Who doesn't love a great vacation? Who doesn't want to just get away. I mean it's the perfect time to take a break from the normal routine and focus on something different. It's really necessary for stamina and the ability to just keep moving forward. Even God took a break when he finished creating the world, after all. Because of our move, the kids are sorta obligated to spend their school breaks with their dad. Due to financial needs, Mark has been working more than usual. Needless to say, we have had to be creative in what and how we are "vacationing" this year. Part of my "creative" attempts to get through, I have actually been revisiting some previous vacations through pictures and stories. The kids and I have particularly enjoyed reminiscing over some funny stories and enjoyable memories. I enjoy making scrapbooks, particularly for this reason, they keep those memories and are always available for a jaunt down memory lane. (Although worthy of noting, college road trips and weekend getaways will be left for another blog.)
There's really no doubt why Disney World claims to be the Happiest Place On Earth. If you've ever been, I'm pretty sure you know what I mean. I've been 5 times (only 3 of which were actually with my children). You can't help but feel like the biggest kid in the world. I would know, My home videos,complete with squeals, giggles and lots of excitement, prove that I can't even pretend that this isn't true. When my friend Chad had the opportunity to go himself (without his children, I might add) and see what all my previous excitement was about, I got crazy excited just to tell him how much fun he will actually have. While I was shopping at Wal Mart one evening, my phone rang. I answered, "Hello?"... to hear the response, "THIS IS THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH!" being shouted from the other end. He was calling me from inside It's a Small World, I believe. They are so good at what they do, they actually sell a book Be our Guest: A Guide to Customer Service. It is required that no litter remain on the ground; if a scratch happens in any painted surface they will repaint it; they could be fired for not smiling and greeting everyone with cheerfulness. How could you not enjoy vacationing at a location that I am quite certain, in my opinion, pumps happy gas through the filtration system for its guests to breathe? Whether you have children or not, you simply have to experience Disney World (or I suppose even Land). For goodness sake, go!
A Carnival Cruise (I can't speak of any other cruise line) might be equally amazing, but for completely different reasons. The staff on these ships do a phenomenal job too of keeping it clean and meeting customer needs. They really are there to serve your vacationing desires. Whether you take advantage of the on ship amenities i.e. pools, hot tubs, casinos, food.. OH THE FOOD!!, shows, dancing, games, or music.. or you further explore off ship excursions: shopping, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, fishing, site seeing.. gosh this list is just too long.. you will not be disappointed if this is your vacation option. In fact, you will likely find you are in need of a week's vacation from your vacation just to recoup and sleep. There's so much to do, it's nearly impossible to get everything done. I mentioned the food. Honestly, the amount of food on these ships is almost embarrassing, able to feed a small country. But the talent in preparing the food on the ships would be rivaled by most around the world. They literally sculpt statuesque figures out of food. The sites you have the opportunity to see will amaze you for a lifetime. Personally, I enjoyed my snorkeling trip and visit to Mayan Ruins in Cozumel, Mexico. If you get a chance, go!
Those are some price consuming options for vacation. Among my top favorite vacation spots are also rather inexpensive. I love the beach. I love the feel of the water rushing over my body. I love burying my feet in the cool crisp sand while the sun wraps it's warm rays around my body in a summer's hug. I can't deny that one of the best vacations I have ever experienced would be that of my honeymoon at the Most Beautiful Place in America. No it wasn't Hawaii, or the Grand Canyon, or Vale, or even San Diego, California. Instead it was right here in Michigan. Yes I said that, recently voted Most Beautiful Place in America by Good Morning America, Lake Michigan. We are blessed to be able to share a family place near Ludington, Mich. My husband and I spent time there on the beach, canoed down the Pere Marquette River, played at the sand dunes, visited Little Sable Lighthouse and climbed "The Project". We ate at great restaurants and shared some fabulous ice cream. We also drove up (past Lk Mich, I realize) and visited Mackinaw City and The Bridge. It's IMMENSELY obvious why Lake Michigan has been given such dubious distinctions! If you haven't been, go!
Some day, Lord willing, when we find ourselves in the retirement phase of life, I have one of two wishes for ways to spend it. If we are able, I would love to either relocate permanently to Lake Michigan, having a cabin big enough to accommodate our family and friends for frequent visits. Or I have always said, I would love to buy a luxurious motor home and travel the world. My family loves to camp. I think it would be an amazing way to vacation and see the country all the while.
Some of our favorite family memories revolve around camping. We have done some serious hard core camping excursions i.e. sleeping in a wigwam and cooking all our food over an open pit fire and peeing only in a port-a-john and no showers for 3 days.. (yes, major props are due!) Most often, I will confess, we are comfortable in our modest trailer complete with electricity, heat, running water and a/c even. But our memories really have nothing to do with accommodations. More importantly, the times around the camp fire, the bike rides, time with friends, and usually some fireworks/sparklers fun remain in our scrapbooks and memories. We love our traditional (in fact our only one this year) trip to family camp in Vassar, Mich. Sometimes we trek off to a nearby campground just for an easy getaway. It never ceases to feel as though we are in a far off place. Last year, we camped at Sauder Village in nearby Archbold, Oh. They offer a unique interactive historical pioneer village to visit and explore along with your traditional camping amenities. We went in the fall while they offered harvest festivities complete with making your own caramel apples, pumpkin decorating,and hay rides. Also, if you camp, you can take advantage of the indoor pool!! If you haven't tried camping anytime recently, go!
Of course, even though we haven't had the chance to really get away on any big vacations this year, we have made the time and resources this year work for us. We've camped, gone to some concerts, had picnics at the park, a quick trip to nearby Cedar Point among other memory making day activities. The year isn't complete and I do hope to get in a few more jaunts before it is over. The bottom line is, no matter your resources or preferences are get out and make memories. See something new. Do something fun. Experience something out there. It doesn't have to be expensive or lavish. It doesn't have to be a lot of work. I doesn't have to be far away. It just has to be something you like, something to make memories with your family. Just do it, go!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
What's my focus?
I don't know about you but I have noticed that when my focus is off, everything is off. I have to constantly check my perspective and focus in life. I used to keep a journal and would notice that when things were bad or off, it started mostly because my focus got off track. This is an attempt to consolidate my thoughts on this matter.
If I fixate on what other people say about who I am, I will be left with hurt, pain and emptiness.
If I focus on what God says me, I will be able to give thanks and appreciate who He has made me to be.
If I fixate on my own abilities, I will feel inadequate and overwhelmed.
If I focus on what God has already done for me, I will recognize and see the security and confidence He provides.
If I fixate on money, I will never have enough and always be in want.
If I focus on what God says about money, I will see it as though everything I have is His and He is much more able than I am.
If I fixate on what the world says I should be, I will eventually change who I am to fit their mold.
If I focus on what God says I should be, I will live my life through the convictions He has taught me.
If I focus on what society says about Church, I will likely see it as pointless and nonessential.
If I look at the church the way God sees it, I will recognize she is His bride and will respect her.
If I fixate on my problems I will experience worry and stress and grief.
If I focus on what God says about troubles and difficulties, I will see opportunity and grow in what He brings me through.. time and time again.
If I fixate on what the world says about people and interpersonal relationships, I will see them as dispensable.
If I focus on what God says about people in my life I will see them as valuable, precious and worthy of investment.
If I fixate on my past, I will always see defeat, loss, and pain,
If I focus on what God says about my here, now and future I will see potential.
If I fixate on the things this world sees as valuable, I will be chasing a life that is wasted and empty of meaningful things.
If I focus on what God says is valuable I will see the eternal, big picture.
If I fixate on me, I will see flaws, wounds, unworthiness, and a mess.
If I focus my attention on God, I will see His Son who took on my scars. I will see a father who loves His children, unconditionally. I will see love, joy, peace and hope that passes all understanding.
My prayer today is that I see my life through the eyes of the one who created me and created this world, through the eyes of the one who sees that world in its entirety.
If I fixate on what other people say about who I am, I will be left with hurt, pain and emptiness.
If I focus on what God says me, I will be able to give thanks and appreciate who He has made me to be.
If I fixate on my own abilities, I will feel inadequate and overwhelmed.
If I focus on what God has already done for me, I will recognize and see the security and confidence He provides.
If I fixate on money, I will never have enough and always be in want.
If I focus on what God says about money, I will see it as though everything I have is His and He is much more able than I am.
If I fixate on what the world says I should be, I will eventually change who I am to fit their mold.
If I focus on what God says I should be, I will live my life through the convictions He has taught me.
