Category: Inspirational

I feel rather unusual this week, a bit distracted from much of what I normally do. As we await word , regarding the application we submitted on our apartment, I’ve tried to occupy my mind with finishing my book. I ended up just diving into that project, and I finished it on Tuesday.

Now that the first book is zipped up, I can get back to my Fantasy/Fiction novel project. I left it sitting on the sidelines for the last few months, as I completed something I feel God called me to do. Numerous times, I felt like setting my memoirs aside, to chase after a literary passion that continues to call to me in dreams. I stayed the course though, feeling confident that the dream would not fade for me… and it has not! Now, I’m one done, and off to follow a dragon!

Fortunately, as far as waiting for an approval or denial of our application, I’ve not been plagued by anxiety or sleepless nights, the way I have been in the past. Perhaps it’s due to the knowledge that there will be challenges and obstacles to overcome, regardless of the outcome of this one decision. When you exist in survival mode for extended periods of time, the brain goes numb, in a way! One day brings plumbing problems, while another day brings challenges ranging anywhere from fuel for the car, to waiting for the food stamp card to reload. Timing is everything!

I will say that for me, reading the bible each day, even if only for a few moments, has been a huge game changer! All I know is, reading scripture brings me comfort and reassurance, no matter the situation… it just does. I do not wish to camp on worry and doubts, when I’m forever being reminded of God’s providence, in all things. Too bad this wasn’t my go-to, all those panic attack’s earlier!

Nowadays, I’m learning a deeper understanding of our journey, regarding how spiritual growth occurs in ones life. It never happens by accident! I love the way the bible uses a baby to explain the growth of a believer, as far as going from milk to solid food; a baby has to be taught how to switch from one to the other. Timing is everything!

Just like a baby, faith has to be grown, similar to tending a garden! Both examples need time, care, and practice; no one gets things perfectly the first time out the gate! Babies don’t wean off milk over time, nor does a seed sprout up and bear fruit in just one day. Mistakes, bad choices, circumstances all accompany both a baby and a seed, as they grow toward the son/sun!

It may have taken me 55 years to figure it out, but I think maybe I’m learning…

Eustace wishes for us all to take a deep HumpDay breath… hold for 3 seconds… and breath out… Woooooooo Saaaawwwwww!

Episode 2

The early morning sunshine warmed the old man’s bones, as he wandered along the old beachside road.  It wasn’t terribly far from his home, so even in his old age, he could still enjoy a morning walk along his favorite paths.  He’d been living in the same home, along the same stretch of road for all of his 83 years, and many parts of this beach had been his childhood playground. 

          As the old man walked along, he could recall the days of his youth, running along the sand dunes, building great castles with moats, and watching the turtles come and go, as they lay their many eggs.  Whenever they came, he would sit among the bushes for hours, watching their labor of love. 

          The old man had only watched the hatching process once, very early on in his life, and though he knew it was all part of life, he was so saddened by watching the birds gorge themselves on the innocent babies, that he’d never watched again.  Year after year, as he grew older, he would simply avoid the beach paths during that time.  Once hatching time had passed by, the old man would again, resume his beach walks.

          Some years back, as folks began visiting and watching the turtles, the beaches began to resemble a dirty playground.  Even after the local city officials began placing garbage cans throughout the area, the beaches were still littered with plastic drinking cups, food wrappers, and abandoned lawn chairs. 

          This disturbance to the area had bothered the old man so much, it stirred him to spend about a week each year, immediately after hatching had finished, picking up garbage from off the sand.  He knew it wasn’t much, but any help was better than no help at all!  The old man loved the beach a great deal, so even if his efforts were never seen or appreciated, he’d felt it important to keep doing it anyway… for the sake of the turtles.

          Over the past week, the old man had successfully cleared most of the beach along his stretch of road, and today he’d decided to pick up the remaining garbage from the tree line, nearest the roadway.  Discouragement filled his heart as he picked up trash that was sitting less than 10 feet from an empty garbage can.  It was as if no one wanted to even try!

          The old man wondered if his efforts made any difference, sadly taking in the scene before him, as he worked his way through the bushes along the tree line.  In all his years, he’d never once seen anything grow from the plastic laying about the beach, so it frustrated him to no end that others might carelessly drop it.  They had to know that it wasn’t going to magically disappear, or throw itself away.

          Oh well, he thought, at least most of it has been cleared away.  Aside from a few plastic containers, thankfully, there wasn’t much left to pick up this morning.  The old man was about to head home with the trash he’d collected, when he spied a small red plastic cup, tucked beneath a bush he’d walked past earlier. 

          Approaching the bush, the old man leaned down to retrieve the cup, exhaustion and discouragement filling his heart.  He wasn’t at all prepared, for the sight that greeted him, as he lifted the cup from off the sand.  There before him sat the tiniest of turtles, just staring up at him in awe and wonder…

What will the old man do?

Will our tiny turtle make it safely to the sea?

Tune in next week, to find out…

The first, and most important Monday Message, is that I love you more than I did last week, and less than I will this time next Monday!

I toyed with the idea of just playing music this morning, as my brain is on overdrive at the moment. Concentrating has been a bit of a challenge, of late! Friday, this last week, was the day we signed all our application and qualification paperwork, for an apartment that’s come available. Now we wait!

As crazy as it sounds, I’m filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension! What if they say No? What if they say Yes? Either way, you’re stuck with my crazy brain for a bit!

On a happy note, episode 2 of The Tale of the Turtle will be released tomorrow. I’ve been watching numerous shows regarding conservation of late, so this series is a new direction of writing that perhaps you’ll enjoy.

Hopefully, by the end of this week, I’ll have wrapped up my audio-recording edit of my book, and I’ll be able to print a copy for my Poor Man’s Copyright. To date, this has been all that God has called me to complete. After that, it’s in God’s capable hands!

Friday will be another story, featuring Boomer, one of our Barnyard babes… so don’t miss out!

Our Saturday, As They Say episodes, have been going pretty well, if I do say so myself! Thank you, to all of those who’ve offered up a phrase, so that I can guess it’s meaning and origin. So far, I’ve not had to come up with anything on my own.

Sundays continue to be for fellowship, and a time for sharing insights about what I’m reading in scriptures. You can stop in or not, as the Lobby is always open!

Let’s all have a wonderful week, shall we?!

Looks like today’s walk along the river will be in the rain, as it’s been raining all night long, and showing no signs of stopping!

No worries, since I love to walk in the rain! Also, I can sing along with my music out loud, as there’s no one else around to splash in the puddles with me, as I go along.

God Bless!