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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

Shirley

About Shirley

https://lightlovehope.com

Shirley is the proud mother of two beautiful young ladies. She enjoys spending time with them on their ranch in the deep South with their three paint horses. Always looking for an adventure, she looks forward to hikes in the mountains chasing waterfalls, or scouring the coast for beautiful lighthouses! Shirley writes to encourage others and often times shares things that motivate and inspire her. She believes in living life to the fullest because no one is promised the gift of another day. Join her as we honor our bodies, minds, hearts, souls, and our Almighty Creator, God above!

Posts by Shirley :

The Absent Father

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He hasn’t been around for the past few years.  Since she turned 16, they “allowed” her to choose if she wanted to come visit.  After how she was treated and forced to endure the harassment from her step mom in her tender years as a child, she chose NOT to visit.  Others in divorce situations were not forced to go visit if they did not want to do so.  They could decide as early as their parents would let them, but in most cases when they reached 13 years old, they could refuse to go.  Not in my daughter’s case, though.  Her step mom demanded that she visit and then said that by law she HAD to come until she was 18 years old.   Yet every time she went, her step mom would say ugly things to her, often harping on her clothes and telling her how they were not good enough.  Then the step mom would start in on my daughter’s makeup, and it became the norm for her to be called a “slut” or “whore” due to how my daughter wore her makeup.  She preferred eyeliner, while, obviously, the step mom did not.  The comments were uncalled for and extremely hurtful.  Makeup, nor clothes, make one a “slut” or “whore.”   The step mom would often shame my daughter as well.  She picked at my daughter about having a tummy, to the point that my daughter would not eat.  I did not want her to become anorexic, and I tried to talk to my daughter to undo the damage that her step mom continually did to her by the comments that she made.  My daughter has NEVER been fat, not one single day in her life.

We celebrated with my daughter the day she was no longer being forced to endure this torture from her step mom.  We danced around the house and were so thankful that it was all over.  She had freedom every other weekend now and several weeks during the summer and at Christmas.   She did not have to go to their house where she would stay in her room the entire time to try to avoid the harsh remarks and ill treatment from her step mom.  Then they labeled her anti social.  That simply was not ever the case.  She just chose not to be around, out in the open, for her to become a target yet again.

This whole thing has been so heartbreaking to sit back and watch all of these years knowing that I could not do anything about it.  By court order, she was to go visit her father.  Under normal circumstances, I would never ever have a problem with her going to visit her father.  But knowing what she faced each and every time she went at the hands of her step mom … we all dreaded when the time would come for her to go.  She would cry the entire time to his house (one hour), begging us not to “make” her go.  It wasn’t us, though.  Our hands were tied.  I tried to talk to her father before about the treatment she was receiving at the hands of the step mom when he was not around, but of course, he defended his wife.  The majority of the time when she was there, he was working so he was not around to see or hear the remarks made.

When they finally realized she hated it there, they gave her an out.  Thank GOD!  If only it had come a few years earlier, though, so she would not have had to endure all that she did …

She had mixed emotions at first.  Thankful that she finally had a say, yet disappointed that he’d rather turn her room into his office instead of have her there.  It’s hard to deal with emotions like this.  She feels torn as she loved when she could visit with him – just him and her brother – yet her step mom did everything to keep them apart when he wasn’t working and everything in her power to make my daughter’s visit miserable.  Each … and … every … time!  She was not allowed time alone with her dad to bond either.  That is what her little girl heart wanted and needed most, though.  She would even get up super early in the mornings to go with her dad to the construction sites JUST to spend time with him.  Then her step mom would make remarks about that or just flat our refuse to let her go with her dad.

I am a “Daddy’s Girl.”  I always have been.  It is heartbreaking for me to sit back and see that my daughter craves the attention from her dad, yet he gives none.  I have tried to encourage their relationship all of these years.  I tried to get him to call her, but he wouldn’t.  Then I tried to ensure that my daughter called him.  He was the adult, though, so he should have put forth more effort.  I, the ex wife, should not have had the responsibility to ensure that they talked during the week between visits.  Finally, I stopped.  And no phone calls were made by either party.  I even called him before to ask if he’d take her out for ice cream, my treat, just so they could have some bonding time together.  That never happened to my knowledge.  My attempts to make him spend time alone with her doing father-daughter bonding failed.  So I stopped that, too.

