Weebled and Wobbled

So here we are, at the close of yet another year.

I wasn't really sure how I would celebrate the occasion.

In years past, I would go to "Watch Night Service" and ring in the new year with praise, worship, and a word from God.

Tonight though, I just want to be home, ALONE, with God.

I've gotta admit, this year just hasn't been the best. It may have been as bad (or possibly worse) than 2014. And in 2014, my Mom passed, so you know that must mean that 2015 was rough.

I dunno.

When I think about most of the tears that were shed this year, they were not over my Mom. When I think of her, most times I actually rejoice (and am a bit envious) because she has graduated from THIS life to the next and all of her pains, sorrows, disappointments are now COMPLETELY gone. No one letting her down. No one telling her that they love her and then disappearing. No friendships ending simply because she asked to be respected. Nope...my Mom doesn't have to deal with any of that any more.

I do though. Or should I say...I did.

When I think about the tears that were shed THIS year, they were over those still living here on earth. Those who were supposed to be for me, yet I discovered the opposite to be true. That was a hard pill to swallow, but it went down, came out the other end and has been flushed away.

I'm not taking any of that with me into the new year.

God has been "cleaning house" for the past 6 weeks and when HE "cleans house" He gets all up in the nooks & crannies. He's revealed a lot to me, and has shown me that some things (people) who I thought were good for me, simply weren't. So He's removed them. Hurts? Of course. But I know that these individuals did not leave as a result of anything that *I* had done, so that means that God moved them out. By the way...this isn't to say that I never do anything wrong in a friendship or relationship. Of course I do! The difference though, is that when it is brought to my attention that I have HURT and/or DISRESPECTED the other person...I acknowledge that, so that things can be made right. Apparently, not everyone feels I deserve that same respect. Unfortunate, but...c'est la vie.

So forward, onward, and upward it is.

Yesterday I was reflecting on what I have been viewing as "losses", and then realized that what (and who) I have left are what I am supposed to have. New people have come into my life. New friendships have developed and it was as though I could hear God say, "Your latter days will be greater than your former. I had to remove the old in order to make room for the new." I believe Him. I don't always understand Him, but I believe Him.

Funny...I was at work today and thought, "I'm not everybody's cup of tea, but for those who can handle strong coffee, I am just right."


Anyway...2015 dealt me some blows that I simply didn't expect AT ALL. But as the words of the song go, "Here I am, I'm still standing..."

I thank God for bringing me through another year, being with me THROUGH IT ALL. And if it be in His will, I look forward to getting through yet another, getting better, growing stronger and wiser.

I am also going to tackle this 365 posts in 365 days again. I only had 164 posts this year (including today's). I didn't have consistent internet access in 2015 and now I have better, so 2016 is already shaping up to have more success, at least where The Dialogue Den is concerned. With all of that said...

Goodbye 2015!

2016, I'm ready for ya!!!

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If you could choose a song for 2015, what would it be?

Talk to me! Click on the song and sing with me!! Here I am!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!! May it be FILLED with the very best of God's BLESSINGS!

Til next time...

Approaching 2016

For the past two years I have gathered together with friends and have created my "Vision Board" for the upcoming year. Cutting out clippings from magazines of things that I had hoped to manifest in the coming year.

Last year's board was filled with LOVE. I had that word on my board more than anything else. I really wanted LOVE.

And I had it...for a good 11 months. Life was good. I had LOVE and I was happy.

Then things took a turn and...well...here I am, once again...loveLESS.

I'd say it's alright, but it's not. I really miss "Joe", but we were simply on two separate paths and he needed to take the one that lead him to himself. That road was narrow, and there wasn't enough room for both of us. He wasn't happy with where he was in his life, his accomplishments (or lack thereof) and he didn't feel that he could offer ME anything when there wasn't a whole lot that he could do for himself. For that, I can't even be angry. As much as it hurt, we had to let each other go.

Where he is now...who knows?

I last saw him about three weeks ago, and since then he hasn't returned calls or texts. Not that I've made many...and I won't make any more. Whenever, if ever he's ready to have me back in his life, he knows how to find me. And I believe that HE must find his way back to ME...not the other way around.

I still pray for him daily, asking God to bless him. That's all I can do at this point.

So yeah. LOVE was the highlight of last year's "vision board" and for the most part, I got what I wanted and enjoyed it while it lasted.

