Picket Fences

I have friends who HATE facebook, they say it's depressing.  You know, scrolling through every one's lives.....their cute houses, their perfect children, their ideal marriage...their white picket fences.  I know some of my friends really have cute houses, great children and a great husband.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not underselling them, I know it's out there and you have to be grateful....but it seems there are some who seriously exaggerate.  I think some people make up these white picket fences...or they purposely leave out the parts of the fences that are broken.

What I always find interesting are those updates where everyone complains and spills their guts.  I always find it amusing and I know everyone is saying, "I can't believe she's putting this stuff all over facebook!".  You know the ones who yell about their ex-boyfriend, or complain about their job.  The weird thing is, those are the people who are REAL.  Truthfully, I am quite private myself.  I don't need for my daily goings on to pop up as gossip in the church circles or to attend a class/family reunion and have people ask me about how things are going with "your last status update."  Anyways, I think "I'm going on vacation" equals "come rob my house".

It is just necessary that we all have some type of fence to guard what is behind it.  What is your fence?  Is it really you I am reading about?  Not many will say..."I got in the biggest fight with my best friend yesterday and I've defriended her!".  (insert chuckle). 

Still thinking on my fence but I hope that you see what is real.....well, what I allow you to see anyways ;)

Whatcha Hidin' Under There?

Naomi likes to hoard the raw hides (we call them chewies).  I remember one day I was at my parents with Zeke and their labs Peyton and Daffy and each lab got to have a chewey.  They are so hyper when they are together but Nay often sneaks to a corner.  That day Nay noticed each lab was forgetful of their own and slowly she would go to each chewey and take them over to the living room to her own corner.  Next thing you know she had 4 full chewies.  This picture shows you all the cheweys she was probably hiding from Zeke, under the bed. 

So if you had a stash you could hide what would it be?  I think we all have things we "hide".  I have a few friends that I consider "unconditional".  I feel like I can tell them anything about myself, my faith, my feelings and they would love me no matter what.  That they would not judge me and that they would accept me wherever I may be.  These friends are the ones that I can call on no matter what is going on in my life.  These are the friends that I don't have to hide from.
I am glad that our God is unconditional.  Even if we want to hide something from Him, we cannot.  The most wonderful thing about God is that He is the One that truly does understand us.  Our actions and reactions, whether right or wrong.  He is ever compassionate towards us and cares for us as His children.  I am glad that God is unconditional and loving, that He wants to cradle me in the palm of His hand.

After the Rain

6/15/2010


It rained today. I couldn’t help but think how glad I am that it is raining. My flowers that I planted last week need this rain to survive. Every flower I have ever bought for the summer, has died within weeks and I am determined that this year it will last. This is the first year that I actually planted some in the ground so I think it might work (if I water it like I should).

I read today in “Streams in the Desert” by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman that instead of looking at the rain you need to look at the daffodils that will bloom in result of the rain. Instead of seeing the storm, see the blessings that have yet to come.

I am one of those that have a difficult time seeing the blooms yet to come. I believe our human hearts like to wallow in our pain. Have you ever seen a dog wallow? The first dog I ever saw a dog wallow was a weimeraner named Cole. Our neighbors in Tennessee had him. He loved to get out in the mud and just roll in it. I could hear his master, in her sweet southern accent yelling at him…”COLE, COLE, stop it!”

Our human hearts like to wallow in our own pain, to not look for the daffodils yet to come. I think it is just hard to see past tomorrow. To know what is yet to come. I often do not understand the ways of God and His doings, and it is then that I have to focus purely on Him, that He does have control. “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.” This verse is just as applicable to the Christian who lives their life like there is no God. To be in despair as if God is not in control. So often when things go wrong we wonder why God is doing this to us but we don’t wonder what God has yet to do for us. We are quick to blame but not quick to praise. Keep praying for the daffodils that are yet to come. Maybe your daffodil is just around the corner.

Words that Matter

(06/14/2010) Expressing yourself. I am not sure that words are always adequate but yet we use words to describe how we feel. My husband and I have an ongoing joke. Instead of saying “You look great” we’ll say things like “You look like a champion” we might say something like “you look like a gold medalist” or “you look like a Stanley Cup Winner”. A play on words I guess you would say.


Sometimes words are not enough. Sometimes we express ourselves through emotional outbursts….laughter, tears, screaming. Sometimes our emotions are so overwhelming that all we can do is be silent.

I often wonder what it is to get in the mind of my chocolate labs. The curiosity of Zeke and the maturity of Naomi would give such interesting life views. I know I would realize the importance of walking them, playing with them, feeding them, loving them. Though I cannot get in their minds, though they cannot express this to me with words, I still know what they need.

