My Sweet Harry ♥

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I opened my eyes this morning to see Harry staring at me with the hugest sentimental smile I have ever beheld on the lips of a toddler. Who knew a child his age could be nostalgic? Well, I'm telling you--he was! As I looked into his huge brown (almost black) eyes, I couldn't help but crack a giant grin myself.

For the longest time I just laid there and stared at my beautiful little brother. Finally, he turned around and started walking around my room and "talking" a million miles an hour. Out of the mumbo jumbo that he's so good at speaking, I caught a few words that made me grin even larger; "I gonna be TWO!" he said pointing one finger at me--I tried to teach him how to do two, and he giggled when all he could manage was that one precious little finger standing tall in the air.

I have to admit, the longer I'm a big sister, the faster life goes, and the more melancholy events such as birthdays and holidays are. Everyday, God takes some part of my life and puts it into a mental slow-mo so that I can see just how precious it really is--even if it's only for a split second. I think life is made up of those little things that bring a smile to your face. I find that when I'm more aware of those moments, my life seems to speed by far too fast for my liking--but how wonderful to be aware of the simple pleasures in life! What a blessing to have the luxury of God's perspective at my fingertips, ready to use if I just take the time to grasp it!

Happy birthday to my little brother Harry!

My precious High School Musical addict, I couldn't adore you any more!

P.S. I removed the Disqus comment system and unfortunately lost all of your comments because of it! :( So sad...but at least the old system is back, right? :)

11 Years Old Today...

Anna would have been 11 years old today--it's a strange thought considering it's the same age I was when Jesus decided to take her home to be with Him. It seems like such a short time ago, and yet when I look back it almost seems like a different lifetime. I remember a lot of things with clarity which I never would have imagined I would have almost 5 years from her death; all of my memories are such a blessing, and I know God is the only one who could give them to me. Still, I find that I forget some things, and when I'm reminded of them by a picture, or a video, or something that someone else says, I feel this extra special piece has been restored to the part of my heart that will forever be Anna's.

I could post pictures...I could talk about all of the things I love about her...but I'll leave you with a link to my momma's blog where some sweet videos of Anna have been posted. Please drop by and let her put a smile on your face. :)

If you haven't read Anna's story, please click here.

A Dear Friend

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I’m sure we’ve all blogged about our friends at one time or another; people who have enriched our lives, encouraged us, sympathized with us (even about silly things), laughed when we’re being ridiculous, and truly accepted us (quirks included). I’m doing something unique today…something I never thought would be possible, but blogging has proven me very wrong. Today I’m thanking God for my special friend Olivia, whom I have never personally met.

Olivia was one of the first bloggers I came across after I started my blog. I read some of her blog posts, and could tell that we had a lot in common—I could tell so even more when she left a comment on my blog and referred to us as “kindred spirits”. Is that not just SO Anne Shirley!? Ha!

My first impression of Olivia was that she was an extremely talented young writer—the passion she infuses into her blog is absolutely stunning—since then I’ve realized she is not only an insanely talented writer, but also a multi-faceted musician, photographer, “Christian Hippie”, amazazing friend, and first and foremost a faithful and fervent child of Christ. To display all of this to me without having ever met me is an incredible feat, and I personally hope to be able to do the same in my life.

I think it’s so incredible how God gives us such wonderful friends through the internet! I love all of you so much, and I praise God that He gave me the means to “meet” all of you and get to know you. You and all of your stories have blessed my life in many ways.

Happy birthday Olivia! I l♥ve you!

P.S. For all of you who don't know, Olivia and I started a joint blog a while back called "Imperishable Beauty". Make sure to head over and check it out. A new series on honoring our future husbands is in the works! :)

Hereafter, Victorious

Tragic love—such an ironic statement, but so often the root of mankind’s vicious and unrelenting dysphoria. Why does this concept carry such ecstasy on its vivid scent? The very etymology of the statement contradicts itself in an unbreakable cycle of the beginning and the undoing. Yet, we crave to be told these emotionally wringing tales. Why? It is because the love never ends.

Through trial and affliction, it never fades, even in death. When the stories end, we can’t help but believe that they go on. How do the masterminds behind these legendary stories do this?

Romans 1:20a "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…"

The nature of a man is rooted in hatred and ultimate destruction of all things, but there is a voice inside of every man that whispers, “There is more.” It says, “Weakness is fleeting…I am eternal.” It calls to every man. That voice, silently pleading with our subconscious, is what creates our thirst for the theoretical creation of everlasting love—love that cannot be conquered by death or destruction—love that bears the thorns of life with stunning strength. So then, what is this voice? Why does it want me to search for love? It is love.

