I Am From....

I am from Sunday School then pot roast for dinner and prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings. I am from I'll fly away oh glory and Oh how I love Jesus and Hold to God's unchanging hand. I am from lean not on thine own understanding but trust God.

I am from afternoons of Leave it to Beaver and Donna Reed and Father knows best. I am from walking across the room to change the television channel or be content with one of the three channels that is on. I am from Elton John and Beatle albums and Earth Wind and Fire and Carlos Santana eight track tapes.

I am from posters and black lights and french vanilla candles. I am from Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neil, Love Story and 'love means never having to say you're sorry.' I am from mood rings and promise rings and his class ring dangling around my neck on a chain.

I am from save your babysitting money for that brown suede jacket with miles of fringe. I am from teachers monitoring if my dress is too short or my boyfriends hair is too long. I am from go back to your room and put on something 'decent.' I am from laborously ironing my long curly hair every morning so I can look like everyone else.

I am from crocheted blankets and handmade quilts, old black iron skillets and my granmothers Singer sewing machine. I am from try it on in the store then come home and create it. I am from why would you buy it when you know you can make it.

I am from if it's worth doing then it's worth doing right. I am from don't say anything if you can't say something nice. I am from you'll never understand until you have children of your own.

I'm from headaches and tears and sobs in the bathroom as I struggle to understand or be understood. I'm from smiles and laughter because I can and I am.

I am from church camp and friends I hold dear to this day. I am from friends who love the Lord and love me too. I am from the confusion that stems when the things that seem right go wrong and when friends who know God seem to turn Him away. I am from the baby boom age from Alexandria, Virginia. From the young couple who were told this pregnancy, too, will never make it. I am from the Grace and Mercy of God, who never gave up on me. I am from Him.

Andi, Sunshine and Daisies

For more years than I can count, I have had an almost insatiable love for gardening. So yesterday afternoon, before the predicted thundershowers arrived, Andi and I spent the afternoon planting the summer garden. Boy, did we plant! After removing the fall/winter pansies from the flower beds we planted vibrant gerber daisies, lush red geraniums, dozens of multi-colored zinnias and velvety red verbenia. We filled the herb garden with two types of basil, mexican marigolds, society garlic, lemon grass, rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley and lemon balm. Using the 'lasagne method', a fantastic procedure for layering the mulch, soil and organic matter, I planted green beans, red and green bell peppers, squash, cucumbers, strawberries, eggplant, tomatoes and radishes.....finishing just minutes before the first drops of rain fell. What a wonderful finishing touch, pure 'organic' water, minus the chlorine and chemicals, to settle the plants in to their cozy beds.

Tasty Tuesday

My long desired red Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer arrived a few days ago and today was the first time I've had a chance to use it. Wow, that dough hook is something else! No more kneading and mixing and mixing and mixing the stiff dough! I made a wonderful loaf of sour dough bread to share with a friend who's coming by for lunch today and my mind is already racing, trying to decide what to experiment with next. I have a feeling I'm gonna be the 'baking queen'...at least for the next few weeks.

Memory Monday

When I awakened this morning I realized that exactly one year ago today I was touring the Holy Land with a group of the most wonderful friends one could ask for. The trip was without doubt one of the greatest events I've experienced in life and I would absolutely love to go there again some day. The picture I've posted is of a cemetary on the Mt. of Olives, which is directly across from the Eastern Gate. According to the Bible, this is the site where the Lord will set foot when He returns to earth and because of this, the gravesites there are highly coveted and cost as much as $250,000.00 each. The graves are extremely close together and cover the hillside for as far as the eye can see. You will notice that there are no flowers on the graves and that many of the graves have stones placed upon them. We were told that flowers represent celebration and joyous events, therefore, they have no place in the graveyard. The stones are symbolic of heaviness, therefore, they adorn the graves as a symbol of the heavy heart the surviving loved ones have. This tid-bit is just one of the dozens of interesting facts I learned in that glorious ten days.

With a Little Luck and Creativity....

