Full Time Sister

I know...it's been a while...like a LONG while! But we've been busy! A very good busy, and I'll post about that next. But right now...I have brothers on my mind...

N. Pl. Brothers:

1. A male having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.

Well, I have 4 brothers. Ranging from 5 years older than myself to 14 years younger than myself! And I have a good and unique relationship with each one. I've been a full time sister for 25 years. And I love it! It's been an wonderful experience and I intend to keep it up, God spare life, for as many years as I'm granted. Oh, I know that time will change the face of each relationship, but the foundation will remain. Here are some thoughts....

One: Cook their favorite foods. I'm not saying the only way to man's heart is through his stomach. I am saying you should know and cook their favorites just because you love them and it's a way to show it. :) Yesterday I made egg drop soup for lunch because Silas loves that stuff. And last night for supper I made meatballs. Because Miles loves that meal! And you should have seen their faces! :)

Two: Listen to them. Sometimes that means listening about subjects that you may know little and understand less! Sometimes it's about silly stuff. But listen to them. You'll come to understand them and see things from their perspective.

Three: Sit with them (without expecting them to talk or pay much attention to you, it's about them!) Sometimes they don't want to talk. Sometimes they don't want you to talk! They just want to sit and let their minds be completely blank. If you ask them what they're thinking and they say "nothing", believe them! And just sit quietly with them.

Four: Be honest and never back down from the truth. They may get mad at you if their head is briefly messed up, but they will come around and see the light and hold on to the solidness of the truth you are standing for.

Five: Always love them. Even if it means tough love at times. They will never forget that love. Tell them you love them. They will love you back, even if they don't say it. Because boys love differently than girls.

Six: Cheer them on. Cheer for them when they do 10 dead hang chin ups, just as much as you cheer them on when they graduate from school. Just because you don't think something is your priority doesn't mean its not cheer-worthy!

Seven: Be happy with them. Be goofy, tell jokes and laugh at their jokes. Laugh for no reason...with them. :)

Eight: Help them stay focused on Heaven. Pray for them, encourage them, and most importantly, be faithful yourself. And practice agape love on them.

So...if you have brothers, start working or maintaining your relationship with them. It's vital to both of your lives. It's never to late to start.

I am so thankful for my brothers! <3

14 September 2011

I took some food up to the preaching school for my brother and sister's lunch. When we pulled up we could see a whole car full of people dressed very nicely in dark colours and Dad told me there was funeral service there later that morning. I looked down at my jean skirt and polo and realized how much of a frump I looked in comparison! I felt disrespectful somehow! But I greeted the sweet people as they sat there on the bench outside the building....shook the older gentleman's hand, kissed the cheek of this sweetheart older grandmother....dressed and coiffed to perfection. I found out that the funeral was for a lady from a congregation we attended twice before and I wasn't sure if I could remember her, but I did know the brethren so I decided to drop the food off and run back to the house, change and come back. So I did....I called my younger sister at the house and she ironed my black shirt for me. I did a record breaking clothes change, grabbed a purse from Mom's closet that looked a sight better than the grunge-green messenger bag I had been carrying...hopped in the car and Dad drove me back to the building. The cars were parked way down the road so he dropped me by the corner and I walked up to the building. The family was standing just inside the door by the open casket. One of the granddaughters was handing out the programs, but I don't remember that part to well, because as I looked at the casket, I realized that the sister who had died was one of the ladies that went door-knocking on a walkabout with us one night. She was 75 and fighting cancer at the time, but she still came and even though I only met her twice and spent maybe a total of 4 hours with her....I remembered her so vividly! There were so many people in attendance- As I sat in the pew and listened to the family remember their mother and grandmother, as scripture was read, as songs were sung and as the lesson was presented on the gospel plan of salvation, I was struck by how this woman's faithfulness effected so many! Words like generous, strong, gentle, faithful, willing, loving and compassionate were used over and over. One of her close friends and sisters in Christ read a beautiful memorial, and she was so touched that her daughters stood up beside her to give her strength and courage. It was touching and I learned the verse of weep with those who weep, right there. It was beautiful. A faithful Christian going home. And her family positively influenced and dedicated to stay strong by way of her.

The song Farther Along was lead and we sang it while people who wanted to could go and view the casket once more. We sang the whole song three times and the chorus more times than I remember, but I loved how the people were all so supportive! The emotions and caring was tangible. And then it was over...people quickly dispersed for the cemetery and I texted Dad for a ride back. While I was waiting I chatted with the students from the school and they asked me, "So have you ever been to a funeral on your birthday?" And I chuckled a little and said "No, never on my birthday" and smiled. But inside I was thinking about how little 25 years on this earth is compared to eternity; I was thinking about the number of people I've met and how I've influenced them. I was thinking about what would be said at my funeral!! What would be said at your funeral? It's good to think about those things: would they say faithful? Always cheerful? Or would they pick something else, oh, it would be good because you always focus on the good of people at funerals, but would there be an overflowing of faithfulness, inspiration to other to be so?

You might think it's a little strange or morbid, but I'm very thankful I went to a funeral on my birthday. It made me really think. Really check my priorities. We should take every opportunity to check ourselves and be sure we are going the way we should. To be faithful to God. That's the most important thing you can ever do in your life. Ever.

