Team T-Cakes

Do you have a mentor? Tell us about him or her. Are you a mentor to someone else? Tell us what that relationship has added to your life.

Well, it only took me 7 days to ratchet up the mush factor in this month long blogging challenge.  I am beyond blessed to have an extraordinary support system.  Family.  Friends.  Colleagues.  Online community members.  But there is one person who stands out.  My biggest mentor, my most encouraging coach, my loudest cheerleader, my very best friend:  My husband.

I asked Hubby to draw a picture of him cheering me on.  

Yes yes I know how trite this will all sound, but I really, most people reading this already knew that was what I would say.  Hubby (in the days before he was Hubby) and I had a long standing friendship of several years before we ever entered a romantic relationship.  In the months leading up to our first date, it became clear that he had moved out of the general friendzone into the coveted spot of BFF.  And despite the fact that he earned title of Hubby, he still also occupies that BFF spot.

As a result, Hubby is constantly pushing me to pursue my dreams, big and small.  He makes it possible for me to have the freedom to pursue my interests on a daily basis.  He gives me honest feedback about what things work and what things do not.  He encourages me to step out of my comfort zone, to make connections with people that will end up being mutually beneficial, to take risks, to expand the meaning of the word "creativity".

When I needed to remove gluten from my diet, Hubby never complained about the change in my cooking.  When I wanted to cover our floor with book pages, he supported and helped me.  When I get any type of notoriety, no matter how small scale, he proudly proclaims it from the highest mountain.  He tells me I am beautiful, he tells me I am talented, he tells me I am creative.

Most people know that I dream of writing a book someday.  Lately, Hubby has been really pushing me and encouraging me to get started on that.  Because he believes in me.  He recently has given me the nickname "T-Cakes".  Well, anything I could ever possibly accomplish will be a team effort.  Team T-Cakes.  Him and me, all the way.

And when (not if) I publish that first book, you can bet YOUR t-cakes it will be dedicated to him.

35 Day Project: Guest post by Jessi

Jessi is a woman I know through the Pittsburgh social media scene.  I first connected with her when a group of Pittsburgh bloggers got together to raise money to purchase socks and underwear for the Light of Life Rescue Mission.  Since then, Jessi has consistently shared uplifting messages, and generally makes social media a happier place for me.  I am so glad she is participating in my project!  

I was visiting a close friend of mine who is in the hospital getting cancer treatment. She was leaving with a nurse in a wheelchair to be taken down for radiation when her childhood church's priest arrived for a visit. She stayed to have him pray and bless her and then was on her way. She had asked me to stay to keep an eye on her laptop, etc. until her family came back from lunch. I had intended to get some work done while she was gone, but the priest settled on in. "Nooooooo," I thought. While I identify as a Christian, I'm not Catholic. I have never understood the reverence Catholics, in general, have for priests - I'm the kind of Christian who likes a church where the pastor is a passionate brewer of his own beer and has a tattoo or seven. But I've known some nice priests and am a big fan of a few Catholics in particular like author Henri Nouwen and of course Mother Teresa. And my dad.  So, while I certainly have no "problem" with priests, I'm just not totally sure how I'm supposed to act toward them. Do I call them "Father?" That seems weird. Are we supposed to just talk about church and churchy stuff?

In any case, this priest decided he was going to make himself at home. I reluctantly put away my iPhone in an effort to communicate attentiveness and respect and we engaged in polite conversation. For, oh, an hour. Every ten minutes or so, I thought for sure he would leave. But he didn't. I was feeling anxious about the work I needed to do. And I was really resenting him for it. I also kind of thought maybe he'd ask me a question or two about myself - you know, in a pastorly fashion. Nope. He just sort of talked about himself and about how you get from one part of town to another. In great detail. I was starting to really feel put out. I wanted to get some work done! And I thought that if I wasn't able to turn my attention to my growing queue of unread email at least I could be having an interesting conversation. I started to get a tiny bit bitter that this leader of the Church had apparently no inclination to interact in a caring, others-centered way.

