So, I twisted my ankle, yet again, and have been laid up a bit for the past week.  No, I wasn’t bungie jumping, or sky-diving.  I slipped on water on the kitchen floor.  Off to the Drs office for xrays.  No brake, just a severe spraign.  And not as bad as the last one 2 years ago, that resulted in 8 weeks of PT.

The day before I was sitting on my couch with my leg elevated, really quite mad about everything.  I wish I could say that I was singing praises to God, and just so thankful for this time down.  But no.  I was frustrated.  I was impatient.  I like to do things myself.  I don’t want to run on other’s time clocks.

My sweet husband was trying to give me a pep talk about how I could still do so much.  that is was “just an ankle”  I was venting that I couldn’t do this, couldn’t do that…yadayada ya da….

“I just want to go for a run!!” I burst out in frustration.

So you know what he did?  He pumped up my tahiti and put it into the pool.  He tied it to one end of the pool, helped me get in, and handed me the paddle.   

You should of seen it…I was paddling like mad.  I was talking it over with God that sometimes this is exactly how I feel:  Like I work so hard, and get nowhere!!  After about 20 minutes, I lay back in the tahiti and sunned myself.  I did feel better.

The next day I began to thank God for what I had.  Because, truly, I have so much.

I had a wedding to attend a few days later.  I managed to hobble around on my crutches.  But I was a little uneasy because I had to have my daughters do everything for me.  I didn’t get to dance, and I couldn’t very easily mingle.  I felt kind of useless.

Then there came the daddy-daughter dance. It stirred emotions deep within me so much that I had to get up and go give the mother of the bride (a dear long-time friend of mine) a hug.

As we were hugging, she whispered in my ear, “We wouldn’t be here as a family, if it weren’t for how God used you in our lives.”

In that very moment, I was brought to my knees in humility.  Tears filled my eyes as we embraced eachother.  Later that night, the father of the bride, also a dear friend of my husband and myself, approached me to say thank you.

Little did I know that in that season 10 years prior would God use me to uplift this couple in one of the most difficult challenges of their marraige.

If he can use me, he can use any of us that are willing to be used and motivated by LOVE.

We can all make a difference, one moment, one day, one person, one couple, one child, at a time.

 Do you believe that your life can make a difference?

I am missing you all!

It is amazing to me how resiliant the human spirit is.   

Here’s what I have been up to:

I have been exercising again….moving it–(my bod) on the treadmill!  Stretching on my foam roller….it all feels SO good.  I have been cooking food ahead of time to make sure we are all eating healthy through out the week.  I have been setting up coffee dates with my friends and team.  I have begun working my business again.   My mom and I decided to do a devotional study together.  (day 2 is tomorrow)

I am reminded in this new season that:

The human spirit is resiliant.   Joy does come in the morning.  Great is His faithfulness.  Morning by morning, new mercies we see. 

and I am thankful.

I miss hearing from you.  What are you up to ?

I started blogging…..a couple of months ago.   I needed it.  I was  coming out of a season that was harder than anything I have ever gone through.  It was like therapy for me.  Doing something that I enjoyed doing. a little everyday…consistency, getting out of bed, eating, writing, sleeping, returning phone calls within 6 days instead of 1….

trusting others to cover you…..

and they did.

I am so thankful for you….

Debra, Pearl, Pinkbug, Tam, Brent, Alece, Nor, Ed, Adam, Heidi, Michelle

Little did you know it, but you were a part of a time in my life that was pivotal.

Thank you……

What does it mean to you?

I believe that there is a big difference between the two.  If you were to have raised me in RELIGION, I may have rejected it. 

 But relationship is a whole other ball park. 

I appreciate the study of any subject.  But it can be lifeless without the relational part.

How do you feel about this?

I had just finished with my last patient before the lunch hour.  I grabbed a quick snack and drink of water.   As I set up for my next patient, I prayed, as I usually did. 

instruments in their right places?  check…

vitamin E ointment for their lips?  check…

I was set to go.

The vitamin E ointment was key….I had a practice since hygiene school of offering vitamin E ointment on the corners of their mouth while having their teeth cleaned.  Most always accepted.

As I walked my next patient back to the treatment area, I introduced myself.  He was quiet and reserved.  I was good at making conversation with people that did not want to be at the dental office.

 I set him in the chair, I leaned him back just slightly to say my hello’s and review Health History.  I saw a sober look in his countenance.  I knew that there were troubled waters in his soul.

I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but through the course of our one small hour together he began to tell me about his wife.

She was beautiful.  She was his soul-mate.  They did everything together.  She understood him.  He loved her more than life.  

and then he told me that very, very recently……she had died.