Sometimes when I stumble upon something, I end up with much better results than when I carefully plan a project. Point at hand--I much prefer old treasures that have been cast aside over new ones but recently, out of curiosity, I decided to make a quick pass through a furniture store that was going out of business. Near the back of the showroom I spotted hundreds of fabric samples hanging neatly on racks awaiting, I suppose, to be tossed out. I asked the manager what the plan was for these lush, beautiful fabrics and much to my surprise, he said he would love for me to rid him of the stash. I quickly packed them into a couple of over-sized trash bags and had a grand time that afternoon organizing them by color and texture. Most of the pieces are rich earthy tones and I can hardly wait to create some unique carpet bags from them to give as gifts next Christmas. Any ideas of what else they could be used for besides the pillows? After all, it's not too soon to start planning is it?

Happy Hearts Day

Roses die. The sweet taste of chocolate fades. Even jewelry can lose it's sparkle and go out of style. But some expressions of love live on beyond this single day of giving, enriching the body as well as the spirit. Joe, my 'best buddy' of 10 years, appeared on my doorstep this morning with a shovel and a 5 gallon bucket bearing a gift that I love better than most anything else I can imagine....a beautiful Japanese Magnolia tree, better known in these southern parts as a 'tulip tree.' What an honor....a beautiful tree to grace my yard as a memorial to a friendship and all that it has endured over the years. Gut wrenching times such as the death of his son, Naaman, the near fatal motorcycle accident of my son, Justin, rivers of tears birthed by a broken promise in my life and accompanied by countless late night conversations peppered with the question 'But, why?' Most recently, Joe's newly diagnosed Lou Gehrigs disease has reminded me, once again, how helpless we are and just how big He really is. One of the greatest tokens of love, I suppose, is found in the 11th chapter of John where after the death of her brother, Lazarus, Martha met Jesus as he was coming down the road and said to Him, "....Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." What a gift...a wonderful infinite gift to know that with God it is never, ever too late for ANYTHING.

I've Been Tagged....

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? in the mountains, preferably with water nearby
2.What's your favorite article of clothing? my flannel pajama bottoms from Victoria's Secret
3.Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? his hands and touch
4.What's the last CD that you bought? sheesh, can't remember
5.Where's your favorite place to be? in the presence of God
6. Where is your least favorite place to be? in the gym!
7.What's your favorite place to be massaged? head to toe!
8.Strong in mind or strong in body? Mind, no doubt
9.What time do you wake up in the morning ? 5 a.m.
10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? my red Kitchenaid Artisan mixer
11.What makes you really angry? unkind people
12.If you could play any instrument, what would it be? the piano
13. Favorite color? earthy tones--red, sage, golds, browns....and on and on and on....
14.Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV? SUV! That's how I salvage my treasures!
15. Do you believe in an afterlife? YES, YES, YES!!!
16.Favorite children's book? Little Women, I guess. I loved them all.
17. What is your favorite season? Fall
18. Your least favorite household chore? unloading the dishwasher
19.If you could have one super power, what would it be? the gift of healing
20.If you have a tattoo, what is it? ain't ever gonna happen!
21.Can you juggle? Yes, I juggle my schedule and tasks on a 24 hour basis.
22. The 1 person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
My mom. I miss her terribly.
23. What's your favorite day? Friday
24. What's in the trunk of your car? A wonderful, cozy quilt.
25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? I'm a country girl, need I say more?

Have You Ever....

This is just a little fun quiz passed on by a friend. The things I have done are in bold letters....

