Come in from the storm!

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The Man and the Birds

PAUL HARVEY’S CHRISTMAS STORY; “THE MAN AND THE BIRDS”
By PAUL HARVEY, ABC RADIO
Dec 24, 2004, 01:57

Unable to trace its proper parentage, I have designated this as my Christmas Story of the Man and the Birds. You know, THE Christmas Story, the God born a man in a manger and all that escapes some moderns, mostly, I think, because they seek complex answers to their questions and this one is so utterly simple. So for the cynics and the skeptics and the unconvinced I submit a modern parable.

Now the man to whom I’m going to introduce you was not a scrooge, he was a kind, decent, mostly good man. Generous to his family, upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man. “I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite. That he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me. That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how? Because any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him. “If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm …to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.”

At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells – Adeste Fidelis – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

Love these quotes and advice!

Today when I got up, I realized that I maybe being up yesterday...was a bit too much!
So today I had to just lay low.
I loved these quotes...

Six little stories!

1. Once all villagers decided to pray for rain,

    on the day of prayer all the people gathered,

    but only one boy came with an umbrella.

    That's FAITH

2. When you throw a baby in the air,

    she laughs because she knows you will catch her.

    That's TRUST

3. Every night we go to bed,

    without any assurance of being alive the next morning

    but still we set the alarms to wake up.

That's HOPE

4. We plan big things for tomorrow

    in spite of zero knowledge of the future.

That's CONFIDENCE

5. We see the world suffering,

    but still we get married and have children.

That's LOVE

6. On an old man's shirt was written a sentence

     'I am not 80 years old....

     I am sweet 16 with 64 years experience.'

That's ATTITUDE

Have a happy day,  
live your life like the six stories!

Just be Still!

Not sure why going into something that you have never done, scares me a lot. Today I had to have one of my front teeth pulled. I was worried that since I can't take the medicine to calm you down and the doctor didn't do gas, that I would have to wrap my head around having it pulled out when I was still awake and could hear everything. Right before I left I realized that the fear was making me so upset that the anticipation was worrisome. I then wondered what I would have said to my kids, if it were them. I would tell them that everything in life gives us experiences. I would tell them to rely on the Lord to be there with them no matter what they were going to have to go through, and yet here I was ....the MOM, scared to death. I know many people have had teeth pulled but for me I think it is much bigger than that once you have had Cancer. I worried that they might find something that would tell us why I have been sick so long. I worried that the bone under the tooth might not be healthy and maybe that was the problem.
Just an hour before I left, I got on my knees and told the Lord I was sorry for my lack of faith and for letting the fear get a hold of me like that. I prayed all would go well, that I would be able to handle what ever happened or whatever was told to me. Then I asked that the Doctor and nurses would be able to do their job properly and that all would go well if it was suppose to. If not, that I would be able to learn what I needed to learn from this whole thing.
It all went well, Jeff was sweet enough to download Christmas music on my  little MP3 Player and so I was set. The doctor was simply the kindest person I have ever met, and her staff was just as nice. They made sure to tell me everything and to make sure that I wouldn't feel any pain.
The tooth came out very smoothly she said and it was less time than I thought, (only about 5 Christmas songs) had to stop and start it a couple of times when they asked me questions.
The Doctor said that the bone look good and healthy, she also said that she was glad that I took the antibiotic last week and got the infection under control before she pulled it out. She predicted it to be  a quick recovery. I am grateful  for a family who always loves me and prays for me, and for a husband that loves me no matter how many parts I keep losing! :)
Good night dear friends!

Trust verses Love

This quote (below) is very sound advice. For those of us who  have had abuse in the past, you truly understand how hard it is to trust someone. And when the one who abuses you, is someone who is suppose to love you, or says they love you...then that trust is broken.
 I knew something was wrong when I told someone( when I was just little ) that I loved and trusted; and they didn't believe me! Then I started to doubt myself and my gut feelings. I began to think then it must be just me, I must be a bad person if all these people love and trust my abuser..why didn't I?
  But the help that I received after breaking my silence about my abuse was..to learn to trust my gut again!
 I would be guided and told who I can trust and not trust. And when I get that feeling, and the feeling is "this person can't be trusted " then no questions ask...I stay away or have my kids stay away!  I don't care how much other people love them, or how popular they are...I owe it to myself to listen to that still small voice inside. It will never lead me astray and that is something I know I can trust! And the when you know you can really trust someone, then there is a LOVE there that is hard to even explain, it is simply the BEST!