If I focus on what society says about Church, I will likely see it as pointless and nonessential.
If I look at the church the way God sees it, I will recognize she is His bride and will respect her.
If I fixate on my problems I will experience worry and stress and grief.
If I focus on what God says about troubles and difficulties, I will see opportunity and grow in what He brings me through.. time and time again.
If I fixate on what the world says about people and interpersonal relationships, I will see them as dispensable.
If I focus on what God says about people in my life I will see them as valuable, precious and worthy of investment.
If I fixate on my past, I will always see defeat, loss, and pain,
If I focus on what God says about my here, now and future I will see potential.
If I fixate on the things this world sees as valuable, I will be chasing a life that is wasted and empty of meaningful things.
If I focus on what God says is valuable I will see the eternal, big picture.
If I fixate on me, I will see flaws, wounds, unworthiness, and a mess.
If I focus my attention on God, I will see His Son who took on my scars. I will see a father who loves His children, unconditionally. I will see love, joy, peace and hope that passes all understanding.
My prayer today is that I see my life through the eyes of the one who created me and created this world, through the eyes of the one who sees that world in its entirety.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Live, Laugh, Love...
Live, Laugh, Love Anyone who knows me, knows that has sorta been my motto for YEARS. I've used it as my signature on emails and my phone even. Live well, Laugh uncontrollably, Love unconditionally. But it's not just a fun thing to say or see on a pillow. It's real.
Live well. I want to live out the purpose God has given me. I became a mom in 1998 and again in 1999 and suddenly my purpose was formed. I was to be a mom, above all else. The choices that I make in my life matter because I have two children watching. I don't get it all right all of the time. But my desire is to teach them what Micah 6:8 says about living. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I am the model and teacher to these lives before me. I want to give the example to my daughter how to be a Godly woman (to the best of my ability) and to my son what matters in choosing a good woman with whom to share his life. It's about my character and spiritual compass. Opportunities come up all the time. For example: how we respond to people who are rude to us; how we react when we don't get our way; what do we do when we are lied to. Do I live my life to get all the latest "stuff" or do I live to give of myself and serve others? Do I harbor resentment and bitterness or do I practice forgiveness and mercy? Do I teach my children that every good and perfect gift comes from above or do I show them a "me me me" attitude?
Laugh uncontrollably. This one is much easier for me. Laughter is the best medicine, after all. Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach hurts? That you literally became sick? Have you ever laughed so hard you cried or snorted even? Perhaps you've lost bladder control even? What makes you laugh? I mean, really.. what makes you actually laugh from your gut. One of my favorite things that makes me crack up is the laughter of a baby. Sometimes I actually will YouTube babies laughing just for a "pick me up". Have you ever made someone laugh that hard? I don't know if it's better to tell the story that makes people laugh uncontrollably or to be the recipient in such a time. Oh the stories I could tell here!! EACH would be deserving of their own blog alone! I play(ed) euchre with a group of some of the best girls I have ever known! It really wasn't about cards, for us cards was a means to the end. Jonda, one of those girls, on a number of occasions has laughed so hard she had tears flowing down her red face and could barely catch her breath would go home with stomach pains and cramps from laughing all night long. THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER!!! My ex-husband (perhaps one reason he is the ex in fact) once told me that he didn't think I was funny. That was probably the WORST thing I could have ever heard him say. And I thought what is the matter with him? I am VERY funny!! On a number of occasions I have been known to say "I crack myself up." I try to teach my kids to laugh at themselves too. It's so much easier if you don't take life too seriously all the time and learn to appreciate the moment. Sometimes that means being the first to laugh at ourselves. Seriously, funny is funny!
Love unconditionally. This kind of love really is only possible through the source of Love, Himself. Luke 6 tells us "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." The gospel of Matthew tells us the greatest commandment of them all is to
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” To be really honest I have found it the easiest to love this way where my kids are concerned. I love them unconditionally. There really isn't anything they could ever do to lose my love for them. That means I love them enough to discipline them with guidance and structure and even punish them when they go astray. That's the example God gives to me. He loves me enough!! We don't always do so great at loving others as we love ourselves. For that matter, we don't always do so great at loving ourselves. I have come to a place where I understand that if I accept whatever it is people are capable of offering, I am not disappointed.
Live well. I want to live out the purpose God has given me. I became a mom in 1998 and again in 1999 and suddenly my purpose was formed. I was to be a mom, above all else. The choices that I make in my life matter because I have two children watching. I don't get it all right all of the time. But my desire is to teach them what Micah 6:8 says about living. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I am the model and teacher to these lives before me. I want to give the example to my daughter how to be a Godly woman (to the best of my ability) and to my son what matters in choosing a good woman with whom to share his life. It's about my character and spiritual compass. Opportunities come up all the time. For example: how we respond to people who are rude to us; how we react when we don't get our way; what do we do when we are lied to. Do I live my life to get all the latest "stuff" or do I live to give of myself and serve others? Do I harbor resentment and bitterness or do I practice forgiveness and mercy? Do I teach my children that every good and perfect gift comes from above or do I show them a "me me me" attitude?
Laugh uncontrollably. This one is much easier for me. Laughter is the best medicine, after all. Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach hurts? That you literally became sick? Have you ever laughed so hard you cried or snorted even? Perhaps you've lost bladder control even? What makes you laugh? I mean, really.. what makes you actually laugh from your gut. One of my favorite things that makes me crack up is the laughter of a baby. Sometimes I actually will YouTube babies laughing just for a "pick me up". Have you ever made someone laugh that hard? I don't know if it's better to tell the story that makes people laugh uncontrollably or to be the recipient in such a time. Oh the stories I could tell here!! EACH would be deserving of their own blog alone! I play(ed) euchre with a group of some of the best girls I have ever known! It really wasn't about cards, for us cards was a means to the end. Jonda, one of those girls, on a number of occasions has laughed so hard she had tears flowing down her red face and could barely catch her breath would go home with stomach pains and cramps from laughing all night long. THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER!!! My ex-husband (perhaps one reason he is the ex in fact) once told me that he didn't think I was funny. That was probably the WORST thing I could have ever heard him say. And I thought what is the matter with him? I am VERY funny!! On a number of occasions I have been known to say "I crack myself up." I try to teach my kids to laugh at themselves too. It's so much easier if you don't take life too seriously all the time and learn to appreciate the moment. Sometimes that means being the first to laugh at ourselves. Seriously, funny is funny!
Love unconditionally. This kind of love really is only possible through the source of Love, Himself. Luke 6 tells us "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." The gospel of Matthew tells us the greatest commandment of them all is to
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” To be really honest I have found it the easiest to love this way where my kids are concerned. I love them unconditionally. There really isn't anything they could ever do to lose my love for them. That means I love them enough to discipline them with guidance and structure and even punish them when they go astray. That's the example God gives to me. He loves me enough!! We don't always do so great at loving others as we love ourselves. For that matter, we don't always do so great at loving ourselves. I have come to a place where I understand that if I accept whatever it is people are capable of offering, I am not disappointed.
I love my God, family, friends and life. I have room for improvement on loving my enemies, I will admit. I love God's creations in nature. I love a beautiful sunset and the view of the vast ocean. I love to star gaze, especially over a moonlit lake. I love the smell of fragrant flowers and the scent of a baby's head. I love hearing a baby laugh and kids playing. I love fireworks on a July 4th celebration. I love to watch people in any social setting. I love spending time with my family. I love getting lost in a great book and falling in love with its characters. I love football, especially watching my son play. I love the feel of a cool breeze on a fall night around a campfire. I love a hot cup of tea and candles burning in the wintertime. I love being able to give a gift and know it made someone happy.
To each who read this I offer this blessing to you and yours that you may understand and be able to live out Live...Laugh... Love!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Gold and Silver
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold. Can you sing it? If you were in Brownies or Girl Scouts I am sure you know this by heart. Even if you haven't thought about it in years, it just came flooding back to your mind. Friends are like precious metal. They don't lose their value and they last forever. Even when we don't see each other for some time, when you are with a "golden friend" it's as though you have never been apart. Conversations are easy and hugs, tears and laughter are plentiful. I have been really blessed to have such friends in life.
