Over the holidays, we were at a party where the “white elephant” game was being played.  We laughed as one gift that was going around had a tag on it that had several names scratched out.  It was obviously a gift that had been regifted on multiple occasions.  We, like everyone else, have regifted a few times and aren’t really ashamed to admit it .

I have been thinking about how things that we “give” can go on and on and on.  I don’t really mean material possessions, but I thinking more about kind words, lending a helping hand, sharing the good news of Jesus with those who are wandering in darkness, etc.  We can never know, until we stand before our Creator, what effect our lives have had on others in this world.  Most people we will never meet nor even know exist.

The continual gift from this is that we may have an impact on someone’s life and then they impact someone else and they impact someone else and on and on and on.  The blessing is that we, the original giver, receive “credit”, if you will, for every touched soul that emerges from our first having planted the seed of kindness or care or Truth. 

I hope that I am “regifting” everyday.  After all, other people are the only things we can take with us into Eternity!

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As we embark upon a new decade, that begins with the year 2010

May we live each day “on purpose”, from it’s beginning til it’s end.

The days pass so quickly, months become years so fast.

Before we even realize it, this decade will have passed.

In the year 2020, and we look back at this next ten,

Will we be happy with our choices, or think “What could have been”?

Will we wish we’d made more money, spent less time with those we love?

Will we be glad we were too busy, to simply stop to kiss or hug?

It’s the people in our life that matter, not our accomplishments or accolades.

What will be important 10 years from now, are the connections that we’ve made.

Love God and love people, it’s really not that complicated.

Money, fame and fortune are actually highly overrated.

People say “plan for the future”, and I agree wholeheartedly.

How will I wish I’d lived my life, when I stand in Eternity?

Thanks for stopping by & Happy New Year!

When we first moved to a new state, 3 years ago, we did it with great anticipation and excitement.  It wasn’t long before we realized that it was not all a bed of roses.  I struggled with the loneliness and eventually we moved back “home”.  After a short time there, we decided that we really wanted to move back and give it another shot. 

This year, 2009, has been the year that we found “it”.  By “it” I mean something that had been missing in our lives for quite sometime…..people, community, fellowship, a sense of belonging, a church family.

This year we have become a part of a church family and have made new connections that I know will last a lifetime.   We haven’t had that in a long time and I am ever so grateful that God has led us to this point in our lives and has allowed us to miraculously find a new “home”.  He is so faithful and so good if only we will allow Him to lead.

Thank you Father for your blessings that are immeasurable and never-ceasing!  May I never take them for granted, but be humbled daily by your love and interceding in my life.  May 2010, and the years that follow, bring me closer and more committed to you and your purpose for my life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!

It is no news, to anyone who know me, that I am a UF Gator fan, more specifically, a Tim Tebow fan.  In HUGE contrast to my previous post, here is a celebrity that has made his status for doing the right thing.  He proclaims God’s Word each week, via his blackened checks, to millions of fans.  He has made no secret of his belief in God and has rocked the college football world with his unprecedented stand for what is right.  He may or may not be the best “football player” to ever play the game, but no one is doubting the fact that he has set a standard for how to conduct yourself that will never be challenged.  He is truly a great example for kids to follow and one celebrity that certainly deserves the praise and adoration of all.

I will keep this post short, as I know that passions run deep in the college football world, and I don’t want to upset anyone.  Suffice it to say………….

Good job, Tim Tebow!

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For those of you who read my blog yesterday, please note that it was written before the airways broke the news of Tiger’s latest admittance.  The thought that I wrote the words “respect” and “Tiger” in the same sentence now sickens me.  I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt since everything, thus far, had been pure speculation…..well that is NOT the case now.

The idea that a man has everything anyone could want, earthly speaking, and then just tosses it all away, profounds my feeble brain.  It is as if they meet a woman and their brains suddenly drop (about 3 feet) and they lose all conscience of what is right or even sensible, for that matter.  He is married to a beautiful woman, (a Swedish model, HELLO!) has two precious healthy children, millions of adoring fans and all the money anyone could hope to have, then in a brief moment, swoosh, all that is willingly thrown away.  It is imbecilic!(is that a word?  well it is now and it’s definition is Tiger Woods)I just don’t get it!  It is beyond comprehension!

Well, all I can say is, Tiger, you blew it.  I hope it was worth it. 

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I must begin this by saying, please do not get the wrong idea about our stature in life.   We live in an extremely modest 30-year-old neighborhood, but it just happens to be situated right around the corner from the neighborhood of Tiger Woods.  The past few days have been like a circus around here.  The news people with their big trucks and cameras are everywhere.  Our days have been filled with the constant humming of the helicopters hovering overhead trying to get even a glimpse of Tiger or his family.  In my opinion it has gotten absolutely ridiculous!

