Remarkable Faith: A Wedding!

Today, I'm participating in Mary from Giving Up On Perfect's Remarkable Faith journey! This week is actually funeral week, but if you will remember, I got that off my chest last week! Now, I get to share a much happier tale of marriage and faith. :)

You have to love weddings, right? Well, no. 

Let me explain. I guess you could call be a very opinionated child. I had my opinions, and I didn't hold back. Emotions on my shirt sleeve.  

Or, in other terms, I was obnoxious! I was very passionate about things and I always stood up for what I thought was right. Not so surprisingly, my right wasn't always right.

My dad has a huge family, (27 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren, all from 5 children!) so someone was always getting married. My mom always made a big deal about what we would wear, and I always went off on this huge tangent about how outfits don't matter, the bride and groom won't even remember what we wear, It's not like they will kick us out of the wedding if we are wearing an ugly skirt, etc.

So yes. Not a huge fan.

When I was almost 14, we went to my cousin Bethany's wedding. I did all the grumbling about it, put on a dress, and went. At least it wasn't in a church! (Back then I absolutely hated church, compared to now when I probably love it too much!) It was in a hotel.

We sat down on chairs in this "ball" room, which was way too small for all the people. Bethany is a little eccentric. Always has been! Today though, she looked gorgeous. So elegant in her one shoulder cream dress!

The ceremony wasn't long at all. But it's not the length that matters. It's the authenticity. And let me assure you, out of 15+ weddings in my life, this was the most authentic of all.

I mean, it was like someone had sprayed a bottle of love in there! I don't know how else to describe it. There love for each other was so obvious and real. You could tell it would last a lifetime {It has, so far! 5 years and counting.}.

The thing is, Bethany wasn't a bit religious. It wasn't a religious thing. It was a realization. 

During the entire ceremony, Bethany was laughing. That's her. She wasn't trying to be a formal, "model" bride. She was just trying to be Bethany. To add to the sweetness, Bethany and Andrew wrote their own vows!

And they both cried. Yes, even the guy cried. He barely got through the vows he was crying so hard. Before, I would have seen this as annoying and dramatic {I'm being truthful here!}, but for some reason, I didn't. I just saw it as possibly the sweetest thing ever!

Live. Laugh. Love.

You see, that wedding was perfect to me. Not because everything went flawlessly {Space was a big issue.}, but because it was so real. They were living in that moment, not acting.

So what have I learned from those 2 lovebirds? Well, maybe the little things aren't what matters. It's all in the big picture. Embrace it! So what if their aren't enough tables? Stand up! Dance! LIVE!

For me, I learned that I don't need to point out everyones flaws, and campaign so hard for my own ideas. Sometimes, it's just not necessary. Sometimes, everything just *magically* works out.

With LOVE!!!

Blessings!

Remarkable Faith: A Funeral Too Soon

Today, I am participating in Mary from Giving Up On Perfect's Remarkable Faith journey. Yay! Everyone else, however, is writing about a wedding. I will do a wedding next week, but today I had to be different. :) You'll see why!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Are you wearing your green? I hope so. Usually, that's all St. Patricks Day is. It's just a fun day where you wear a green t-shirt and maybe eat some food dyed green.

For most people, when they think St. Patrick's day, their mind goes to green, four leaf clover, rainbow, pot of Gold, luck, etc. My mind thinks a fleeting thought about all of those things, and then I think of what St. Patrick's day REALLY means to me.

Brandon Times.

For grades kindergarten through sixth I went to Holy Spirit, in Fairfield, California. I loved that school so much! Sixth grade was the best, though.

In sixth grade we got reading buddies. First grade reading buddies. Me? I got Brandon Times.

Sweetest little guy you would have ever met. He could fill your heart with joy on the worst of days. On his own worst days. 

Brandon had  T-Cell Leukemia. A 6 year old. Leukemia.

It wasn't often that he was at school. He was usually absent, getting treatment done. On those pretty rare Monday's he did make it to school though, I was psyched. I loved reading with him!

We were a bunch of kids. 6 year olds, 11 year olds, we didn't know much about cancer. We knew Brandon was sick, and we prayed for him.

{Deep Breath.}

St Patricks Day 2004. I had on my favorite green shirt, we had just eaten dinner, and I was feeling happy. Why not?  The phone rang and I jumped to answer it.

YES! It was "private caller" a.k.a. my very best friend {to this day!} Sabrina.

That's when the world shattered.

I answered the phone only to hear the most startling, alarming, down right terrifying sound I've ever heard.

Sobbing. Hysterical sobbing. So bad I couldn't even understand my best friends words.

"What? Why are you crying?"

"SABRINA! I can't understand you!" Me in all my panicky glory.

"SABRINA!!!" I was worried for her.

"BRANDON DIED!" She managed to choke out between sobs.

I don't know how you react when you hear this kind of news, but it's the most terrifying thing in the world for me. My heart literally drops. I can't breathe for a moment. I can't catch up with reality. It's so horribly terrifying.

I didn't know what else to do. I screamed, "Brandon DIED!!!"

My parents came running. They grabbed the phone. I don't remember anything else.

