Un-Olympic Events

I've lost count of my many Un-Olympic events that I have failed to earn a medal.

It is Olympic time - summer games 2016 and a friend of mine had challenged all of us on FB to list our Un-Olympic events that failed to earn a medal.  This challenge made me remember a lot of Un-Olympic events in my life from: 'walking out the front door' (I get hurt a lot walking out the front door) to 'walking in saddle shoes after a rain storm'.  So, today a friend, Doug, tagged me in an awesome comment about a 41 year old gymnast currently competing in the Olympics and her tough vault which ended in her landing too hard and going forward and turning that disastrous landing into a somersault. I jut know that she meant to do that. It was all in her planning - I know it. Okay, maybe not, but she saved it! So, that landing made me remember my Un-Olympic event #5,498.

Picture this: Gymnastics, for gym class, at Mounds Park Junior High School -  1973 - 8th grade with one of my dearest friends, Linda S. Our gym teacher thought that Lindy and I would do great at gymnastics, so she had us work at whatever we wanted to do for extra credit for the class. Lindy and I played a lot of sports together: softball (eventually going to Nationals 5 years later), flag football, floor hockey, and volleyball (she was by my side when I landed on the volleyball and fractured my ankle - ooo, another Un-Olympic event, spiking the volleyball during warm ups and landing on it with your foot) and I was at her side when she dove into the pool and scraped the bottom of the pool with her nose (yet, another Un-Olympic event created by us). I helped her tape her broken nose (hey, we saw this on TV) so she could play softball (National tournament) and together we created a paste of baby powder and Noxzema to soothe our very sun burnt shoulders so we could wear our bras and polyester softball uniforms to play softball in the 200 degree Georgia heat. Neither one of them worked, but hey, we were in this together.

So back to 1973 and 8th grade gym class and our attempt at being gymnasts. We tried all of the gymnastic things - balance beam (yeah that didn't work), acrobatics (nope), parallel bars (couldn't lift ourselves up) - just think of the gym scene in Grease, where Danny Zuko is trying to get his letter and find a sport he could do - that would be the two of us in the middle of all of the gymnastic apparatus thingies. Our gym teacher, Miss Anderson, decided that Linda and I would be great at the vault (considering our epic performances on the other gymnastic apparatus, this one would be a piece of cake ). So, we were ready and psyched. We were the only two in the gym on the horse/vault and taking turns spotting each other.

We actually didn't do so bad, in our minds, until Lindy decided to be super girl. I had jut finished my klutzy attempt at running and hitting the whatchamacallit that you jump on to leap onto the horse and then do your thing in the air and hopefully land on your feet on the mat. My thing was surviving the leap. There was a whole lot of giggling from us as we were attempting to be gymnasts. And there was a whole lot of landing on the mat and flying forward on our faces as the other one was trying to catch the flying one to avoid injury. It probably looked more like a wrestling match as we tried to catch each other and ended up rolling off of the mat onto the floor. Then came the epic super girl attempt by Lindy. She took off running at super speed and leaped off of the jumpy thing and had perfect 10 form and with her arms in perfect form, her body lined up to make a perfect jump,landing and....then it happened: she flew right over the horse and landed in my arms and we both sailed off of the mat and rolled across the gym floor still holding on to each other for dear life. As we laid there on the cold floor, in our lovely two toned blue one piece gym suits and white knee highs, with our arms still wrapped around each other, We both decided right then and there that gymnastics was definitely not our sport. We stood up, brushed ourselves off and together decided we were sticking to softball and walked (possibly limped) out of the gym side by side. We didn't look back.

