Words

Today is Good for Remembering

2014-04-18T14:00:00.002-04:00

Good Friday was never my "favorite" but I did welcome the reminder, the tears, the sorrow, the agony. I use today to reflect on the Crucifixion and let it penetrate my heart. In my humanity, I still fail every day. It's called sin. I will not sugar coat it to make me or anyone else feel better. Sin is the reality of our existence. HOWEVER, because of what Jesus chose to do, to be tortured and shamed and put to death...I am not tortured, shamed or put to death because of MY sin.

I am alive and thankful. Grace saved me from the judgement I deserve. It is in the heart of a grateful person where the greatest joy is found. I live and breathe life because I am FREE. Many deny Jesus today. Many denied Jesus while He hung on a cross. As for me, once I discovered truth...there was no more denying. He died to take my place. He died to take your place.

Yes, that time you lied. That time you cheated. That time you stole (yup, even office supplies). That time you hated so deeply you wished someone dead. That time you broke the law (darn those speed limit signs!). That time you envied. That time you disrespected your parents. That time you swore a promise...and then you broke it. The affair with a married man. Your vulgar language. That time you drank so much you don't remember how you got home and did it again the next weekend...for six years. All your addictions, including the ones popular culture says "doesn't hurt anyone". The baby whose life you ended. Every day you let pass without actively pursuing the dream God has placed on your heart. Yes, even wasted time because of laziness is considered failure -- sin.

Can you add to the list? Because that list is mine. I own it.

Thankfully, it does not own me.

Because of the Cross.

Today I review every item on my list and nail it to the Cross. Not because I've been held prisoner to it and have never been forgiven but as a reminder. As a human being I forget. Things go well. Life moves on and I forget. We wouldn't need reminders on our smart phones and calenders and phone calls from the doctor's office if we weren't such a forgetful bunch. So today I remind myself. I remember.

I read the words in Scripture. I picture it in my mind. I imagine the brutality until I feel the remorse. Until my eyes swell with repentance and I rush to nail my list to the Cross, including the new ones I've had to add. Yes, the ones I keep going back to. I beg for forgiveness. I beg for Jesus to be taken down from the Cross.

"Please! No more! He doesn't deserve to die for what I did. Not Jesus. He didn't do anything wrong!"

I try to imagine the confusion. I try to imagine what it must have felt like for Peter, James, Matthew, Thomas...Judas. They were His friends. They breathed in every moment with Jesus for three years. Now He was taken from them and hanging on a Cross. This is not how it was supposed to end!

I imagine Mary, His mother. Her son brutalized and hanging, naked on a Roman execution Cross. But God said her son was the Chosen One. She felt Him move during her pregnancy. She birthed Him. Nursed and clothed Him. She even lost Him once. Joseph died and left her as a widow. What would he say to her if he saw the Child he adopted hanging by nails, flesh dripping? How does a mother grieve when death has not yet snatched life but waits? Does she remember the words Simeon spoke to her at the temple when Jesus was days old?

"...And a sword will pierce your own soul too"

I imagine John when Jesus entrusts His mother to his care. I imagine the Roman soldiers and the Centurion. Perhaps the same government official whose son was cured was also the one standing at the foot of the Cross, wondering how this could be?

I imagine the Pharisees mocking. And I remember a time I did as well.

I imagine the moment the skies grow dark and the earth shakes and the words "It is finished" echos through hearts as tears form rivers from those who loved Jesus. I feel my own. My heart rips in two as I imagine the curtain in the temple did.

Jesus has died. He died because of the collective me.

What now? Has hope also died? What about the promise? The prophecies? Jesus' words? His miracles? His teachings? His laughter? His presence? His friendship? Agonizing grief of a loved one gone settles in. What now?

I let myself absorb. I remind my heart because it is in the reminding that the forgotten becomes real again, fresh. Today I remember the sacrifice. Today I remember the agony. Today I remember the why. Today I remember death. Today I remember a sealed tomb. Today I remember the hiding and the weeping. Today I remember the anguish.

Today I remember my sins nailed Jesus to the Cross.

Today is Friday...but Sunday's a coming.

Delays - Bad or Good?

2014-01-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

Imagine if you will...

Early in the morning hours while a husband gets ready for his work day, he discovers schools will have a two hour delay. He proceeds to lovingly turn off all the alarms in the house so his wife and children can sleep in. "Oh, if only I could too" he says to himself.

This husband decides not to send a text or wake his wife to inform her, fearing she may be unable to fall back asleep. "She'll check the news when she wakes" he says and softly kisses his sleeping wife goodbye.

