Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! Psalm 55:6

Dad and I finally made it up for our bi-plane ride this past Sunday. I wasn't sure how I'd do... I've always LOVED to ride in the big jet planes, but didn't know how I'd like a smaller, more turbulent flight. And, although Jodi would find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe, it was actually peaceful and relaxing.



We'd expected it to be loud, but once you get your headset on, you actually can't hear much of anything. It's nice. A little bumpier than a commercial jet, but nothing I feared was going to end my life. (I'm sure Jodi was much more the nervous wreck waiting for us to return.) The sides on it come up a bit high, but we still got to see a whole new view of downtown Atlanta and Stone Mountain... bird's eye view (especially when he'd circle around and we'd tip WAY over onto one side).... (That's for Jodi.) :) But, I just always enjoy seeing things from a distance... a new perspective. The 'whole picture' is just bigger. And we're all just 'smaller'. All the hum-drum of life just begins to look silly and doesn't seem as important in the larger scheme of things. Makes me wish I could leave it all behind like that more often! ~

Women of Faith

This summer, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the Women of Faith conference here in Atlanta. I lucked into going at the last minute, thanks to Velvet's misfortune (thanks again, Velvet!!) and I was so appreciative of the experience. These women are amazing. Like nothing I've ever attended in my life. And, ever since then, I have read just about every book by a number of them that I have been able to get my hands on. My favorite has been Sheila Walsh though. I related to her writing even before the conference, but was especially drawn to her in person, and now cannot get enough of her writing.
In checking in on her website: www.sheilawalsh.com, I read her latest journal entry she shares with us, from on the road and related to her once again...

"Chonda Pierce was with us on Saturday. It's been some time since she was our guest, and we've missed her. She was as funny as always but it was her message that touched me deeply. She described her family's style when they are working on a puzzle together. She likes to do all the edges first. Her husband David works with all the blue and white pieces for the sky or all the green pieces for the grass. But it's her son Zach's participation that infuriates her. When she's not looking, he'll take a piece and slip it into his pocket. When Chonda gets to the end of the puzzle and discovers that there's a piece missing it drives her crazy! In this simple family project, she sees the hand of God who works the edges of the puzzle of our lives. He gives us boundaries to live within for our safety and protection but loves us whether we live inside or outside of the lines. Chonda said that every now and then it seems to her that God slips a piece of our puzzle in his pocket and asks us to trust Him with it. Perhaps you find yourself in a place like that at the moment. I know I do. I never have all my ducks in a row. When it seems as if one area of my life has fallen into place a piece goes missing from another. I am learning, however, to not only trust God in this but grasp hold of it as a gift."

(Sheila Walsh and pal, Bono, May 11, 2006) (She had many photos to choose from on her website, but I knew Victoria would especially appreciate this one.) :)

We grew up working puzzles all the time. Mom grew up working puzzles with her dad and she has since passed the tradition down to us. It's a time when everyone just relaxes around the table together, sometimes talking, sometimes not, but just coming together in the same sweet challenge... TO BE THE ONE WHO GETS THE LAST PIECE IN!!! :)
But, it is funny, how we all do have our own 'methods' or techniques, unique to our personalities. Dad, can just pass through, throw in a piece, and call it a day. I'm the edger. I must finish the edge before starting on anything else. Mom loves more of a challenge. She just divides and conquers, I suppose. Finds an interesting part, tackles it, and moves on (of course, annoyingly TAPPING each one in three times to be sure each accomplishment doesn't go unnoticed). :) You can learn a lot from those you puzzle with, but also quite a bit from the puzzles themselves. Just like life, it can look like just a bunch of meaningless pieces all thrown in together with no purpose let alone any semblance of rhyme and reason. But, you start looking back at the progress you make and it all starts taking shape. Then, much like Chonda states, sometimes you just can't seem to find that piece you're looking for. And, much like I'VE experienced, in a mad 'rush' to get things figured out and to the final outcome... many times, we find a piece that promises all the right qualities... the colors are right, the shape looks dead-on, you just KNOW you found the perfect one... but then it just doesn't seem to cooperate with our plans of placement and so we plow ahead, VERY determined, (tempted to call in the scissors or hammer for reinforcement) FORCING the certain piece where it doesn't belong, wasting time on the frustration of the stubborn piece, comprimising the entire outcome, and ultimately throwing everything else out of whack down the line. All the while (unless the dog happened by and thought it rather tasty) the perfect piece awaits you, lost in all the remaining, unnoticed pieces outside of your quickly shaping-up picture.
We may not know how our 'puzzles' will look in the end, but thankfully God knows how it should all go and leads us by our trial and error. And, I think all He asks of us, is to keep at it, seeking His hand in our lives, and don't get so stuck in the frustrating moments that you miss all the fun!

