Bad Hair Days

I remember my friend calling me many times, but a few times when she called she would say, "Lori, I read through Facebook and see all of these people complaining about their hair and other things.  They're having a bad hair day or they don't like their haircut.  These people need to quit complaining and realize their blessings!"  I would agree with her and we'd go on to something else......mostly talking about faith, the Bible, our kids, school events, and Disney World.  

And we would talk about something else.  We would talk about her cancer treatments and about her hair falling out or coming back in, or even her wigs that she frequently gave 'haircuts' :).  What a blessing having a friend who was so optimistic in her trials!  What a blessing to have a friend who proudly proclaimed to all who knew her that she still had faith in God and His promises.  

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

Yes, Tonya believed that God could heal her - even up until the moment she passed away this morning.  Her mother told me just last night that Tonya still talked about her faith.  She knew God could heal her if it was His Will.  She also knew that it might not be His Will.

Tonya was a blessing to all who knew her.  She was a wonderful wife and mother.  She leaves behind four young children in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9.  Her death has affected our whole small town and the school students and faculty.  We'll all miss her tremendously.

The last time I talked to Tonya she was heading to MD Anderson the next day.  She said then that she was thankful she had been able to help so many people who were taking cancer treatments and going through what she was. What an inspiration she was to others!!! She was to me. 

Last night I went to Tonya's house.  She was asleep, but sitting up on the couch.  Her mom and I talked, the oldest son was near her.  The other kids helped me carry in food.  The youngest boy tried to wake Tonya up to talk to me.  He would poke her on her shoulder and say, "Mama, mama, wake up!"  I told him not to worry about it, that when she woke up, to tell her I loved her and was praying for her.  It was sweet what he did a little later....still wanting her to wake up.  He rubbed her head and said "Wake up!"  It made me smile, seeing her short dark, curly hair that had grown in recently and thinking about those "bad hair day Facebook complaining" phone calls.  Oh, how I'll miss those phone calls and conversations about spiritual life! 

Tonya learned something very important during her battle with cancer. I remember when she called me and said she had cancer almost five years ago. She said then that she believed before that she was a "good" person....she believed in God and believed in Jesus, but she said that before the cancer, she hadn't fully dedicated herself to God and she believed that was why she was 'given' this trial - to proclaim the message of Him. Her faith grew stronger and stronger throughout her struggle.  In fact, she never considered it a struggle at all.

My sweet friend spent the rest of her days praising God, telling of Jesus, and encouraging others to do the same - to not believe that just being good is what God wants. She knew that God wanted her to live out her faith for others to see. Her faith never wavered, even when she began to have pain.  She read the Bible....studied the Bible....shared scriptures and inspiring messages on Facebook.  She worshipped with her church family when she felt good enough to be there and got her family to do so, as well.  She was an inspiration to all who knew her and to those who just heard about her. 

I pray that Tonya's message will not be forgotten.

When you have a bad hair day, a 'bad' day in general, or a trial come up in your life, think about my friend Tonya.  She never complained.....never felt sorry for herself.  She was always thankful for all of her blessings and was positive each and every day.  Let's all strive to be more like Tonya.  The world needs more people like her.  And after all, is a bad hair day really that bad?  No, not at all.

The last Facebook message Tonya posted herself, she ended with this message:  GOD IS GOOD.  She believed that.  So do I.  I pray that you believe that, too.

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

"You've Got a Friend in Me"

This week our two youngest - Jacob and Tyler - have been playing "Toy Story".  They've gone through their toy bucket and dug out all of their Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Bullseye toys that have been collected over the years.  Today they even dumped out their bucket of plastic army men to join in the play.  (If you're wondering...Jessie got lost at a livestock show a few years ago.)  Actually, several other Buzz Lightyear's and Woody's have been misplaced or broken over the years as well, but, as you can see, we still have plenty!

Our family is all excited because Toy Story 3 comes out next Friday, June 18, which also happens to be mine and my husband's 22nd anniversary.  What a great anniverary date that would be!  A family date to see Toy Story 3!  You think I'm kidding?  I'm not.  Seriously!  We would all enjoy the anniversary family date night, and since we don't go to the movies that often (and since there are no baseball games that evening) just maybe it will work out.

