Just A Kid ~ To My Neighborhood Friend Wade ~ Remember When

Pine needles pricked my back, my face.
My hands were sticky from tree sap.
My toes tingled as I crouched down as far as I could.
I tried to steady my breathing so I could hear any approaching footsteps.
I blinked.
Darkness surrounded me.

Off in the distance I heard a faint warning.
"Ready or not, here I come!"

I smiled. He'd never find me.

Remember those days?
Summer nights under the stars,
we giggled and talked in loud whispers.
"No, not there. He'll find you!"
"Over here! Come on, hurry!"
"Shhhh."

I lived in a neighborhood filled with kids.
After we all had supper, we'd gather in my yard, or in the middle of the street (back then, there were only a few houses past where I lived, and the paved street ended at the last house, so hardly anyone drove down the street.)
We played kick the can, or hide-n-seek.
We'd start at dusk, then the street lights would go on.
There was something about playing at night under the street lights.
There was enough light to see, yet it was dark enough to imagine we were brave.
The nights were cool. It was great being a kid.
Not a care in the world.
Enjoying the moment.
Enjoying life.

The other night my husband and I watched "The Middle" on TV. The mom, Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton) tried to encourage her family to enjoy the things she enjoyed as a girl - she ran through the sprinkler to show them how fun it could be. Of course, they didn't get it. They rolled their eyes.
But, she had fun.
That episode brought back memories.
I thought about that neighborhood, and all the fun we had.
It was a long time ago.
But,
she reminded me of me.

I decided a long time ago, I just wasn't going to grow up.
Ok, wait a minute.
I know I'm an adult and have been for a long time now.
I've been a responsible parent, and citizen.
I'm even Grandma age.
But!
No matter our age,
we can still have fun.
We can enjoy the little things.
Yes, that's what I'm talking about.

There is still a kid in all of us.
Do we ever let him/her out?

I hope so.

Early in the morning when Griz and I take a walk, I look at the brand new day as it approaches.
Sometimes the sun is a bright red ball that bounces up in the sky before my eyes.
I want to clap and and jump up and down like a child at my Father's ability to know how to make me smile.

Sometimes I watch birds with wide wingspans soar as the breeze carries them effortlessly, high above the trees.
It takes my breath away, and I ooh and aaah.

I love those times when I'm alone with my dog and my Father....He takes me by the hand and leads me, his child, and shows me things I may miss during a busy day.


I'm a child at heart.
You are too....or you can be.
Sing a song (I do that, too - listening to Pandora on my iphone...I just sing along. So, if you're out and about early in the morning and it looks like I'm talking to myself....I'm probably singing to the Beach Boys, some other oldies songs, or Keith Green.)

Have some fun today.


How about you let me know what brought a smile, a memory, a giggle to your day?

A Rainbow of Hope~My Short Story

Today was not the best of days.
In fact, the past few weeks have been difficult.
Nothing major, just things.
I've shut myself away at times just to be alone with God.
Still, the clouds seemed to hover over.
Situations that hurt, and left me feeling discouraged, kept me on my knees
You know how it is...
Sometimes the sun is there, but it's hidden behind clouds.


I had entered a short story in a contest, about a month ago.
I'd check my emails everyday to see if I was in the contest.
Nothing.
The end of the first cut and voting ends the first of October.
I figured I hadn't made it, but kept checking.

Today, I checked.
Nothing.
I went online to the contest, figuring I would look at the list, and read some of the stories others had sent in.
I scrolled down page one, and went to page two.
Fourth story down was "A Love Like Ours."
It sounded familiar.
It was my story!

It may have seemed small, but it was a big thing to me.
A rainbow.
A blessing.
It made my day.

This is just the beginning!
Now I need your votes to continue in the contest.
Please go to the following link, read my story, "A Love Like Ours," and cast your vote for it.
 http://www.familyfiction.com/short-stories/create-romance-2012/page-2/

God knows when we need a rainbow in our days.
I am grateful.

Thank you for your support!