Picked up the check for the whole table.
Swam with wild dolphins.
Climbed a mountain.
Taken a Ferrari for a test drive.
Ridden in an airplane.
Been inside the Great Pyramid.
Held a tarantula.
Taken a candlelit bath with someone.
Said “I love you’ and meant it with ever fiber of your being.
Hugged a tree.
Bungee jumped.
Visited Paris.
Watched a lightning storm at sea.
Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise.
Seen the Northern Lights.
Gone to a huge sports game.
Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa.
Grown and eaten your own vegetables.
Touched an iceberg
Slept under the stars.
Changed a baby’s diaper.
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon.
Watched a meteor shower.
Gotten drunk on champagne.
Given more than you can afford to charity.
Looked up at the night sky through a telescope.
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment.
Had a food fight.
Bet on a winning horse.
Asked out a stranger.
Had a snowball fight.
Screamed as loudly as you possibly can.
Held a lamb.
Seen a total eclipse.
Ridden a roller coaster.
Hit a home run.
Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking.
Adopted an accent for an entire day.
Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment.
Had two hard drives for your computer.
Visited all 50 states.
Taken care of someone who was drunk.
Had amazing friends.
Danced with a stranger in a foreign country.
Watched wild whales.
Stolen a sign.
Backpacked in Europe.
Taken a roadtrip.
Gone rock climbing.
Taken a midnight walk on the beach.
Gone sky diving.
Visited Ireland.
Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love.
Anonymously picked up the check for a stranger in a restaurant.
A stranger asked you to dance.
Visited Japan.
Milked a cow.
Alphabetized your CDs.
Pretended to be a superhero.
Sung karaoke.
Lounged around in bed all day.
Gone scuba diving.
Kissed in the rain.
Kissed on a first date.
Played in the mud.
Played in the rain.
Gone to a drive-in theater.
Visited the Great Wall of China.
Started a business.
Fallen in love and not had your heart broken.
Toured ancient sites.
Taken a martial arts class.
Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight.
Gotten married.
Been in a movie.
Crashed a party.
Gotten divorced.
Gone without food for 5 days.
Made cookies from scratch.
Won first prize in a costume contest.
Won first prize in a limbo contest.
Ridden a gondola in Venice.
Gotten a tattoo.
Rafted the Snake River.
Been on television news programs as an “expert”.
Got flowers for no reason.
Performed on stage.
Been to Las Vegas.
Recorded music.
Eaten alligator.
Had a one-night stand.
Bought a house.
Been in a combat zone.
Buried one/both of your parents.
Looked out onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Looked out onto the Pacific Ocean.
Been on a cruise ship.
Spoken more than one language fluently.
Performed in Rocky Horror.
Raised children.
Followed your favorite band/singer on tour.
Picked up and moved to another city to just start over.
Walked the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t care who was looking.
Had plastic surgery.
Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
Thanked God that He got you home safely.
Wrote articles for a large publication.
Lost over 100 pounds.
Met or been friends with a celebrity. (Yes, several of them)
Been a vital witness before a jury.
Kissed passionately in a public place.
Piloted an airplane.
Petted a stingray.
Broken someone’s heart.
Helped an animal give birth.
Won money on a T.V. game show.
Broken a bone.
Gone on an African photo safari.
Bailed a friend out of jail.
Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced.
Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol.
Prayed until you felt the undeniable presence of God.
Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild.
Ridden a horse.
Had major surgery.
Had a snake as a pet.
Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours.
Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states.
Ridden a mechanical bull.
Visited all 7 continents.
Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days.
Had a specific prayer answered.
Eaten kangaroo meat.
Eaten sushi.
Had your picture in the newspaper.
Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about.
Gone back to school.
Parasailed.
Eaten fried green tomatoes.
Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey.
Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
Skipped all your school reunions.
Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language.
Been elected to public office.
Written your own computer language.
Had a true spiritual experience.
Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream.
Had to put someone you love into hospice care.
Trusted God until the impossible happened.
Built your own PC from parts.
Changed a tire.
Skinny dipped.
Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you.
Been friends with someone longer than 30 years.
Dyed your hair.
Been a DJ.
Shaved your head.
Traveled to a tropical island.
Caused a car accident.
Faced a fear.
Saved someone’s life
Baked your own bread.

My Prayer Today...

Today my prayer consisted in simply going to my heart and remembering all the folks I've stored there. It is not cold storage. It is a quite warm and tender place.


-- Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB Tree Full of Angels

Love, straight from the heavens....

Wow. What more can I say?

TREASURES GATHERED ON THE JOURNEY...

* Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

* Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can carry easily.

* Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.


* Don't be afraid to encounter risk. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

* Don't be afraid to admit you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.

* Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

* Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or future. By living our life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

* Don't take for granted the closest things to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

* Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

* Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

A WOMAN OF STRENGTH...

