New blogger!
Hey guys..check out Matt's blog. He is a friend of mine and you will really appreciate his posts. I have him on my links...check him out..plus I would love him to know all of my blogging buds..
Also, some of you might know Jeremy. I am also adding him as a link on my list. He's my new best friend..thanks Jeremy!
So close your eyes
You can close your eyes it's alright
I don't know no love song
I can't sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
You can sing this song when I'm gone*
This is Staff Sgt. Raymond Plouhar. This soldier is 30 years old and is from Lake Orion, Michigan. This picture shows him handing out candy at an Elementary school in Iraq. I loved this guy when I saw this picture. Look at his hand reach out to that little boy.
Well, Raymond was in Al Anbar on Monday, conducting combat operations, and was killed.
This makes me really angry and really sad. This isn't a political post but a very emotional one. My heart grieves for Raymond's mother today...My heart grieves for Raymond's Father today....My heart grieves for the wife and children that Raymond had or was going to have...My heart grieves for those children in Iraq who will miss this soldier's visits...My heart grieves for Raymond's country...
Thank you Raymond, for standing in the line of fire for each one of us as we go about doing things we deem important today...
*From "You Can Close Your Eyes" by James Taylor
I want a new drug *
You know, some news you just don't want to hear...putting my fingers in my ears "la la la la"..
Limbaugh caught with a bottle of Viagra with someone else's name on it...
Limbaugh later added, chuckling: "I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it."
SICK!
*From " I Want a New Drug" by Huey Lewis and the News
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, and there he went for he remembered Zion*
Jeremiah 31:4
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.I was reading this in church on sunday...Beverly gets a little antsy during the sit still times...and I really loved this verse. Will you excuse me if I take I happen to take it out of context? I am not a biblical scholar, so I may do that very thing.
You know, being torn down really stinks but, being rebuilt is an awesome experience....
This is my verse for now...I am being rebuilt and I am so excited about all that the Lord will teach me about myself and others..
Been there?
*From "Rivers of Babylon" by Linda Ronstadt
Listen to your heart*
I was just thinking today about how much faith it would take for someone to convince me that there isn't a God. Is it me or is it just incredibly easy to believe in a God when you experience life and love and people...?
I was thinking about the heart..how good it feels to love and how painful it is to be hurt! My heart is moved by lots of things .....looking at my daughter..missing her as she is in Thailand...looking at my son and his dog "Jett" as they sleep...watching children play...sitting in the Gilbert's living room surrounded by my small group...sitting with my Mom as she fills my heart with wisdom...watching my brother play with his little girl...sitting on a blanket, in the park, watching a little girl feed a duck...looking to a cross and seeing a man who I desperately want to be like..
What moves your heart?
*From "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette
I love impulsiveness!!!!
Mark 14:1-9
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2"But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages[
a] and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
First of all, I love it that Jesus took the most random people and built a beautiful lesson on what they were doing. He never said, "Hey, look at that great leader who can translate the Bible and can speak articulately about religious matters..man, be like him!" No, Jesus brought attention to those thought lowly and lifted them up. That just blows my mind!! Second, I love the impulsiveness of this woman. She just came in and broke that dad gum jar and did exactly what was on her heart whether she looked a fool or not.
People, go be impulsive...its a blast and Jesus really digs it!!
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead!
Hey guys....This afternoon a buddy of mine asked me to come watch practice at the ACU theatre. He is in town from Louisiana to choreograph the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet and he wanted me to go watch him in action. So..I got to see brave Mercutio die like 3 times today..
Okay blogging group...who wants to go see Romeo and Juliet with me? It will be fun....its free...some of you I haven't met and it would be cool. Discom and Ram maybe you could come in from the metro area..wouldn't that be a blast!! We can go out afterwards and talk Shakespeare!
I'll post the dates..but I think its like the weekend of July 9th!
Beauty for Ashes
Beauty for Ashes by Crystal Lewis
He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair
When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy o’er your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said
When what you’ve done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said
I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound I’ve been set free
I’ve been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see
How's your heart feeling today?
This is dedicated to me and Brook..:)
Here Comes The Sun by George Harrison
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darlin' I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been clear
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right
I love you Discom!!!
hey see me rollin they hatin patrolling they tryin to catch me ridin dirty*
Sam goes over to hang out with a few girls last night..all the way over he's just giving me a hard time...ugh teenagers..
Then, as Sam is away, big ugly stuff happens...
Sam calls wants me to go pick him up...I grab "Jett" and we jump in Whit's little Kia..I pick up Sam. He said, "Man, that was boring!"...
Song comes on radio and Sam says, "Mom, its your song!" He cranks it up and we listen to yes, Chamillionaire singing Ridin...hahah...don't know why I love this rap song but I do...
Sam all of a sudden puts his head over on my shoulder and "Jett" (sam's black lab) snuggles up to Sam...
I am driving down the road listening to some rapper as my 15 year old boy has his head on my shoulder with his dog close by...troubles..? what troubles?..I don't remember the sadness that happened earlier..all I know is I got all I need right here!!!
