Christmas Blessings 2011

Merry Christmas, my friends! May joy, peace, love and sweet memories in the making be yours this day and every day into the New Year. 

It has been an incredible journey this year, hasn't it? Recently, I've heard many stories how God unfolded miracles in the lives of precious friends and loved ones. He has restored, healed and reconciled hearts to one another and to Himself. Lives have been touched and changed. Many received abundant blessings of renewed health, new direction, freedom and deeper living into the heart of their journey and relationship with God. Light now reigns where darkness once prevailed. Testimonies continue to rise all around me. And this year has been the year I've brought forward my own testimony of living life in Christ. All glory to God!

My Testimony

Hello, dear one! Instead of my usual blog post, I'd like to open my heart to you as I share my testimony. There is no better way to get to know one another than to tell our story....

I'm Thinking ... Non-Traditional

I love Fall. There’s nothing quite like taking a drive amidst a colorful mountain-filled backdrop of red, yellow, orange and purple. The window would be cranked down, just enough for the cool, crisp air to stir up memories of Fall seasons long past. Then there is football. Bon fires. Pumpkins. Scarecrows. Corn Mazes. Geese honking overhead as they make their way southbound. Thanksgiving. Family. Friends. … and more.

The Perfect Fit

Recently I came across a discussion that posed the question, “If you know what you want and dream big enough, what are you willing to do to get what you want?” The discussion continued and was leaning toward the thinking that if we aren’t living our dreams, apparently we don’t desire them enough.

The Empty Nest

I am now an official part-time empty nester. My oldest daughter is a college freshman and lives on campus. My youngest, a senior in high school, spends the majority of the week with her dad during the school year. In between, it’s just me and my Sheltie, Jake. What a transition! From full-speed ahead to a quick downward shift to a steadier slower speed. 

The Key to Survival - Part 2

Welcome back to the Key to Survival – Part 2!

Well, finally … here they are – three keys to survival when taking on a challenge or event or being challenged by some of life’s annoying obstacles:

The Key to Survival - Part 1

What do zip-lines, whirlpools and life have in common?

As a young girl, I often went swimming with my friends. We loved to create a whirlpool. Each of us would move the water in one direction until the current was strong enough to move us. Three or four times around the pool – we were good to go. That’s how I learned to float. As long as I picked up my feet and relaxed myself from head to toe, I was carried safely with the current. Not as easy as it sounds! After mouths-full of water and being sucked down a few times, I was determined to learn the key to survival. And I did. What was the key to survival? Hold that thought.

New Beginnings

Sometimes we forget with every new beginning - something has to end. I was in a marriage that was neither healthy nor productive for me and my daughters. The time came when I had to decide what was best for all involved. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, and the decision didn’t come overnight but after years of living in a marriage tainted with emotional and verbal abuse that led to memories of a lifetime filled with more of the same. Many hearts were at stake. My daughters and I moved out to begin rebuilding our lives. 

Just One

Recently while surfing the net, I came across a song I haven’t heard for some time, “It Only Takes a Spark.”  Amazing lyrics.

“It only takes one spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing…”  What an incredible thought!

Mirror Mirror

The Queen in the well-known fairy tale Snow White often asked her magical mirror, "Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who in the land is fairest of all?" The mirror’s reply was always "You, my queen, are fairest of all." Until one day the mirror replied, "Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White is fairer than you."  As most know, the Queen became jealous and this set the stage for her revenge upon Snow White so she can again be the fairest in the land… 

Double-Dare!

Some of my best childhood memories are when my friends and I dared to dream out loud and were rewarded by accomplishing what we set out to do.  Most of those accomplishments took us up tree branches and into a tree house, our “clubhouse” where conversations about more dreams were ignited. Some took us down steep hills or roads on skates, skateboards or sleds, into the deep ends of lakes or pools. Our accomplishments hinged most on double-dares, but luckily we made it through unscathed yet filled with stories of many feats and fears conquered. We also spent hours on walkie talkies pretending we were on secret missions or on some grand adventure living out what we imagined to be the perfect, ideal life. 

Against All Odds

Rudy Ruettiger grew up in a lower income family of 14 children. He loved football, and even more, he loved Notre Dame. He was denied transfer to Notre Dame three times but never gave up on becoming part of his beloved alma mater. He kept his studies going in spite of a learning disability and worked on the side to fund his education and his eventual acceptance and transfer into Notre Dame. His love for both Notre Dame and football grew. It wasn’t easy for him, but he wasn’t going to give up.