He came to her graduation in May, but she stood in the hallway moments before the ceremony was to begin with tears in her eyes because she did not think he would show up.  I stood out there with her, encouraging her the entire time.  “Yes, honey, he will be here,” all while silently praying to God for Him to make sure that man walked through the door! Finally, he did.  He had his wife with him, though, and other family members that appeared standoffish. After the graduation, we invited him to the graduation party we were throwing for her.  He declined.  When we returned home after her party and she went to open his graduation present, she found cheap items from Dollar Tree along with a few framed pictures.  She was deeply hurt and saddened that they thought so little of her to give her … THAT … for her graduation.

A week later, we would discover that he rushed down to the Clerk of Court’s office to have the child support terminated.  Her graduation was May 22, and the court papers were signed May 26, 2015.  He wasted NO time in going to terminate it, yet he was ordered to pay the arrearages due to him not paying several times over the years to where a huge balance accumulated.  To date, he still has not paid the arrearages.  So, back to court we shall go.

In the mist of all of these months that have passed since her graduation, he has only tried to contact her once.  He left a “guilt” message on her voicemail saying something to the affect, “This is your daddy, I thought maybe you needed a reminder of who I was since I haven’t heard from you.”  She did not return his call.

She is angry and hurt all rolled into one.  The absent father is still causing her pain to this very day.

She found an article online and shared it on her Facebook page about how her father should have been the first man to love her, cherish her and treat her right.  It went on to say that he should have tried to have a relationship with her all of these years and how he should have made HER a priority in his life.  Her hurt and pain was apparent that evening through her Facebook post.  I wrote under it:

I love you more than you will ever know in this lifetime. And I promise to always do everything in my power to make sure you know how truly special you are. I know you miss your dad. I can’t be him, but I can cradle you in my love always. I can’t make up for when he should have been there. But I am here. I am your biggest fan, and I am so proud of the young lady you are. He is truly the one missing out. ((Hugs))

The next night when she was laying on her bed as I passed in the hallway to tell her good night … she stopped me in my tracks as she asked, “What is so wrong with me that my own father doesn’t want anything to do with me?”  I sat on the edge of the bed as I looked her in the eyes and said, “Honey, there is not a single thing wrong with YOU.  YOU, my dear, are NOT the problem!  You are smart, beautiful, and my pride and joy!  Your dad is the one with the problem, and he truly is the one missing out.”

We talked for a little while longer.  I can still see that she is hurting over not having her father in her life.  I want to make this all better and take it all away from her.  Yet, I know realistically that I cannot.  As hard as I tried for 18 years, I have come to the realization that I cannot make him be the father that she needs, wants, and deserves to have had all of these years.  I have stopped wasting my time and energy trying to encourage a relationship with a man that does not have his priorities right in his life.  Yes, you can work all your life, but on your death bed, are you going to say, “The one thing I regret is not working more …” ???  NO!  You will not!  The biggest regret he will have is not making his family a priority, not spending more time with his daughter and not telling her how much he loves her.  In my heart, I know he loves her.  I am not sure why he will not SHOW it and be there for her … but I realize that people are different in the ways that they love and in how they express their love.  I tried to tell him before his father’s passing in 1997 to SAY what he needed or wanted to say to his father so he would not have any regrets later.  Their family was not ones to say “I love you” or hug.  I tried to encourage him to TELL his father that he loved him.  To my knowledge, he did not.  He, instead, tried to remain as distant emotionally as possible, and now, years later, he does regret not telling his father what was in his heart.  I believe one day, he will have the same regret with not having the relationship he should have had with his daughter and not telling her and SHOWING her the love he has in his heart for her.

While her biological father has been absent the past several years, my husband stepped up years ago when we married and became the father that my daughter needed in her life.  While he was her “step” father, he has been more of a father to her than her biological father ever has.  We have never tried to replace her real father, but I am thankful that my daughter has had a father figure in her life for the past 17 years.  Together, we have tried to give my daughter all the love we can so she will know how truly special she is to us!