Good night dear friends!

Everyone comes wih Baggage!

It is very late, I have been sewing all day and here I am past midnight and almost too tired to share much tonight. I found this quote the other day and love it! So true, everyone does come with baggage, it is called life and experiences. The trick is to find the right people who will love you enough to not only help you unpack, but share the load while you do! Thanks for doing that for me. Good night dear friends!



I found this article about Emotional Baggage, interesting!
At some point in your life, you have had to deal with emotional hurt or tragedy. It doesn't matter who you are, how rich you are, the color of your skin, or the geographical area that you live in. At some point, we all get hurt, in the emotional sense. When this happens, an imaginary suitcase opens in our minds - or possibly in our hearts - and we start mentally packing that hurt into that suitcase.

As we age, each time we are hurt, we add more to that suitcase, and may even need additional luggage as time moves along. Overtime, that baggage can get very heavy, and it can actually prevent us from really getting the most out of our future relationships, as well as life in general. So, at some point, you should really ask yourself if your past is actually determining your future.

How does the past determine the future? It can actually happen in a wide variety of ways. For example, if we have been lied to or cheated on by someone that we loved and trusted, we most often develop trust issues. We tend to pack that hurt up, and carry it right along with us into the next relationship. When we do this, it harms that next relationship right from the beginning, and the relationship won't even be given the chance to reach its highest potential.
To get the most out of your life, and your relationships, start by mentally opening that suitcase and unpacking it. Examine each hurt, and instead of looking at all of the negatives associated with it, instead try to see how something positive came out of it. For example, if you were hurt in your last relationship, but you are now with a wonderful new person, you should realize that if the previous relationship had not ended, you wouldn't be with the person you are now with. If you were fired from a job, but now have a better job, you may not be working in that new position if you had not been fired. For every negative, there is almost always a positive, if you look for it.
Now, take a look at the present. Is there anything that you are not going after with full force? Maybe it is a job, a relationship, or a business deal. What is stopping you? Is it something from your past? If so, what is it from your past that is stopping you from moving forward? Once you realize what past event is stopping you from moving ahead now, you can deal with that past issue in your mind, do away with it, and get the ball rolling.
Again, we all get hurt at some point in our lives. The question is, are you going to allow that hurt to keep reverberating throughout your life? Let it go, and you will be amazed at how much happier you are, how much better you feel, in the physical sense, and how much more opportunity comes your way in the present, and in the future. Are you ready to unpack your emotional baggage?
To read all of the article you can go Here:

Storms in life!

I had a good day today, except I feel like I am coming down with a cold. My back is getting better slowly, but tonight for our Date Night ...we just got a movie, between my back and cold... I didn't feel like going any where. I need to try and keep this cold from getting too bad, so I am heading to bed. Loved this quote it was perfect for me to remember tonight.
Good night dear friends.

Learning to trust!

I found this story and although it talks about Christmas time, I am not trying to rush the season…really! I like the story because it shows us how important it is to have faith and trust in something bigger than ourselves. It was a great analogy, not sure if it is true but…still the message came across loud and clear.

Still struggling a little bit with my pain, getting better though. Thanks for your patience with me. Hard sometimes for me to think positively and write something positive when I hurt that bad.  I need to remember to go back to Baby Steps, I have been doing too  much. It is hard to finally get back into normal life and realize that you might have to slow down a little bit more. Oh well, I am definitely a work in progress!

Hope you are doing well and have a wonderful night and enjoy the story!!!

 
THE MAN AND THE BIRDS

Now the man to whom I’m going to introduce you was not a scrooge.  He was a kind, decent, mostly good man, generous to his family and upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn’t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas time.  It just didn’t make sense, and he was too honest to pretend otherwise.  He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus story, about God coming to earth as a man.

“I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite and that he’d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them.  And so he stayed, and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall.  He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper.  Minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound.  Then another, and then another.  Sort of a thump or a thud.  At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window.

But when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They’d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.  Well, he couldn’t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony.  That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it.

