Inspirational – Long walks and dark chocolate

A Few of My Favorite Things

August 17, 2016 Leave a Comment

Inspiration from the Discover Challenge: The Poetry of List Making

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Rising before dawn to have coffee and spend time with Jesus
Reading in bed until I am drowsy enough to fall asleep
Bear hugs from the ones I love
Good morning or good night texts from my daughters
A nice meal shared with friends or family around a table
Sitting outside in the shade enjoying God’s creation
Reliving old and making new memories with my girls
When my husband calls and plays our wedding song over the phone
The hauntingly beautiful sound of a hooting owl outside my window
Time spent in worship or fellowship with my church family
Sunset boat rides and fishing with the love of my life
Travelling anywhere with someone I love along for the trip
My quiet devotion time in my favorite chair
The satisfaction of a full day’s work
Anything and everything to do with my granddaughters
Autumn and falling leaves, cooler temperatures and pumpkin everything

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: favorites, list making, lists, love, special, things I love

Rain or shine

August 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Storms never last

It was a muggy Sunday afternoon and the steam rose up from the pavement as I traveled towards Miami to visit my granddaughter in the hospital.

Thankfully, I was nice and chilly thanks to my Explorer’s air conditioning unit. As I took in the beauty around me and prayed for our little Cali and other needs, I remember becoming very aware of a Florida weather phenomenon if you will.

One minute it was raining, pelting down all around me, wipers rushing side to side on high speed, struggling to keep up with the falling drops. The next minute, the sun was peeking out, I caught glimpses of that steam rising, and I could see blue skies ahead. Then again suddenly, the clouds overhead would fight to shed their moisture, seemingly all on in one area and then I would burst forth out of the deluge again and readjust the wipers. As soon as I thought we were down to that low intermittent speed, the skies would open up again.

If you are from Florida or traveled Florida much in the summer, you are likely shaking your head in agreement, as the same thing has happened to you. Maybe it happens in other places too, but I’ve only experienced it in my home state. Rain is pouring down on my neighbor and my grass and foliage is begging for a drop.

Anyway, all of this is occurring as I am fervently praying for answers and help with all of the complicated little vignettes of drama in my life. The same thing occurs 4 or 5 times, and I was beginning to think it was getting a little creepy like I was in the twilight zone. Finally I go through what was to be the last storm and I see the light…the sunlight and no more clouds. I see perfectly beautiful, clear skies with no rain in sight. I feel like God is showing me that there will be days of rain and days of sunshine, there will be storms, there will be times when you aren’t sure what to expect but in the end you will make it through. There will be days of bright sunshine again.

Then I feel that peace, that wonderful peace that always assures me He has heard my cries. And I know that he will continue to give me strength for the journey.

Blessings!

Filed Under: Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Florida, God, granddaughter, love, peace, storms

What lies beneath?

August 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

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Today’s prompt hit a nerve as soon as I read the word….surface. My mind immediately began to form poems about layers and things hidden deep within. It affected me because it reminds me of a topic that I’ve been contemplating for days.

A few nights ago, I taught on Motives; those deeply private and often impure reasons we do the things we do. As I studied in preparation, I thought a lot about my own motives. I asked myself questions like, “What is hidden in this heart?” and “Are my motives usually pure?” I know better than to ask “always” because I think we all know that our hearts deceive us sometimes and there are other times when we have just allowed the wrong things in and our actions correspond.

I knew I had written on this very topic before so I did a quick search on “motives” and lo and behold, I find Check My Motives. This post was from 2014! So two years ago, God was dealing with me on the same topic. I’m thankful for God’s long-suffering towards me as obviously He is re-addressing this with me once again. I am either a very slow learner or my human heart just needs a reminder from time to time.

We do find ourselves with messy motives though, don’t we? Have you ever done something for someone else with the hope that someone else will notice and praise you? Would you do some of the good things you do if there was to be no visible payoff? Do you hide behind social media and post something with a motive to hurt someone or embarrass them, but tell yourself you are innocent of such?

In all seriousness and honesty, I really do want to have pure motives all the time. In order for that to happen my heart has to be pure, because out of the abundance of it, the mouth speaks (or writes, or posts).

Sometimes things done with insincere motives unwittingly benefit others and often we don’t even realize where our motives are coming from when we act. It is a topic definitely worth reflecting on in your quiet time.

Proverbs 16:2 says, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.” We know God looks upon the heart, but we may forget what that means. He examines our motives. If that isn’t reason enough for me to examine my own, I don’t know what is.

Filed Under: Christian, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily Post, Daily Prompt, faith, God, motives, surface

Cali; the gift that keeps on giving

July 28, 2016 6 Comments

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The prompt was “Crisis” and since NICU parents deal with this all the time, I thought this was appropriate.

