It's a Vivas Thing!

You are here: Home / Archives for Hope

Quotable quote #21

As the Roni lays on top of me on the couch …

Me:”You’re killing me”
Roni: “That’s cause I love you, mommy”
Me: “You’re killing me because you love me?”
Roni: “Yes. Because sometimes love hurts.”

Ok then. The pain is worth it!

Quotable Quote #20

As we were driving to the pool tonight, I mentioned that some people would be floating in the pool and watching the “dive in” movie. We discussed not having floats since we don’t have a pool to which the Princess stated,

“That’s ok. I am my own float!”

I cracked up laughing to which she states,

“I’m serious, Mom! Whenever I jump into a pool I just float right up! It’s like I just can’t sink!”

Skydiving

When our oldest turned 18, we decided to take him skydiving. So..we loaded up and headed out…got on a plane…tried not to die of a heart attack…

and then jumped.

OUT.

OF.

AN.

AIRPLANE.

And LOVED it! So much so, that I was caught screaming, “From now on, on everyone’s 18th birthday, we jump out of a plane!”

And so, when the next one turned 18, his older brother took him up in a plane, while his father and I watched from below.

As they jumped out of an airplane.

Bboo, on the other hand, said she would not. She mentioned shark diving instead.

But this weekend, she kept with family tradition.

Her oldest brother again, went up in an airplane with her….

and jumped out. I sooooo wanted to go each time, but….at least I get to watch them.

I will say, though…when we get to the youngest…we will ALL JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE TOGETHER…well, two planes…cause we’re a rather large family.

My honey put together this video to capture what we’ve been up to…and to celebrate Bboo’s graduation.

Three down…four more to go!

When God isn’t Listening

Some days are just hard. Some months even harder. And then there are those periods of time when we are so desperate that all we can do is cry out to God in despair…

And HE IS NOT LISTENING!

Our family has had some pretty tough times through the years. I can quote scripture and share the numerous ways He has amazed me with the way He has worked things out for us. Ways that I could never dream of.

And I have been ok with that. But lately, it just doesn’t stop. In just three months, we have managed to meet our huge family deductible because four of us have had some serious medical issues. We have gone from being debt free for the past five years to racking up thousands in just a few short months.

And I really don’t care about the money, although it does stress me out. A lot.

What I care about is my family. And wanting them to be healthy. And happy. And pain free.

After a while one gets into the mindset of, “Ok, God what else can you throw at me?”

Probably not the smartest way of thinking , but hey, just being real here.

I was telling a close friend yesterday that I was starting to think that God isn’t listening. I mean, I know He is because His Word say so, but my heart isn’t so sure. I explained to her that the other night I was up literally praying over my son. He was so sick and in so much pain and my heart was breaking. So I just cried out to God. I pleaded with Him to give me an answer.

“Is this my fault. Am I doing something wrong? Is he being punished because of me?”

And then, I just begged Him to please have mercy on my son and heal him and just give him some peace to get thru the night. And the second I prayed those words…

He started hurling over and over again..

And as I helped my son, all I could muster to close my prayer was, “Thanks for listening, God.”

And so my friend was sweet and reassuring and wonderful as usual. I do know God is listening. Honest.

And as I drove home, the van overheated so much it felt like we had opened up an oven..no air…113 degrees…and pouring heat so bad that we felt like we were suffocating. I thought the DQ was going to pass out. And then the service engine started flashing and we started losing power…but we made it home safe.

I AM SO TIRED.

And I wonder, are you listening God? Can you hear me?

I wasn’t going to write this blog because its not about a pity party. But then, I was listening to a friend who is having a really tough time…and she wonders why isn’t God listening to her?

So here is my answer…

God has to be listening because His Word never fails us.

We are not alone, it just feels like it. But He will get us thru this.

Maybe He is using this time in our lives to get us to move. Stop sleeping and get up and see what it is He is trying to tell us. Maybe we can’t hear Him because we are not listening. Maybe we needed a jolt.

Maybe He is using my son as a tool for a testimony to others; I don’t have to like it or understand it, but I do have to trust Him.

So God, are you listening? I am done talking now…I am ready to listen; ready to see what it is You are trying to do here.

…but can you hurry up please?

This is me, just being real.

Assumptions

My son and I were walking out of Fresh & East a few moments ago. We have to walk pretty slow these days because of his constant pain. We try to make light of it and call him an “old man” so we can try to be upbeat and positive.

A truck was coming so I slowed my walk to keep pace with my son. As we made it across the parking lot, the man rolled his window down and yelled at us, “Could you walk any slower???”

My response was to turn around and yell back, “He’s hurt!”

And that’s when I saw his little girl turn her head and look at us. My son was quick to anger. Who can blame him? He was just trying to cross the street and he is accused of purposely trying to irritate this man.

I told him I felt sorry for the man who automatically assumes we were trying to be jerks.

How sad is it that in today’s society people are so negative. The worst is automatically assumed. Instead of thinking of others, we automatically think of ourselves. Instead of showing a little love and kindness we strike out and bite the hand hand that is trying to feed us.

What would happen if we all just took a deep breath, relaxed and tried being kind. Tried showing a little compassion. Tried showing a little love.

What would happen if we started thinking of others and putting them first? What would happen if we became a “half full world” instead of a “half empty world?”

How will we ever teach our children if we can’t show them ourselves?

I know there is love and kindness in the world. I have seen compassion. I have felt forgiveness.

Lord, help me to reveal your Spirit even when the odds are against me.
Amen