If you are a father reading this, MAKE TIME for your child!  You do not have to be the absent father any longer.  Go to your child if it is where you can, and TELL them how much they mean to you.  Start now with mending the relationship between you two, and vow to BE THERE from this point forward.  The children need you – regardless if they are infants or 60 years old. They need their fathers in the picture and in their lives!

Life Altering

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“Mama … “ a weak voice trailed off followed by deep sobs.

“Somebody hit me.” 

Instantly fear and panic filled my body.  My baby!!  MY BABY!!!!

“Oh my GOD … YOU or the vehicle?  Are you okay?  Where are you?” I questioned as the blood seemed to drain from my body.

“My car … I can’t … I can’t get out of the driver’s door.  I’m trapped.”

I grabbed my purse and out the door I went alerting my coworkers that my daughter was in a car accident.

Racing to the scene of the accident, a million thoughts assaulting my brain!  I can’t think. I can’t do anything but get to my daughter, and I can’t even do THAT fast enough!

And there it was.  On top of the hill, pushed to the other side of the intersection, was my daughter’s Jeep … with her still inside.  Unable to get out.

Police were in the intersection, I put my emergency flashers on and attempted to get my noodle legs out of the vehicle to go to her.  A hand in the air from across the intersection insisted that I stay where I was.  “But, that’s my BABY …” I pleaded!  He shot me a stern look and demanded that I stay where I was.  That was one of the hardest things in my LIFE to ever have to do was stay where I was knowing my daughter was still inside the vehicle!

The ambulance was on the scene at this point as well, and I said into the universe, “Oh my God … oh my God … it’s worse than I thought!”  as it felt as if my heart dropped completely out of my body.

They were able to help my daughter to safety, and the stern faced officer motioned for me to get inside my vehicle and follow them across the street.

Getting into my vehicle as fast as I could, feeling my hands trembling and my thoughts still being assaulted, I drove slowly through the intersection and what remained of my daughter’s car in pieces on the asphalt.

Reaching the grassy shoulder of the road, I bailed out of my vehicle so fast when I saw her standing there.

My daughter.

Alive.

Breathing.

And I embraced her like I have never embraced her before.  She was still crying, in shock, and my heart was eternally grateful that she was still with us.

Oh, Thank you GOD!!!

At the emergency room, it was determined that she had a mild concussion and contusions to her left shoulder and left hip.  The driver of the dark green colored Mustang failed to stop for the red light.  My daughter, who left the bank mere moments before to go to lunch, proceeded through the intersection once her light turned green … and the rest is what you read above.  The Mustang’s driver hit my daughter’s Jeep Grand Cherokee with such force to sling it like a rag doll across the intersection.  He hit square on the driver’s door, caving it in.

This event could have been a truly life altering event even more than it has been.  I thank GOD for sparing my daughter’s life!!!

This just goes to show you that you can be going about your day doing everything right and due to no fault of your own, your life could change forever.

My daughter is still having headaches and pains in her neck as a result from the accident.

Her Jeep … is a total loss.  We’re in negotiations with the Mustang driver’s insurance company to get reimbursed for our Jeep.  Although the driver’s door took the brunt of the force from the Mustang, the frame is bent, as is the pole inside the vehicle between the driver’s door and the back door.  The driver door would not open, and the back door is warped.  In the mist of this, though, is the good news that the steel bar inside the driver’s door prevented the Mustang from coming into the vehicle on my daughter.  That steel bar saved her life!

In a single moment, in the time it takes to blink, simply BLINK … our lives could have been altered forever.

I thank God for my daughter, for her safety, for His hand of protection over her.

It is disheartening, though, that friends … those that considered themselves family … have not even called to check up on her after learning of her accident.   Alas, God will heal our hearts from that as well.

Appreciate those that you have in your life.  Hold them close to your heart, and never EVER take them for granted.

No one is guaranteed another day on this earth, another minute, another second … only God knows the amount of time we have.

I have asked both of my daughters if their hearts are right with God.  I have stressed the importance because we just never know when our time is up here on earth.  They have assured me that they are saved.  I pray that they are.

And I thank God for more time with my daughter.