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape…
but a woman with strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything…
but a woman with strength shows courage in the midst of uncertainty.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her...
but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future...
a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure footedly...
but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face...
while a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Your Life Path Number is 8

Your purpose in life is to help others succeed You are both a natural leader and a natural success. You are also a great judge of character.You have a head for business and finance. You know how to make money.A great visionary, you can see gold where other people see nothing. In love, you are very generous - with gifts, time, and guidance. You love to inspire people, but it can be frustrating when they don't understand your vision.Great success comes easily for you. But so does great failure, as you are very reckless.You are confident, and sometimes this confidence borders on arrogance.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Dreamin'

She hadn't seen him in almost six months and although the face in the dream wasn't exactly as she remembered, she knew, without doubt, that it was him. His voice was the same--- a sensuous and masculine tone falling somewhere between the sound of a poet and smooth brandy falling over ice. And the touch of his hand was one that she would know anywhere. It was the same touch that made her think she felt the earth move once upon a time in that quaint little mountain village.
For some reason she knew it was a dream---maybe because in the back of her sleeping mind she knew that it couldn't be real because, for the time being, he had drifted from her life. There really is a strangeness to dreams you know. Nothing really seems familiar, yet, in your spirit, you know where you are and why you are there. So they walked and talked and laughed and held hands and spoke to one another with their eyes, their voices and their touch, each suggesting to the other that they shouldn't have wasted so much time apart and maybe, if they tried, they could get back together and recover the sacred bond they had once shared. Together they thanked God for favoring them with one more opportunity because, in all sincerity, their meeting really did feel like a 'God thing.'
But dreams have a peculiar way of taking on a life of their own and although you try to control the dream it sometimes veers off into the unknown and nothing that follows goes down any predictable path. But something about this dream seemed mighty familiar and as she awakened she thought to herself, 'I think I have had that dream many times before...' She stared into the dark and wished she could go back to sleep and dream some more. How wonderful it was to see him and feel him and hear his voice once again.
Thank you, God, for dreams.

.....I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. Numbers 5:13

Thank You, Miss Rogers....

I dreaded the 'torture' of sitting through Miss Rogers seventh grade English class. At that point in life my primary focus was cheerleading and trying to persuade my mom to let me wear ridiculously short skirts, shave my legs and wear frosted pink lipstick.

Miss Rogers was stone-age by the standard of a junior high kid and, in my opinion, couldn't teach us a heck of a lot because she was too old. Gee, I imagine she was at least 60 so what could she know about life? She was an old maid who wore a 3 piece suit with stockings and heels to school everyday, had probably never been on a real date, she was proper beyond proper---even by a southern lady standard and, basically, just needed to get a life. Little did I realize then that Miss Rogers had a life.

Teaching English just wasn't quite enough for Miss Rogers. Her life was dedicated not only to educating but to shaping the life of her students. Every paper clip in Miss Rogers' classroom was lined up with a precision known only to a five star General and for the sake of teaching us common courtesy (her favorite word) she called us---the kids---Mr. and Miss So and So. Good citizenship and correct posture were mandatory in her presence and she didn't just make us read her favorite poems, we had to memorize them and recite them before the class. Sheesh. What a waste....I thought.

It had probably been decades since I had even thought of Miss Rogers until last week... when she made the local news. I found her name, 'Miss Lucille Rogers', and a few paragraphs detailing her life accomplishments listed among the local obituaries. My, what incredible works filled the space of that dash between 1912-2006. And a strange thing happened as I was reading of this remarkable little lady. Somewhere, way in the back of my mind, I thought I heard an old poem being recited. A poem that meant absolutely nothing then but, now, holds a message that is almost like a treasure. It's by Rudyard Kipling and it's simply entitled 'If'......

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

I wish I could thank you, Miss Rogers, for a lesson well taught.

