Dust Off That Dream

Have you ever had a dream that just won’t let you go? Thoughts of it, are always in the back of your mind. Sometimes that dream may lay dormant for months, or even years, but every once in a while you’ll take out the dream, dust it off, and wonder what if? Your mind drifts to the possibilities.

I find myself at that place. The dream seems kind of big. A little scary. Sort of overwhelming, but……still……..it remains. I could stay where it is safe, on a path with which I am familiar. If I do that, will I regret it? Even if I try and don’t succeed, I will still have the satisfaction of knowing I tried. That’s something.

God has made each of us unique. Our stories are all different…..no two are exactly alike. That goes for dreams too.

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is found in Hebrews. Chapter eleven recalls people throughout history that proved faithful. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”  Hebrews 11:8 

Abraham trusted God’s plan. He went when he was told, but had no idea where he was going. Can you even imagine? I’m sure Abraham had times where he was nervous, or confused, and the promise of a place seemed far, far away, yet he still believed and he remained faithful to God’s promise.

 

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” –Earl Nightingale

Story Time

I usually write on Fridays but, my computer was acting wonky yesterday.  It wouldn’t let me write without freezing up. That is not unusual, as my laptop is probably in its final days. Sigh.

 

So anyway……

 

I am attempting to type up my blog entry from yesterday. Slowly but surely.

 

On Lisa-Jo’s Five Minute Friday, the word was:  STORY

 

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Everyone has a story.  I love to listen to stories…finding out about people,

 

how they got to be where they are…

 

and how they got to be who they are.

 

Chapters of interesting and not so interesting dialogue.

 

All stories pretty much start out the same way.  A baby, new to this world. Starting out fresh.

 

The pages of the story clean and crisp.

 

Then life happens. Pages sometimes get torn. Soiled by the day to day. Bent and dog-earred.

 

Highlighted and underlined. Pages memorized and other parts scribbled through.

 

Stained from chocolate fingers and stained from falling tears.

 

Happy parts and silly parts and sad parts and terrible parts.

 

The story continues on.

 

The chapters grow.

 

Until that last moment when the book is closed.

 

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Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23  NIV

 

 

 

 

 

o, now be brave, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on the word:::

Story…

GO

– See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.tkI7zV4Z.dpuf

 

 

So, now be brave, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on the word:::

Story…

GO

– See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/#sthash.tkI7zV4Z.dpuf

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Reminders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening chores, mundane moments…trudged through in habit.

Occupied thoughts amidst the sounds of hungry animals.

Staring out across the yard as the evening sun slips quietly into the night.

Ears attuned to the sounds. Dogs barking in the distance, frogs grunting, llamas humming, and that lone train whistle.

Familiar sounds.

Reminders of where she is, and who she is.

Reminders of how different her life is now.

Reminders of how life changes, people grow, lessons are learned, friends made, memories kept.

The unusually cool breeze stirs the field grass and it’s chill feels good on the skin.

The kitchen light pours through the front window and pools in the growing darkness.

She’s counting all the good things in her head, as she walks back to the house………

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For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a futureThen you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

 

 

 

 

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I Can Only Imagine

 

 

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you

need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them

in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And

the heart of this community..

 

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

 

Imagine…

 

 

 

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The song blared from my car radio. The song was “I Can Only Imagine”, by  Mercy Me. The tears came into my eyes, I tried hard not to blink, for fear that once started, they would be difficult to stop.

 

“Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine…….”

 

This song came out the year before my husband died. It became really popular the year he died. The  song was on the radio, the band members were interviewed and the words were memorized.

 

The truth is, at that time in my life, I could relate to that song in ways that most could not. I pictured my late husband kneeling before Jesus, utterly speechless in His presence.

 

I would not see my husband’s face again or hear the sound of his deep voice….not on this side of heaven.

 

But, there was comfort in the lyrics to this song, because I knew where my husband was. At that very moment and for all the moments to come.

 

He didn’t have to imagine anymore. Not then. Not now.

 

He knows.

 

 

 

 

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Remember When?

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Remember…

Today’s prompt reminded me of the Tim McGraw song, Back When. For whatever reason when I saw the word remember, this tune popped into my head. If you’ve never heard the song, the premise is about remembering “back when”.

So, I’m going to make up my own “lyrics” to the song, on the fly.

Here goes.