ps... Don't miss the Women of Faith on Dr. Phil this week: Tuesday, Oct. 3rd!!

"Oh, Thou, who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one more thing ~ a grateful heart." (George Herbert)

~Music is my biggest passion. Many of you know that. So, if you will just indulge me here, in posting another song in my blog. But, it's a song I just recently discovered by Nichole Nordeman and it has really hit home to me this weekend... just in how I've been feeling, what I've been 'up against' and it portrays the perspective I'd love to maintain in my life.~


"Gratitude" (by Nichole Nordeman)

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But, maybe not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case…

We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up
And warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger’s view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case…



We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So, grant us peace, Jesus grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or, maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that’s the case…

We’ll give thanks to you with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are truly blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But, Jesus, would You please…

~You know, sometimes we are just simply let down, or brought down by ourselves, by others, our circumstances (either changing or unchanging), expectations... but I have found that even in such times, if you turn to God, even when your requests seem to fall on 'deaf ears', He always finds a way to shine through for you, many times when you least expect it. It's just up to us, to look for Him and listen for Him and accept the reality of Him all around us... until He leads us back out of the valley and once again onto the path upon which we know we belong.~

Makin' a Splash



The long awaited rains
Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
Have carved their way to where
The wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains
I have been carried here to where the river flows
My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edgeI know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That's telling me it's time to take a leap of faith

So here I go!
I'm diving in
I'm going deep
In over my head
I want to be
Caught in the rush
Lost in the flow
In over my head
I want to go
The river’s deep
The river’s wide
The river’s water is alive
So sink or swim
I'm diving in

There is a supernatural power
In this mighty river’s flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for
But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So if you'll take my hand
We'll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith

Come on let's go!
I'm diving in
I'm going deep
In over my head
I want to be
Caught in the rush
Lost in the flow
In over my head
I want to go
The river’s deep
The river’s wide
The river’s water is alive
So sink or swim I'm diving in

(written by Steven Curtis Chapman)

~This song actually always reminds me of Jodi's ringtone on her phone :) but, now it signifies my sentiments on September 10th.



A week ago Sunday, I re-committed myself to God and made a new committment to Eastridge Community Church by being baptized. Having been raised Lutheran, it's still a somewhat new concept to me: getting 'dunked' as an adult, as opposed to 'sprinkled' as an infant. But, finding a new home at ECC and having a new-found faith in Christ, it was the next step for me. One I was honored to share with my family and friends.



It was a beautiful Indian Summer day... still warm, but with a promise of Fall around the bend. Good food. Good company. Good fun. Even Savannah got caught up in the excitement and bounced with the other kids in the inflatables!! (I guess that made up for Jodi coming down with the flu and Emery crying the entire ceremony 'till he cried his poor little self to sleep.)



Obviously, Savannah was neither sick nor tired. :) But, I'm glad she had a good time, after being so concerned about my 'baptize'.
I was kind of disappointed because I had hoped they would use the lake as our baptismal, but they didn't. But, it was still a beautiful place in a great setting. An old local plantation called 'Gaither's Plantation'.