My daughter and I had a great day with our little Cali yesterday. I blogged before about Cali’s premature arrival and the complications she has faced since. She is 3 ½ months old and we still don’t have a homecoming date.

We stayed in Miami last night so we were with her until around 9pm and my daughter even got to help give her baby a bath for the second time ever. It’s tricky with a PIC line. Also, when you live over 80 miles away and spend most of your days here, and the baths are given at night, it’s tougher to participate. Last night was the first time I had ever seen my beautiful little granddaughter’s skinny little behind. What a sight to behold!

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All Clean!!

We got up this morning and had breakfast, anxious to arrive at the hospital. In good spirits, I parked the car and I chose the stairs as my daughter took the elevator. We usually park on the 5^th floor but I always beat her by taking the stairs. And believe me; I need the exercise with the delectable guava pastries (stress eating) that Nicklaus Children’s Hospital serves. Leave it to me to know about the food.

There was a long line at the check in and since I had left my monthly pass in the car (and I wasn’t going back outside and up those stairs or in the sweltering parking lot elevator) I had to wait in it. Impatiently, Morgan flashed her pass and went on up to the 2^nd floor, eager to see Cali.

When I arrived in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) a few minutes later, I could tell by Morgan’s face that something was wrong. The nurse explained that Cali had begun vomiting last night and her heart rate had dropped a little a few times. This can mean so many things, but they were immediately stopping all food and doing blood work to rule out infection. They asked us to leave so they could insert a second tube in her nose (opposite nostril from feeding tube) to pull excess air from her stomach.

My eyes welled up and in all seriousness, I wanted to curl up on the floor and cry. However motherhood kicked in and I knew I had to be strong for my baby girl. We went to the waiting room until the procedures were over and then my baby girl wanted to hold her baby girl. I sat in a chair beside her, more for moral support than anything. Cali slept and I looked around the room, which currently is home to approximately 7 babies; I overheard them say they have a total of 42 patients in NICU right now, which I understand is a lot for them.

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Morgan and Cali

There are babies in much more serious condition than Cali’s. There are older ones, younger ones, bigger and smaller. Some cry a lot and some you never hear a peep out of (at least when I’m there). I pray for all of them and I ache for the parents and what they are going through.

They come here from all over, show their ID or passes, push buttons so doors will open and wash their hands thoroughly multiple times per day. They sit in a room that is filled with beeping machines that have the power to give them quite a scare and they listen and try to understand as doctors and nurses reveal plans and strategies. Some of their children are growing out of the clothes and diapers they got at baby showers and some have even outgrown some of the toys.

Yet, they face each crisis with a strength that I had never seen before, having had two healthy, and delivered at-term babies. I look at them and not only compassion floods my soul, but also respect and admiration. I will shed tears in my prayers over this little world I didn’t realize existed until April 13^th. Sure, I knew there were sick babies, but I had no idea of the big picture.

I have focused on one small group of breaking hearts in my post, yet there are hundreds of others. More people going through this life with a heavy load and dealing with things we can’t imagine unless we have been there.

I know I’ve said this over and over, but let’s give people the benefit of the doubt because we truly don’t know. That lady in line in front of you with the blank look on her face who doesn’t hear the cashier saying, “Next, please”, could have been my daughter this morning. Be patient with her.

We are praying and believe that Cali will bounce back from this step backwards and come home quickly and give her doctor’s a shock. This journey is increasing our faith and our strength and I thank God for that. God will continue to provide the strength, mercy and grace for each and every day. He always does!

I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank the amazing team of doctors, nurses and all other staff at Nicklaus. We couldn’t be in better, more caring hands and I’m truly grateful. Oh, and a special kudos also to the cafeteria staff for their tasty creations and their smiles of concern. We also have the best friends and family ever and our community has rallied around us like a great wall of love and protection. There is NO way to begin to thank them all appropriately!

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cali, empathy, Family, God, love, Nicklaus, NICU

Forward progress

July 19, 2016 3 Comments

13511042_10154214939926763_6505748762857644676_n Was the game called Sorry where you move game piece forward or back based on where you land? The other day my daughter said, “Two steps forward and ten steps back” and I visualized that game. She was referring to her baby’s progress this week after three months in the NICU. She was frustrated, exhausted both physically and mentally and was exaggerating just a tad. It would have been easy for me to say something trite like, “Well, it could be worse”, or “All in good time”, but I knew it was better to just stay silent and try to rub the knot out of her neck. I know my daughter and her patience level was waxing thin on that particular day.

