Premonitions

Do you believe in premonitions? According to the dictionary, it's a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.  I honestly did not start believing in premonitions until recently.  A few weeks ago I shared with ya'll about a dream I had that had elements of true events that actually played out the next day... You can read about that here.  To me, that was a funny, weird thing to happen but I brushed it off.

Last night, my mother was digging through her dusty journals. She came across an entry that stopped her in her tracks. Mother asked me if I remembered a dream I had as a teenager about 15 years ago. My dream consisted of me waking up in the night to realize that our house had caught on fire. Opening the bedroom door, there were flames everywhere. I tried to scream to warn my family, but it seemed as though I had lost my voice completely. In an attempt to save my family I turned on the radio full blast to wake them up since my voice was subdued. Trying to save my life and free myself, I broke the window and became bloody in the process. I escaped.

When I had that dream as a teenager I woke up the next day and divulged it to my mother. Unbeknownst to me, my mother had a similar dream a few nights after mine. This is what she confided in me last night:

Mom's dream was very similar to mine. She dreamed that a fire had woken her up and she was trying to warn us kids.  She opened the bedroom door and there were flames preventing an escape. She also escaped through her bedroom window and found us kids waiting for her outside.

Mom then informs me that soon after we both had these dreams, she heard loud popping noises coming from the garage. Not thinking much of it she ignored it and continued her crafting project. Later that day, my father came home and said that the hot water heater had a big black streak across it. Apparently it had caught on fire.... (that was the popping sound my mom heard earlier).  My mom had this nudging feeling to get it checked out.

The plumber arrived and insisted we get an electrician out immediately!  The wiring was jerry-rigged... not a huge surprise since our old house had problem after problem. The electrician arrived and had a bizarre event happen. He was checking things out and found that not only did the hot water heater have a fire cause the black streak across it, but it actually had 2 other fires/electrical issues inside the heater previously. While he was checking things out, the wires started sparking and he had to run out to the electrical box and shut everything off. 

My mother said that if our dreams did not happen that it would have been easy to ignore the hot water heater and not insist on a electrician to survey it.  What an eerie thought that maybe our dreams were warning us of something???  

Also, not even 24 hours before the hot water heater caught on fire, my father had moved a bunch of spray paint away from the hot water heater....

There are just way too many things here to not think that Someone was watching out for us. 

Moments Not Wasted

It is very rare to have a beautiful weather day this time of year in Arizona.  Today I am soaking up the breeze outside, and watching my son play.  My 2 year old is splashing around in the muddy, wet sand table from the rain we got the last few days.  In this moment I could care less about the dirty soaked clothes or that he's flinging muddy water everywhere. Taking in this moment instead of wishing it away.

As the news and everyone else is reflecting back on September 11th, I do not want to focus on the sadness of that day.  Instead, I want to not waste a single moment and relish these little things in life.  Every day should be cause to love your family more, to not be easily angered or frustrated, and to soak up the hugs and kisses from your children. 

~Elizabeth

Celebrity Dinner Party

You are invited to a Celebrity Dinner Party!  

You won't want to miss this because it will be 

LEGEN.....wait for it.... DARY!

 ::Robin Williams:: Brad Paisley:: Wynonna Judd :: Neil Patrick Harris::

You cannot tell me that being in the same room as Robin Williams would not knock your socks off! Better yet, his hilarious stand-up comedy would cause you to pee your pants from laughing so much.  Growing up, I loved his movies "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Patch Adams".  You never know what will come out of Robin Williams' mouth.  He can be quite raunchy at times, but then again, he would be the life of the party.  I seriously don't want my party turning out to be a dud.

Brad Paisley... hmmm....yum... enough said. He's just plain sexy! Any girl can tell you that his cowboy charm and songs tug at your heart. In real life he is married to the actress from "Father of the Bride".  Such a cute couple!  I honestly would just love to be serenaded all evening by Brad.

I need some sassy at my dinner party.  The third guest I would invite would be Wynonna Judd.  Growing up, my mom and I would listen to The Judds, and I would pretend to be a diva like her. Blaring my boombox to "Girls with Guitars" was what rocked my world back in the day.

I saved the best for last... Neil Patrick Harris!  As I picture him at my party, he is bursting through the door with a Broadway number and dancing on my dining table. My little Doogie Howser, has now grown into Barney Stedson.  Neil Patrick Harris just seems like an all-around-good-guy. When the party gets out of hand, he would be the one to rally everyone back to order.  Plus, I just want to hear him quote from the show How I Met Your Mother: “Think of me like Yoda, but instead of being little and green I wear suits and I'm awesome. I'm your bro—I'm Broda!”

Who would be at your Celebrity Dinner Party?

The Best Advice I Ever Received on Motherhood

 The best advice I received was from my mother when I was about to give birth to my son. Every day I remind myself of the importance of taking every moment to heart...never take anything for granted.

 Dear Elizabeth,

"In the coming months and years you might find yourself saying such things as: “We don’t eat Bella’s dog food.” “We don’t climb on the dishwasher door.” “What’s in your mouth?” Through it all, learn to laugh at yourself, your son and remember … it’s only for a short time. You only have a limited amount of time that you will be able to guide and influence Joshua’s every action. Raising little ones is exhausting and busy and adventurous. But it is only for a season. So be present in all the moments - in the hard ones, the funny ones and the joy-filled times. Don’t wish them away. Instead, be thankful that you get to experience each and every one of them.