And, here is the video of the 41 year old gymnast from Uzbekistan, that brought back the memory of my attempt at being a gymnast. Thank you Doug for tagging me in the post to see this. Thank you for making me laugh, I needed that.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/oksana-chusovitina-attempts-dangerous-vault-olympic-final

The forgotten blog

I kind of forgot that I had a blog. I had started it with the intent to type every day. Or once a week. Once a month for sure. Um, it's been longer than a month. I was really shocked to see that it's been 4 years. I hope to type more than a few times every 4 years. Now I feel really silly, that I've ignored my blog for 4 years. It's not that I haven't witnessed God's smiles in the past 4 years, I have. I just have felt like I didn't have what it takes to write anything that anyone would want to read. I was very discouraged. A lot has happened in the last 4 years that has taken the wind out of my writing sails. It's been a frustrating 4 years, that's for dang sure. So, here I go again. And I have to acknowledge and thank my adopted daughter, Stefanie, for asking her friends on Facebook who has a blog. Sweetie, you are my smile from God to make me start up my blog again. And, thank you to my youngest son, Mark, for reading what I type to let me know how it is and for encouraging me to listen to God's nudges and not argue with the Lord when He said in that still small voice: 'write.' So here goes - again......I hope I entertain readers with how I view this thing called life and God's smiles. And, it is rather difficult to write a blog - to type your feelings on life makes you feel quite vulnerable. It's kind of like those bad dreams that you have of being back in high school and your are either in your pajamas or, ahem, not in your pajamas. My intent in writing my blog is to make you smile. or laugh. Maybe help you grow closer to God and see His smiles in everyday happenings. I know for myself, finding God's smiles in everything has taken a number of years of letting go and letting God; of trusting Him with my life and my family; of opening my eyes to all that He has shown me on this journey that is life. So, some of my blogs will definitely be about God's smiles that I have noticed and, like today's, just my own smiles on what I have notice in this crazy world of ours. I hope, dear readers (if any are out there) that I entertain you with how I see life. God bless you! So, here we go again......

The following is my view from August 1,2016: We have subscribe to a few services to watch TV shows and movies and I shall use only initials as I don't want to get into any copyright trouble for using their names, but I think you will be able to figure out who, or what, I am talking about. One of the viewing services I shall call AP. I am very excited to have AP at my fingertips. Seriously, it is at my fingertips, it’s on my laptop. I’ve been going through all of the lists and finding things to watch. I just finished watching all 6 seasons of Downton Abbey. I think I was the only person on my Facebook friends list who didn’t watch all episodes on channel 2, aka PBS, religiously. I loved the show, but just kept forgetting it was on Sunday night.  I watched enough of the episodes to know that I love Maggie Smith’s character, the Dowager Duchess. So, I watched every episode in a little over a week. I loved it.  I will probably watch it again. It was like a really good book and all of the characters became family you didn’t want it to end. So, I decided to check out to see what else AP has to offer.  

I typed in the word ‘exercise’ and hit the little magnifying glass icon. To my surprise, 252 pages came up with about 20 titles on each page (I think, I didn’t count). I am looking for a specific exercise show that I can watch – I never said I was going to do the exercises, but I do like to watch them and think that I could do that exercise, or maybe that one and then I go on with my daily business. I used to exercise with the daily 1/2 hour shows back in my younger days, I did seriously, but I can’t remember what they are called, but I figured if I just typed in the word ‘exercise’ I might be able to find them. I didn’t expect 252 pages of at least 20 shows per page. As I am perusing all of the exercise shows and clicking on a few or three to add to my watch list, I did notice a few that I am sure are not exercise videos, one starred Rosalind Russell and I don't believe she made an exercise video.  There was even videos to, um, build up your backside. I have enough backside thank you very much and I don’t care to make it any bigger than it is. My goal is to make the backside smaller. I have to say that some of these titles for actual exercises made me blush and bust out laughing. 

And, just for the record, I shall not click on a yoga video. I tried yoga once, a number of years ago and I fell on my head. I really did. I decided right there and then that yoga was not for me. And, did you know that there is even a belly dancing video for pregnancy? I know! It's for the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy, and it's belly dancing for labor.  It’s been a few years since the birth of my youngest son, but I know for a fact, belly dancing would not have been something I would have wanted to do. The mere suggestion could have possibly caused someone to be injured. Seriously injured. My poor husband tried cracking a joke and I just about choked the life out of him. I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind deciding to belly dance while enduring pain that feels as though a mack truck is trying to escape from your body. 

