Gifts of the Spirit

God puts us in the right place at the right time.  I have been energized a little bit more for my passion as well as for my husband's.  We went to a Memorial Day picnic on Sunday at a friend's house and met some interesting people.  One couple actually has a blog as well, and it is a traveling blog (http://thetimecrunchedtraveler.com/).  I have been thinking recently about going on day trips in Connecticut and writing about them.  I am also really into travel, but I am stuck locally for now.  Doing local restaurant reviews has also come to mind.

I want to start getting into the ideas I had gotten for my website after visiting the writers' conference.  I was on fire immediately following it, and now I am dragging.  But after talking with this young couple and a few other new people at the picnic, I know that my husband and I could and should be doing more with our gifts.  And yesterday just happen to be Pentecost Sunday where the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles.  It is a day for us to remember our gifts and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We can use the gifts God has given us to preach and to fulfill our purpose.

I know God has great plans for my husband and I, but I am still unsure where He is taking us.  But I think we first need to let Him work in small ways through our busy lives.  I pray that we can start accomplishing our dreams to a fuller extent. 

-Tanya Weitzel

All Malled-Out

Sometimes visiting the mall becomes too much and too often.  They have a great indoor soft play area for small children, lots of food samples, trains and blocks to play with, and a carousel.  Linus loves going there.  I grow tired of the same old thing.  As a three-year-old, he never tires.  He loves playing with other children, especially at the play area and with the trains.  After we go to the mall once, he will continue to ask every day for at least a week.  I can only take so much of the crowds and the running off that occasionally takes place.  I can understand why he would find it fun, but I am not him.  I am just the one who has to bring him.

-Tanya Weitzel

Outings with Linus

Linus can be so sweet when we are shopping together.  He was so good on Friday for me.  We had five stores we had to go to, including Sam's Club, which he loves for the samples.  He cooperated and stayed in the cart pretty well.  Near the end of the trip, I treated him to his birthday pizza slice and soda at Big Y.  I tried to pursuade him to get the light lemonade, but he really wanted soda.  I gave in seeing as I don't buy soda and it was his birthday coupon.  They were even nice enough to let him get a pepperoni slice, even though the coupon said it was for cheese pizza.  I had offered to pay the difference.  They had a three meat one, but he was stuck on just plain pepperoni.  I personally would have picked the Tuscan Chicken.

I wasn't that hungry, after all the samples at Sam's, so I didn't get anything for myself.  It was also getting past his naptime so I was trying to get him home.  I had him eat while he was sitting in the carriage by setting the pizza plate on the coupon tray and the soda in the cup holder.  He insisted on sharing with me.  I don't know if he was getting full, if he really wanted to share, or both.  He did have a few cookies already too because some grocery stores hand them out to children. 

He would take one bite, and then tell me how and where I should bite the slice.  Next, he would instruct me on how to take a sip of soda.  And he did this multiple times, until the pizza was gone.  It was like he was playing my parent.  I would have been happy watching him enjoy the pizza, but if he was making me share it, how could I say no? 

I miss when Linus and I would go out for lunch.  I am planning on making it more of a regular thing, though hopefully not so close to his naptime in order to enjoy it more slowly.  Also, it would be a good incentive for having good behavior while shopping.  I told him ahead of time I had some coupons for different treats if he was good, and that seemed to help a little.  One time, I treated him with a Thomas fruit snack that I had left over from his birthday party.  I still have a few left for emergencies.  

On Wednesday, we walked to Dunkin' Donuts because of the 99 cent medium iced coffee where 50 cents goes to the children's hospital.  I asked if I could use a survey coupon where you get a free donut with the purchase of a medium beverage, and at first they said no.  But Linus kept asking where his donut was, and plus he is cute, so she decided to try it in the register any way.  Linus was so excited when it worked.  I got him the Undercover Black Cocoa Donut because he loves stars.  Of course, he had to share it.  No complaining here!  Since I had an iced coffee, he needed a little cup of ice to put his milk in so he could, "Cheers," me.  It was too cute.  There are times where his has to cheers everything at the dinner table from his straw, to his cup, and even his fork.

I really enjoy our time together.  I hope to make some more memories for both of us.  Linus is a truly a joy, though I might not always recognize it.

-Tanya Weitzel

Relating with God

What am I waiting for?

I sit,

I think,

and I plan for things I'll never do

and places I'll never go.

Yet, I still play with the ideas

knowing they are just dreams.

But what if dreams could be the truth?

What if everyday was a dream

coming true?

Each day is a gift,

but do I live it as such?

I am given the resources

to do and be what God needs of me.

Do I use all I have to its potential?

Am I becoming more me

with every moment I have?

As I get closer to God,

I am meeting more of myself.

As I draw Him in,

I will be able to give more of the true me.

What am I finding?

I am not sure.

I still feel like a child

learning with every breath.

God is my Father

and wants to show me my own way.

I hope someday I will understand.

But I don't think I am suppose to.

-Tanya Weitzel

Waiting for their Return

So little time,
yet here I am.
A little late
is better than never.
But where are the friends I had?
Why do they insist on straying?

So much love to give
yet some turn away.
Not quite ready to grasp all I offer
they hide within themselves.

Chasing only goes so far
as they make their own decisions.
Lightly I stay with them
in the shallow water
they stand wading.
I wait for something more
but cannot live for it.
They might never return.

God will take care of them.
In the meantime, I feel useless.
They are in the distance
and out of my reach.
It is now up to them to come home.

-Tanya Weitzel