*From "Ridin" by Chamillionaire.........haha..please don't go listen to this song lest you think bad of me...
I'm takin' my time So please don't rush me*
so...Austin was amazing. It was a great get away! Gettting away is easy....Coming back is hard..
I got to go hear some really good music...
I got to walk around Town Lake. This was an interesting walk. It was beautiful. The trees were so pretty and the water was this really beautiful green. (Why is it green, anybody know?)
Lots of interesting people passed me by...I tried very hard not to stare. The weirdest was when a whole group of people on those "it" things passed by in single file. I almost fell down looking back. You know those "it" things that you stand on and somehow make it go.
I met a friend for breakfast at a really cool cafe. Our waitress was deaf. She got our order by reading our lips..pretty cool. I know a little bit of sign language so I signed thank you. Only problem is that now she thinks I sign and so everytime she comes back to the table she is looking at me and signing. I just smiled and nodded alot. Hope I nodded at the appropriate times. When I have gone to different countries I have gotten in trouble this way. I think it will be really clever to learn a few words of the language (Portuguese, Spanish or Thai) and then I speak to the people of that country and then they start rattling off stuff like I know what they are saying..then like an idiot, I shrug my shoulders and they think that's really funny.. but hey, you make alot of friends that way.
Hey, guys, let me warn you....there is traffic in Austin! holy turn signal!....had a few close calls..but now..I could get you around Austin pretty good..I think!
*From "Takin My Time" by Bonnie Raitt
And my old friend we will always meet again*
My brother and his family flew in from Hong Kong yesterday. As he exited the airplane and made his way to us I felt a general sigh of relief. My brother was here and that made me feel so safe. He is my hero. We have hiked mountain trails together, climbed waterfalls together, swam oceans together, crossed the mojave desert together, listened to Commandor cody and His Lost Planet Airmen together, cried together and oh my goodness laughed together and survived some pretty tough stuff together. I am thankful he is here and will enjoy basking in his wisdom and his love for me.
He is hilarious and he was so excited to tell me about this guy he fell in love with on the plane, who had buck teeth and tore through beef jerky like nobody's business. At baggage claim, he rolled around on the floor with his 18 month old daughter, Marina, as if noone else was in that room.
You got someone, in your life, that just makes you feel at home and safe whenever your around them? Hope so....
*From "I Would Bring You Ireland" by Nanci Griffith
"All my life I've lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman and defend your country." Hector in Troy
Sam and I watched Troy last night and oh man, I loved Hector!
This is one of my favorite songs and...
Shawna uploaded it for me...she's the sweetest!!
just thinking......
But tonight I am down to the wire
I've been striking these matches in vain
Got a whole lot of smoke but no fire
'Cause you got a heart full of rain*
*From "Heart Full Of Rain" by Collin Raye
And you can keep me laughing in the middle of the storm*
Lately, I have found my laughter...don't get me wrong I have laughed the last few months but not the laugh that is well, a real cathartic laugh..and..its felt really good...Candy made me laugh when she came out of wherever tuesday isn't, yesterday. Other friends, who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent, made me laugh last night. Sam came home from a mission trip and told me stories that made me laugh so hard he stopped and looked at me. He grabbed my hands and smiled..maybe he hasn't heard me laugh that laugh in awhile. Then I went and picked up a guy who was in town, (He now lives in Houston.) to surprise Sam. He has been an amazing mentor to Sam and he made me laugh. He and Sam hugged like long lost brothers...
I am sitting hear laughing at these emails I am getting and I am just having fun doing nothing at work...(my boss is in Florida)..she wouldn't mind anyway...
So, hope you have a good laugh today...
I'm off to Austin today...did I mention that?...
*From "I'd Like to Think So" by Levi Smith
She's safe and sound!
hi momma. just wanted to let you know we made it! we are headed out but i love you and everything is great. it is sooooooo hot. i will write later.
whitney
Girl I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss you baby...*
Still Missing Her!!!
*From "Miss You" by Eric Clapton
Whenever I see your smiling face I have to smile myself because I love you, yes I do*
I will miss this face for the next six weeks. I love my girl. She was my first baby and taught me all about what love is...I am a better person for having this girl in my life.
Whitney and I went to Thailand 7 years ago and on the airplane ride home, she looked at me and vowed she would return. So...she and two other friends are going to work in Bangkok telling others about someone who she loves so much...Jesus...Isn't that so cool?...This was the girl that, as a 4 year old, heard about Saddam Hussein as we watched the Gulf War happen. I told her that he didn't know about Jesus. So every night Whitney insisted that we pray for him..oh man, I'm sure we were the only family in America praying for this monster..then after I told her the exciting news that the war had ended, she wanted us all to go over and tell him about Jesus...precious little heart..
She had me up at 4:30 this am to get her there on time...I took her to the airport and watched her go through security and she smiled and waved at me until she was out of sight..
So take out your pen and please write my baby's name down and keep her in your prayers for the next 6 weeks...WHITNEY...
gonna go take a little nap...