For all he knew, I was really emotional about my friend's illness. I was, actually...and I kind of would have liked to have maybe talked about it. Or prayed about it. But instead we were waxing philosophical about the various ways one can avoid the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. But then, I got a hold of myself. I'm a leader in the Church, too. Not in a priest kind of way, of course. But I know the gospel just like this guy does. And I know how to pay attention, listen well and extend care toward someone. I know how to set my own needs aside and focus on someone else. Why was I expecting that God provided this person in his frock to meet MY needs. Perhaps I was in the right place at the right time to meet HIS.

I made the choice to be kind. And as soon as I got rid of the garbage in my head that I was letting distract me, we had a lovely conversation. When the family returned, the priest asked for directions to the parking garage. I offered to escort him there myself. We got a little turned around in the hospital hallways, actually REALLY turned around, and it was my fault. To the point where I started to feel embarrassed about it - he was elderly and I was dragging him all over this gigantic building. But he was quite gracious and good humored about it. He kindly extended grace to me, when he would have been totally justified in being grumpy about it. We parted ways warmly and I felt happy that I had changed my attitude - it made all the difference.

We all know this, but we forget, so I'll say it. Kindness doesn't just affect the person who receives it. It changes the one who gives it.

Thankful for... everything else

Such a general title.  Seems like a bit of a copout right?  But it really is true.  Throughout the past month, I have highlighted some things that some people may not always think to be thankful for.  And I tried to highlight people who are less fortunate, or in need, and the organizations who are doing great charitable work.  But 30 days is not nearly enough time to talk about all the things for which I am truly thankful.

In fact, I could do a thankful post every day for the rest of my life, and still not have enough days to give thanks.  There is just so much in my life for which I am thankful.  All of the typical things- husband, home, pets, family, friends.  But there are so many other things that I am thankful for as well.  All of the sadnesses, struggles, disappointments, the lost opportunities.  While it sounds crazy to be thankful for things most people see as negative, I simply must be.  You see, everything in my life, whether joyful or sorrowful, positive or negative, have led me to the place I am in at this very moment.  And that, my friends, is a pretty amazing place.  A place I love.  So, for all of it, every last bit, I am so, so thankful.

Thankful for... P.M.A

Photo Courtesy of ianqui

It is so easy to get sucked into negativity online.  Trust me, I see it all day every day on multiple social media sites, merchant sites, news sites.  Turn on the radio or television.  Negativity seems to be all around us.  And once you let that negativity in, it becomes a vicious cycle.  You feel negative, so you project negativity, get negativity in return, and feel even more negative that when you started.  It can be emotionally draining.

Which is why I am so thankful for my P.M.A.  That is Positive Mental Attitude.  Probably the best thing about doing these 30 Days of Thankful posts this month is that, since I write them at night, I end each day on a decidedly positive note.  A note that leaves me reflecting on all the wonderful, amazing things in my life.

Does this mean my life is perfect?  Hardly.  Does this mean I am never sad? No way.  What it means is that, each day, I have a choice.  I can chose to see my life as negative, and hopeless, or I can choose to see my life as being full of positivity and possibility. Which would you chose?  Why would anyone chose negativity?  Well, once you allow any negativity to creep in, that terrible cycle I mentioned starts, and before you know it, you are stuck.  Trust me, I have been there, far too many times.

Bad things sometimes happen in your life.  You are going to get sad.  That does not mean you cannot still be positive.  It does not mean that you can not keep moving forward toward all the goodness in life.  So right now, I am choosing positivity.  And I am so very thankful that I am able to make that choice.

Thankful for... open doors

Photo Courtesy of Annieta

I think I have mentioned in the past that I am not the most patient of people.  Not only do I want what I want right now, I also question what I must be doing wrong when I do not reach my goals immediately.  I try so hard to live every day of my life sure that I am exactly where I need to be in order to reach my destiny, but man oh man, it is not always easy.

Lately, I have been craving change in my life.  Not just my typical "dye my hair a different color" kind of change, something big, and life changing.  I have toyed around with the ideas of pursuing a different degree and career path.  The problem with that is, there are just too many things that interest me.  If I could be a professional scholar of life, that would probably be the perfect gig for me.  Alas, that really is not an option.

