Thanksgiving 2013

Tears of joy and sorrow that cleanse

Husband who loves God first, then me

Amazing grace

New mercy every morning

Kids, healthy, happy and growing

Security in Christ

God, who is Love

Impossibilities made possible

Victory in Jesus

Incredible friends

Never ending supply of faith

Gifts untold, in every form

Thankful Friday

Thankful Thursday is a great idea, but I've always had a tiny twinge of rebellion in me, so I'm going to go with Thankful Friday today.

I don't know that I could adequately express how full of gratitude my heart is to my Heavenly Father, for the 40 years He has had His hand on this little life of mine.  I cannot even begin to understand how I have come to be so blessed.  It is certainly not because I deserve it.  I have known God's protection, provision and hand of blessing on me so many times, I have come to expect it.  He has proven to me that He is who He says He is in His Word : my Father, my Refuge, my Strength, my Provider, my Lover, my King, my Savior, my Friend, my Redeemer, my Hope, my All.  Although I fail Him every day, His love is unconditional and I know He is right beside me, waiting to "sup" with me anytime I will open the door.

I am so glad God knows my heart, because I forget to say thank you.  I forget it is HIM who does all things well and not me.  I tend to take pride in my genius ideas instead of thanking Him for giving me my mind in the first place.  I get huffy when I do a wonderful deed and am not noticed or thanked.  Thank God He is not like me.  Thank God He patiently waits for me to remember to show gratitude and forgives me when I don't.

I think gratitude comes from deeper places when the heart has been broken and burdened.  Mine has.  Gratitude heals.  Being thankful for hard times turns them into learning times.  Being grateful for tough experiences allows the eyes to be open to the lessons being learned.  How does one say thank you through the tears?  Faith.  Faith in the One who created tears, who allowed whatever it is that is troubling me.  Believing that He has my good in mind allows me to say thank you even when I don't understand.

On this Friday, I am thankful for my Lord.  He is all I need.

Experience

Irish poet Oscar Wilde said "experience is the one thing you can't get for nothing".  Experience comes with living and living takes time.  The longer I live, the more experience I will have and the more things I will experience.  Not deep stuff......  It does remind me, though, to open my ears and listen to those who have experienced life more than me.  Their experience may have come at a high cost, but is worth it if used to help others.

The Bible tells the older women to teach the younger women.  As a younger woman (still), my job is to let the older women teach me and to learn from them.  Some older women might not feel comfortable taking on a teaching role or may not be entirely sure how to teach the younger women.  I, however, do know how to ask questions and listen to the answers.  I do know how to ask an older woman to have coffee with me and listen instead of talking.  I know how to learn by observing.  If I want to learn from those who are more experienced and who can, without a doubt, teach me much, I can do my part in making it happen.

I have been in a couples' Sunday school class for the last year and a half and really love the laughs, the friendships with people my own age and the discussions relevant to our stage in life.  However, after visiting a ladies' class last week, mostly made up of "older" women, I am finding myself yearning to spend more time in this class to soak up the wisdom gathered there.  There have been a few women in my life who I have wanted to just sit at their feet and just ask and listen, listen, listen.  When I discover a woman like this, I find myself trying to think of ways to be around them, questions I might ask them, and find myself watching them as much as I can.

I am still a young mother and need wisdom beyond my years.  Motherhood is a tough gig.  Life is tough.  God has placed older, wiser, more experienced women in my life for a reason.  They have been there with kids.  They have struggled through the ups and downs of marriage.  They have loved and lost.  They have made mistakes.  I might be saved from making the same mistakes if I will listen and learn from them.

Older women, please teach us!  We yearn for your wisdom and counsel.  Please don't ever, ever think you have nothing to teach.  Your experience alone could save us heartache and grief.  The life God has given you might save someone else's life if you will but share it.  Young women, let's make it happen.  Let's have open hearts and open ears to hear.

Summer

Humidity, clouds of gnats, long road trips to Ohio, Kings Dominion, church camp, boredom, sleeping in, babysitting.....some of my childhood memories of summer.  I was always so ready for summer break, but just as ready for school to start again!

My favorite times were swimming at a friend's house, camp, slumber parties, and family vacations to see grandparents.  Summertime brought a lot of happy!  A few times, my brain apparently took a"vacation" as well and my girlfriends and I slathered ourselves with suntanning oil and baked for a few hours in the sun.  Yep, I clearly remember serious burns, tylenol, suffering for the cause.....and I never did tan.