My heart sank.  I glanced at his health history for birthdate, knowing that he was no older than me.

32.

widower at 32.  Lost.  broken.  wounded.  shattered…..beyond sad…..no words to express…….

Could I identify?

no.

I didn’t even know what to say.  But like so many others, he opened up to me, and probably later, wondered why he had.

I said all that I knew to, ” I am so sorry.”

I excused myself to go get the Doctor for the exam.  I had a few brief minutes, so I looked up 2 scriptures for him that I hoped would be of some comfort.

I wrote them on a piece of paper, and at the same time, scrawled his name in the back of my journal, of which I kept a prayer list.

The Doctor came and did his exam.  Afterward, I handed him the note with the scriptures and said, “I wrote these down for you.  I want you to know that I will be praying for you.  I am so sorry for your loss.  I pray that God will bring you comfort and peace.”

We looked at eachother.  Our eyes exchanged a knowing glance as I approached the receptionist’s desk.

That was the last time I saw him.

4 years later…..

Medford Fire Department

Sean’s first month as a Fire Fighter with Medford Fire……

The girls and I scurried around the kitchen making bbq pork ribs, home made bread sticks, salad, and homemade blackberry cobbler.

The table was set….we had met Sean’s new Captain, and hose-man.

We had a very nice dinner exchanging cordial conversation.

My girls were so on that night, as little as they were…trying to impress.

They cleared the table, did the dishes, made coffee, and served the dessert.

Meanwhile, Sean, Captain John and I were at the table talking.

I listened closely as Captain John told me about his son-in-law that had lost his wife 4 years prior.

As he was telling this story, I had to stop him and ask him the name of his son-in-law.

It was the same man I had met 4 years prior.

He went on to tell me that he had just remarried, and that they were witness to God’s healing power in His life…that He did find love again, and that he was doing very well.

my heart sighed a deep breath as I was reminded that not only does God hear our prayers, but in this case, He allowed me see the outcome.

I  love getting to know you!

So….let’s keep it rolling!

What is your favorite holiday, and why?  Please include details…food, decor, weather, whatever!

Tope 3 Favorite movies

(I am writing this all down!)

Top 3 pet peeves (we all have them)  :roll:

Do you own a pet?  If yes, what and name.

If no, why not?  ( i’m just being nosy)

mwah!  (that is a kiss)

Storie

What are your top 3 favorite books?

What are your top 3 favorite artists (music)?

What is your favorite dinner? 

What is your favorite color?

I dedicate this today to my precious friend Pearl…..my friend and sister

unless a seed falls to the ground and dies….it cannot bring forth life…….and cannot bear fruit~paraphrased by Storie:—)

Seed cast away on the garden floor

as it lay in the dark wondering….

no promise of life it appears to the seed

as it lay in the dark

will it choose to believe?

asI lay in this place

you have allowed

I will cling to the promise of your word

that you are preparing your will for my life

breathing your word in the dark of the night

Hallelujah……. Hallelujah

Hallelujah

And he’s been there before

on the garden floor

as he lay in the dark wondering

the seed of the Father, Christ His own son

sent forth to die

to bring forth new life

hallelujah….. hallelujah

Even Christ was a seed fallen to the garden floor.

He understands our suffering.  

love,

Storie

As I sat at my kitchen table this morning, reading and writing, I sipped my french roast coffee (with a touch of creamer, of course) and took a deep breath.

obviously, coffee n- cream refreshes me!

It is still a mystery to me that spending time in the word of God lightens my heart.  I love being reminded of His goodness and grace, and mercies that are new every morning.  It is like air to me.  and water….and sustenance.  There is a restful peace in these simple moments:  I sit at the piano and sing a new song.  I write a friend a hand-written card, and SEND IT!  I pull my girls onto my lap…even though they are almost taller than me!….I sit with Sean and share a cup of coffee….fresh flowers from my garden, a good book…..

What refreshes you, my friend?

Ok, so I have been on a song-sharing kick the past few days….and yes, there is more of that to come.  Ed and Nor have challenged me to figure out how to upload songs on an MP3 file…yikes!  I will do my best. 

I did share a song last night at church (hold me close–see post below)

One woman in particular came up to me and said, “that was for me.   My mom died one month ago”……her voice trailed off as tears filled her eyes.  A highlight of the teaching last night was that our experiences provide others with the hope of Christ. 

Sharing authentically is very humbling…..I opened my heart to a body of people to see inside of me now…….. not “where I have been,”  {as in been there, done that….} but rather:  this is me, right now!  Yikes!!  (no wonder I tried to post my song to a select few yesterday:-)

Being where you are is one of the most freeing places to be, yet one of the most vulnerable.

Can you relate?