I have learned that sometimes it is just better to say nothing. I should say that I am learning this, because I certainly haven’t mastered it. I have an entire library of “go to” clichés that are completely useless or even irritating in situations that I fail miserably at recognizing on occasion. Sometimes a smile or a hug or just your being there does more to ease the angst of the weary than a thousand words could ever do. Often, just listening is all that is needed; we don’t always have to feel compelled to “fix” things. This is hard for me, I will admit. I want to give advice, answers, help resolve and implement ideas! But, as I said, I am learning.

I don’t have the time or inclination to delve into the multitude of issues that I’ve been faced with in the last few months. However, suffice it to say that I understand being too tired to talk or too mentally exhausted to answer a simple question without emotions turning into teardrops. With that said, I know in whom I trust and I can approach my trials and tribulations without fear and with faith. This doesn’t mean I won’t get bone tired sometimes and need to seek a quiet peaceful place to re-fresh myself for the next battle. (Yes, there will be more this side of heaven.)

What always compels me though to think I have to have an answer or suggestion for every tough situation I see others going through? I don’t know. Most of the time, I truly believe it’s that I really do want to help and soothe someone’s heart and I’m just not always sure of how best to accomplish that. I do know that I had NO idea what people were going through when they spent months at a hospital with their child until our precious Cali was born.

Sheepishly, I think back at how silly or even heartless some of my pre-Cali comments must have sounded to others. The thing is, we really do not know what anyone is going through unless we have walked in those same shoes and even then, experiences still vary from person to person even in the same scenario.

It amazes me that even in the tough times; God teaches us if we let Him. As we go through pain, if we follow His lead, we can grow in the midst of it. We can come out on the other side with a better understanding of mercy, with more empathy.

The other day as we pulled into the hospital park lot, my daughter (who still needs to learn patience) was complaining about the SUV in front of us. She was anxious to get up to the 2^nd floor and love on her baby, and this car was too slow, and in the way. She spouted off something negative and I found myself right smack dab in the middle of a teaching moment. I gently reminded her that the person in the car could be arriving at the hospital for the first time with a sick child, or leaving alone, never to bring theirs home. She got my point and I have noticed her growing in grace through all of this.

So, have patience with me and I will try to have more patience with you. Forgive me when I say all the wrong things or end up doing nothing because I didn’t know what to do. As for me, I pray to practice giving people the benefit of the doubt, to recognize that their day might be going worse than mine and to try not to offer up trite, commonplace sentiments when a hug or a prayer might serve them better.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: children, empathy, love, mercy, Patience

Life is a saga

May 22, 2016 3 Comments

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Life is a saga, a long and complicated story with many details. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you live very long at all this applies. Our life begins on page one, with our birth and if you have ever been in a room of women discussing childbirth, that can be a saga in itself. We live, we learn, we grow and we change.

We all have a story but it’s what we do with our stories that can make a difference. I was discussing this a little bit in my Sunday school class this morning. We go through things sometimes that make no sense, seasons filled with trials and tribulations. They are going to touch each one of us, but oh the difference when we allow God to teach us through them instead of sinking and wallowing in a big warm pile of self-pity.

I’m not saying not to grieve or that it’s wrong to cry, but when we’re done, get up and move on and let what we have learned, even when it was a tough, teach someone else. Some of the things I have been through in my life have allowed me to counsel or encourage other mothers or wives who are now going through the same thing. Can God really take that year of weeping and hurting and use it to impart healing in someone else? Why, yes He can and I can attest to having been on the giving and receiving end of both trial and help.

At times we try to pretend like we don’t know the meaning of grief or affliction and I’m not sure why, as we all are familiar with its sting. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, as long as we are this side of heaven, we will encounter difficulty. It’s how we deal with it that sets us apart.

Wouldn’t it be great to know that your saga didn’t end at your death because even after your demise other lives were still touched because of you? I think we all want to leave this world knowing we have imparted wisdom, hope and truth into others.

I was cleaning out a closet the other day and found an old journal of my mother’s. I’m sure I saw it and positive that I would have looked inside near the time of her death. The other day coming across the old treasure again I opened it up and saw that old familiar handwriting on the yellowing front page. For some reason I leafed through the other pages and buried in the middle were about five more pages that I had never seen before. They were written in and around December of 95’ and into the first months of January 96’. Mom died in June of 96’ so these “new” words were like gold to me. They were a new discovery of some of her personal thoughts in her final months. More of the saga of her much shortened life and they meant so much to me. They touched me and as I read them, I again felt her faith and strength. She imparted another precious gift to me almost twenty years after she met Jesus.

I was blessed to have a mother whose wisdom and guidance has served me well over the course of my life. Whether we are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters or friends, we too can choose to let our stories help us grow into better people and use their lessons to love on others. Isn’t that part of what love is all about?