Faith Forward

During her presentation, Christian author and speaker Glenna Salsbury impressed truths about the importance of letting go of the past. To help us get where we need to go (and are called to be), positive faith-filled words must precede and follow our actions. Letting go means let it go completely. Choose to say “oh well,” shrug it off and simply move on. What an awesome response.

Radically Bold But Wisely Controlled

So, there we were, strapped to our seats. Our legs, swinging back and forth, hanging in mid-air. I could hear the nervous chatter of those behind me. I glanced over at my daughters. Both looked back with wide-eyed stares. They held onto the bar in front of them with white-knuckled death grips. Wait, that was me... They were unusually calm.

With a plunge forward that sucked the breath out of me, we started out on our two minute journey. It was too late to change my mind. Roller coaster is an understatement. Twists. Turns. Spins. Straight up. Nose dive. Backward. Forward. Upside down, but never right side up for too long. Any direction seemingly humanly impossible. That was just my stomach. And the screams? I couldn’t utter a sound, something about G-forces. But my daughter managed to reach decibels I never knew existed. The man behind me put some women opera singers to shame.

The Sky's the Limit!

A few years ago I made a promise to a good friend I would jump out of an airplane (with a parachute on of course) if she took on my challenge for her to reach out for treatment to help her through depression.  Her depression came as a result of having Intracranial-Hypertension, a disabling illness.  In the midst of this, she was unable to realize and accept how precious and valuable she truly is.

The Blessing of Easter

As we journey together into this Easter week, may you and your families be embraced by the sweet flow of God's grace woven into the message of hope found in Scripture, lived by Christ Himself, and shared with all of us.

What If? Indeed!

Recently some friends and I were discussing the "is your glass half-full or half-empty" debate. I sat quietly, amused and content with listening to each side intent on proving their view was the only correct way to look at it. While I believe both viewpoints hold truth, I couldn't settle on either. Half-full or half-empty? Neither! It's time to challenge this debate with a new perspective, a new option. What if ? What if we empty the portion into a smaller glass and fill it to the top? The result? One full glass and one completely empty. End of controversy!

Honk!

Nature has an incredible way of teaching valuable lessons. Consider geese. Geese teach us about community, encouragement and survival. When geese fly in their V-formation, they’re not flying to be fancy but with intention to help others behind them. With each flap of their wing, there is an ‘uplift’ of wind created to ease the flight for those that follow. The V-formation increases the flow of air and their flying range. If a goose strays or slips out of formation, it will feel the drag and resistance of flying alone without the aid of the current and will resume its spot in the formation.

Dare to Dream Your Reality

When it comes to realizing dreams, goals and aspirations, are you motivated, inspired, driven and dedicated to do all that is necessary to reach them, or do you retreat and simply give up when the challenge comes right back to you by way of obstacles?

Obstacles can be finances, time, other people, lack of resources and many times, ourselves. What is holding you back? What are you allowing to hold you back? Fear? Insecurity? Doubt? Impatience? Do you worry about the change that will take place when you reach your goal? Are you feeling overwhelmed by all you need to accomplish just to get to the next step?

When God When?

I needed only a few things from the store, so I expected it to be a quick stop, but the check-out lines were knee-deep in customers. I was restless and moved between different lines, finally settling in to what I thought to be the fastest and shortest. The girl at the express lane came back from break and turned on her light. Over I went. That brought me from the back of five full carts to being third in the express lane. I was on my way. I thought perhaps I’d get home early enough and find extra time to relax. The two in front of me checked out quickly. It was finally my turn. Then it happened.

By Way of Introduction

As a single mom raising two teenage daughters, I understand the complexities and challenges of the road traveled.

I understand see-sawing emotions, heartache, pain and the loneliness of dealing with memories of a bittersweet past mixed with abuse, neglect, rejection and yes, self-condemnation.

YET! I understand what it means to experience tears of thanksgiving, incredible joy and the humility of being freed from chains of the past. I understand the feelings that come with forgiving and being forgiven, being healed, restored and transformed from the inside-out into a new life, knowing with absolute assurance I am loved. I am valuable. I am precious to an amazing, awesome and wonderful God. When I finally realized and accepted that truth, my life has never been the same.