So, every day, I plug along, doing my thing, living my life, having faith that this is exactly where God wants me to be.  And just when I start to feel like I am spinning my wheels, doors around me start to open.  Within the past few days, multiple doors of opportunity have opened for me, and new possibilities have ignited my soul.  Some of these may not work out, and I know that full well, but the fact that doors are opening for me, simply because I am being myself and doing things I love, well, that is pretty amazing.

Tonight, I am thankful that God knows the exact perfect moment to open a door or two for me.  I try to live a life that honors God, and to live out my faith in the way that is right for me.  I do not always know, ok to be honest I do not usually know, where my path leads.  I try to simply be faithful and walk that path, enjoying the scenery as I go.  And when that path leads me to an open door I never would have expected, I am immediately reminded of all the blessings in my life.

 

Thankful for.... socks and underwear: Project Giving Skivvies

How many of us, as children, had that one relative, possibly even our parents, who insisted on giving us socks and underwear for Christmas and birthday gifts?  What we really wanted was the newest Transformer, or that sweet day-glo New Kids on the Block t-shirt (or was that just me), and instead we got crew socks and tighty whiteys.  To say we were disappointed would be a great understatement.  One of the greatest indicators of reaching adulthood is the day we actually get excited about new socks and underwear.

Most people take these things totally for granted, myself included.  I have never had to worry about having the very basic necessities in life.  Often, we forget how much we are blessed.

Today, on a facebook group, I was gently reminded to be thankful for socks and underwear.  I saw a post talking about the Light of Life Mission, a rescue mission helping to serve the homeless in Pittsburgh.  One of the things this organization provides is clean socks and underwear to individuals (men women and children) in need.  Except, lately, they have had nothing to give.  The organization has been completely out of these items, and had literally been turning away people in need.  They desperately need new socks and underwear for men, women, and children.

There are some ways in which you and I can help.  If you live in the Pittsburgh area, and have some time to stop by, you can drop clean, new, unused socks and/or underwear off at the mission, any time day or night.  Their address is 10 E. North Ave Pgh, PA 15212.

Another option would be to donate online at www.lightoflife.org and put "SOX" in the designation field.

Yet another option would be to purchase items online at a place like Amazon, Target, or Walmart websites, and have them shipped to the mission at Light of Life Mission, 10 E. North Ave Pgh, PA 15212.

Yet another way to donate is through a crowdwise fundraising page set up by another blogger in the Pittsburgh Bloggers community.  The widget for the page is here:






The final thing you can do would be to spread the word to others about this need.  Share this info or blog post on Twitter, Facebook, or blog about it yourself.  If you share it on Twitter, please use the hashtag #givingskivvies

Please consider helping out with this worthy and wonderful cause.  One dollar would buy a pair of socks or underwear for a person in need. Use social media for the greater good.  Help us all be thankful for socks and underwear.

Thankful for... having my heart humbled

Today, I had an experience that has humbled my heart beyond belief, and reminded me of the bountiful blessings in my life.

I decided to strike out today to visit my old coworkers, and then go buy food to take to a tailgate at a baseball game this weekend, where I will be hanging out with my social media friends.  After visiting with my old coworkers, I headed out of town.  As I passed a local intersection, I noticed 3 young people, 2 boys and a girl, with a sign, and 3 large leashed dogs.  This intersection is at a shopping plaza, and often people will panhandle there.  I was struck immediately by how young these kids were, late teens to early twenties, and the fact that they had dogs with them.  I knew that there was no way I could just drive past.

I turned my car around at the next parking lot, and headed back to find them.  They were hurrying toward a car that, while probably as dependable as they could afford, was not in the best condition.  I pulled into the parking space next to them, and asked them what their sign said.

The one boy quietly responded that they were just passing through, and down on their luck, needing a little help.  He quickly followed up with the statement "but we are leaving now, because some woman just yelled at us and threatened to call the police".  My heart was breaking.  I told them that I did not have any cash, but would it be ok if I took them to a store in the shopping plaza to buy them some food, and food for the dogs.  They seemed so amazed that I was willing to do this.  One boy stayed at the car, with the dogs, while the other boy and the girl came with me.