Remember back in the 80’s when legwarmers were crazy? And all the girls wanted to tear the necks out of their sweatshirts so they could look like the girl from Flashdance? Who watched Fame and thought they wanted to dance and sing at the school of performing arts?

Who remembers Duran Duran and Boy George? And Michael Jackson? Everyone wanted to do the Thriller dance.

And asymmetrical haircuts  and big hair and neon colored earrings? It’s totally tubular! And wicked awesome!

Jordache jeans and high top Reeboks?  The preppy look and layered shirts.

Facts of Life at the girls school in Peekskill, New York….wanting friends like Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

Trapper Keepers and passing notes. Phones with extra long extension cords. And Friday night football games.

Sure, the 80’s were crazy, but I loved the 80’s.

I’ll always remember the 80’s as my decade!

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Going Home

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Home…

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Home.

The word, to many, means family and friends because…

home is where they love you.

No matter how old, or how far away, one can always go home…

even if it is only in his/her memories.

Today on this five minute Friday I’ve decided to share some of my pictures.

Pictures of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Beloved

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog’s footer}.

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Dearly loved

The one that changed me,

forever.

You taught me lessons on love

that I would never have known,

otherwise.

I’m so grateful that God gave me

You.

My dear, treasured one.

You are almost grown,

more man than boy.

I’m so proud of you and pray,

that you will continue to grow

in your walk with the One

who knows your soul.

Cherished.

Always.

My beloved, son.

 

 

 

 

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Brief Quiet Glimpes

Gratitude (Photo credit: ally213)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, it really is the little things that matter. Oh sure, the big, huge blessings are wonderful and I am grateful for them, but I’m talking about the little day to day things that, in reality, make a huge difference. After all, it is those little things that keep each of us going. The special moments in the daily grind, that make us smile and give us hope, to carry on.

No fanfare.

No hoopla.

No fireworks.

Just the small, quiet, brief glimpses of who God really is…

Father, today I come to You, thanking you for all the little things. Forgive me that I take so many of Your blessings for granted.  Each day is a precious gift. I’m sorry that I am so cavalier with the time that You have given me.

* a soft pillow to put my head on * hot water * electricity * emails * hands that can pet the dogs and hold a leash without pain * good health* smiling faces * making a positive difference in children’s lives * cold winter air and frozen ground * chickens that lay eggs * pets * cards in the mail * a husband to change a flat tire * time spent together

*Thank you for my stubbly faced boy-man, that has grown up so quickly * Thank you for the opportunity to be a mom. I know many who don’t have that privilege. * Thank you for emails from friends. Sometimes the emails are silly and they make me laugh. Other times, I lean on their strength. I’m so fortunate to have good friends. * Thank you for family. I love my family members. The family I grew up with, the family through marriage, and my family in Christ. * Thank you for the beauty of the country. I am still deeply moved by the beautiful sunrises, and gray snowy days. The loud honking of geese, and farm fields that stretch for miles. *Thank you for this life.  I realize that my life might never have turned out this way, had I not had to walk the dark valley to get here. May I never forget that. I try to always be aware that it might never have been. * Thank you, Lord , for Your love for me. A deep love, an all consuming love, a sacrificial love. When we were yet strangers, You saved me. If You chose to bless me with nothing else in this world, but that, that would be enough. And yet, You, through Your love, give me so much more.

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Just Dance

Join us over at The Gypsy Mama.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt: “Dance” with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:

Dance…

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Whenever I hear the word “dance” I always think of the LeeAnn Womack song, I Hope You Dance. I also think of Garth Brook’s song, The Dance.

Both of those songs are about not taking anything or anyone for granted. Living life. Sharing days. Looking back and being glad you were there.

In that moment. For that time. Clock hands stand still.

Swaying, and laughing. Stomping and twirling. Moving to slow songs that only you and special others know.

Dancing.

Knowing it won’t…can’t…. last forever……..but, while you are there……just dance.

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Opportunity

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

Today we are writing on: opportunity.

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I love watching the sun as it breaks across the horizon, in all its blazing glory.

A new day. A fresh slate. New opportunities.

Always wondering what this new day will hold.

On some days the surprise opportunity comes in the form of a necessary conversation.

On other days the opportunity comes with a few moments of “extra” time.

And sometimes the opportunity is disguised as a trial. Not really looking for it…but, there it is.

Waiting for what I will do with it.

My times are in your hands… Psalm 31:15 NIV

 

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