Why do we think we have the right to know or even care for that matter?  We all have our conclusions about what must happened at Mr. Woods home.  But who do we think we are to make such determinations about someone’s life.  Even if all the speculations are true….I know I have had disputes with my hubby before( Although I may not have chased him with a golf club……I probably thought about it a time or two ) and you have had disputes too.  Would we want them aired for all the world to see? Of course not!  Then why do we think we have the right to know about the Woods’ private life?

He is just an athlete who happens to be exceptional in his field.  They are just a family like you and me who just happen to have gotten a lot of money.  Why are Americans so “star struck” and hang on every act and word that comes from these celebrities?

Because we live in a very tourist area, we have seen our share of celebrities and my girls have had their pictures made with some of them, but I hope that we have not put them on any sort of pedestal and made them appear that they are no more than what they are……simply a person created by God just like you and me.

My daughter and I were in Publix last night and I told her that I’m sure this is where Mrs. Woods would come to buy groceries.  But is she even able to do that?  Certainly not now.  Wouldn’t it be a terrible life to know that you were under constant surveillance and had no private life whatsoever?  I know the millions of dollars would help ease the blow somewhat, but not really.  We have seen time and time again how money is definitely not the road to happiness and how most truly happy contented people are the ones who live very meager lives and have very little by the world standards.

I have found myself feeling very sorry for the Woods family this week.  How terrible this episode must be for them and their children.  Whatever may or may not have happened, their private lives have been put on display and have been judged by the whole world and no one deserves that.  I respect Tiger for keeping his mouth shut and not allowing the media to have the most intimate details of his family’s life.  It really is none of our business.  He has paid his fine for the accident and now we need to move on and pray that this family is able to survive this tragedy and get their life back.

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I’m not sure why my blogging has been “non-existant” lately.  I really enjoy writing so much, but I fail to do it.  Why is that?!?  I have so many thoughts that run through my brain on a daily basis, but I simply just do not take the time to sit and write them out.  I am trying to make myself  just write about various events of the day and to realize that every blog does not have to be this huge “eye-opener”, “life-changing” blog.  (Not that any of them ever were )

We have had a busy past few months. Moving into a new house making trips up to Georgia to get all of our things out of storage, several groups of visitors coming to stay with us, getting back into the swing of schooling, making decisions about college and work, dealing with daily issues that come up……….. You know, just life stuff.

Well, I’m sitting here trying to come up with a closing thought that will leave you reveling in my great wisdom……but blankness is all that is out there, so I will leave you with this………..Live today like you know you will wish you had lived when this life comes to an end.

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I turned 43 a few weeks ago, and  I know this may seem insignificant to those readers who are much older, but growing “older” has been an adventure for me lately.  As I approach this season, I realize, at age 43, I have only lived out about half of my life(according to statistics).  I said ONLY 1/2 of my life. 

I think that so many times, we get older and our kids start leaving the nest and we think, “Well, I have done what I was supposed to do.  I’ve raised my kids and now it’s time to take it easy.”  None of mine have actually left the nest yet, but I can sense the coming tide just over the horizon and know that it will be here in the blink of an eye.  I feel excited about my life as an “adult”, not as just a Mother.  I know there is so much that God has planned, yet for me to do.  I want to look at the future with anticipation realizing that my purpose still lies out there;  there is still much left to accomplish.

In my reading, I came upon a verse that spoke to me, Proverbs 27:25, “After the hay is harvested, the new crop appears.”  Now, I’m sure this verse in no way references what I am talking about, but to me it did.  This says to me that once we have “harvested”, God is right there ready to give us our next “crop”.  We can never just sit back and say, “Well, I’ve done what I needed to do and now it is time to just take it easy and let someone else do the work for a while.”  There is always more to be done for God.  We have such a small amount of time here on this earth to gather people for God’s harvest.  We need to constantly be “on the job” until Jesus comes again.

We may have “harvested some hay”, but the “new crop” is right there under the soil ready to spring up and demand our attention. 

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I have blogged before about how I do not watch or listen to the news…

On my home page this morning, there is a story about a new scandal that is going on with Pres. Obama.

I am sure by now everyone has heard about what happened at the MTV awards with Kanye West and Taylor Swift.  Apparently, someone overheard a private conversation between the President and someone else.  This other person asked him what he thought about West’s actions at the awards.  The president replied that West was being a jack—.  Well the media has apparently jumped on that and are now criticizing the president for his remarks.  Yes, that is the big mistake that the President has made……..?!?  I will be the first to admit that I don’t follow all the political happenings, but I’m guessing that the President stating what most agree is true, is not a world changing event. 

Have we really gotten to this point, where this is what a major news story is all about…….I find this sort of thing so absurd and so disturbing that I really can’t believe that I am taking the time to blog about it……. on second thought, why am I blogging about it?!?…………………………………….

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