Living Like There’s No Tomorrow

I know that’s easy for me to say. I’ve long passed raising a family, working a full-time job and lots of other responsibilities. But having the grands with me has sure reminded me of what it takes to feed, nurture, wash their clothes, plan their days and activities, and keep them busy enough to not be glued to their phones social media and gaming. It’s a work-out and I feel you, moms and dads. I once was there right with you. Well, maybe not with the cell phone activities, but I did know it was a work out to keep them entertained. I don’t ever hear: “I’m so bored” these days, like I heard when raising my children. There are so many options when traveling or just waiting for us.

Still, as long as I have these grandchildren with me, I’m “living like there’s no tomorrow”! Making memories, being silly, playing games, eating at their favorite restaurants, cooking their favorite meals, etc. I’ll admit I’m running out of options so those phones come in handy when I’m writing my next day’s blog.

The boys wanted me to see the new Spiderman and so we went on Saturday. Confession: I’m a Spiderman fan. I like his youth and innocence, his courage and the fact that a youth is the superhero. Spoiler Alert – if you haven’t seen it yet (and, believe me, it’s worth seeing)! Spider Man and his high school buddies do some major globe-hopping. They make it to Venice and I recall the precious memory of my husband and I celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary there. Riding in a gondola (like Spiderman and his buddies), we called home to our children. Another scene was in Berlin and a flashback came of us with our backpacks traveling via ferry, taxi on the autobahn, and the train and into Berlin (one of our rare “flying by the seat of our pants” adventure). Another scene was in Holland and I recalled to the boys that I was there with my friends at the Tulip Festival.

I titled this blog “Living Like There is No Tomorrow” and I realize that I/we have done that – in the meager times when we’d go camping in tents, roasting marshmallows and fishing with our young children to make memories and moments count. The trip to Sweden, Denmark and Germany came as a result of my husband winning an 8-day all-expense-paid trip – a true blessing from God and my husband’s winning putt at an LPGA tournament contest. We lived like there was no tomorrow by being willing to back-pack to places we had never been before and my trip to Holland was an adventure with friends.

Having this precious time with my grandchildren is a change from my normal and comfortable routine, but living like there is no tomorrow means making every minute count in this day. I’m doing that today. We are heading back to Austin to spend several days celebrating my son’s birthday. We will laugh, eat, reminisce and celebrate his life. We’ll live and celebrate like there is no tomorrow. That's just the way our family rolls.

My encouragement to you is to join me in living like there is no tomorrow. Maybe, not so much with the need to travel to distant locations, but to live with no regrets. Live now like there is no tomorrow. Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?” explains that we have no guarantee of tomorrow because we don't know when it’s time for us to leave earth. We are famous for postponing things where we shouldn't. Our schedules may be busy, but making time for things and people that matter – in the light of eternity.

Today’s blog motive is an encouragement to us to live everyday like there's no tomorrow. Tomorrow just may not come – it didn’t for my sweet grandfather who went to bed beside his beloved wife and never woke up. It didn’t for those in the Twin Towers on 9/11 who went to their routine job and never saw another day. Don’t postpone anything, do it now. Don’t stress over little or big things – like my guest bathroom toilet overflowing yesterday. Breathe, get the plunger, clean up the mess... and let it go. Choose love over anger and hate. Spend time with God – getting right with Him – settling once and for all “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Since God is in control, and we’re not – we can make choices to be happy, to smile, laugh, use wisdom when we speak, and answer with love. Living this day and every day like there is no tomorrow.

Santa's Helper or God's Joy Giver

I headed out on my morning run -- a different and longer trail this time, but still in my kids' community here in Frisco. When I run, I purposefully keep my eyes open to "God" inspirations. I rounded my turn, and before me I saw this lovely lady picking up things in the street and putting it into a plastic shopping bag. I thought maybe she was picking up pecans -- though it's late in the season to do so. I approached her and said, "What are you doing?" She said, "Oh, I do this every day. I pick up trash that people have thrown into the street. It's a shame that people can be so care-less." I replied, "Well, good for you. Instead of complaining, you are doing something to make the world a better place. Thank you for being such a model citizen. What do you use that big ring for?" She said, "It was in the street. Someone could have run over it and it could have damaged their car." She had a very distinct accent. I thought it was German. She said, "No, I'm from Holland." I asked her name and I told her I would be talking about her in today's blog post. I told her she brought me joy to see how much she cares and what a beautiful example she is for all of us to see.