Sometimes You Just Have To Run

 

 

Run Forrest! Run!

Life can be a bully. Throwing knock-out punches, hitting us left and right.
We can stand and take the hits for so long.
Forrest Gump did.
He stood, trying to shield himself from bullies calling him names, pelting him with rocks.
But, when Jenny yelled, "Run Forrest. Run!"
He did.
He ran till the braces fell off his legs, and he kept on running.


Situations can be so overwhelming
we don't know what to do,
and we want to run, and run, and run. 
Run and hide.
Run and get away from it all.
Run and make it all go away.

But, we know we can't.
Like Forrest, we feel crippled with the braces of defeat, loss, or discouragement.

What to do?

I say do it!
RUN!
Run as fast as you can.

I have.
Ok, sometimes I haven't run right away.
Like Forrest - I've stood there, and tried to shield myself from the shock of sudden attack.
Then,
I hear a  small still voice saying, "Run! Run!"

So I do.
I may hobble at first.
It may be painful, and hard not to focus on the bullies who are after me.
But, I keep on going.
Eventually, the braces fall off. 
The  tormenters plaguing me fade farther, and farther away.
I run...
right into my Father's arms.
Abba, Daddy.

He's always there, ready to catch me in His arms.
He holds me in His secure love.


Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High,
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(2) I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.
(4)...He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge,
his faithfulness will be your shield and buckler..."

Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest."
              
Psalm 50:10 says, "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you..."

His Word is true.
                         
Abba Father. Almighty God.
He is enough.

Yes,
we can run to our Father anytime.
We will find rest, comfort, and peace beyond our understanding.
In His presence we will find strength, overcoming courage.

When the battle is on, it's ok to run and hide in him.
Go ahead.
Run.
Now.
Run into his arms.

 

9-11 We Said We'd Never Forget

Tuesday
September 11, 2001

We will never forget.

Today is
Tuesday
September 11.

I get goosebumps thinking about it.

Eleven years have passed since
the curtain of protection over our country was attacked.
Evil whipped it's destructive finger at us.
We were no longer secure in the United States.
Life as we knew it changed
forever.

Days following 9-11, when the air space was silent, I stood on our patio, looking up at Colorado's clear blue sky, a sight I usually enjoy.
That day it was eerie.
No planes, no jet stream.
Just a hush.

My thoughts:
Life will never be the same.
Never.
The innocence of living in safety are gone.
The world my children knew is gone.

A few months following 9-11 my daughter and I flew to Florida.
Security had changed immensely.
People wondered, weren't we afraid to fly?
No, but the events of September were fresh in our minds.
We weren't naive anymore.

That's it.
We aren't naive anymore.
None of us.

"We will never forget."
It's what we said.
"We won't back down."
"We will be strong."
"This evil will not threaten our nation, our world."
There was an urgency.
We needed to pray.
We needed the hope of a living God.

Here we are, eleven years later.
9-11 was significant to our future.
It's up to us...
We aren't naive.
We have a responsiblity.
There is still an urgency.

II Chronicles 7 :14 says, "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

There is hope for our nation.
There is time.
It is now.
We said we'd never forget.
We've heard the saying
time heals all wounds.
... If the wounds are treated effectively.
If not, they are left to fester.
They can become infected and can end up worse than they were initially.
The wounds in our land can be healed.
There is a God who cares.
He loves us.
He knows the plans He has for us and for our children.
Plans for a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
But we can't slumber.
We can't sit back and wait

9-11-2012
I stop and remember all those who lost their lives, those who gave their lives to save others.
I think of those whose loved ones whose remains were never found.
Those who are now single parents, raising little children.
Those who were in relationships, just married. Those looking forward to their futures.
I stop and remember those who survived, and who see Ground Zero every day.

Lord, help us not to forget.
Help us not to be complacent or deceived into a sense of false security.
Help us remember our true security is in You.
Every humble heart, every heartfelt prayer that is spoken reaches the heart of God.

Let us not forget.

As we pray, may we be encouraged.
The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Selah.