Minutes tick off the clock. The darkness and the rain have kept the sleeping wife and children tucked snugged in their beds a little longer than on a normal school day. The house is quiet and peaceful until the wife wakes to find twenty-seven minutes left on the clock before she would need to get the children to school. Panic dashes through the house only because nobody is aware of the delay. The children blame mischievous alarm clocks for never...alarming.

"What the heck?", grumbles the boy who is notorious for waking before any alarm.

"This is the second time my alarm didn't turn on!", explains the girl with a tone of annoyance.

"I'm so sorry! I just woke up too. Let's just get our things done quickly.", directs the wife.

Thankfully, the wife's social media addiction draws her to her phone as she sees a notification from her church "How has the 2 hour delay affected your day?"

"Delay?" she says. Only seconds later does she discover the school has indeed delayed the start time by two hours because of freezing rain. Relief floods in immediately but as with any flood, there is also debris.

Exhausted from the night before the wife begins to speculate her husband had turned off the alarms and remarks, "I woke the children for nothing? And I could've been sleeping too? At least he could've left me a note, a text, anything!"

The love and gentleness her husband had shown by turning off the nuisance of a morning alarm became cloudy and muddy with the debris of negative emotions and words. She was unable to see his good intentions and instead found fault. As he called to say good morning, she rebukes him "What have you done!"

"I didn't want to wake you. I thought for sure you would have checked the news first thing." he replies apologetically.

"And panic is better? Thanks but no thanks.", she retorts.

And so the morning began. While their children laughed and played with the slow down of the morning, the wife reflected on her husband's actions. "If only I could have slept in" she says as she drifts back off to sleep.

True Story.

...

Yes, it's not a pretty one but it is mine. Actually the only part that isn't true is when I rebuked my husband by saying "What have you done!". We had a normal conversation and ended it with our I love you's. But that is not the point...nor the lesson of this story.

Even though we were civil towards each other, I am confident to say my husband probably felt rebuked and disrespected for his decision. From his perspective, he acted on information he received and made a loving gesture only for it to be received without a thank you. Regardless of whether he should have sent a text or even left a note, the fact remains that words can bring life...or bring someone down.

It might have been more challenging to say "Thank you honey for turning off those alarms. It was a big help and I do appreciate it. Maybe next time you could also leave me a note in the bathroom?".

Wouldn't I have rather received those words instead of what I did say or didn't say?

That is our daily challenge, isn't it? Words we say or don't say. Think on it. Is there someone you've been meaning to thank? Give them a call or send them a text. Or really blow their minds and send them a handwritten note.

A small gesture of kindness, no matter how difficult or trivial, can breathe life into a person.
Don't delay.

A Wise Choice

2013-12-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

According to Merriam-Webster, the word FEAR is defined as follows: to be afraid of (something or someone); to expect or worry about (something bad or unpleasant); to be afraid and worried.

According to the fabulous Merriam, the word INSECURE is defined as follows: not confident about yourself or your ability to do things well; nervous and uncomfortable; not certain to continue or be successful for a long time; not locked or well protected.

These are two words I often use to describe me when I'm challenged to do something new, to step out of my comfort zone. But when I took a good long look at these words and their definitions, I felt they didn't describe me at all! They might describe how I may feel with the unfamiliar but they certainly don't define me. In that moment I realized a critical truth -- those words are poison.

Scripture says,

"Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose." (Pr 18:21 Msg)

Words which tear down don't have to be spoken and directed towards another human being to be lethal. Words you speak to yourself, whether a new habit or words you've heard since childhood, can be either life giving or life ending.

Want to know what words I'm savoring now?

CHOSEN: one who is the object of choice or of divine favor; an elect person
FAVORED: given special advantages over others; preferred over others; considered most likely to win.

As a woman who follows Jesus and trusts His Word, I believe what Scripture says when it reads I am CHOSEN, called out of darkness into light (1Peter2:9). I was selected, elected. I have divine favor. How? Through baptism in Christ, I chose to leave the old life behind and go the direction of new. I was given a spirit of power and love, not fear and timidity (2Tim 1:7).

I have chosen Jesus and believe what He accomplished with His death on the Cross was for me...and you. And because I believe in His Resurrection, I can confidently say nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). I believe when I choose to battle the chains of bondage of poisonous words, I am FAVORED to win.

You are too. Let us choose our words wisely.

Time to change the world

2013-04-30T12:10:00.001-04:00

I just finished watching our president at a press conference and I couldn't help but get upset. Although I did not vote for President Obama, I do respect the position immensely. I cannot imagine the difficulty and challenges he faces every single day. What upset me was not the talking heads we elect, but us.

