night. How fragile life is! My security is not in my job or where we live, but in Christ. He is the One security that we all can have. I am SO thankful for that security, because this world has so much pain, uncertainty, and challenges. I pray for the people affected by this tragedy. I pray they can res...

Luke & Abby in 2007 Luke, Faith, & Abby in Jan 2011 Abby at Kindergarten Graduation, May 2011 It feels like just a blink of an eye. Time can go by so fast. Maybe it' me wishing for more Friday's so I can get to the weekends!! :) Yet ~ I can look back at pictures and it brings back memories of when they were younger. I love that picture of Luke and Abby. He was chasing her (again) outside and he finally caught her. The simple joy of a game of chase! Now, she's graduating kindergarten. Joey will be moving to jr. high. (aaahhhh!!!) Luke's moving to the seventh grade. (how did that happen?) And, my baby girl, Faith will be moving to the big hallway. The fourth and fifth grades. Seriously, yes, I am going to cry. I know it's corny. It's just that those kids in that hallway seem so....B I G. That can't be my baby girl! :( I will have three kids in three different schools for the first time. Kinda' sad... It won't be long when it's another grad...

11. Smell of Rain 12. Beautiful flowers in the Spring 13. Being an Aunt :) Each day, God has gifts with my name on it. Gifts with your name on them as well. So, many times I go through life without noticing these gifts. I just need to stop, notice, and be thankful. What blessings He gives each and every day!