Welcome home...

Walking through the forest,
my favorite thing to do is look for beautiful flowers and evidence of the creatures that we so rarely see happily ensconced in the suburbs.

With camera in hand,
I lay on the path,
creep nearer to odd objects
and frequently cause my eldest to wonder
if she could steal my camera in my sleep without retribution.

I have always enjoyed imagining who lives inside the nooks, crannies and holes along the way. Wouldn't it be fun, to be shrunk down just for a moment to see what really is down those holes or be able to fly up and peek inside the tree trunk hole?

Now, I don't want to be eaten or harmed,
so on my imaginary journeys,
I seem to always be safe.

This morning I read Hebrew's chapter 11
just like my good pastor has assigned.
(yup... she gives homework...imagine that)

The chapter talks about faith and trusting in what we do not see.

I read and read thinking, "man... yay for these people... apparently they are much more faithful than I am..."
and then... then I saw Abraham's name and laughed! Yup! I laughed because Abraham doubted God's plan for descendants enough to do some seemingly yucky things.
It was then I smiled... I figure if Abraham was listed as faithful and he saw angels who he just couldn't trust their message. Then... well... then if I have just a tiny bit of faith... if I allow God to use me... Ahh... I'll be all right.

So,
today...
May you be blessed with the faith you need for life's adventure.
May a smile find its way to your lips
and may you know you are a treasure.
.. a light...
someone special.

You are loved.

Thinking... yet again....

I sit and I type.
Thinking over recent events.
Pondering the reasons for the choices in my life.
Considering what path to take next.

I am sure you have all been here...
a proverbial crossroads...

Our choices change us,
leave us different.

So,
we must decide
what it is we want.

What is most important to us.

And figure out if our actions
and our deepest desires
are in harmony or discord.

What is it we say we are seeking?
Do our actions reflect this?

Are we willing to be patient
and work toward our good and worthy goals?
Or do we,
like my silly kiddos waiting for the play to start today,
think we are simply never going to have a "payoff".

Are we afraid that our dreams will never come true?
I know that I am sometimes like Abraham of old,
wanting to trust my way instead of God's plan.

Anybody else ever been there?

I pray that you and I are blessed with wisdom and patience...
Neither is guaranteed to bring gratification...

But..
hands up...
who'll admit,
their own way sometimes leaves them sad as well?
Goodnight.
Peace to you always.

Small changes

I need a new bottle of wite out.

Somehow the little spongy thing has fallen off and it seems a little gummy.

I find myself doing unusual shaking things with the bottle and dabbing at my paperwork with the stick that is still attached to the lid.

I know I tend to be a tad philosophical ...

I promise,

I really have a point.

While fussing with the wite out, I considered the fact that the crazy bottle has been driving me nuts for months and yet I still haven't replaced it.

It is not expensive, nor hard to find.

So why don't I fix the problem?

Perhaps in the whole scheme of things,

I'm just not inconvenienced enough to take action.

A bottle of wite out is,

after all,

just a bottle of wite out.

This evening though,

as I was once again pondering life's path,

I was thinking about the kind of woman I want to be,

who I am

and who I have been.

What is it that I need to do,

to be who I am meant to be?

What habits should I cultivate,

which should I prune?

What actions should I take that will bring true lasting happiness?

I hear the conversations of my youth playing in my ears,

the words of my parents imparting advice on faith and life.

Sometimes it is hard to make the little changes we need.

Choices in what we read,

what we watch

and even who we spend our time with,

really matter.

I pray that you,

that I,

will seek the path that will lead to real lasting joy.

That we will find a way to submit to the truth when we hear it.

To throw the lousy out and replace the broken.

With something beautiful...

or at least not gummy!

May you be blessed.

This night, tomorrow and always.

Remembered things

A creak on the stair,

a stir in the wind.


Millions and Billions of things my dear friend,
can frighten the child that dwells deep within.

Many years ago as I sat in a darkened high school hallway, I was struck by how lonely it was. Having a pencil in my pack, I sat on the stairs and soaked in the atmosphere. Then, in the quiet so long ago, I wrote the words that still echo in my mind.

Life can be frightening. I talk about this with my students sometimes. We talk about what we do when we are afraid and how shadows and noises can seem spooky in the dark.

We discuss how the presence of a light can help us to see. How just a bit of illumination can make the difference between fear and calm.

In our lives, what is it that we depend upon to guide our way and calm our fears?

I do not know about you, but when my back is to the wall, the faith of my childhood whispers in my ear. Words of hymns asking me to "trust and obey" or reminding me that I am loved rustle in my mind.

Like a little child in need of a night light, words of hope have the power to help give us courage in the dark.

I do not know most of you, I do not know what you believe. Despite this, I feel confident in saying that the kind words and precepts taught to us as children can generally be relied on as adults.

I hope for you this day...

That you will have peace in your heart,

light in the dark and

a firm remembrance of the true things you have been taught.