We live in a nation where (in general) we salute pro athletes for being "brave" and coming out yet we forget the sacrifices of military spouses who are left here to raise a family on their own. We push for reform so that "at least one child is saved" yet we turn a blind eye to Preemies being allowed to die in the hands of abortionists like Gosnell. The president scolds congress for not passing gun control laws but ignores Benghazi. This is the same country that is trying to teach tolerance when it comes to Muslims so they don't hate us and try to kill our citizens YET we leave American pastor Saeed in an Iranian jail to be beat and tortured for his faith.

How did we get it so backwards?

With regards to racism, Attorney General Eric Holder said recently that we must protect innocent ethnic groups from misguided acts of retaliation. If that is true for Americans on this blessed soil, then shouldn't it be true for those Americans abroad as well? Why do we still not know the truth about Benghazi? Why does Iran feel the US won't do anything about Pastor Saeed and can keep him in solitary confinement in a prison that is known for torture? Where is the press? Why aren't we as citizens outraged?

Eric Holder's statement can also be used as the same argument for this nation's unborn. An overwhelming and alarming number of abortions end the lives of African American and Hispanic babies every day. These innocents are suffering "from misguided acts of retaliation" by their uninformed mothers. A woman is faced with a scary and difficult choice to terminate the life of her fetus and all she hears is screams of "it's her right!" or she should "have kept her legs closed!"

Where did we go so wrong?

Government is not our moral compass. It never has been nor should it be, even though it would be great to witness. The fact is that our government is made up of fallible men and women. Sometimes I believe that many in this country hide behind the excuse of powerlessness simply because our government says this, that and the other is legal or illegal.

History shows us that early Christians were under immense pressure and persecution from a pagan government and world. Practically everything they held true and pure and good were challenged and mocked or they were even killed by their contemporaries. However, when there was a need for the outcast like the sick, dying, orphaned, hungry and the unwanted, these very pagans brought them to the doorsteps of early Christians. Why? Because even though this rising group of "radical" Jesus followers were hated by the norm, they were seen as different. They fed the poor. They tended to the sick. They took in widows and orphans. They cared for the dying. They knew the unwanted were valued by the God they worshipped.

Yes I know that in between then and now the Church has had many marks against them. They too are not immune from fallible men and women. I hear the chants of hypocrisy all the time but that doesn't give you or I a pass from our very own hypocrisy.

But what does that mean?

It means we need to be quick to listen rather than judge. It means understanding that the woman mourning her abortion has the right to do so. Don't chastise her sorrow and tell her she did the right thing when every fiber of her being reminds her of emptiness. She and her husband really wanted that baby but it was the doctor who told them "there is no hope".

It means understanding that the young girl was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong guy. She really did believe him when he said he loved her. Don't yell at her and tell her she should have "kept her legs closed" because the fact is she is very scared. Tell her you'll be there for her and get her to people that can help. Pray for her. She might be thinking adoption and she may need you to be strong while she is very courageous.

It means listening to a gay man and understanding why he wants to marry. You may not agree with him but the thing he needs more than anything else is to know that the God who created him loves him. No amount of screaming "abomination!" will ever get that point across. We all need to wrestle with God to understand what "go sin no more" means. I know God loves me but I still wrestle. Don't you?

So how did we get it all so backwards? I don't know. Our own human nature I suppose.

The reality is that if you and I call ourselves Jesus followers, then we have to be all in. It means we can't hide behind government and insist they feed the poor. We must be part of the solution. It means that if we are going to be outraged by the statistics of abortion, we cannot give the self-righteous glare of indignation to an unwed teen mom. We must be part of the solution. It means that if we are going to show other nations how well we treat their emigrants through immigration reform and tolerance, then we must also demand equal care for our citizens abroad. I know it's easier said than done but I said it already once - Pastor Saeed is in an Iranian jail. His family fears for his life. The media has said nothing. We have to be part of the solution.

We are not given a spirit of timidity, we are called to be strong and courageous. We should be ready for such a time as this by simply looking at the hated early Christians. They were seen as different because they were. In a time when nothing else mattered but self preservation, they gave everything and changed the world.

Isn't it time we did too?

Forgiven

2013-02-22T16:39:00.000-05:00

Over the past several weeks, I have encountered women who desperately need to hear these words: You are FORGIVEN.

So for the many more:

Freedom - My lot in life

2013-02-19T13:36:00.000-05:00

Life is full of comedy and tragedy.

Shall we cry, stomp our feet and mutter obscenities at every thorn, brier, and pebble in our shoe? I shall not. Yes, I do wince in pain when it comes. Yet I marvel and delight that I'm alive enough to feel it. I love and laugh and love some more and do not quibble over trivial things. Would I not rather have grace and forgiveness course my veins than bitterness and anger? Yes, I am cast off by others' boundries and selfish pride. But I'm empowered because I choose to be free of their judgmental glances and opinions of superiority. I walk where others see no light. I laugh where others see no joy. I dance where others hear no music. I live where others see no hope. I love where love has been forgotten. I forgive because I've been forgiven.

