FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY reached out to (IN)courage.me today which is a little tricky, but I will try to wrap my mind around it.

Worship…

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 us your best five minutes for the prompt:

- See more at: http://new.thegypsymama.com/#sthash.fJfowh9j.dpuf

GO

When I think of worship I don't think of Sunday morning, starched shirts and hard pews...

When I think of worship...I think of talking to Jesus, praising HIM, wanting to know HIM, reading HIS book to me, crying out my desires, fears and being aware of HIS awesomeness.

I've felt that I worshiped HIM in the middle of the night when I had a tiny baby in my arms and it was just HIM and me.

I've felt I worshiped at the clothes line while hanging clothes and singing to the top of my lungs every hymn that came to mind.

I've felt I worshiped when I was prostrate across a bed crying my eyes out waiting for an answer that never came.

I've felt worship in little churches with 35 people singing praises and up on a mountain top with 50 teen singing around a fire.

But most of all I have felt worship when I sat with my Bible open and read HIS words to me, written over 2,000 years ago of the greatest gift ever given...      Jesus.

STOP

Thank you for YOUR patience.

Thank you for YOUR patience.

30 years old and I have been patient, I thought.

9 months, 40 weeks, a piece of cake.

7 months later, when is this ever going to end.

9 months, 2 days later, why did I sign up for this!!!

9 months, 2 days and 16 hours later...

It's a beautiful girl with lots of dark hair.

Sigh, Smile.

Thank you LORD.

14 months later...

I've done this, I can do this....

"Patience is a virtue and we are going to be virtuous women."

5 day short of 8 months and..."Oh no...not yet."

It's a girl and she is fine.

Sigh, Smile.

Thank you LORD.

8 months later...

Oh, WOW...

"Patience is a virtue and we are going to be virtuous women."

4 months...

"Maybe twins..."

"Not twins, just a big baby that will be coming a month earlier than you expect."

3 months later...

"It's called false labor"

Oct 21st... 3:00 am

"This is not false labor!"

4:06 am.

It's a girl! 9 pounds, 8 oz. and one month early!

Thank you LORD!

My mother's voice in my head....

"The only thing better than two girls is Three."

18 years,10 months to the date later.

My two on the left, two more BFF's on the the right

I go from "Active parenting" to full time...

"Praying Parenting"

Two girls going away to college at one time...

Whose idea was this?

Thank you LORD.

"Patience is a virtue and we are going to be virtuous women"

She Shall be Praised

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth no the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
- Proverbs 31: 10, 25-31






P.S. They also have a "little" brother. My 6 foot tall man child who will leave the nest long before I am ready.

♫ Happy Birthday to Me ♫

Mother/Daughter Sun Hats

Featured Five Minute Friday:

Please give us your best five minutes on the word:::

Story…

GO

My Story

My story began on August 2nd, 1959 in Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville, OR.

I was born the third of three girls with Elaine and Cheri being six and five years older.

Jump ahead many years and many adventures to 1987, I married Wesley Burnham of Cottonwood, CA.

Within 8 years later I was the mother of four wonderful children, Mary, Abbie, Johanna and Ian

(now 17-22)

First of all I am a daughter of the King of Kings.

I have an AS in Business Administration and though I am currently "unemployed" I have always been "employed" at something.

Currently, I am reading two books:

"Stress Less Living" 

and 

"Winter Solstice".

I have 4 out of 8 bird houses done on my latest counted cross stitch which incorporates my joy of cross stitch with my love for quilts.

I have so much to do and so little time to do it...

...STOP.

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 us your best five minutes on:::

Present…

Big Breath....

Living in the present....

Not dwelling on the past mistakes....

Not day dreaming or planning for the future...

Just living in the moment.

Blackberries on the vine waiting to be picked

My 4th of July fan catching the breeze from my rotary fan

Just living in this moment.

Thank you LORD, for cool breezes,

For healthy children,

For hugs and handshakes.

Thank you, that YOU alone have chosen me,

to be YOUR child and YOU will provide my needs.

YOU see the sparrow when it fall and YOU will care for me.

~amen~

So, now I will put down the computer, pick some berries and enjoy the summer sun.

Only 90 degrees today, thank you Lord.

BEAUTIFUL FEET

 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
(Isaiah 52:7-15, ESV)

Tired Dogs in Berkeley, CA

Beautiful Feet

5 Minute Friday subject this week is "Beautiful".

I do have three beautiful daughters.

It is a fact, I hear it all the time.

What is more important is that they have beautiful feet.

They have been chosen to take the Gospel...

      How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10: 14-17, ESV)

One to Berkeley, one to Sac State, one to Humbolt, each with ONE Spirit to guide, 

protect and show them who needs to hear and see Jesus in them.

As parents we have taught them in the way they should go.

Each child very different with a different purpose for GOD.

My digger left today

My dancer leaves in a month and a half

Lord, guide their paths. You have ordered their steps.

May they share Your love with everyone they come in contact with.

Thank you for allowing us to have them.

May others feels so blessed by their presence.

~amen~

JR College Grad Day

Beautiful…

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 us your best five minutes for the prompt:

- See more at: http://new.thegypsymama.com/#sthash.fJfowh9j.dpuf

Did She Listen?

Last Big Date In Redding 

Tim ships out to boot camp in a week and time go spend a week with his family.

Bye Bye Abbie and Tim

Listen…

Did she listen when I said, "Always separate the whites and colors..."

Did she listen when I said, " Wear sun screen..."

Did she listen when I said, "Always use your please and thank yous..."

YES!

She was listening.

More important she was watching.

She reads her Bible and listens...

She prays, cries, laughs and listens...

Now she leaves for her first big job interview and she will act from example and practice.

She already has the job. 

Her friend was "listening" to the boss who said, "A new girl, Abigail... is joining us."

She is moving away from home....2nd born, 2nd to leave the nest...

Dear Lord, keep her close and keep her listening.

~Amen~

Featured Five Minute Friday:

And every week I’ll pick a post that caught my eye and share it down there in my side bar – see where it says “Featured Five Minute Friday”? Yea -that could be you! Hop on over and visit some folk who make fireworks in just five minutes. They inspire me.

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:::

Listen…

- See more at: http://new.thegypsymama.com/#sthash.u42vBNd1.dpuf

Because, as we all know, the most important rule of Five Minute Friday is leaving an encouraging comment for the person who linked up before you. So getting to feature one of your fine posts is like frosting as far as I’m concerned.

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

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…

:GO

20 years ago I never imagined this day.

Abbie and Johanna at Shasta College Graduation

Last Friday night my two younger girls graduated from college together.

"They grew up so fast."

People always say that, but it seems like it has been 20 years of hurry up and wait.

Sigh....................

The adventure we went through to get this photo will fad through the years,

But the grin on Abbie's face and the wonder in Johanna's is timeless.

Proudly they walked into the stadium...

(I must be honest...I stopped the clock for a hug.)

As they go on to imaginings that are far beyond my own,

As I encourage them off to University,

One thing I do not dwell on imagining...

No hugs in the morning.

STOP!