FEATHERING THE NEST

I am a nester. Nesters are those among us who feel a deep-down joy whenever we arrange flowers, or fluff a pillow, or stir the soup. We find something wonderfully fulfilling about tending our own space, something therapeutic about discussing life's challenges around our own kitchen table, something restorative about the quiet comforts of our own home. Whether we've been away from home for a month or a week or from 9:00 to 5:00, our hearts sing when we open our own front door. To identify the home of a nester, you seldom need to look farther than the entryway. As soon as spring arrives, a pot of pansies will suddenly appear on the front step, a rocking chair or wicker chair will find a place on the porch. In summer, look for window boxes overflowing with petunias or bright geraniums and Old Glory wafting in the breeze. Come fall, swags of Indian corn and crocks of chrysanthemums signal a nester-in-residence. And as winter holidays draw near, nesters will deck every window with wreaths, ribbons and candlelight. Whenever a nester doesn't know what to do with something she puts it in a basket. Our baskets hold mail, produce, toys, towels, magazines---even other baskets. Rearranging furniture comes as natural to us as changing clothes. Don't be surprised to find chairs and sofa in different positions---perhaps even different rooms---each time you visit a nester's home. This may be confusing for visitors, but it's normal for nester's. Pillows---lots of them---feather the nest. Whether faded, beaded, hand-made or tag sale finds, they serve as inviting antidotes to life's rough spots---physical or mental. Nesters believe in the power of books; their bookcases overflow with volumes they have read and reread, cherished and loved. Shelves hold childhood favorites, classics, volumes of poetry, and of course, tons of cookbooks. Coffee tables hold tomes devoted to art, home decorating, antiques and travels to Rio and Paris and Tuscany. Favorite magazines are stacked and kept for further reference becuase you never know when a nester may need further reference. In every room are candles. Tall, short, chunky, tapered, and usually triple scented delights are waiting to cast a warm glow. In the kitchen, a tea kettle and a coffee pot always stand ready on the stovetop. A nester takes every opportunity to invite others to relax with a cup of coffee or tea---or enjoy one in solitude. Some nesters collect things: blue and white china, copper molds, cookie jars, art or vintage linens. Finding and living with the objects they love is an indescribable joy to nesters. For the nester, decorative objects tell stories and hold memories. Children's plaster handprints from kindergarten may hang on a wall. A card from a special someone may be in a frame. Grandma's handmade quilt may adorn the guest-room bed. Each piece is significant and special. You might not recognize a nester when she's out of her preferred domain, camouflaged in a business suit or a uniform or dress attire. But it's a strange fact that on weekends, nesters often dress alike. Well worn denims and khakis are favorite pieces; they dress them down with t-shirts and dress them up with a string of pearls. There's reason to believe that nesters are born, not created. It will not be surprising if, in the amazing new mappings of our genetic codes, scientists someday note one peculiar little gene to designate the nester. It will probably be shaped like a house...

EXPLOSIVE FAITH

He keeps bringing me to look at the mustard seed. So I looked, and I saw some amazing things apart from it being tiny. Things like: mustard seeds come in three colors. Black, white/yellow and brown. Like us. People. I also learned that a chemical reaction is responsible for the hot taste of mustard. When ground and mixed with water, two substances, sinigrine and myrosine combine to produce this molecule called isothyocyanate of allyle which produces that explosion in your mouth. So this is what He was talking about. He is the water of life and all He needs to do is mix it with our faith, as small as a mustard seed, and He's got some mega explosives going on. Satan knows this: check out your average prayer meeting attendance.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,"Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

There's a mountain I think He wants me to move and that will be my focus in the coming weeks and months as I dedicate myself to this seemingly impossible mission.

Nothing will be impossible for me. Hmmm. What an awesome, mighty God He is.

Always On Time, Always Making A Way

"When you come to the end of all the light you know and you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

FOR JESUS CHRIST, LOVER OF MY SOUL.....

I love the way you look at me.
I love the way you always look forward to talking to me.
I love the way you do a million things surrounding me each day just to see if I notice you.
I love the way you always give me your 100% attention.
I love the way you're fascinated by me, always.
I love how you know me through and through and you're still fascinated by me.
I love the way you conduct the song of my days, who I meet and where I'm headed.
I love how you lavish me with your favor.
I love knowing everything's always going to be okay because of you.
Always.
I love how you've taught me patience, even when it looks like what you promised is slipping away.
I love how constant you are.
I love it when you want to come closer to me.
I love it when you kiss me with your presence.
I love knowing that you are not just with me but, in me.
I love how you wait... for me.
I love that, God.
How you patiently wait, God.
You wait through the times when I'm too tired to talk and too tired to pay attention to your voice.
You wait, even when its days and days on end.
You're always waiting...
Always waiting for the tiny moment when I'm completely focused on you.
Waiting for me to notice you, even if it's just for five minutes.
You love me...this I know...
And I love you.
Not because of what you've done but, just because you're you.............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN !!!

I was truly blessed beyond measure the day God decided that we should be friends. Wow. What a spectacular gift. I pray that He blesses you with a favor-filled day that's pressed down, shaken together and running over with God winks and angel wing swishes and all things good and perfect. Happy Birthday, Handsome!