I am free not only because I've been set free but also because I've chosen to walk free.

Freedom is a choice. Freedom to weep and mourn a loss. Freedom to rejoice for new beginnings and opportunities. Freedom to laugh and dance. Freedom to love and forgive. This is my lot in life.

Are you holding someone prisoner by your unforgiveness? Will you not choose to set them free? Maybe you'll discover that prisoner is you.

Dinner with Captain America

2012-06-08T21:04:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary.

My husband and I had planned a date night tonight. We were dropping off the kids at a "Parents Night Out" event at the nZone . We knew we had time to go to a local Kabob house (my favorite) and see a movie. Both of us were very excited and had planned to do something together as a family on our actual anniversary.

A celebration if you will.

Unfortunately, as life would have it, our son became very ill with a croupy cough and high fever. I knew it was serious when he refused to eat breakfast and told me how miserable he was. I mean, really? This boy of ours never misses a meal or snack time AND he's always up and ready to face the day. So I kept him home and skipped my physical therapy appointment...and cancelled our evening plans. Am I disappointed? Of course I am but we'll plan again and it will be nice to be out with my hubby to celebrate us.

But for now in place of dinner out with my husband, we had pizza and wings outside while he was smoking meat on the grill/smoker. In place of a grown up movie with my man, I'm watching Captain America with our boy who is just as obsessed with Marvel comics as his mom.

I couldn't be happier.

Tonight is a reminder of what has transpired since Mark and I exchanged vows eleven years ago. I married my best friend and we now have a little family. I am so fortunate and we are extremely blessed. I can't think of a better way to celebrate an anniversary than to be reminded. There is no better gift for me.

Tomorrow Mark and I will enjoy dinner and a movie together but for now...

Captain America waits!

Test this, test that...

2012-06-06T08:49:00.001-04:00

I have been absent for the past few days because I have been spending my days treating my sore spots after being rear ended last week. I have been monitoring my symptoms closely and I've gone to the doctor AND physical therapy.

I believe I'm going to be fine. However that doesn't stop the testing and testing and testing and testing and... do this exercise and do this stretch and do that exercise and do a cold compress and do a warm compress...and do it every two hours. AND call this doctor and that doctor for more testing because "you may have some nerve damage"...etc, etc.

Oh goodness gracious.

Sooooo...I decided to do some testing of my own. And that testing would be over things that I enjoy. I took pictures for the blog via my phone. The reason I'm testing is because I have taken pictures previously and didn't like the way they looked in a blog post. I've used my phone camera directly, the blogger app camera, and the Instagram app.

Believe me. This post is more just for me so I can feel more comfortable to post pictures from my phone in the future. I mean how could this "photographer" share snapshots that the reader can't even make out what it is?

Oh the humanity!!!

So for now, a test. Here are the pictures of our milkweed in full bloom. Goodness how I wish there was a smell-a-vision app because these smell AMAZING!

I'm a bunny. You're a bunny too.

2012-06-01T22:47:00.000-04:00

What I love so much about my walks to school with the boy and girl is that there is always an opportunity to learn about the amazing wonder of nature that surrounds us. We also use that time to pray and worship, being reminded to give thanks for the numerous things we have.

This morning on our walk we saw a large rabbit chasing a little bunny which ultimately ran across the street to get away. I knew what was happening and my immediate reaction was to make light of it by giving them voices in order to explain to our children the process in nature when babies are weaned.

Momma rabbit - "You're done. Get out!"

baby bunny - "okayyyyyyyy!"

Harsh, I know...and very real. If the baby rabbits are not pushed out and away from their nest, the adult male may kill them. The little ones have to find their new feeding areas away from the claimed territories and hope to survive the ready predators.

But look at what my girl did.

"Mommy, I don't think you're right. I don't think that is what she is doing at all."

"Really? What then?"

"I think she wants her baby bunny to explore this whole great big world. She knows it will be scary but she is still telling the baby to go. She is excited for him but still loves him. That's why she went all the way to the edge of the sidewalk. She wanted to make sure her baby was ok to cross the street."

Now isn't that something? That is the perspective of a child who is confident in the knowledge that someone cares and loves her very much. So why is it that I immediately made a negative spin on the very same incident the three of us observed? It is plainly clear that the end result was the same -- mommy rabbit was sending off baby bunny.