I left Suzanne, I thought, "What JOY that encounter was to me! That must have been from YOU, God!" And, no sooner had I thought that, right across the street, diagonally, was this home with a big JOY sign out front. I noticed all the little God moments I just had. First, that I ran into Suzanne, a kind, caring and giving gal who cares. Second, that she had what I thought was a German accent, which made me think of my sweet German husband. Third, that she was from Holland, and that thought led me to think about being in Amsterdam, Holland a couple of years ago and getting to go the Spring Tulip Festival. Fourth, that while we are thinking about Christmas and the JOY that God gave us when He gave us His one and only son, just maybe, instead of thinking about how to get JOY, we should be thinking about how we can give JOY to God....just like Suzanne did for me today. And, Fifth -- when I turned the corner to my family's home, straight in front of me was another JOY message on the home across the street. As I was taking this photo, I didn't realize that the owner was standing in her front yard in her robe and hair curlers. BTW -- I DIDN'T ask if I could take her photo (LOL) but I did get to give her the story of Suzanne and the reciprocating JOY that God gives us and the JOY that we give to Him.

Don't you know it must be like "music in God's ears" when we ACT like Him....giving, caring, loving and serving. Just think about it. The more we give JOY to God, the more He gives JOY back to us. No matter how hard we try, we can never outgive God.

The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep

Day 118 of Photo Inspirations -- The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep
We saw these sheep in Keukenhof, Holland yesterday.  Beautiful sheep, well cared for in a confined area.  They're well-protected.  But, what about those sheep that are in a field, open-prey to ravenous animals and harm? That's why they need a shepherd to watch over and care for them.

How comforting to know that wherever we are, our Good Shepherd keeps a watchful eye on us.  Like a shepherd, Jesus shares something central to our life of faith.  He says, "I am the good shepherd."  John 10:11.  Like a shepherd, He leads us, feeds us, protects us, and saves us.  How could He have such unending and unrelenting love for us?

And the answer has always been the same -- simple, yet profound  God IS love.  It's who He is.  He can't stop loving us.  We are His children, and we are the sheep of His pasture.  He loves us so much that He asked His Son to leave His heavenly home, take on a human body and lay down His life for us.  And, now enthroned with His Father, Jesus still guides us to safety, restores our strength.

So, today, I proclaim, as one of His sheep....... "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters  He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.  Yea, tough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me.  His rod and His staff -- they comfort me.  He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  He anoints mhy head with oil.  My cup runs over.  Surely goodness and merchy shall follow me all the days of myh life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalms 23.

God's Creation is Even More Spectacular in Holland

Day 117 of Photo Inspirations -- God's Creation is even more spectacular in Holland!

It was another glorious day as we made our way to the largest port in the world, Rotterdam, Netherlands -- the gateway to Amsterdam, Holland.  We travelled leisurely down the canal, passing by the secret annex of Anne Frank who wrote her famous diary during the holocaust.  I loved hearing Michael Buble' singing as we slowly passed by the contemporary architecture of the bridges and buildings -- certainly not the Holland we imagined.

And, what fun it was to dance with one of the ship's cooks on the upper deck as we made our way to docking.

But, being the adventureous "Fearless 4" that we are -- we decided to once again, set out on our own for a great day of exploration and adventure.  The ship's excursion packages are pricier and safer since if you're not back to the ship in time for it to leave port, they'd wait for you, but in our case -- we're up for the thrill of the hunt and excitement of living on the edge!  We took the shuttle to city center, then we got on a train to Liedem, Holland, then took a taxi ride through what we remembered about Holland -- the quaint homes, green pastures, bicycles ridden by young and old alike, the cable cars, etc., but we were in for the greatest thrill when, since it's the Tulip Festival Season, we went to Keukenhof, Holland.

Keukenhof is the most beautiful spring garden in the world with more than 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths that fill over 77 acres with color, beauty and fragrance.

You'll see what I describe in the photos attached -- my, oh, my -- our Creator continues to inspire and amaze us with his creative genius.  I know I am so blessed to be able to "stop and smell the....tulips" -- and I'm thanking God everyday for His greatness.

I continue to be amazed as I sing "Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder -- consider all the worlds thy hands have made.  I see the stars.  I hear the rolling thunder.  Thy power throughout -- the universe displayed.  Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee -- How Great Thou Art!  How Great Thou Art!