Now, as a mother, summer is still fun and special......the heat makes me appreciate A/C so much, the trips as a family are cherished, being able to send my kids to church camp and seeing them come home changed is priceless. Hanging out and conquering boredom are just some of the things that make summer, summer.  Movies, ice cream, sleepovers and board games....memories made.

This summer has been an eventful one for the Williams family.  One trip overseas, two church camps, one girl's first babysitting job, one foot surgery/physical therapy, one reading tutoring job, one promoting to the youth group, one 19th anniversary celebration, one Rangers game, two long shopping trips, several new friends and lots of smiles.

I am one thankful Mom.  Now bring on school!

Kyall started complaining about his feet hurting about 2 years ago, at the age of 9.  We didn't think much of it.  One day, we noticed he was walking funny.  We didn't think much of it.  As the months went by and he kept walking funny and kept complaining about his feet, we started taking notice and wondering what was wrong.  We researched foot pain and of course, there are a thousand things that come up, none of them good.

About a year ago, I asked some friends if they knew of a good podiatrist in town.  Both of them said they had experience with a certain one and that he was great!  One of their husbands had actually been operated on by this Dr.  So I called him.

Long story short, the Dr. knew just by looking at Kyall's feet that he had tarsal coalition in both feet, pediatric flatfoot in both and that both heel chords were too short and tight.  Kyall has lived this past year in daily pain, often limping around the house, often playing and running, just gritting his teeth to the pain.  It has been hard to watch.  Just last week, he went to summer camp and couldn't stand in line at the cafeteria because it hurt too much after a day of being on his feet a lot.

Operating is the only way to fix all three of these problems, so we knew we had no choice.  The Dr. only does one foot at a time so the patient isn't basically an invalid for 2 months, so we chose to do the worse foot first.  We also agreed to take care of all 3 problems at the same time.

I gave all my fears to God about the anesthesia, about the pain, about Kyall being afraid, about the meds making him sick, about everything.....then I took them back and fretted and cried and worried all day!!!  Kyall was an excellent patient, didn't cry or complain once through the whole ordeal and I have been so impressed and proud of him.  The Dr. did say he had to do more "digging" than expected as the coalition was big and hard to "cut out".  Uuggh.  Thankfully, Kyall had a constant supply of morphine for 24 hours and really did not feel much pain.  When he woke up from the anesthesia, he asked for me but I was not allowed to go see him because of the Hippa laws.  Just stick a knife in my heart next time, it felt about the same.

Now we are home and he has been hurting and is having a hard time maneuvering around on crutches with a 10 lb. weight on his cut up foot.  The cast is huge and very heavy.  He has been a trooper and just wants this all to be over, but the recovery is just beginning and will be a long process.  My prayer is that by his first day of middle school, he will be walking well and experiencing no pain on his "new" foot.  I know he still has to live with the pain in the other foot until we decide it's a good time to put him through all of this again.

For now, we are thankful for good doctors, good friends, a brother and sister that love and care for Kyall, good pain meds, a great recliner that Kyall has made his little throne, and a God who cares about the big and little trials of our lives.  I am praying Kyall will learn some valuable life lessons through all this.  I'm sure I could learn a thing or two as well!

Trust

Life can be so strange.  We plan, save, look forward and prepare but never really know what a day holds or where life may take us.

In the past 4 years, our family has moved from Peru to Sulphur Springs, TX for a year, moved back to Lima, Peru for a year, moved to the jungle town of Pichanaki, Peru for a year, then moved back to Sulphur Springs for another year.  Craziness.  Now when I am asked a question about the future, I just respond with "Only God knows" because that is the truth.  Life (and God) has taken us on many adventures in many different places, most of which I didn't expect or necessarily plan for.

You'd think I'd be the most flexible person in the world by now, but I still really, really like to know things ahead of time and really, really like to be prepared emotionally for changes.  Life doesn't always work that way, does it?  It does help to be married to the most flexible, adaptable man alive.   I am also very grateful to have super resilient children, who take changes in stride and who amaze me with their strength and trust.  I can learn a lot from them.

We were able to return to Peru for 2 weeks recently, and work alongside some wonderful people from our home church, Central Baptist.  It was such a blessing to see the people in Pichanaki that we were able to win to Christ still attending church, still hungering after God.  It was wonderful to leave them with their own property and church building professionally wired (and well painted!).  I was inspired by the heart and muscle put into the work during this time.  Texans are a strong lot, I'll say that!!!!  It was nice to be back in Peru for a time, but I am also so thankful to be back in the USA, back with our church family.

