God – Long walks and dark chocolate

Remembering

September 10, 2013 4 Comments

Cover of 9/11 [Region 2]

I will always remember that violent day,

Where I was, how my heart broke, how we gathered to pray.

For the victims, I felt horror, for their families I cried.

On that day my belief in security died.

The pictures and video with power to haunt,

Most nations supportive, but others would taunt.

I always wonder about the heroes who died on that day.

If they could send us a message, just what would it say?

I believe they would say hold your family near,

And don’t let this continue to consume you with fear

Enjoy every moment of this life! Go and live it!

Lift up prayers for your country and those who protect it.

Yes, I’ll always remember no matter how long it’s been

As 9/11 rolls around again and again.

By: Lisa

My thoughts and memories of 9/11-FC (munchkinamor2014.wordpress.com)
Remembering 9/11 (ehubconnections.com)
Nine years after 9/11, and A Ridiculous Number of Responders are DEAD (secretsofthefed.com)

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: 11 September 2001, 9/11, God, heroes, New York City, September 11th, Terrorism, United States, USA, Victims and Survivors, Washington DC

Daily Prompt: Regrets, I’ve had a few

September 6, 2013 5 Comments

What’s your biggest regret? How would your life have been different if you’d made another decision?

This prompt spoke to me in a big way this morning, causing me to reflect on my life thus far. I can’t say that I have one regret in particular and since I believe all things happen for a reason, I believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be today.

With that said, I have many regrets:

• The times I withheld forgiveness instead of forgiving freely and quickly and completely.
• The times I chose to clean house instead of making mud pies.
• Every minute I spent in the mirror criticizing my appearance, and especially the times in front of my girls.
• For the careless word spoken that wounded, sometimes deeply.
• The conversations I merely endured that should have been feasted upon.
• The years I spent running from God.
• The “I love you” left unspoken and the phone calls never made.
• Every hour wasted on hatred, jealousy, anger and strife.

And finally, the time I have spent dwelling on past regrets instead of choosing to leap past them, learn from them and strive to live out the remainder of this life with fewer of them.

This was a great writing prompt and it’s good to force yourself to think back sometimes and glean from past mistakes, to remember where you came from and who you have become. Of most importance though is to move forward and live this beautiful life out loud, with great expectations, faith and hope. May we all fully implement the lessons learned that they never influence our lives negatively again.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational, Photography Tagged With: Bible, children, Christianity, God, motherhood, regret, Religion and Spirituality, Sin

The Power of a Memory

August 17, 2013 5 Comments

Irish blessing with background of Everglades sunset.

Everyone has them, we make more every day.

Though unbidden at times, our minds obediently display

Some are quite wonderful, insisting we smile

Others, nostalgic, take us back for a while

Then there are those that we’d rather forget

The bad ones, the memories that leave our cheeks wet

If we are smart, we will learn from them all

About life, faith and friendship, and to answer God’s call

How to fail, yet get up again, stronger than before

How to embrace this brief life til’ we reach yonder shore

I am thankful for memories, no matter which kind they might be

You see, the power of a memory is a wondrous thing to me.

By: Lisa

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: Christianity, God, hope, life, love, memories

It’s a bad day, not a bad life

August 8, 2013 5 Comments

The alarm woke me up angrily as if to say there is no time to spare, not another blink of sleep is to occur on my watch! The door reached out to clobber me in the side of my head as I dragged a less than cooperative body to the bathroom. The water was cold as it bitterly splashed my awakening skin, and my eyes simply refused to focus properly; then the scale was particularly hateful.

Off to the kitchen where the red light on my keurig flashed impatiently, shouting, “refresh me or else”!

Finally seated in front of my computer, I attempted to begin my work day. Of course on days like this, fingers fail to move where your mind tells them to go and logins are incorrect.

It was as if my blood pressure was rising while my patience was waning and it wasn’t yet 6:00am.

