The last time I sat and worked in the devotional journal I purchased at the end of last year, "100 Days of Bible Promises, " was back on February 15. So about three months ago. My desire to read and write in it just hasn't been here. I know if I'd forced myself to do it, while it would be done at this point, I'm not sure how honest my responses would've been. However, I know today's entry comes from my heart and lead me to write more than could fit on the small space provided for today's … [Read more...]
Knowing when a joke isn’t funny
I think back to the last time I wrote something on here and it was for Mari's 14th birthday back in December. In only two and a half short months my life permanently changed seven years ago. July will always hold a place in my life of sadness. However, at least I have hope because I know through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that I will get to see her again one day. I feel blessed that I am a believer because then I know I will get to see her again once I join her in … [Read more...]
I had to share this: My Top 3 Spiritual Gifts
I took this, I guess you could call it a quiz today about what my spiritual gifts might be and I think it's pretty accurate, for the most part, only I think #3, Exhorter, is more number one than Mercy, but who knows. So, what do you guys think? do you agree with the assessment about me? Your Top Three Spiritual Gifts (1) Mercy The God-given ability to have immediate compassion for those who are suffering combined with great joy in meeting their needs (E.g. the Good Samaritan in Luke … [Read more...]
KLove on the brain…
It seems the last few things I've written have been because of KLove being in the background here recently. It's good to have uplifting songs playing. Last night a song came on that I've heard before, but for some reason the words really struck me this time. The song begins like this: To everyone who's lost someone they love Long before it was their time You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye How many times have I heard, or thought to myself for that matter, … [Read more...]
Special Unforgettable Moments
I think we all have those special unforgettable moments in our life. Some heartwarming that just make you smile while others are gut-wrenching heartache. We never know when those moments will happen but when they do you know it. For me one of those moments was the day I found out I was pregnant with Mari. Keith and I have infertility issues. After having many test done and procedures performed we were told that the only way we would be able to have children biologically is to have IVF … [Read more...]
A Sad Day
I was walking on my treadmill this morning like I do almost on a daily basis as I try to strengthen my hip. I had been reading a book by Lynette Bonner when my mother-in-law called. She just called to chat. My cell phone sat on the treadmill in front of me. I have the Fox News App on my iPhone. About an hour and ten minutes into talking to Mom and walking I get a news alert stating this: “BREAKING NEWS: Reports of Multiple Fatalities at Conn. Elementary School.” I told mom that there has … [Read more...]
A slight change to my fundraising
As everyone knows I have been trying to raise funds to not only start the Mariana Tunstall Scholarship Foundation but as of yet I do not have the money to be able to do everything that is needed (like starting a 501c3). I had converted my PayPal account to a nonprofit status even though I did not have everything set up yet. Well, this was a huge mistake as they ended up limiting my account. So I could not long accept money for the foundation as I technically do not have it set up the way it … [Read more...]
The “Softening”
In a month, Mari will have been gone for four years. I have talked several times over the last four years in how the day she died is not an anniversary as this signifies happiness to me. My eighteen year wedding anniversary was this past February. That is a happy time. Mari’s death, anything but. However, I have come to call it the mark. When Mari died I became wrapped up in the utter sorrow and sadness of it all. My heart felt like it had been ripped open and a gaping would left in its … [Read more...]
Hitting “The Mark”
I went and visited a website of someone I knew in our grief group back in Chicago today. The reason I visited it was because on the old blogger site I had started this one on (which is technically still up and running, don’t ask me why, it does redirect people to here however :) ) I have this woman’s website listed under Blogs of Importance. Under the listing, it shows a title of the most recent blog post. This one was labeled, “Letting go.” I thought that meant she was letting go of her … [Read more...]
Having Pain…
Why do people have to be so uncaring and mean sometimes? For those of you who don’t know (which is probably most of you), I have been having severe hip pain that can go clear down into my knees and sometimes other places in my legs. I have been unable to stay at work for a full day, except for one day, since two weeks ago last Friday. I hurt at home quite often. I simply sit in my recliner all day. I don’t go out and go shopping any more. I can’t take the kids to their baseball practices or … [Read more...]