Quickly he put on a coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn.  He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in.  He figured food would entice them in.  So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs and sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted, wide-open doorway of the stable.  But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow.

He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms.  Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.  And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him.  To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature.  If only I could think of someway to let them know that they can trust me – that I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them.  But how, because any move he made tended to frighten and confuse them.  They just would not follow.  They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

“If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language.  Then I could tell them not to be afraid.  Then I could show them the way to the safe, warm . . . . . . . . . to the safe, warm barn.  But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.”

At that moment, the church bells began to ring.  The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind.  And he stood there listening to the bells – listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.  And he sank to his knees in the snow. 
- WRITTEN BY PAUL HARVEY -

 

“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”    ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“People see God every day, they just don't recognize him.”    ~Pearl Bailey

Struggling!

I am sorry that I didn't write last night. I had a wonderful Sabbath Day and so I really had a lot of things to share. But I really have been struggling for a couple of days and so I didn't know if I had anything uplifting to say. I have a few appointments that are coming up that are worrying me some. We still don't know what is going on with Lee's health and that ways a bit heavy on my heart. My tooth is still bothering me and Jeff just left for a week long business trip. So it could be one of any of these things that I am struggling with I guess?

There is a heaviness in my heart that I can't seem to get to go away. Sometimes I get feelings like this, right before something bad happens. I have prayed and prayed to know what the feeling is about and of course I try to remind the Lord that I have had so many trials already, and that I don't think I can handle any more right now.

As I even type this, I realize what a silly thing it is to counsel the Lord. I don't know better than He does, I just feel like I have been doing so much better, my health has been getting better and I have been out and about more than I have in a long time. I just feel like I am starting to really live again, and I can't handle any big trauma right now. Then I read this quote today and realized I need to have more faith and trust. I will share this quote with you, in hopes that like me...we will all realize who is in charge and that if we will rely on our God, He will make us equal, to any difficulty that comes  our way. I do know this to be true, I just forget sometimes!

"ON THIS UPWARD AND SOMETIMES HAZARDOUS JOURNEY, EACH OF US MEETS OUR SHARE OF DAILY CHALLENGES. IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, AS WE PEER THROUGH THE NARROW LENS OF SELF-INTEREST, WE MAY FEEL THAT LIFE IS BRINGINS US MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE OF TRIALS- THAT SOME HOW OTHERS SEEM TO BE GETTING OFF MORE LIGHTLY.

BUT THE TESTS OF LIFE ARE TAILORED FOR OUR OWN BEST INTEREST, AND ALL WILL FACE THE BURDENS BEST SUITED TO THEIR OWN MORTAL EXPERIENCE. IN THE END WE WILL REALIZE THAT GOD IS MERCIFUL AS WELL AS JUST AND THAT ALL THE RULES ARE FAIR. WE CAN BE REASSURED THAT OUR CHALLENGES WILL BE THE ONE WE NEEDED, AND CONQUERING THEM WILL BRING BLESSINGS WE COULD HAVE RECEIVED IN NO OTHER WAY."

"FAITH MAKES THINGS POSSIBLE...NOT EASY!"

Everyone needs a wise Grandmother like this.

What a sweet story!  "When wisdom comes with age, and is shared with love...it's a wonderful thing!"  ~ Lynn Woodard

GRANDMA'S CAKE BAKING

A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, and severe health problems in the family. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does.
"Here, have some cooking oil," she says. "Yuck" says the boy. "Then how about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma!" he replies. "Would you prefer some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" she asks.
"Grandma, those are all yucky!" he replied. To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem to taste bad all by themselves. But when they are mixed together in the right amounts and the right manner, they make a delicious cake!"
She continued, "God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"
"God is crazy about you," says Grandma, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. When you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And what about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem and that Friday at Calvary? Face it; He's crazy about you."

--- Author Unknown

"Be happy. It's one way of being wise."

"It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace"

"A grandparent has the wisdom of long experience and the love of an understanding heart"

What's on the other side?

