Today there were some really great insights the author, Jen Hatmaker, made in chapter 1 of her book A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study. On page 16, "God never intended for His Word to be tidy, hands-off package with crisp edges and a wealth of mysteries that we set aside until Sunday morning." And on page 14, "The insights of the Bible are not reserved for pastors, their wives, and Billy Graham." Psalm 119:130 NIV "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the … [Read more...]
A new journey for me…
Wow, it's hard to believe that the last time I wrote on here was on April 18 of this year. I think most of you know that when it comes to writing on Mari's dedication site I've always only posted things when I felt led to it. I don't want to be untrue to what I created this site for, although it's continue to evolve from when I first created it. I no longer need to write on it on an almost daily basis, sometimes more than once in a day. This site helped with the healing process of … [Read more...]
Day 168: Hero (or Heroine) Story
To try to put into words what today's post is about, I don't know if I could give it the justice it deserves. Here is what I read for today: When he was fifty-one years old, Reynolds Price learned he had a ten-inch malignant tumor in his spine, and he believed that his happy life of writing and teaching was over. Surgery and radiation left him a paraplegic, in unspeakable pain, and not sure that he would survive. But he did survive and was able to manage his pain through hypnosis. He then … [Read more...]
Day 151: Walking Away
In life sometimes there are things we want to do so bad, and then we start to do them only to find that about two-thirds to three-fourths of the way through what we are doing isn't anything like we'd thought it'd be. As a result, we realize we need to stop without finishing. Has this ever happened to you before in your life? It has with me, only I realized this when I had completed the full first draft of Mari's book. The book I'd written was a complete biography of Mari's life as well as some … [Read more...]
Day 125: Approval
That one little word, approval, can mean so much to someone. To know that someone approves of something you have said or done. It gives you the confidence you might not have had otherwise. I think back on the time during the time when Mari was in the hospital. When she had made it to her fourth and final hospital I was told by one of the nurses about CarePages. She told me it was a way to keep family and friends updated on Mari and how she was doing. I couldn’t wait to get started. We had so … [Read more...]
KLove on the brain…
It seems the last few things I've written have been because of KLove being in the background here recently. It's good to have uplifting songs playing. Last night a song came on that I've heard before, but for some reason the words really struck me this time. The song begins like this: To everyone who's lost someone they love Long before it was their time You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye How many times have I heard, or thought to myself for that matter, … [Read more...]
Laura Story
I sit here this morning doing homeschool with my niece/daughter. I have KLove on in the background. I just started doing this yesterday. It’s nice to have uplifting, encouraging music in the background during the day. As I sat here moving my paper planner for the school year into a program on my computer, a song came on the radio that I have heard played many times before. I know the words and almost always sing to the song as it flows out through my speakers. The funny thing is the words … [Read more...]
Day 106: Odd Notes
In life we all have our times where we will either jot down a quick note or store something away in the corners of our minds for later use. As writers I think it is even more important to write down those sudden thoughts that come to us. It's in those thoughts that the true magic of our writing comes out. Our hidden story ideas that get written in the page. I still remember the day about three months after Mari died where I had all these thoughts floating around in my head beginning to be … [Read more...]
H is for heal
Because losing Mari has been the hardest thing I've ever been through but with time my wounded heart has slowly begun to heal. When someone said that losing a child is the hardest thing anyone would have to deal with, that couldn't be more of an understatement. Mari died four and a half years ago and sometimes it still feels like yesterday. The pain can be so raw that I sob. The tears pour from my eyes. Even though four and a half years may seem like a while, it really isn't. I know that … [Read more...]
Day 3: The Holy Calling
Its amazing sometimes how God works. Many say His ways are mysterious. The bottom line, no matter how much we want to control every thing, we simply do not know His plan for all of our lives. His plan is greater than any of us can fathom. For me this hit me head on like a Mac truck (I know clique but it's true) when God decided to answer our prayers about healing my precious baby girl by telling us all no, that it was time to bring her home to heaven where she will be free from autism. God … [Read more...]