Daily Prompt: Saga

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily Post, Daily Prompt, Family, God, life, love, saga, stories

Daily Prompt: Flourish

May 18, 2016 5 Comments

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As I pondered the word flourish from today’s prompt, I couldn’t help but think about my one month old granddaughter, Cali. If you read my blog or follow my Facebook page, you are already acquainted with Cali as she has been a repeat guest. She is flourishing in her NICU environment, and almost up to 6 lbs.

I was telling my daughter the other day that as much as we would all love to see her home, she is where she needs to be right now. They have adjusted her environment from the day she arrived until now to ensure she is thriving. She arrived on a ventilator and worked her way down to no oxygen support at all. She no longer needs the added warmth of incubation as she can now adjust her own body temperature. She continues to flourish, surrounded by prayer in the hands of these skilled doctors and nurses who are blessed with their talent by God.

In contemplating this, I began to think about how often we attempt to make all the conditions right for things to flourish. We plant that rose bush where it will receive 5-6 hours of sun per day, we water and fertilize it faithfully, we remove any encroaching weeds and pick off the dead bulbs and we watch and wait, hoping for a beautiful blossom covered bush.

Do we do the same thing for our souls? Do we make sure we are planted firmly on truth, rooted and grounded in faith? Do we water our souls with the Word of God, eating and drinking from the wellspring of Divine knowledge? Are we conscious of our environments, realizing that the places we go, the things we do and yes, even the company we keep has an effect on our lives? Are we cautious about who or what we pledge our loyalty to? Do we dig up, pull out and destroy the encroaching weeds of resentment, bitterness and un-forgiveness?

If we do, we are growing stronger every day and we can look forward to spiritually prosperous lives. If not then maybe this will serve as a gentle reminder. Let’s grow and thrive together! Blessings!

Filed Under: Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily Post, Daily Prompt, daughter, God, plants

Daily Prompt: Underestimate

May 16, 2016 4 Comments

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The prompt was Underestimate

Some things we tend to underestimate…..

The power of an Almighty God

The effectiveness of a fervent prayer

The consequence of a bad decision

The contagiousness of a warm smile

The loving benefit of a sincere hug

The influence of an invested mentor

The powerful result of forgiveness

The impact of sincere kindness

The beauty that comes from a pure heart

The way life changes after we have children

The way time flies from birth to graduation

The time it sometimes takes to right a wrong

Filed Under: Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily Post, Daily Prompt, forgiveness, kindness, love, underestimate

Daily Prompt: Envy

March 16, 2016 1 Comment

Today’s Prompt was to write using the word “Envy”.

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

When I find myself feeling envious towards another person or something they have, it reminds me that I need to pray. I need to spend time with God and reflect on what has diminished my typical contentment.

Nine times out of ten, I find that it can always be traced back to my perception of lack in “things”, “stuff”, “worldly goods”. The more we allow our focus to be on the material things instead of the lasting things and the heavenly things, the more often we will find ourselves desiring more of them.

We are never satisfied with “stuff”, so it is pointless to put all of our energy and focus into mere things that leave no lasting legacy, things we can’t take with us.

Envy can overcome both the young and the old, but I see it more in the young. I think this is just because they haven’t lived life long enough to realize what really matters. If I could give those younger than me some advice, I would tell them not to be so desirous of a bigger car, a more expensive house, and designer duds. I would tell them to covet a loving, generous heart, a kind and gentle spirit, a forgiving attitude; lasting things; traits that will make living this roller coaster life so much sweeter.

I am thankful for the lessons learned and the avenue to share with others and that is a good thing. Because, I find that the more thankful I am for what I have, the more content I become.

For similar posts, see The Little Foxes or Regrets; I’ve had a few

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: Daily Prompt, envious, envy, forgiveness, generosity, God, lessons learned

Daily Prompt: Divide

March 2, 2016 1 Comment

After work today, when I clicked on the Daily post and saw that the Prompt was to write a post using the word Divide, I headed outside. I wanted to park myself in my chair and enjoy this already spring-like SW FL weather and meditate on the topic and see what transpired…..

In this season of political uncertainty, amidst the myriad major issues facing not just our beloved United States, but the entire world, can we just stop for a minute?

Can we take a moment to remove our focus from the voices telling us the numerous reasons we should be divided and instead remember all that we have in common? Social media and the news media are ripe with ideas on how to tear each other apart, but who says we have to buy into the hate and the drama?

We are all humans; we have a heart, mind, body and soul, with warm rich blood flowing through our veins. We all have feelings, even though we may express them differently. We were all created in the image of God, our Divine Creator.

Let’s love one another. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

This may seem a little too maudlin for some, but it’s what’s on my heart. Peace.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-8