And you know, I just have to laugh. After my Big Day, I got to thinking about my little buddy, 'Niles' (the mysterious crane from down the road) - probably prompted by Debbie's saying she couldn't find me at first, but then realized it was MY skinny white legs out there, glowing in the sunlight! - But, Niles and I just seem to be on the same track, once again. Just recently, I noticed he had broken out of his hum-drum life in the lonely, dank and marshy retention pond, to the more promising, highly cared-for waters on the par-3 golf course. Now he spends his days in cleaner water, fuller sunlight, frollicking around with his new ducky pals. I guess it was time for both of us to move on, reach out, make some new friends and plunge into some new waters. :) I hope it serves him as well as it has for me.

'Diggin' up a little DIRT' on myself!

A few blogs ago on Jodi's website, she starts by saying: "Yesterday morning on the radio the DJ's were looking for stories from listeners where they had totally embarassed themselves by saying something really stupid." She then proceeds to share her biggest 'faux pas' statement that's hung with her half her life... still mortified that she could have such poor choice of words intersect with such bad timing, and wishing all this time that she could take it back.

I think we all have such blundersome moments. Thankfully, mine is less severe and a bit more comical than hers.

I was in my 2nd year at Piedmont... already having a rough year. Just dragging myself to class one day, I took special notice of all the hard work the nice little middle-aged yard guy had been doing fixing up our grounds in front of the girls' dormitory. He had been working on it, and always seemed to enjoy it, but I thought "I bet nobody ever just thanks him for all his hard work. And he's done SUCH a great job out here. I bet nobody ever even so much as notices." So, I took it upon myself to show my appreciation for all he'd done and just simply stated, as walking by "Lookin' Good!" It took me a few more steps before I realized that could've been taken more than one way! But, by that point, it was too late to backtrack and I just thought, "Well, either way, it surely made his day!" And, I must say, it put a smile on my own face as well, as I giggled myself all the way to class. :)

I have never been one to deal well with the LONG HOT summers, and this one seems to beat all. It has been hot. All over the entire country, for the most part. Few exceptions (of which I am considering looking into at this point). :) But, thank God for Mr. Willis Carrier: "The King of Cool". I'm sure many of you have not done the research on this dear hero of mine, so here's the rundown:


[the following courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia per 'ask.com'] :
Willis Haviland Carrier (November 26, 1876 –
October 9, 1950) was an engineer and inventor, and is known as the man who invented modern air conditioning.
Carrier was born in Angola, New York on the shore of Lake Erie, and inherited his mother's love for "tinkering", with clocks, sewing machines, and other household devices. He loved mathematics, and studied it at every chance, when he wasn't inventing his own devices.
In 1895 he received a scholarship to Cornell University and graduated in 1901 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Following college, he went to work for the Buffalo Forge Company, a company which manufactured heaters, blowers and air exhaust systems, in their heating engineering department designing heating systems to dry lumber and coffee.
Carrier soon developed a better way to measure the capacity of heating systems and was named director of the company's experimental engineering department. At the age of 25, he devised his first important invention, a system to control heat and humidity for the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Company in Brooklyn. The firm had been unable to print reliable colors at times because of the effects of heat and humidity on paper and ink. In 1906 Carrier received a patent for his method. He went on to work on other cooling and humidity-control inventions, and was eventually made the head of the Buffalo Forge subsidiary named Carrier Air Conditioning Company in his honor.
When World War I arrived, Buffalo Forge was forced to cut back on speculative processes, and eliminated their air conditioning division. Carrier, with six colleagues, staked $32,600 on their own company, Carrier Engineering Corporation. Some of the company's first customers included Madison Square Gardens and the chambers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. He installed the first home air conditioning in a house in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Carrier moved his company to Syracuse, New York in the 1930s, and the company became one of the largest employers in central New York. In 1930, he started Toyo Carrier in Japan. Japan is now the largest market for air conditioning in the world.
The company pioneered the design and manufacture of refrigeration machines to cool large spaces. By increasing industrial production in the summer months, air conditioning revolutionized American life. The introduction of residential air conditioning in the 1920s helped start the great migration to the Sunbelt. In 2000 the Carrier Corporation had sales of more than $8 billion and employed some 45,000 people.
Carrier and all three of his wives are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