As we walked to and around the store, I got a little bit of their story.  They were homeless.  They travel from place to place, trying to find work to make enough money to take care of themselves, and the dogs.  The dogs all had tags on, and they told me that they made sure to keep up with their shots, that the dogs were microchipped, and when things were really tough, the dogs always ate first, even if the kids did not.  I was amazed.  They had just returned from New Orleans, where they had been working on houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  They said the devastation down there is still quite bad.

In the store, I asked them what they wanted, and they basically told me they were happy with anything.  I wanted something that would provide them with some nutrients and calories, so we opted for bananas, wheat bread, and peanut butter.  I asked if there was anything else they wanted, but they were so happy with just that.  I also got a 15 pound bag of dog food for the dogs.  They were so grateful and appreciative of this small token; I wished I could do more.  $23 dollars was what I spent.  Such a small amount, but to them it seemed to make all the difference in the world.

We walked back to the car, they loaded the groceries into the car and dog food into the trunk which contained only a gas can, sleeping bags, and a couple of backpacks.  I wished them well, and safe travels, they thanked me, and waved goodbye with huge smiles on their faces.  The whole thing lasted less than 30 minutes.

Living in a small town, homelessness is not visible to me.  I know it exists, but I do not see it first hand very often.  Before people become homeless, they have lives just like you and me.  They have families, and friends, and pets.  People forget that.  I imagine that when faced with homelessness, people try to hold on to what little they can.  I bet plenty of homeless people have pets that become homeless with them, yet we really never hear or see that.  These kids were doing the best they could to keep their little family (that is what the 6 of them were, you know, a family) afloat.

It saddens me that they had encountered someone who was cruel to them, just before I stopped to talk to them.  They told me it happens all the time, and that breaks my heart.  People have the misconception that the homeless are lazy or crazy, or that panhandlers are just trying to make an easy buck.  These kids were thrilled with the fact that I offered to buy them food, and that I treated them with respect.  They struck me as hard working, and kind.  I hope I showed them some kindness in return, because there, but for the grace of God, go I.

I live a comfortable life.  What seems so common to me would be a luxury to these kids.  Me, with my iPhone, my full cupboards, my soft bed. You can bet, when I came home, I gave my dogs lots of extra snuggles.  Please note that I do not write about this situation for praise or accolades.  I just want people to think a little about how they view those who are homeless or in need.

So many things had to fall into place perfectly for me to encounter these kids today, I know it was God, speaking to me, and humbling my heart.

Women of Faith Weekend

Many of you readers know that I also have a book review blog.  When I started that blog out, it was mainly for myself, and the challenge of analyzing books I owned and loved.  Quickly, I became connected to several Christian publishers that allowed me to review their books, and began also submitting the reviews to the Christian Review of Books.  I review non-religious books most of the time, and now work with many talented independent authors and publishers, both Christian and secular.  

Recently, the very first publisher I signed up with, Thomas Nelson, presented book bloggers with the opportunity to attend a Women of Faith conference in their area, with the agreement that in exchange for the complimentary tickets, the bloggers would post blogs both before and after the conference, as well as add a button to the blog to help spread the word of the conference.  Knowing I would more than likely not get chosen, on a whim I decided to apply for one of the blogger positions.  Much to my surprise, I received word some time ago that I was chosen, and today, I received my tickets in the mail.  I am so excited to attend this conference!

There are day sessions on Friday, which I will miss, but I will be attending the Friday evening sessions, as well as the sessions on Saturday.  I am really looking forward to this little weekend event!  Keep your eyes open next month for the post conference recap!

Word Filled Wednesday: Fruits

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Fruits are evident in my life.  Not the "apples and oranges" kind of fruits, the "goodness and kindness" kinds of fruits mentioned in the passage from Galatians.  These kinds of fruits nourish my soul the way the other kind nourish my body.

These fruits are not always easy for me to see.  I am not the most patient or disciplined of people.  I get anxious a lot.  But when I take a moment to reflect, and trust in God, these fruits become more evident.  However, I must do my fair share of the work.