Aren't I also a person who claims to know that I'm cared for and loved very much? Was I somehow projecting how I think God may feel about me? Maybe. Maybe not. One thing I know for sure is that Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 18:17)

Perhaps our problem as adults is not that we believe God doesn't love us, it's that we believe God doesn't want us. We turn our backs and refuse to enter into a relationship where all He wants is the best for us -- no matter what that might look like to the rest of the world looking on. Sometimes He is simply going to the edge of the sidewalk and telling us we will be ok...we just have to step out in faith and cross that street.

Encourage some"bunny" today. You never know your words may be exactly what they need to hear.

Blessings for your day,

What the WHAT?!

2012-05-31T22:26:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where things just seem to be going wrong? You might even begin to rethink your religion and start thinking back on your life.

Karma?

Are you real?

Fortunately for me I know it's not. Certainly, with the list of things I've done in my "previous" life, I would be...well...dead.

But it truly has been one of those days, weeks, ...actually months for me. It seems like every turn I take is a backward slide. It really is a bunch of silliness and the overall big picture is just a big joke with friends asking if I'm making this stuff up.

I promise. I'm not. And actually I want to laugh out loud thinking about it. I really do!

Here's what happened today.

The good:

Drs. appointment for a followup on my injury. I'm right on target and ready for physical therapy
Got an exercise I can do three times a day at home to keep my back muscles loose.
Received my referral for PT and set up six appointments
Was told the massage therapy I was receiving is a good thing and to keep it up
Received a referral to another doctor specializing in injuries because MY doctor uses him and really admires the physician
Received a referral to another doctor to get specific answers on an area of health I'm concerned with.

I left the doctor's office and physical therapy practice feeling like I was on the right path to continued healing. I was feeling...FANTASTICO!

And then the series that led to the bad:

Parking lot.

Phone call to husband, telling him how the appointment went.

Speaker, phone on my lap.

Pull away from INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital.

Waiting at red light.

Boom. BOOM!

Head bangs, scream.

What the WHAT?!!

Ummmm...I was just in a car accident where the driver behind me was sandwiched by my vehicle and the driver who hit him at full speed. The impact was strong enough to jolt me in my seat and make the van jump forward. Luckily, I had enough space in front that I did not hit the car ahead of me.

I was actually surprised to see how little damage my vehicle had sustained. I mean...little. Thankfully everyone was alright. I've had a few side effects that haven't been pleasant but that is only because I'm already a walking mess of bumps and bruises. I know I will be fine.

But the moment that pleased me most was when the initial "What the WHAT?!" wore off and I was alone in the van. I started to laugh. I actually couldn't stop laughing. That poor kid, of ALL the people he could have hit, the chain reaction he caused hit ME - the woman who JUST left the physical therapy office because of an injury two months ago. ME - the woman who just doesn't seem to be getting a break and is falling or tripping or sneezing or breathing!

Yes, me. This woman.

At the same time I began to realize how thankful I was that the young man on his cell phone had hit me. Like I told him and the other gentleman AND the insurance company, I am an honest woman and have no desire to claim my injuries are the fault of any driver. I saw that man's face and how upset he was. Yes, he was in the wrong. No, he shouldn't have been fumbling on his cell phone and YES, he should have seen stopped traffic in front of him. But, even though I did follow procedure and answer all the adjuster's questions, I knew what that young man needed more than anything at that moment was grace. I told him I was fine and to stay off that cell phone and pay attention to the road. Next time he may not be so lucky.

Because you see, karma isn't real. Often times things just happen and other times we have to accept the consequence of our actions or inaction. For me today served as a funny reminder of something very real. I usually go about my day or plan my week by saying, "I'll do this...or that" when I know full well that I have NO IDEA of when my time is up on this side of eternity.

My job, aside from being a wife and mother, is to love and extend grace whenever possible to those I come in contact with. Even when things may seem to come out of nowhere and I say "what the WHAT?!", I have every opportunity to be salt and light just as Jesus said. I don't know what will come out of the conversations I had today. All I know is that they all were able to laugh and enjoy my take on the whole event. It's not up to me what each of them do or even if they will remember the things I said.

So the next time you find yourself in a situation where your normal human reaction COULD be anger or disappointment or frustration with another human being, try to extend the grace we all desperately need so much and let them know God is good.

You never know. You just may get a "what the WHAT?!" from them.

Blessings for your day,

Labels lie...

2012-05-30T22:22:00.001-04:00

Join the movement - People of the Second Chance

I believe in the miracle of grace,

Everything is just peachy

2012-05-29T22:55:00.000-04:00

Mmmmmm...can't wait!

Memorial Day

2012-05-28T11:58:00.001-04:00

...

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,

And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

It is with a grateful heart that I thank all those who have served. As a daughter of an immigrant family, I know my family's struggles for freedom and a better life were not in vain because of the sacrifice of many. Those servicemen and women gave up their tomorrows so we could have our todays.