It's true, life takes us in different directions. If you are blessed enough to have grown up in the same place and go to the same school all your childhood, give thanks. I was blessed with that stability. Because of that, I had the opportunity to develop some great friendships. One I will cherish forever is with Naomi. I've talked about her before. When we reunited at our 20 yr reunion, the embrace was so strong and the connection was as though we had never been apart. We laughed like we did years ago. The tears were many as we tried to convey to each other and our husbands just how much we meant to each other. We could have talked all night. In fact, when we literally closed the establishment down, very late into the night, we continued with text messaging as we were pulled off into opposite directions to go home. Time will go by again that we won't talk, we know that. But I guarantee because our friendship is real and rooted in years and strength, it won't be broken. Her value, like gold, has increased over time!
When I was five years old my Grandma took me and my older cousins to church camp in Vassar, Michigan. I have a lot of memories (most of which I will leave for another blog). I remember we initially stayed in the dorm, where across the hall was a family that consisted of a Mr and Mrs, two older daughters and a son. A boy who was my age! I remember one morning that boy, no doubt at his mom's insistence, knocked on our door and asked if I was ready to go to class. We walked to class together every day that week. We had no idea the gold that was being developed at that time.
Every year I had the BEST two weeks of summer at that camp. One week was kids camp WITHOUT parents and one week as family camp. As we got older, that kids camp turned into teen camp. I made some great friends some of whom I still know today. One particularly hot and humid year at teen camp in July of 1988 or 89, I was waiting in line for a shower after a long day outside. The girl, whom I didn't know,standing in front of me was talking about how hot she was. We engaged in small talk about the wait and the heat. The next thing I remember is her body went limp and she buckled falling backwards onto ME! She fell with her dead weight back onto an innocent victim I tell you, INNOCENT!! What did I do? Well I did what any normal unsuspecting teenage girl whose hands were full because she was waiting for a shower would do, I dropped her, of course. I dropped her and her head smacked the cement floor. I freaked out naturally, and high-tailed it right back to my room. Clearly, I didn't really need a shower that day. Later, I had heard her little sister say that she was taken to the hospital. I had no idea what happened to her that year. Fast forward to the next year.
Said "boy" from above and I, along with another girl were sitting on top of the merry-go-round on the playground. She and I didn't know each other but she knew the boy. We were talking and laughing and telling stories. Then suddenly the girl started to tell the story of how she was hurt the year before and missed some of camp. See hadn't eaten much that week, and most likely was dehydrated and it was hot. She was waiting in line for a shower when she ...wait for it...fainted. That's right.. she fainted!!! ON TOP of ME!!! I said, "Wait a minute, that was you?" Who knew (God knew) that when she passed out on me that year, gold was forming.
That girl was put in my life for so many reasons. Her friendship literally changed the direction of my life. She talked me into changing college plans and attending Indiana Wesleyan University and rooming with her. From the summer of 1990 through 1993 we were inseparable. Life moved us into different locations, but Lisa was and always will be precious gold to me.
God has such a funny way of weaving our lives together. When I was going through one of the most (hard to say which has been "the most") difficult times of my life. I had no idea who I was going to be able to turn to. Who knew that the rock and friend I would lean on for support and sanity was that "boy" whom I met when we were just five years old at that campground. Chad and I had grown up together with years of layers to our friendship, which was real and valuable beyond measure. I had been there for him in his time of need in the past and he immediately stepped up to the plate when I, in turn, needed him. So many people had tried to speculate and distort the nature of our friendship. But the reality was.. it always has been as pure as perfect gold. Some people can't fathom how a guy and a girl can be platonic friends. He and I have always been and always will be living proof that it is possible.
Gold and silver are elements that can not be created by man, but instead were created and formed in the earth by God alone... just as are these type of friendships. A Poet once said friendships are either for a Reason, Season or Lifetime. It's true. Every friendship whether meant to be a lifetime relationship or not, are meaningful. These friendships will always be like gold to me, precious, valuable, created by God and formed in my life for a Lifetime.
It's true, life takes us in different directions. If you are blessed enough to have grown up in the same place and go to the same school all your childhood, give thanks. I was blessed with that stability. Because of that, I had the opportunity to develop some great friendships. One I will cherish forever is with Naomi. I've talked about her before. When we reunited at our 20 yr reunion, the embrace was so strong and the connection was as though we had never been apart. We laughed like we did years ago. The tears were many as we tried to convey to each other and our husbands just how much we meant to each other. We could have talked all night. In fact, when we literally closed the establishment down, very late into the night, we continued with text messaging as we were pulled off into opposite directions to go home. Time will go by again that we won't talk, we know that. But I guarantee because our friendship is real and rooted in years and strength, it won't be broken. Her value, like gold, has increased over time!
When I was five years old my Grandma took me and my older cousins to church camp in Vassar, Michigan. I have a lot of memories (most of which I will leave for another blog). I remember we initially stayed in the dorm, where across the hall was a family that consisted of a Mr and Mrs, two older daughters and a son. A boy who was my age! I remember one morning that boy, no doubt at his mom's insistence, knocked on our door and asked if I was ready to go to class. We walked to class together every day that week. We had no idea the gold that was being developed at that time.
Every year I had the BEST two weeks of summer at that camp. One week was kids camp WITHOUT parents and one week as family camp. As we got older, that kids camp turned into teen camp. I made some great friends some of whom I still know today. One particularly hot and humid year at teen camp in July of 1988 or 89, I was waiting in line for a shower after a long day outside. The girl, whom I didn't know,standing in front of me was talking about how hot she was. We engaged in small talk about the wait and the heat. The next thing I remember is her body went limp and she buckled falling backwards onto ME! She fell with her dead weight back onto an innocent victim I tell you, INNOCENT!! What did I do? Well I did what any normal unsuspecting teenage girl whose hands were full because she was waiting for a shower would do, I dropped her, of course. I dropped her and her head smacked the cement floor. I freaked out naturally, and high-tailed it right back to my room. Clearly, I didn't really need a shower that day. Later, I had heard her little sister say that she was taken to the hospital. I had no idea what happened to her that year. Fast forward to the next year.
Said "boy" from above and I, along with another girl were sitting on top of the merry-go-round on the playground. She and I didn't know each other but she knew the boy. We were talking and laughing and telling stories. Then suddenly the girl started to tell the story of how she was hurt the year before and missed some of camp. See hadn't eaten much that week, and most likely was dehydrated and it was hot. She was waiting in line for a shower when she ...wait for it...fainted. That's right.. she fainted!!! ON TOP of ME!!! I said, "Wait a minute, that was you?" Who knew (God knew) that when she passed out on me that year, gold was forming.
That girl was put in my life for so many reasons. Her friendship literally changed the direction of my life. She talked me into changing college plans and attending Indiana Wesleyan University and rooming with her. From the summer of 1990 through 1993 we were inseparable. Life moved us into different locations, but Lisa was and always will be precious gold to me.
God has such a funny way of weaving our lives together. When I was going through one of the most (hard to say which has been "the most") difficult times of my life. I had no idea who I was going to be able to turn to. Who knew that the rock and friend I would lean on for support and sanity was that "boy" whom I met when we were just five years old at that campground. Chad and I had grown up together with years of layers to our friendship, which was real and valuable beyond measure. I had been there for him in his time of need in the past and he immediately stepped up to the plate when I, in turn, needed him. So many people had tried to speculate and distort the nature of our friendship. But the reality was.. it always has been as pure as perfect gold. Some people can't fathom how a guy and a girl can be platonic friends. He and I have always been and always will be living proof that it is possible.
Gold and silver are elements that can not be created by man, but instead were created and formed in the earth by God alone... just as are these type of friendships. A Poet once said friendships are either for a Reason, Season or Lifetime. It's true. Every friendship whether meant to be a lifetime relationship or not, are meaningful. These friendships will always be like gold to me, precious, valuable, created by God and formed in my life for a Lifetime.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Regrets
They say the dying man rarely commiserates about not having a perfect lawn, or bigger house, or spending more time at work. More likely a dying man is often heard saying he wishes he had spent more time with his family, or tried more things on his bucket list,or even showed up when it was important to do so. So why do we spend so much time making sure we have perfection in "things" in this life? Why is it so important to some people that they dress in the latest and greatest? Why do so many people spend their lives chasing the "American Dream" or keeping up with the Joneses or worst yet, trying to be the Joneses?
Why don't we spend our lives instead making memories that will last with our families? Why don't we focus more on helping people around us? Why don't we spend our money on things that actually matter in the bigger picture and in the eternal perspective?
Do you ever think back on events in your life and wish you had done it differently? Does that come with age or maybe just perspective change? Sometimes it's with the best of heart and intention at the time that we make the decisions we do. Sometimes because we just aren't capable of seeing the big picture, we don't choose wisely. Sometimes, often times, we are letting our emotions drive our decision making. We are angry so we react instead of choose. Perhaps we are grieving and can't see the situation clearly and react in sadness.