My job is a perfect example.  The opportunity for a job that was perfectly suited for me arose when I least expected it.  God was clearly opening a window for me to experience fruits of the spirit.  But I had to do my share.  I had to apply, and be patient, and work hard at showing why I was the perfect one for the job.  So I worked, and now am reaping the fruits.

For some people, seeing these fruits seems effortless.  I will never be one of those people.  I have to work really hard at discipline, in order to see the fruits of self control.  I have to work at being kind when I lose my patience.  But the work worth it, to see the fruits, and be so filled with joy, the way I am now.

I will work as hard as I need to, in order to be nourished by these fruits.

Word Filled Wednesday: Two Better than One

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

As I mentioned yesterday, this past weekend we attended the wedding of our dear friends Erin and Jason.  It filled me with so much happiness to see them so happy, joyful, and in love.  These two are perfect together.  The verse above mentioned that "two are better than one" and that is never more evident than in this case.

I did not know Jason long, about a year, before he started dating Erin, but many of our other friends did.  Everyone remarks about the positive changes in Jason since he met Erin.  He is so full of love, and joy.  She gives him the confidence he needed.  The same can be said of Jason's effect on Erin.  Her lifelong friends have remarked how good it is to see Erin treated so well, and to be so happy.  These two truly balance each other out.

Jason and Erin have supported each other over the past two years, not only through wedding planning, but through many things.  They have truly strengthened each other, and along with God have formed a threefold cord that I truly believe will never be broken.  My heart soars with happiness for these two.

And truly, two are better than one.

Word Filled Wednesday: Comfort

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Comfort.  More than anything, I need comfort.  My family has suffered a deep loss this week.  My wonderful uncle, my mother's brother, passed away on Monday.  My heart aches for my aunt, their children, my mother.  I just do not know what to do.

I wish I could take away their pain, I wish I could wipe their tears.  I wish I could change the reality.  I wish, beyond all measure, I could bring them all comfort.

I know beyond all shadow of a doubt, my uncle is in Heaven, with Jesus.  He was a caring, loving, generous, godly man, beloved by so many in his community, and really, by everyone who ever met him.  I am heartsick by the fact that he is gone, but I am thankful that he is in paradise, and will never be in pain again.

All I can do, is seek comfort in the Lord.

Word Filled Wednesday: As the deer

Psalm 42:1
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.

Have you ever wanted something so bad, you felt it to the very depths of your soul?  As a child, was there a toy you wanted bad enough you would give anything to have it, sacrificing everything else, working as hard as possible to earn it?

What would you give to have your deepest wish desired?  Would you give that much for God?

This psalm talks about longing for God as much as the deer longs to drink from flowing streams.  Do you feel that same longing for Him?  I must confess, I do not always put God at the forefront of my wishes and desires.  It is simply my sinful, human nature.  I get wrapped up in the possessions and situations of this earthly kingdom, and forget about the perfection of the heavenly kingdom.  Often it takes me going through a long, rough patch of life to thirst for God as much as an animal thirsts for water.

It is my wish today that I be filled with a deep thirst for God, that I long to see Him at work in my life, and that  He become my greatest desire.

Word Filled Wednesday: Woman, You Have Great Faith.

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

If you ask five different people to define the word faith, you could get five different answers.  For some people, faith means religion, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish.  To others, faith is a belief, like having faith in yourself.  To others, faith is a commitment to something bigger than yourself, such as being faithful in marriage.  But no matter how you define it, you know that faith is a wonderful thing to have.

I admit, in many ways, I lack faith.  Not faith in God, or the faithfulness of marriage, or anything like that.  No, where I lack faith is within myself.  I forget that God created me to chose the best path possible, to be as strong and healthy as I can.  He created me to have great faith, not only in Him, the creator, but in myself, the creation.

I want to strengthen my faith in myself, faith that I can attain goals that I set, faith that I can be the righteous woman He created me to be.  Faith that one day, I will see Him face to face, and He will say to me "woman, you have great faith".

