Cherish each and every day!!

My heart breaks for the family of Whitney Hulce. If you are not familiar with this story, Whitney was a 25 year old first year teacher in Norfolk. She was out with friends this past Saturday evening and was hit and killed while crossing Shore Dr. I did not personally know Whitney, but the story of her death deeply touches my heart.
I remember back to my first year teaching. I really didn't have a worry in the world. I taught first grade and had a great time on the weekend with friends. I definitely took time for granted and thought that I was invincible. At the time I was living in Richmond and thoroughly enjoying the fact that I was on my own and paying my own bills. I loved my first teaching assignment and doing what I believed God had gifted me to do. I am sure that this is where Whitney was as well. From everything that I have read, she loved her job and was touching and changing lives in her classroom.
Why is it that God takes some of us so young and others live very long lives? I can't answer that question. It is a mystery and one that I will ask of God once I reach heaven. I know that God has work for all of us to do here on earth. I also know that our life here, whether we live a few decades or until we are a century old, is only a blip on the radar screen compared to our lives in heaven for eternity.
This entire story regarding Whitney makes me very aware of the fact that any day can be our last here on earth. We wake up each morning and expect that we will be crawling into our beds at the end of our day. That is not always the case and that is why we truly need to capture the blessings of each day that is given to us. Every day is a gift and could be our last.....we really don't know. Unlike technology now that can reveal 3D pictures of an unborn baby and due dates of pregnancies that allow us to prepare for the birth of a newborn, we do NOT have that luxury with death. Death is inevitable, but not one of us knows or is able to figure out the exact day or hour.
I know that I need to live as if each day was my last. It is difficult, because life as we all know it gets in the way. Deadlines, places to be, projects to complete, laundry to do, houses to clean, carpools to run, etc, etc, etc. What if today was my last day here on earth and I knew it?? I honestly don't know what I would do, but I know that I would want everyone that loves me to surround me and spend time with me. I know that I would want to make sure that my loved ones knew Jesus and that I would meet them again in heaven.
I truly am so thankful for all that God has blessed me with.....a loving family, wonderful active children, faithful friends, and health that sustains me. I need to appreciate all that God surrounds me with each day....my boys laughter, my husbands gentle touch,kind words from dear friends, my dogs nudging, the azaleas blooming in my yard, the sun shining, a students hug, soothing words of scripture, my comfortable bed at night, birds chirping in the trees, the ability to exercise, and each day that I am able to watch the sun rise and set. I will cherish each and everyday and when the day arrives that Jesus calls me home, I pray that I have lived my life here on earth to the fullest.

Dead plants to blooming flowers

Spring has definitely sprung!! The sun is warm, the azaleas are peeping out of their buds and the birds are rejoicing in the trees. We have had a long winter and everyone is excited to share in the freedom that Spring brings.
I am not a plant person and actually am as far from having a green thumb as can be. I do enjoy though purchasing annuals and ferns to make my yard look colorful and pretty. Today I ventured out to find some hanging plants and possibly a fern. It seemed like the perfect day for this type of outing.
I ended up at Wal Mart and walked for a while through their outdoor plant section. The fresh smell of soil and blooming plants wafted through the air as I browsed and thought about which plants will last the longest for me this year. I chose a large beautiful green fern with healthy leaves and a smaller pink geranium. I wasn't able to find anything for my porch, but was satisfied with my choices to begin the process of beautifying my yard. Both plants were healthy and the geranium was blooming...these were good signs for me that the plants were living....hopefully I can keep them this way for the next couple of months!!
I found the check out line and sighed a bit as it was longer than I wanted to wait. I walked into my spot and began the waiting process, trying to understand why the lady that was three spots ahead of me did not have any plants but all food and paper products. She really needed to check out in the other part of the store!! :)
Well as I was thinking these self-centered thoughts, I noticed the woman in front of me with an entire flat of dead plants. What in the world is she buying those for? I thought to myself. What a waste of time and money!! What is she going to do with them??
At that exact moment, God touched my heart and spoke softly to me. He whispered," I can make all things alive again and this is exactly what this woman is doing. Don't be so judgemental. This is her gift and I love to watch the gifts that I give people in action"
WOW!! I thought to myself. This sweet woman was going to take these dead plants and water them, feed them and give them the tender loving care that they need to be revived. She is going to care for them and not discard them just because of how they look. It takes a special person to nurse these plants back to life and she is going to be the one to do it!!
I then was able to understand the lesson that God was showing me. He was saying loud and clear......I don't make any mistakes. Each and every person that I create is special and I love them. I take people who are dead in their sins and exhausted with life's ups and downs and mold their hearts into blooming flowers. I don't pass anyone by....including you, Tracy. I love you and will continue to work in your life even when you are down, depressed and angry. I will always be here for you to nurse you back to health and love you unconditionally. I will never leave you or forsake you.
I now understood God's lesson for me today. How amazing is it that He can speak and teach anywhere that He desires. Even in the long line at the local Wal Mart. Thank you Lord for putting that woman in front of me and thank you that she has the gift of loving plants that are almost dead and bringing them back to life. Thank you for loving me and assuring me that life with you is forever.