I can honestly say I don't have a lot of "regrets" in life. I hope to not have many more. I have a philosophy that I try to live by to guide my life. Basically I think we generally do the best we can with what we have at the time. And if I do the best I can with what I have at the time, then what I do experience or choose only makes me a stronger person. After all I am still living, therefore, it hasn't killed me :)
One regret I do have, and a lesson I learned and have come to appreciate and understand is regarding death and life. Funerals are never easy to attend. Depending on the circumstances of death, we usually struggle to say our good-byes. But it's a ritual of healing for us. Really it is. Funerals are a necessary part of the grieving process and that's why we go through this rather morbid ritual. It is necessary for us to have a moment to say our absolute final good-bye.
I grew up with my cousin, who was just one year older than me. Most of my life, outside of school, we did nearly everything we could together. When we were really young, our mothers (who are sisters), were very good friends. So we were at their home a lot. We used to ride bikes around the neighborhood or play games in the yard. We used to play "office" in the basement of our grandparents house and pick fruits and vegetables in their garden.
One time when he was about 12 years old he had a paper route. He made a little bit of money and it was like play time for us. Now, understand I am not telling this story because I am proud of what we did. We were stupid plain and simple. We thought it would be funny to get on a city bus and ride it to wherever it would take us. Mind you it was a Sunday afternoon in Flint, Mich. There are so many things wrong with this scenario, I won't even go into all that. haha So we got on the bus and rode and rode and rode. Until the bus driver said, "Final stop. Everyone off." What??? Are you kidding me? Where the heck are we? Yeah, see we hadn't thought through this plan at all. Like I said, it was Sunday. The buses stop at 5 p.m. We were now left to our own accord to figure it out. This, also mind you, was WAY BEFORE cell phones had been invented. Besides that who would we call? What would we tell them? I wasn't about to call my mom. She would kill me. He wasn't about to call his mom, besides she didn't have a car. I also won't get into how neither parent really even noticed we were actually gone all day. So we did what we figured we had to do. We started walking. How on earth we knew what direction in which to go is beyond me. I suppose we just went the opposite direction of the bus. We came to the highway and decided it would probably make a shorter trip home. So we followed the highway. Sometimes walking on the highway shoulder (I warned of our stupidity already) and sometimes on the high walls that lined the highway. Eventually we made it home, miraculously unharmed and unscathed. But oh the story it made for us to laugh at for years to come.
We took trips to Cedar Point together. We went to movies and roller skating together. I kept his secrets and he kept mine. He was the oldest grandkid and I was next in age. He was the best friend I could have ever had not just because of the fun we had but also he understood to a deep level, just how difficult it was being kids in our family. After high school he went into the Navy and was later discharged.
When I was in college, I received the most devastating news I could have ever received. See he had been sick and in the hospital for some time. I visited him but he was in a medically induced coma and it tore my heart out when I learned he wasn't expected to recover. The disease was taking over his body. He wasn't going to survive. He was going to die. He did die. I literally couldn't take it. I couldn't handle the thought that I would never see him smile again. I would never hear his voice again. We would never be able to hold another secret for each other again. He wouldn't know my children, who had not yet been born. I wasn't really prepared for his death. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I chose to not attend his funeral.
I couldn't stop crying and I certainly couldn't get out of bed. I had every excuse in the world why I couldn't go. But the truth was, I couldn't get up. I couldn't come to terms with his passing in time to get up, get dressed and travel back to Michigan to say that good-bye. So I let grief consume me and paralyze my life for that time. I did not go to the funeral to make that one last necessary good-bye possible.
It was a lesson I learned really the hard way. There are some choices that we make in this life that don't really matter. There are some we can't ever fix or take back. I am left with the biggest regret in my life. I have had to rely on the faith I have in a God of healing to really put my heart back together over the years. That faith and restoration power of the love of Jesus has been the only thing that has been able to comfort my broken heart and fix the mistake I made. As OK as that part of the story is, the lesson was still huge and definitely learned. Regret is an ugly thing to live with.
From there on out, I have attempted to look for the things that matter in life and choose them. I don't want to get to the end of my life with a list of things I wish I had done or taught my kids that is longer than the list I did accomplish with them. I don't want my kids to get to the end of their lives and say "I wish my mom would have bought me better clothes. or If only mom would have taught me how to treat people better..." I want to invest in the things for my children and my life that matter most, the things with an eternal perspective.
Why don't we spend our lives instead making memories that will last with our families? Why don't we focus more on helping people around us? Why don't we spend our money on things that actually matter in the bigger picture and in the eternal perspective?
Do you ever think back on events in your life and wish you had done it differently? Does that come with age or maybe just perspective change? Sometimes it's with the best of heart and intention at the time that we make the decisions we do. Sometimes because we just aren't capable of seeing the big picture, we don't choose wisely. Sometimes, often times, we are letting our emotions drive our decision making. We are angry so we react instead of choose. Perhaps we are grieving and can't see the situation clearly and react in sadness.
I can honestly say I don't have a lot of "regrets" in life. I hope to not have many more. I have a philosophy that I try to live by to guide my life. Basically I think we generally do the best we can with what we have at the time. And if I do the best I can with what I have at the time, then what I do experience or choose only makes me a stronger person. After all I am still living, therefore, it hasn't killed me :)
One regret I do have, and a lesson I learned and have come to appreciate and understand is regarding death and life. Funerals are never easy to attend. Depending on the circumstances of death, we usually struggle to say our good-byes. But it's a ritual of healing for us. Really it is. Funerals are a necessary part of the grieving process and that's why we go through this rather morbid ritual. It is necessary for us to have a moment to say our absolute final good-bye.
I grew up with my cousin, who was just one year older than me. Most of my life, outside of school, we did nearly everything we could together. When we were really young, our mothers (who are sisters), were very good friends. So we were at their home a lot. We used to ride bikes around the neighborhood or play games in the yard. We used to play "office" in the basement of our grandparents house and pick fruits and vegetables in their garden.
One time when he was about 12 years old he had a paper route. He made a little bit of money and it was like play time for us. Now, understand I am not telling this story because I am proud of what we did. We were stupid plain and simple. We thought it would be funny to get on a city bus and ride it to wherever it would take us. Mind you it was a Sunday afternoon in Flint, Mich. There are so many things wrong with this scenario, I won't even go into all that. haha So we got on the bus and rode and rode and rode. Until the bus driver said, "Final stop. Everyone off." What??? Are you kidding me? Where the heck are we? Yeah, see we hadn't thought through this plan at all. Like I said, it was Sunday. The buses stop at 5 p.m. We were now left to our own accord to figure it out. This, also mind you, was WAY BEFORE cell phones had been invented. Besides that who would we call? What would we tell them? I wasn't about to call my mom. She would kill me. He wasn't about to call his mom, besides she didn't have a car. I also won't get into how neither parent really even noticed we were actually gone all day. So we did what we figured we had to do. We started walking. How on earth we knew what direction in which to go is beyond me. I suppose we just went the opposite direction of the bus. We came to the highway and decided it would probably make a shorter trip home. So we followed the highway. Sometimes walking on the highway shoulder (I warned of our stupidity already) and sometimes on the high walls that lined the highway. Eventually we made it home, miraculously unharmed and unscathed. But oh the story it made for us to laugh at for years to come.
We took trips to Cedar Point together. We went to movies and roller skating together. I kept his secrets and he kept mine. He was the oldest grandkid and I was next in age. He was the best friend I could have ever had not just because of the fun we had but also he understood to a deep level, just how difficult it was being kids in our family. After high school he went into the Navy and was later discharged.
When I was in college, I received the most devastating news I could have ever received. See he had been sick and in the hospital for some time. I visited him but he was in a medically induced coma and it tore my heart out when I learned he wasn't expected to recover. The disease was taking over his body. He wasn't going to survive. He was going to die. He did die. I literally couldn't take it. I couldn't handle the thought that I would never see him smile again. I would never hear his voice again. We would never be able to hold another secret for each other again. He wouldn't know my children, who had not yet been born. I wasn't really prepared for his death. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I chose to not attend his funeral.
I couldn't stop crying and I certainly couldn't get out of bed. I had every excuse in the world why I couldn't go. But the truth was, I couldn't get up. I couldn't come to terms with his passing in time to get up, get dressed and travel back to Michigan to say that good-bye. So I let grief consume me and paralyze my life for that time. I did not go to the funeral to make that one last necessary good-bye possible.