Wherever life takes us, knowing we are following after a Heavenly Father who has already seen our entire life played out and knows exactly where we need to be and when, we can rest in this and trust that His plans are perfect and good.

A teacher's love

I'm not really a teacher.....yet.  That starts in the fall.  I feel like a teacher, though, having worked at Kids Central for the last year.  I aided, subbed and helped around......and fell in love with the children.  I found myself excited when it was one of their birthdays, or when one lost a tooth....I worried when one was sick for too many days, when one couldn't understand something being taught.....I also wanted to spank a couple of them a time or two!

The teachers from Connecticut and more recently in Oklahoma, are called heroes for shielding and protecting their students, and rightly so.  I do believe most teachers would do the same.  Spending 6-8 hours a day with the same children....eventually they become almost like your own.  I heartily applaud and admire the teachers who thought quickly and did what they thought best to protect their students.  I weep for the ones who lost their lives and for the ones who had to see their little ones hurt or killed.

One day this past year, the fire alarms went off at our school.  My heart about burst through my chest, as the only thing I could think of was the children and getting them out.  I panicked that someone might be in the bathroom and be scared or trapped.  It wasn't really heroic, just instinctive.....the same as if it would have been in my own home.  I knew that I would do anything to keep those kids safe.

I have shed many tears for the people of Conn. and OK in the past few months, thinking of those little ones, but also about what if that would have been the children I love.  I can hardly stand to think about it.

There were also two days this year when two male convicts escaped our local jail and were on the loose, considered armed and dangerous.  Not having any idea where they were or how desperate they might be, all the schools were on "lockdown" and the teachers personally walked each student out to his/her car during pick-up time.  Not only would I have done anything to protect the students I was with, but was deeply grateful to the teachers of my own children for being overly cautious during that time.

It's easy to criticize teachers.  It's easy to think they could do better or wish they weren't as strict or whatever.  The teachers of younger children are mother figures for them and have many opportunities every day to encourage, comfort and bring a smile to the kids' faces.  During the school year, they spend as much or more waking hours with our children then we, the parents do.

They also just might be the ones who save the lives of our children one day.  Let's pray for them daily and take every chance to thank them that we get!

On turning 40

How does one describe the feeling of turning 40??  I still feel like I'm 25 inside, but the gray hairs, slower metabolism and growing children remind me that, yep, it's true....I'm really 40!  The fact that my life is half over, if I live a good, long life, that is, is sobering.

Have I spent my 40 years pointing people to Jesus?  Have I made Him happy?  How can I make the next 40 years much better than the first?  These are some of the questions I have been pondering....

I remember when my own mother turned 40.  She cried.  I'll admit, I shed a few tears as well, but not because I'm sad to be 40, but grateful, expectant and humbled.  I believe God has me on this Earth for a specific purpose and I am grateful He still wants to use me.

I am a goal setter and turning 40, for me, is a great time to set some new ones.....the top five are:
slow down and experience the moment
 understand my husband more deeply and love him in the way he understands best
 stop worrying so much, especially about things out of my control 
love and like my kids with every ounce of strength I have while they are still under my influence
 get into the best shape of my life  

My children asked me how I felt on my birthday.  I told them "happy and blessed"......"and a little bit old!"

My prayer for my children

I am accepting more and more that I cannot protect my children from evil 24/7.  At times, this brings me fear, which I try not to dwell on.  I know my Heavenly Father is also their Heavenly Father and He has promised to fulfill His purpose in each of their lives.  I also know His love for them is far above my own and this comforts me.

This is my heart's cry for my children each day ~

Lord, thank you for Olivia, Kyall and Lucas.  Please protect them when I cannot.  Bring good people into their lives that will love them, encourage them and help them if they need it.  Surround them with your angels in school today, as evil abounds.  Shield their eyes from things that would corrupt or alarm them, protect them from any person who would take advantage of them in any way or hurt them in any way.  Help them to make good decisions, choose their friends wisely, know when to say no and walk away and when to say yes and dive in.  I ask that You would guard their hearts and minds and give them wisdom beyond their years.  Open their eyes to understand Your Word and how to apply it.  I pray for the adults in their lives who I don't know, that they would be responsible and know how to keep my kids safe if the need arises.  Help them to be a light and to be a leader for good among their friends.  Help them to share Jesus any chance they get.  When the day gets rough, please remind them of Your love and that their parents love them dearly too.