And much to my surprise, as I am glancing through the titles, still looking for my specific show, I found that they also have in the exercise category, a video to relax with: relaxing to the sounds of a toilet. I’m not kidding. For 1 hour and 4 minutes, you can relax to the sounds of a working toilet. Who? What? Why? Seriously, it’s really offered for your viewing, or rather listening pleasure – 1 hour and 4 minutes of the sound of a toilet to relax you. I know that listening to a toilet for 64 minutes is not going to relax me one bit.  That would seriously drive me nuts and make me have to go to the bathroom! If that relaxation won’t work for you, you can also listen to the sounds of rain on a tent. I'm thinking that would not relax me as my family can attest to what happens when I hear a storm on the horizon and we are in a tent. The sound of rain on a tent to me means: water dripping in to the tent, moisture building up and causing my hair to expand like Rosanne Roseannadanna's hair, wind to cause the tent to fall on us, thunder and lightening, lightening striking the trees we are under, and the list goes on. Yeah, I am ready for anything when camping. So when I hear rain on a tent, my first instinct is to execute an evacuation to safer and drier places, also known as the back of the station wagon at 2 in the morning. Yep, I did this on one of our camping trips. And then I sat up to await the dreaded storm, that I knew I heard. After, sitting in a cramped and very warm car for ½ an hour and no storm arrived, I decided to investigate and discovered that the noise I heard was the neighboring camp sites fire. I woke my sleeping family (including the dog) to tell them all was clear (and dry) and we can go back to the tent. They weren’t very happy with me when I admitted that what I heard was the neighboring campers fire and it really did sound like rain - it did! But I reminded them that they all did very well for our first (and last) camping fire drill on emergency evacuations during a thunderstorm while under trees and in a tent. I know I would do better at camping if I was in an RV. or maybe a hotel. with a pool. and served breakfast. or maybe had room service. 

I’m now going back to peruse the  very long list of exercise videos, which also includes a Brazilian war dance workout. That may come in handy when in the woods. I shall add that to my watch list. I’m a good scout mom – be prepared. You never know when an opportunity may arise and you need to break out into a Brazilian war dance to scare off a bear, or a wolf, or maybe a squirrel when out in the wilderness at a campsite with a pool and showers. I shall be prepared. Maybe. 

Lessons learned from Song Birds

To me, there is nothing more beautiful then birds. I love watching them interact with each other - watching the different breeds all share the same feeding spot. Once in awhile, someone gets a little greedy and gets chased out or chases someone else away, but for the most part the birds all get along. Many times I've thought that people could learn some lessons from watching the birds. I love watching them look for food and they are never worried, because it seems that they know that God always provides for them. Whether it is bird seed from a feeder, seeds from a plant, bugs, water - they just don't worry - it' will be provided. Many times when I am so caught up in the problems of the circumstances I am going through, I really need to remind myself to watch the birds. The great lesson that we can learn from watching them is:

• #1 -  Trust God. Always. Know in your heart that God has your best interest in His heart and is always there for you. Lesson learned: never doubt God.
• #2 - Be wary for predators, the birds are always on guard for their enemies. We need to be wary of the enemy aka Satan and his lies and schemes which will draw us away from God. Lesson learned: be on guard always for the trick from the devil and stay in God's Word and presence.
• #3 - Sing Praises to the Lord. My favorite 'alarm clock' is the songs from the birds (and lately we have a bird that likes to wake up at 3AM). And I believe that they are singing their morning prayers to God, thanking Him for the day ahead, for the food that they know he will provide, for shelter in the storms. Usually, the Robins are the first to wake up, but now the new birds in the neighborhood evidently like to get up before the Robins - haven't figured out which birds they are yet, but how can you get angry - even at 3AM - at the beautiful song they are singing? I love how they also have different songs they sing at dusk, again songs of Praise and Thanks to God for a beautiful day. Lesson learned: Praise God always - sing, pray, dance - all for Our Father in Heaven.
• #4 - Keep in contact with family and friends. Many times I will hear the sound of the male Cardinal calling for his mate, calling and then patiently waiting for her response. Once in awhile, he will have to move to another tree or higher up to call for her, but she always answers. I love listening to the birds communicating back and forth across the yards during the day. Many times I've often felt it would be great to be like a Dr. Doolittle and understand what they are saying to each other. Are they brothers or sisters catching up on the family news? Or are they (as I imagine from growing up, two housewives talking back and forth between the yards) 'bird wives' gossiping back and forth about what the others have done. Of maybe 'teenage' birds talking about the other 'young birds' in the neighborhood. Lesson learned: never walk away from family, always stay in contact with them. God blessed us with family and friends for a reason, cherish them always.
• #5 - Look out for storms. My Grandpa Phil taught me about the birds and said they were the best at forecasting the weather. Just watch them. They are quite active, almost frantic, before a big storm hits  and I'm talking hours. Feeding, calling to each other and finally before the big storm hits - silence. Once in awhile, just before the storm hits, you will hear a single chirp that will travel across the yards between the birds, I'm guessing to make sure all are there and ready or maybe letting each other know what is coming or just reassurance that all will be well, trust in God, hang tight. Lesson learned: During the storms in life, trust God to get you through. Many times the words: 'Be Not Afraid' are repeated over and over in the Bible. God said them for a reason.
• #6 - Perserverance. Last fall, we had a big wind storm blow through that took down the Orioles nest from our front tree. This nest has been there for many years and we have 2 Oriole couples that always come back every year. We have one nest in the front yard and one in the back yard. When I seen that the nest in the front yard was literally blown off the branches, I was really sad thinking they might not come back this year since their home was gone. But that didn't deter them. They were back singing beautifully and re-built their home in the top branches of the same tree. Lesson to learn? The loss of their home didn't get them down, they just pulled up their birdie britches and re-built it on the same spot.  Their songs were just as joyous re-building their new home as it always is when they arrive for the summer. I was so happy to see they re-built their nest and thrilled to watch them start another family. Lesson learned: Don't give up, when life knocks you down, get back up. God sends on these journeys for a reason - to learn. Especially to learn to depend on Him, He is always there for us.
• #7 - Never leave your family. We also have an Eastern Phoebe couple that decided to build their nest right outside our front door, on top of a big, round thermometer. I was a bit apprehensive when I seen them building this and many friends have suggested removing it so they won't attack us. But I felt that the Good Lord wanted them to build there and they felt safe, so my son and I decided to leave it be. And so far, we are living in a peaceful harmony - she watches for the front door to open and flies away to the bushes in front of the garage. She also watched for the car to pull in the driveway and flies to the shepherds hook in the front yard waiting for us to get in the house. Papa Phoebe just sits in the bushes watching. The only time she did not move was during a severe storm and I had to leave to pick my son up from work. She sat on her nest and wasn't moving. I was very worried that when I opened the door, she would fly out, but she didn't. This greatly impressed me that she was not leaving her babies/eggs no matter what. Reminded me of the many times, I put on my 'mom army boots' for my sons. Both Eastern Phoebes are never far away from their nest and it makes me smile that they trust us to stay and know we would not hurt their babies either. Now at night when I come home from work late, my son will open the door slowly, so I can get in and we don't disturb her. She sleepily watches us and then snuggles back down on her eggs. Her mate, always either on the shepherds hook keeping watch or in the trees next to the driveway - he is never far away from his family. Lesson learned:  God nevers leaves us, just as we should never leave our own family.
• #8 - Let go of anger. If you watch the birds, you will once in awhile see an angry bird (and I'm not talking about the game here). And, oooooooo, there is nothing like an angry bird telling you or someone off. You thought your mom could yell? Listen to an angry bird yell. But, watch and that bird will let go of the anger quickly (well most of the time, I have seen male Geese who are on the angry side - but then again, I think that is more show than anything). I've watched pairs of birds get really angry at each other and have joked around with my sons - looks like a domestic going on in the Robin house, or the sparrow house or whatever bird couple is yelling. Then those same bird couples have let go of the anger and feeding each other, or singing sweetly back and forth. Lesson learned: God forgives us all the time, whether we ask or not. But it helps when we get on our knees and apologize to Him for the wrongs we have done. So we need to follow God's example and forgive those who have hurt us as well. Always remember this commandment from Jesus: John 15:12 - "This is My commandment: that ye love one another, as I have loved you."