 

 

 

 

My Grandma’s Bible

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The book with the worn cover sat beside her favorite overstuffed rocking recliner in the living room.  Picking it up, she would run her long fingers over the curled edges, then flip it open to reveal vibrant colors of yellow and pink along with cursive writing along the sides.  I’m referring to my grandma’s bible.

After my grandmother’s death two years ago, this bible was given to my dad.  It took him a while to be able to open it to read what my grandmother had written.  When he felt strong enough, he ran his long fingers over the same cover, just as my grandma used to do, before he opened.  He paused to gather his composure as he saw her “chicken scratch writing” as she used to describe it.  Tucked inside were slips of paper in the form of notes that her grandchildren had written when they were little.  One such note was written by me as a child.

As my dad carefully turned the pages of his mother’s bible, he found notes along the sides and in the back that she had written about her family.  Some were even prayers about her family, pleading with God for His hand of protection and safety over us all.

My grandmother probably never realized the greatest gift she was leaving behind for her family; the gift of her thoughts as she pondered God’s word and highlighted her favorite verses that spoke to her through the years.  Now she continues to speak to us through the words she wrote in her bible.

Long before there was even a notion of creating a journaling bible, my grandma created her own.  Now that this generation has realized the value of such, they’ve created a place for your notes and thoughts in the form of a journaling bible!

Having just received my very own journaling bible, I’d like to share with you how impressed I was and still am with it!
Journaling Bible FB ad
The bible came in a protective case. Once I carefully slid the bible out of the case, I couldn’t help but run my hand over the cover as it felt almost like suede.  It does not have the traditional bible cover.  Instead, it looks just like a fancy journal.  I opened it and carefully turned the cream colored pages to find two inch margins to write thoughts and prayers of my own!  My thoughts immediately turned to my grandma and how she would have LOVED to have a bible like this!

Is there someone in your life that would appreciate a journaling bible?  Or, would you like one yourself?  If so, please be sure to enter our giveaway below!

 

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A special thank you to Fly-By Productions/Propeller for the opportunity to review this journaling bible.

Faith of Our Fathers

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Recently, we settled in for the night with hibachi takeout, popped in the DVD Faith of Our Fathers, and sat back for an enjoyable family night together with our 11 year old daughter.  One thing I especially love about these types of movies is that they are Christian movies.  You do not have to worry about the content or if anything will be inappropriate for little eyes to see or hear.

This particular story line began with John Paul and Wayne searching for answers to questions they had for years about the fathers they never knew.  Sadly, both of their fathers died 25 years before in the jungle of Vietnam.

As the plot thickens, the two young men decide to embark on a journey together to the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC.  Along the way, John Paul and Wayne learn about who their fathers really were and what they believed in.  They were afforded this opportunity by reading letters their fathers had written years earlier.  They became to understand that their fathers both struggled, just as they did.  Thankfully, the fathers turned to God for help.  A very interesting fact John Paul learned is that his dad wanted to be a preacher.  In fact, John Paul actually lead Wayne’s dad to Christ before they both died while serving the Lord and their great country.

Toward the end of the trip, the story unfolds into the young men unexpectedly meeting both their father’s platoon leader who served with them in the war.  The story line will keep you on the edge of your seat as you travel along with them on this journey!

We encourage you to see this movie.  In fact, here is your chance to enter our giveaway below for your very own copy of Faith of Our Fathers!   Be sure to enter, and best of luck to you!

A special thank you to Fly By Productions/Propeller for the opportunity to review this DVD.  I was given a copy of the DVD; however, it did not influence my review.  The opinions expressed here are our own.

~Dusty, Shirley’s husband.

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Mountain Days

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My family and I traveled to Barnardsville, North Carolina the weekend of October 23-25, 2015. We were very impressed with this historic 1900s cabin which has now been modernized to include a bathroom!