   Today is Sunday, I love Sundays. It is the only day of the week that we completely just do things as a family and  relax, go to church and to just do things that normally you wouldn't or don't take the time to do... like write cards to loved ones, call family and friends and so on. I was hoping tonight to share with you a few things I learned today but instead, my son is sick and I only have a few minutes to write.
    I found this little story and thought it was worth passing on. I have always said that Knowledge is Power, just like this story puts it. When you have a knowledge that your Heavenly Father lives and that He is in control of our lives, then you put fear away and trust that He knows what to do and will tell you what to do. For that knowledge, I am extremely grateful.

   Good night dear friends!

 

That Is Enough 

  A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room with his tail wagging and an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside... He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."  ~Unknown

http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=110

"God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them."  ~Author Unknown

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."  ~ Norman Cousins

 

Understanding God helps!

   I have put this story on my blog more than once, but I was discussing this very subject with a friend today and it reminded me of it ! We were saying, why it is that when some people have trials it makes them lose their spiritual grounding and others, it makes them stronger? I believe the ones that get stronger, are the ones that truly understand God, and His characteristics and attributes. Understanding how much He loves us, and that He would never give us more than we can handle...really helps. It helps to strengthen your faith, and a deeper faith... in turn gives you more peace and hope! 
   Understanding that everything happens for a purpose, and that many or the trials we will go through, will truly be our greatest teachers. But so often  we are impatient, or our faith waivers. Truly understanding God, can help us endure things better. Many times our perspective is narrowed and we can't see the whole picture. Knowing God can ...really help!
I love this story, hope you do too. Night!

The Burning Hut

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground- - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

 

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."  ~St. Augustine

"God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine.'  ~David Nicholas

"Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message."  ~Malcolm Muggeridge

I love this story!

I first heard this story when I was 22 years old and serving a mission for my church. We had been invited to dinner, at a sweet young family's home. Afterwards  they asked us to stay while they read a Christmas story to their kids. They had flannel board cut outs to help the little ones understand it better. The children loved it, and I thought is was one of the most beautiful Christmas stories I had ever heard. I now have the book and read it my kids and grandkids. Hope you enjoy it!

Good night! 

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: " I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. " I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. " I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. " All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. " This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

"I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be."  ~ Douglas Adams

"I have no regrets in my life, I think that everything happens to  you for a reason. The hard times that  you go through build character, making you a much stronger person."  ~ Rita Mero

Prayer

I was reading a story about a prayer and wanted to share part of it with you ...

The story was about a little girl. She was upset with her brother, who built a trap to catch sparrows.

Unable to get help, she said to herself, “Well, I’ll pray about it.”

After her prayer, the little girl told her mother, “I know he is not going to catch any sparrows in his trap because I prayed about it. I’m positive he won’t catch any sparrows!”

Her mother said, “How can you be so sure?”

She said, “After I prayed about it, I went out and kicked that old trap all to pieces!”                                             ~ Boyd K. Packer, “Prayer and Promptings  November 2009

I guess the moral to this story is to pray with great faith, but then remember to always end our prayers with "THY WILL BE DONE". When we do this, we showing the Lord that no matter what, we will trust in His decisions and timing. But  don't you just love the little girl's attitude and determination? At least she did everything in her power to take care of the problem too! :) Yes, prayer truly is vital in our lives.

"With thoughtless and impatient hands
We tangle up the plans
The Lord hath wrought.
And when we cry in pain He saith,
“Be quiet, man, while I untie the knot.”  ~Unknown

"Prayer is a privilege and the soul’s sincere desire. We can move beyond routine and “checklist” prayers and engage in meaningful prayer as we appropriately ask in faith and act, as we patiently persevere through the trial of our faith, and as we humbly acknowledge and accept “not my will, but Thine, be done." ~ David A. Bednar

Now Playing...

It almost sounds like a movie when I say that I got to see Mandy 2 today! Actually it is a real life movie....but of my life. My prosthetic is named Mandy. I am not sure why I did that? Maybe it is my twisted humor or I was just got tired of writing and saying the word Prosthetic? Either way, Mandy was my 2nd and best prosthetic that I had, the first one was Sally and she and I weren't together long. Mandy and I go everywhere together and because of her, I was able to go back into life with much more confidence and peace after my mastectomy. She is a one of the newest type of prosthetic out there. A few months ago I noticed a few things that were going wrong with her and so when I took her back to the shop I got her from, they said she needed to be returned and that I would get a new replacement one soon. So a friend and I went to Marysville this morning, to pick up Mandy 2 at ...Viginia's Feminine Boutique. They do an amazing job at the fittings and they are very knowledgeable and compassionate. It is definitely worth the drive. Here is there web site... Virginia's Feminine Boutique

I realized today how grateful I am for those people who have developed the prosthetics, in the olden days, they use to make their own with rice, or herbs, even water. Yes, we have come a long way.

