Heart-full

The past six days have been a 'whelming' experience for Michael, for me. I feel very humble, very encouraged and very grateful. A wonderful, close friend died last Friday and we spent three days with his Sara...his wife who is just as close...like a sister to me. Tears and more tears; I am shedding tears recalling Larry and the events of this past week.

So many said they hoped they would be as well thought of as Larry; I'm one of those and all of us were 'his best friend'. He was a multitude of things, rather like a 'man of all seasons' and successful in every aspect of life. He would say, "Oh no! Let's move on, okay?"

If you know me well, you know that I love encouraging others...I absolutely love that. Don't really know why; perhaps it's because I sort of felt lost moving so much when I was growing up. Perhaps it's because I always needed encouragement myself. I'm smiling because I've changed so very much since my 'prince' came along and took me on. He, the self-assured, focused and most handsome one has totally transformed me w/God's directions...into a most contented, totally happy child of God.

Sara will be lost without her Larry, just as I would be lost without my Michael.

Dear Father, please comfort Sara and strengthen her...hold her hand...she needs you. As for me, I thank you with every breath that I take for giving me such a gift as Michael to care for this short time on earth...and for him to care for me...I need him..we need each other. You have blest me so greatly; I thank you. Please bless our children in their marriages so that they may experience the joys M and I have had...how wonderful. In Your Son's Name, Amen.

Good Plan ~GPS

What a week this has been...lots of 'positioning' going on (in Massachusets, for instance). Shifting positions come and go very quickly, yes? And they are not limited to any particular area of one's life. As a child of His, I weigh my positions as carefully as I possibly can, but guess what? I'm not perfect...ha! I'm not even in the perfect neighborhood...comes to sticking my foot in the mouth? Like an echo.

Some stances bother me though. I wouldn't like to think I would never (that's a big word) change my thinking on anything. Especially if someone proved to me that my stance was errant. That's dangerous...like a concrete mind...all mixed up and already set. Hard nut to crack. Politics can be that way...religion can be that way...you name it and anything can be that way...set in concrete!

Best way for me is not to take someone's word on things but to go to the source myself and sort it out best I can. Granted, I'm not a college grad, not up in the professional world...you might ask "What are you then?" Okay, what I see myself as is a mature, logical, responsible person ~ a spirit-filled child of God. Like the apostle Paul, running the race to the finish line...I'm using that strategy...Paul's an excellent coach.

Responsibility is a biggie to me...who am I responsible to anyway? Well, #1 priority is God, my Father. My #2 would be to my shepherd's...that covers another category, my husband, since I'm married to a shepherd. Those priorities tend to be my security blanket...they do a top notch job of it. I respect them...God and my shepherd's...they have my best interest at heart. They're truly respected. I can't imagine thinking of them any other way...I realize there are those who don't feel the same...besides other things, that's sad.

Today, here's this person (that would be me)...plugged into God's Positioning System...talk about reliability? Wow, way to go!

Cruisin' with GPS

Isn't it great to be cruising along, watching God's beautiful scenery as you toodle down the road? Since M does almost 100% of our driving, I've the luxury of taking in the wonders along the route...he's not allowed to take his eyes off what's ahead. I enjoy it most when we're out of the cities...not crazy about all that buzz and rush...all the noisy clacking.

How often are we able to do that? Not enough, I think...life throws stuff at you all the time, no matter where you are in life...makes no difference unless one becomes a hermit. That's not advisable...for my mental health at least...don't know about you. Much too often I find myself stalled, sitting in the middle of a giant parking lot...aargh.

Noise, noise, noise! So much noise in my world and it's almost impossble to escape. Is doom and gloom, anger, name calling, getting even the order of the day? If I'm not very careful about my mindset...oh wow! Find myself in a dark corner, afraid to come out and 'face the lions'...hmm, something's wrong w/my thought process.

I know full well and I believe, of all people, I've no reason in the world for worry because I'm wrapped in protective gear. My gracious Father tells me all the time, "Don't fret about anything Vasca...believe that I'm your 24/7 safety net...trust me." I think His son was saying over and over again, "Don't be afraid, just believe...don't be afraid, just believe."

So here's my out...stuck in the middle of this giant parking lot I will be stress free and cruisin' on...hey, He's always there and 'right on time' ~ I call His program GPS.

Heart-full

I am a 24/7 happy girl...with a bright disposition. Oh, occasionally I get blind-sided by something; usually it's the result of something/someones' desire to seemingly stand in the way of spiritual development. Mind you, I'm no stellar example of a 'saint' but I'm doing my best to be pleasing to Father...if I can consistently do that then all's well. Almost, that is.

I greatly admire Mother Teresa and particularily this prayer of hers: "Sweetest Lord, make me apreciative of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness or impatience."

Wow, the way His Spirit moves us is awesome...and I'm amazed at the things he sends our way. God seems to think M and I will always step up and lead. M always has been a 'natural' leader while I, on the other hand, was 'snail-ish' but oh, how much I've grown...could also say, how much I groan, ha! Very recently, I've reached a point in spiritual maturity where I can handle the perils lying in wait for leaders.