With 2016 fast approaching, I was gonna get together with my girlfriends again to work on the newest vision board. If I had MY way, it would be filled with pretty much the same as previous years: Love, Financial Security, A Blossoming Writing Career, Become Independently Wealthy, Great Health for myself and my children, Travel, and a host of other things.

But I got to thinking.

Maybe I need to take a different approach. Maybe, just maybe...THIS YEAR my vision simply needs to match whatever it is that God wills for me. Maybe, just maybe...I've been "envisioning" the WRONG things. Or maybe I had them in the WRONG order. Maybe, just maybe...I've been confused.

So for the year 2016, I only ask for ONE thing: WISDOM

If I were to create a "vision board" it would simply have that ONE word on it: WISDOM

I made a LOT of mistakes in 2015...I'm talking a PLETHORA. Had I exercised more WISDOM before doing some of -- correction -- MANY of the things I did this year, I wouldn't be in the predicament I'm in now. But, I've learned, and with WISDOM, I won't make the same mistakes again.

So...my faithful mantra-prayer-motto-vision for 2016 will simply be the words of James 1:5-6

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

I'm looking forward to a wisdom-filled year and pray that 2016's choices will lead me to where God intends for me to be and with what He intends for me to have. Not MY will Lord, but THY will be done.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If you had to choose ONE word to live by in 2016, what would that word be?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

How'd that get there???

This was my Facebook post this morning:

"The trippiest thing just happened. I'm getting ready for work and saw that one of my earrings were on the bathroom counter. I noticed that the other earring wasn't there. So I look all over the bathroom, on the floor, under the rug, in the drawers, and could not find the other one. I finally decided that I just won't wear them today, and proceeded to brush my teeth. As soon as I finished brushing my teeth, I looked over to where the lone earring was, and there was the second earring! Out of nowhere it showed up. As if someone just placed it there when I wasn't looking. Now that would have made sense if someone else were here with me, but I'm home alone. So...WHERE DID THE OTHER EARRING COME FROM???
Kinda spooky, but I'm glad I have both earrings now.

Hours later I still don't know where the missing earring came from. I wished that there had been a camera running in my bathroom so that I could've witnessed exactly what happened. All I know for sure is that there was only ONE earring on the counter and it was NOWHERE to be found when I looked. Where that second one came from will forever be a mystery.

The experience most certainly inspired today's post:

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever looked for something only to have it "mysteriously" appear out of nowhere?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Is this thing ON?

So I have this little blog. I've had it since 2009. It has its own page on Facebook with 169 "Likes." I'd love for it to reach 200 by the end of the year!

I know that there have been some patchy areas where I've gone entire months without posting. In those cases, it was because I simply got discouraged and felt, what was the point in writing if no one was reading and DIALOGUING. As I have said from the beginning, this is not to be a place where I just spew and vent and everyone else listens.

No.

This was meant to be a place where grand discussions would take place. Like a Venus and Serena Williams tennis match. There was supposed to be a steady flow of comments going back and forth. That was the plan. Unfortunately, folks haven't hopped on board as I had hoped.

Nevertheless, I have continued posting.

I am thankful for the five "supporters" (I was pretty liberal with that number), who comment fairly regularly. I used the word "supporters" because I hate the word "followers." As for the other 164 who have "Liked" the page...I just don't know what it's gonna take to capture their interest enough for them to actually engage.

One thing I've done over the years is compare myself to other "bloggers." I have two friends with blogs of their own, and their writing style (although very similar to each other) is VERY different from mine.

They write with words and phrases that make you hear waves crashing and see butterflies passing by. Very "new-agey" kinda stuff. Although they write beautifully and in a thought-provoking manner, that's just not my style.

I mean, I hope to provoke thought, but I simply don't write in flowery pose, nor should I have to because where is the diversity in that?

So I've put out the call a number of times for folks to simply "Like" The Dialogue Den's page on Facebook. Heck...they don't even have to READ the posts if they don't want to. I'm simply asking for a "Like", which to most means very little, yet to me would mean so very much.

As morbid as this next statement may be, I've often thought that my writing won't be TRULY recognized until after I've gone home to be with the Lord. Then folks will decide to delve in and see what I was all about. At that point it'll be too late.

There's the song that says, "Give me my flowers while I yet live." That's how I feel about my blog. Don't wait for me to DIE and then "Like" it. "Like" it while I still have breath in my body so that I can know that this isn't all in vain.

