I "heart" my church

Saint John the Apostle

United Methodist Church

 

A community of Grace, committed to making disciples.

 

 

I was born and raised in the Catholic church.  It wasn't until I was in my 40's though, that I discovered my true "Home".  I went to the Catholic church but not with love in my heart.  I attended catechism, and received all the sacraments.  Bob and I were married in the church and our children were baptised in the Catholic church.  I was attending the church but not really feeling fulfilled.   I was just going through the motions.

 When Brady was in Junior high school, she started attending SJA's youth group with a friend.  She really bonded with the kids and the church.  I thought it was just a phase.  She begged us to visit "Her" church but I was resistant.  Was going to church somewhere other than a Catholic church, really going to church??  I finally gave in to her pleas, and I realized that I had found my "Home."  We visited the church for six months and then as a Christmas surprise to my children, we joined SJA on Christmas Eve.   It was a very special evening.  We were now Methodists!  It was not easy to tell my mom I was changing religions.  She supported the change but not whole-heartily.  She will attend with us on occasion but I think she is secretly disappointed that we changed. 

I attend the 11:00 praise service almost every Sunday.  I feel so much peace when I attend.  I feel renewed and ready to face the up-coming week.   Pastor Marc helped our family through a very difficult time last year.  I will be forever grateful for his wisdom.

 

Thank you father for leading me to this wonderful church.  Thank you for helping my family and I to find the spirit we were missing.  I pray for your Grace to continue to cover us and guide us.

Too Young

Beautiful Taylor Helland, a member of our church, is struggling with colon cancer.  A very rare form of colon cancer.  Taylor is only 14 years old!!  The past year she has been through soooo much.  In the spring she went through a horrific procedure that seemed to get rid of the cancer.  The news came yesterday that it is back.  They are looking into options but have said, at this time, it is probably a quality of life vs quantity issue.  Her father ended his journal entry by saying "hug you children now!"  (and that is just what I did!)

How do you wrap you mind around this?  14 years old!  How do we come to terms with it?  14 years old!  Her whole life in front of her.  14 years old!

      Lord please cover Taylor and her family with your grace.  Please calm their fears and walk beside them during the very scary time.

Get Your Guns Up!! ~ TT Parent's weekend

My Girl!

     This past weekend was parents week at Tech.  I can't tell you how happy I was to put my arms around my 'baby girl'!  She's had a few struggles lately so I was glad that Bob, Brooks and I could be there to reassure her what was important - family! 
       On Friday, we took her shopping for a new dresser, saw her new place and visited with her and Preston.  Later that night, the four of us met Kevin and Kristin and had a great time catching up on each other's lives. 
     Saturday was the tailgate.  What a great time!  There was about 40 people there to visit,eat and cheer on the Red Raiders!!  I think everyone was so happy to be with their children.  ( Red Raiders won) 
     On Sunday we went to the breakfast buffet at Blue Mesa.  It was delicious.  The time was too short and I wish I could have more time to see Brady.  I'll hold on till Thanksgiving, unless, I can talk Bob into another game.

             Wreck 'Em Tech !!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Part of the tailgate group



Brady & Preston





Brady's new House

Bedroom

Let Go ~ Let God

One of the hardest things to deal with, as a mom, is to have a child that is hurting and is 5 hours away.  I just want to fly across the phone wires to her and give her a big hug.  It's hard being a young adult.  I remember those days when the littlest things seem all-consuming.

 There are some good things that come along with aging.  Right now I would have to say that is hindsight and self-awareness.  At 50, I have come to realize how short life is and how some things are so unimportant. 

How do you impart this wisdom to your  children?  My best advice to Brady today was - "Let Go ~ Let God"!  That seems so simple and mundane and on top of that, I am sure she won't understand this until she is older.    My faith right now leads me to believe:  "Trust in the Lord with all your might.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all ways, acknowledge him, and He will direct your path."

I am so glad that this weekend is "Parent's weekend" and I get to see my baby girl.  I hope the hug(s) I have to offer her will set her soul right!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord, Please look after my baby girl during my absence.  Keep her safe and shine your Grace upon her. 

The Song Remembers When

Hearing a special song can send one back to a special time and place.  That special time or someone magically appears from the recesses of your mind.  Sometimes a song will take you back to when you were 16,or perhaps to your wedding day or maybe even a funeral.  Here are a few songs that "take me back to when."

Tequila - The Champs- This was one of the songs I fell asleep to when my parents had friends over for a party.  1960's
Cracklin Rosie - Neil Diamond - Since I was a little girl, this is the song my dad and I have always danced to  - 1970
Kocomo - The Beach Boys - Lynne Lunardi and I singing this in her basement in the 70's
American Pie - Don Mclean - Now, who didn't memorize and love this song?  1971
Lizzie and the Rainman - Tanya Tucker - Liz Lancaster and I listen to this over and over till we memorized it - late '70.
Centerfield - Dan Fogerty- Bob and I met while I was working for the Rangers and baseball was a big part of our lives.  We would play it on spring days at full blast. -1986
Nobody Loves Me like I Do - Whitney Houston - Our "First Dance Song" - 1990
Wind Beneath my Wings - Bette Midler - Daddy*Daughter dance at our wedding - 1990
How Great thou Art- I cried like a baby at my Grandma Stolley's funeral when this played - late 90's
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle - Brady was 5 and "Daddy's little girl".  He cried the first time he heard it. - 1997
Brown-Eyed Girl - Van Morrison - We call this song "Brady's song" because she is our Brown Eyed girl. 1992
Little Red Rodeo - Collin Raye - Brady loved this song and made me turn it up every time it was on.  She swore she was going to have a "Little Red Rodeo" when she could drive. - 2006
A Boy named Sue - Johnny Cash - Brooks fell in love with this song the first time he heard it.  2009

Wherever you go .....

      This is a saying that I use alot.  But what does it mean?  To me it means that you can never escape yourself.  It is one of life's greatest ironies that, no matter how much we want to be different, wherever we go, there we are. There's just no getting away from ourselves. Go on holiday -- there we are. Win the lottery -- there we are. Your physical location will not dictate your happiness.  Getting a divorce without working on yourself, will probably land you back in the same type of situation.
      If we don’t change anything about ourselves, we just take whatever is inside us wherever we go.  Happiness is an inside job, & one that only you alone can work on.  So live in the here and now.  Learn to love yourself.  Happiness is a choice and only you can make that choice for yourself.  There is not a place, circumstance or person that is here to make you happy.  That's your job ~ your most important job!