Learn

Dear Life,

I used to LOVE writing the Five Minute Friday Challenge.   It's been quite awhile since I've taken five minutes for anything....so I'm starting again TODAY! Kate's word prompt this week is 

learn.

Go:

This month I've had to learn to let go...
I took one of my son's to Hawaii to start his own adventure in life....
His adventure in college....
We spent an amazing week together....
During that week I saw him starting to stretch and grow.....
And when I left him (with tears coursing down my face)....
I knew it was my time to learn to let him go.....
It's his turn to learn....
To stretch....
To dream...
To get hurt...
To pick himself up and dust himself off...
To become a man.
I am learning to be a mom of a young man who is making his own choices, making his own memories, making his own path.
I am learning that letting go hurts like heck.
But I am also learning that it is the best thing for him.
I am so proud of my young man. 
He's an amazing kid.
I can't wait to see what he learns.
While I learn to be patient and watch.

Stop

If you want to read more about Five Minute Friday go HERE. 

What will you grasp onto?

Dear life,

It's that time again!  Five minute Friday!  

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Topic:

GRASP

GO

There are many things I could write about today.  But because of certain things that have presented themselves to me....I want to talk about YOU.  Something funny happens when we grow up, become adults, get real jobs, get married, have kids, get dogs, etc.  We have responsibilities.  Slowly, oh so very slowly, we get in habits, we even get in slumps.  Unless you are very lucky, you get into a routine...mine goes like this:

Six thirty, wake up, get Kumaka ready for school.  Kiss my kids goodbye, get Kumaka off on the school bus, and then I climb in my car and hustle to the beach to pick up Kekoa at surf team.  I take him home, clean up the house, take care of my errands, and wait for the kids to start arriving.  Then it's time to check homework, make sure kids are reading, have everyone do their chores, if there is practice of some sort that must get done, and then dinner.  You get the picture.

Something is missing.  Have you figured it out?  It's me.  I have recently realized that I need to get a better GRASP on ME...who I am...what my dreams are...what makes me happy...what will help me grow.  Because as I do those things, I become a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, and more important...I become a better ME.  

GRASP who you are.  Hold on tight.  Take time for you...everyone will benefit.

Dude....it's Five Minute Friday

Dear Life,

It's that time.....Five minute Friday....and my fail....it's Sunday.  Better late than never!

Here are the rules in case you forgot...and if you are reading this and decide to participate...please let me know...I would love to read your post! :)

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, 
no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Theme: FOCUS

GO

When I hear the word Focus my mind immediately goes to the movie Finding Nemo.  Remember when Crush was talking to Nemo saying "Dude....dude.....focus dude..." after he blacked out?  I love that turtle Crush.  He always makes me laugh!  And dude....have I been needing to focus.  At the beginning of this year, my youngest child had MAJOR hip surgery  (You can read about it here) (and here) ....it was twelve hours long...and traumatic.  He ended up in a Spica Cast for two months....and then he broke his femur right after that...and was BACK in a Spica Cast for another month.  So needless to say the beginning of this year I was NOT in focus.  I was in green cast HELL.  My poor sweet boy was very limited to what he could do, I was limited because of the impossibility of his cast, and our whole family was kind of floating along....surviving....but missing out on some things.  I feel like Crush has just found me floating and said "Dude....Dude.....focus Dude" and I have finally woken up from the daze and I'm back in the mommy groove.  Back in the homework grove, the school grove, the checking of backpack groove, the clean your room groove, etc etc etc.  (I am still lacking in the laundry groove...but I do despair with that one).  My little one is having another surgery this week....but it is much less invasive and I am praying that we have learned a little something from earlier in the year.  MUST FOCUS on my family....my WHOLE family.  And when I can't focus....I need to pray....to find the strength and the peace to have the ability to focus.  

STOP

Change....Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: CHANGE

Dear Life,

My new Friday goal....POST FMF on Friday.  Two for two...not so bad!    Here are the rules....

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST ever Friday. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag#FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

TOPIC: CHANGE

GO:

When I thought about change I thought about money.  Quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies.  Change.  Individually, they aren't worth a lot of money.  My kids like to collect them.  My husband hates them.  I don't like change....but when it's a tight week....and I would like a diet Coke....the first thing I do is look for my change.  One of my children likes to search the couches, drawers, pockets, washing machine, car, etc for change.  And then all of a sudden he is the rich one.  It's hilarious.  This week, my husband gave me a huge envelope...full of change. ALL pennies.  And you know how much it turned out to be?  17 dollars.  That is seventeen hundred pennies people.  That is a LOT of change.  So what is the lesson here?  It's not a very mindblowing one....it's just this....watch your change....add it up....it could mean dinner...it could mean movies....it could mean a diet Coke in a fabulous Sonic Cup.  

STOP

Silly....I know.  :)  Can't always be serious!

Five Minute Friday: Join

Dear Life,

It's Friday.  And I'm writing my Five Minute Friday post ON Friday.  WOW.  Stop the presses.  Before I do...if you haven't already read my article that was posted at Mom Colored Glasses you can read it HERE.  I am going to share the rules of FMF...maybe some of you would like to join.  It's one of my favorite link ups.  

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST ever Friday. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag#FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

TOPIC:

Join

GO

This instantly made me think of our family.