As the day schlepped on, ever so slowly, it was one irritating thing after another. There was the way my bank (for reasons still unclear to me) locked out my online banking feature, and the only way that I could prove that I truly was who I proclaimed to be was by me knowing the amount and date of my very last transaction.

This may seem a walk in the park to you, but since I was dealing with my hubby’s business account, I knew my getting this right was as likely as him remembering to tell me he even used the card; therefore, highly unlikely. I was so amazed when the last receipt he had thrown in a crumpled up pile on the counter actually matched. I could have cried tears of joy! Yes! I had received my first miracle of the day.

Even after this turn of events, my mood continued to darken and my appetite threatened to destroy my resolve against all things unhealthy. My husband and daughter felt the tumultuous waves of my hormonal raging. I even had to make one apology…harrumph!

About this time one of my co-workers and I were discussing a timeline for a future fix and something she said shook my resolve to be angry today. I made a negative comment and she said, “hey, you’re always the positive one”. Ouch! God was showing me, crystal clear, that my attitude needed adjusting. But, I didn’t heed at that point; I was too deep in the yuck-mode.

Later, once I got off work and sat basking in the afternoon sun, remembering that today is my Friday, I looked back on today and actually smiled. Okay, I admit it was one of those wimpy, embarrassed smiles, but it was a smile nonetheless.

Somehow, at that point, I quickly repented for my negativity and forced myself to realize (once again) all that I have to be thankful for in life. I heard the words, “it’s a bad day, not a bad life” resonate from somewhere deep within.

Yes, I can blame SOME of it on hormones, but this selfishness, thinking it’s all about me, forgetting the blessings, is something I feel I will be blogging about over and over until I get it. And, then maybe I will continue until others get it as well. If you’ve had a bad day, get alone somewhere quiet, say a prayer, read a verse, breath in and out and begin to count those blessings. It will do you good!

Filed Under: Inspirational Tagged With: almost 50, Banking Services, be positive, counting blessings, Friday, God, hormonal issues, I'm sorry, menopause, moodiness, Online banking, selfishness, thankfulness, workday

Too blessed

July 18, 2013 4 Comments

City Park, New Orleans

We are finally home from vacation and although I had a wonderful time and wouldn’t take back the beautiful visit and fun times and laughter, I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.

I was browsing facebook earlier and saw that a very wise, young lady posted a status that said, in essence, ‘lighten up, everyone has depressing statuses today”.

Her status reminded me once again how very fortunate most of us are. I had to stop and reflect on this trip and how many times I made silly negative comments about a late cab or a long drive or even (as ridiculous as it may seem) about eating too much.

As soon as these utterances leave my mouth, I regret them. I think of the family living in a car because they have lost their home, or people who can’t afford to go on vacation this year because they have too many medical expenses. What about the starving children? What if they could be a bug on a wall as we rubbed our bellies, filled with all manner of delicacies while exclaiming, “Wow, I did it again; ate way too much”. I would be embarrassed.

So what can I do? I can start by making sure that I voice good things, that I focus on the positive, and that I remember at all times how very much I am blessed. For me, it’s about remembering from Whom I get my strength, hope and peace.

I truly believe that what we say can influence for good or bad. If I grumble and complain, that propagates more of the same. And seriously, isn’t life arduous enough at times without me broadcasting the bad like the ratings-hungry news media does?

So, once again I vow to try to remember those less fortunate than me when I find myself in a far from horrid situation that beckons a complaint or murmur. I will silence the fuss with praise or a blessing!

Little blessings… (girlthingstore.com)

Filed Under: Inspirational Tagged With: Blessing, God, Good News, help, hope, peace, People, positive, praise, Requesting Help, Travel

They hurt, so we love

June 24, 2013 4 Comments

Teardrop on Fire (Photo credit: tj.blackwell)

Why can’t we see that people are hurting? Why do some people rush to spread bad news, but don’t bother to take the time to clear up a nasty rumor?

