Enjoy Goodness

Sometimes we pray for answers and we wait.

Sometimes we wait for a very long time.

It is a miracle when we see answers come, it is a boost to our faith when we see answers come quickly.

Our support group meeting was in full swing. One of us was moving into a temporary place that had much mold and would need, not only intense cleaning but extensive repair to be livable. They were thankful for the space and willing to do the work. Their prayer request was for a more permanent solution this summer when children would be coming.

We prayed. This was Thursday night.

By Sunday afternoon the Lord had provided a different place to live with enough room for the children and it was move in ready. Sunday night some of our group gathered for dinner in the new space. On the table was a small bag of Borden Parmesan Cheese, this picture is from the back of that bag

“Enjoy Goodness”

I felt it was a message from the Lord in that moment.

Some guests at the table have been praying for three years plus for answers to agonizing, ongoing distress, others have been praying for life to return to their hearts of stone. Here we were celebrating the Lord providing a miracle in three days.

Let us never stop praying.

Let us never stop believing.

“Thank You Lord! Thank You for this answered prayer.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication withthanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

Romans 15:13

Roman’s 15:13

An Old Love

An email appeared that said someone was now following my blog.  This blog.  The one that has been dormant for several years.  I was flattered that old material seemed new enough that someone decided to follow.

“Follow what?” I thought, “I’m not writing anymore.”

Then, a few days ago, my ex-husband’s wife (yes you are reading that correctly) told me that she missed the blog.  That did it.  An old love was rekindled.

My previous  goal of 365 posts was met back in 2013 I believe so with this writing I have no plan.   I will write when I fell inspired by something or irritated by something.  But most of all I will try to be thankful in all things.

Here’s an ambitious young turtle to remind you to enjoy every moment!

 

 

 

 

What We Need

I was standing in line at Walmart, now all of you know that the lines are long there. Everyone knows this. Well, this particular day a woman a was ahead of me in line by a few places and was very irritated.  She grew irritated enough to lean back and holler,

“What we need is more checkers”

The immediate thought in my head was

“What we need is more patience”

I would never say that out loud!!

Ladies, in our world today everything is someone else’s fault or problem.  Somehow it’s Walmart’s fault that we are in a hurry.  Everyone knows that if you are in a hurry Walmart is NOT the place to go.   But still, as a society most of us do not take accountability for ourselves.

Trying not to melt into self righteous mode and continue to judge this stranger I looked away as I fumed in defense of the cashier.

Then, as  I stood there thinking about So much wrong in our world, I noticed this large display of school supplies next to me…….

WHOA !!  This did NOT help my mood !!

I know this is a promo for some movie out this summer but the irony of this really impacted me. The school spirit is a slimy ghost!!! Wow – isn’t this exactly what a lot of kids think about school anyway?  Our world is in collapse – do I have any answers?  No.

But I have been praying more for teachers since that visit to Walmart.  And I was very nice to the cashier and chit chatted with her to get a smile.

(I probably made everyone in line behind me furious)

Photo of the day!!!!

The Staircase

Just before I left for Africa in Dec 2012 I was given a promotion at work – it was a miracle for me. You may remember me blogging about it. 

When I got home from the mission trip every weekday for 3 1/2 years I climbed a staircase and took a right to my office. During my time there my boss encouraged me to go back to college for my Bachelor Degree so she could train me to take her place when she retired. 

Happily, I did go back to school, I kept a 4.0 gpa and studied every night after work and all weekend until I fell and broke my wrist. While in this season of my life I would climb that staircase, pause, look to the left and think

“Someday this will all pay off and that will be my office, oh what a day that will be”

Then she died. Suddenly, without warning. 

There I was making 12 bucks an hour with 33 employees to pay and 9 Board members asking me questions that I had no answers for.  I did not mourn her death I stayed in a state of trauma and shock.  I kept payroll done, taxes filed all bills paid but I was numb, vacant.

One morning a board member came to my office to make sure that I was going to re-enroll in school since my wrist was healed she told me not to let this tragedy keep me from my dreams!! 

My dreams? 

And there it happened- that push led me to the awakening that I did not want to turn left at the top of the stairs. I did not want to be the Executive Director of anything! 

What was I doing? 
What did I want? 

