I've Moved!

Follow me over to my new space!! 

www.blessedmoon.squarespace.com

(Don't forget to change my address on your site!)

Be The Light

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

hApPy sAtUrDaY

Monday is moving day!!  ;)

 

Path Less Travelled

Confessions

First, it's important to differentiate 'confessions' from 'random stuff'. Confessions are things that maybe not a lot of people know... maybe even just one or two know, or maybe no one at all knows. That sometimes makes confessions hard to disclose. Whereas, random stuff is just that. And that's easy.

1. I don't always sleep well at night.

2. I think that's because of all the coffee I drink all day.

3. But sometimes I think it's more.

4. I still love double-stuffed oreos. And consume them shamelessly.

5. I find it hard to like disrespectful children, even when it's not me they're being disrespectful to.

6. (Not only do I daydream, but I like it.)

7. I find that embarrassing.

8. Like my son, I can always tell when I'm lieing.

9. I laugh easily.

10. In fact, I'm prone to uncontrollable fits of hysteria. The contagious type.

11. In the middle of the night.

12. I find that fun, not embarrassing.

13. And really? I don't lie. Because everyone could tell. And because it's just not nice.

14. I can understand both sides of an argument. We've called this being "gray". Some might see me as wishy-washy, but because I'm actually strong, that doesn't bother me because giving credence to both sides of an argument is just being fair.

15. I forgive too easily. "Too"  easily because I think it sets me up for being taken advantage of. But I do it anyway because in any successful relationship, forgiveness is necessary. It also requires too much energy to hang on to grudges.

16. I forgive, but I don't forget much. (Is that the same as holding a grudge?) I might never ever bring it back up, so you might think I've forgotten, but I haven't. I don't bring it back up, and I won't hold it against you because I've truly forgiven. (So, no, then. I don't hold grudges. I just remember well.)

17. I love the book The Little Prince, and the movie Finding Nemo, both because they are really stories with meanings meant for adults hidden under the guise of being fairytales. 

18. I am almost compulsive (ok, ok... I AM compulsive) about how to load the dishwasher and how to fold clothes. This is a huge cog in my wheel of house-keeping because these things just HAVE to be done a certain way. Which means, others can't do it. Sorry.

19. I put on my favorite perfume before I go to bed.

20. Almost every night.

 

God's Temple

This is the church I attended as I was growing up. It is "the first church" of Monticello, and this July, it will be 200 years old.

I remember when this stained glass piece was put in. It lights from behind, and it's beautiful.

This is my sister with my children and our nephews, sitting at the foot of the alter where I was married...

And from where I received communion. And in front of which I celebrated Christmas and Easter and Christ's life. And this July, this church will be closing it's doors. It's congregation has dwindled; it's tithing not enough to support it's existence.

While this is sad, tragically sad, it's important to remember where Christ's work really takes place. The literal church is a building, created by man -in which wonderful things happen-but still, created by man. A place to celebrate, to remember, to meditate, to share fellowship; to repent, to forgive, to receive, to promise, to praise, to grow, to share. All these things are nurtured here. They are expected to be nurtured here. But they can (and should) also be nurtured in our homes. And in our yards, and in our cars, and in our schools, and in our families, and in our friendships. And within ourselves.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

(I blog-lifted this song from Kimba... thanks for sharing, girl.)

Prickly Thistles

I know, it's been a while. 

I seem to have lost my voice. I know it's here somewhere... there's just so much chaos right now cluttering my thoughts, that I can't seem to find her. 

May is always rough... end of the school year, preparing for summer break. Top that with snakes and car accidents, funerals and 70th birthday parties, graduation and good-byes... and well, chaos. I know these little 'prickly' days challenge me in growth, and I should appreciate their beauty as I do the easy daisies...  (pun totally intended!)

But that is sometimes a challenge in and of itself.

So, I will remember to breathe, 

in and out, 

and learn to love the prickly days, too.

Breathe In Breath Out

Delta Goodrem

Do you ever wanna run away? 
Feel like every day is not your day 
Do you ever find yourself out in the cold no were to go 
If the world has ever cut you deep 
If the scars never seem to heal 
If the emptiness is way to much for you all you can do 

Just breathe in breathe out that's a moment in your life 
Breathe in breathe out it’s a wonderful night 

Oos’ Aah’s 

No matter where the seasons fall 
No matter how the dice will roll 
In the end the here and now is all we have don’t look back 

Just breathe in breathe out that's a moment in your life 
Breathe in breathe out it’s a wonderful night 

Oos’ Aah’s 

A hundred million times x2 

Oo’s Aah’s 

Just breathe in breathe out that's a moment in your life 
Breathe in breathe out it’s a wonderful night x2

Dad & Me

Sunday

A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another;  as I have loved you, you must love your brother.

John 13:34

The Weight of Sadness

   

My Mad Monday

Ya know, it actually didn't start out so bad. It was raining again, but I've been having fun lately taking pictures in the rain.They are so much more dramatic... 

..so I didn't mind that. Enjoyed it, actually. I stopped along the way and took these...

And yes, I really live here.

In the country.

It wasn't really until I picked up the kids... but, then, isn't that always when it starts to happen??

She was late, which knocked the bottom card out of our house-of-cards-schedule... So I was a bit late getting J-man to his batting cages. But we got there, and I went on to my errands... I had 15 minutes before I needed to pick him up, and decided that that wasn't enough time to go to the collision center (another story) for their estimate, but I could probably get to the post office. So off I went.

I pulled out the late birthdays presents and closed my hatch, and started towards the post office, when I heard it. CRUNCH. My heart sank, 'cause I just knew what it was. Yup. 'Bless her heart' as they say here, but she had backed right into my front end. Can I just tell you, this is the third (THIRD) time I've been hit in the last two (TWO) months?!  Being the expert that I now am, I had the necessary info within minutes, and was on my way to pick-up my son.  When we got to the collision center, the guy there asked me my name, and I said, "YOU can call me 'Lucky'!"

So, with 3 of my 4 sides scratched, smashed, crunched and now fixed or about to be fixed... I breathe a sigh of relief, and headed home. I knew something was funny when I pulled into the driveway and saw my husband's pick-up NOT in the garage and my other two little ones sitting on the edged of the bed... feet up... looking down in....

Oh.yes.he.did. Austin, AKA the Crocodile Hunter in these here parts, has taught us all the value of life. All life. Even reptilian life. Dad rescued this critter from the sure fate of death by rubber, and brought him home "for the kids"!

Now, because of this experience... I insisted "NO.SNAKES.IN.THE.HOUSE."

... And went inside for one of these... even though I knew I was already cooking with Port tonight.

After dinner, I decided to finish the laundry I'd started earlier in the day... Ya know, the laundry all over the living room? And instead of finding folded and non-folded clothes on my couch....

... looky what I found... all coiled up and hissin'....

Oh joyous Monday.

The Color of Me

I think if I were a flower, I'd want to be a poppy... 

 bright and cheerful... playful

...delicate but wild....

...soft but brave...

...growing without restrictions or inhibitions...

living freely

...standing alone or in a crowd...

...and standing tall...

...able to bend with the wind...

...and feel the power of rain...

Sunday

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... 

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 1-8, 13