We are all touched by pain, turmoil and tragedy, are we not? We all suffer so how do we forget what that feels like. How do we forget what would have made us feel better and then not offer that instead of judgment and gossip?

Please know that I am searching my own heart as I share. I hate gossip and try to stay far from it, but don’t we all get roped in sometimes? Aren’t we also partakers even if we just listen? Isn’t that just as bad? And how does that help, what does it accomplish?

When I think on the times that I have felt ravished and torn by life’s trials and troubles, I quickly remember the friends who showed up, who covered me in prayer; the ones who stood up for me and my family. I think of those who quickly discerned that it wasn’t a time for observation and speculation, but a time to show love and concern. They realized that it was a time to love and hold and listen.

I have been studying the book of Job, and just like everything else God does, this was divine timing, because it has been helpful to apply some of what I have learned to hurting people. It is teaching me to be a better friend. One who understands that there is a big picture and I can’t figure it all out and I don’t have all the answers. Sometimes the most helpful thing I can do is to pray for them and listen. Notice I said “listen”, not always speaking, not always thinking I have all the answers.

Most of us, by the time we have reached my age, have experienced the death of a loved one, severe illness in ourselves or others, financial difficulty or even ruin, marital discord and sometimes divorce, problems with children and grandchildren, and the list goes on and on.

God help us to remember some of those times; the way we felt, the people who cared and the things that counted. What made us feel better, what caused a smile to tug at the corners of our mouth and what made us feel loved and warm inside? May we remember and pay it forward.

Job and I (iamlvl.wordpress.com)

Filed Under: Inspirational Tagged With: Christianity, Facebook, friendship, God, Grief Loss and Bereavement, Health, hurting, Job, Mental health, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, trials

The Two Anniversaries

June 5, 2013 19 Comments

This week holds two special days for me; one is the anniversary of my marriage, which symbolizes a beautiful beginning and the other is the anniversary of the death of my mother which epitomizes an agonizing final chapter in the book of my life.

Since 1996, I have endeavored to honor both dates with all of the respect and enthusiasm I could muster. The first few years after mom died, it was especially difficult to enjoy my anniversary. There was that “other” day coming on its heels, the one where the sky always looks the same as it did on that fateful day and details that would be better off forgotten gallop through my thoughts.

As I have grown older and realize the brevity of life and the importance of enjoying it, I often think of how my mom embraced life.

She was a dreamer, a romantic, intelligent and funny. She lived through some tough things; she lost her mom, her dad, her grandmother and a brother. She went through a heart-wrenching divorce.

However, if you were to inquire of anyone in my family as to who absolutely lit up a room when they entered; they would tell you quickly that it was my mother. She is often remembered for her smile, even when in the midst of adversity.

I will never forget the first time she met my husband and how much she adored him. She said, ‘he’s a keeper”. I reminisce on the first (sometimes bumpy) years of marriage when I dialed her number seeking solace and more importantly someone willing to blindly take my side. Although I’m still not sure exactly how she pulled it off, my outlook was often altered by the time I hung up the phone. She would cause me to look inward, and sometimes identify (much to my chagrin!) when I was the problem.

So, in a strange, somewhat enchanted way, the two days are combined into the fond memories of my mother, the wonderful times we had together; and the beautiful memories of my marriage and the hopes and dreams of many years to come.

There is also the knowledge that she would want me to give my anniversary the recognition it deserves and celebrate it to the fullest. She would flash that big ole’ smile and give us her blessings all over again if she could.

Once again, my memories, which threatened to take on a life of melancholy this afternoon, have only catapulted me to a happiness that comes from knowing that I have been and continue to be loved and nurtured by some of the best! I’m sitting here with your smile, mom and happy tears.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: anniversary, Family, God, marriage, Mother daughter relationship, Parenting, Relationships

Weekly photo challege: Escape

May 18, 2013 Leave a Comment

This week’s photo challenge is escape. I find that when I need to get away from it all, I usually find myself near a beach, or at least water; be it a beach, river, lake, or even a bathtub.

