Just Talk & Thoughts

So, it's been a crazy day. Not bad for me in the way it was for others. It's been a sad day though for me, a day of confusion & wonder. Seems the news hits closer and closer the longer we are here on this earth.

I mean, you always hear about things that are just horrible, but it doesn't phase you...it doesn't hit you hard until it is close to home. When it affects "your world" and people that you know, then WOW it hurts...right in the gut you know?

In our town today, there was a man that opened fire in our hospital and killed 3 people. 3 innocent people. He was upset over the loss of his mother who died - 4 years ago!! - and decided to hold his grudge against the nurse who cared for his mother - 4 years ago!! He came into the hospital and did such an unthinkable thing. The place where people run for safety...for help. He shook our city today and ruined the lives of many - forever. Because of anger and hatred.

You see, what makes this all the more devastating for me is that this man was a retired school teacher from my high school. I am sorry to say it, but when I first heard this on the news today, I automatically assumed that it was some young or middle aged hoodlum that had gotten upset over something and acted on impulse. No! It was a 63 year old man! A man with hatred in his heart...so much so that he had this all planned out...over the loss of his mother - 4 years ago!

I don't know every detail of this and I never will. We don't know what this man went through. As a nurse friend of mine said today, people deal with grief in so many different ways. That is not to ever condone this, but you do feel sorry for someone - anyone that is this disturbed. Everyone says that this is so out of character for this man. This just goes to show what can happen to any of us when we allow Satan to have the slightest control in our lives.

It is okay to feel hurt by things that happen in our lives. The Good Lord gave us feelings. But, we have to get control over that hurt before it can turn into bitterness or anger. It is okay to be angry too. The Bible says, "Be angry and sin not." We just have to choose the right way to handle those emotions.

Obviously this guy, this "normal" former school teacher...gave the devil an inch. And, as we've always heard. He took a mile.

So, whether you live here or not, when you read this, I ask you to lift up the families affected by this horrible tragedy today. The employees at the hospital, the friends of the 3 that were shot. But, also please pray for the man that did this awful thing. As sickening as this is, even he is not too far that the love of our Heavenly Father can't reach Him. And although he may not realize it yet, he is gonna need that love.

Easter Memories

A few days late, but here are several Easter pics...of my "Kisses from the Father."

Enjoy!

Check out those heels! She was so proud of them.

3 Generations

She was worn out & in a major daze...below

(whistle! whistle!) My prince charming.

Sunday is a comin'

In light of the Easter holiday (even though I am a day late) ~ I thought this was an amazing video. Our pastor showed this in church on Sunday morning and it is powerful.

Be blessed by it!



It doesn't matter what day it is...what you are dealing with...what you are having to crucify in your life! Hold on ~ it may be Friday, but SUNDAY IS A COMIN'! Let the reminder of His Ressurection Power give you rest today!

Springin' In

Spring. What does that mean to you?

Yes, with it comes colds, yellow cars from pollen, fat bumble bees and lots of other funk! But, to me, Spring is the sign of renewal. My azalea's are more beautiful and big than they've ever been before. The color so vibrant and bold. Everytime I pull into my driveaway, I look up, amazed at them.

You see, I have nowhere close to a green thumb. It's not that I couldn't have if I tried. But, that's it. I don't try. That is why these type of flowers are the only flowers you will find in my yard right now. Well, unless you count the cute little yellow flowers called WEEDS!!! Azalea's don't need much attention so it seems - since they don't get it from me.

Since the first year they were planted, they've tried to bloom and some have succeeded. Not many. Then, the next year, they decided they'd try again and there may have been a few more. Small blooms though. The rest of them always appeared to be struggling.

Still, they don't stop trying. They don't know what else to do but try and poke their pretty little heads up come the first sign of Spring. Here they are, probably 3 years after they were planted and guess what?

They have finally made it. All of them...and they brought friends so it seems. They have just recently exploded and I have had quite a few people commenting on them. I was going to say something here about the irony between my azaleas finally "arriving" 3 years after they were planted and the fact that we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. But, I thought that some of you may consider that a bit inappropriate. I don't take His resurrection lightly at all, but it is neat how when you are a Christian - there are so many things that you can tie together like that. Even as corny as this analogy is. (smile)

Now, I figured I would let you see how pretty they are here. There is no way though that you can see my whole yard in its' entirety. Y'all, my yard itself looks like - well, let's just say that if weeds are in this year, then we will win an Oscar or something.

Where was I? Oh back to the point of this post.

Spring ~ Ahhh ~ I love the feeling I feel right now of a fresh, new start. Whether with my spiritual walk, friendships, family...or even things like my yard (de-weeded), my hope for a fresh, clean house or for my business. Something about this season always starts off for me with the feeling that a weight has been lifted from my chest.

I can breathe again. The "funk" from the 3 seasons past is gone. Now, like my azalea's, I'm gonna try again. Maybe this go around will be the one where I finally "arrive."

Here's to you Spring!! Welcome!! Welcome!!

Now, my gardenia bushes...well, I won't even go there.

Kisses for the Soul

"In everything God works for the good of those who love Him...because that was His plan."

Romans 8:28 NCV

It's all part of His plan

When you're in a situation where you've got more questions than answers, it takes faith to accept that "in everything God works for the good of those who love Him." What you consider wasted experiences can become confidence-builders and priceless sources of insight - when you make up your mind to learn from them! If yuo don't, they'll keep happening till you do. The Israelites went in circles for 40 years before they finally wised up. Don't let that happen to you.

