Chill Music

I've always appreciated music. It started when I was a wee-one. My p's were hippies & my Dad was in a band, so there was always music around me. In school, I loved my Music Appreciation classes & did well in them. At Flamingo, I channeled it better & developed a heart for worship. All this to say I can't wait to get to heaven & FINALLY get my heavenly singing voice!
One of my fav genres of music is what I call "Front Porch" tunage -- aka, music I chill to. Some of my favs:

Jack Johnson
Indigo Girls
Ben Harper
Frank Sinatra
Grateful Dead
What's your fav "Front Porch" music? Do tell!

Empowerment

So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward.

You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised.

...we are not those who turn back and are lost.

We are people who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 10:35-36, 39

Atypical Cuban Behaviors

Not sure what's up with the Cuban lately, but I'm seeing an unearthed side of him:
1. Mr. why Twitter is now Mr. @cubanpastor on Twitter. (you can follow him here)
2. Though it looks like praying it's really sleeping.
3. Very intentionally busting out with the escalator scene from "Elf."

I'm not a psychologist who could psycho-analyze these behaviors. But I'd like to think that after 10 years, it's simply my craziness FINALLY having influence. ;-)

My Friend, Steph

My bud, Steph, has quite a week. It's her BIG HONKIN' BIRTHDAY and she's prep'ing to teach this weekend with Pastor Troy on parenting. Whoooooooo hoo!! Now who doesn't need a lil' encouragement & direction when it comes to raising kiddos? Anywho, please keep my bud in your prayers. And if you got a sec., drop her a note of encouragement or birthday wishes, here or here.

Boca Loca

Several years ago, I spoke at a women's gig & my message title was, "La Boca Loca." It was about the crazy things we do when we open our mouths. At that time, I also memorized a good "mouth" Proverb. Thankfully, I haven't forgotten it. As just today, I had to resort to it: "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
Proverbs 10:19

A Moving Moment w/ Our Troops

Yesterday, we arrived early to DFW airport, before all the usual airport-chaos. While waiting to board, we heard this real loud "Whoo-Hoo, Whoo-Hoo!!" Frankly, at first, it spooked me. But when we i.d'ed the source, it was ONE little ole' lady, in the middle of the airport, standing loud & proud & waving a flag. A plane had arrived full of troops who just returned home & this ONE lady was welcoming them with everything she had. In turn, inspiring an entire airport to stand AND join her. Every single troop came home to a standing ovation of strangers--on our feet, hollerin' & honoring them. I was deeply moved, 2 times. 1) in seeing our brave troops arrive home. 2) in seeing ONE lady make sure they received the reception they deserved.

The Table

Tomorrow the Alex Day Spa is hosting an all-day charity for a special ministry at Flamingo called, "The Table." They will be doing all kinds of fun things (raffles, silent auction, etc) & all proceeds will go toward The Table. The Table is a ministry that helps those in need reach their God potential by providing meals, clothing and shoe donations. So if you're in the area, swing by and show some love!


Alex Day Spa
4452 Weston Road
Weston, FL 33331
954-217-3990

3 Mental Notes from Yesterday

Yesterday, I traveled to the Lone-Star State for a conference.
1. 'Though typically air-travel is a honkin' nightmare, sometimes, we get lucky. Yesterday I had all of row 22 to myself on the plane! But I'm not given "luck" credit. It was God's favor. Anything unexpectedly sweet is always God's favor.
2. MIA is mucho Latin. The cafe cashier could not speak English to save her life. But it's good for 2 different people to learn how to talk without words. Missionaries do it all the time. And when it was all said & done with, we both ended happy w/ the transaction.
3. Part of the conference included doing something I didn't want to do. But it was the right thing to do. How do we draw a line between those two? God. God is the connector between "I don't want to" & "I need to." How does God do that for us? We ask Him to.

KIng for a Day

If you were chosen King or Queen of a country,
what would be the greatest strength you'd bring
to your country?

Last night at my book study we answered this.
My answer was perseverance.

But here's the bigger question:
Where are we using that strength now?
In other words, why wait?

I Have Ugly Feet

My mom says I inherited my Great Aunt Leetha's feet. That's so nice to know.
On my left foot, I have a protruding bone that jerks out to the right. I also have a 3-inch scar where a foot doctor tried to surgically remove that bone. With no success. And my baby toe has no toenail & resembles a Tater Tot. I rarely let my feet see the light of day. Flip flops are a fashion no-go. When our church has Beach Baptism, I show up in moon boots. OK, I don't, but I want to.
So what do my ugly feet have to say for themselves??
"Kid, you're stuck with us! But remember that our weakness is made perfect in Him & He has perfect feet!

Scar Stories

This scar is hard to see so I drew a smiley on it for you.
The story? It was Christmas '79, we were at the table for the big meal when my grandpa went to pass a dish. He accidentally knocked over a taper candle, it fell on my wrist momentarily catching my wrist on fire. There's been a scar to prove it for 29 yrs.
Scars. We all have them.
The scars we can see offer 2 reminders:
1) we were hurt, but thankfully, we are better
2) Jesus had a scar too. 'Though He could've risen on Easter without one, He didn't. His scar served as a reminder to someone & it's one of the best scar stories I've ever read.

A Rare Occasion

About as often as there's a lunar eclipse, I have my fam visit from Chicago. But they were here this wknd. Today, all day, we sat outdoors & talked. Tonight, we went out for my sis-in-law's bday & doubled our pleasure with Raul's ma joining us. It was nuts w/ the kids; definitely felt bad for the 4 romantic couples who the hostess naively sat by us. But it was a great day. I miss my Chicago fam & I'm really gonna miss my bro & his little fam when they move back up to Chicago in 2 wks. It made me all the more grateful for today.

