I was in this story. Were you?

I got this one from an e-mail...
We all know or knew someone like this!!



One day, when I was a freshman in high school,I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd. I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.


As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him..


He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes


My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.


As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.’


He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'


There was a big smile on his face.


It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.


I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.


As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.


He said he had gone to private school before now.


I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.


I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.


We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.


Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!


He just laughed and handed me half the books.


Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.


He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship..


Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak


Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days...


I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.


'Thanks,' he said.


As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began


"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years".


"Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends"....


"I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them".


"I am going to tell you a story..."


I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.


"Thankfully, I was saved".


"My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.."


I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.


I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.


Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.


Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life for better or for worse.






God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.






Look for God in others.

'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

Use it well.

The End of the Story... or the Begining?

Ok, I know this request is a bit early, but I am looking for something one of my friends did for her daughter about 3 years ago… for Easter.


It is the Easter story in charms and trinkets that you put in little plastic eggs, in an egg carton.

If ANYONE knows what I am talking about, could you help me find the list. I have the egg cartons, and will be getting the eggs as soon as they go on sale, but I cannot remember what I am supposed to put in each egg, or which Bible verses need to go with each egg.

Thanks in advance for the help!

~Bridgit

Alaska Coupon Diva: Free Samples

There is a great freebie for my pregnant buddies on this site!

Alaska Coupon Diva: Free Samples

Grandma Would Be Proud

Time-Life Old Fashioned Christmas Cookbook

I had to ask my parents to scan a real recipe for New England Clam Chowder after being disappointed with too many pre-packaged cans. Wish me luck!

The Christmas Story

Luke 2 (King James Version)

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14”Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Blessed are they who hunger

and thirst for righteousness:

For they shall be filled.

 Matthew 5:6 NIV 

Lord, fill me with a desire for you! Keep me hungry for your word! Let me only be satisfied when I am seeking you above all else.

Listen

Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you,

 saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Pray for God to strengthen you

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer;

 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

 Psalm 18:2 NIV

Lord, let me stand strong with your hand around me. Hold me steady on the path that you have asked me to travel. Wrap your hands around me when I feel too weak to go on, and guide me to the place of safety and rest.

The End to Darkness

Well, the shortest day of the year is over… kind of… the sun has set, but it is really only almost 4pm here.

The days will be getting longer and longer again, and it is happening just in time. Although I dearly love the long quiet nights, when I can endure the cold long enough to stargaze and Aurora watch, I miss there being an actual “day” and “night.” I am starting to feel the “mid-winter blahs” and the drudgery of our days is making it hard to drag our daylight deprived bodies out of bed each imaginary morning.

But we are just a few days away from one of the greatest days of the year, and isn’t it fitting that it is celebrated right after the hours of daylight start to increase again! The Holiest Hope for all mankind is almost here. Christmas is less than a week away!

Isn’t it AWEsome that God’s timing is still right on, even with all the human interference over the past 2000 years! The celebration of the birth of the Light of the World and the end of the bleak midwinter are coming at a time when a lot of us here in Alaska are most in need of any kind of brightness.

As Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

I hope you all have a truly AWEsome CHRISTmas, ad a very Blessed New Year!