Thank you.

We had to say "Goodbye"

2012-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wasps have been circling around our milkweed for a few days and our girl was very worried about the baby caterpillars. We know that they are a favorite food for these insectivores. We also knew we were leaving for the beach in a few days and there was no way we would be able to care for the babies while gone.

There is no such thing as a "Caterpillar Sitting Service".

Cats and dogs, yes. But baby Monarchs?

No.

So we decided that nature would have to run its course with these little ones and we hoped and prayed all would turn out well.

Yesterday afternoon the caterpillars went missing. This morning we double checked the plants and sure enough we found evidence of their capture. The girl and I looked at each other with a sadness but acceptance.

We had to say goodbye.

Flat Stanley's Letter

2012-05-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Matthew,

In April you sent me to California to meet up with your cousin Rachel. I couldn’t tell you when you put me in the mail, but I had a mission that was SO secret I didn’t have permission to let you know who was picking me up at the Post Office. I received a lot of training when I arrived – SUPER secret agent training!

At first I was put in a scanner to learn how to travel through email. It was AMAZING!

Then I received special training to discover fun places and to make sure people knew how to enjoy themselves. Probably the most important training I received was how to wear a disguise. I needed to keep myself secret sometimes. It was part of the job!

After a long three weeks of exercise, eating good food, studying, and tests, I was ready to meet up with Rachel before she scanned and sent me to my next location.

We went to the beach…and it looked like a great place for fun.

We checked out the signs and made sure people could find the fun.

We visited a Fire Department to make sure they were ready for any emergencies.

Next we went to a Farmer’s Market to taste some good food. I loved the blue skies, the warm weather, the people and the tall Palm trees!

YUMMY! My training told me these were good and my belly agreed!

It was a good trip to California and then I was off to North Carolina to see their beach! I was placed in an email and off I went! The only difference when I first arrived was that Carolina Beach was getting ready for the tourists to arrive for Memorial Day weekend. I was told I had to keep secret because the Mayor said the people would get too excited if they knew a secret agent was taking pictures.

I understood.

So I put on my Captain America disguise…

…and saw lots of fun places!

YAY!

My training didn’t prepare me for how delicious these donuts would be. It was really difficult to wait in line but they were so good!

Once I checked that all the signs and life guard stands were ready for all the people coming to the beach for fun, my job was done.

Can you see my shadow? Shhhhhh…..

Once I arrived in the Washington, DC area I went to a National’s baseball game!

The GEICO Gecko was also at the game. I went to shake his hand and he tried to eat me. That’s when I realized this was not the GEICO Gecko I see on TV. I used my special training to plan my escape. It was risky but I got away!

It’s a good thing I was able to get out of that gecko’s mouth unharmed because I still had quite a bit of fun checking to do! The very next day I arrived here:

…to go sailing!

You’ll be happy to know that YES it was so much FUN!

All this checking for fun around water reminded me I should also probably check swimmers were getting ready. I went to a swim class and was happy to see they had done a great job! We even took a picture together.

That night, I remembered my training taught me how important a good night’s rest is to keep doing all sorts of fun things. So I went to bed and got some good sleep. The next day I met up with a friend I that I made while training in California.

We went to a Hockey game! I was taking pictures and making sure everyone was having a good time. I know I was and so was my friend!

After celebrating a win at the Hockey game, I knew I wanted to visit with a friend who was also happy about something she had just finished winning. Since I wanted to do something nice with her, I got a dog walking job for a day to earn a little extra money.

Since the dog I had to walk loved carrying something in her mouth, I hid in a newspaper bag and talked to her the whole way. She was very gentle.

With the money I made, I went to Starbuck’s to meet up with my friend.

She had been very sick but she just came back from the doctor and was so happy that she was healthy again. We were celebrating the good news and she let me try on one of her wigs.

She said I could keep it to add to my collection of super secret agent disguises since she wouldn’t need it anymore. I thought it was too big but I said thank you and gave her a big hug because I was so happy!

That is the end of my trip visiting fun places and fun people by myself. While you were at school, I went into your strawberry patch to pick some berries and am keeping an eye on the milkweed plants for more Monarch caterpillars.

The wasps are proving to be a little scary but I’m ok. I have my secret agent friends with me. Did you know when you get into a scanner, you can multiply yourself?

Thank you for sending me to California. It was a great adventure in learning about scanners, emails, text messages, and time travel. I had a lot of fun making sure people had things to do in so many different places on the West Coast and East Coast but I can’t wait to spend the rest of my time with you. You are a pretty awesome scooter rider and really good friend!

Sincerely,

Flat Stanley

....

