“A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.”- Ann Voskamp The calendar says summer is officially over, yet that doesn't mean a lot in Florida. Warm days still lie ahead, bathing suits will still be worn, and the flip flops are not going any where. But with the end of the season, I thought it would be nice to compile some of my favorite memories of our children over the summer.
As I watch this video, I am filled with so much love and gratitude. I am so thankful for the life God has bestowed on my family. I am grateful for the joy I feel and see in our lives daily. Feeling joy day to day, doesn't mean we don't ever experience hard times, it doesn't mean we don't have bad days, and it certainly doesn't mean that we don't experience real pain and heartache. No, feeling joy everyday means we have chosen to see life as the gift Christ planned for us. We know that we are not alone, we know that He is our refuge and in Him we are free. This is where our joy comes from. This is the joy I see in my children's smiles and that I hear in their laughter. This is the joy that keeps me going on days when I feel like I can not battle one more tantrum. It is the joy that sustains me when I say goodbye to my husband countless times as his job takes him away. Everyday we are presented with a choice of how we will live our lives and how we will react and see what is in front of us daily. I will fail; I will fail miserably at times, but I will get up, and seek this joy. I am grateful for the gift of joy and all of these moments.
It's hard to share all of our beautiful summer days into a three minute video, so that is why I call this a glimpse into our summer days....
(the song I used for my video is called Beautiful Day by Jamie Grace. If this is the first time you have heard her, please be sure to visit her website. She's a beautiful Christian woman and wonderful role model for girls of all ages)
a glimpse into summer 2013- ©ginger unzueta photography from Ginger Unzueta on Vimeo.