It's such a small, effortless gesture. Yet it would mean the world to me. It would be as though folks are cheering me along in the background saying, "Yes! You ARE a writer, and the world needs your words!"

I dunno. Maybe asking for support and encouragement is more that folks are able to give. My heart says otherwise though. Although I am discouraged, I will not QUIT.

Anywhoo...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Is there something that you have asked folks to support you in and they simply haven't? If so, why do you think that is?

Talk to me PLEASE!!!

Til next time...

Damaged Wings Still Work

Saturday night I had a great time with a friend. We went to the Marina del Rey Christmas Boat Show (BRRR!!!) and then dinner.

My friend is a fantastic photographer. I love her work because she loves nature as much as I do, and does a great job capturing its image.

While we were at dinner she handed me a couple photos that she had taken and urged me to pick the one I liked. The pics were of various butterflies. All beautiful but one in particular caught my attention. It was brown, which is one of my two favorite colors. I told her that if she had taken a pic of a blue and brown butterfly (my favorite color combo) I surely would've chosen that one. Nevertheless, I was happy with the one I chose and immediately named the butterfly "Brownie." I know...not the most creative but that's what I was feelin' at the moment.

My friend looked at the pic and said, "I'm surprised you picked that one. It's wings look like it's been in a fight or something."

We both laughed at the thought of "butterfly fights."

But I said, "No. That's the one I want. I actually want it even more now that I see the damaged wings."

You see, even with its damaged wings, that butterfly is still flying...doing what God created it to do. And much like that butterfly, my wings have also been damaged, by so many things...mostly by the hurtful actions of others, yet...I'm still flying, doing what God created me to do. Living...and trying to be better each day than I was the day before.

So yeah...I'm almost certain that when my friend took the photo, she didn't realize that there would be such a powerful message behind it. But as I've said before, I find lessons and messages from God in so many things...especially in His creation.

This simple little butterfly reminds me to remember the words of 2 Corinthians 4:8

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit."

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's your FAVORITE butterfly?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Reading is FUNdamental...and so much MORE!

Question: Is there anything that you do in excess?

Eat?
Watch TV?
Exercise?

Anything???

I have recently come to the realization that I READ in excess. I mean, I just can't get enough. I am devouring books as though they will no longer be available to read.

I've always been a bit of a "bookworm" and now I am a "bookworm" on steroids.

For those who know the story regarding my eyes, then you understand why I read as much as possible. Every day that I open my eyes and can still SEE, is a GIFT. Every time I get to the end of another book...that too is a GIFT.

Between 2009 (when I first found out about my "condition") and 2013, I didn't ready ANYTHING. I was too depressed to pick up a book.

Then, out of the blue, I found a group on Facebook that was about to read "The Purpose Driven Life." I read that book and haven't stopped reading since. My library card is WORN OUT, and I love it!

So as long as God continues to let these eyes of mine function, I will continue to use them to their fullest, admiring the beauty of EVERYTHING I see, and devouring EVERY WORD I read.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What was the last book you read?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Apology NOT Received

Weeks have passed. The apology has not come. The apology won't come because she is simply too stubborn to admit her wrong.

In spite of all that, it is well with my soul.

I have forgiven her (so that I can be FREE of bitterness and anger), lifted her up in prayer and have given her to God.

THIRTY EIGHT years worth of friendship down the toilet because she didn't care enough about my feelings to even ASK about my feelings, when she KNEW that she had disrespected my feelings.

It meant more for her to become "friends" with someone she didn't even know, than to remain friends with ME...someone she'd known all her life.

That's her choice and if she feels that she made the right decision, then as I told her when she asked...my feelings don't really matter, do they?

It's been said that TRUST takes years to BUILD, seconds to BREAK, and forever to REPAIR. That pretty much sums it up. I will not write about her again...EVER.

So...Let the DIALOGUE begin: How long did it take you to forgive the last person who broke your trust?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Me, Myself and I

A couple months ago some of my girlfriends got together for a "Girls Weekend" away. I wasn't invited.

Within the past month, I've had to pull away from someone very close to me because I came to the realization that she doesn't really care about me or our friendship the way I thought.

Tonight, at this very moment actually, those same girlfriends (and a few more) are all dining at a local restaurant (that I've always wanted to try), having a "Girls Night Out." I wasn't invited.

It's interesting really. I'm pretty nice to folks and my nature is to give them the level of kindness and respect that I would expect in return. I don't get into altercations. I don't create drama. I approach folks with love because that is how I desire to be approached.