Pisgah

The owners, Ann & Jay, were wonderful! They were very accommodating and helpful during our stay. One of our horses is an escape artist and got out of the paddock the first night, which gave us a heart attack when I was laying in bed and looked out the window to find she was missing. Thankfully, though, she didn’t go far and was actually beside the cabin when I flung the cabin door open to look for her! Whew! She also escaped another time to visit two neighbor geldings in the next paddock. She stretched the fence, which we felt badly about and offered to help fix, but Ann did not seem upset at all. She fixed the fence in no time flat!  The reason behind her escape adventures was due to someone turning the electric fence off in the barn.  This was quickly remedied, and our horse remained in the paddock throughout the remainder of our trip!Pisgah1

 

Our first ride there was actually just up the road and toward Ann’s house. The view is breathtakingly beautiful, and we appreciate that Ann allowed us to ride to her house to use the round pen. It was rather steep so our mares took several resting breaks, but it was so worth it when we reached the top!

Pisgah2

Saturday we explored Pisgah National Forest’s Big Ivy. We walked our horses from the cabin right into the forest where we rode for hours near creeks and around the mountains!

This was my daughter’s first time in the mountains with her Pinto pony. She was nervous and excited all rolled into one! They both did a great job crossing the creeks with ease, though. Several times our horses stopped right in the middle to drink the cool mountain water from the creeks. I’m sure it was quite refreshing after traveling many miles up, down, and around the mountains.

Creek Crossing In Pisgah
On our last day there while traveling up the mountain, we encountered a portion of the trail that was rather steep and narrow. We hated to turn around because we were so close to the very top of the mountain, but safety won so back down the mountain we went. We didn’t feel so bad when two other equestrians attempted it behind us yet turned around for safety’s sake as well.

The view was breathtaking with splashes of vibrant reds, yellows, oranges, and greens on the horizon. We timed it just right for the changing of the leaves this Fall in the mountains!

Pisgah3

We had a great time during our mountain days and highly recommend this mountain getaway! While we’ve ridden in Dupont before, we fell in love with Pisgah!

 

Halloween Adventure

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Wow, what an absolutely beautiful Halloween weekend!  We stayed at the Saddle Pad just outside of Camelot Farms in St. Helena, SC, with our 11 year old daughter.

The cottage was warm and welcoming.  We loved the horse bedding as well as the entire horse theme they had in the cottage.

They had nice sized paddocks for the horses, and we really loved that they were right next to the cottage where we could check up on the horses.  It was really nice having them that close.  We could literally look out the living room window and see them.

This is the first time our daughter has taken her Pinto pony to the beach, and she had the BEST time!  We enjoyed having the opportunity to walk to the semi private beach any time we wanted on our horses.  Thursday night we timed it just right as the sun was setting on the way back!

beach3

Friday we rode to the beach again where we had a fun time trotting and loping our horses!  We had lunch on the beach as well and enjoyed the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore.  Shortly thereafter, we took the trails around Camelot Farms.  That evening, we went into Beaufort for a haunted carriage ride put on by CAPA.  They were dressed in costumes as ghost stories for the Beaufort area were told, and on the streets different characters would startle us as they told their version of the story or appeared at just the right time during our tour.  This was the BEST ghost tour we’ve ever been on, and we’ve been on several in the Charleston area.

beach

Saturday we took the dirt roads that lead to the plantation house that was used in Forest Gump!  We enjoyed the moss covered trees and had a really nice ride together.  The weather was perfect hovering around 70.  The people we encountered along the way were friendly and respectful to us on our horses, too, which is always nice.

While we were there, we visited the Old Sheldon Church Ruins as well as The Chapel of Ease.  That was a really cool backdrop for our Halloween pictures, too!  Chapel of Ease

We took our daughter trick-or-treating at the Hunting Island State park also, which she loved!  She was a hit with all of the little children as she was dressed as Mal from the Disney “Descendants” movie.

Mal costume

We had three beautifully amazing days on horseback!  We loved that we could vacation as a family and take our horses with us!   We had all of the accommodations from home with good quality time spent together as a family and on horseback!

We highly recommend this horse lover’s vacation!  While we enjoyed the beach access while staying at the cottage, Hunting Island allows horses on their beach December 1 – February 1 as well.  We took our horses last year and recommend it to anyone that has ever wanted to ride their horses on the beach!

Thank you for allowing us to share our Halloween Adventure with you!

Almost Through

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As our Write 31 Day Challenge comes to a close, we’re reminded, too, that the year is almost through!