Another 'cool' article featuring Carrier is:

www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/carrier.html

And, because I have planned for years now, at some point in my life, to make it up to Buffalo, NY to place a dozen red roses on his grave!! :) - I looked into the Forest Lawn Cemetary, and might I say, "WOW" looks quite impressive... And you can ask Victoria, I am NOT one for milling around in cemetaries, but this one actually really looks like a place to check out!

http://ah.bfn.org/a/forestL/forestindex.html

... So, who's up for a trip up to Buffalo, New York? It's GOT to at least be cooler there!!! :)

"God grant us the patience
to change the men we can,
the aim to shoot the men we can't,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

We got this greeting card in at the shop a few months ago... I had picked it out, thinking it was funny and it reminded me of Great Aunt Tickie. I never sent it to her, but always get a chuckle out of it, whenever I see it and think of her.

We lost Tickie about a week ago now, and though we never had much opportunity to spend time with her (her being in Longview, Texas and not able to travel all that well herself) we will all feel a void for some time. There have been many of my older relatives, I've wished we'd lived closer to, and she is no exception.

Full of stories, ready to share... I could listen to her for hours. She was alive in the early 1900s. Raised in rural Arkansas. Forget life without microwaves, they had life before refrigerators!! She was one of three girls raised by their 'Papa' and grandmother, after their parents divorced. She herself had married and divorced, at least three (?) times... twice to the same man (I believe he was the alpha and omega). And we hadn't heard until just several years ago, that she had shot at an ex-husband who threatened to come back and get some things from the house.

She overcame a lot in her life, but it was not always easy. She cared for their Papa once he was placed in a nursing home. She lost one younger sister suddenly at a very young age (she believed her to be shot by her own husband while overseas). And the other younger sister (my grandmother) very slowly over the last 12 years to Alzheimer's. Both quite tragic and heartbreaking in their own right.

In recent years, she could hardly support herself and often fell, breaking bones and spirit. But, you never heard her complain. She was a very strong woman, in every way. Overcoming any challenges life may have thrown at her. She was a great cook; could prepare enough food for the army to feast on at any given time. She did her best to answer any correspondence that ever came her way. And, as I said before, could tell stories for hours about life as it'd been through her eyes.

We love Aunt Tickie and we'll miss her terribly. For the amazing person she was and the link she'd been since losing Grandma Mary. But, maybe now, they can be together again and enjoy each other's company for eternity (if arguing is allowed in heaven... as I can't imagine them as happy any other way). :)

"Purses are the new Shoe!"

Yes, I've spent the past two days at the Gift Show in Atlanta. And, Yes, a lady actually said those exact words. "Purses are the new shoe." I just thought, 'Well, now, that's just silly". However, it must've worked on Sally, as we walked away having ordered their whole entire line of merchandise, not 20 minutes later. And that was only the first stop of the day yesterday.
By the time it was all said and done, we walked away having ordered thousands of dollars worth of new treasures (aka - crap) for the shop... with no room to put one bit of it when it arrives. That's when the real fun begins.

Going to Market a couple of times a year is fun, I suppose... seeing all the cute new things everybody has... spending Louis' 'endless' money... getting inspired by how all the showrooms present their merchandise... getting to eat all kinds of good 'free food'... meeting people from all over, as well as seeing your familiar rep's... And you don't realize it 'till you get home, but it is EXHAUSTING!!! I got home last night and just CRASHED (not like me at all). Actually slept through AC 360, waking up about midnight, to drag myself to bed... only to end up laying there WIDE awake from there on, brain just working overtime, trying to figure out what I'm going to do with all the junk (I mean, treasures) that we just ordered!! (Which, by the way, I never did accomplish.)