The list could go on, but I will stop here. My hope is that after reading this you all will: Take time to watch the birds and learn from them. Take time to listen to their songs of Praise and remember to Praise God ourselves. Take time to check in on family and friends and let them know you care. Take time to say I love you. Most importantly, take time for God everyday.

Little Prayers

This morning I had a reminder that God answers all prayers - even the smallest requests. And when He answered that simple little prayer this morning, I had a huge smile on my face and I know that God had an even bigger smile on His face.

While shopping earlier with my son, God answered a little prayer regarding my sunglasses. In the middle of the store, I went to hand my son, Mark, a pen to cross off items on the list and my sunglasses popped out of the side pocket of my purse (I have the type of glasses that sunglasses fit on with magnets. My eyes are so sensitve that I cannot be without sunglasses when I'm outside). Mark and I laughed as my sunglasses were hanging on the metal cart because of the strong magnet, so I put them back in the side pocket where they belong. When we went to leave, I went to put on my sunglasses and they weren't there. Mark and I were searching everywhere, he even walked back through the store following where we went to see if they were laying on the ground (he had seen me put them back in the pocket). A very kind gentleman sitting at the front of the store even helped him look around there. No sunglasses in site. So I took the cart out to load the car and he walked the store. While walking to the car I said a prayer to St. Anthony (who, in case you don't k now, is the patron Saint of lost things and he has helped us find many things over the years) and I asked St. Anthony to guide Mark to find my sunglasses (thinking they had to be somewhere in the store). While I was walking to my car and squinting, my eyes were starting to hurt and a headache was starting to form, I said a quick prayer to God , "Father God, you are the only one who knows exactly where my sunglasses are and you know I need them to see in the bright light, Lord Jesus help me to find them." At the end of my prayer, I had reached my car and walked around to the back of the cart to start loading the things in the trunk and there right in the cart and laying on a bag (which looked like someone flattened it out smooth) lay my sunglasses - just like someone had gently laid them there for me to see. Thank you God!!! Totally a God smile. I knew right away who put my sunglasses there, smoothing out the bag to be flat and I thanked God for that quick answer.

Sometimes, we need that reassurance about answered prayers especially when we are going through what I call, the desert time - when God is silent. It's a hard time to go through - you're faith is being tested. At times like this, I do know that God does indeed hear my prayers, but it's easy to get frustrated and yell at God that He's not listening. You can't help but feel alone, yet deep down we know that we are not alone, that God is right there. He's got our back. And like a patient father watching His beloved child take baby steps, He is watching us as we take these steps on our individual journeys. Learning to completely trust Him. This is a very hard lesson to learn, but one God is so patient with us to learn - complete trust in HIM.

Just last night, while sitting at my prayer window asking for God's help with a very troubling issue in my life, I knew God was listening and is answering my prayers, as the beloved person I was praying over and for walked under my window. God was listening to my heart-felt plea and letting me know that He's got it covered. God is always listening and helping us to learn, we just need to be open to His lessons.  We just have to let go and let God do His work. Total trust in Him.

Recently at a meeting with my prayer team, while discussing answered prayers, someone pointed out that sometimes God answers those little prayers to get you ready for the answer to your big prayer and also, just to remind you - 'Yes, my child, I am here and I am listening. I love you. Don't worry.' Today was one of those little prayers that was answered quickly and I am so greatful for God's help not only in finding my sunglasses, but teaching me to totally trust in Him. And when I prayed that little, seemingly unimportant prayer, in my heart I knew that God was the only one who knew exactly where those glasses were and He was the only one who could find them and He did, but only after I totally turned my trust over to God to help.....



