Treasures in the Rain!

I have had a membership to the gym for two years and probably used it 10 times! So I have purposely rededicated my efforts at living a wholesome life with God first this time. Today was suppose to be my cardio day. On my way to the gym, my daughter passed me in her vehicle just waving as if she had not seen me in a long time. I had the sudden urge to turn around and go home.  After I got there, I said let's walk to Wal-Mart! Totally not me! It was just beginning to rain outside. I thought she would say 'No Thanks' but to my chargrin, she said -Sure let's go!

On the way, we laughed and chat about nothing and everything. She is away at college and out on Spring Break and I can definitely tell that she is maturing into a beautiful young woman. On the way to Wal-Mart we stopped and shopped in one of the local retail stores. It occurred to me that we were both in a store that we BOTH liked and AGREED on the styles. That has not happened since she was in the 6th grade! We bought a few accessories and headed to Wally-world. We did not buy a thing in there and could not figure out why we wanted to go to Wal-Mart! This made us laugh so hard till we had to stop for a potty break.

We sat outside a pizzeria and had a slice of pepperoni pizza each. Then she had a bright idea. She wanted to buy a large pizza for her brother as a surprise. With the help of a coupon, she purchased a 20" jumbo pizza for him. This huge pizza comes out and we prepare to leave the pizzeria. Only then do we realize that carrying a huge pizza box in the rain was not going to work! By this time, it was pouring. After we regain our composure from our second round of hysterical laughter we decided to call my husband to come pick us up. We were laughing so hard, he thought we were kidding!! So down our phone list we go until we finally got someone who was available to come pick us up. As soon as we go into the house, it started lightening and thundering. My daughter is still afraid of storms!

This was the best day -unplanned and plain full of heart felt warmth and sharing. No computers or other distraction just enjoying each others company and I still got my cardio in! Today was a wholesome day.

October Baby

 

For you formed my inwards parts; You move me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my uniform substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

I had the opportunity to view a preview screening of October Baby last night. I can honestly say ‘I have never thought about abortion survivors’! This is not a movie of religiosity or doctrine. It is a picture of life, love, forgiveness, hope, and healing.  It sends a clear message of just how beautiful life is for any of us –through natural birth, adoption, fostering, or life after abortion. I believe many hearts and lives will be changed upon viewing this movie.  On March 23^rd let us take our families and friends to opening night and make a great impact in our movie industry. Let us use the power that we have to send a clear message to Hollywood of the things we value. Let us support a movie that has the potential to SAVE lives.

This is not a chic-flick. This is a wonderful story about the importance and sanctity of human life. Please visit www.octoberbabymovie.net to find where this movie will be playing soon.

On a final note, the producers and one of the actors from the movie made an appearance after the showing of the movie. The insight was spectacular!

Faith-Works

Here is something I read this morning that I thought I would share with you. It is from a small devotional entitled ‘God Calling’ by A.J. Russell

Faith-Works

Pray daily for Faith. It is My Gift. It is your only requisite for the accomplishment of mighty deeds. Certainly you have to work, you have to pray, but upon Faith alone depends the answer to your prayers – your works. I give it you in response to your prayer, because it is the necessary weapon for you to possess for the dispersion of evil – the overcoming of all adverse conditions, and the accomplishment of all good in your lives, and then you having Faith, give it back to Me. It is the envelope in which every request to Me should be placed. And yet “Faith without works is dead.” So you need works, too, to feed your Faith in Me. As you seek to do, you feel your helplessness. You then turn to Me. In knowing Me, your faith grows – and that faith is all you need for My Power to work.

You Are Ever With Me

Upon reading the 23^rd Psalm, I reminded of a poem written by Thomas Merton. Merton was a Trappist Monk known as Father Louis and considered one the 20^th centuries greatest American Catholic authors. I personally enjoyed this book ‘The Seven Storey Mountain’.

You Are Ever With Me

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

And the fact that I think I am following

Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the

right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may

Seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and

you will never leave me to face my troubles alone.

Hmmm ... Random Thoughts

It is ok to use four letter words and adult language in your household and personal life. Try using four letter words like LOVE, HOPE, CARE, GOOD, BEST ...
and adult language like RESPONSIBILTY, DETERMINATION, TRUSTWORTHY, INTEGRITY, HONESTY, PURPOSE ...
Go ahead and try them and see how they can empower you and others around you.

Is it just a dream...?

For three years we have vacationed in the Appalachian Mountains. Just this past weekend, we drove up to the Blue Ridge near Charlottesville just because we were itching to be near the mountains once again. I am always excited as we head out and just as we reach Goochland, I am on the lookout for spectacular views and beautiful animals and wonderful people. Since we had to travel back the same day, we only went as far as 20 miles west of Charlottesville. I could have stayed there all day! I have no idea why I have such a fondness for these mountains. I am currently praying for clarification. Is this a vacation fondness or a permanent stay fondness?


We are a military family and have always moved to where duty has called us to serve. Now that we are facing retirement, we are actually entertaining the idea of moving because we want to. I like living in Virginia Beach and would actually recommend this as a great place to live especially if you love the beach. But there is something about those mountains that draws me! I love the laid back and slow pace. I love nature and I love country living, all the way down to the clothesline in the backyard and huge garden on the side. I love fishing –hmmm, well I love going with my husband while he is fishing! But canning, sewing quilts, gardening are my past time hobbies; and towards the end of the evening I would sit out on my porch and read while enjoying a cup of tea. I love the small but close knit communities that we come in contact with. In some of the small communities that are farther from the larger towns, there is poverty and a lot of living off the land. None the less, the people are beautiful and smiling.

One small community we visited during the Maple Fest boasted having an awesome Trout Dinner. You will never guess where it was served –the volunteer fire department! It was great and filled with local people. The desserts were made by the women of the community -it was totally awesome!! Around 5pm everyone helped to clean up and in record time, they we are all headed out to there perspective homes just over the mountain ridge. It was a strange sight seeing all the cars at once head over that mountain ridge but an experience of camaraderie and friendship that I admired.

I have done a lot of research, search property in many different areas. I am always looking at the job market and any news that I can get from that area. Although I truly love this place, I want whatever God wants for me. I am praying, listening and watching…

A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in our lives.

                                                                                                           (H. Blackaby)

Ahhhhh... Summer Reading.

At the end of the school year, I had my summer reading all figured out. I wanted to catch up on some the books that I quoted from but not read fully. One of the books I had to read for Organizational Leadership was Inspiring Leadership: Character and Ethics Matter by R. Stewart Fisher and Perry J. Martini which focused on accountability and responsibility and character. This is now a required summer reading for my 17 year old son and for my husband. My personal list included:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 8th Habit

Good to Great

The 360 Degree Leader

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

The Effective Executive

Water for Elephants

So far I have managed to read:

Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice

Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

Radical by David Platt

And I have just this morning started “If you want to Walk on Water you’ve got to Get Out of the Boat” by John Ortberg. I normally read two books at once so last night I started to read ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ by John C. Maxwell. So far Mr. Maxwell has focused on effectiveness, influence, navigation and reflective thinking. I have only made it page 41 but lots of good stuff. I am thinking about listening to ‘Water for Elephants’ when I go for my morning walks! As the summer is almost half over, I am finally getting disciplined to get on the ball and lead myself!!