Word Filled Wednesday: A Pathway

But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19

God is all about change.  He is the supreme makeover artist.  He changes all of us, once we allow Him into our hearts and lives.  He changed the future of mankind by sacrificing His son, Jesus.  In God's eyes, change is a good thing.

Yet it is human nature to be resistant to change.  We like to remain in our comfort zone, knowing exactly what will happen, how things will be, and what our lives will be like.  When change is thrust upon us, we have a tendency to panic, at least I do.

Last night, in my small town, major political changes happened as a result of the primary election.  Some of these changes make me happy, and some of these changes make me sad.  But all of them make me nervous.  Yet, I have to look at the bigger picture.  Life changes every day.  God makes each day special and unique, to serve a specific purpose.  I have to believe that change, even the change I dislike, serves a purpose, or I would drive myself crazy.

So much has changed in my life in the past 2 years even.  Most of the changes were positive, but that did not prevent me from fretting over each and every change that happened.  Yet, today, I am happier in my life than I was 2 years ago.  So, I know, in my heart, these changes were a part of God's plan for me.  I can only pray that with each passing day, I continue to be open to God's pathway, changing me for the better.

Word Filled Wednesday: I Wish

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.


All my life, I looked for any excuse to make a wish.  Going through a yellow traffic light.  Dandlions. 11:11 on the clock.    Birthday candles.  Every silly superstitious opportunity you can think of.  And from the time I was about 12 until the age of, oh I don't know, 30, these wishes involved romance.  I wish to find a boyfriend.  I wish my boyfriend and I would get back together.  I wish to find true love, someone who loves me for who I really am.  What I should have been wishing for was that I would find God's will, and the patience to see the man He created as my partner.

Now that I have met that man, and found true love, I realize that while it took a long time, all those wishes were actually granted.  And now, I know that what I should be wishing, in fact praying for, is God's will in both our lives.  I wish for happiness for all those I love, for health and peace.  And above all, I wish for them to know how much I love each and every one of them.  They are all my wishes come true.

Word Filled Wednesday: Drinketh the Rain

Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.

We have had an abundance of rain lately.  It rained the whole time we were in Erie last month, and there have been very few sunny days since.  The days have been chilly, gray, and dreary.  I am so over the rain.

The rain is so plentiful, our the grass in our yard need mowing twice a week.  But we can never mow it, because, well, because it is raining.  But today, it struck me, that perhaps we need this rain.  Perhaps this rain is preparing something, such as crops.  Each summer I shop at the farmer's market for fresh fruits and vegetables.  Perhaps this rain is being sent to make those things grow.

Or perhaps this rain is being sent to cleanse.  After the winter, often there is a coating of dirty grit all over things.  Perhaps this rain will help wash that away, and make the world sparkling and new.

Or perhaps the rain can be seen as a metaphor, the fact that God's abundant blessings are showering down upon us, yet we still find reason to complain.  For, as we all know, we would be unhappy if there were too little rain, just as we are when there is too much rain.

I am not sure what the "bigger picture" reason for all this rain is.  But, rain it shall, so I will choose to see it as a blessing.

Word Filled Wednesday: Do Not Conform

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As a child, I watched a lot of Sesame Street.  And one of my favorite sketches on the show was "One of these things is not like the other", where four things were shown, three of which were the same, one of which was different.  I always like the thing that was different.

Today, I was outside taking pictures, when I caught the shot I am using for today's post.  They are my neighbor's tulips, most of which is red, one is yellow, and one is a red-yellow variegation.  I found it to be a great metaphor for how Christians function in the world at large.  Many Christians want to blend in, be like everyone else.  They conform.  Then there are the Christians who want to bridge both worlds, the sacred and the secular.  They make it clear that they are Christians, and in many ways different from the status quo.  And then there are those Christians who are brightly, boldly different.  They will never conform to the secular world, but still find ways to function within it.

At different points in my life, I have been all three of these types of Christian.  Right now, I would have to say I am at the point where I am trying to straddle both worlds.  I wish I was at a point where I had the courage to be bolder, and I pray that someday I will be bold again.  But I know that even where I am right now, even without being that bold yellow tulip, God is using me in amazing and powerful ways.  So, who knows, maybe slowly that red will fade away and that yellow will overtake, and my boldness will be used for even more of God's glory.