Peace, be still

I might gripe about winter cold (what Me? never) But I have to admit I love the snow. The peacefulness and stillness - I sometimes wonder if that is maybe a piece of Heaven. I love opening my bedroom window in the morning and listening to the sound that is Winter - the stillness that only that blanket of snow brings upon the world. Nature's insulation against the harsh sounds of the world. A reminder from God to be still and know I am here.  There is nothing more fulfilling than to stand in the midst of the falling snow and hear the whisper that only that tiny snowflake can make as the snowflakes fall through the branches of the trees or gently float past you. To lift your face to the Heavens and feel the gentle brush of the flakes falling against your cheeks. And, of course, to try to catch an elusive snowflake on the tip of your tongue - there is nothing sweeter. And yes, snowflakes have no taste, but the thrill of being a kid for a small amount of time, letting go of all of your anxieties and troubles and turning your face towards those tiny miracles falling from the sky and rejoicing in what God is providing for us, a gentle reminder of His great love that is so beautiful and gentle and peaceful and ....... still.

There is such a beauty in Winter, that many people fail to see. Everyone knows that each snowflake is individually designed - no two are alike and isn't that amazing that God took the time to do that for us? But each of those tiny snowflakes all come together to blanket the earth and bring beauty and calm to a troubled world. And when the sun shines on the large expanse of solid white - each of the snowflakes individually sparkles and shines glimmering in the light. I am always amazed at the beauty, even after 51 years of Winter, I am still in awe of the beauty that only God can provide in the season of this cold time of year.

I know that many people find this same feeling in warmer climates and I love the sound of waves on our little lake or the crash of the waves on Lake Superior as they engulf the rocky shore (the Great Lakes are the Northern states mini version of the ocean). Or the sound of nature, the birds singing - my favorite is the Loons as they call hauntingly across the lake at night. And isn't it amazing that God created all of these wonders? But, to me when I'm standing in the midst of the falling snow, arms stretched out wide and lifting my face towards the sky to feel the tiny specks of cold melting on my warm skin or standing in the middle of my driveway in the dark of night hearing the rustle of the few remnants of leaves gently being caressed by the falling snow or on a cold Winter night when the sky is clear and looking up at the sparkling stars (and yes, I really think the stars shine brighter during the Winter months) my heart fills with the wonder of God and for that brief moment of communing with Nature, I feel so close our Heavenly Father - like He's right there and in a sense, He is, in each of those flakes, in the silence that only comes when the snow has covered the ground and at that time you can hear God whispering in your ear: Be still and know that I am God. It reminds me of a passage in Mark 4:37-40:

 ³⁷ And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.
   ³⁸ And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?
   ³⁹ And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
   ⁴⁰ And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

When we are in the midst of the storm that is life and it seems that nothing is going right, we are inundated with trials and tribulations - when the gentle snow falls from the sky and you hear that ever so quiet whisper that only a snowflake can make, it is then that God is softly saying: Peace, be still. Why are you scared? Where is your faith? I am always here with you...........even in the smallest of snowflakes.

 .And yes, at that moment you can feel God smiling.

Waiting for the first snow

Go ahead yell at me all you nay-sayers, but being a born and raised Minnesotan, there is something about the cold weather that awakens the anticipation of snow. There is nothing like the excitement of the first snow flakes gently falling from the sky. I say excitement, because there is a level of excitement of waiting and watching for those first snowflakes and the knowledge of a long Winter ahead. Many people become snowbirds at the first sign of snow, but not me.

There is a beauty in all seasons that only God can provide:

Spring, the promise of new life as all of the world awakens from a deep Winters sleep. And I can imagine all of the plants yawning and stretching as they feel the warmth from the sun calling them to reach upwards towards Heaven in greatful praise for God's promise of new life.