Favorites? Not with God.

Then Peter said, "I can see, for sure,
that God does not respect one person more than another.
He is pleased with any man
in any nation
who honors Him
and does what is right."
Acts 10:34-35, NCV

Singin' in the Shower

Yesterday, Andy took his first big-boy shower. As he did, I watched TV in the other room. But I was alarmed by his really loud singing, so I went to check on him. When I opened the shower door, he was singing SO loud & his eyes were SO shut that he never knew I was there taking pix. He was singing a Jesus song (that I think he made up). OK, so maybe the Super-Star-Singer genes passed over me, but is this a sign that they've landed on Andy? "So you're sayin' there's a chance?"

I'm Still Learning

One thing I'm still learning is where's the line between humility & confidence? Cause I've operated in both extremes. I've been the "humble" doormat, letting people walk all over me. And I've been the cocky, proud peacock, totally turning people off.

Today, we had a leadership mtg. & we got on this subject. I was grateful I had the opp. to learn more about something I'm still such a student of.

Jesus was 100% humble. So when He was confidently rebuking the Pharisees, humbly hanging on the cross & everything in between, He did them all from a humble heart.

I want that & as I'm learning, I'm gonna keep praying for it.

Things U Didn't Know About Me & Probably Won't Care If U Do

This morning at our staff mtg., Pastor Scot had us partner up & share 3 things nobody knows about us. I found this rather easy to answer:
1. While in college, to earn extra money in the summer, I got a job at the Shireland Circus. I wore red overalls, a white, plastic Safari hat & worked in the pet farm & gift shop.
2. Also, that summer, I fell for one of the circus clowns but he picked Cindy (my co-worker) over me.
3. My parents were hippies who opted to have the ultra-natural experience. So me, almost a 10-pounder, was born at home. I'll spare you the rest of these details.

So let's be fair, here. What don't I know about YOU? Do tell! :)

Props to the Pregnant Rapper

Last night I watched the Grammy's by my little lonesome--boo hoo hoo. Anyway, rapper, M.I.A., did a full-blown performance with dancing, singing, jumping & rapping. And in case you missed it...she's 9 months prego. Her due date WAS Grammy night! I held my breath the whole time she was out there, hoping to high heaven her water wouldn't break. It didn't. But I'm still mulling over this--would I have done the same thing? COULD I have done the same thing? Props to her. I don't know boo about her, but I gotta admire her tenacity & commitment level.

Your Marriage, This Weekend

Yesterday, your comments were a huge anniversary gift to us. Thank you so much. I wanted to tell you that during the rescue-effort of our marriage, God used 3 couples to encourage & rehabilitate us: my parents, another couple & Troy & Steph. Again, this weekend, God is using Troy & Steph as they speak about the "heart disease" of marriage. If you are married, want to be, or know someone who is, I implore you to check it out. If you live here, click HERE . If you don't live here, click HERE.

10 Years with 1 Cuban

We made it! Today the Cuban & I celebrate 10 yrs of marriage. I speak for both of us when I say that 8 yrs ago, this was not possible. For 2 years, I fought intentionally & maliciously to get out of the marriage, while Raul & God fought to keep it. I don't deserve the grace Raul's given me. He had good reason to leave. But he chose to stay.

Though I'm not a marriage expert, I now have 10 yrs of experience & would like to share 1 thing: Raul & I never view our marriage as a union of 2. It is a union of 3. And the 3rd party is God. And when I was sabotaging the marriage & Raul was weary from staying in it, God was there to save it. Raul & I KNOW this to be true & we will never abandon this truth in our marriage nor when helping others fight for theirs.

A final word to the Cuban:
Raul, I know you could have aimed a lot higher when you looked for a bride, but you didn't. You aimed for God & received the one He had for you. I'm your better half because I'm enveloped in you being my better whole. There's no place I'd rather be. Happy Anniversary

4 Vital Words

It's
Not
About
Me
I tell myself this over & over & over & over. Almost afraid to share it here, 'cause then that kinda makes it about me. But I HAVE to tell myself this. If this isn't 'skipping on the CD' in my brain, my life becomes about me. The bible says Pride comes before the fall.
I've been there. I hated it. I'm running from it.

Misc. Duck

The other day, I pulled into a Mobil station to get gas. As I opened my door, I looked out my window and saw...















Positioned directly below the unleaded gas pump, the duck looked at me with a, "Got a problem with a duck being your gas attendant, today?" It quacked me up! I wish one of you were with me so we could've had a good laugh together. At least he posed long enough to get this pic.

HighSchool Reputation

At the end of my Senior year in HS, we had our "Senior Class Awards Banquet." But before we continue, here's a little history...
I always wanted to be Homecoming Princess, Prom Queen, or Class President; always hoped our class's QB would ask me to wear his jersey on Game Day; always dreamed of getting "Most Likely to Succeed" our Senior year, but these things never happened.
Back to the story...
That night, our class pres. got up & presented the list of the awards & their winners. Eventually, toward the end of the night, he got to "1991's Class Gossip Award." And the winner went to? any guesses? anyone? Bueller? Yep, me. And my award?
A pink, plastic telephone.
So what wisdom can I possibly impart from this huge, embarrassing legacy?
The Truth: When words are many, sin is not absent, but she who holds her tongue is wise.
And every day since May 1991, I've tried to prove that award wrong & live this verse right.

Amistad means friendship

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." -Unknown
Do you have what this quote says? I hope you have a friend who walks with you. I hope you have a friend who stays with you whether you confidently walk or desperately crawl. I hope you can fill in this blank: in my life, _____ has shown me the true meaning of amistad.