A walk on the beach

Today, I took Chip and Luke to the beach near our house. It's a bit precarious getting them both up and down the rock wall, but we did it! They loved tromping around in the mucky sand and sea grass. Luke enjoyed stalking the seagulls and chasing a few into the water. While we were there, we were treated to a bald eagle hunting for an afternoon snack. I could tell he had his "eagle eyes" on us, as each time we got closer to him, he would fly a bit further out over the water.

Our Friend Brad

A dear friend in Christ, Brad Morris died a couple of days ago. He suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. His sister asked for thoughts about Brad to be read at his memorial service tomorrow. We'll miss Brad, yet we know he is in a better place now.

Brad's health was in significant decline for most of the time we knew him. He was in a wheelchair, and required constant attention and care.

Brad was a force to be reckoned with when it came to tending to our spiritual lives. His constant challenge of our interpretation of the word, caused me to take pause, ponder my own beliefs, and often re-read and study the scriptures we were discussing. I didn't always agree with his perspective, but I don't think that Brad's purpose was to get us to see things his way, rather it was to see things God's way.

I remember thinking about Brad one day when I was stopping off at the church building to drop something off. I was thinking how I wished there was an opportunity to get to know him better. Lo and behold there he was, getting out of the van just returning from the dentist. Though his mouth was numb from dental work, he seemed happy to spend a few minutes chatting with me. The conversation took an almost immediate turn from a pleasant superficial chat to something much deeper. He challenged my current spiritual walk, in a way that was frank and honest, not critical. His attitude was one of why wait, do the thing now I had been toiling over. Now, when a challenge is before me, and I find myself procrastinating, I often reflect back on that moment, and the way Brad spoke to me, as a brother in Christ who knew the value of taking care of things today, in this moment, for the opportunity may not come along again.

"Stay with it. That is what's required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, you'll be saved." Mark 13:13 (The Message)

Thanks Brad!

My next cup of coffee...

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective
careers, got together for a visit with their old university
professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the
endless stress of work and life in general...

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen
and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic
assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some
expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help
themselves to some fresh coffee.. ..

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the
old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently
address the small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of
the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the
plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to
want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much
of your stress-related problems." He continued...''Be assured that
the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely
disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really
wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the
best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups....''
''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in
society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain
Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor
change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on
the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us... God
brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your
coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just
make the best of everything they have... So please remember: Live
simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the
Rest to God.

And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the
most, but the one who needs the least.

The "burden" of the cross. Is it too much to bear?

<>


Awesome!! We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize
it is pre paring us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can't.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready , to answer your call....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love...

The definition of persistence

Chip scratching at the back door
wanting to be let in.
I think I'll go let him in.

Sloopy Bubblelips

My cousin sent me this. I thought it was funny, and I'd love it if when you decide to decode your "new name," you'd send it along to me via a comment, so I can have a little more laughter in my day. Helen's new name is Boobie Farkletush. Mine is in the subject line of this blog post. I hope there's nothing nasty in here, I didn't quality control the content.

A. Follow the instructions to find your new name.

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine
your New first name:
a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dink y
z = zippy


2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine
the first half of your new last name:

a = dippin
b = feather
c = b atty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hams ter
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine
the second half of your new last name:
a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is: Fluffy Chucklefanny.

Children laugh an average of 146 times
a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day.

I hope this put a little more laughter in your day.

Tagged by Alani

Well, it is both an honor and privilege to accept this tagging opportunity from lovely Alani. (Good thing she's not old enough to buy spray paint. HA!)

8 Things I am passionate about:

God
My wonderful husband - Bill
My beautiful children - Timbra, Haley and Justin
My spectacularly adorable granddaughter - Alani
My health - spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional
The health of others
Water - I like to be near it, hear it, see it, in it, and drink it. I love the ocean...there is nothing like the sound of water lapping on the beach, or waves crashing.
Nature - you name it, I love it....trees, flowers, bald eagles, little birdies, otters, whales...the list goes on and on (I don't really like bugs or bees or slugs or that type of thing).

8 Things I say a lot:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Fabulous
I thought i was going to pass out
I have a great idea for a vacation
I'm cold
I need some, I wish I had some, do we have any... CHOCOLATE
Hon.................. (as in Honey would you, could you, do you think...)
Scawee (As in Scary)

8 Things I have learned or accomplished:

Being a wife, mom, and grannie are BY FAR life's greatest blessings
Others think and perceive the world differently than I do (imagine that)
Respect for my health
Laughter and Play are a universal language and key to a healthy life
Singing off key is okay
There are no mistakes in art
Cancer does not always equal a death sentence, and can be an opportunity to examine your life
Embrace the madness

8 Things I aspire to do:

Be an accomplished gardener
Speak a second language (as close to fluently as possible) - currently, Spanish is the front runner, with Sign as the runner up
Specialize in an area of Mental Health that would allow me to be considered an "expert in the field"
Travel to Ireland
In October, I plan to compete in a Triathlon (Sprint not Ironman - I ran a marathon in 1998 - I'm on the 10 year plan)
Ride a Century (100 mile bike ride)
See whales underwater while scuba diving (I'd also love to see a whale breech, preferably while I'm in a boat or on the shore)
Sing on key
This makes 9 - I'd like to die laughing, singing, or asleep, knowing I am a saved christian

8 Things that attract me to friends:

Lots of LAUGHTER!
Knowing that no matter how often we see each other, we can always pick up where we left off, with no regrets for time apart
Mutual respect - for family, friends, and self
The ability to share in one another's joys and sorrows
The ability to celebrate and appreciate life
A sense of adventure
Lack of envy
If they have chocolate

8 Artists I never get tired of listening to (or reading)

Most forms of Celtic Music
Bing Crosby - especially, White Christmas
Gene Kelly - especially, Singing in the Rain
Beethoven
Acappella singing with my church family
Bill
Alani
Peanuts (reading the daily comic strip, the wisdom is priceless, and their rendition of Hark the Herald Angels)

8 TV shows that I enjoy watching:

ER (I am pretty sure I've never missed an episode)
Biggest Loser (I think the transformations are amazing and inspiring)
Bull Riding (Bill suggested I add "tolerate," but I actually enjoy the show)
Extreme Makeover Home Edition (always makes me cry - often very big tears)
How to Look Good Naked (only saw it once, but thought it was fabulous)
Criminal Minds (though the subject matter is horrific, the therapist part of me can't resist)
House
CSI - Miami

I am not going to tag anyone, because I think everyone I would tag has already participated. I asked Bill and he said "no thanks," which would be on his list of 8 things he says often.

Update - I've been listening to the things I say frequently and two additions would be - "I was thinking" (often followed by "we should ..."), and "very nice." There may be more.