Words of encouragement. (And a little Sochi, of course!)

Words. Comments. Remarks. They can be nice, funny, compassionate and encouraging. Or they can be spiteful, rude, mean, and hurtful. I've just come to realize how much emphasis is put on what comes out of our mouths. It could be gossip, mean-spirited remarks, or just downright hurtful things. Y'all. Let's encourage one another!  These verses have really been running through my mind often lately. 

"Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Ephesians 4:29

I want to be an encourager. A friend. Someone that friends come to when they are in need of prayer and a kind word.  Women are the worst about it. We over-analyze.  We chat it up with our girlfriends instead of coming before God and asking Him to help us through our trials.  Bad thoughts harbor bitterness. I don't know about y'all, but I'd prefer to be happy than be in an ugly mood.  Being angry is a CHOICE.  Drop your pride, and choose to listen to God.  Choose to smile and think positively even through your frustrations. Pray to God in the moment-I know I can't do it all on my own on a daily basis!  I'm only here through His grace and unfailing love.  I think everyone will agree when I say this. Anger, ain't nobody got time for that! Be compassionate and love others.  Be happy.  It's just a better choice all around.  Enough about that. 

Next up, the "surprise" birthday party that Lindsey and I planned for Josh and Brandon last weekend. I say "surprise" because they both guessed what we were doing almost immediately. Come on, guys!  Even if you know, just play along with us!  Regardless, a fun time was had by all. We went to JumpJam. It was HILARIOUS!  Just imagine:  boys in their mid-twenties gallivanting around on trampolines, foam pits, and a faux ninja warrior course. It was SO FUN!  It also reminded us all of how old we actually are. As Brandon put it awhile back, "I'm just not a spring chick anymore!"  Ohhhh learning to embrace our old creaking bodies is such a blow to our egos. Good thing I'm just choosing to think positive and laugh about it all!

Look at these birthday boys!  Yes, Josh's mustache is real. 

And lastly, we shall discuss the Olympics. Sochi 2014. Now I know there's some controversy about watching them this year. Well, we are red-blooded Americans at my house that drink milk and eat hamburgers once a week, so we are watching the Olympics.  Shaun White. Bode Miller. Gracie Gold.  Jamaican bobsled team.  (They're not American, but this is the first year in awhile that they could attend, so we cheer for them too.). Speed skating. Ice skating. Ski jumping. Slopestyle.  Ice hockey. I'm hooked. It could be curling for all I care, and yet I still stay glued to the tv, screaming and yelling for USA athletes to, "Go for the gold!"  I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!  I would love to attend them sometime if I were given the opportunity.

I've read the athletes' stories. The death of Bode Miller's brother unexpectedly last year to a seizure. The Canadian that ran to the sidelines to hug his brother with cerebral palsy. Shaun White's attempt to win a triple gold in the same event, only to not even medal at all. (THAT was hard for me to swallow. I found out at work, and I'm a sore loser.  I'll continue to choose to blame the poor terrain on the halfpipe at Sochi for his loss.). They are athletes, but they're also people with real lives just like you and me. So, as this is the final week, I encourage you to all watch and support our country. Be patriotic!  Let's get our medal count up so we are back in first place!  USA, ALL THE WAY!