Answered Prayer

April 12, 2008 was one of the saddest days of my life. I had to put to sleep my best friend, my daughter, my baby girl, Tawny. I got her from the pound and we spent 20 wonderful years together. I miss her terribly.

I no longer cry every night but I do think of her every day. Sometimes when I am thinking of her my heart aches and I can't help but cry. The other night I was doing just that, crying and praying. I told God that I just wanted to kiss her and pet her again - I miss her so much. Last night He answered my prayers. I was dreaming an off the wall dream and all of the sudden I was sitting on my bed petting Tawny. It only lasted a minute before I returned to my dream, but what a wonderful minute. It was one of those dreams that was so real I could actually feel her fur. It was a moment where God said, I know you're hurting for her, let Me help you.

Last night my prayers were answered and I got to be with my baby girl and pet her one more time.

Everyone is an Artist

I hear the words "I can't even draw a stick figure" so often I could fill a piggy bank with pennies. Another one I hear is "I wish I had talent."
The thing is everyone is an artist. Everyone has talent. Everyone can do something beautifully, but too often they tell themselves they can't or they don't even try.
Decorating a cake, a blooming garden, decorating rooms, making holiday gift baskets, folding paper airplanes, making the best spaghetti in three counties, etc. These are all forms of art. It's all in how you look at it.
I am not a cook by any means, but I can crochet a gorgeous blanket, draw a life like picture, make jewelry and so on. Those are my talents, what are you good at?
You don't have to search far to find what your art form is. What do you love to do? That's it. Just ask that question and you will find your art form - because you love to do it, it will be wonderful.
So the next time you catch yourself saying, "I'm not creative" rethink that statement and think about what you love to do and change that statement to "I am good at..."

What Type of Example...?

The other day a friend of mine finished putting her groceries in her car and walked a few short feet away to place her cart in the cart return. As she was walking back a lady walked past her pushing her cart and said "You make me feel guilty" - the lady was going to leave her cart next to her car when she knew the right thing to do was put it in the return. Watching my friend reminded her of that.

Letting someone in traffic is a nice gesture and one that can spark others to do the same just from your example.

You see, someone is always watching. Watching to see if you pick up the piece of trash on the ground and throw it away, seeing if you'll hold the door open for them, or letting someone with one or two items cut in front of you in the check out line.

Children pay special attention to people, espcially loved ones. They not only wait to see what you're going to do, they listen to everything you say and then turn around and say or do the same - and sometimes they're not even your children!

Which brings us to an extremely important question - what type of role model do you want to be? What example do you want to set? I think it is very important that people be themselves, but most of us know the difference between right and wrong and doing what is right is a great feeling. Then watching someone else do what is right because of something you did is an even better feeling. There's a commercial that demonstrates this. The lady stops the guy from crossing the street when cars are coming and then they show the situations that led up to that action. It was all started by one person doing something right and helping someone out. Someone setting a good example.

I always try to think before taking action. I'll ask myself "what are the consequences" and "am I doing something I wouldn't care if anyone knew about" because someone is always watching and listening.

What type of example do I want to be? A positive one.

Paradise for a Dollar

It's a Tuesday night and the sun is starting to set. People are sitting around in their lawn chairs laughing and popping open cold drinks from their coolers. Children with painted faces and balloon animals run through the crowd. Behind us lay miles of powder white sand and deep blue water. The band greets the crowd. Everyone cheers.

This is what a typical Tuesday night is like on Pensacola Beach during the summer. You bring your lawn chair, cooler, friends and family and listen and dance to a free concert - "Bands on the Beach."

I went last Tuesday with a couple friends of mine. As we sat there enjoying the warm breeze we discussed just how lucky and blessed we are that we live in an area where you can pay a dollar toll and be in paradise. Palm trees line the streets, water is to your left and to your right, and there's always something to do. I get butterfly's in my stomach and excitement fills my body every time I get to watch a school of dolphins swim by.

People save all year long and pay hundreds and thousands of dollars every year to have what we have every day. Paradise for a dollar.

Can I Play in the Rain?

Every year around the 4th of July the Blue Angels perform an air show at Pensacola Beach. I am fortunate enough that if I walk to the end of my street (about an 8 minute walk) I can see the beach and watch the show.

It has been a rainy July this year but I decided I would take my chances and I walked down to watch them. I sat on the pier and patiently waited for the roar of the Blues to fly above my head. Looking up at the sky I noticed to my left it was blue but to my right it was black. I decided to wait a little longer.

As I was waiting a mother and her little boy, about 5 years old, passed me and sat on the end of the pier. Trying to entertain him, they dangled their feet over the murky water and watched the fish swim by. That didn't last. No longer able to sit still, the little blond haired boy ran past me with his mother fast on his heels. He made it to the edge of the water a few steps before his mom and with much enthusiam pointed out everything he saw in the water.

By this time the cloud had moved closer and everyone was pretty sure there would be no air show that day. As I was getting up to leave I heard the mother tell the little boy that it was going to rain and they had to leave.

His response "Can I play in the rain?"

I couldn't help but smile and be taken back to when I was that age. When I loved to play in the rain. It is such a simple request and an action that brings many children such joy. Playing in the rain, jumping in puddles, and opening your mouth to see if you can catch the rain drops.

When was the last time I took joy in something so simple? When was the last time I played in the rain?

I got my chance that day. It rained before I could get home and I was able to play in the rain.

The Journey Begins

Hi! I am very excited about starting my first blog! As this journey begins I will be sharing my experiences and trying to see things from different points of view. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I am going to enjoy writing it.