The opportunity for love is naturally inbred in humankind. Deep inside, we all want Love, and Love wants us. The nature of true love says that it cannot be vanquished, but the foolishness of the man’s mind says that he will never be overcome. And so a constant fight of perfection and defect emerges from the fog of innocence. According to the laws of man, love forms a symbiotic circle with peace, so why is Love fighting?

Love is fighting for our hearts to be free. It is not fighting for itself, it is fighting for the object of its deepest affection—the soul in which it speaks and will one day reside if it would only free itself from the clutches of self-preservation. This war is not the antithesis of love, but rather the result of it. Searching ourselves for purpose is futile….until we have committed ourselves to believe in the Voice of Love. The call comes from the very first example to man of everlasting love in the midst of tragedy.

You see, we do not birth love—Love, birthed us. Every man is a creation of the Origin of Love—the Creator, God. When He created us, we were in His image—made sinless. All we felt for our Father was Love…but we fell. Humanity took over our minds at the tempting offer of a serpent. We lusted after power to be like God. In this deception, the nectar of the sweetest fruit brought the means by which we would no longer be sinless. And so Hatred was born.

Still, Love lives on. He lives a thousand times more vividly then Hatred ever shall. Every man can still love Whom he was meant to love. How is this possible when we have succumbed to the darkest sin of betrayal? No one could possibly forgive us for an act so careless and destructive…but God “sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Because of the Being that is Love at the core, we have the ultimate atonement for every human defect. Love has provided a way to become one with Him
John 17:20-26 20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[a] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”(John 17:20-26). Through the immeasurable torture which we, His children inflicted upon Him, He spoke words which can never be matched in power or potency; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for the sole purpose of the continued life of Love. In His death, Love lived on in the souls that would accept it.

Three days later, when the stone of Jesus’ tomb was rolled away and He rose from the grave, He knew that He had fulfilled the act that would give us, His children, the opportunity to spend eternity in paradise with Him. This was His passionate desire. (John 17:24).

Mankind longs for the idea of victory in death—a hypothetical result of some virtue that we desire. God has given the means by which our death can be victorious. Truthfully, death brings us more life than does life itself. When we’ve taken the gift of Love, our death marks the continuation of Love—the perfection of a love which cannot be satisfied until we are united with the One who presented such love to us.

Imagine a story with a love even more potent than that portrayed in those beautiful stories—now imagine if the story didn’t end with death and tragedy. With Christ, the story begins after the pages end—the eternal is now. There is no tragic ending, because death is the beginning of perfected life.

32nd Street Blog Boutique

Hey guys! Here I go neglecting you all again…while I’ve been away though, I’ve been busy starting something which I’ve heard all of you urge me to do over and over and over. I finally started my own blog design business, 32nd Street Blog Boutique! Click over and check it out! Now is a great time to sign yourself up for a makeover, because everyone who asks to be put on the list before July 17 will be given a 20% discount on all makeovers (excludes extras). I’m so excited to start designing blogs. It’s been so much fun discovering my love for design and HTML coding (I know, that last one’s a little geeky), and I’m so excited to start spreading the love around the blogosphere! :)

I’ve just added BlogFrog to my blog today too, so make sure to stop by and become my minion! (a.k.a. Join my community. ^_^) I’m sure we could have lots of interesting conversations together.

That’s it for now, but I’ll be back soon! Love you all! *hug*

P.S. Check out this video I found. I would be interested in seeing the kind of "behind-the-scenes" work these people had to go through just to advertise water! Craziness!

MckLinky Blog Hop -- Favorite Photo

Come and join in on the weekly MckLinky Blog Hop. It promises to be a lot of fun! The theme this week is favorite pictures. (Who doesn't like to share some great pictures!?) :)

I really loved this photo that I snapped of Harry last week. The energy of a child is so infectious!



"Don't slow down...catch life in motion."

P.S. If you get a chance, make sure to read yesterdays poem, and write Monthly Monday Poetry down on your blogging calendar! I always love to have participants!

Thought

Click on the picture above to find out how to participate in Monthly Monday Poetry.
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Yearning to be free from a cage of thought, regret
Thinking’s end, too perfect to have all the standards met
What have I learned while stuck in this place—my own cocoon?
Excuses culminate on impulsive passion all too soon

Thinking seems the right, but my mind cannot contain
The thoughts that it’s been struggling to hold onto all these days
Sick of pressure, unwilling to let go—round and round we wind
What happiness we’d find if conscience ruled the mind

Father, speak to me of Your thoughts.
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Abigail Kraft 2009