Why? How? Mmm, that would be credited to my 2nd love, that would be Michael. This jewel is such a servant ~ he has mentored and raised me up...totally. God so blest me w/such a life-partner. Okay, so my heart races like a fire truck when unpleasantness or hurts zap us, but wonder of wonders I'm able to do like Mother Teresa's quote and believe me I greatly appreciate the faith Father has in me. I will remain warm, kind and patient...that's the way God likes me best. Today, my heart is full.

What's this? Up and dressed before bedtime?

Zounds...must be catching something. This morning I was up and dressed, even out the door to the gym...aargh. Ordinarily, I stay in PJ's all day...'cept a couple of days a week. Okay, here's the skinny. It's the second week of the new year and the good news is I haven't broken any resolutions (that's only because I haven't made any) but I have honest to goodness turned over a 'new leaf'. That term sends up all sorts of signs, 'cause I've only done that once in my life and I ended up in China...how in the world did that happen?

Long story...back to this current leaf...I found out something revealing 'bout myself...in the winter I am a 'disguise artiste' first class. Layers of clothes cover a multitude of sins...as in overeating on a regular basis, oops! Icing on the cake (now why do I associate everything with food) is that I don't exercise...period...nada. My sweetheart has been faithful for more months than I can track and he's got a very, very nice shape...now believe me, he is my inspiration. For what? Well, walking...(be nice to have a flat tummy, too) you know that move where you put one foot in front of the other and move along? I'm doin' it...at the gym, with him. Mind you, it's only 30 minutes per day...five days a week but hey, better than nothin', right?

Movin' on that treadmill and watchin' such a variety of humanity really puts lots of different thoughts in my mind...I really am a 'people watcher'...not to be critical but just to watch actions and reactions. Got to thinking about how I am around others who are not like me...thank God, I have impoved 100% in that area. That other leaf...the China leaf, changed my life...over there, I was the one 'people watched'...and touched.

I don't read a lot of books...not necessary since I have many books read to me by my favorite person...Michael. He loves to read to me and I love his doing it. Gosh, I can't tell you how many books we've read. Besides books, I love quotes. Guess you notice how much I love, huh? Something's been gnawing at me and today I read Terry Rush's blog where he wrote about pride and something it tends to do in the life of a church.

C. S. Lewis wrote "A proud man is always looking down on things and people, and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that is above you." Groups tend to get the idea that 'they' know what's best and right for everyone else...and tend to look down on those out of their 'circle'...what do you think about it? For some time, I've been working on my attitude and thankfully I am much more accepting of those who disagree with me...after all, who am I? Certainly I am not a judge...that's Gods' court and I don't mean to interfere.


Besides, if I'm looking down I can't see where I'm going and as spastic as I am, I'd be run over and squished...flatter than a pancake and then, where would I be? Covered with goop and swallowed up, that's where. So I'm not lookin' down on others; I'm lookin' up at beautiful things, those gifts that God has given me. A breath of fresh air and it's filling.

Lots of Rainbows

Can't see rainbows in the dark, can you? Maybe you've some of those weird night vision glasses but I don't have that technology...always behind. I have a few 'rainbow catchers' in my kitchen and I totally love it when the sun hits those things and rainbows splatter color everywhere...really brightens up my day and my life. 'Rainbows on my shoulder make me happy'...John Denver sang that soooo well and I miss him.

Talk about rainbows...a good friend put me onto the story of Patrick Henry Hughes...if you're not familiar w/this 'wonder guy' take a look at his fantastic story. M and I named our third son Patrick Henry ~ I'm giving him 'the story'...very inspirational. http://www.patrickhenryhughes.com

You know, no matter how big a 'pity party' I may have, all I need to do is look around and drink in all the awesome stuff that my Father does, all the time and guess what? HE isn't spastic like me, He's always...always...exactly perfect. It's Him that puts the rainbows, the beautiful lights...in my life...perfect. Oh, forgot to tell you, we had no water this morning...frozen...not to worry 'cause God and Michael took care of the situation! Oh Yeah.

Uh-Oh, Spaghetti-o!

That's what I've been singing for weeks now; can't imagine why I dug that up? I sort of sing around the house (mostly when alone is best)...I sing the national anthem and a variety of snippets. Believe me, I never wanted to be a singing sensation...frankly, never wanted to be a sensation, period.

If you've read much of Ewe's Muse, you know that I was a very shy girl, 'til M swept me off my feet and oh boy, did he ever change my life...big time. Hmmm, we both changed and thankfully for the better.

My life may be sort of like spahett, I think. Stick it in boiling water, dook it up, drain it and add a tasty sauce and it's soooo good. That's my life ~ not overdone, drained (ow,wow and then some) and now the sauce is added and voila...a different me than I would have expected. Wonder if my parents would recognize their first child? Hmmm!

When God shook me up (that was not pleasant) He did a good job; not a quick fix mind you, but an excellent renovation. Hang on and I'll let you in on the process!

For more than a year, I've written a companion column for my significant other; we've put that activity out to pasture. Aargh...after boo-hooing time I am fillin' up and movin' along w/a new blogsite. Freah computer, clean archives, what more could I ask for except...hmmm, companions would be cool. Idle fingers, idle mind? Not good, not good at all. Want to 'see' places, 'think' thoughts? Great...we're off to higher ground and lots of air; probably much of it 'hot' but hey, I'm down to earth and normal...hot air and all. Welcome to my world.