Blessings for your day,

Mission Impossible!

2012-05-24T20:09:00.001-04:00

Ok, not so impossible but it has taken the help of some moms to find FLAT STANLEY! Not to mention scans, faxes, a newspaper, a dog, text messages, emails, wig, and other under cover "Stanleys"

Dun, dun, dun!

He was kidnapped in the mail, or so we thought. We have since discovered that Flat Stanley has been on a secret mission and this mom's stress was an unfortunate civilian casualty.

Dun, dun, dun!

Here he is via a scan to a computer and thanks to a world of technology with some pretty savvy friends of mine, we are finishing up this project in just under four days. I will be posting the finished story here tomorrow. I hope it's as fun as it is in my head!

Now this mom needs to sign off to get this project DONE, DONE, DONE!

Welcome to the modern age Flat Stanley!

Hold on to Truth

2012-05-23T22:01:00.000-04:00

Just when I feel like letting go...

(photo courtesy - People of the Second Chance)

...He holds me a little tighter.

Sisters

2012-05-22T22:58:00.001-04:00

I would have posted long before now but I've been busy watching one of my favorite shows with my sissy.

It's the season finale and it's a tradition for us to spend it together. Although the two hours took a toll on my tail bone and back, the best part of tonight? When I got to lay my head on her lap and she braided my hair.

Gotta love the special bond of sisters.

Congratulations Donald and Peta!!

The TV...too bad you can't see our feet on the ottoman!

Better than caffeine

2012-05-21T23:08:00.001-04:00

I don't drink coffee. I don't like the stuff. But many of my friends do and when you're in a battle to keep from feeling the depression of isolation grab a hold of you and threaten to drown you, you might need to get some air.

And a Chai Tea latte with a friend.

My "tail" may be expanding as I consume these sugary calorie packed drinks, but not only is my tailbone mending, my heart and spirit are also healing.

Thank you to my dear sweet friends. You are better than caffeine any day.

Feeling very blessed,

Ring of Fire

2012-05-20T21:46:00.002-04:00

It's been a busy day but nothing has excited me more than knowing the annual solar eclipse takes place today. Unfortunately, we can't see it here in Virginia BUT it is visible in California AND I can watch it with a live feed.

Actually at the time of this posting, I'm listening to astronomer Scotty Degenhart broadcast from area 51 in Nevada. He is so funny in a "nerdy" kind of way and I love it.

My favorite part was when he told his viewers that he was going to put on a Hydrogen-Alpha Filter on the camera so we could all get a better view. I couldn't tell who was more excited, me or Scotty. The fun part was that it WORKED! Viewers like me could see the solar flares. My daughter was also in the room and thought it pretty neat-O. She asked a lot of questions. I love that!

Ultimately, those lucky enough to be in the right place with the right equipment will get to see the Ring of Fire Eclipse and experience the changing sensations around them. For the rest of us, a picture will have to do. Isn't she beautiful?

Courtesy of Space.com

Good job Scotty. I found your sweet "nerdy" commentary perfect...because I would have done the exact same thing and I thank you!

Thank you also to Space.com because you always have great, accurate information and I can always find what I need quickly and easily.

Everyone should check them out every once in a while. Totally rocks!

Blessings for your day,

We are proud parents...again!

2012-05-19T21:51:00.000-04:00

Today our very first Monarch caterpillars of the season hatched. It's official, we have two, first instar babies. They are so cute and I am goo-goo and ga-ga-ing over them.

Although the girl is watching over the milkweed plants like a hawk and shoo-ing off every creature that comes by, she is still reprimanding me for saying "coochie-coos" over the babes.

But seriously, how can I resist? These are the first babies from the overwintering Monarchs that left Mexico about eight weeks ago.

I mean LQQK!

Just about 2mm in length

SO CUTE!

We did not register anywhere, nor did we plan a baby shower, nor are these going in the nursery. We are trusting in the way God planned out nature to take care of these little ones so they can make their trip north to places like New York or Canada. We'll be taking care of their grand-babies come late Summer and early Fall.

I'm just so giddy.

Blessings for your day,

Oops...I did it again.

2012-05-18T22:12:00.001-04:00

Again? Yes again. I fell down.

I was getting the children ready for bed and looking forward to posting tonight. It was a good day and you and I were going to have some fun.

But...

What is happening is that my range of motion is getting pretty fluid... but I usually don't get a reminder that I've gone too far until its too late -- as was the case tonight.

Oh well I guess.

The pain is pretty narly and my back has seized up. I've had my tea, NSAID drugs, ointment and now laying down on my back pads.

That's the great part.

Did you catch it?

I'm laying down writing this post!