When you get too comfortable God stirs things up. The mother eagle teaches her little ones to fly by making their nest so uncomfortable that they're forced out of it. Next, they are pushed off a cliff edge. Can you imagine their thoughts: "It's my mother doing this?" Who and where you are at this moment in time has been divinely appointed. God in His wisdom knows that you need the challenge of certain situations to mature and stretch you. The job you dread going to every day is developing your skills, endurance and sense of responsibility. Those people who rub you the wrong way are actually making you more like Jesus! (added by me: if you let them.) Paul says, God "understands...and knows what is best for us at all times" (Eph. 1:8 TLB). So instead of asking Him to change things, thank Him for the experience and the lessons you're learning. And if yuo can't figure out what those lessons are, ask Him. James says, "If...you need wisdom...ask God" (Jas 1:5 CEV). When you do, you'll discover - it's all part of His plan!

...WOW don't we all need to read this everyday? We are all continuously going through "stuff" that gets us down; confuses us; makes us angry or depressed; makes us question God. Don't act like you never question Him!

Certain situations can and will make you or break you. Know that His hand is on your life. What you are dealing with today, March 19th, 2008...or tomorrow or at any point...It is all part of His plan. How you deal with it and perservere through it is what will determine your passing the test.

Saying Goodbye

It's not an easy thing for anyone at any point in life. Whether it is due to death, someone going off to war, someone moving, or even a loved one that is losing their memory (ever seen the movie Notebook?)

E has a precious little friend, Noah, that she loves dearly. I, too, am friends with his mommy. Well, they are leaving Tuesday to move to another world. A place called California. (smile) We had lunch with their sweet family this week and let the kiddos play for a few minutes. It was hard.

She has not been a long-time friend of mine. But, a dear one. I am certain that the Lord brought her here to Georgia and into our lives for a very specific reason. And season. That season is over and they will be leaving. But, man - knowing that you are hugging someone goodbye and that you are pretty certain that you won't see them again. It plays with your emotions like crazy.

It's very difficult to explain to a 2 1/2 year old that their friend is moving away. Now, all that E knows is that Noah will live in a place called "Ca-liff-for-nee-ya" (she pronounces it so carefully) and she wants to go there now! As in - yesterday.

She has been interrupting my conversations to tell me we "need to go dayer." It must sound like some amazing place to her. Ha - she probably thinks it's an amusement park or something. Lastnight, her Grammie brought over a new book for her...get this...about Noah's Ark.

She pretty much made up her own story as she turned the pages. "Dis is Noah and he move to Ca-liff-for-nee-ya lastnight." "Mommy, hey - when we goin' dayer?"

So, I'm trying to prepare myself as best I can. One of my best friends in the world is moving on June 1st! I've never said "goodbye" to someone as close as her before. And, I'm not looking forward to it.

Reasons & Seasons. They mean so much. But, it doesn't mean they are easy to close chapters on.

Get it out!

Don't you know how bothersome it is when you have something in your eye...that is not supposed to be there?

This was the case this afternoon. My eye starts itching and I rub at it and then bat it a few times to see if it's any better. Then it gets worse and I'm poking it and digging in it almost uncontrollably trying to relieve the nagging itch.

I move to a mirror because now my eye is watering. So much so that I appear to be crying.

Something is wrong. Something doesn't belong. Is it a speck of mascara, one of my bangs that has managed to find its' way in there, an eyelash? Whatever it is ~ is not supposed to be.

Before this began, I was in the process of making lunch. But, at this point, I can't concentrate on anything else until my eye is back to normal.

It's gotten everything else out of whack.

I know this sounds dramatic, but isn't that how it goes when we have sin in our lives? I mean, we all have sin in our lives. But, those everyday sins that pop their ugly heads up and we never deal with them. We keep sweeping them under the rug.

Sin that knocks us off kilter; throws us out of whack. Just like I couldn't concentrate on the simple task that I was doing at first until I ridded my eye of the foreign object. When we have sin in our lives and don't deal with it daily...or hourly if need be - we lose sight of what we should be concentrating on in the first place don't we? In fact, sin isn't complacent. It doesn't just stay the same. If it's allowed to stay in the first place, it begins to grow and grow until it's impossible to focus on that pure life that we've been called to have.

Since we know the importance of dealing with sin, why don't we work harder at it? Why do we let it hang around? We have a Heavenly Father that is able and willing to forgive us, if we only ask. He died so that you could be forgiven. His blood was shed so that we wouldn't have to be stuck with things in our lives that just aren't supposed to be. Those nagging things that knock us off kilter.

Just ask.

Thank you Lord for your forgiveness. Help this to be a gentle reminder to everyone who reads of the importance of daily confession of our sins, myself included. Give us a passion for the pure life that you desire us to have. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Rain Forest

"This recent blend is mysterious, with intriguing fragrances reminiscent of a lush rainforest."

What a great, clean scent for Spring! It is a beautiful green color.

You can go here to check it out, along with our other scents and products. Also, click here to enter my FREE drawing for a 16 oz. jar candle and soy soap bar.

Want to host an online e-party for me and get a FREE jar, scent of your choice? Super easy! All you have to do is send out an email inviting others to join the party. Then, you will get a percentage of the party total in FREE stuff. Just leave a comment below. Man, we're talkin' lots o' FREE things here huh?

Okay...for you faithful readers. I promise to get back in the blogging flow this week. I am working on 2 posts and will post one soon.

Have a great week. Oh and did I mention ~ FREE???