In Jesus' name~ their Mom

Real Strength

Women are strong these days, aren't they?  Women feel empowered, liberated, invincible!  Women can do anything, even go to combat in war time.  The news is full of stories of strong women who run marathons, write books, patent inventions, raise families, travel the world, win sporting events......

Strong women is nothing new.  Women of unthinkable strength and bravery is nothing new.  I think of Jochebed, Deborah, Ruth and Esther of the Bible.  Strong doesn't begin to describe them.  They were women unafraid, or at least able to conquer their fears.  Jochebed, the Israelite slave, defied the law of the day to save her son's life.  He was saved and delivered an entire nation out of bondage.  Deborah, the prophetess and judge, accompanied a terrified man into battle, then sang after their victory.  Ruth, the housewife, followed her widowed mother in law to a foreign land, accepting the true God and working hard to provide food for herself and her mother in law.  She eventually became the great grandmother of King David.

Esther, the Jewish beauty, waited and obeyed and saved the Jewish people from slaughter.  Esther fascinates me, with her wisdom, patience, submission, and selflessness.  She not only obeyed the man who had reared her, she married a stranger, continued to ask for advice even from her position as queen, conquered her fear of death and risked her life for others.  She had the courage to look a wrongdoer in the eye and point him out to the king.  She had the courage to live in the palace for several years without revealing her nationality.  She had the courage to wait.  She had the courage to listen to counsel.  She had the courage to count her life as nothing for something greater than herself.  She was a strong woman if there ever was one.

Esther was a real woman with skin and bones, a real woman with a heart, with doubts, fears and insecurities, but balanced with her "realness" was the strength of a lion, the determination of a warrior, the faith of a child.  There are many, many other examples of such strength in women of the Bible, all real, all praised even thousands of years later.

I wonder if today's "strong" woman has the same strength of character and heart as Esther or Jochebed, or if is more of a need to prove worthiness, a search for meaning.  I know balance is an elusive quality and very hard to practice consistently, but I hope to learn how to balance femininity, wisdom and grace with strength - not of body or mind, necessarily, but of character and soul.

(I am looking forward to some serious "girl time" in Heaven with these strong, awesome ladies!)

Easy

Maybe it's because I have lived in a third world country for half of my adult life.  Maybe it's because it just seems ridiculous.  Maybe it's because it makes me think of the poor people on the movie "Wall-E".

Using a public restroom these days is just so easy and convenient!  Everything is automatic!  I don't have to touch or do anything to get my hands squeaky clean and dry.  I don't even have to flush.  The commode knows when I'm finished!  The soap dispenser knows when my hand is under it and exactly how much soap to squirt into my hand.  The water at the sink knows when I need it and precisely how much to spray and at what temperature.  The towel dispenser just needs a small wave and it spits out the perfect size of paper towel, or better yet, I can just put my hands in front of the dryer and the hot air just blows right out.  It's all just so ridiculously efficient.  There are even the automatic, timed, air fresheners that know just when to spritz the perfect amount of pleasant scent into the air.

I'm not complaining, I'm glad I don't have to work at taking care of my necessities.

  I'm just disappointed that I have to get my own toilet paper and open my own door.  I mean, come on!  And why aren't the seats padded?!  Why are there not automatic stall doors?!  If you're going to make life easier, do it right.  I'd like a music controller and speakers in each stall, please, for my listening pleasure during my time in the restroom.  I'd like better hooks for my purse, and a spacious, clean place for my bags and/or jacket.  I'd like the seat cover to open by itself, right when I'm ready to.....uh....sit down.  I'd like thicker, softer toilet paper that has been warmed to the perfect temperature.  I'd like the locks on the doors to be automatic and for them to know when to lock and when to unlock without me lifting a finger or even having to wave at them.  Each stall should be outfitted with a magazine rack with plenty of magazines for me to choose from.  The paper towels really should throw themselves away and the mirror should tell me I look beautiful.  Ok, maybe that's a bit much.

So.....there it is.  One of the important and vital subjects of our day.....I feel better!

(If any of my suggestions actually get invented and patented, I want a cut.)

One of a kind

It's amazing how unique each person is, from the way he or she looks, to the way he stands, laughs and sleeps to the way she thinks, sits and writes.  Our uniqueness is beyond human understanding.  My fingerprints are unlike any of the other billions of people in this world.  My perspective, speech and love language are only mine.  God truly puts love and thought into each of His creations and not only into us humans, but as we know and marvel at, into the tiny snowflakes and hummingbirds too!

