Jesus

  • "Life" Books,  Chronic Illness,  Consider This...,  Grief,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  Pass it On...

    I’ve Been Here Before

    My parents and I are currently going back and watching the West Wing TV show (1999-2006), many, many relevant lessons and applications for our world today, but more than that, I would like to share a quote from the series… “This guy is walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, ‘Hey you, can you help me out?’ The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts us, ‘Father, I’m down in this hole can you…

  • "Life" Books,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  My Little

    You Gotta Keep Walkin’

    The above quote came from a book I just finished reading. I don’t often suggest “big kid books” for a number of reasons, but this one I highly recommend. If you have been on this writing road with me for a while, then you know I have a love for true stories, history, and pretty much getting to know culture, heritage, and just about everything that goes along with it. One of my deep, deep longings for knowledge has been for more understanding of the black church. The gospel music has always captivated my heart and soul. The raw and honest spirituals have helped me through some really hard places.…

  • "Life" Books,  Chronic Illness,  Consider This...,  Jesus

    The Gift of Release

    Release: verb: to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude. Noun: relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble. Synonyms: set free, let go, turn loose, dismiss… If you have ever battled chronic pain or illness, or a pain or illness that has lasted for an extended period of time, then you will understand what I am going to describe today. If you have not, then I will do my best to give you a picture as close as I can. It’s no secret that I have migraines, and that I always will. They are triggered by things that I can control, and more of things I cannot. I am…

  • "Life" Books,  Family,  Friends & Neighbors,  Grief,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  Memories,  Mommy,  My Little

    Resting and Remembering

    This past week, an older man who had a big impact on my life, passed on to see Jesus. I like to think he is seeing Lucy once again. He was a faithful Sunday School teacher, a radiant and welcoming greeter at a local funeral home, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, and mentor and cheerleader to many. He was always ready with a good funeral home joke to lighten the room. He knew what he believed and didn’t hold back. He started every Sunday with the scripture from Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on…

  • "Life" Books,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  Pass it On...

    committing the mundane to the Always Listening God

    What day is it? What month is it? I continue to find myself asking myself these questions lately. I struggle to come up with words that seem to be on the tip of my tongue, yet my brain slams on brakes because hasn’t quite completed the thought process. Many things to do, everything keeps coming and piling up, and my head is like a fish bowl with words and pictures all scrambled together. So much so that I lose my words. Have you ever had a day, week, or season(s) of life like this? I’ve shared that I pray, “Jesus I need you, I need you now,” many days when…

  • "Life" Books,  Grief,  Jesus,  Let's be Real

    Cheers to a Broken World

    God of peace. God of sound mind. Not confusion. Not flustered. I have this picture posted on my desk, and can see it as I write. I look at it often on my phone. For me, it’s the glimpse of Christmas: swaddling cloths, born into a weary world, yet with great hope. This past year it has been a struggle for me to have a sound mind. I don’t know about you, but it seems like there is a circumstance, or situation, or issue at every turn that either makes the next step more difficult than it already is, or makes it impossible. Don’t get me wrong, there have been…

  • Children,  Christmas TIME!,  Jesus

    Blanket Drop

    I can’t believe I have watched the Charlie Brown Christmas and have never noticed this before. You may have already heard what seems to be going viral on social media or maybe you noticed it before it was even mentioned by anyone. Linus drops his beloved blanket as soon as he says the words, “fear not…” Now, me and Linus are connected souls, because blankets are always with me, and certain ones for certain times. I hold them, wrap up in them, carry them. So this is why I am surprised that I haven’t noticed that he completely lets go of his beloved blue blanket. But what a symbol and…

  • "Life" Books,  Children,  Christmas TIME!,  GRANDparents,  Grief,  Jesus,  Mommy,  My Little

    “Hope is My Favorite Thing to Have”

    Let me pause before I start todays post… I must say my heart is deeply grieved for the many who have had their lives completely shattered- by violence, by policy, by “well-educated” people who have no clue what their “self-educated” counterparts are going through, by unacceptable and nasty comments and remarks. The cruelty is at a level that is beyond I could have ever imagined, and I don’t know where or when it will hit the peak for enough of us to shout STOP! So until then, I am just letting you know if you are out there thinking, “am I the only one yelling at the tv?” Let me…

  • "Life" Books,  Adoption,  Aunt-ing,  Being "Single",  Chronic Illness,  Family,  Friends & Neighbors,  Grief,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  Migraines,  Mommy,  My Little,  Single Parenting

    Worth Fighting For

    “Fighting Words” by Ellie Holcomb Fear is like a broken recordSame old songs of accusation playLike “Who are you to speak the truth”“Just look at all your failures and mistakes”“And if they really knew you”“There’s no way they could love you anyway” The enemy keeps talkingTelling me to hide my face in shameWhispering that everything I’ve done will drive the Father’s Love awaySaying, “It’s too late for hoping”“That something in your heart could ever change.” My debt is paid, oh, I’ve been set freeAnd You gave Your life up to rescue meYou say that I am worth fighting forAnd Grace is like waves that keep crashing on the shore Fight…

  • "Life" Books,  About,  Chronic Illness,  Family,  Grief,  Jesus,  Let's be Real,  Migraines,  Mommy

    Keep It Boring!

    Please excuse my absence last week. Life caught up with me and just had one of those weeks. If you know me, you know how true this quote above is! 😂 I began writing this post this past Sunday, just to put some of the wording in perspective 😉. And I will be wrapping it up with today’s thoughts. I just finished an hour of making med bags for 14 days. I’ve gone through every possible way of trying to attempt to make taking medicine easier on a daily basis, so I ask that you hold back you opinion on how many baggies this takes in a year or how…