It was a lesson I learned really the hard way. There are some choices that we make in this life that don't really matter. There are some we can't ever fix or take back. I am left with the biggest regret in my life. I have had to rely on the faith I have in a God of healing to really put my heart back together over the years. That faith and restoration power of the love of Jesus has been the only thing that has been able to comfort my broken heart and fix the mistake I made. As OK as that part of the story is, the lesson was still huge and definitely learned. Regret is an ugly thing to live with.
From there on out, I have attempted to look for the things that matter in life and choose them. I don't want to get to the end of my life with a list of things I wish I had done or taught my kids that is longer than the list I did accomplish with them. I don't want my kids to get to the end of their lives and say "I wish my mom would have bought me better clothes. or If only mom would have taught me how to treat people better..." I want to invest in the things for my children and my life that matter most, the things with an eternal perspective.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Reunions
I spent the last year, along with a former classmate and friend, planning and organizing our 20 year high school reunion. What fun!! I called many old classmates, sent letters, searched for people online and even talked to a few parents still living with the same telephone number as was on file from 20 yrs ago.
Twenty years is a crazy amount of time.. half our life, in essence. In that twenty years I have classmates who are all over the board, demographically speaking. We have sadly lost 12 classmates, starting with one while we were in middle school and going all the way through just a few months ago being the most recent. Some classmates are parents for the first time this last year, while others are already grandparents. Some are completing their PhD's while others have decided to go on to higher education for the first time. Some are reinventing themselves in new careers, while others literally are retiring from military service. We have classmates who are celebrating 10 plus years of sobriety, while others are beginning their journey. Some are getting married for the first time, others (myself included) are on their 2nd or 3rd marriage.
Regardless of where we are in life, we really have some common threads that run through all our lives. The major thread happens to be that we all shared the experience of the same high school at the same time. We celebrated the same basketball, and football team, the same homecoming queen, and the same spirit stick. We all recall when our school developed their first girls soccer team We remember the same teachers and their crazy antics. We recall the same wisdom imparted by faculty who put so much into each of our lives. We walked the same halls at the same time and rubbed shoulders with the same peers. Those experiences both positive and negative, helped define who we all became.
Families tend to be the same way. Very different people who, depending on the relationship, in essence came from a similar background. My family is no different. (Most of which I will leave for another blog) My father and step-mom, Grandma and Uncle live in Florida; while my sister and I live in Michigan. My one paternal side cousin lives in Ohio. We are a small family. That's really all there are of us. I suppose there are distant relatives of sorts, but in reality, when it comes to who we know.. that's it. Since my sister was raised with her mom and our dad for the first few years of her life, after her parents split, we didn't really have time together. And to be honest, she and I didn't see each other again until about six years or so ago. Then again, 2 years ago she and my dad surprised me on my wedding day. My cousin and I got together after almost 20 yrs, last year for the first time. My dad and I see each other at least once a year, and speak quite regularly. These experiences have contributed to who we all are as well. Needless to say, we could use some decent family time.
This Saturday we will get that chance. I have jokingly said, not sure how you can have a "REunion" without having first been "Unioned". Although my Grandma and Uncle will not be sharing this experience with us, this will be without a doubt one of the largest gathering of Newtons in probably 30 years. My dad hasn't had the experience of both his children, grand children and nephew (and family) being together.. EVER. So if all goes as planned... I am not sure Cedar Point is prepared to handle what is about to come their way! Ha!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Where were you?
Where were you when the world stopped turning? Alan Jackson put the perfect words together after 9/11 took place.
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
It was just an ordinary day for most people. Men and women were off to work. Students and teachers had already started their school day. Mothers were cradling their babies in their arms. Most people on the west coast hadn't even risen from their slumber to greet the day.
I was home with two small children. She was 3 and he was almost 2. We sat on my bed as we did most mornings and I watched TV as I got them ready for the day. She was in an early preschool program; he was still in diapers. It was a Tuesday and she wasn't scheduled for class that day. Good Morning America was on, as it was most mornings. My husband had left for work, like normal. GMA reported the incident as it was unfolding. Complete shock and disbelief paralyzed my body. Just after the first plane hit and the billowing cloud consumed that New York sky, my telephone rang. It was my neighbor and good friend, Debbie. "Tish are you watching?" I could barely speak.. "Yes, what the heck is going on? What in the world is happening?" She said they didn't know and they thought it might be a bomb. We sat in silence as we watched the reports together while on the phone. She watched NBC and I, ABC. The reports and speculations were swirling. Was it a bomb? Was it an accidental incident? Who could have done this? Why would anyone do this? Then before we even had confirmation, though much belief was behind a plane had flown into the 1st tower... nearly simultaneously we watched as the second plane crashed into the second tower. She gasped and I remember I could barely breathe. "Deb, did you see that? A plane just flew into a building. Is this live? Is this really happening?" I remember she had to get off the phone and call her husband who worked just across the street at the university.
It really was live and it really was happening. Right there before my eyes. As my kids played obliviously at the foot of my bed, as happy as they could be. I was watching the world as I knew, just stop.
I know I will never forget the images. You know them too. The firemen running in; people on the streets running out; bodies free falling from the buildings; smoke/ash clouds surging through the streets; injured bodies; the packed bridges full of people attempting to exit the city. I can only imagine.. actually I can barely imagine... the sounds, the smells the emotion of the moment.
The reports continued. We were barely grasping for air when the news breaks again to report yet another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. WHAT ON EARTH.. SERIOUSLY!?! What kinds of monsters could be behind this horrible plot to destroy America. Was anyone safe?
It wasn't finished.. A plane reportedly crashed in Pennsylvania. Was this one connected? Why did it just crash into a field? Will it ever end? Dear God, what on earth is going on??? Is anyone safe anywhere? New York, DC, Pennsylvania.. it's everywhere.
Tears were flowing from my face and I remember all I could do was pray. I don't remember the exact prayer, but I do know it was raw. I can honestly say I don't remember how the kids were cared for that day. I was glued to the television all day. The reports continued and I wasn't able to miss any of it.
I later learned that I knew someone who died in the WTC that day. We were in high school together. He was just a couple years older than me but I knew him. His name was Eric and he was too young, only 29. Eric was a football player in school and in college. He always had a smile on his face and was friendly to everyone. He never had a chance to meet his sister's (now) husband and their two children. He was the V.P of Alliance Consulting group, and proud of his WTC office. He didn't even get to turn 30 years old.
We all know the outcome now. We all know the answers to most of these questions that we all asked that day. We know the "who", the "what", the "why", and the "how". It's been ten years. The twin towers are gone, the New York skyline forever changed. The National September 11 Memorial (and Museum) is scheduled to be opened today, as a matter of fact. The Pentagon has been rebuilt. A memorial has been dedicated and is under construction now in PA.
My daughter is 13 and my son is now almost 12. They only know of this horrific day in their life based on the stories they are told and the reports given on TV. My son learned of some of it in school for the first time this year.
Yes, many of the questions have been answered. Much of life has been reconstructed. But this day in history is alive in the hearts of all of us who sat helpless, shocked and dismayed that Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The day the world stopped turning. We will NEVER forget. God bless!
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
It was just an ordinary day for most people. Men and women were off to work. Students and teachers had already started their school day. Mothers were cradling their babies in their arms. Most people on the west coast hadn't even risen from their slumber to greet the day.
I was home with two small children. She was 3 and he was almost 2. We sat on my bed as we did most mornings and I watched TV as I got them ready for the day. She was in an early preschool program; he was still in diapers. It was a Tuesday and she wasn't scheduled for class that day. Good Morning America was on, as it was most mornings. My husband had left for work, like normal. GMA reported the incident as it was unfolding. Complete shock and disbelief paralyzed my body. Just after the first plane hit and the billowing cloud consumed that New York sky, my telephone rang. It was my neighbor and good friend, Debbie. "Tish are you watching?" I could barely speak.. "Yes, what the heck is going on? What in the world is happening?" She said they didn't know and they thought it might be a bomb. We sat in silence as we watched the reports together while on the phone. She watched NBC and I, ABC. The reports and speculations were swirling. Was it a bomb? Was it an accidental incident? Who could have done this? Why would anyone do this? Then before we even had confirmation, though much belief was behind a plane had flown into the 1st tower... nearly simultaneously we watched as the second plane crashed into the second tower. She gasped and I remember I could barely breathe. "Deb, did you see that? A plane just flew into a building. Is this live? Is this really happening?" I remember she had to get off the phone and call her husband who worked just across the street at the university.