I am so glad that I am now a little less self conscience that I was a year ago. I seem to be more comfortable in my own skin now. I don't really even let anyone ( other than family ) see me without my prosthetic but still, I feel much better about myself than I did a year ago. I know I have a long way to go, but I only hope it continues to get easier and better each year.

Many of you have watched me and all the ups and downs that I have gone through in the past year and half, with cancer. Thank you for your love and support. It has been a hard, and yet it has taught me so many different things, things that I am sure I could not have learned in any other way. In some ways I feel like a better person since I have had cancer twice, and yet it has been one of the worst things I had to ever go through. Cancer gives you a perspective, that can be life changing... if you let it. I guess the greatest thing that I have come to learn is...God is in charge and I need to learn to trust in His wisdom and timing. And with that knowledge, to then strive to learn, enjoy and live every moment ( no matter how many I have left). Quality is a big thing with me now, I am more worried about quality of life than quantity ( especially since, that is the only area that I can control anyway! )

So the quote that keeps coming to my mind tonight about life and lessons of life is this one by Maria Robinson... "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, I know it is important to show everyone that I am not going to quit, but continue to learn and grow from each experience that happens to me. I need to show them that I trust the Lord, and that I am leaving things into His hands.  I don't want to miss one moment with my family and friends. Yes, life is like a movie ...but I can at least, make sure how it is going to end! (within reason!)

"Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect condition. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful."  ~ Mark Victor Hansen

"If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone."   ~John Maxwell quotes

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."     ~Robert Byrne

 

 

 

 

I love this scripture.

Sometimes I read a certain scripture over and over again and never quite understand it. When I here it explained though someone else's point of view, then I get a different perspective. One that helps. That's what happened today in my reading. I am reading a book by S. Michael Wilcox called Don't Leap with the Sheep and he opened up a whole new meaning to this certain scripture. He made it relate to me, that is what I believe the scriptures are meant for...to liken unto ourselves, to truly understand them. (Luke 24:45) Anyway the chapters that he talked about was in the book of Numbers 13-14.

The title of the chapter was Wall-watchers or Grape gathers
Before attempting to conquer the promised land, Moses sent 12 men, one from each tribe and "every one a ruler among them" into the land of Canaan.  ( Numbers 13-14 ) They searched it from the north to the south. From the brook Eshcol they cut down  "a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs."
Returning to the main encampment, they assured the children of Israel that "the land ...surely...floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." However, in spite of the wonders of the land, the spies reported that "the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great....We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up the evil report of the land.:
Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, disagreed with the assessment of the other 10 spies. They confirmed the fruitfulness of the land and testified,  " let us go at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."
Now the people had a choice. Would they direct their attention to the large cluster of grapes and the promise of the future bountiful harvests, or would they concentrate on the height of the walls and the difficulties in conquering the land? Unfortunately, they chose to focus on the difficulties rather than the blessings.

Caleb and Joshua tried to kindle faith in their hearts by assuring them, "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into the land, and give it to us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us." Their efforts, however, evoked from the congregation only the threat to stone them.
Realizing that the present generation did not have the faith necessary to claim their inheritance in the promised land, the Lord took them at their word. They had said it would be better to die in the wilderness than attempt such a difficult task as conquering the high walls and mighty warriors. As a result of the final rebellion, the Lord declared that they would wander in the wilderness until all the older generations had died. The wandered for forty years.

Often in our lives we hear the conflicting reports of the spies. Then we must decide whether we will become wall-watchers or grape-gathers. Will we focus on the difficulties in obeying the certain commandment of the Lord, or will we focus on the fruits, remembering the promises He extends to those who trust Him.

I guess the thing that struck me in this scripture and which he mentions in his book is that we must not focus on the height of the walls and the power of the warriors. But we much remember if the Lord delights in us, we will have the sufficient strength to conquer our fears, surmount our obstacles and enjoy the fruits of the land.