Yet...

Something is being lost in the connection. How is it that an entire group of women (when I truly consider to be friends) would not even mention the events when they are being planned. Somehow, I am a complete oversight...heck, based on the way things have played out, I'm not sure that I've even come up in their thought process.

Am I angry about being left out (more than once)? No.
Am I hurt? Not really.

For some reason, which I don't fully understand, God is separating me from folks. It doesn't mean that I don't care about them, but for whatever His reasons are, He's pulling me away. And I think I'm okay with that...I think.

Maybe He wants me to create new friendships. Or maybe He's trying to show me that I didn't need as many as I thought I did. I just don't know. All that I do know is that there's been a shift. I can either go against the shift, or with it. I choose to go with because my curiosity desires to see where it leads.

So at this point, who knows? Perhaps He's not finished pulling (or pruning) and even more relationships will "change." Seems that I'm getting pretty experienced at this whole thing, so if and/or when it happens, I'm sure I'll recognize it for what it is.

Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Is there a restaurant that you've been wanting to try? If so, which one?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Dear Lord...

Very recently, as I was sharing about all of the overwhelming things that are going on in my life, I mentioned prayer, and how there was ONE thing that I was heavily praying for. This ONE thing I wanted more than anything else.

Now I know that I lot of folks think that prayer is just a bunch of hocus pocus mumbo jumbo, and that there's no "Big Guy in the sky" who's hearing ANYTHING. I do agree with that, PARTIALLY. He's NOT "in the sky." He's EVERYWHERE.

For me however, as a follower of Christ, I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer. Sometimes (many times actually), prayer can be frustrating. In this "microwave age" that we live in, we've lost the patience that is required when waiting. We want everything NOW, or five minutes ago. WAITING? Nobody wants to do that. Certainly not I.

But OHHH...when a prayer is uttered, and very soon thereafter ANSWERED...it just adds another coal to the "belief furnace" and kicks one's faith up just a few notches higher.

That happened to me yesterday. I had been praying hard and heavy for something. Wrote it down in my prayer journal, and although it seemed to be a "lost cause", I continued to petition God for this thing that I so greatly wanted. Never in my prayers do I utter the words, "Lord, if you are ABLE..." But always, "Lord, if you are WILLING..." You see, as much as I know what I want, I had to come to a level of spiritual maturity to understand that God's will for me will ALWAYS trump my own...even when it hurts to think that He may not give me what I desire. That's how I felt about this particular situation. I just wasn't sure how it was gonna go.

Monday night I hit a low. Did something that I wasn't sure I should do, yet knew I had to. Wasn't sure what the result would be, I just knew that I had to do this particular thing.

As I prepared to settle in for bed much later that night, mentally and physically drained, I said my prayers for the last time that day and went to sleep.

Within hours, my prayer...the one I had so strongly been uttering for weeks, was answered, and I smiled the first GENUINE smile that I had smiled in WEEKS. All I could do was THANK GOD, because I knew that it was only He who orchestrated things in the manner that they unfolded.

So no...for me, prayer isn't a munch of hocus pocus mumbo jumbo. For me, prayer is MY way of COMMUNICATING with God. The Bible is HIS way of communicating with me. The communication MUST flow both ways in order for it to be effective.

As I write the words, I don't know how things will continue to develop with the prayer that God answered. But the moments of joy that I received as a result of what He did still have me flying high, and I feel that I can go on wee bit further. He knew I needed that. In His omniscience...of course He knew. And although He didn't have to grant me what He did...I am ever so thankful that He did.

Enough about me. How 'bout you? Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time you said a prayer and very clearly knew that it had been answered?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Friends?

EPIPHANY: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Life gives us many "light bulb moments." It gave me one just recently and it made things so much more clear for me.

With the advent of Facebook, many relationships have developed. Quite possibly, just as many have ended. Folks spark friendships with people they've never even met in person. Yes, even I have done it. I must say though, some of my very dearest friends today are those I met on Facebook FIRST, then later down the line we met and "hit it off" just as naturally.

