A hug delights and warms and charms,

that must be why God gave us arms.

~Author Unknown

To all our friends out there in blogland.   Please know we haven't forgotten you and we miss seeing you...Consider yourself hugged. Love you all.  Hope you all have a wonderful, amazing, fantastic and brilliant day! 

Just a few quotes to lift you up.   Anyone that knows me much at all knows I am a hugger.   Love these quotes.  Cherie

Arm ourselves for war?  No!  All the arms we need are for hugging.  ~Author Unknown

Everybody needs a hug.  It changes your metabolism.  ~Leo Buscaglia

A hug is a handshake from the heart.  ~Author Unknown

Hugs are the universal medicine.  ~Author Unknown


Hugs grease the wheels of the world.  ~Author Unknown


I don't discriminate - I'm an equal-opportunity hugger.  ~Author Unknown

So today...enjoy hugs from Cherie and Jeff Murphy...it does a body good...haha

More Gratitude Give Me

Today I am grateful for everything!!!  Love love love my husband, family, friends and life.

JOHN 11:35

I have found another wonderful art piece which I love.   I have often contemplated the smallest scripture "Jesus wept."     It has always meant a great deal to me.   This is just as I have felt.   Liz Lemon Swindle is so fantastic at depicting her thoughts.  I add her picture and comments and remind everyone these may be copyrighted.   

HOW ANY TIMES DID JESUS WEEP FOR ME?   DO I DESERVE IT?  HE THOUGHT SO...

JESUS WEPT

By Liz Lemon Swindle

"When Lazarus became sick, Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus. They were extremely concerned about their brother. Jesus assured them that their brother’s sickness was not unto death “but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” John 11:1-5

Knowing that Lazarus was to be raised from the dead, Jesus did not leave immediately. He tarried two days with his apostles. The apostles did not wish to return to Jerusalem, knowing of the disposition of the Jews and that they wanted to take Jesus. Therefore, when Jesus informed them that Lazarus was sleeping and that he must go and wake him, his disciples misunderstood and told him that if Lazarus was sleeping it was a good thing. Then, so that they could not misunderstand, Jesus said, “Lazarus is dead.” John 11:14

By the time Jesus arrived at the outskirts of Bethany, Lazarus had been in the grave 4 days.

While this process of events was necessary that Jesus might show that he had power over death, He is the only one who seemed to know this. He was following the Father’s plan, yet he was greeted by Martha first, then by Mary with the same words: “if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” John 11:21; John 11:32

With Mary at his feet weeping, Jesus “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,” John 11:33

Though He knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, he felt great compassion for Mary and Martha. And as the scripture states, “Jesus wept.” John 11:35

In our lives, we face trials and difficulties. Our Father in heaven does not choose to intervene every time and take away our problems. Yet he has provided a way of escape through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Still, it must be difficult to see us in our trials. This small verse in the Bible teaches us this reality. As I think of this passage, I can’t help but wonder, “How many times has Jesus wept for me?”"

Lost In Reflection

I am reflecting on the past...the goals I had many years ago.   I am NOT what I had thought I would be by this age.   I am not the woman, the wife, the employee, the sister, mother, daughter and many others I thought I would be.    Life has gone very fast.  I can't say I have ANY regrets...no time for that...however, I would have liked to have one check mark on at least one of my major goals from my younger years.   Actually, I guess I do have ONE.   I am married to a wonderful man.   He keeps me going forward.   Gotta keep up with him...I can't haha.   I appreciate him so much.    
So as I have been lost in reflection of things today I am eternally grateful for the knowledge I have of eternity.   I am grateful I have more time to be who I am to be.   Sometimes it may seem impossible, however, with the help of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, family and good friends, I believe I will make it!   Thanks to all of you who haven't given up even tho I definitely have great room for improvement.   Also, thanks to those who see and know who I am when you can't see it!   (Upon looking in the mirror, I hope I am not ONLY who you see looking at me.   I do NOT feel at all inside how I look outside...weird...just another thing I try to  work on)
I think of The Portrait of Dorian Gray--A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.--My ugliness seems to stay right out here for the whole world to see.   It is curious to me how I can still feel the pain of each and every pound I have gained.   It has not been a good thing.   I am sorry for those who have to see it.   God bless those who struggle in this way...it isn't pretty. 
   
I have forced myself to get out into the world.  It is much harder than even I thought it would be.   I am striving to work a couple days a week...have the best person to work with/for.   I am grateful for the growth I have felt.   Maybe one day...full time?   Hopefully, this can't be all there is to life??