We were eleven. We had just experience a death. My BEST FRIEND had just called me, hysterically sobbing, to tell me that my sweet little reading buddy, Brandon, had died.

At age 6.

I truly remember nothing else besides this moment with my dear best friend.

Except. that is, the moment  a few days later when all the solemn first and sixth graders lined up to take buses to the funeral home.

This is the most wrong kind of field trip I can think of.

We sat through the service, all 80 of us 1st and 6th graders {only his class and the reading buddy class got to come along.} The tears were streaming full force. They're streaming right now. :)

We certainly didn't understand it all. It was the first death for most of us. All we knew was that, while our tears were watering the grass here on Earth, Brandon was up laughing and playing, fully healed, in Heaven. 

In a better place.

And that is what allowed us young souls to get through the loss of our sweet little friend.

This funeral was by far the most impactful on my life.

For God to take a 6 year old, to cause his parents so much grief and heartbreak, there had to be a reason.

It's not fair. It's NOT! Still, 7 years later {Oh gosh, has it been that long?} I know we would all love to have him back.

I don't even know how many of us kids from the sixth grade class still remember. I could be the only one. But that's okay with me.

I don't think about Brandon everyday, but for about the last month I have been.

I'm a better person because of him.

Just a few days ago, I was reading my Bible and I came across Genesis 9:13:

 "I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

That's right. We are still connected. Brandon's up there in Heaven, on top of the clouds, at the peak of the rainbow, just out of reach.

"The rainbow appears when the clouds are most disposed to wet; when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, God shews this seal of the promise that it shall not prevail.
The rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which imitates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath, and the clouds are hemmed as it were with the rainbow, that it may not overspread the heavens, for the bow is coloured rain, or the edges of a cloud gilded. As God looks upon the bow that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant with faith and thankfulness."

{Via Wesley's Explanatory Notes}

Be praying for Brandon's family today, if you would be so kind. His sweet Mom, Laura, has a memorial website for Brandon that you can check out to learn more about him.

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. - 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:4

Blessings!

P.S: Since everyone else is writing about weddings today, I figured I would share this. {To cheer you up!} 

Today marks the 21st anniversary of my very close friend Mary Elizabeth's parents! What a *lucky* day to be married on. :)

Here's to 21 more! Congrats Leslie and Mike Rumsey!

This just goes to show you: It's all a miracle. Life, death, resurrection, we have so much to be thankful for, even in times of sadness! :)

You Learn Something New Everyday

Okay... is anyone having car trouble today? Because I bet I could help you jump start your car!

Seriously.

Back at the end of January, I posted about how I was in the car with my family and we broke down at the gas station. We sat there for 30 minutes and I was so touched by the kindness of the people there. So willing to help! Finally, my uncle arrived and they jump started the car.

Stuff like this doesn't happen all the time, right?

Wrong!

Today, we were having a small family gathering at my house. My grandpa had left the house, but he came right back in to tell us his car wasn't working. My dad went out to help him, and I so did I {not that I could be of any assistance, really. I just wanted to be "in the loop" with what was going on. }

It turns out, I was able to be of assistance! I had to hold these 2 cords apart while my Dad connected them to the his car. Then he took the ends I was holding and put them on my grandpa's truck battery {I guess}. They got the truck working again so of grandpa left for home, which is only about a mile away.

5 minutes later, we got a call from him saying that he went to get gas and his truck wouldn't start again. We drove over to the gas station and did the whole jump starting process again. At 10:00pm!

We finally got my grandpa and his truck safely home. On the short drive back home, I made it clear just HOW car illiterate I really am {Laugh if you want}!

Me: I thought jump starting was illegal!

Dad: No, that's hot wiring.

Me: Well, what the difference?

Dad: Hot wiring is where you mix up the wires and reconnect them {something like that} to get the car started.

Me: Why is that illegal?

Dad: Because you only need to do it if you are stealing a car.

It went on like that, with my questioning him about the difference between hot wiring and jump starting. I even came up with good uses for hot wiring, besides a burglary. So yes, apparently jump starting is perfectly legal and totally different than hot wiring. Who knew?

You learn something new everyday.

Thoughtful Thursday #3: What if...

This is definitely a thought question.

I'd have to say... an orphan.

Not the typical response, I'm sure. I thought about it, but I'm not really interested in a movie star. Of course, there are millions of lovely inspirational people out there whose shoes I'd love to step into, but this is my one shot...

Orphan for sure.

I have a great passion for orphans. I think that to be able to live their life for a day, would be the inspiration of a lifetime. It would set fire to the already burning passion in my heart, that's for sure.

I would be able to learn so much from an experience like this. It's not typical, it's not ideal, and it's so not movie stardom, but it IS life.

Life for orphans.

Plus... do they get to live my life for 24 hours? Because really, that's why I would do it. So that an underprivileged orphan could experience the blessed life I've been given.

It's a step in the life saving direction.

This isn't really a "what if" for me.

I did move 3,000 miles away.

What (or more accurately, who) do I miss? I miss my amazing best friend, Sabrina.