Then there are other folks (really only ONE comes to mind) who I met on Facebook, but never met in person, and absolutely COULD NOT STAND! The "friendship" with this person was so strained. Anytime I'd see her comment on a post my stomach would knot up because I knew it would be NEGATIVE...especially if it was a post that I created. She was DESPICABLE! Called me a "manipulative piece of work" once when I deleted her negative comments from my page. She recently commented negatively on something else I posted and my spirit said, "That's it! She's gotta GO!!" I had to block her. Yep, I think she may be the first person (and hopefully the last) that I've ever had to block. Sure, I could've just "unfriended" her, but I'd still be able to see her posts in some of the groups that she and I were in together...and she'd still be able to "tag" me in stuff (unless I change my settings). For me, it was just easier, and best for us both, to simply block her. Now, she will NEVER have to see my name ANYWHERE...nor will I have to see hers. So you see...some Facebook friendships are never meant to develop into anything, and if they fizzle out, there's really no love lost 'cause you didn't really know the person anyway.

Next, we have the friendships that started out IN PERSON, and had their run on Facebook, only to end on Facebook...but not so much in real life. I have 2 relationships like that. For one of those people, it's really best that we NOT be Facebook friends, and for the other...although I still desire a friendship with this person in "real life", I NEVER want to be friends with them again on Facebook. It simply does NOTHING to enhance our friendship, and at this very moment, has actually created a divide.

So...if that second person ever decides to reconcile, I'm here. No, I'm not gonna go running TO that person to reconcile because it's not my responsibility THIS TIME. That person did ME wrong, so THAT person has to fix this. Plain and simple. I've reached out. That person did not reach back. My part is done.

Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are there people in your life who you would never want to be friends with on Facebook?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

I'm Still Here

I sat here at the computer this morning with the intention of writing about one thing, but as I scrolled through my Facebook feed, I came across this photo and decided to switch gears.

It made me think about the folks I've recently distanced myself from as a result of some disrespectful things that were done to me by them, and they have not reached out even ONCE to find out how to repair the situation (that they created). As the days go by, I'm really beginning to realize that in spite of what they've told me in the past, when the rubber hits the road -- I really don't matter in their lives. Maybe at one point I did, but at this particular juncture in time, I simply don't.

Hurts? Sure. But, my middle name is RESILIENT

(or at least it should be), so...as with every other offense committed against me...I will get over and through this as well.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Is there anyone in your life who you used to be close with, and have since had to part ways? If so, how long has it been, and do you even remember what caused the riff?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Rule XV

Every morning when I wake up I begin my day with prayer. For the past couple of weeks I have also incorporated reading a chapter from Og Mandino's, "A Better Way to Live."

There are so many great principles in that book...seventeen to be exact. He calls them "rules."

This morning I read "Rule XV" and it spoke so loudly to me based on things, or more specifically, PEOPLE I've been dealing with lately. It helped justify some of my recent decisions and reinforced the fact that although some decisions may be painful, they're necessary in order for me to maintain a positive level of health and wellness.

Bottom line (and I'm paraphrasing):
I do not have to allow negativity into my space. If someone is bringing me down, intentionally hurting me, unintentionally hurting me (but when I make them aware of the offense they CHOOSE to do nothing about it), and/or only speaking negativity into my life...the decision is up to me with regard to how close I let them get to me.

At this point in my life, I can only have those around me who are here to support, encourage, uplift (and most certainly NOT smile in my face while STABBING me in the back).

My circle may be growing smaller, and folks may be hating and/or calling me everything but a "Child of God." That's ok I imagine. I have spent ALL of my life trying to make other folks happy...walking on eggshells so as not to offend them or "make them mad" at me. But where has that gotten me? It's gotten me disrespected and having folks think they can treat me any old way. Well...NEWSFLASH...those days are GONE.

As I said in a previous post, the older I get, the more I become like my Mother. She spoke her mind ALWAYS. If someone offended her, she confronted them. If they walked out her life afterward as a result, she was ok with that. She didn't suppress her feelings for the sake of "being liked." You either liked my Mother for the "real deal" that she was, or you stepped. No skin off her nose, as she would say...and none off mine either.

As Porky Pig would say..."That's All Folks!"

It's a BEAUTIFUL morning, and my day is JAM PACKED with FANTASTIC people I love spending time with. I've been looking forward to this day for WEEKS. So I'm about to get out there and "let it do what it do!" I hope you do the same.

For those who love me...and I mean GENUINELY love me...I love you right back! MUAH!!!
And for those who don't...I love you too (because Christ commands me to). You've simply taught me that I need to love YOU from a distance.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What do YOU have planned for this lovely Saturday?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Beer please.

Tonight's gonna be another "light" one because I think it just needs to be.