I am grateful for those who have the talent to share what they know in a way that make sense to me. What a talent to be able to write in such a way that you feel like you are sitting across the table from an old friend who has so much wisdom and insights to share with you.

I have to admit, there have many times in my life that I have been a Wall Watcher instead of a Grape Gather. I know that the Lord will not give me anything that I can't handle or conquer, but sometimes I focus too long on the Wall and forget to just TRUST! Great lesson for me today. I hope it will be a bit of inspiration to you too!

Start with yourself

As a mother, it has always been interesting to me on how we... as mothers find the balance that we need in our lives. It seems like the world just keep yelling at us to "keep going, do better, be everything to everybody, and you need to be PERFECT!"  When that was going on, I found it hard to be able to hear that sweet, calming voice that said "just do the best that you can and trust". I don't think this is even just a mother's dilemma ...but a Woman's too. Why is that balance so hard to find?

I believe the worst part is that our kids and families watch us almost fall apart, trying to achieve the PERFECT MOM or WOMAN role. I look back with a lot of regret that I didn't take better care of myself first. It always  makes me think of the stewardess on the airplanes when she reminds you ...in the case of an emergency to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before your children. That way you have the ability to help them. Why is that such a hard concept to learn? When we take care of ourselves first (not in a selfish way) but in a healthy way, then, we have a lot more to offer our family and friends why?  Because we are full, our barrel is full and there for, we have something to give. I don't even want to tell you how many years that I continually tried to keep serving others from an empty barrel. ( that hurts! ) Worse than that, physically and emotionally and spiritually, it takes years to recoup from constantly being on empty and still moving.

I spoke with a dear friend the other day who is struggling over some of the decisions of her children. As I listened to her, I wanted to ask her what have you done for yourself lately? Are you happy? Are you taking the time you need to fill your barrel? Have you done the best that you can? If so...then just trust ,that your kids have it in them, to make the right decisions. I know the feeling of watching your kids make decisions that you wish they wouldn't and some times just knowing what the consequences will be( because you have a little experience in this area)...makes it even harder to watch. But I am learning (of course it was the hard way) to just focus back on me and what I am suppose to be doing. I do know that kids (any age) watch more than they listen. Motherhood is one of the best and hardest jobs that there is out there, so remember to take it in stride and be patient with yourself.

So I hope you enjoy this poem about taking care of yourself first. Understanding that the only people we can change is ....ourselves! Thanks to all of you, that have continued to remind me of this and who have set the best example for me.

 

Start With Yourself

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But, it too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

Words written tomb of an Anglican Bishop, Westminster Abbey London

Trust

Recently I had a conversation with a dear friend who was struggling with a situation in her life that she couldn't work out and couldn't understand why certain things were happening. I remembered this story of the ANT that I used once in teaching a lesson on faith and trust. I sent the story to her and tried to remind her that some things happen in our lives and we may or may not understand why. But it is vital that we continue on in the faith and pray for understanding. Sometimes we just have to keep going. I thought this story was a perfect reminder of that.
I needed to read this story again tonight myself. I went for my 1 mile walk and had to call for Lauren to come pick me up half way through, my back was hurting too bad. I am not sure why it has gotten worse lately? I usually can at least make it through my walk. I sat down and waited for Lauren to come pick me up and I started wondering why I can't at least do this? When will my body get stronger? Will I always be in pain? Anyway, I don't know the answer to any of these questions... but I do know that I need to stay strong, be positive and pray that I will be able to endure, whatever comes in the future.

So good night and enjoy the story!

THE ANT
A true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona
Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she Was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff.
In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her Contact lens. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below Her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there.
Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff.
She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."
Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it!
Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for you."
I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and It's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

ARE WE NAVIGATING LIFE OR ARE WE LOST ?

Many of you probably have heard me say that I have no sense of direction and mostly that is true. But I was thinking about that comment the other day and realized that it isn't completely true. I have no sense of direction in the car or sometimes even when I am just going down a street, should I go left or right? But I was studying an article (can you tell that I am a reader?) and it was about how we navigate our lives ( by Jose Teixeira). It mentioned that a GPS receiver is tuned to frequencies transmitted by satellites high about the earth; which help us from getting lost while driving. Much like that, we an internal GPS that allows us to know at all times what is right and what is wrong, as well as assisting us in making correct decisions...we call it our CONSCIENCE! How ever if we don't listen to it and follow those gut feelings, then after a while we become desensitized and may not be able to receive the signal that we need to guide our footsteps.