She is a constant source of energy, fun, support, love, laughter, everything you could ask for all in one pretty package. I really value my friendship with her. We've know each other since kindergarten and I haven't even seen her in 5 years! 

Love ya, girl.

Well... I'd have to say, no. Right now I'm thinking, "Of, course!", but it's just not meant to be.

I certainly don't understand it all yet, but I believe there is a reason for everything.

I don't know why we die, but I know that we have a purpose to be fulfilled here on Earth.

No matter our life span, we all complete out purpose. Maybe we don't even realize what our purpose is yet... but someone does. This is a hard call, so that's why I'm leaving it up to God.

I'll live as long as it is in His will; and when He wills me to go on and live with Him in his Kingdom, then I'll go.

This is not to say, however, that I don't hope to live a LONG, happy life! 100+ years here we come!

Blessings!

Bringing Into This World What They Created Together... All Alone

8:00

A mere few hours away.

Vee will go into the hospital to deliver little Carter via C-section.

Without her husband.

I've posted about Vee before. She lost her husband on November 9th, 2010. She has 2 other children, Faith and Caleb. Today Carter will be born.

Vee is so ready not to be pregnant, but she is not so ready to do it alone. I was up thinking about her and praying for her all night. Imagine that: Your rock, the person you love with all your heart, the person who helped create the baby inside you... cannot be there.  You have to do it alone. Sure, you have others who care so much about you, but it's just not the same.

However, I know Jeremy is there. He will be there is spirit. Vee won't be doing it along, but it will still be hard. I'd say this is probably one of the worst and the happiest days of her life. She's bringing a precious life into this world. She is overjoyed. On the other hand, Jeremy doesn't get to share in the joy.

This is not meant to make you sad. Jeremy never got to meet Carter on Earth, but he had the amazing opportunity to be with him in Heaven. Now it is Carter's turn to come to Earth, but he will always know his Daddy.

I'm asking you to pray, please please pray for Vee today. I can't stop praying. Pray for a safe delivery. Pray  that Jeremy will be there in spirit. Pray.

I cannot really do justice to Vee's words. Read these posts on from her beautiful blog to get the idea (You might want some tissue!):

A broken Family

A letter to Peanut

Carter's Belly Shots

This is it

Carter is coming into this world a loved little boy.

God be with Vee on this emotional day.

I know He will be.

God Bless,

Sydney

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." Hebrews 10:36

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it...

I had planned to post about something completely different today, but what do you know? God had different ideas.

My family and I were on our way back home from getting some groceries from Kroger. We decided to stop for gas at the Kroger gas station. We filled up the tank, but when my dad put the key in the ignition and turned, we did not get what we expected. A strange noise came out of our truck. No matter what we did, the truck would not start. We were officially stuck in front of a gas station pump.

We sat in the truck contemplating what to do for a few minutes. We did not know what the problem was, how to fix it, who to call, etc. The kind gas station attendant, bless her heart, came out to us and asked us what we needed. She said to my father, " Is it something you can fix yourself? If it is, you can take my car to go get what you need." I was so shocked by that! Such a random act of kindness. She was offering us, a couple of random strangers with car trouble, her VEHICLE to go driving off to the car shop. I can't think of a single other person, besides family and friends of course, that would just offer a "stranger in need" their car out of the kindness of their heart.

We didn't really know what the problem was, so we decided to wait it out. This one woman who was just getting some gas happened to overhear about our trouble. She went over and informed the gas station attendant that her husband was a mechanic. What luck! He wasn't with her, but she called him and then gave the gas station attendant some suggestions as for what we should do. There I was, pacing around the gas station in all my winter gear, thinking, "Oh, how blessed we are to have so many people caring about us! God is good!" My aunt and uncle came over to the gas station shortly after this, and we jump started our truck. While we were hooking up all the wires to jump start the car, my mom commented that she hoped it worked because we were blocking the gas pump. That same attendant replied with, " Oh we aren't worried about that." I was just so touched by her helpful spirit. She didn't care that we were blocking the gas pump; she genuinely just cared that we could get our car started up again.

We got the car started and drove straight over to Wal-mart where they replaced our battery for us. After that, we were on our way home again in our just-like-new truck. It wasn't a big event, but sometimes its the little things that really matter.

"Do something wonderful, people may imitate it." -Albert Schweitzer

In a way, I feel like our car battery dying was a good thing. Everything happens for a reason right? I believe it was meant to be. God led us to the gas station so that we could be touched by the kindness of that attendant and that mechanics wife. I never did catch their names, but they still deserve to be recognized. God is just amazing. He gets us through every situation, and more than that, he helps us to realize the importance of something else. The importance of Kindness was made so evident by God in my adventure today. You are never in too much of a time crunch to stop and help someone out. Show kindness, and you will be repaid. I'm not sure how yet, but I do want to repay those lovely people for their kindness.

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever." - Margaret Cho

Make a point to thank God for all those who have shown kindness to you. Kindness really is a virtue. Remember, God IS there, and he answers our prayers in simple ways like that. Pray, and be thankful!

God Bless,

Sydney

"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." -Ephesians 4:32.