Buttercups in Bloom

There is a place on I-24 south that I love, it is few miles west of Exit 127.   In this particular spot the mountains wrap their arms around you from the north to the south as you drive into the bottom of the plateau.  I don't care how many times I make the trek home there is something that catches in my throat that allows me to say; these are my mountains and these are my people. Tonight the sun was setting ever so gently creating a ray of light on upon the far north side of the mountain, off to my left.    The pink hue was so light that you can barely see it and yet it was there reminding us that the cycles of life that are always before us. I spent my day sitting alongside hundreds of people who had gathered to celebrate a man who had impacted their faith, encouraged them to be leaders, challenged them to be better at their jobs, set a passion within their soul to do something outside of the box.  As I entered the worship space, I found myself in the in-b...

I've been thinking about tribes lately. Tribes are communities of families (blood relatives) that are linked together through social, economic and/or religious commonalities.  Tribes consist of the people we choose to link ourselves with to build something greater; to conquer injustices, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with in times of trouble, heartache and celebration. These are the people who lift us up when we cannot go any farther on the path. Tribe members speak to the truth to us when, even if it hurts but then pours love into our being so that we walk in the hope that new beginnings are possible.  Our tribe are the people who are across the table from us when we celebrate life's most important events. Tribes are important. I am fortunate to have a tribe. My tribe offers to take time out of their schedules to make a two-hour round trip  and then sit for another hour and a half in order to allow my teenager to be part of a very specific academic resource t...

It's award season. Kids all across the country are walking across the stages in their school cafeteria or auditorium. Students are listening intently for their names to be called for those coveted awards of highest grade in each subject area, citizenship, best athlete and the list goes on and on.   These things should be recognized and celebrated because they are grand accomplishments. Social media is filled with smiles of these wonderful students and proud parents.  It is good to see kids accomplishing task and being celebrated for their hard work.  I believe in celebrating! There is a flip side to award season.  The flip side is that pictures cannot capture the kids who are sitting on the stage ever so patiently but never hear their name called for an award.   Students who worked hard and achieved much. Here's what the award ceremony cannot reveal. The girls and boys that are all dressed up, with their legs crossed properly and hands sitting ever so ...

"I am so full." How many times have you said this as you pushed yourself away from the table? We've come to think of fullness as a physical response of partaking in eating too much food all at once.   Even though I had dinner hours ago, as I sit in the comfort of my home; looking out of the french doors onto the porch that is illuminated by solar lights I am thinking I am so full and it has nothing to do with food. I am so full. I am full of thanksgiving. There is a deep thankfulness within me tonight.  I have a friend who is quiet, so sensitive towards the needs of others that she always sees what others do not. She is a person of joy, when she comes into the room it seriously lights up with laughter and goodness.  My friend is not afraid of a challenge and always encourages others to rise to the challenge of accomplishing the things they thought were impossible. This very special person that I am talking about is someone that has made an imprint u...

Recently I increased my normal 3 mile hike to a 4 mile hike.  Saturday was is a beautiful day and I knew I wanted to get outside and enjoy every minute.  I started my hike a bit later in the day than I had hoped but I didn't really care because I had enjoyed all that the unfolded within the morning hours. I got out of my car, put my earbuds in, turned my app on to track my trail and mileage and got out my hiking poles.  Off I went, well sort of.  I got out of the parking lot to almost to the trailhead  and had to return to the car because I had on my glasses.  I'm far-sided and don't ever hike in my glasses because of my of trifocal lens...if you have ever hiked in trifocals you will totally get what I'm saying! So back to the car I went.   I didn't let returning to the car bother me because the sun shining, the wind was gently blowing and the trail was before me. I've been struggling with shin splits (before you tell me I need to do more stretch...

An inner calling. A design that you cannot ignore. An acceptance. Telling your story in relationship to God's story Affirmation       Encouragement            Doubt                 Fear                       Disappointment                               Calling                                         Design                                                 Acceptance                                                 ...

As you can see from the 'about me' info to the right of this blog that I'm someone who holds all things very close.  I have always hated asking for help.  I mean I really hate it.  I hate asking for help because I don't want others to pity me.  I don't want them to try to fix the thing that I might be currently wrestling with.  I don't want someone hovering over me asking me if I'm Ok or if the situation is getting better.  Just like everyone else, I simply don't want to ask for help because keeping my pride in tack is more important than opening myself to others and leaning on them for assistance. In these past several months I've been learning a lot letting your guard down and saying "I need help." I'm not gonna' lie, the journey of letting your guard down has been a steep climb and while it might feel like the path has leveled out, it has not. I have to say that I haven't been doing the heavy lifting in this journey.  T...