It really was live and it really was happening. Right there before my eyes. As my kids played obliviously at the foot of my bed, as happy as they could be. I was watching the world as I knew, just stop.
I know I will never forget the images. You know them too. The firemen running in; people on the streets running out; bodies free falling from the buildings; smoke/ash clouds surging through the streets; injured bodies; the packed bridges full of people attempting to exit the city. I can only imagine.. actually I can barely imagine... the sounds, the smells the emotion of the moment.
The reports continued. We were barely grasping for air when the news breaks again to report yet another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. WHAT ON EARTH.. SERIOUSLY!?! What kinds of monsters could be behind this horrible plot to destroy America. Was anyone safe?
It wasn't finished.. A plane reportedly crashed in Pennsylvania. Was this one connected? Why did it just crash into a field? Will it ever end? Dear God, what on earth is going on??? Is anyone safe anywhere? New York, DC, Pennsylvania.. it's everywhere.
Tears were flowing from my face and I remember all I could do was pray. I don't remember the exact prayer, but I do know it was raw. I can honestly say I don't remember how the kids were cared for that day. I was glued to the television all day. The reports continued and I wasn't able to miss any of it.
I later learned that I knew someone who died in the WTC that day. We were in high school together. He was just a couple years older than me but I knew him. His name was Eric and he was too young, only 29. Eric was a football player in school and in college. He always had a smile on his face and was friendly to everyone. He never had a chance to meet his sister's (now) husband and their two children. He was the V.P of Alliance Consulting group, and proud of his WTC office. He didn't even get to turn 30 years old.
We all know the outcome now. We all know the answers to most of these questions that we all asked that day. We know the "who", the "what", the "why", and the "how". It's been ten years. The twin towers are gone, the New York skyline forever changed. The National September 11 Memorial (and Museum) is scheduled to be opened today, as a matter of fact. The Pentagon has been rebuilt. A memorial has been dedicated and is under construction now in PA.
My daughter is 13 and my son is now almost 12. They only know of this horrific day in their life based on the stories they are told and the reports given on TV. My son learned of some of it in school for the first time this year.
Yes, many of the questions have been answered. Much of life has been reconstructed. But this day in history is alive in the hearts of all of us who sat helpless, shocked and dismayed that Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The day the world stopped turning. We will NEVER forget. God bless!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Heroes Continued
My thoughts yesterday just weren't complete when I think about heroes. It couldn't be complete at 1991 because 2001, the year the "World Stopped Turning" hadn't yet happened. "Hero" took on yet another layer of amazingly unexpected depth. Nobody would have imagined or dreamed that when they woke up on Sept. 11, 2011 the events of that day would change their world and their life forever. But it did. It changed us all. We are approaching the ten year anniversary of the day forever known as 9/11, in just 2 days as a matter of fact. We see 9/11 as more than a "day" but an "event". "When 9/11 HAPPENED..." It's slightly easier to express that way, instead of "when the terrorists hijacked several planes and destroyed the lives of innocent people." It's certainly implied whenever we see or hear "9/11".
They say heroes aren't made, they're born. That was never more evident than the heroes who came to be on that fateful day. Because I couldn't write some of these stories any better, I am borrowing from other sources. Mr. Rodriguez embodies the countless stories of every day common people who just went to work to do what they did without a thought that it might literally save lives of anyone around them.
William Rodriguez, is a native of Puerto Rico, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the State of New Jersey. On September 11, 2001, and for approximately nineteen years prior thereto, Rodriguez was employed as a maintenance worker at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York, New York. On 9/11, Rodriguez initially rescued fifteen (15)persons from the WTC, and as Rodriguez was the only person at the site with a master key to the north tower stairwells, he bravely led firefighters up the stairwell, unlocking doors as they ascended, thereby aiding in the successful evacuation of unknown hundreds of those who survived. Rodriguez, at great risk to his own life, re-entered the Towers three times after the first, North Tower impact at about 8:46 A.M., and is believed to be the last person to exit the North Tower alive, surviving the building's collapse by diving beneath a fire truck. After receiving medical attention at the WTC site for his injuries, Rodriguez spent the rest of 9/11 aiding as a volunteer in the rescue efforts, and at dawn the following morning, was back at Ground Zero continuing his heroic efforts.
~ Profile from ABC News
Other people that day caught a flight expecting it to deliver them to a specific destination. Instead, were consumed with the realization that their destination was their forever destination. Every passenger who boarded Flight 93 faced that reality with a certain heroic response. If it weren't for those passengers, who knows how many more lives would have been lost.
Todd Beamer, who resided in Cranbury, New Jersey, was an account manager for the Oracle Corporation. He died at age 32 in the September 11, 2001 attacks on board United Airlines Flight 93. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Beamer, two sons, David and Drew, and a daughter, Morgan Kay, who was born on January 9, 2002 . nearly four months after her father's death.
Todd and other passengers had been in communication with people via in-plane and cell phones and learned that the World Trade Center had been attacked using hijacked airplanes. Beamer tried to place a credit card call through a phone located on the back of a plane seat but was routed to a customer-service representative instead, who passed him on to supervisor Lisa Jefferson. Beamer reported that one passenger was killed and, later, that a flight attendant had told him the pilot and co-pilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded. He was also on the phone when the plane made its turn in a southeasterly direction, a move that had him briefly panicking. Later, he told the operator that some of the plane's passengers were planning "jump on" the hijackers. According to Jefferson, Beamer's last audible words were "Are you guys ready? Let's roll." This term would later become the war cry for those fighting Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Though it was a widely-held belief that the passengers crashed the airliner in an attempt to save the lives of others on the ground, the 9/11 Commission's findings (based on the "black box" cockpit recording) were that the passengers on Flight 93 did not cause the plane to crash intentionally. They burst into the cockpit and fought with the terrorists over the controls for the plane.~United Heroes.com I would HIGHLY recommend everyone check out this website and read the biographies of each of those on Flight 93. Many of them were heroes in their own world before they met their fate that day.
It goes without saying, yet deserves to be said, that every single fireman, police officer, paramedic or soldier who RAN IN to the WTC or assisted outside, or took any step to care for others as they so bravely have since their training.. remain without a doubt amazing heroes. These men and women made a decision long before that what they wanted to do with their lives was invest in people because people matter. They were trained to do what they were called to do that very moment. And they did it. How can we say "Thank You" to anyone who bravely goes IN to the danger so that everyone else can escape with their lives barely intact.!? That any one would continue to serve in that capacity on a regular basis is mind blowing to me. I am forever grateful to these brave souls who serve and protect their communities.
The stories that are told are endless... 3,000 people lost their lives. At least that many heroes were "born" that day.. born out of necessity is probably most accurate. Nonetheless, nobody "made" them do what they did. They reacted with bravery, courage, and strength.
They say heroes aren't made, they're born. That was never more evident than the heroes who came to be on that fateful day. Because I couldn't write some of these stories any better, I am borrowing from other sources. Mr. Rodriguez embodies the countless stories of every day common people who just went to work to do what they did without a thought that it might literally save lives of anyone around them.
William Rodriguez, is a native of Puerto Rico, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the State of New Jersey. On September 11, 2001, and for approximately nineteen years prior thereto, Rodriguez was employed as a maintenance worker at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York, New York. On 9/11, Rodriguez initially rescued fifteen (15)persons from the WTC, and as Rodriguez was the only person at the site with a master key to the north tower stairwells, he bravely led firefighters up the stairwell, unlocking doors as they ascended, thereby aiding in the successful evacuation of unknown hundreds of those who survived. Rodriguez, at great risk to his own life, re-entered the Towers three times after the first, North Tower impact at about 8:46 A.M., and is believed to be the last person to exit the North Tower alive, surviving the building's collapse by diving beneath a fire truck. After receiving medical attention at the WTC site for his injuries, Rodriguez spent the rest of 9/11 aiding as a volunteer in the rescue efforts, and at dawn the following morning, was back at Ground Zero continuing his heroic efforts.
~ Profile from ABC News
Other people that day caught a flight expecting it to deliver them to a specific destination. Instead, were consumed with the realization that their destination was their forever destination. Every passenger who boarded Flight 93 faced that reality with a certain heroic response. If it weren't for those passengers, who knows how many more lives would have been lost.
Todd Beamer, who resided in Cranbury, New Jersey, was an account manager for the Oracle Corporation. He died at age 32 in the September 11, 2001 attacks on board United Airlines Flight 93. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Beamer, two sons, David and Drew, and a daughter, Morgan Kay, who was born on January 9, 2002 . nearly four months after her father's death.