I was thinking earlier about root beer floats and how my Mom used to make them when I was little. Sometimes we'd have strawberry soda floats. My favorite though were always root beer. I don't think I've even had a root beer float since she last made one.

One thing I do have often though is root beer by itself. I love root beer. Yeah yeah...I know that soda is bad for us, yadda yadda yadda.

Interestingly, I rarely buy soda for home. But when I dine out...I always order root beer. I don't really have a favorite brand. I like 'em all.

I'm sure you can guess what tonight's topic will be. If not, well then...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: For those of you do drink soda...what's YOUR favorite flavor? And have you ever made it into a float?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Hanging on by a very Thin Thread

So many things have happened to me in the past month. Yet more and more keep happening. Some things I've shared with others. Some, I've shared with none. Yet God has seen EVERYTHING that has happened and He (I believe) has been orchestrating ALL of it. I say that because many of the things that have happened have gone way beyond my comprehension. Things so unexpected.

Some things, I never THOUGHT would happen...did.

Others, I never WANTED to happen...they did too.

And people. People have been so very mean, nasty, and disrespectful. I'm talking, "going for the jugular" mean. And I'm not just talking ONE person. At this moment at least THREE come to mind. Like they really want to see me crumble to the ground. It's hurtful, and at the same time, it has my guard WAY UP. I don't profess to be a saint, and I am FAR from perfect. But I do my best to treat people right, and with RESPECT. If I know that you are hurting as a result of something I have done...I'm gonna fix it...because that's the RIGHT thing to do. What I will NEVER do is know that I have hurt you and let you keep hurting. That's just WRONG. I'm not made that way. I'm just not.

Then there's this other thing...this thing that's been nagging at me. Someone very close to me has a secret. A secret that would break me if I knew about it. I'm pretty sure that I know what it is, but I will wait for God to reveal it, and will deal with it at that time. It's been said, "That which does not kill me only makes me stronger." But this secret that I'm waiting to be revealed, will come pretty darned close. I can't worry about it though. God knows ALL. He knows the things that I have done to hurt others, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and he knows what these individuals have done to hurt ME...in a MAJOR way. They are probably laughing about it, but He knows, and my spirit knows too.

In spite of everything, I have (and will) continue to pray. I also know that I have folks praying on my behalf, in the name of Jesus. I know that God is hearing those prayers, (although I'm not sure if mine are going any higher than the ceiling) and though things appear to be getting worse, I know that I'm not going through them alone.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

That's about all I can write about tonight. My head is cloudy which means I need to go spend even more time with God.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever encountered people who were just mean to you for no reason?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

And Breathe...

When life gets too heavy (as mine has become lately), sometimes we must step away from all that's weighing us down and simply take a moment to breathe.

With all that has taken place in my life recently, there's only ONE thing that I desperately want. ONE thing that will change my life completely. ONE thing that will lessen the importance of everything else. That ONE thing I will continue to take to God in prayer, faithfully believing that He will answer...in His time.

Until then, for tonight, I will write about the only things I have the emotional and mental energy to handle right now: Flowers and Butterflies. That's it. I can't handle, or write about ANYTHING heavier than those two things.

How 'bout we start with flowers? So many to choose from. Although I love orchids, my FAVORITE flower is a SNAPDRAGON.

My love for snapdragons began as a young girl during my summer visits to Ohio. I loved sticking my finger in the flower's "mouth" and letting it chomp down. I could do that for hours and never get bored. Seems like there were snapdragons EVERYWHERE in Ohio. I rarely see them here in California, but when I do...yes...I squeeze the sides, and in goes my finger. The little girl in me will NEVER stop doing that.

And butterflies.

I really don't have a favorite, although the one pictured here in the post could very well become my favorite, seeing that it's blue and brown...my FAVORITE color combination.

But more than the coloring of butterflies, I am absolutely FASCINATED by how they come to be. From eggs, to caterpillars, to pupa in a chrysalis. Then metamorphosis, and voila...a brilliantly beautiful BUTTERFLY.

Just another one of those things that make me declare, "Our God is AWESOME!" Only He, can create life that way. Creator of ALL.

Anyhoo...as I've done before, and I will ask again...for those who pray in the name of Jesus...please say a prayer for me. I won't go into specifics, but God, being omniscient as He is, already knows. And I thank you in advance.

Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's YOUR favorite flower?

Talk to me!

Til next time...