As a child I remember those feelings of my conscience. I have always had a strong feeling of right and wrong. But I was abused by my grandfather for years and it became confusing for me to listen to that GPS inside. I knew what kind of a man he was. But it seemed to everyone around me, that he was a good neighbor,friend and someone that everyone could trust. The longer the abuse went on, the more confused I was about my feeling inside. How could everyone be fooled? Maybe I was wrong, maybe this is what grandfathers just do? It was a time that I truly ...felt LOST!

I tried to tell someone when I was 5 years old but I was reprimanded and told that he was a wonderful man and that he would never hurt anyone. Talk about confusing. I was young but remember feeling like I had done something wrong, how could I think feel such bad feelings, for such a wonderful man. YUCK, is all my stomach kept telling me and now I was beginning to think that I was the bad person.

Throughout my teen years, I was very confused and really began questioning why I was even here on earth. If my purpose was to be abused, surely I had fulfilled that and so I remember praying that I would just be able to leave. No, I never considered suicide, I just wanted God to take me away. I couldn't see much of a future with the lie that I was living with, the shame too. Many times it seemed more than I could bear. I had lots of friends but that isn't the sorta thing that you tell anyone. What would they think of me? I could only imagine.

Being raised in a religious home was my life saver. I was taught that I had a Heavenly Father and that I could go to Him anytime and ask for help, strength and comfort. I was reminded that I did have a conscience and that I needed to trust that, it is a gift...given to all of us, so we need never be truly lost.

To make a long story short, I learned how to pray and to listen. I learned how to fine tune my own GPS! I received a strength beyond my own. I confronted my grandfather and for once, I was the one that was doing all the threatening. It was empowering and freeing. The emotional abuse still continued for years, he and my grandmother lived on our farm. But the physical abuse stopped that moment.

I was still a very messed up teenager and since I was always in survivor mode all those years, school was never a top priority and so I had a lot of challenges from that. I some how graduated from High School ( a miracle within itself )and went on with life. I dated too many guys, always trying to find the one true love and best friend that I could share my life with and this awful secret with too.

On June 9th, 31 years ago yesterday, I went on my first date with this terribly handsome guy named... Jeff Woodard. I knew by the end of the date that he was a true gentleman and someone that I could completely trust. My internal GPS told me exactly where I should go. And from that day on I have never looked back. I had a choice, I had finally learned to trust my gut again, I realized that I had never done anything that would have made me deserve the abuse that I got. It is just called LIFE, people make all type of decisions and sometimes the decisions of others effect our lives. Don't let anyone tell you that this is your life, your choices don't effect others, because they do! My grandfather's decisions were bad ones, and many people suffered from it. But when I finally started trusting my navigating system again, everything looked brighter. I do know that we all have the ability to make choices, that's our freedom and our gift. But I also know that choosing good always leads to happiness and just the opposite with wrong decisions.

So where do I go from here? I know exactly who I am and where I am to go. It's a great feeling, not to be lost. I know my purpose and I have my best friend to travel this road with me. Life is hard, it is work... but it is good. My sense of direction (in the car) still might be lacking, but not my sense of right or wrong. That signal has never been stronger! I feel blessed... to know exactly where I am!

I truly hope that you are listening to that gut feeling, your own personal GPS, your conscience. Then I hope you are following it's direction. Isn't it great to know that we are not alone in our journey? Thanks for the friendship and guidance you have given me along the way.

"OUR LIVES WILL DEPEND UPON THE DECISIONS WHICH WE MAKE- FOR DECISIONS DETERMINE DESTINY" ~ Thomas Monson

"IF ONE ADVANCES CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF ONE'S DREAMS, AND ENDEAVORS TO LIVE THE LIFE WHICH ONE HAS IMAGINED, ONE WILL MEET WITH A SUCCESS UNEXPECTED IN COMMON HOURS." ~Henry David Thoreau

" I CAN'T CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND, BUT I CAN ADJUST MY SAILS TO ALWAYS REACH MY DESTINATION" ~Jimmy Dean