Merry Christmas to all ?

How many "Merry Christmas"'s have I heard this year? And I have replied back in kind. Although I don't feel particularly merry it IS the appropriate response. No one wants to hear about the pressure and stress that the season brings to most people. No one wants to discuss that the real meaning of Christmas is lost on a world filled with the need to provide the "right" gift and meet everyone's expectations for a perfect holiday. Many will attend Christmas Eve services for the experience. And I'm afraid they will leave those services and wake up on December 26 no more changed then they were before. Oh, I know. I've already chided myself on being a "Debbie Downer"...you don't have to do it. But I think I speak for many when I long for a simple, humble, stripped-down Christmas. A manger filled with hay Christmas. A Christmas that is the beginning of Hope.

I Can Relate, Mr. Turkey

I bet Mr. Turkey never thought he'd end up like this.
When he began this new year filled with dreams and expectations little did he know he would be filling others dreams and expectations (not to mention our stomachs!)
I can kinda relate to Mr. Turkey.
As I approach this Thanksgiving I know in my heart I have a lot to be thankful for. But I must admit, I am struggling with all the "how comes?" and "what ifs?" that are making it difficult for me to approach this holiday season with true joy.
I know that God has a plan and a purpose for ALL things. I rest in that.
It just doesn't make it any easier. It sure didn't for the turkey.

Faithful Friends

I have some good friends that I do life with. We get together every couple of months for dinner and laughs. Once or twice a year we get away to shop, eat and share the ups and downs of life. We've laughed until we have cried. We've cried until we have laughed. No pretenses. We are who we are. Do we see eye-to-eye on everything? No. But we accept each other's differences and love each other anyway. Maybe the world could learn a thing or two by hanging with us.

PUZZLING

I've always enjoyed doing puzzles. As a child I would frequently pick the hardest puzzle I could find and set a goal in which to finish it. I would sort through the box finding pieces that fit together and put them in little groups all around the main puzzle waiting for the right moment to put them in their place.
Lately, my life is feeling like a puzzle. The border is in place and most of the inside is filled in but I have these "sections" that are off to the side waiting to be put in their proper place so that I can see the big picture. Just when I think the pieces might fit...I try them and find I have been deceived. The shapes look so similar but are slightly off and just do not slide into place smoothly. There must be a better option. I'm going to have to work a little harder. Dig through the box more. Or perhaps the "right" piece is directly in front of me...I just can't see it mixed in with the others. Life is puzzling...I'll trust in the One who knows exactly how the pieces will fit. It will make a beautiful picture in the end.

Love you Dad

My dad went to be home with the Lord yesterday. He was the best. Supportive in everyway. Everyone loved him. A man who walked with God and could leave this earth with no regrets. I never struggled with the concept of a gracious, loving, forgiving Heavenly Father...because I had a gracious, loving, forgiving Earthly one.
He was known for his flower gardens...Jesus, put him in charge of your gardens, heaven will never have looked so good nor smelled so fragrant! And I'm sure if there is Bluegrass in heaven, he is "pickin' and a grinnin'". He will be missed.

I miss him already.

This Song Speaks Volumes....Awesome!

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

IN THIS HOME....

We Do Second Chances.
We Do Grace.
We Do Real.
We Do Mistakes.
We Do I'm Sorry's.
We Do Loud Really Well.
We Do Hugs.
We Do Family.
We Do Love.

Evelyn Jean Ingle

She's here! Born on August 20 and weighing in at 6# 15 oz by a scheduled C-Section.
Hasn't been much pink around our parts in the past...this will be fun!

Hello Nashville !

I'm heading to the Music City. I have my one way ticket. Many have gone before me with their one way ticket in hand, but for different reasons. They have gone to seek fame and fortune. Nashville will make their dreams come true...they will "be discovered". I'm all for dreaming dreams. I wish I had been more of a risk taker in my youth. I, too, had big plans but didn't have the confidence to step out and buy that one-way ticket. Regrets? Yeah, I guess I have a few. But I am a firm believer in the hand of God directing our steps.
The purpose of my trip? To welcome my new grand-daughter into this world. Perhaps she will be a risk-taker. I hope so.

LOVE IT !!!

If I could do it again...I'd do it this way........!

>

Milestone Day

I hit a milestone today...yup, the Big 5-0. Doesn't bother me though...A friend sent me this today and even though I'm not quite at this place in my life...I'm getting there!

"I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself...I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging..
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4a.m. and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 70's and 80's, and if I , at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love...I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful.
But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.
And i eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when some body's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, I guess I like being old(er). it has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day."