But, I guess that's why Sally and I make a good team. She's the optimistic visionary and I'm the conservative realist who keeps her grounded and together we get it all worked out in the end, one way or another.

I was glad to get the chance, too to stop by Grady Hospital yesterday on the way home to finally see Judy and her family. We hadn't expected to see Tim, but they said "Come on in", so we went in and got to see everyone. Judy looked understandably tired, but good and I was really surprised at how good Tim looked, after all he's been through in the past 3 weeks. He has made SO much progress just in the last couple of days and I know is determined to get back on his feet again soon. I am so happy for them. And proud of Tim. I know it hasn't been easy, and won't be for some time. But, he's got such a strong spirit about him, I know he'll just recover in leaps and bounds now.

And Judy couldn't come back to the shop too soon! Now that we've got truckloads coming in, we've got plenty for her to work her magic on!!! :)

I just got the cutest email from my dear great-aunt in Seattle and it's funny that it would come now... it says the picture shows how you can tell the difference between a male and female bird! :) I think that may come in handy in all my new-found studies on my little cranes! So, I guess if the little Gray number isn't squawking in Niles' ear, it's a good sign that it must just be an intrusive competitor vying for his new-found home. Mystery solved! Thanks, Aunt Dee! :)

In response to my recent experiences, Mom suggests that I now call my homestead "Wild Kingdom" as opposed to "the Hood", which certainly could fit some days. But, I think with the new doubled-up, super-duper, ain't nobody gettin' in, and don't EVEN think about gettin' out gate system, it may just be more like a zoo? I don't know, but after talking to my friend Debbie, I firmly believe that it must be easier to smuggle a baby penguin out of the highly-guarded, densely-populated new Georgia Aquarium, in broad daylight than it is to just get into my own neighborhood these days! Evidently, they really feel that they are keeping the 'riff-raff' out of our 'posh' community over here. Or do they? Maybe that's what they WANT us to think, when really they're just trying to 'clean up the streets'?? Now that I think about it, that makes much more sense. :)

'Niles' is back!!!

It has been such a nice little surprise lately, to see such activity having to do with the nature world, here "in the hood". Not something you see every day around here.

But, about a week ago, I happened to look out the balcony door one night and see a family of cute little bunnies out on the one modest lawn we have between the basketball court and the pool area. They must've just had a litter and were venturing out for dinner. Most people didn't even notice them, but then a couple with a little toddler boy watched them and waited for them to come back out of their refuge in the bushes. It was sweet.

Then, today, as I checked my mail, there was a group of excited young kids (of all ages) who told me all about the poor little bird they'd found, who'd evidently fallen out of the tree right there at the mail station. They were very sweet, trying to nurture it back to health there on their skateboard, surrounding it with big magnolia leaves and petting it. I didn't have the heart to tell them that the best chance the baby would have was for them to just take it back to the tree and to let it go (the momma was nearby just having a fit). So, I just told them 'Good luck', admiring their strong desire to help the little guy.

BUT, the one that's gotten me so excited is the re-appearance of my little 'Niles', just up the road from here! I'm not sure what he is, or why he's there, but it's a little white skinny Crane (to the best of my knowledge... which is also where I got the name - if you've every watched "Frazier") and he had just taken up residence at this little water retention pond across the road from the Par-3 golf course. I noticed him probably about 2 or 3 months ago, but then he just disappeared. Until TODAY! I have looked for him every day, and was convinced he'd finally wised up and gone somewhere cooler (and didn't really blame him if he had) but then, this morning I saw him back out there, gleening against the dingy water again. It just made my day. :)

Now that he's back, I can only assume he had just needed a little vacation.... a bit of a getaway (which I certainly understand!!). BUT, the question is... who's the little GRAY number I caught a glimpse of just the other day out there?? Perhaps some cute chick he enticed to come back home with him? or some tough guy who was threatening his habitat, which brought him back to his sweltering-hot home prematurely? It's anybody's guess at this point. I wish I were closer to be able to get to know him better. There's only so much information you can gather, going down a busy road in the middle of the day.