Our family of rowdy (especially today...whew)

Crazy

Busy

Boys.

And how our family of boys will change when SHE JOINS us.

She is a beautiful brown eyed girl who lives in Eastern Europe. 

She is an orphan.

When we saw her picture we fell in love, we cried for her instantly.  We knew she needed to join our family.

We know the adoption process will be so long....paperwork....trials....tears...and PATIENCE. (Have I mentioned how much I am NOT patient?)

In a year or so.....we will get on an airplane....and bring her home....to JOIN our family.  TO JOIN US.  And an even bigger joy is when we can join together as a family in the temple and be sealed for eternity.  

I cannot wait for our sweet girl to come home.

To Join the Jensens.

STOP

Five Minute Friday : Here

Dear Life,

First...I am excited to share with you all that I have been published.  It has been my dream, and my first article was published today.  You can go HERE to read it.  :)  If you feel the need to share, please do so! :)

I am linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker from Tales of A Gypsy Mama for 5 minute Friday.  I have only once actually done this on Friday.  So funny.  The topic is HERE


GO

I am here. 
Thankfully He is here too.
Directing me.
Guiding me.
Leading me.
Comforting me.
Loving me.
I am feeling so many emotions, and thankfully a direction...a place to put all of my passions. 
I am so excited every morning to wake up, to pray, and to go forth and DO.
Life is about learning, growing, and sharing.  
I am HERE, to do that.
Things are changing, things are moving, exciting things are coming. 
I am here to participate in change, to initiate change, to be the change.
Thankfully, HE is HERE.
Without Him, I would not be HERE.
I love Him.
I praise Him.
I am so very grateful to be HERE.

STOP

Five Minute Friday : Story

Dear Life,


I have been gone awhile....and I am so sorry for that.  I was spending very important time with my family....watching my oldest graduate....and sending him off to Hawaii to go to college.  There are a lot of posts that I need to write about the last month, but for now I'm going to ease into blogging again with my favorite friday link up.


5 Minute Friday topic this week is: STORY


GO:


A few months ago I had an epiphany of sorts.  I realized that everyone has a story....
A reason for why they are where they are at in their life.
I realized that if we all took the time to maybe understand other people's stories, other people's heartache and joys, we could understand the differences we have with each other.
If we all took the time to talk to each other, to listen to each other without judging, and to really hear one another, we could hear someone else's life story. 
And understand.
Understand their pain, understand what shaped them, understand why there are emotional walls, understand why there has been differences of opinion, and instead of judging or being angry, just loving and appreciating the role that person has in your life.
Not expecting anything more than what he or she can give you.
But loving them regardless.
We all have a story.
We all have reasons we do things...
Or don't do things.
If everyone took the time to understand that...
The world would be a better place.
If we took the time to find out the story, to understand the person, life could possibly be a little easier to navigate. 
What's your story?


STOP

Five Minute Friday: Risk

Dear Life,


It's five minute Friday....and the topic is RISK...so...here goes!


Go


Risk is a tricky thing.  It's scary to try something new....to step outside of  your box.
What if you fail.
What if you get made fun of.
What if you can't do what you are trying to do.
Why try?
Why make the effort.
Staying within the boundaries of the norm is easy....comfortable.
It's also binding, restricting, and limiting.
Taking a risk is chancy....but wonderful things can happen when you climb out of your safety box, open up your wings, and fly.  When you jump off the ledge from safety, you SOAR.  You stomach drops, you might even think you will puke, but once you realize there's no going back....you can allow yourself to feel the moment...to live and challenge yourself.  Chances are opportunities will start coming your way....challenges will become triumphs....and you...you will discover something about yourself.  That you CAN do things...even hard things....and that you can and should take a risk.  Because maybe, just maybe the risk is the same old same old stuff.  Maybe the risk is not reaching, learning, growing, doing.  Maybe the risk is when you do the same things over and over....by rote...by memory.  You risk letting life pass you by...you risk letting your life stay stagnant.
I'm ready to fly....are you?

STOP

Five minute Friday (on Sunday)

So as I was hopping around blogs I found this FANTASTIC blog that hosts "Five Minute Friday" every week.  These are her rules

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

And I am excited about this!   Right up my alley!  Yes...I understand it's Sunday.  But the linky is still up...which means better late than never right?  Besides..you all miss my witty remarks! :)


The prompt this week was Path.  So....here goes!


READY....GO


PATH


Once....while much younger....I thought the path to life was simple...straight forward.
The older I got, the wiser I got.
The path got curvy.
With each child the path seemed to take different twists and turns.
The path straightened out at times...and that's what we call the easy years.
You know....when things seems to be smooth sailing....
By the time baby boy number five came along our path went down a cliff.....
And yet we were able to find our way again...we found the path.
This path of ours....it has led us to extreme joy....and painful heartache.  
And now....this very year...this very week....this path dips again.
I send my oldest son off to college....not down the street...but to an island in the pacific.
I will miss him dearly.
His path is starting.
That is so strange to think of.
His path is just beginning....to him it is simple....straight forward.
I can't wait to see what twists and turns his path takes.
I hope he remembers that I will always be there.

STOP




Wow...that was awesome.....so fun!  I highly recommend writing this way!  








Linking up at The Gypsy Mama