Todd and other passengers had been in communication with people via in-plane and cell phones and learned that the World Trade Center had been attacked using hijacked airplanes. Beamer tried to place a credit card call through a phone located on the back of a plane seat but was routed to a customer-service representative instead, who passed him on to supervisor Lisa Jefferson. Beamer reported that one passenger was killed and, later, that a flight attendant had told him the pilot and co-pilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded. He was also on the phone when the plane made its turn in a southeasterly direction, a move that had him briefly panicking. Later, he told the operator that some of the plane's passengers were planning "jump on" the hijackers. According to Jefferson, Beamer's last audible words were "Are you guys ready? Let's roll." This term would later become the war cry for those fighting Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Though it was a widely-held belief that the passengers crashed the airliner in an attempt to save the lives of others on the ground, the 9/11 Commission's findings (based on the "black box" cockpit recording) were that the passengers on Flight 93 did not cause the plane to crash intentionally. They burst into the cockpit and fought with the terrorists over the controls for the plane.~United Heroes.com I would HIGHLY recommend everyone check out this website and read the biographies of each of those on Flight 93. Many of them were heroes in their own world before they met their fate that day.
It goes without saying, yet deserves to be said, that every single fireman, police officer, paramedic or soldier who RAN IN to the WTC or assisted outside, or took any step to care for others as they so bravely have since their training.. remain without a doubt amazing heroes. These men and women made a decision long before that what they wanted to do with their lives was invest in people because people matter. They were trained to do what they were called to do that very moment. And they did it. How can we say "Thank You" to anyone who bravely goes IN to the danger so that everyone else can escape with their lives barely intact.!? That any one would continue to serve in that capacity on a regular basis is mind blowing to me. I am forever grateful to these brave souls who serve and protect their communities.
The stories that are told are endless... 3,000 people lost their lives. At least that many heroes were "born" that day.. born out of necessity is probably most accurate. Nonetheless, nobody "made" them do what they did. They reacted with bravery, courage, and strength.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wind Beneath My Wings
You remember the song. Bette Midler's voice just makes this song. Though I love it and definitely have some heroes, I was never the one in the sunshine or spotlight getting all the glory. But I do recognize along the way in life that there are just some people who really depict qualities that I have wanted to emulate. The dictionary says that a hero is "one who is of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble quality". I am better for knowing these people. I am who I am because these people have made a difference in my life. It's entirely likely that they don't even know they are in a category of "hero" in my mind and heart.
Divorced women in the nineteen fifties were virtually unheard of and most certainly not taken care of in society. She had a difficult road ahead of her raising 3 children in an abusive home in the first place. Then when my Grandma decided that she could and needed to take care of her children on her own without the abusive man in her life, damage was already done. She got an education; she valued that! She worked the jobs she needed to in order to care for her family and even worked in the church to whatever capacity she was able. She was a talented woman. She had a voice that most people would pay for. She could hit notes so high it would make you shake. And strong, her voice was so incredibly strong. She played the organ. She loved to serve the Lord with music. She served the Lord in missions, too. It wasn't enough for her to support those who served, but she actually packed up her life and went to live in Australia and serve in whatever capacity she could there. In fact, before her unexpected death, she was talking about returning to the field in the Dominican Republic, in her 70's. She had a huge heart and a great sense of humor. She had to in order to survive. She never looked at me like I was a step kid. She accepted me into her family as though I was one of them. She brought me to church regularly. She bought me my first Bible. I cherish that Bible and think of her every time I read it. She took me to summer camp every year since I was a kindergartner. She invested in me and in my future. She taught me lessons in forgiveness, faith, acceptance and hope. She was strong! She really gave all of her grand kids that legacy. We all inevitably chose our own path, but we all learned a lot from her. The story of her death is really best left to another blog. Today I chose to honor her memory of what she taught me in life. She was not perfect, as no hero ever is, but she was a hero to me. She was courageous, strong, brave, and honorably noble.
It was my Sr in High School, 1991. I was planning for the next step in life, my college career. The excitement was high and "senioritis" had definitely set in for all of us. Our hopes and dreams were coming to fruition. We were ready to take on our independence. Like most teenagers, the current events didn't really matter in our world, unless of course it was a trend setting pop culture event. But then The Gulf War broke out. Now it doesn't matter to me where you stand politically on the issue, it rocked our world at the time. I remember the amazing power of the American Spirit that swept across the young generation of our nation, especially. A day didn't go by that someone in our school wasn't wearing "These Colors Don't Run" T-Shirts and sweatshirts. In fact, if I remember correctly, our student body sold them. This united us in the same way other wars defined previous generations. We were now old enough to fight if they should reinstate the draft. It all of a sudden mattered to us. That's when new type of hero took shape in my mind. Our soldiers. These men and women weren't just people from a history book anymore. They weren't the veterans of another generation. They were my classmates who willingly put themselves on the front line to go in to battle for our country. My life long friend, neighbor and classmate Todd graduated from HS and went into service. He volunteered his life to stand and protect my freedoms. Arthur was another one.. put himself on the list and stoop up and said "I'll go!" Heather, she was another one at some point who said, "Count me in for service." Tom stood up and said, "Where do I sign-up?" Brian left the comforts of home to put himself on the line. Brent, Brent left what he knew to go serve his country. John served too. There were others who gave up the freedoms and protection and comfort of this safety net to put it all on the line and go into what was no longer a benign quiet military action, but instead an actual full combat active war zone. They willingly went in to serve when others ran out. They put on the colors and went in. They were brave, strong, courageous, and noble. I honor and respect them because they are heroes. They are my heroes.
"Did you ever know that your're my hero? You're everything I would like to be." ~ (Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler) I know I am able to fly high because these heroes did what they did. You are strong, courageous, brave, and I admire you all!!
Divorced women in the nineteen fifties were virtually unheard of and most certainly not taken care of in society. She had a difficult road ahead of her raising 3 children in an abusive home in the first place. Then when my Grandma decided that she could and needed to take care of her children on her own without the abusive man in her life, damage was already done. She got an education; she valued that! She worked the jobs she needed to in order to care for her family and even worked in the church to whatever capacity she was able. She was a talented woman. She had a voice that most people would pay for. She could hit notes so high it would make you shake. And strong, her voice was so incredibly strong. She played the organ. She loved to serve the Lord with music. She served the Lord in missions, too. It wasn't enough for her to support those who served, but she actually packed up her life and went to live in Australia and serve in whatever capacity she could there. In fact, before her unexpected death, she was talking about returning to the field in the Dominican Republic, in her 70's. She had a huge heart and a great sense of humor. She had to in order to survive. She never looked at me like I was a step kid. She accepted me into her family as though I was one of them. She brought me to church regularly. She bought me my first Bible. I cherish that Bible and think of her every time I read it. She took me to summer camp every year since I was a kindergartner. She invested in me and in my future. She taught me lessons in forgiveness, faith, acceptance and hope. She was strong! She really gave all of her grand kids that legacy. We all inevitably chose our own path, but we all learned a lot from her. The story of her death is really best left to another blog. Today I chose to honor her memory of what she taught me in life. She was not perfect, as no hero ever is, but she was a hero to me. She was courageous, strong, brave, and honorably noble.
It was my Sr in High School, 1991. I was planning for the next step in life, my college career. The excitement was high and "senioritis" had definitely set in for all of us. Our hopes and dreams were coming to fruition. We were ready to take on our independence. Like most teenagers, the current events didn't really matter in our world, unless of course it was a trend setting pop culture event. But then The Gulf War broke out. Now it doesn't matter to me where you stand politically on the issue, it rocked our world at the time. I remember the amazing power of the American Spirit that swept across the young generation of our nation, especially. A day didn't go by that someone in our school wasn't wearing "These Colors Don't Run" T-Shirts and sweatshirts. In fact, if I remember correctly, our student body sold them. This united us in the same way other wars defined previous generations. We were now old enough to fight if they should reinstate the draft. It all of a sudden mattered to us. That's when new type of hero took shape in my mind. Our soldiers. These men and women weren't just people from a history book anymore. They weren't the veterans of another generation. They were my classmates who willingly put themselves on the front line to go in to battle for our country. My life long friend, neighbor and classmate Todd graduated from HS and went into service. He volunteered his life to stand and protect my freedoms. Arthur was another one.. put himself on the list and stoop up and said "I'll go!" Heather, she was another one at some point who said, "Count me in for service." Tom stood up and said, "Where do I sign-up?" Brian left the comforts of home to put himself on the line. Brent, Brent left what he knew to go serve his country. John served too. There were others who gave up the freedoms and protection and comfort of this safety net to put it all on the line and go into what was no longer a benign quiet military action, but instead an actual full combat active war zone. They willingly went in to serve when others ran out. They put on the colors and went in. They were brave, strong, courageous, and noble. I honor and respect them because they are heroes. They are my heroes.