I wonder what ever prompted him to take up on that pond? I wonder if the people who own the property even know he's there? I wonder if they'd notice me hanging out there? I wonder how big a crime trespassing is? :) I wonder how long 'till I get a life of my own???

Oh, well. Until then, I'll just keep studying Niles and trying to figure out his life. I feel very connected to him by now. Not quite sure if it's just from watching him so closely all these months? or 'cause he's so white and skinny (much like me)? or 'cause he's always just seemed like such a 'lone ranger' - doing his own thing, finding his own way in the world... But, who knows! Maybe he's found his true love in the little Gray number, and there's hope for us all!!! :)

WELCOME BACK, NILES!

"I will bless my people... And in the PROPER SEASON I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26
I can't tell you the last time it rained here. I can't remember back that far. Until today. FINALLY, the long-awaited rain hit (well, at least in certain areas, for a short amount of time). Sure, it's 'threatened' to a time or two in weeks past. 15% chance one day. 60% chance the next. 110% chance of heat and humidity ANY given day. And though today, it still wasn't quite the quencher we've really been looking for, any is better than none, when you're in the middle of a drought.

Of course, today was our designated day to take Savannah to pick blueberries at the local blueberry farm. (So, maybe we should've just scheduled that trip weeks ago, and we would've gotten the refreshing showers then, but who's to say...) We no sooner get to the driveway to the place, and it starts to rain. Big, heavy drops. Savannah starts to lose it. Who knows why. But, she insists we head right back home and nix the blueberry farm altogether.
God challenges Job in Job 38:34, "Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?" to which the answer is, of course, "No." Well, evidently, you cannot shout to the clouds and make it stop either. Savannah tried. Relentlessly.
Thankfully, only about 5 minutes later, it eased up enough to where you could hardly see it and we finally got her out of the car. Next thing you know, she's dancing around with her bucket, singing "Raindrops keep fallin' on my head!" as well as old stand-by "It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring..." Of course, by the time the lightning and thunder start drawing closer, it's all we can do to get her rounded back up to get back in the car. For not getting to stay long, we did manage to gather a good-sized bucket full of yummy berries to take back home, and some more memories for years to come.

Though Savannah is not decided on whether rain is indeed a good thing or not, I however, have always LOVED the rain. And as I end this, it just came up, a right nice little gully-washer. :) I think I'll go enjoy it while it lasts. Somebody has to. As I'm sure, for every person who loves the rain, there are probably 3 more who are complaining that it just NEVER STOPS. Even when it's desperately needed. I guess it just goes to show that you can't please everybody all the time. So, I'd say it's a good thing that God is in control and that He has a good 'thick skin' when it comes to criticism.

"Bloom where you're planted":

My sister tells of a recent trip to the store... with kids in tow, they pass a sweet older woman, and as she looks longingly at the 3 of them, she states: "These are the best days of your life." It struck a chord with Jodi and now it hits home to me as well.

How many of us spend countless time, either longing for the past, or anxiously awaiting 'better times ahead'? It's easy to do, but "this is the day the Lord has made. (He wants us to) rejoice and be glad in it!" It's a real gift to have memories to look back on and cherish, as well as a healthy desire for great things in the future, but gazing too long in either direction can often cause you to stumble from the step you are on (Stormie O'Martian). And I feel quite assured by this point, that regardless of whether you've gotten yourself to the step you're on, or you seem to have been 'placed there', there's something to be gained from each and every step along the way. IF we are willing to seek it out.

In speaking with my friend Jessie tonight, she reminded me that "life is what you make of it". If you manage to make the best of each moment, you'll get the most from it. Very true.

That is why, today, as I continue to wait for Mr. Right (God-willing) I will be thankful that I was able to watch cheesy ABC Family girly movies all day, with just one little load of laundry to be done, and not having to worry about what to do for dinner! :) (Which, if you're curious, was pretty much cookie dough and a glass of water.) I'm sure, one day, I will look back on even these moments with a tinge of longing, but then hopefully be able to counter them with an appreciation that even these 'good old days' aren't good forever! Just good for now. :)

Tough week for the community...