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
*From "Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor
I called out to be released caught in my struggle for higher achievements and my search for love..*
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step....
I have just got back from taking 'The Test' to end all tests. I am not sure how I did but I do know that I feel a release.
It been a tough road, but when I look back, I can't believe the miles I have come, just by saying everyday..sometimes every hour..."Lord, direct this step, cause its the only one I can take today." Some days I took more than one step other days I sat and rested...but now I feel like I felt on my old backpacking trips when I would hike all day and at the end of the day, in sheer exhaustion, take in the vista before me.
Thanks for all your prayers. I won't know until next month how I did but that's okay..
*From "The Same Situation" by Joni Mitchell
Love is all you need..?
My all time favorite movie is Love Actually...they used this song on the soundtrack and it was perfect..so..do you think that love is all you need?
All You Need Is Love
Lennon/McCartney
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how the play the game
It's easy
There's nothing you can make that can't me made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
No where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
I liked Mercutio.....
"... brave Mercutio is dead!"
I am out-of-here...gotta go study for my certification exam. ...Please pray for me to focus on my studies and not what is happening all around me. Pray that I will keep my goal in sight and will pass this test. That's Saturday 1:30..prayers going up at that time sure would be appreciated..God bless all your sweet little hearts..I'll let you know what happens..
I'm sick*
Okay..me and Whit have felt really yucky today..
You know being sick is really crazy..you're just walking along or you get up one morning and boom, bam, you're sick...there's like no letter you get that warns you, "You will be sick on June 4th. So make plans accordingly."..You just get sick..I am like never sick ever...I would want to stay home from school and my Mom would say, "Oh, you aren't sick." Seriously, I really wanted to be sick..so one day I got up and ate a rotten egg so that I would throw up and my Mom would say, "Oh my goodness, you're sick." But, bad news is that I didn't throw the rotten egg up and had it sitting in my stomach all day." Bummer...
I did get seasick once in the Gulf of Mexico...pretty sure there are still pieces of me there..man, I threw up everything but my big toe...the silver lining was that everytime I threw up off the side of the boat (which is quite a feat for a nice southern girl..like in front of 50 people..but I got over it) anyway, everytime I threw up my Mom and I would catch lots of fish..the cute guys beside us who said they would teach us how to fish were begging me to throw up in their general direction..
Okay..anyway..any sick stories?
*From "Why Do I Have To Be Sick?" by Beverly
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend*
Scott is just cool...
I am glad he is my friend..I am glad he is our friend...*From "You've Got a Friend" by Carole King
Our house is a very, very, very fine house*
So, my favorite house we lived in was on Prince Street, in Tallahassee, Florida.
I learned how to ride a bike there..
I got to be best buds with Johnny Culpepper...my first guy friend..
I had an amazing rabbit...
In the back of the house were woods and if you walked back there you would come up on sink holes...we would ride our bikes up and down those sinkholes..
I had Blondie, my all time favorite dog, (cover your ears, Jett)...
We caught baby squirrels and they would die and we would all walk to the cemetary and bury the animal..we had alot of graves...which sounds kinda weird to me now...
I remember cranking ice cream on the back steps..
There was this black woman, Mini, and she would come to do ironing for mamma and I loved her! I would pull up a chair and she would talk to me for hours about everything. I was in second grade and just mesmerized by her..
What was your favorite house you grew up in..maybe you just lived in just one...what made it special?..
*From "Our House" by Crosby, Stills and Nash
Keep me where you are where I will always be renewed*
So, its thursday night, I am on the computer in the dining room, and the boys are right behind me playing some poker..Sam leans way back in his chair every once in awhile to smile at me and I think well, this is my life..hahaha..an evening with the boys. I do have to remind them I am here every once in awhile.."Guys, that is just gross.." Its just some sweet neighborhood boys that are over cause Sam was not allowed out of the house last night because of reasons I will not go into..but let's just say, raising a boy is quite different from raising my Whitney. Its exciting and scarey and frustrating and I love it! We watch the end of the Mavs game and talk about how amazing Dirk is! The boys go home and Sam gets ready for bed. Whitney comes home from work at midnight. She says, "Hey guys, what do you want to do?" We both answer, " Go to bed." Whitney goes and lays down with Sam and starts telling him stories about how this guy came into work and said that his cousin was the first person the real Texas Chainsaw murderer killed..I walk in and look at my two kids snuggled up on that little twin mattress and I just feel so much love for them, I could just eat em up..Then I lay down on the couch beside the mattress (Sam loves to pull his mattress out and sleep in the living room) and we talk. I look at them and can't believe they are mine, they are so beautiful and deserve so much..I get up to get ready for bed and Whitney stays with Sam until he's asleep..
I think that this night was rich with unexpected jewels of love..I am grateful...
* From "I Believe in You by Bob Dylan
Hi, How are you doing? "Fine, how are you?"....lies?
You know, some news you just don't want to hear...putting my fingers in my ears "la la la la"..
Here Comes The Sun by George Harrison
Still Missing Her!!!
So, my favorite house we lived in was on Prince Street, in Tallahassee, Florida.