Summer brings the promise of warmth and the calmness that can be obtained from gardening, the sound of the waves lapping against the shores of our northern lakes or the call of the Loons during the night. There is something serene in watching the birds dancing in air, singing their songs of Praise for God. There is no better concert than that of the birds calling and singing in unison.

For me, Fall shows the Lord's artistic hand that brings the promise of  the beauty that is Gods love as all the colors blend together to make a quilt covering the land. To see the Autumn colors reflecting from the trees onto a calm lake or coming upon a group of trees in their bright, jeweled glory of gold, orange and red just takes your breath away. Fall also brings a promise of bounty from harvest after a long summers work preparing us for that long Winters sleep. The anticipation for the first snowflakes begins in late Fall as the temperatures start to drop and Indian summer has passed.

Winter brings a peace and beauty that is like no other on earth. There is nothing so calming as to stand outside on a Winters night and just listen to the gentle whisper of the snowflakes falling through the trees. To hear the peaceful sound of the world asleep under the thick blanket of snow. It is always amazing to me that God created every single snowflake and each one is different. No two are alike, just as we are each different and isn't that glorious? I am simply amazed to look closely at each intricate and delicate design that is a snowflake. And yes, I may complain about the shoveling but it's all in good fun. There is just something about the world blanketed in snow that fills my heart with a gentle peace which is God's amazing love.

So now I sit and wait in anticipation for the first snowflakes to begin falling. But as I contemplate the arrival of Winter, I remember Gods words in Ecclesiastes 3:

¹ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; ³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷ a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

As we go through through life's trials and tribulations, just as each Season has it's own beauty in nature, so do our 'seasons' have beauty, even when it doesn't look so pretty. We are given these 'seasons' as opportunities to grow into the person that God has created us to be and through these 'seasons', God is there lovingly guiding our steps, laughing with us, crying with us, feeling our joy, feeling our pain, in some instances, waiting for us to stop rebelling against Him. Through it all, God is always there gently smiling at us as only He can.

So we must remember, that each Season has in itself a beauty that only God can create and this beauty is a smile from Him to us. A reminder of how much we are truly loved.



Searching

Some days it feels like you just cannot find God's smiles. Lately, it's felt like that alot. During our journey it seems like the hits from the enemy are non-stop. Many times you yell out to God - enough, c'mon can't I catch a break? It is then that many times I feel like the prodigal sons brother - what about me? I haven't left, I'm still here - but it seems like no one cares that I haven't left, that I'm standing here! I don't like this feeling. It is at this time that I lean on Psalm 23, although recently the hurt has been so bad, that I can't seem to find comfort even in my favorite Psalm.

You feel like your prayers aren't being heard, you feel like God doesn't care. I know that is wrong to feel that way, but sometimes it is hard not to feel that way. God always cares, I know this, but I guess maybe, our faith is being tested. Mother Teresa once quoted, "I know that God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He wouldn't trust me so much." Boy, do I know this feeling. With every hurt and heart break, I know this feeling and wonder where my prayers are. My friend, Joe, gave me an angel ornament a number of years ago with this saying on it. He smiled when I opened it and said it reminds me of you. The angel ornament is on my desk where I can see it at all times. It's at this low time in the desert that I try to remind myself that things aren't so bad. So my family has been going through some tough times and split apart for now - we are all still here, alive and healthy; so I can't pay the bills because my hours have been cut drastically at work and bill collectors are threatening - there is still a little bit of a paycheck;  so the roof leaks  - I have a roof; so the windows are falling apart and duct tape can't fix it - I have windows; so the car needs new brakes and tires - I have a car; so I can't afford the healthy food I need - I still have food to eat. It's during this 'desert' time that I also think of the poem, Footsteps in the Sand:

'Footsteps in the Sand'

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."

The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

Some times during our journeys, it feels as though God leaves you alone. Why? I'm not sure, to test our love? our faith? to build our character to what He wants us to be? I wish I knew. I know God is real, I know He is there, I know He is carrying me right now to get through this time of trial and suffering  When I can't find God's smiles, it hurts and it is a sad feeling. But I know its there, just have to keep searching.