Blogging VS Facebook

Proverbs 10:19
The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words

I haven't blogged recently. It's not that I haven't had much to say. It's just that with the advent of Facebook I've been able to take my thoughts and squeeze them into a sentence or two without much effort. I thought that possibly I was getting lazy and not wanting to take the time to share in depth what I was really feeling about life at the moment.
Or could it be that FB seems safer. When there is a small space in which to write...you write less. The less words the less chance for vulnerability. Or the less chance of saying too much. Saying the wrong thing.
A waterfall can be a beautiful thing...if it is in the forest.
A waterfall pouring through a crack in your basement's foundation, is not.
See the difference?

CRASH

Ah, Yes. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my church?? I love seeing the arts being used in various ways to bring melody and rhythm to the service. Yeah, even with china and goblets. I love seeing the sermons brought to life with contemporary object lessons. And what about bringing the music of today and making it pertinent to where we are at...it is all about searching, isn't it? Discovering. Finding truth. I'm so thankful for a church that is not afraid to tackle the tough issues...to be controversial. Reminds me of a certain someone. I think his name is JESUS.

HE IS RISEN INDEED !

Easter is probably my favorite holiday. It is a holiday of hope. Victory. It's comforting to know that the "good guy" wins in this story. In fact, we all do. After a week of discouragement, I look forward to a week which will emphasize sacrificial love, hope and a resounding "YES" to the empty tomb.
(plus it's a day to eat lots of chocolate...oh, God is good!)

"You don't get to choose how you'll die. You can't choose when you'll die. You only get to choose how you will live".....Dr. Bob Laurent

GOOD BUDDIES

I'm thankful for good friends. Friends that I do life with. Share good times with...and unfortunately, some not so good times. I'm thankful for friends that I volunteer with and serve Jesus with. Friends that I work with. Shop with. Share a Starbucks with. I'm thankful for those friends that accept me on those days when I'm grumpy. That understand when I'm frustrated over those 10# that just won't go away. Friends that I may not see for months but when we get together we pick up just where we left off. I'm thankful that God sees fit to bring friends like that into my life. He knows I need them.

LOST !!

Love the words to this song.
What do I do...when "the shine wears off"?
Makes me think. And that is a good thing.

welcome home

I'm starting to grow up.
I'm finally learning to feel at home in my "spiritual skin".
I grew up hearing that it was Okay to offend with the gospel. That if you turned people off with the Jesus story, then....so be it! Their loss. Was it?
I'm almost 50 years old and it has taken me this long to realize that the loss was my own. I was the one deceived.
Oh, I knew the walk. The talk. I knew what music was "right". I knew the drill.
I knew how to welcome the newcomers into the fold...as long as they knew the walk. The talk. Dressed right. Listened to the right music. Was one of "us".
I didn't understand the big picture. The one the Jesus has shown me these past 5 or so years. I was the insecure one. The searching one. The one who was trying to measure up by doing/saying all the right things. I was the one trying to give answers to the questions that noone was asking!
I'm thankful that Jesus revealed himself in a new way to me.
I'm thankful for a church that I finally feel at home in.
I'm not there yet...but I'm on my way.
"Don't be so concerned with what is pressing...that you forget the people in the boat with you" R Mark Beeson

1Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. BUT DO THIS WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT."

will I be like this at 88???

Can't help it!!! I love the Ellen Show !!!

Happy Birthday, Alex !!!

Grandma Loves You!!

Job Loss

Today I learned that the poor economy has hit my beloved church. I guess it was only a matter of time. Friends have lost their jobs. Friends that served well.
Then I read this post by Rick Warren and was reminded that God ALWAYS has a plan.
He did for me. He does for them.

"God doesn’t always protect believers from having to face the same difficulties that unbelievers must face; and he allows unbelievers to experience some of the same benefits that we, as believers, enjoy because we are a part of his creation. One reason for this: it allows those who don’t know Jesus to see what it really means to know him. When someone sees a believer finding even a bit of light in the middle of a struggle, it helps those who do believe in Jesus to see who he really is and that he is the light in the darkness."

"

Making Sense of it...

"Through our own eyes we will never make sense of the circumstance-we just need to trust God (and see it through His eyes)."-R Mark Beeson

Hmmm--I wrote that quote down back in October. A couple of days after I was laid off from my job and questioning the plans that God had for me. Actually, I was making the plans for myself. I had it all figured out. So I thought. I just knew that God had taken me out of that environment to use me where I would be appreciated. Possibly in a ministry somewhere. But to my surprise the ministry that He has for me is right where I was. And instead of taking me out of the "hostile environment" He has made changes in the environment.
I'm optimistic and encouraged about what God is going to do through me. I'm up for the challenge. With His help, of course. It is starting to make sense...

Love It!

reminder

"A person is a person no matter how small"-Horton