Refreshing Myself - Refreshing Others

Refresh. What a selfless and replenishing word it is. 



The last few months one verse has been standing out for me. Proverbs 11:25 in the NIV Bible reads, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” 
In this season of our lives we know God is asking us to be generous with our time, home, skills and refresh by focusing on family.


finding old toys and capturing memories


Refresh my mother-in-law while my father-in-law is rehabilitating in the hospital. The blessing of 6 weeks of daily physical and speech rehab for Dad. He is now in his second week! If he goes home, he’ll only receive 2-3 days of rehab a week. We can refresh Mom by rotating with other family members to hang out with her while Dad “works out”. The first 2 weeks we refreshed her by relieving her to go home, shower, and run errands. Now, she gets to go home every night.


I have the best in-laws ever! I'm truly blessed.
Dad finding out he's going to be a great-grandfather!

Refresh our 26-year-old and his fiancee as they expect their first baby. We’re going to be grandparents!!! Opening our home for regular family meals and hangouts has been a treat. Our grandparent nicknames are going to be “Yaya” for myself and “Dabee” for David. I can hear the little one saying, “I’m going to Dabee and Yaya’s house today”. So fun to imagine.

Proud parents-to-be.

Refresh our 24-year-old in his new serious dating relationship. It just so happens she was in our wedding party when she was 7 and her Mom was my maid-of-honor. So very cool! They took it slow and just hung out for two months. Then, on Christmas Eve, after our family dinner, they officially decided to date. 

His band is almost done recording their album and has a mainland and possible European tour coming up.

15 years later :D

Refreshing ourselves comes in so many forms:

Our time alone with God is so vital and so wonderful. Letting His love pour into us so it can flow through us is beyond words. 

Photography - my new camera and lenses arrived! I’m having so much fun! Creating memories in pictures stories helps me see so much wonder and beauty in my everyday.




Taking time to be together and recall the events of each day and be grateful and drink in all the joy. Also, going through whatever challenges might arise with an open heart. Make sure we get enough rest as well.





Music - we’ve set up our guitars once again and are making sure to enjoy them daily! I can’t explain how freeing it is to play, sing, and write. Jamming together only takes it to an even high level of freedom.




In sharing all of this, we wanted to let you know the blog will be random and sporadic over the next two months as we take time for all of this excitement and family times

We’ll share as much as we can in pictures and words. 

It may be only a paragraph and a photo, but we’ll be sure to share our times of refreshing with you.

What/who are you focusing on in your life right now? What/who stands out?


11 comments:

Cherry Warrick said...

Coming over from Faith Barista ... this was so beautiful to read! I love your word ... refresh. And I love the verse you used from Proverbs ... will need to remember that one. The photos of you with your father-in-law were very precious, and how wonderful for you and your husband to give yourselves to refresh him, your mother-in-law, and others. May it be a beautiful year for you as God refreshes you, and as you pass on that refreshment to others, and then in turn are refreshed again.

Lindsay Wolf said...

Jeri - you always know the way to pick a girl up. This, as all your posts are, was absolutely beautiful, refreshing, inspiring, and just plain fun to read. I'm more of a spiritual rather than religious person, but when I read your words about God and living in a fulfilling, present way, my heart opens up so widely that I feel it may burst at any moment. :) Thank you for replenishing me with this beautiful, beautiful post.

Yesterday hit like a ton of bricks as the new year really began for me (after three weeks of vacation and honeymoon bliss). I had a very tough day, but today, I've chosen to focus on patience. Immense, generous, abundant amounts of patience. I tend to rush a lot in life, wanting to have everything all figured out right at the very moment I start something. I'm going to begin to add more slow flow into my life, because of you. So thank you Jeri for always inspiring me to breathe fully, slow down, and enjoy every single thing around me. You are like a breath of fresh air girl! :) xoxo

Lindsay Wolf said...

P.S.: Congrats on becoming grandparents! That's amazing!!!

Unknown said...

@Cherry - Hey there fellow FBjammer :D Thank you for those blessings and may it be a beautiful year for you as well.

@Lindsay - Dear, wonderful friend. You are so welcome. You go ahead and burst girl! We'll slow flow, live mindfully, and be grateful together. You bless me.

Thanks for the congrats. We can't wait. Baby comes in July!

Cheryl Allen Salinas said...

Jeri -- What exciting news! You are such an inspiration in remembering to keep things in perspective. Best of health to your Father-in-law, best wishes to your kids during this exciting time, and congratulations to both of you in your upcoming role. Do what you do best -- care for yourselves so you can care for others. Great post! BTW Beautiful photos! You've got the hang of the new camera already!euclacti

Unknown said...

@Cheryl A.S. - I will pass on the well wishes to everyone. Thank you for your encouragement and compliments. I really appreciate you and your words.

Sierra said...

Wow, Jeri! I love your posts! I believe you are as beautiful inside as you are outside...everything about this post was beautiful! Your children, your photos (how did you take the abstract light picture?), your parents and inlaws...I could go on and on. Thanks for visiting my blog...I plan on visiting yours more often as it always refreshes me and is the perfect pick me up! :) Congratulations on soon-to-be becoming grandparents...I love the names you two have picked out for yourselves! :)

Unknown said...

@PeasandLove - Thank you so much. So much for both of us to celebrate this year :D

Michelle DeRusha said...

I absolutely love your word -- refresh -- that stands out for me, too. It must mean something...perhaps that I am burned out? You have given me some food for thought here -- who can I refresh...and how can I refresh myself?

I love the pictures of you with your father-in-law -- that one brought tears to my eyes! So wonderful that you have such a good relationship with your in-laws.

peace and grace to you...
Michelle

Unknown said...

Hi Michelle! I love being in the Jam with you all. Your words have filled my heart. My in-laws are beautiful people. I am blessed. Peace and much grace to you too. Thank you.

Bonnie Gray said...

What a blessing your sons are to have you thinking of refreshing them (your hubby too). That is something I never had from my mom and hope to give to my boys, too. I have two like you (3 if you count the hubby)! :) Wonderful word, Jeri.