My soul finds it’s refuge and solace in the Word of God.

My husband at Guana Cay, Abacos

Where I escape to find my strength

Everglades/Chokolosee Causeway at sunset

First Beach, Olympic National Park

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: Abacos, bahamas, beach, escape, God, National Parks and Monuments, Olympic National Park, photography, postaday, weekly photo challenge

Love you mother!

May 10, 2013 2 Comments

I was blessed with one of those Moms like the one from Leave It to Beaver, only better. Hers was the shoulder I cried on, and it was her hand that I held. She was strength when I needed it and a resounding voice of wisdom during my trials and troubles.

In my early years, she was my fiercest protector, my biggest encourager, my most invested teacher and an abundant source of love and gentleness.

As I grew, she cheered me on, she poured positivity into me, and she taught me forgiveness and reminded me to turn to God for all things.

In my teenage years, she cried with me as she stroked my back, bringing hope to a broken heart. She defended me like a lioness, when she thought I’d been wronged. She never lost faith in me or what I could become. She was my mentor, my solace, my sole confidante.

When I became a mother myself, I learned to appreciate her more than ever for it was then that I recognized her sacrifices and identified with them myself.

Now, after almost 17 years, I can still remember the sound of her voice, the strength of her touch and thankfully, all the things that she taught me about love and life.

I will miss her until the day the good Lord calls me home and I am reunited with her.

For those of you who didn’t have the greatest mom, I am truly sorry and I know there are many situations out there that are heartbreaking. The good thing is, you can be that yourself, whether you are a mom or a mentor, you can give someone hope. You never know how you can be used to pour into a life until you do it.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Family, God, hope, Mom, Mother's Day

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

April 12, 2013 2 Comments

Will I even miss the mess?

Senior night at softball

Always shoes by the front door and anything else she drops

Pics are in; waiting for announcements to arrive

Senior year of softball; Captain Morgan

The Weekly Photo Challenge email said, “In a new post created for this challenge, share a picture that says CHANGE.”

As my throat constricted in the way that is so familiar lately, I knew exactly the change that my photos would represent. You see, my youngest is about to graduate from high school. I’ve been very brave all year, put on a big smile and was very careful to embrace every moment and capture as much of it as possible with my mind’s eye as well as with the lens of my camera.

Now, it’s crunch time. The date is set, the announcements are ordered, the yearbook pages are done, the banquets are beginning, and my life as I know it is about to undergo one of the biggest changes a parent can encounter.

As the calendar makes haste, without any care for my heart, towards May 31, 2013, I try to keep smiling and laughing and pretending things are perfectly normal. They are not. My husband and I will soon be empty-nesters, left alone to our own devices; no games to attend, no late night clock watching and “hurry home” texts, and no going into that messy room to wake a groggy teenager.

Thankfully, I know that we have raised her well, she has God on her side and she knows the plans He has for her. I have to remember we have accomplished much in that she is ready to go out there and make her own way in this big ole’ world. This is life, as it is meant to be.

We will make it although there will be many tears and much missing. There will also be phone calls and visits and texts and sharing of news, and more change.

This heart will trust in the One she has always trusted in for herself, her marriage and her children. There truly is a time and a season for all things under the sun. There is giving, taking and letting go. And through all of the seasons of our lives, He is there.

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: Color, DailyPost, daughter, God, graduate, photography, postaday, softball, teenager, Time, weekly photo challenge

Remembering

Daily Prompt: Regrets, I’ve had a few

The Power of a Memory

It’s a bad day, not a bad life

Too blessed

They hurt, so we love

The Two Anniversaries

Weekly photo challege: Escape

Love you mother!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

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Goodreads

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Check out some of my most popular photos and ramblings

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