Dream On!

 We all have dreams in our life.  We dream about getting our driver's license, going on our first date, graduating high school/college, getting married to the prettiest/richest woman/man, having lots of kids, dogs, cats, birds, etc.  There are dreams planted in us.  We were built for a purpose. (Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you... Before you were born, I set you apart." )

When you ask a little kid  "What do you want to be when you grow up?", you always get fascinating answers.  But ask some adults that same question and you'll usually be bored with their answer.  Most likely they won't seem quite as excited as a five year old.  Or they may not even have an answer. Somewhere between the years, the vision has been lost.  But why?

Do we forget about them in our quest to earn a paycheck? In our money driven culture, I'm afraid too many people have let the pursuit of money ruin their pursuit of happyness.

Or do we just allow our dreams to fade away and write them off as being "impossible"? Do we believe that we aren't capable of accomplishing our dream?  Part of that is truth -- we cannot accomplish things on our own.  We need God to help us in accomplishing the dream.  But we have to ask for it. 

There is a story about a man who died and went to heaven.  St. Peter met him at the gate and told him that he would take him to the place God had prepared for him.  They passed street after street of big, beautiful mansions.  The man got really excited, but they just kept walking.  Finally, they stopped in front of a small, but livable house and St. Peter told him that this was his home.  It wasn't a mansion, but the man was happy to just be in heaven. 

However, as the man opened the door, he saw stacks and stacks of unopened boxes in his house.  The man asked "What are these boxes for?".  St. Peter replied "These are the gifts that God had for you while you were on Earth, but you never asked for them, so He never sent them"

Ouch. What gifts are waiting for you that you just haven't asked for?  God has boxes filled with powers to conquer what you thought was impossible.  So the task being impossible is no excuse. 

Really, do you have an excuse?  You can either spend your time making excuses or spend your time making a WAY.  There is a quote that I love "The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't have it"

So get out there and "Dream On" because you are never to old (or too young) to have big dreams.

Glimmers of Heaven

Usually around the holidays people get all reminiscent and think about those who aren't here on Earth anymore.  But me?  I have these random days throughout the year for no rhyme or reason.

I was blessed to be able to meet three of my four grandparents.  And I am blessed that I still have one here to enjoy and cherish! 

My dad's mom died 3 years before I was born.  I often wonder what he would've been like, but since I never got to meet him, so I guess I don't really "miss" him.  But I wish I could....

I got to spend 12 years with my mom's mom before she left this world.  But 14 years later, I still think about her an incredible amount and wonder what it would be like to have her around.  She taught me to be a book worm.  We took countless trips on the weekends to the library.  She taught me how to enjoy German food.  She taught me how to cook endless things.  She taught me how to work.  I never went to take your daughter to work day with my parents.  Grandma took me to work and it was so much better. (Isn't everything better with grandparents?!)  She shared her love of hot air balloons, dolphins and lighthouses with me. 

Then there was my dad's dad - Grandad. He taught me how to do word searches and to watch Braves baseball.  He also proved that you can eat a mammoth bowl of chocolate ice cream and still live to be 87.   He was a man of great faith and I strive to know the Bible and live like he did.  He was a man of few words, but I sure do miss him just being around!  When I go visit Meme, I miss the house being 81,594 degrees because Grandad didn't want the fire to go out.  I miss him sitting at the end of the table at his place.  In fact, everyone hesitates to sit there still because it's Grandad's seat.  I miss watching him walk to and from the barn two or three times a day in his worn path.   

So yes, I miss them. But you know what? God gives me reassurance that they are happy. And it looks like this:

A rainbow cloud.  I don't know the technical name, but to me, it is my glimmer of heaven. These little clouds, they are openings in heaven where Grandma and Grandad can pour out their love on me and let me know they are happy :)  And that makes me happy. 

Cherish your moments with your loved ones.  No one can confidently say that they will be here tomorrow.  The only thing we can be confident of is that there is a heaven......  and there is a way to get there!  I hope you know the way!

John 14:1-6
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Run, Run Rudolph...

WHEW!  These past few weeks have been CRAZZZZZZZY. Needless to say, I've been slack on my photo challenge.  Plus, I think my ADD has kicked in.  So I'm just going to knock this thing out right now.


Day 15 - A Picture of something You want to do before You Die

Oh this could take ages. In college we had to create a list of 50 things we wanted to do before we turned 50.  A sort of "bucket list".  I wish I knew what had happened to it. I should sit down and write a new one because I've got a lot I want to accomplish!

I've always loved dolphins and would love to swim with dolphins!  Technically, I guess I have swam *with* dolphins before.  I've seen them just a couple of hundred of feet from the ocean.  But.... I want to TOUCH one.

I would also love to go for a ride in one of these:

Other things:  Visit the Grand Canyon.  See the Northern Lights.  Go to NY at Christmas time.  Okay, how about I just say "Visit all 50 states"?

On a less adventurous note, I'd also love to have a bundle of happy and healthy children and grandchildren before I die. Although, a bundle of children will probably bring about MANY adventures.

