Turning Pain To Joy

As I go through the boxes I've brought from home, I look forward to the day when the Pain of Memories Past turn into Memories of Joy Remembered.........

Though they are faded, tattered and blurred, they tug at the heartstrings and haunt the mind

but  

  someday......someday

They will bring the Peace and Joy of the Memories of a Lifetime

And the Journey Continues.............

Living In The Real World

Someone asked me this week if I Live In The Real World...........Hehehe........
I know, some people think I live in LaLa Land most of the time but I can say that the way life has thrown me against the wall over and over and over lately has given me a pretty good perspective of the Real World.

Living In The Real World consist of looking at the world as it really is.  There is a lot of good in our world but there is also a lot of things that are messed up.  We see the joy and the beauty around us through God's incredible creations, the change of the seasons, the smell of morning dew, the complexity of the human body and the harmony of Life.  We also see the pain, the hunger, the anger, the greed, the selfishness, the poverty, the wars, the distrust, the illness and the list goes on and on.

Living in the Real World means we understand that the world has its problems but we make a decisive choice to help change the world and make it a better place, one step, one action, one person at a time.  We learn from those Hard Knocks that Life has thrown our way and turn those bumps and bruises into smiles and laughter.

Those who live in the real world are the ones that are picking themselves up, dusting themselves off and starting all over again to make this world a better place.  Those people living in LaLa Land are the ones who live life for themselves, for their own greed, that feel the world revolves just for them without any consideration of others.  Sadly I've met too many of those people since I've moved to Nashville.

So do I live in the Real World? 
I would say yes......even though I have my moments where I get sidetracked, I think life has kept me in a pretty Real place.  Now that life is taking a new course for me, I find myself wanting to reach out even more to make a difference, through my music, through my writing, through just being me.  Will I slip into LaLa Land sometimes, probably, but I hope that what time I have left in this world.......is Real..........

Take A Little Time To Live

The work is done, the house is empty and all of the things to be done have finally been marked off the to do list.  The house that we called home for 46 years is now empty and waiting for the next family to come in and turn it from a house into Their Home.  I can say my emotions have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride as that part of the Journey has ended and the future looms ahead with open arms.

As I look back at the last few years and how it seemed that so much of my time and energy was not mine.  Interestingly enough as I say that, I realize that all of our time is our own and how we choose to deal with the circumstances that come our way is up to us.  I know life throws it's punches at times and it can be overwhelming, bringing with it the frustration, depression and hopelessness that can really zap our energy completely......yep....speaking from experience.

In the world we live in, it seems like our lives have become filled with so much activity, family affairs, drama, and sometimes just stuff that doesn't amount to a hill of beans. We've forgotten what it's like to stop and smell the roses, sit under a tree and watch a beautiful sunset and just Take A Little Time To Live.   And yep....I'm just as guilty. 

Driving into town this morning I looked up into the sky and saw one long, dark, gloomy cloud surrounded by beautiful blue skies on both sides.  It's presence was almost forewarning as if to show a darkness or change was coming our way.  It seemed to symbolize how life can be going so well and then out of know where things can change completely.  The life that we've been living, running to and fro, ending each day exhausted and wandering what it was all for can be changed in a second and never be the same again.

Maybe it's time to really take stock in what we do each day, focus on the important parts and weed out the junk and yes.......Take A Little Time To Live.....
We only have one life to call our own.  Make a decisive decision to make some changes and Remember to Live, Love and Laugh Often and Never Forget To Dance......

and the Journey Continues............

Things To Remember

In times of struggle, Scriptures come to some to give them peace and assurance.
For me.....it's always been a song

"Everyday Is A Victory"

Every day is a victory, everyday is a victory,
Everyday is a victory when you put it in the hands of the Lord.

Everyday is a song of joy, everyday is as song of joy,
Everyday is a song of joy when you put it in the hands of the Lord.

"The Joy of the Lord"

The joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength,
The joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength.

"Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God"

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu Alleluia.

"Praise The Lord"

When you're up against a struggle
That shatters all your dreams
And your hope has been cruelly crushed
By Satan's manifesting scheme
And you feel the urge within you
To submit to earthly fears
Don't let the faith you're standing in, seem to disappear

(Chorus)

Praise the Lord
He can work with those who praise Him ,
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise,
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise him

and the List Goes On and On as Does the Journey.......

Word

If you were asked to come up with one Word that describes you and your life.......

What Would It Be?

So Much

A small tragedy hit our household tonight as one of our new kittens was accidentally crushed.  We thought he would go quickly but as I checked on him several times tonight he was still fighting, still struggling to breath, to kick....to be ok.  As I caressed his body I caught myself saying....it's ok....it's ok....just relax....it's ok.
That brought back a recent and real memory of the last couple of days I spent with my Mom.  As she struggled to breath, cried out in pain, fought the fight as long as she could I caught myself  caressing her hand and saying....it's ok...it's ok...just relax....it's ok.

Since I returned from my last trip to Texas I haven't been able to write here and wasn't quite sure why.  It hit me tonight that I was still in caretaker mode, I was still trying to make things better, I was still trying to comfort.  With So Much that has happened the last couple of months I realized I still haven't let go.  We were so busy packing things up and getting ready for the estate sale, we didn't have much time to grieve, to say goodbye to the belongings, the memories.....So Much.  We worked and worked to get it done.  Where most people have the privilege of taking their time going through their parents belongings, we had to work fast and furious to get it done and had to keep the emotions and grieving in check....So Much.

A friend of mine ask me what I was going to do with myself when it was all finished, when things were finally taken care of.  I thought....maybe get back to normal whatever that is....back to living my life....but it seems that's still a long time off, but it's getting closer.  Sadly there are a few more bumps in the road.  Even with So Much to deal with.....some still want to cause more frustration.....out of greed and guilt with no knowledge, concern or care as to what a struggle the last few years have been.  They always seem to show up at the doorstep when they think there is something in it for them but never.....Never...lent a helping hand, a kind word or monetary support.....but I guess that's another story in itself and I'm digressing.

Back to my kitten.  A beautiful life, whether animal or human can change in an instant.  So many are reaching out for that love, that feeling of self worth, that knowing that someone cares.  For some of us it may seem easy to reach out and be the caretaker, the one that says.....it's ok....relax....it's ok.  For others it may seem easy to turn away, let someone else take the responsibility.  I guess we all have our place in this world, our gifts and demons to deal with.  So many times we build up stone walls around our heart to deal with the pain so we can be the caretaker.  Other times we build up stone walls so we don't have to take the responsibility, to feel the guilt.

One of my college friends that I recently reconnected with on facebook said your pictures are great but you don't smile much.......Hmmmmmm......and he's right.

So I'm looking to my passion, my music, my photography and my writing here to help me get through the pain, the bumps ahead and by the Grace and Strength of God I know there will be light at the end of this tunnel and my Journey will see brighter days ahead.

Breath of Heaven

As the struggles continue my way, I have to take a little time to sit back and listen to this original version of "Breath of Heaven" by Chris Eaton.
Listen to the words as I have so often lately and let them Heal the Soul and Fill the Heart With Hope...................