That was a sad time and a rough season but I made it through. They hired a wonderful replacement for my boss. On paper I did not qualify for the position and could not be considered, truthfully I did not want it. Also, by that time I did not want to be the assistant anymore either. I was overqualified for my spot and under qualified for top spot! 

I gave my notice. Everyone understood, or at least they told me they did. I now go and fill in any gaps, run reports and help out the new assistant when she needs back up but she is doing very well. 

Why do I type this unusually long blog?

Sometimes we can get so focused on what is in front of us, or what is expected of us that we lose sight of our purpose. 

I was so comfortable in my box that I didn’t even know I was boxed in.

I’d forgotten to live, no joy, just breathing in and out. It took a disaster for me to wake up and realize there was more for my life than what I was doing. 

And the sudden death of a most beloved friend to make me realize how precious my life truly is.  

Here is a view of one of the staircases where I work now – I still climb stairs each day for work!!

 But I am very happy in this season of my life!! 

The “Co-Signer”

How many of you pray to God? 

I pray to God all the time and when I pray I fully believe that He will answer me either through a scripture or a little soft voice inside of me that I believe is His Holy Spirit. 

I pray for a lot of you also. I talk to God everyday, sometimes all day. 

It is only within the past couple of years that I have come to realize that He does not always agree with me. Sometimes He says “NO” and sometimes he says

 “I SAID NO SYLVIA!!”

I don’t like those answers but I have grown up enough in my faith to be able to hear Him and not just override Him with what I want and demand Him to agree with me. 

I’m not sure when or how it happened that I could submit to Him and lay down my own ideas but my life is much more at peace now. 

I no longer require Him to be my co-signer and demand His approval !! 

Now He is my Father and I obey Him. 

Hey Bob

I was swapping stories with an old friend recently and we chatted about our grown sons. 

I think Bob will appreciate that I was currently in a situation with my boy that required attention that I did not want to deal with- you feel me ? 

And so to set the stage… I had seen the Civil War movie and did not want a repeat in my living room of the epic fight scene (which is what can happen if my son and I get on opposite sides of an issue but it’s like Hulk and Thor when we go at it – no shield and lasers….its fists and hammers)….. Ok back on track, sorry Bob, I know you don’t watch movies so the last paragraph will not benefit you at all!! 

So, this conversation with the old friend… After talking with her I just wanted to hug my son. It had been a long time and he has always given me the best hugs. (You know how some people take a hug and some give a hug…. Well he always gives me the best hugs). 

So I set it in my mind and heart and the set pen to paper of the small issue to discuss… Put it aside and then began to pray for the courage to bring it up and deal with it…… 

Know what, God did it for me!!!! And I did not even have to get out the paper, my son brought up something on his heart and then I said oh yeah I need to talk to you about “such and such” to which he agreed…..and then I told him… I’m glad that’s out of the way cause I want to just be mom from now on. Now more business…..just mom. 

That was 3 weeks ago and now each and every time I see him I GIVE him a hug! A big bear hug! 

No more business, I just want to be mom. 

Civil War (Spoiler Alert)

I have blogged about silly Hollywood movies a lot, and these two characters have been here over and over, I’ve even dreamed about one of them. So when I met my best movie buddy for our Civil War date I must admit that I had not even viewed a trailer for this movie – who needed a preview – these are our favorite guys, we have a standing date to view every upcoming avenger movie the moment the credits role for the current avenger movie ! 

Imagine my surprise when she asked me at the end of this one …. 

“Are You Okay?”

I looked over at my most awesome, strong and loyal Iron Man fan with tears in my eyes and replied… 

“No.”

The fierceness to which the director and animators make these two men fight broke my heart. All I could think of was that the title was a perfect warning… Civil War is in fact a fight amongst family when loyalty is pushed to its breaking point. Way too traumatic for this fan. 

Maybe I am too old or too soft for these ultra action movies.  

Maybe Jane Austen has converted me – a collection of all her books is on my bedside table and I admit that I am enjoying her words each night before bed. 

Or, perhaps my heart has seen enough war between loved ones that I want my cartoon characters to fight evil and not each other

….you know, the way we are supposed to do in real life…… 

Knots

Bob texted me a photo with her hair all tangled up. She needed an extra pair of hands…..she managed on her own but the word “knot” kept coming to mind…..then I remembered this great prayer for the “knots” in our lives.  It’s worth sharing again. Have a blessed day ladies.