But, do you know what I like best about our two youngest boys playing Toy Story all week is though?  It's the friendship.  I like to see my children being friends.  I've mentioned before that they are normal siblings and they argue at times.  But this week they have played and played for hours and hours.  I began to notice yesterday that when they have the time to play together more like this during the summer, they don't argue as often.  They really enjoy each other's company and have fun together. Maybe that's because our lives are less rushed in the summer and they actually have the time to play together and form that friendship bond again. (That's a lesson in itself, isn't it?)

The theme song of Toy Story (both 1 and 2 as I recall) has been "You've Got a Friend in Me".  Take the time to read the lyrics to this song below.

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead

And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed

You just remember what your old pal said

Boy, you've got a friend in me

Yeah, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

If you got troubles

I got them too

There isn't anything

I wouldn't do for you

We stick together, we can see it through

Cause you've got a friend in me

Yeah, you've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am

Bigger and stronger too

Maybe

But none of them

Will ever love you

The way I do

It's me and you, boy

And as the years go by,

Our friendship will never die

You're gonna see it's our destiny

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

Yea You've got a friend in me.

Those are great lyrics, aren't they?  Isn't that what friends should feel and how they should act towards one another?  And, shouldn't Christian friends be even more so that way?  Yes, I believe so.

A friend loves at all times.  Proverbs 17:17a

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Yea, you've got a friend in me!

The Chronicles of Biscuit - A TALK WITH THE COUNSELOR

In the last "The Chronicles of Biscuit" post, Biscuit was wanting to talk to the school counselor. After a few days, I asked him again why he wanted to talk to the counselor and he said, "Because they get beads." And, he also said, that a friend of his who visits with the counselor says it's lots of fun.

So, we don't know what the beads are all about, but it's apparent that Biscuit thinks it would be a lot of fun to visit the counselor. He got an appointment set up with the counselor -on his own - for 3:05 on Wednesday. We told her she didn't have to do it, since there really wasn't a problem, but she wanted to do it for him. After Biscuit told me about the appointment, I asked him what he was going to visit with her about and he said, "Fruit". I asked, "Fruit?". Biscuit said, "Yep!" Okay....fruit! That makes sense, doesn't it???

Biscuit was so excited about getting to talk to the counselor at 3:05. I told him I would be back in a little bit. I went to pick him up about 3:20, but he was still in "counseling". I could see him through the window....would have liked to have been a fly on the wall! He and the counselor talked and talked and talked. He finally came out about 3:35 and said, "I'm coming back next Thursday at 3:05." I looked at the counselor and mouthed to her quietly, "You don't have to do this!" She said, "It's okay. He's fun!" We asked her later about the counseling session. She said that he wanted to know how much sugar was in fruit! That was all he wanted to know. She asked him questions like "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Biscuit said "President". Usually he says Vice-President because our 10-year-old wants to be President. She asked him about our past Presidents - the 1st, the 16th, the 43rd. He enjoyed answering all the questions, but Biscuit is mostly excited because the counselor is making him a bead necklace and giving it to him at the next "session". We've told him that this next meeting will be the last one. He's okay with that (not that it would matter, of course!).

This sweet counselor is giving Biscuit time and attention. She is listening to him. She is being a friend to him. She is taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to a little 6-year-old boy who is already well-loved and well-cared-for. Why? Because she loves and cares for all children. Biscuit has five others in the house with him, so there are plenty of us around to listen to him, but he thought the counseling and talking to someone else would be a lot of fun. Plus, the beads, of course, were a big deal!

How many people in the world need someone who will listen to them? How many people need someone to care about them? We know that God should be our #1 Counselor, but we all need friends, too. This counselor is being a friend to Tyler and making him feel special for these few visits. Who needs you to be a listening ear? Who needs you to be a friend?

Take the time this week to listen to someone who may need it. Take the time this week to help someone in need. Take the time this week to be a friend to someone who needs it. Their lives will be blessed, but so will yours. Sometimes in our hurried lives we don't take the time to stop and think of others. I challenge you and myself, too, to make an effort this week to put someone else's needs before your own. Reach out to someone who needs you. Through your example, you will be showing the love of Jesus. Just another way to "Shine Like Stars".

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17a
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9