Out With The Old

So here we are...coming to the close of yet another year. A time where many reflect and select areas that they desire to change in the coming year. I, admittedly, am no different.

I won't bore you with ALL of the things that I desire to change in the coming year, however I will share this ONE, since it pertains to my lovely blog The Dialogue Den.

Gotta tell ya...there have been sooo many times when I've wanted to just let the ink run out of the pen and say, "no more," with regard to the blog. I mean...I've been at this for 6 years now, with over 690 posts, and it just hasn't taken off quite the way I had expected it to. Clearly, somethin's gotta change.

I've wondered if perhaps I should change the name from The Dialogue Den (since very few folks actually engage in DIALOGUE with me), to The Monologue Minute. Not sure if that's already taken, but it would more accurately describe the majority of my posts.

Either way...keep the name...change the name...one thing's for sure...I will NOT stop writing. Not here at the blog, nor elsewhere (with regard to the books I'm writing.)

I read a quote a while back that said:

"The worst thing you write is better than the best thing you did not write."

That pretty much summed it up for me. After all...I may not be the BEST writer who ever put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), but I am darned sure not the worst. And because my posts are as random as the kajillion thoughts that float around in my brain...some days I may write something that's "right on your street." And other days, I may write something that appears to be from a completely different planet. To that I simply say...keep reading...PLEASE (and thank you.)

Earlier this year I set a goal to write 366 posts in 2016. Well...goals are meant to be met, yet sometimes we miss. I missed. I wrote 169 posts this year. But...what happens when we miss a goal? We set a NEW one. So...you've probably already guessed that my goal for 2017 is to write 367 posts. Can I do it? Of course!

And that brings me to the photo that's posted here today.

A few weeks ago, my youngest daughter Jordan, held a toy drive for charity. In addition to spoken word artists who performed, there were also vendors (many of them around my daughter's age...early to mid 20s), selling their goods.

As much as I wished I could have purchased something from everyone, I had to be thoughtful in my decision as I had very little money and wanted to by something that would "speak to me." When I saw this beanie from The Drew League, the four words didn't just speak to me...they SCREAMED.

Yes, 2016 hit me with some MAJOR blows that I didn't expect. Yes, I am still trying to recover from them now. No...everything won't be "rainbows and butterflies" when the clock strikes midnight tonight. I will STILL be recovering from the blows of 2016. BUT...I can't let those blows stop me...or even slow me down. I can't use LAST year's troubles as an EXCUSE for this coming year not being all that should, and WILL be. LAST year (meaning 2016) will not stop me from PRODUCING in 2017. Instead, I will let the hard lessons learned from 2016 guide me toward BETTER, and more WISE decisions in 2017. And whenever I start falling into those "woe is me moments,"  I will remember the words on this beanie:

NO EXCUSE!

JUST PRODUCE!

 

Now it's YOUR turn. Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do you have a motto for the coming year? If so, let's hear it.

 

Talk to me!

 

Til next time...

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 



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...

A Fond Farewell

So here we are...with just a few hours left of the year 2014.

This is the first time in a very LONG time that I have not gone to a "Watch Night Service" at church. I'm a bit bummed about that. I typically go to one that starts at 7:00 and that same church has another that begins at 10:00. Since I missed the 7:00 I really should try to get to the 10, but I try to avoid driving at night so that I won't get pulled over. My tags are expired (well...I've paid the registration, but still need a SMOG check), and one of my headlights are out. So...I'm thinking I'd better play it safe and stay home. As much as I love being in fellowship with other Believers on New Year's Eve, I know full well that I can praise the Lord right here in my own home and He'd be just as pleased. My daughters and my niece went though, and that makes me happy. They're all grown yet still go to church willingly and with glad hearts. That's the best that I could ever hope for for any of my children and/or family members.

So yeah...2014 coming to a close.

What a year it has been!

Let me say that again...WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN!!!

The first half was rocky and as a result I made some DRASTIC changes in the second half. 99% of folks who know me don't know that in June of this year I resigned from my job...WITHOUT HAVING A NEW JOB TO GO TO. Who does that?!? I do...and I did. After being in a position that didn't suit me, and being denied by my direct supervisor the opportunity to apply for a position that was a better fit, I just couldn't take anymore...and walked away. The handful who knew what I'd done all pretty much thought I was crazy. In a sense, they were right. To be quite honest...my head wasn't on completely straight at the time and I realize now that I was in a pretty deep depression. So my choices weren't that of a "clearheaded thinker".

Although that decision has cost me dearly by way of my bank account, where funds are practically non-existent (even as I type, I don't have enough money for tomorrow's rent), it did things for me that money just can not buy.

My decision to leave gave me PEACE. It gave me FREEDOM. It gave me TIME. It gave me JOY. And it gave me weeks to spend with my Mom that I will cherish FOREVER.

Had someone told me on January 1st of this year that my mother would not be here to see January 1st of 2015, I would have covered my ears, closed my eyes, shook my head and demanded that they take the words back.

Then again...maybe I would have accepted the words and made sure that EVERY DAY from January 1st through November 9th would have been the happiest days of my Mom's life. Maybe. Who knows?

I'll tell you who knows. GOD...in His omniscience. He knows.

He knew on January 1st of this year that He would call my Mom home on November 9th. Her departure from this life may have been an unwelcomed reality for those she left behind, but it was no surprise to God. I can imagine Him whispering in her ear as she lay in bed that night, "Rebecca, My daughter. Rebecca, come with Me now. I'm taking you home." That was the day that my Mother LIVED for...the day that she would go home to dwell with the Lord ETERNALLY.

Yet with all of the trials that life has put me through this year, the bitter was ALWAYS overcome by the sweet. God's Word is the sweetest of all, and because of that, I was able to get through EVERYTHING. Even in the loneliest and saddest of times, I had the assurance of knowing that He's with me.

And He was kind enough to give me someone in the physical sense to hold me up during the most difficult of times. He sent "Joe", and Joe has been my ROCK. My shoulder to cry on. My hand to hold. My tear-wiper. My encourager. My support. When things got to be too much, he was there to take over and handle what I couldn't. When I became irritable and lashed out and the most trivial of things, he understood where it was all coming from, and instead of getting angry with me, he became that much more patient. It takes a special kind of person to react that way. Joe...IS that special person for me. An absolute blessing he has been, and I make sure that he knows it.

So...less than 4 hours left. How will I spend it?

Well...I'm home alone (Joe is working tonight...*insert sad face here*), so I will probably spend it meditating on the goodness of God. Why? Because He deserves ALL of my praise, honor and glory. That's how I choose to handle the lemons that life hands me. He got me through this year, knowing all along that it would be one of the toughest ones of my life. All I can do is lift my hands and say, "Hallelujah!"

Like David, I will bless the Lord at ALL times!
Like James, I will count it ALL joy when I fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of my faith produces patience.
Like Paul, I will be confident in knowing that NOTHING can separate me from the love of Christ.
So you see folks, no matter what...it's all good! God is good!! Life...is good!!!

Just as I didn't know what 2014 had in store for me, I have no idea what's to come in 2015. But God knows...and that's ALL I need to know.

Quick question before I end tonight's post: If your Mom left her earthly life this year, raise your hand. *** Now for everyone who raised their hand, I give you the LARGEST, LOVING-EST, MOST SINCERE HUG that you can receive via computer. I know how you feel, and it's a feeling that no one else understands unless and until their Mom's are no longer here. Stay encouraged, and hold tightly to the memories. They'll get you through the tough times. This, I know.

Goodbye 2014. It's been real.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What was the BEST thing that happened to you in 2014?

Talk to me!

Til next time...