Five on Friday

We've made it to another Friday!! The weeks sure fly by, don't they!? Here are some things I'm loving this week.

1. We enjoyed another week at the beach, this time with Robert's family. Robert's grandma turned 80 this year and wanted to have the whole family together for a week at the beach to celebrate. It's been a fun week!

2. We tried to go deep sea fishing Tuesday morning, but learned it was cancelled (after we had gotten up at 4:30 and arrived to the marina by 6:00) due to rough conditions. So, we tried again Wednesday morning and successfully came back with fish! Now, this was my first time deep sea fishing. I'm a bit of a competitive soul, so I do love some good, fun trash talk. That being said, I announced to our crew of about 13 people that I would catch the biggest fish of the trip. Can you believe it...I actually did!! It was a fun experiencce. I would do it again, though I'd be more excited to try bay fishing.

3. Home. While it's so fun to get away, especially to the beach, it's always good to go home. We've been gone for 2 weeks and I'm ready to be back. That's where we're headed today...look out family and friends at home, we're coming back! :)

4. Our car top carrier. I feel a bit weird saying this, but I'm really loving our car top carrier. It frees up so much space in our car and I love it. It would always feel so cramped in the car when we would travel, but now we have space galore.

5. Family. We have had lots of family time the last couple weeks. It has had me thinking about how much I value family...both blood related and those friends who become family. I couldn't imagine doing life without those closest to me supporting me, loving me and encouraging me along the way.


What are your favorites this week?

Until next time,
Kristal

Family as friends

As Collin and Emma get older, I find myself adoring the friendship they have together. And even more so, praying they will always be friends. For some reason, it is sometimes difficult to view our family as friends. There is always that one person, or two or three, that just drive us nuts! (Tell me I'm not alone here...you have that person in your family too, right?!) But the older I get, the more I value my family and see the huge importance God places on family. And not just the family as a unit, but each individual, unique person within that family.

Psalm 127:1a,3-5 says " Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

To me, this passage clearly shows that God places people within families. For one reason or another, He determines that each person, with their unique personality, gifts and talents, will work best with the other people in the family. And each person is a treasure. A unique gift that carries infinite value to God and those within the family (and outside of the family, too, but I'm focusing on family right now).

Our family's can, and should be, our biggest allies. That means we need to value our brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents as more than just family, but as friends, too. People we can grow with, experience life with, pray with, cry with, laugh with, etc. I fully recognize that not everybody has a good home life or family, but we can all pray for our families. That's the best way we can love our family, as brothers and friends.

So, let's put the value back in our family....as friends and brothers. Let's love them like Christ loves us. Let's pray for them always. Let's be there for our family. Let's grow with our family. Let's laugh and cry with our family. Let's be family.

Until next time,
Kristal

Super Hero!

Everybody has a little super hero power within them and we all need to soar around with a cape sometimes....Enjoy! :)

 

 

 

Until next time,

Kristal