"Trey Tuesday" - December 30, 2014

Happy? New? Year?

Well, the pressure is on! Tomorrow night is New Years's Eve and everyone is finalizing their plans.  How will they usher out the old year? How will they ring in the New Year?  What resolutions will they rely on to transform everything they don't like about their lives?

Well, good news - the pressure is off! :)

God gives us new chances every second of very minute of every day!

We don't have to wait until December 31 each year to begin again.

Every day is precious.

Each moment is a new opportunity to forgive, love, encourage, support, laugh, work, play and so very, very much more!

Trey's journey has to taught us how very fragile life is.

So what are you going to resolve to change beginning...right now?

And January 1?

And January 2?

And every new moment of every new day?

Happy New NOW! :)

"And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 

"Trey Tuesday" - December 23, 2014

The Giver AND the Gift

Last week Rachel posted that she got to spend a few minutes with Trey's Kindergarten class.  "So many hugs," she wrote.  My heart sank when I read those words, just imagining a line up of Kindergartners offering their sympathies to Rachel.

But wait!  Shake that image!  The reality is that the kids were in line to RECEIVE a hug FROM Rachel!  The children love Rachel's hugs!  And they love Rachel!

Rachel is the Giver AND the Gift!  :)

So wherever you are in your shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, delivering, visiting, etc. add a touch of TLC as you go.

Be the Giver AND the Gift!  :)  Just like Jesus:

 "Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!"  2 Corinthians 9:15

"Trey Tuesday" - December 16, 2014

Norman, Martha and Joyce

Who invited them this Christmas anyway?

I think the first 2 names may ring a bell with you:

Norman as in Rockwell - the beloved artist who captured ideal American experiences

Martha as in Stewart - the queen of entertaining, cooking and homemaking with style

But there is also Joyce C. Hall - who left his "mark" on his cards, and Hall-mark movies

Wow, what pressure this trio represents in our Christmas efforts!  Peek inside most of our windows and you will not see paintings, crafts or movies similar to the works of these people!  In fact, for some/most, it is quite the contrary.

Norman, Martha and Joyce weren't on the scene at the news of the very first Christmas either:

"Mary was greatly troubled at the angel's words"  Luke 1:29
"Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly."  Matthew 1:19

Wow!  No mistletoe and holly going on there!  Yet we all know how this story unfolds...

Faithful, faith-filled people trusting God with the first step...then the next step...and the next...and the next. Not knowing the whole journey, just the next step.

Just as God calls us today.  To be faithful today.  Where/when/how God has us...right now.

The Mitlos are taking the next steps.  One part of one day at a time. 

Won't you join them?

"I am the Lord's servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled." Luke 1:38

"Trey Tuesday" - December 9, 2014

Crybaby

I've been spending some time reading a book in the Bible called Lamentations.  Lamentations means expressions of sorrow.  In the Bible, the people are lamenting following the destruction of Jerusalem. One Bible study tool explains that the people are expressing an "overwhelming sense of loss."

I can relate.  I am no stranger to tears expressing our overwhelming loss of Trey.

Cooking dinner the other night, however, I was shocked at a scientific discovery!  I was chopping onions and WOW! the onion tears started!  and continued!  and BURNED!  Onion tears pouring out unwarranted, burned my eyes before, during and after the chopping!  As I was pacing around the house, getting away from the cutting board fumes, I realized a phenomena!  Onion tears hurt very, very bad, but my tears of lamentation don't!  My tears for Trey actually feel good!  :)

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. - Washington Irving

"Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord."  Lamentations 2:19

"Trey Tuesday" - December 2, 2014

Giving Tuesday

Rachel's beautiful Thanksgiving chalkboard art holds a powerful message:
Let our lives be full of Thanks and Giving.

Yes, we need both. We need to say, "Thank you." and we need to give.
We neeeeeeeed to give.

Give what, you ask?
Give gifts? Absolutely!
Give money? Sure!
Give time? Energy? Attention? Yes! Yes! Yes! :)

What will you give to your loved ones this Christmas season?
Trey gave us love. Trey gave us laughter. Trey gave us an example of fearless trust.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7