Each one of my children is so very different from the other.  We have had our turn with the flu epidemic and it's funny to watch how each handles sickness and discomfort differently.  I won't embarrass them by naming which does what, but I have the one who whines, cries and doesn't want to eat anything because everything tastes "different".  I have the one who is tough, follows instructions for getting well and turns sweet and docile when sick.  Then there's the one who gets angry at the sickness and so frustrated that it takes so long to go away.  The thing that is consistent, though, is that they each need and want their mom!

Handling illness is kind of a silly example of the uniqueness of my children, but just as they handle discomfort so completely differently, they also handle love, discipline, learning and heartache differently.  It is my job as a parent to be an expert on each one of them, to learn their ways, how they think and how they feel about things.  It is not easy.  Just when I think I've got them each figured out, they do something completely outside of the norm, contradicting what I was sure was their "way".

I'm so glad my God knows me inside and out, intimately and thoroughly, from the number of hairs on my head to the depth of my dreams and feelings.  He made me, after all.  He gave me my personality, my nose, and my heart.  I often get frustrated with my children.  Can't they all just be the same so life would be simpler for me?  Why can't they each just open wide the mouth and happily take the spoonful of medicine?  No, one has to hold his nose and gag it down.  One prefers pills.  One thinks medicine is candy and would overdose if I didn't pay attention.  Thankfully, God doesn't get frustrated with His children.  He revels in our uniqueness and loves me just how He made me.   What a wonderful thought.

Music is one of God's greatest gifts to mankind.  Music has been an intregal and important part of my life for as long as I can remember.  I love all kinds of music, from country to opera and everything in between.  Hearing certain songs brings back some of the most joyful memories of my life as well as some of the most painful.  There have been times where music has gotten me through the day.

Both of my parents sing very well and I grew up watching my dad lead the congregational singing in church, as well as the choir.  I had the privilege of being in school choirs for most of my growing up years and of being taught by some very talented people.  When I was in high school, I finally got the nerve to sing duets, trios and in small choral groups.  Such fun!  As a Junior in high school, my friend and I joined the adult church choir.....the only teenagers to do such a thing.

One of the things I missed so very much living overseas for 15 years was singing......in English, with others, especially in a choir.  In Cuba, 13 years ago, I joined a church choir for their Christmas cantata, without knowing any Spanish.  I just wanted to sing!  My eyes were glued to the music the entire time.  After that, I sang in a church choir in Delaware for about 2 months, then didn't sing in any kind of group until we came to Central Baptist in 2010 and I jumped into the choir.  I enjoyed it so very much. It was like being home.  Once again, I'm back in the Central choir and love the practice, the challenge and the chance to edify, encourage and praise through music.

When I heard about the Northeast Texas Choral Society, I was very interested.  Brent works with one of the pianists, so when she mentioned that auditions were open this month, I thought it sounded like fun.....why not?  I really wasn't too terribly nervous until the lady who auditioned before me was turned down flat.  After my audition, when the director shook my hand and said "welcome", I was so excited and relieved.  I think I actually did a fist pump.  Our first rehearsal was all work, no play.  Fifteen pieces of music were handed out.  There is no going over parts like I'm used to, just singing!  It was so much fun.  We are practicing for a concert in May called "Sing to me of Heaven" and all of the songs are either spirituals or songs about God, His grace and His goodness.  They are absolutely beautiful.
The icing on the cake is that I have to.....uh, get to buy a formal black dress.  Yes!  I'm going to love this!

Mostly, I am thankful for the gift of music, the talent God has given me and the chance to sing to Him and for Him.

"Sing to the Lord a new song!"

What is it about snow that makes me happy?  Is it the jaw dropping beauty?  Yes!  Is it the clean, pure white?  Yes!  Is it the wonder of millions of different snowflakes falling?  Yes!  Is it the possibility of a day off of work?  Yes!  Is it the bright eyes and shrieks of my kids?  Yes!  Is it the boys throwing it, eating it and making a snowman?  Yes!  Is the excuse to stay in comfy, warm clothes and puffy slippers all day?  Yes!  

Having grown up in Virginia, I've seen some serious snow.  I love the pictures my parents have of one of their cars totally buried in snow when I was about eight years old.  I always waited anxiously to see if school would be delayed two hours of if we would get the whole day off.  