During this down time over the past seven weeks, I have been catching up on technology. Just this past week, I downloaded Blogger to my phone so I could keep up with my commitment to post daily even if on vacation.

Do you know what is even better?

I have voice command. I'm speaking into my phone and it is typing this out for me. Isn't that just brilliant?!

So I may be down for the night but I'm not down for the count. I will hit "send" on this post and claim it as a victory.

Recovery...in the age of hand held voice command technology. Now if I could use the same for my tailbone to finally fully heal, I can rock on with my bad self.

In the meantime, no more trying to dance to pop music.

How many flavors does it take?

2012-05-17T21:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was feeling a little blue but not for any particular reason. I kept having a craving for ice cream so I figured it was just hormonal and I would satisfy it today during a school fund raiser.

Its been a LONG time since I've had this sugary delight and I was a little overwhelmed at the number of choices. Can you remember by looking at the logo how many flavors Baskin Robbins has?

Today, I only needed one. Thank you Baskin Robbins. It's been a good day!

Blessings for your day,

Breath in and drink

2012-05-16T17:01:00.000-04:00

Last week a dear friend sent me a video she knew I would love. She was right. I was so moved by it because it reminded me of how I view the world. For some reason, that day, I had forgotten and I needed a reminder. It was truly a gift she gave me and I've watched it several times since.

It's only a ten minute video and you won't regret watching it.

Happiness Revealed - Gratitude

May you be a blessing to those around you simply by your presence.

He gave me a Peony

2012-05-15T21:16:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I came to a crisis of faith. It was a scary time for me and I was not sure how I was going to come out of it. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember the tears and the pleading and the begging. I was literally on the ground feeling like I would be swallowed up and never be seen again.

And that no one would ever care.

I remember gasping for air at one point and believing my tears would drown me. I closed my eyes and tried to compose myself. In that darkest pit, my heart heard the gentlest and sweetest voice, "Be still, and know."

Be still.

No matter how gentle, I didn't want to hear it. No matter how sweet, I hated it. I was angry and tormented. For a split second it felt like my flesh was being torn apart by those words. Looking back on that day, I could describe that moment as hell itself rising up and with razor sharp hands battling to keep me in a pit of pride and hate and hopelessness and loss. They were ripping at my very being and would stop at nothing to keep me from my Creator.

My Creator.

The very One who knew me and all my secrets, the only One who loved me without judgement.

Be still, and know.

I think it was the comma that got me. I know, weird right? But if you remember from grammar classes, the comma is meant to mark a slight pause -- a breath if you will.

So I did.

I became still and as the fire in my core burned with a doubt threatening to extinguish everything I knew about God, I took a breath.

I sat still, took a breath, and waited in a silence no longer broken by sobbing but by a demanding yet heartfelt prayer that pierced the air, "Help me with my unbelief!"

After all, I knew the story about the father and son where the father asked Jesus, "if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." To which Jesus replied, "If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes." The father then begged Jesus to help him with his unbelief and Jesus then brought healing (Mk 9:20-25)

That was the "know" part.

And in that moment, in the being still and the knowing, came the following...

"Be still, and know that I am God."

The earth felt like it could give way, the mountains felt like they would crumble and the seas would roar with a surge to swallow everything I knew...BUT...but in the middle of all that inner turmoil, I saw the most beautiful pink flower that blooms in the spring after a long cold winter.

Maybe you know it?

The Peony.

I saw this gorgeous flower and it's soft pink petals with a glow and richness I don't ever remember seeing before. My Lord and my God started there. He grabbed my attention in the stillness and showed me He is still God and still in control, no matter what seemed to be falling around me or in me. The Creator of this massive and expansive universe that goes beyond our human comprehension, showed me this delicate flower.

The clouds broke and hell lost its grasp. I stood up and dusted myself off. I was able to find joy in a trial I did not understand. I also grew and learned so much more about me and God. It was such a powerful experience that every year I celebrate my "anniversary" by taking pictures of the peonies in our garden.

Here are the ones I took this morning. Make sure you scroll past the last snapshot so you can read about my little "miracle".

See how even the fallen petals have a soft richness to them?

I imagine this to be "tears caught"

Even though these peonies are gorgeous, their splendor doesn't even come close to the one I saw that fateful Sunday. Why?

Because even though a peony is a peony, what I didn't tell you about my experience and the peony I saw is that I was in a building, in a hallway, with no windows, sitting on a tile floor. Not one person walked down that hallway for the hour I sat and wept. Not one. There was no sunshine that crept in through a window and yet...I saw the peony.

My Creator, the Creator of the expansive universe and deepest oceans, gave me a Peony.

That was my little miracle. It was just for me for all these years and today I shared it with you.

Blessings for your day,