I'll probably always remember my 25th birthday- and the funeral of the woman I met only twice. Because she lived for God and encouraged me to be even more faithful, to be even more encouraging and to thank God for every day with which He blesses me.

Why thanks!

Have you ever thought about the blogging world? How vast it is? How my great-grandmother couldn't even understand the internet? Well, I have really enjoyed reading different blogs, learning about and from other people, being inspired and encouraged....

Marli tagged me and she has a really neat blog- and she's a sweet friend too! I remember when they came by us one Sunday afternoon and taught us the very fun game of Bananagrams! Aren't you glad for the capacity God gave us of memory? Thanks, Marli, for the award and thanks for keeping up! :)

The trick is to post seven things about myself and pass the award to fifteen other bloggers!

Seven things...hmm....

Number one: I love to cook.

Two- I've read Plutarch's Lives

3-I'm the third child in my family...

Four: I still enjoy playing in the rain!

Numbah five- I love children, and teaching children :)

Six- I love the ocean...even before I lived near it!

7- I serve a powerful and almighty God.

Aunt Chas

Julia

Mrs. Debbie

Linz

Abby

Naomi

Emily

Lindsey

Anna

Mrs. Joy

Have a beautiful week!

Lessons from children...

This last month we've been working a lot with children. You may have noticed a strain of my love for children...hehe...well it's true. I do love children and Trini children none the less! You can learn so much from them! Here are some thoughts and pictures of some sweet little babies....

Children are always watching you. And copying you, and thinking about how you do things in relation to themselves.

-Children cannot learn if their basic needs are not met-

(food, drink, attention)

-Children learn fast-

-Children are bright!-

Children see beauty in unusual things, places and people. Why do adults lose their eyesight?

Kids will always say what their parents say. No matter what it is.

Children are what their parents are by default, until the age of accountability.

It's incredible what a difference even just a little attention and discipline will make in a child.

Even just a little!

Polite and well-mannered children are a joy!

And you can start when they are babies.

-Children of all walks of life are capable of respecting their elders.-

Kids don't need the latest technology to be happy and entertained. Have you ever seen a 7 year old boy walk on his hands for 6-8 feet?

Or played Mother May I with 10 little kids?

~Children sing from their heart~

~Children are a blessing from God~

I didn't "learn" that this month, but this little guy was such a joy, I had to include his picture!!

You can expect more than you think from children.

Sometimes little girls are better at making things like crafts, etc. But you haven't lived until you hear the sincere prayer of a little boy thanking God for a snack.

Children love Jesus. It's so simple!

-Children can memorize scripture-

Children understand that if Noah had used coconut wood, or any other wood except Gopher wood, the ark would not have worked. It's about simply obeying God's word to the letter. Why do adults complicate the Scriptures?

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein. "

Luke 18:17

Random, I know...but I was just shocked!

I admit to enjoying several Disney "princess" movies...but only the good old ones...Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, etc. And I really like Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty. And I tend to burst into random choruses from either one!

I also enjoy very much listening to classical music. The other night while on a Tchaikovsky bash, I was listening without paying much attention until bam! It started playing Once Upon A Dream!! So while I scrambled to find the right tab, there it was- The waltz from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Ballet! Knock me over with a broom straw!

(you're going to be singing this now!!)

Did YOU know this random little fact?!

That they may train the young women...

For the last 6 to 7 weeks, Dad has been doing a class on church leadership at one of the congregations in south. While Dad spoke to the men, Mom did a class for the ladies.

She focused her class on what woman can do to be better elders, and deacons wives. She looked at the examples of Eve, Sarah, Rebekah and Abigail. Also several ladies from Acts. With every example she asked "What can we learn to be a better elder's wife or deacon's wife?"

Things like:

*Submissiveness is very simple. It's Satan and self that make it difficult. (I love my Mom so much! She has a whole pocket full of old sayings and phrases...she raised us on them! But she pulled a new one on me! She said in summing up submission- "There gotta be chiefs, and there gotta be indians." And she is so right. If we follow God's instruction and rely fully on Him, so many issues would be cleared up!)

*Women are vital to the church. Without faithful women, there can be no elders or deacons.

*Mothers should be training their sons to be elders and deacons.

*Mothers should be training their daughters to be elder's wives and deacon's wives!

*God's role for women must be maintained, the results are less than God's standard when the boundaries are crossed.

*Being a wife and mother is the highest "job" a woman can have. God designed the woman for that precise purpose.

*Satan is going to try to get at Christian ladies however he can. We must be standing strong!

The conclusion Mom made was taken from Titus 2:5 "to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:"

When we are living our lives as Christian ladies, loving our husbands, children, teaching, being sober, responsible, etc. We cause the Word of God to work and not be put to shame! And to put that in reverse, when we aren't living with in our God given roles, we are blaspheming the Word of God!

Let's each help each other as we walk the path to heaven in our beautiful role as women for God. :)

14° 02 North and 60°58 West- St. Lucia, West Indies

Sometimes when we go to a beautiful place we see things like this....

And this....

Or this.

And we forget all about things like this:

Or this......

And this.



Not big things, not bad things. Just people. Who need God.