"Did you ever know that your're my hero? You're everything I would like to be." ~ (Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler) I know I am able to fly high because these heroes did what they did. You are strong, courageous, brave, and I admire you all!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name....
Isn't that true? Sometimes we just want to be where we are known. Where we feel safe. Where we can just be free to be who we are. Doesn't really matter how old...or young... we are we all just want to be known for who we are. Sometimes we wanna go where everybody knows our name.
When I was a kid I had a place like that. When I was a kid "home" wasn't very easy. Home didn't always feel very safe. I was a step kid for one, and I never really felt like I belonged in the very confusing home in which I grew up. Home provided the basic needs, sure, and for which I am very grateful. But home didn't feel "right" to me. But school.. school was good. At school I was able to escape the difficulty whether in a class with my peers who didn't care what my home was like or in a book that had no judgement against me at all. I could play on the playground with Shad, and Naomi, and life was good. In class, I could read a book about anything that would take me away. At school I wasn't the step kid or the odd one out. At school I was just another kid in class. But everyone knew my name. I wasn't the most popular kid but I was also never picked on or teased. There was one time when a younger boy made a nasty comment about the shape of my nose. My nose of all things. He said it looked like a pig nose. It stung a bit and for a long time I didn't like my nose because of it. But what I realized since then, that kid, whose name I don't recall for the life of me, actually called me by name when he made the rude comment. ha
When I was a teenager things changed a little. Home was still not easy. School time was starting to really be defined by who you were and who your friends were. I had some great friends. Of course we didn't really know at the time that developmental needs of teenagers is primarily about belonging and fitting in. But what I was learning was that even though I had friends at school, and home wasn't great, I was a child of a King. I belonged to God. He took me in and I found myself apart of a bigger family. Youth group started to become a place where I truly belonged. While other friends were discovering drugs and other unhealthy choices, I was learning those things really weren't necessary in my life. In fact, I was having the time of my life with kids who didn't really have time for all that nonsense. We met regularly each week. But then many activities were planned for us to enjoy along with traditional youth group meetings. We did things like bike trips, Cedar Point trips, all-nighters, lock-ins, pizza parties, bon-fires, movie and game nights, camps and retreats. We had fundraisers like car washes and sold Christmas trees to help pay for these things. What I realized is that they did a lot of things to help keep us busy and give us a place to belong. Our youth group had a name. R.O.C.K. It was a place that I could belong. It was a place where everybody knew my name. That mattered to me. It mattered that I mattered!
As an adult, that place for me was the town I lived in for 18 yrs. prior to moving to my current location. I stayed in the town in which I went to college, Marion, Indiana. It's not exactly a "small town" but by no means is a metropolis. It was funny though because of one reason or another, no matter where I went, I would run into someone that I knew. Wal-Mart was the place to be most weekend nights. We used to joke about the fact that we could pass a plate and have church most times you were there because there was never a shortage in those in attendance from any given congregation. At any restaurant, I would always see people I knew. My co-workers would tease me because they would say I knew everyone in town, it seemed. It's not hard when you went to college at the university in town, attended church with about 350 other people (grown even bigger now), and worked in various schools/agencies within the community. I happened to have known a lot of people.
I am fairly new in town now. Getting to know people isn't as easy as it once was. I attend a church were people don't all live in the same community. My kids are older and need me a lot less in their school and social lives. It makes me incredibly happy when I am in the grocery store and run into someone I happen to know. It's starting to feel less and less of being in a sea of strangers. But sometimes I still want to go where everybody knows my name.
When I was a kid I had a place like that. When I was a kid "home" wasn't very easy. Home didn't always feel very safe. I was a step kid for one, and I never really felt like I belonged in the very confusing home in which I grew up. Home provided the basic needs, sure, and for which I am very grateful. But home didn't feel "right" to me. But school.. school was good. At school I was able to escape the difficulty whether in a class with my peers who didn't care what my home was like or in a book that had no judgement against me at all. I could play on the playground with Shad, and Naomi, and life was good. In class, I could read a book about anything that would take me away. At school I wasn't the step kid or the odd one out. At school I was just another kid in class. But everyone knew my name. I wasn't the most popular kid but I was also never picked on or teased. There was one time when a younger boy made a nasty comment about the shape of my nose. My nose of all things. He said it looked like a pig nose. It stung a bit and for a long time I didn't like my nose because of it. But what I realized since then, that kid, whose name I don't recall for the life of me, actually called me by name when he made the rude comment. ha
When I was a teenager things changed a little. Home was still not easy. School time was starting to really be defined by who you were and who your friends were. I had some great friends. Of course we didn't really know at the time that developmental needs of teenagers is primarily about belonging and fitting in. But what I was learning was that even though I had friends at school, and home wasn't great, I was a child of a King. I belonged to God. He took me in and I found myself apart of a bigger family. Youth group started to become a place where I truly belonged. While other friends were discovering drugs and other unhealthy choices, I was learning those things really weren't necessary in my life. In fact, I was having the time of my life with kids who didn't really have time for all that nonsense. We met regularly each week. But then many activities were planned for us to enjoy along with traditional youth group meetings. We did things like bike trips, Cedar Point trips, all-nighters, lock-ins, pizza parties, bon-fires, movie and game nights, camps and retreats. We had fundraisers like car washes and sold Christmas trees to help pay for these things. What I realized is that they did a lot of things to help keep us busy and give us a place to belong. Our youth group had a name. R.O.C.K. It was a place that I could belong. It was a place where everybody knew my name. That mattered to me. It mattered that I mattered!
As an adult, that place for me was the town I lived in for 18 yrs. prior to moving to my current location. I stayed in the town in which I went to college, Marion, Indiana. It's not exactly a "small town" but by no means is a metropolis. It was funny though because of one reason or another, no matter where I went, I would run into someone that I knew. Wal-Mart was the place to be most weekend nights. We used to joke about the fact that we could pass a plate and have church most times you were there because there was never a shortage in those in attendance from any given congregation. At any restaurant, I would always see people I knew. My co-workers would tease me because they would say I knew everyone in town, it seemed. It's not hard when you went to college at the university in town, attended church with about 350 other people (grown even bigger now), and worked in various schools/agencies within the community. I happened to have known a lot of people.
I am fairly new in town now. Getting to know people isn't as easy as it once was. I attend a church were people don't all live in the same community. My kids are older and need me a lot less in their school and social lives. It makes me incredibly happy when I am in the grocery store and run into someone I happen to know. It's starting to feel less and less of being in a sea of strangers. But sometimes I still want to go where everybody knows my name.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
First day ...
So today was the first day of school here in Michigan. For the first time, I have two kids in Jr. High. How is that even possible? Though I can't say that our bedtime routine went as planned, I can say that our morning went fairly smoothly, with a dose of comedy added even. These kids seriously make me laugh every single day. This morning was no exception. Even though last night my 8th grader asked me to wake her by turning off her fan and turning on her light, I knew this morning was going to be a different tone. As soon as I turned off the fan, I heard, "DO NOT turn on that light!" I couldn't help but snicker. Later, while taking the "every mother's first day of school snapshots for posterity and scrapbook purposes" photos, I hear her say, "Mom, why are you taking pictures?" To which I reply, "Every mother takes pictures of her children on the first day of school. Now smile." Then I hear what makes me laugh, "YES of their KINDERGARTNER!"
~ Ah yes, THIS is MY life!! And I love it!
~ Ah yes, THIS is MY life!! And I love it!
Monday, September 5, 2011
It's My Life
It's my life.. it's not perfect but it's mine. What I have come to realize is that it's much more normal than I ever imagined. I am married for the second time (to a really great guy), and relocated for such reason. I have two kids and a degree in elementary education, which comes in handy. I don't home school and I'm not the super mom extraordinaire. Kudos to those of you who manage to pull all that off. I have a strong faith and boldly profess my identity as a Christian. What that means is I am imperfect, broken and damaged, but thank God I don't have to be anything other than who I am. What I know is that I haven't figured "it" out yet, but the journey is entertaining and requires a lot of faith. Join me, will you?
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