Spring Break

It has been a great week!! This has been our Spring Break from Virginia Beach City Public Schools. A few weeks ago I was feeling sorry for myself that we were not going to travel anywhere. After this past week, I am thrilled that we stayed put!! Beginning last Friday, the weather has been perfect. By that I mean, no humidity, no rain and just warm spring air and sunshine. The boys and I have had a wonderful time together. We rode bikes, slept in, went for runs, traveled to Busch Gardens, and went to the beach twice!! I actually acquired a sun burn on my back!! This weekend I am looking forward to Landon's lacrosse games and relaxing until it is back to reality on Monday.
I am thankful for this past week as well. Dan had an accident at work on Tuesday where he shot a nail completely through his left hand. If you know Dan at all, he is NOT one to complain or go to the doctors or the hospital. I knew when the phone rang on Tuesday afternoon and he said that he was at the hospital that it had to be somewhat serious. The nail entered his hand through the palm and came out the other side. It was quite a sight which I was not able to look at for any length of time!! Hand surgery was being contemplated at one point, but then the emergency room doctor was able to remove it after going to his car and getting a tool on the end of his key chain. :) WOW!! So much for modern hospital technology!! Praise God that this nail did not hit an artery or go through the bone. It really is a miracle and Dan went back to work yesterday on a very high dose of antibiotics to combat any infection.
I am thankful that my diet survived the break and Easter too!! I am beginning my third week of Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. It is a wonderful change and I am feeling the difference in my health. I have eaten no meat, dairy, oils or pasta for the past three weeks. I also have had no soda in three weeks, which for me is a feat in itself!! I also have lost just about 10 pounds and am feeling strong and fit knowing that what I am putting into my body is healthy and good for me!! I have found many blogs with recipes for vegans that I have tried and it really is a lot of fun. I am looking forward to talking to my friends Karen, Jen and Samantha at work about their successes over the break as well.
Just nine more weeks until summer.....it is a bittersweet feeling as I love my job and the children that I work with each day. It will be so comforting though to have that feeling of summer and not feeling pressured to be somewhere everyday at a specific time. I also am looking forward to spending the time with my family and friends as time ticks away way too quickly.

A Good Friday

It has been about a week since I have been able to blog. I have had many thoughts running through my mind, but today I felt the conviction to write.

It has been and is a good Friday today. Fridays are usually good as it is the end of the work week and a time to relax with family and friends. This Friday is especially good because it is the beginning of Spring Break for the Virginia Beach Schools and the weather forecast looks incredible. It is a good Friday because I was able to share lunch with a dear friend of mine. It is a good Friday because I have almost made it two weeks without any dairy or meat on my diet (I will blog about this soon!!) It is a good Friday because I can look forward to quality time with my children and husband this weekend and next week.

BUT, the reason why this Friday is the best Friday of all is because of what Jesus did for each one of us on this day. God sent his only son, Jesus to come to earth, live as a man, and die for our sins so that we can be saved and have eternal life. The torturous beatings, the mockery and the unthinkable death by crucifixion were for each one of us. Jesus gave his life so that you and I can have ETERNAL life. It is a difficult thing to process and understand, but I know that it is true and that each one of us can receive this gift.

This particular Friday is good because Jesus dying is not the end. Three days later he rose from the dead. His resurrection is what Christians all around the world will be celebrating this Sunday. It is the seal of truth that guarantees our life in heaven.

All you need to do is RECEIVE this gift....just as if someone were giving you a gift for your birthday or Christmas. Would you reject it?? Probably not, but many of us reject the gift of eternal life from Jesus. Why is that??? Is it ignorance, embarrassment, unbelief, busyness???? I know that before I received this gift, I thought people who loved Jesus were a bit off of their rocker....Jesus freaks if you know what I mean!! Once I understood that all I needed to do was ask Jesus into my heart and for Him to be the ruler of my life, confess that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do about my sin, ask for forgiveness, and accept the gift from Jesus of eternal life, my entire world was changed. He has done more in my life than I ever thought possible and I am pretty sure that I am not off of my rocker!! :) Plus, now I have the absolute assurance that once my life on this earth is over that I will live eternally with Him. I also know that eternity is much longer than the life that I will have here and heaven will be a complete place of bliss with no tears and no pain.

I will rejoice in the gift of God's son this weekend and remember the torture that Jesus endured for me. Happy Easter!!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.