We had the coolest house on the block when I was a girl.....for one reason and one reason only.  Our back yard was a huge hill and excellent for snow sledding.  Any time there was snow, neighbors we had never even met would congregate in our back yard and sled down our awesome hill.  My mom used to get so irritated that strangers would just use our yard without asking!  Every once in awhile, a polite child would knock on the door and ask for permission to sled.  We had such fun sledding down that hill, wiping out, daring each other to go down the fastest part, seeing who could go the farthest, freezing all the while.  The only negative was tromping back up that big old hill, pulling the sled behind us, only to repeat the whole thing again.

Since moving to Texas, we have heard numerous times that it doesn't snow here.  Bummer.  Interestingly, it has already snowed three times this winter......not a ton, granted, but it is snow.  On Christmas day, we were shocked and thrilled when it snowed the hugest cotton ball snowflakes I had ever seen!  It was such a sweet gift for us.  Today it snowed a little bit and it is cold enough that the kids get a two hour delay at school tomorrow.  Yay!

What is it about snow that makes me happy?  Everything!

My grandmother, Ruth Elizabeth Perdue, turned 90 on Christmas day.  Ninety.  I can hardly fathom that she was born in 1923.  I guess that's how my kids feel when I tell them I was born in 1973!  She has lived through so many historical events and still remembers most of them.  Her memory is amazing.

She lives alone, drives herself around and makes a living sewing and making crafts to sell.  She also has a part time job sitting with "old people" as she likes to joke.  She is the Scrabble queen, and don't you forget it!

Grandma was so patient with me when I was a kid, teaching me how to bake, cook, sew and how to save a penny.  She has always loved yard sales and thrift stores.....as a matter of fact, I don't know that she has ever bought me anything brand new!  We used to tease her about her raisin cookies because each cookie usually only had one raisin in it!  Same with chocolate chip cookies.  Hey, who needs to put the whole bag in one batch, it's an overkill, really........

I used to love to listen to her stories about her younger days and about my dad and his brothers growing up.  She loves pictures and will still go through piles of them, remembering the story behind each......naming each grandchild and great grandchild, remembering their ages, spouses' names and what they are doing now.  (The last count I knew was 20 grandchildren, most with spouses, and 26 great grandchildren.)  What touches me the most is that she never fails to send a card and small gift for every birthday and anniversary - to ALL of us!  She amazes me.

Love for God has permeated my grandma's life.  She probably hasn't missed a dozen church services in all these years and has held to His promises during some very difficult times.  A widow now for many years, her faith in her Heavenly Father has become more real and precious, I'm sure.

Reaching 90 years of age is quite a milestone, but touching the lives of her family for 60 years is worthy of praise and honor.

Resolution - the act of resolving

I know, I know, making new year's resolutions is kind of outdated.  I've heard all the reasons not to make them, but I still really like to make my list every January 1.  Sure, I might not keep them all, but if I don't set goals, I find myself having nothing specific to shoot for.  Goals help me focus. 

 I can't live without lists, so for me, making a list of what I would love to start, accomplish or finish in this year, is the best way to articulate it and keep track of how I'm doing.  Also, if, uh....when I forget, I can look back and be reminded of what's important to me.

According to a study done by the University of Scranton last year, 45% of Americans still usually make new year's resolutions.  Top resolution of 2012 was to lose weight.   Funny, that's usually on the top of my list too!  Also, according to their study, those who make specific goals are 10 times more likely to reach them than people who make none.

So, all you skeptics out there, here's to taking advantage of a new year beginning, a clean slate if you will....we can just let it be filled with whatever comes our way or we can fill it ourselves and who knows.....maybe we'll actually keep one more resolution this year than we did last year!  

Getting started.....

A lot of my "musings" are done while cooking, vacuuming, driving or trying to tune out the Disney channel.  Sometimes, they impress even me!  Sometimes, they are confusing and scattered, at best.  At any rate, they are mine and they reflect what's on my mind and in my heart at a given time.

It takes a measure of vulnerability to share with potentially many people, the thoughts, ideas and opinions that reside in my brain.  I mean, who cares, really, what an almost 40 year old mother with gray roots thinks about life?  What can I possibly offer that might encourage, edify or help even a few people?

Well, for starters, maybe another woman out here will feel a bit less lonely, knowing there is someone else who struggles with womanhood, understanding the Bible, and her weight.  Maybe someone out there has questions about God and a bit of practical insight from someone who has walked with Him for 24 years would help a little.  Maybe this is just a good way for me to journal and leave my children something of myself for them to read one day.

Whatever the case, if I can encourage one, if I can cheer up one, if I can even provide answers for one, than this becomes more than a pastime for me, but a ministry....a calling, even.

Welcome aboard!