Easter Traditions

Much like Christmas, Easter is packed full of traditions for my family.  Many of them have roots in our Polish heritage.

Each year, we gather together for Easter brunch, a tradition that started with my grandmother.

Our menu includes traditional Easter ham, sweet potatoes, potato salad, kielbasa, and my personal favorite, pickled eggs and beets.

But the star of the show, for sure, is beet borscht.  Polacks eat their borscht a little differently than Russians; we eat ours warm, with eggs, cheese, ham, and kielbasa in it.  And of course, you have to have some horseradish in there too!  To those who have never had it, this sounds like an odd concoction, but to those of us raised on it, this is the best holiday food you could imagine.  All of us, my siblings, cousins, parents, aunts, and uncles, we all LOVE this soup.  (I was so excited for it I forgot to take a picture of it before digging in!).

But, before we can even sit down to the meal, we have another tradition.  We take a hard boiled egg, and divide it into the same number of sections as there are people at the meal.  Each person takes a portion of the egg and eats it, symbolizing new life in Christ.  Then we each take a taste of honey and horseradish, to symbolize the sweet and bitter that Christ suffered in his crucifixion and resurrection.  We never, ever forget the meaning of this holiday.

After dinner, we all rest and visit, and eventually make our way around to dessert. Then, we have an egg hunt. Each year my sister puts a new, creative twist on the egg hunt. Since the weather was bad this year, the egg hunt was inside my sister's house. We stayed at my parents while she hid the eggs, then the kids went across the street to their house so the hunt could begin.

Then we always spend the rest of the day visiting, cleaning up, and dividing the leftovers.

We had a wonderful day yesterday, and I hope you all did as well!

Word Filled Wednesday: Flowers

"Flowers are appearing on the earth. The season for singing has come.
The cooing of doves is heard in our land."
Song of Solomon 2:12

This is one of my favorite times of year, mostly because flowers are starting to bloom.  And my favorite flower of all time is the daffodil, or as I like to call them, daffy down dillies.  Because they are one of the earliest blooming spring flowers, they can often be the only splash of color in a drap landscape still recovering from winter.

Today, I spent several hours driving around, shooting pictures.  This is becoming a regular activity for me, so I headed to an area I had shot in winter, covered in snow, hoping to see some signs of spring.  And while the green grass and young deer are delightful to see, what struck me most was the thousands of bright yellow daffodils I saw today.  It took every ounce of strength to not pick them.  I just loved how much they brightened up the otherwise brooding atmosphere.

Some people are like that too.  They are bright and shining examples of God's love in a drab or difficult situation.  If I were to be a flower, I would want to be a daffodil, and can only hope I possess the daffodil's ability to brighten others.

So, what kind of flower would you be?

Word Filled Wednesday: In the Morning

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

Do you have a morning ritual?  Is it a nice steaming cup of coffee and the morning paper?  A pre-work jog? A goodbye kiss to your spouse?  What if your morning ritual involved talking to God?  Do you think it would change the way your day would go?

When I first started working in Pennsylvania, I was still living in Ohio.  I commuted over an hour each way to work.  I often used my drive to work to talk to God, and would pray, ask for guidance, and sing, yes, actually sing.  I would listen to Christian music, and start many days singing to God.  I sincerely believe it helped me deal with some of the things my job entailed.  I was a social worker at the time, and often saw kids who were sick, hurting, in need, and troubled.  My heart broke for many of these kids, and sometimes I would pray on the drive home as well, trying to make sense of some of the tragedies I saw.

After a year of commuting, and a nasty wreck on the Parkway (in which no one got hurt, proof that God listened during these morning chats) I found that I really missed that time in my car each morning, time with just me and God.  I was still setting aside time to pray, but it just was not the same.  Now, I often end my days with prayer and reflection, but maybe, just maybe, it is time to reinstate my morning prayers and praises.

What if you started your mornings with a chat with God, a few moments in scripture?  What kind of an impact do you think it would have