God gives us these little people to enjoy, love, encourage, and teach. But keep in mind that our babies are, in reality, His. They are only on loan to us. He is entrusting you with one of His most precious creations."  

Love, Mom

Thoughts inspired from: “In its time - 

He has made everything beautiful in its time.” www.samuelmay.com.

I Dream of Africa

My dream is to one day venture to Africa

via  

The sweltering, desert that Africa consists of.

To experience their culture and the heart of the people.

I want to be greeted by the natives, 

with singing and dancing.

via 

Most of my days I would love to be with the children.

Help and love on the kids in the orphanages and schools.

Teach them about my country, language, and my faith,

while they teach me all about theirs.

 

via

 Dreaming of African animals.

A safari to witness the grandness of all the creatures.

Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh my! (maybe not bears...)

 via

To lay under the stars at night and take in God's glory.

To put fear aside and go somewhere in pure faith.

No agenda, no schedule, but just to experience what Africa has to offer.

Like my own "Eat Pray Love" adventure in finding myself. 

~Elizabeth

Where Do I Come From?

I was so excited to see that Story of my Life was going to do another blog-everyday challenge!  This month they are doing a "Blogtember" challenge to blog every day during the month of September.  Most of the prompts already inspire me, and I will also blog about what suits me on a daily whim.  Join me as I attempt to blog through the month!

I am the 4th generation on my Dad's side of the family to live in America.

My paternal Great-Grandparents moved from Japan to Hawaii as young adults.

My grandparents started their family in Southern California.

My mother's side of the family can be dated back to the late 1700's.

French Huguenots that fled from religious persecution

to the new land.

Growing up in Southern California for most of my childhood was grand.

We lived 5 minutes from Disneyland, and had perfect weather.

I remember making my first friend at 5 years old and 

are celebrating 22 years of friendship this year!

In 5th grade, we moved to Arizona.

Been here for 17 years.

In jr. high, I went to my church's youth camp.

It changed my life.

I rededicated my life to God and got baptized.

My teen years were difficult.

Struggled to find my identity and worth.

After years of depression and soul searching,

God once again showed me that there is more to life.

My first love was at 15 years old.

I would always get grounded for talking on the phone

for hours on end with him.

He was my first kiss...

and my last kiss.

I married this man 6 years later.

Becoming a mommy was the best thing that ever happened!

Our son is our pride and joy.

We live our lives to provide for him and bring him 

up in a Christian household.

When someone said having a little one is like

having part of your heart walking on the outside,

they had no idea how true of a statement that is.

My child is what brings purpose to my life.

Currently, I am still soul searching.

Wanting to once again hear and see God's hand working in my life.

Sometimes He is silent and I feel alone,

like the Israelites wandering through the desert for 40 years.

But through the silence I am asking for guidance and answers.

And I know if I am still and quiet, I will receive the comfort and guidance needed.

My story is not yet over.

Today is a new day

to rediscover myself,

to make amends,

love those around me,

and to live a life of meaning.

 

Living with the End in Sight

It is not every day someone inquiries, "How would you treat your marriage differently with the end in sight?  What would you want your husband to say at your funeral?"  That is not something I care to think about... How morbid of a thought is that?! 

After a few days of stewing over my feelings and thoughts, I came to the conclusion that these are really good questions!  I live my life thinking that I have all the time in the world to postpone thinking about such topics.  And I am sure most of you do too. 

At my funeral, I would love to think that my husband would say such things as:

 "My wife was the one and only love of my life.  She was the peanut butter to my jelly.  Life will not be the same because she was my best friend.  I loved her sense of curiosity, and love for life.  There was not a day that went by where she didn't want to fill another person's life with joy.  The most important thing was that she brought joy to my life and my son's life.  She made us feel like we were the most important people in her life and she showed that.  We took this life on together. Elizabeth was always understanding and never doubted us as a couple.  If anything, our marriage was the #1 thing that she worked hard on and was her priority.  She took her wedding vows seriously and lived up to them (beyond what was expected).  Elizabeth was the most graceful, loving, and sweetest person I knew. Her love for God was unwavering and she looked to God in everything she did. I will miss her every day of my remaining days."

Okay.... so that was difficult to write and feels like I just pumped myself up to look like a saint.  Honestly though, if my husband says that I honored our vows and he will miss me every day of his life then that is all that I wish for.  A friend of mine had mentioned that she thinks her husband would say about her at her funeral: "She was really good at paying the bills and doing her own thing. I didn't feel like I really knew her."  That was a major wake up call to do things differently. She did not want to have a mediocre marriage and have her husband resenting her. 

I want to be known as the person that did not take life for granted, and did not put our marriage on the backburner.  It is so easy to think that we have all the time in the world to get to the important things in life.... maybe we have 20 years, 50 years left, or maybe tomorrow everything can unexpectedly change.  We do not know. Therefore, we need to live every minute of our days with purpose and to let our loved ones know they are important to us. 

When I did this assignment, it was difficult to foresee the impact it would have on me. Live with every moment with the end in sight. The things I would want my husband to say about me at my funeral, I need to be putting into practice RIGHT NOW.

How can I show my love for life? How can I bring joy to others? What are ways I can live up to my vows? How can I be an example to my family with my love for God?  Those are the things I need to put into practice.

What is one thing you can do today to show your spouse that your marriage is #1 priority?