Words are used to communicate effectively to others what needs to be communicated. Some people are gifted with saying just the right thing at the right time, they write Hallmark Cards. Some people are able to couple the gift of speaking with the gift of compassion, offering to someone hurting, just the right thing to sooth the hurting heart. Then there are those whose “gift of gab” lays out a place of danger to themselves and to others. Not thinking before they speak, gossiping about others, repeating things that should not be repeated.

It is amazing how words can be used to sooth or to burn, to comfort or to hurt, to help or to cause grief. I remember in high school my English teacher always talked about “filler” words. Words used in a report just to fill the blank space. In Bible College, I remember pondering on “vain” words. Words that was empty and meaningless.

I have learned in my short life how important it is to watch your words, to choose carefully your conversation. With today’s technology of blogs and facebook updates, it is even more important as our lives are openly advertised to the world.

As I write this I remember words I regret, I also recall the words that have been repeated about me or my family; the hurt and the pains that have been caused by the unruly tongue. I also remember the words of comfort and encouragement that have been so often given to me in days that seemed dark. I am thankful for those who have chosen their words so carefully.

I hope that I can make my words matter…..James 3

Can You?

I am a "Survivor" fan.  I've recently been watching the "Heroes vs. Villians" series and am amazed at how comparable it is to real life. 

I remember the episode where a "Hero", Candice, turned "Villian".  She wanted immunity and so she traded sides.  She "back-stabbed" or "deceived" her Hero tribe to gain the possibility of "safety" by joining the Villians.

I remember when her hero teammate voted her off, Colby said "I can honestly say, I am proud of the way that I have played this game, can you?". 

So I think about life itself.  I have recently worked in an atmosphere that would be best described as "toxic".  I have learned that this atmosphere turns people to do things that is completely out of their character.  To change their principals, in order to "survive"....for each person "survival" means something different, but "survival" is important.

Today, I was rescued.  God rescued me from having to make decisions that are against the nature that He has born inside me.  I can honestly say, that I am PROUD of the way that I played the game.  I thank God that He found a way....He found an out for me.  He found a place for me to RISE ABOVE.  To no longer be contaminated by the ways of those that chose the path of the "villian".

Not only is my name at stake, but when my name is at stake, the Lord's name is at stake.  I have a long journey ahead...but I believe that God takes care of me.  That He will continue to bless the road I am journeying on.  So today, I praise Him. 

It is true....God let me see beyond the trees.  I don't just see him in the good, I see him in the difficult trying times.  You can never know true forgiveness, until you have sinned.  You can never know true grace, until you know trials.  You can never know you've been rescued.....until you find yourself drowning.  His ways are above our ways.

Comfort of a Lab

The comfort of a lab.  Anyone who has a lab, and lives with a lab, knows the comfort of a lab.  After a long day I crawl into bed to have my lab curl up next to me.  I know that Nay and Zeke are often comforted by our presence, but I wonder if they know how comforted I am by theirs?

As I am on my way home from work each day I think of the comforts at home.  I think of my husband and my labs waiting for me.  Greeting me with love and affection.  Unconditional love is priceless.

Wreaking Havoc

Zeke is my mail sorter.  At least he was when he first started living "outside" his crate.  Now he picks and chooses his "chew toys".  Chewed up my favorite "Clark" sandles the other day.  All I can do is sigh....what else do I expect?

I sit here as Naomi is walking circles around the hall ways.  We have two hallways that run parallel to each other.  One connects the dining room to the kitchen/living room/greatroom.  The other connects the living room/great room/kitchen to the front door.  She is circling...because the air pressure is changing.  Sometimes she switches directions and goes the other way.  She is "pacing".  (Zeke is chewing a bone in the corner..should take it away since he's on a diet)

Don't most of us pace when we're nervous?  I'm not sure why we do it.  I think sometimes we wreak havoc in our own lives with our pacing and worrying.  To "wreak", or "to inflict or execute".  Do we cause ourself our own worries sometimes? 

Naomi is quiet, she leaves very little "mess" in our home, but we are often spending time with her, comforting her, as she wreaks havoc upon herself over these storms.  Zeke, he demands attention for a different reason and that's because he wreaks havoc in our home.  I have to clean up the mess he leaves behind because he certainly can't.  (well, I don't want to leave it there for him to eat, and then poop it out later).

So I need the self-discipline to not wreak havoc upon myself.  To inflict myself with unecessary worry or fear.  To execute pain and hurt.  I know the Lord said to hold my peace and He will fight for me.  I wish I could see the battle raging and therefore the victory would be easier to see.  I know He has a plan, and he can see what happens in the end.  I wish He would show it to me. 

But patiently I wait....