Tip of the Day 7/27/12

99 Days of Summer: Now that the weekend is here I know many of your thoughts turn to shopping. Since we are celebrating Christmas in July this week, why not put some of that energy into Christmas shopping. There are awesome bargains to be had in end of the season sales. Think outside the box for your gift giving this year. Just because Christmas is in December it doesn't mean you have to give winter gifts. If you make your gifts check the clearance bins at your favorite craft stores as well. It may be 90 degrees now, but December will be here before you know it.

Word for Today, Family: Today is my grandson Seth's 14th birthday and my step-granddaughter Sarah's 8th birthday. We only have one month in the year, August, without a grandchild's birthday, but we have a daughter born in August. With 16 grandchildren, soon to be 17, and 2 greats, it is strange to have a month without a birthday for at least one. Along with all of these grandchildren, my daughters have also had 4 miscarriages between them. So, I have four more grandchildren I look forward to meeting some day. Coming from a small family I love having a large one now. The noise and energy when we get together is so fun and I love listening to the conversations, seeing the personalities of the kids as they grow, learning of their interests and hearing their dreams. Our family is not typical in many ways. Four of our daughters are adopted, one is Richard's daughter from a previous marriage, Seth is the birth son of a sister of a couple of our daughters, all of the girls have other siblings (only one boy among them), and yet it is the family God created. We are all different, yet we are one. I cannot imagine my life without each of them. Some circumstances are not what I desire, but I am learning, "all things work together for good." As we walk through this life God places people in our path that may surprise us, but if we get to know them we can learn from them. We are called to love unconditionally. Today I think about where or who Seth would be if Teresa had not taken him into her home. Where and who would my girls be? Where and who would I be without God welcoming me into His family? Family isn't always who we choose, it is who we choose to be to them. "Walk in love."