Happy FOT 2015!

Thankful for God's Protection

You always dread getting a phone call to tell you that something happened to your loved one. Well on Saturday September 12th I got that call. Thankfully it was from my husband Kenny and he was not hurt badly.

On the way home from services Kenny's usually very reliable Chrysler 300 stopped dead in the middle lane of I-26 west near Columbia (I was home sick that day). Right then and there could have been a major wreck if any cars had been directly behind him going at 70mph as they usually are on that highway on a Saturday.  He called me immediately and while he was still on the phone he told me the police had just arrived so they came on the scene very quickly.  About 5 mins later he called me back to say that his car had been hit from behind while he was still in it. Kenny still had his seatbelt on so he only hit his head on the wheel and was able to walk away with whiplash.  The other driver who was taken to hospital on a stretcher. Kenny did go to the hospital and x-rays and catscan showed that all is well. He will just be quite sore for a while.


Trumpets is tomorrow and this incident just emphasizes the great need for prayer for everyone as they travel during these fall holyday season.  I am very thankful for God's protection as without a doubt this could have ended up much worse than just our time with our 9-year old car coming to an end.

We hear or read the cliche all the time about making the most of life and letting people know you love them now. An experience like this makes it real that tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us.

Road trip to Oklaholma

We just returned from an unplanned but not unwelcome trip to Oklaholma. Our good friends Desiree and Thurman's marriage happened sooner than expected so we took the opportunity to take a road trip to Ardmore, OK and then to Edmond afterwards. It was great timing as PYC just started and it was awesome to get some of that camp fever.  A 15 hr road trip is always fun with Kenny: he drives, I sleep some, we catch up on some church audio, we laugh, sing-a-long to some favorite tunes and see what new things we can discover about each other. A refreshing change from routine.

As we passed through Atlanta we saw a car with a PYC tag (license plate) and then our own street signs!

This was our first time passing through Dallas, and I was fascinated by the ginormous overpasses and that they were all painted! I guess it's true that Texas does everything bigger! 

Reed Wedding Pictures

 

Edmond & PYC Pictures

 

Musings at 48.25 years old

  

I am finding that this is a very true quote and I have been reflecting a lot on what I am learning from my life's experiences.  I don't know if it's because I am approaching 50 (now turned 48 in January) and I can't believe I am there already, or because I am in the most challenging job I have had for a long time where I see a lot of sickness and human nature. It is so real to me that we only truly know ourselves when we are put in different situations. We may think we know how we feel or react but until we are in it under duress then we really find out what our true character is. I understand more deeply why we need to go through different experiences, whether to learn to see things from other's perspectives, or to test the depth of our character and highlight areas for improvement. Every day, several times a day, I ask myself, what am I to learn from that incident or situation? How could I have handled it better (or maybe on a rare occasion I actually did pretty well!). Sometimes it's obvious but often it isn't clear or it could be multiple lessons. Of course, with human nature sometimes I just don't want to see the obvious and it takes a while for it to sink in!

I also find myself reflecting on how short our time is. To me the past 30 years have gone by so fast. I regret not doing more when I could have been further along in certain areas by now. If I had started that habit 5 or 10 years ago what fruit would have been borne by now. Thoughts like that are a spur to get on and be a doer. I want to look back in another 5 years and see what was accomplished rather than regret what wasn't.  

That's another thing I have come to realize - how futile regret is. You can wallow in it and nothing changes. It's a total waste of energy. Just learn from the past and move forward. I often ponder that God has given us a new day, new week, new month and new year to remind us that we can start over again and again and again. That's so encouraging. 

Here's to 1.75 more years of experiences and learning as I reach age 50 (God willing).

This is Love

This Is Love

Love is a giving a caring, a soul that's always sharing

Though unnoted it's deeds are, they're derive from a vibrant spa.

A sensitivity to others, with heartfelt care for all brothers

Regarding not the color of their skin, for to hm all men are kin.

Not content to tramp one mile, love travels further (with a smile)

Always forgives when he's been wronged, hurt is forgotten before too long.

Love flows from God, down through his son, then into us (if we'll only come)

A precious gift of life, yet free, a vital commodity for you and me.

Redeem Time

Redeem Time

Take time to use time:

Every precious moment counts

Please don't abuse time:

It is forever lost

Take time to give time

To others who may need

Comforting words, a kind deed

Take time to see

Take time to gold-mine

For treasures deep and rater

And as you've freely gotten

Take time to share

Take time to ensure

Your name stays in the book

Then you'll soon find that 

Time is no more.

Ode to Maternal Love

Ode to Maternal Love

When I was small and wrinkled

With a face that often crumpled

Bawled to bring the house down

You love me just the same

Though I was often messy 

And really quite a smelly

Constantly demanding

Your devotion didn't wane

And as I grew and toddled

Hands sticking to all and sunder

(A typhoon at large)

With firmness you directed

Unconscious of all danger

Ignorant of fire and water 

Nothing sacred in my grasp

With ingenuity you protected.

As with "whys?" I would exhaust you

Continually wanting more 

With such tender love 

You did inspire

So now I just want to say

To you who loved me first

Thank you for bringing me

Safely to this hour!

You CAN make it

When life seems tough and dreary and you're kinda getting weary
of the struggles that make your mind a battle ground.
And if you're  tired of fighting and fighting.
You just feel like alighting from this train that's kingdom bound.


Well remember God has called you cause he knows he can support you,
and besides, He'd never let you down.
He is confident you'll  make it and assured that
you can take it, He really wants you to wear the crown.


So keep on, don't stop striving and before you know it you'll  be thriving on love (He won't apply the brakes).
For God knows what he is doing and if you trust everything to him,
you'll find that He never makes mistakes.