Well, after such a tragedy last Wednesday, we learned Sunday morning that the 5-year old daughter of a prominent family in our church passed away during the night. Evidently, she'd only had a mild cough and yet ended up aspirating and not making it to morning. So, now, along with the Casola Family, please keep the Malcoms in your thoughts and prayers in their losing little Mary Beth.

Time is so precious, especially with the little ones, who bring so much to our lives and change so quickly! That's why I was glad, as usual, to have Savannah down for a 'slumber party' this weekend. Just some quality 'girl time', eating yogurt and fruit 'floor picnic'-style, watching (and now dancing with!) princess movies and baking cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Thank you, Miss Savannah! I had a Ball with you. (Now, if we could JUST get you to sleep until at least 7:00!!) :) Love you.

Grace under Pressure:

I was in just as much shock as most everyone else, as the local news came in... reporting of a sweet innocent family being randomly, maliciously run down (repeatedly!) after an otherwise pleasant lunch together at McDonald's with the kids. A good, Christian family who have done SO much in the community to be sure to help others... now losing a precious 2-year old little girl, in such an unimaginable, horrid way. The human heart just can't even begin to reason it out. Where was God when all of this took place? How could He just idly 'sit by' and watch on as such tragedy unfolded in the lives of such devout followers? But, it's not for us to figure out... just for us to trust and believe that He is there, and will give this family the strength and resilience they will need to help Him turn even this tragedy for good, as He has promised to do in our lives.

Paul Casola states: "Please continue to pray for our family as we continue life without Avery and moving forward. Pray also for my wife and children. It’s our responsibility to honor God, glorify Jesus, find a way to forgive and move forward. That’s the responsibility of me and my family.”

With it being a couple of sisters, in their 30's, just simply grabbing lunch with a few 'little ones'... I just keep thinking, 'what if it'd been me and my sister and her 'little ones'? I can't even begin to imagine. My heart definitely goes out to them, and am all the more appreciative of the time I get with my loved ones.

Re-committing...

Tonight was our last Wednesday night service at Eastridge, for the summer. We won't meet back for '863' until August, which I hate, because I have really enjoyed the services, with Gary speaking and Shane leading worship. But, I know they need time to recoup with their families and regroup for the fall.
So, Gary ended tonight, by speaking on 're-committing', to get us through the summer break, as a whole. And, I just feel that after all that God has helped me with this last year, now would be a good time for me to re-commit somewhat publicly, as a way of acknowlegment for all He's done in my life.

"As for me, I will serve the Lord. I will love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I will turn away from every thought, desire, action, and relationship that keeps me from following You closely and will stop any willful pattern of sin. I, again, place in Your hands, my life here on earth, my forgiveness, and my hope for eternity with You. I thank You for sacrificing Your Son on the cross in order for us to have this relationship with You. " Amen.

Lemonade

"Come on, pour the glass and tempt me
Either half-full or half-empty
'Cause when it all comes down to flavor
The glass is tipping in my favor!

Life gave me lemonade and I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade!

I can hardly breathe while waiting
To see what your heart is saying
And as we're swirling in this flavor
The world is tilting in our favor!

I've got it made
Rest in the shade
And hold my love
While God above
Stirs with a spoon
We share the moon
Smile at the bees
More sugar please
He really loves us after all
We're gonna need another straw!!"

~lyrics by Chris Rice

When thinking how to introduce my blog "Bittersweet", I heard this song on the way to work and thought it was fitting. Life is all about how we view it. Jodi commented once several years ago, that the word bittersweet was very fitting for me. I couldn't disagree. :) But, I think it's a good 'in a nutshell' view on life as a whole. And thankfully, these days, I've found my glass more half-full and 'sweeter than the day before"!

Anyway, this is my Blog (now that I know what one is)...
Hope you like it!