Where, oh where, has the time gone?

In September, many agonized over what topic they could possibly talk about for 31 days straight.  Others opted to take the easy route with prompt words, just as we did here.  While the words made you think, you still had the hard task of getting those thoughts out of your head and into a post that made sense and sounded decent before hitting the “publish” button.  A great many others were super excited to participate in this for the very first time.  Our “first” was last year, and while it seems like a lot of pressure, it is worth it!  You’ve accepted the challenge, and as you fulfill the task, you feel a sense of accomplishment when you’re written every single day for those 31 days!  For me, I’ll admit that this year I had help!  I am thankful and very much appreciative for the help Greg has provided in writing when I was out of town several weekends.  He carried the blog, and my heart is grateful.  I did not want the vision and desire to die off when I did not have the ability to type my heart out … so he did, instead!

For all of you that completed the challenge, congratulations!!  YOU DID IT!!  And for those that fell off early on or maybe even late in the game, you gave it a shot, and you can try again next year if you desire.  The point in the whole thing is to get your creative juices flowing so that you’ll share your story, your heart, and your soul with the world.  What you have to say MATTERS!  Your story needs to be shared because some one out there needs to hear it.  They need your light, your love, and the hope that you’re offering through your words.

SHARE IT!

Long after these 31 days of October have come and gone, continue to share your story.  Continue to write.  You are leaving a mark on those in your path and in the world around you.  Yes, you CAN make a difference by what you write, and you ARE an encouragement to others struggling … your light helps to fill the darkness they may be feeling inside.

Share …

And share some more!

You have so much to offer!

Change-the-World

 

By The Sea

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This afternoon we will rush off to our favorite place; by the sea.

Laughter will fill the salty air as we stroll along the beach hand in hand.

As the waves crash in and lap at the shore, all of our cares and worries will fade away.  It is as if the rushing water comes toward us allowing us to release our burdens.  The sea foams, and our troubles are carried out into the ocean, calming and soothing our souls.

This time our four legged companions will accompany us on this journey.  We will gallop and play along the sandy shores with our magnificent horses.  My daughter will ride her black, brown, and white spotted Pinto pony as she smiles deep within her soul as she asks, “Can we do it again?”  And then we’ll gallop some more down the beach, inching our way toward the water.

We’ll take pictures … lots of pictures … and savor every single minute we are together.

With Halloween upon us, we’ll take pictures of the pirates by the sea; my husband and me.  My daughter will twirl around as Mal from Descendents with her bold purple hair and evil laughter as she skips down the beach.

Daylight savings time will be upon us Sunday.  We are not ready to lose an hour here on the East Coast.  That will mean darker days, less evening rides at home, and soon, the cold Winter winds will blow.  We will try hard not to think of that during our time by the sea.  This last weekend, we will enjoy the sandy shores until the sun is swallowed by the sea and the moon emerges to light up the night sky.

We will make more memories by the sea.

beach2

There Is Hope

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In the mist of the chaos and turmoil, there is hope.

When it seems as if all is lost and there is no where to turn, there is still hope.

If you’re wondering what the next step is and are unsure of what to do, call upon the name that gives hope.  Jesus Christ.

I’ve been in the mist of chaos and turmoil crying out in agony, feeling low and as if there was no hope at all.  I know the pain of feeling as if all is lost and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness all but consumes you.  Likewise, many times I’ve said that when I’m unsure, I will just be still … be still and know that He is God!

My hope is in and comes from the Lord.

May you find comfort in the below bible verses that speak of hope:

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,


Psalm 38:15

LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.


Psalm 71:5

For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,

my confidence since my youth.

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, …

Psalm 38:15

For in you, O LORD, do I hope: you will hear, O Lord my God.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Of Little Value

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You may feel as if what you contribute to the world is of little worth or of little value.  That’s where you’re wrong.  God woke you up this morning and granted you the gift of another day.  That lets me – and the world know – that you have a purpose.  Your work on earth is not through.

Maybe all you have to offer is a kind heart, a genuine smile, a sympathetic ear – then continue to offer those.  This world needs more of that.

