Whoaaa Life!

Wow!! What a crazy and eventful week it has been already and it's only Wednesday! School has me running all over the place (trying to cram it all in in only 3 days has been nice, but pretty stressful too!), I'm in cheerleader-mode, which means I eat, think, and sleep cheers, stunts, motions, practice schedules and all of that jazz, plus throwing in family time and seeing friends = quite a crazy life:), but I wouldn't have it any other way!! It seems like lately I've realized how fast life is flying by and how I wish at times that I could just pull back on the reigns and slow it all down so that I could enjoy it more, but I don't have that privilege unfortunately..
Me, Bay, & Bri taking a ride in Courtney's new car!!

My "little" cousin, Courtney, and her new car; going for a ride:)

Us girls after another successful tourney @ Holy Family two weekends ago!

I also began tutoring these two precious girls this evening, which will continue for another 3-4 weeks! They just make my heart smile:)

Hope everyone is having a great week!!

~JM~

What makes me smile..

Ever have those days where it's soo easy to be in a bad mood, feel sorry for yourself, and all you can think about is going back home, shutting the door, and wonder what exactly made you get outta bed on the wrong side?! I have these days occasionally:)... so I thought- why not think of some things that make me thankful to get out of bed each morning (in other words, what puts a smile on my face).

Here is what I came up with:

Laughter to make me strong...

sunshine to pierce the darkness..

desserts to keep me sweet:) or to satisfy my never-ending sweet tooth!!!
music that excites a passion..

Family to spread my wings... but also to catch me when I fall... friends that give me life..

And prayer to always remind me what my knees are for..

~JM~

Canada Fishing Trip

My daddy, loving life!!

Absolutely breath-taking!!!

Fishing group!

His outfit cracks me up- he wore those boots with everything!!!


I love you, dad...

A dear friend and fellow employer, Nelson, was going through some files on a K&K computer one day and found some of these pictures that were taken a few years ago of some work buddies on a fishing trip in Canada. He was even nice enough to send them to me:) Thank you, Nelson!!

I do treasure any pictures taken, but especially ones of my dad (even though it's hard to look at them for very long) because there will never be anymore added to my collection, and 25 years from now (God-willing) when I'm old and gray:) I'll be able to pull these out and the memories will come flooding back into my heart so that I may share them with my kids and furthur on down the line... I'm really into that family history stuff if you can't tell!!

~JM~

Amazing God

How can a year come to pass without the love of one you need so much... while some days seem to tick minute by minute, others pass with the blink of an eye. I can't explain the heaviness that has been laid on my heart to know that the anniversary is looming ahead of me in a few weeks. It seems like yesterday I was holding on to the hands that I had to let go of forever and in a few tomorrows it will become a distant memory that gets harder and harder to reach. My heart is fighting of what I need to let go of, and what I want to hold on to.

I had a really neat experience that happened to me over the weekend.. As I was sitting beside my dad's grave one evening, I noticed the quiet of the world, the harshness of the wind, the strike of the wind chimes we placed beside his tombstone, and the dark of night...and in that moment I felt so alone, like I was hurting without a nearby soul around to know an ounce of my loss.... and right that second, the wind picked up speed, the wind chimes completely stopped, they didn't even sway, and I felt this overwhelming peace like I could've reached out and touched it- my heart became still because all I could feel was that peace surrounding me in a love that knew no end. I keep forgetting that God feels and knows our pain no matter where we are; I will never be alone in my suffering even though it's very, very tough most of the time...

I found this song called Peace Be Still by Rush of Fools that I absolutely love!! Here are some of the lyrics:

Come to Me,
you who are weak
Let My strength be yours tonight
Come and rest,
let My love be your bed
Let My heart be yours tonight

Peace be still,
Peace be still
Please be still and know that I am God

~JM~