Day 16 - A Picture of someone who Inspires You

Children.  They just have a way about them. Children inspire me to make the world a better place for them, to let go of the things that really don't matter and cling to those that do, to be honest and sincere in my thoughts and actions, to have fun and not care what other people think of me and they inspire me to love one another and not hold grudges.

Day 17 - A Picture of something that has made a huge Impact on Your Life recently
Since there is no definition of "recently" here, I'm going with this...

Marriage is a huge adjustment in life... even a year and a half later.

Day 18 - A Picture of Your biggest Insecurity

This one is hard to capture in a picture.  My biggest insecurity is that I won't be "good enough" for certain circumstances and life events.  But God conquers that mental block everyday for me :)

Day 19 - A Picture and a Letter
I really don't get this.  Am I supposed to write a letter?  I'm going Sesame Street with this....

The letter of the day is...........

Day 20 - A Picture of somewhere You'd Love to Travel

Ahhhh... Tahiti.  But unless we win the lottery, I just have to dream.

Day 21 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Forget

Student loans.  Ugh.  If only forgetting them would make them go away.

Day 22 - A Picture of something You Wish You were better at

Memorizing Scripture


Day 23 - A Picture of Your favorite Book

I can't choose a recent one, but this was hands down my favorite book as a child.

Day 24 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Change

Yep, I wish I could change the "change"


Day 25 - A Picture of Your day

Eek.  Not sure which day this was REALLY supposed to be.  I took lots of pictures yesterday, so I'm going with yesterday. 

We got the truck stuck in the snow.

Dad came to the rescue with hot ashes and we got out.

We left snowy Maryland and traveled ALL day long through snowy Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

Day 26 - A Picture of Something that means a lot to You

My salvation!

Day 27 - A Picture of Yourself and a Family Member

Day 28 - A Picture of Something You're Afraid of

I feel like the previous needle post was similar to this challenge...... but let me think.....

Death/Dying of myself and loved ones.  I know my destination, which gives me comfort, but the dying process itself..... well, scares me.


Day 29 - A Picture that can always make You :)

My husband as a cute little Newsie . HAHA. 


Day 30 - A Picture of someone You Miss

'Nuff said.

Sisterly Love

Today's photo challenge is a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.  As you can guess from the title, I chose my sister, Katie. 

Approximately 12 years ago, my brother and I were informed that we would be having a little sister in 3 months.  At that point in time, I was a selfish teenager. The way I saw it, my life was just fine without her.  I didn't want to imagine a life with a little sister.  But you know, she kind of grew on me :)  And I really couldn't imagine life without her now! She has provided me with great entertainment and countless stories to tell and to listen to.   She makes me laugh by doing the silliest things.  She continues to keep me young by informing me of the newest trends.  She reminds me that my actions are always being watched by "little" eyes.  She is another person in the world who loves me unconditionally.  We could all use a few more of those loving people in our lives!  Love ya girlie!

Music to My ears

Today's challenge asks for a favorite band or artist.  Again, I don't have favorites, but I will limit myself to two today.  I listen to Christian music and Country music, so my favorite groups for each of those genre's are:

Christian:

 

Anyone want to cast a vote on which group this is?

Country:

A group of rascals :)

All you need is love

Glad they followed up the "hate" picture day with the positive opposite - A picture of something you love. 

I am having a hard time picking just one something.  SO here we go....  Warning:  this will be about the most random list of loved things you will ever see.

1. My car.  Love it.  It gets 36mpg.  Love it.  Love it.  Love it. 

2.  My warm, fuzzy robe and slippers.  Due to ridiculously high electricity costs here in the South, our heat stays on really low in the winter.  We keep it at 68 and turn it down to 63 at night (unless we have company).  So, in the morning, when I have to get out of my warm bed and trek around the 63 degree house, I LOVE my robe and slippers!  Now if I can just figure out how to wear them to work :)

3. In the warmer seasons, my love is....

Rita's Ice.  YUM.


4.  Chips and Guacamole.  Especially Chipotle's. 

5.  Flip Flops.  I seriously have a closet full of them.

6.  Blogs.  I like that blogs provide a free way for people to share their stories and experiences.  I follow a variety of blogs -- from everyday life randomness, to disability related, to frugal living to cooking. I have a lot of favorites, but I LOVE Cake Wrecks.  It's pretty much a guaranteed laugh.

These are the things I think of when I have to face those dreaded needles and hospitals :P

What are some of your favorite things?

Hate is such a strong word...

Except to display my affection for this...

Day 11's photo challenge is a picture of something you hate.  Yes, I HATE HATE HATE needles. Especially when they are taking blood.  In fact, looking at this picture has me ready to pass out right now.  Okay, so maybe it's more of a fear.  But my fear causes me to hate them.

Another thing I hate?  These places...

Hospitals.  Why you ask?  Well...........First, there are a lot of needles in these buildings.  Second, you rarely ever go for a good reason.  Third, the over sanitized smell makes me gag.  Fourth, there is a lot of waiting around.  Fifth, there are a lot of emotional, nervous, sick people. 

While I am grateful for doctors and nurses and the medical developments our country has, I have spent my share of time in hospitals and I have come to dislike them very much. 

Needless to say, between my hatred of needles and hospitals, I am very thankful God didn't call me to be a medical professional.