Wealth is not measured by the amount of coins jingling in your pockets or the wallet lined with crisp green bills.  True wealth is when happiness has found its home in your heart, when you welcome friends and family with open arms and allow their love to surround you.

Maybe you feel like your only talent is drawing.  Then draw with all of your might.  Precisely.  With great determination.  With your mouth held just right and your pencil held loosely in your hand as you feather it across the page.

Perhaps you write poetry.  Then allow the words to flow from you so eloquently as you rhyme and woo the one who will read your beautifully descriptive poem.

If you have the gift of encouragement, share that with the world.  Lift someone up when they are feeling down and have fallen into depression.  Share your story, your testimony, so they can see that you are a survivor and surely they can be, too, if they just hold on a little longer.

Whatever you have to offer the world – give it your all.

You have worth and value.

You are enough!

You MATTER!

Your story deserves to be told!

Christmas Memories

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The weather has turned colder now in the South. I love this time of year as leaves are turning beautiful vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. Soon they will fall to the ground and be swept away by the Winter wind.

I bundled up for work thinking to myself, “I am not ready for this …” but soon after arriving at work and turning my little heater on in my office, I thought of how the cold weather would soon be ushering in the Christmas Spirit. People would be nicer, more friendly, warm and welcoming in your dealings with them.

Wanting that feeling right then and there, I did what any sane person would do in the middle of October. I put in my Christmas Memories CD by David Osborne and allowed the tunes to whisk me away to happier times.

Familiar tunes ringing in my ear took me back to when I sang in the choir at church. I always looked forward to the Christmas cantatas and bellowing out Joy To The World with great enthusiasm with the other choir members.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas always makes me think of service men and women that are not able to be with their families at Christmastime. They sacrifice for us so that we may have a peaceful Christmas with our loved ones.

White Christmas reminds me of 7th and 8th Grade Chorus in middle school when I had to sing duet with my classmate, Chris. Not only did I get to sing with him, but I also got to perform the sign language to it as well. This was my absolute favorite and something I will never, ever forget doing! A local radio station came to this performance, and I’ll never forget my excitement thinking that we would be heard on the radio!

There are so many wonderful Christmas songs that have memories rushing in as they began to play. A wide smile formed on my lips as I allowed myself to get swept up in the moment of Christmas Memories.

Mr. Osborne has done an excellent job and plays piano so beautifully. You will not be disappointed in this CD. This is one you can play to get in the Christmas spirit or play as you’re decorating the Christmas tree! It is so good that I would have it playing as background music as we gather with family around the table to eat the Christmas feast.

I can tell this CD will get a lot of use this holiday season and encourage you to give it a try as well. Allow it to sweep you away and usher in Christmas Memories of years past for you, too.

IF you would like your very own copy, enter our giveaway below!

 

A special “Thank you” to Family Christian for this beautiful CD for my collection. All opinions expressed are mine and not influenced in any way by the gift of this product.

As We Wave Goodbye

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She stands at the water’s edge looking off into the distance.  Thoughts rush in and whirl around inside of her brain.  She pauses to inhale deeply, letting all of the cares of the world escape as she exhales.

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The beach has long been a favorite of hers, even way back when she was just a toddler.  She’d run to the water’s edge just long enough for a wave to come crashing in.   Before the waves could lap at her little toes, she’d giggle and run on her tippy toes back to the safety that my arms provided.

It’s turning colder now.  Wind whips through her hair as she strolls along the sandy shore.  We call to her from a distance letting her know it is time to go.  She turns, not wanting to leave the one place she feels such peace within her soul.

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Lingering for a moment longer, she shoves both hands in her pockets to give one last look at the ocean as the waves continue to roll.

We are saddened that Summer has come to an end.  As we wave goodbye to swimsuit weather, pleasant moonlit strolls on the beach, building sand castles along the shore … we know that we’ll be back for more the first chance of warm weather.

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Just as the season’s change, we do as well.  We are forever changing and evolving.  God is not through with us yet.  He works on us daily perfecting us to be the child He would have us to be for His kingdom.  We change; we grow; we live. All for His honor and glory.

Whatever season you are in, make sure to pause to thank the good Lord for all of your many blessings in this life.

 

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