My Voice, My Heart, My Life

At midnight another year will have passed and a new one lies before us. Today is a day to reflect back at all that has pasts and a day to plan what's ahead. Yes, the look back may be painful but I'm sure that joy emerged. Take this time to see what has been accomplished and what needs to be improved.  Enjoy the time with family and friends. Enjoy the fellowship of the season. Thank God for the trials and blessings of the past and pray for wisdom and strength for the future. For me this year has been full or surprises both pleasant and not so pleasant. There are parts in my life where I have been stretched and have had to learn to rely on God greatly. This year He has also blessed me with deeper friendships. It's been a blessings to have sister-friends. This year has been eventfully and I wouldn't change a thing. Every event that has occurred had a purpose.They've each taught a lesson and caused me to reflect. Thank you Lord for continuing to show me something n

This was confession is from December 18, 2005, but I believe what he says still has merit. Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are.  I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I’m buying my dog biscuits.  I still don’t know.  I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores who they are.  They don’t know who Nick and Jessica are, either.  Who are they?  Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they’ve broken up?  Why are they so darned important?  I don’t know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I don’t care at all about Tom Cruise’s baby. Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I’m a subversive?  Maybe.  But I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.  Is this what it means to be no longer young?  Hmmm, not so bad. Next confession:  I am a Jew and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish, and it does not bother me even a little

 A dear friend sent me this poem written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA It's a beautiful tribute to the precious children lost in Sandy Hook Elementary. Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38 when 20 beautiful children stormed through Heaven's gate. Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there... They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say. They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day. "Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse. "This is heaven," declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house." When what to their wondering eyes did appear but Jesus, their Savior; the children gathered near. He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. Then He opened His arms and He called them by name. And in that moment was joy that only Heaven can bring. Those children all

I heard this letter read on KLOVE, a christian radio station, and found it comforting. From Pastor Ray (Bayside Church): Today is a heartbreaking day. Our nation experienced the second worst school shooting in American history. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and everyone affected by this senseless tragedy. I, like all Americans, am devastated. During tragic times like this there is inevitably a mad scramble for CLARITY. How could this happen? Why would a good and loving God let this happen? Who's to blame for this senseless violence? The problem – Shallow Christian clichés fall short and ultimately Clarity never comes…because at best, we see ‘through a glass dimly…' During times like this we think we need Clarity when we really need is Certainty. • I am certain that this senseless act breaks the heart of God because… I am certain that God understands what it means to lose a son. • I am certain that every one of todays victims

So this has been a long week. The school schedule has been normal, lots to do with not a lot of time, adding on top this Scrooge schedule has drained me. I enjoy it but by Sunday I'm dragging my feet. I woke up feeling a bit sick, coughing and just plain exhausted. I sat on the couch debating "Should I not go to church today. I could use the rest? I don't why we think its okay to miss church if we're feeling tried or just don't feel like it. We justify it to ourselves someway and say God will forgive me. Well I got and got ready, because I knew I would benefit even if my body was fighting me. Today at my church we had our Christmas Potluck. When we walked into the church I was so taken back. They had decorated the space with tables and decorations. All set up for a communal lunch. The centerpieces on the table were colorful and the walls had snowman decorations. The advent candle stood front in center. We walked in when worship had started so we got the whole p

I'm a big tea drinker. I prefer it to coffee. A cup in the morning. A cup at night. A cup or two in between if its doable. No matter the family, green, oolong, black or herbal I love it. I began buying tea through the supermarket. Celestials Season, Twinings or Stash Tea. They tasted fine and I enjoyed them. But then I discovered loose leaf tea. It opened up a whole new world for me. The taste was more intense, the aroma more fragrant and the color more saturated. It was a beautiful discovery. I started ordering tea online. That worked well enough, but it was inconvenient. If I ran out of something I couldn't just go out and get it. So I began my search for local tea shops. I found a few but they were either too far or too much. I couldn't believe how expense tea could be! So my dilemma began. I love the taste of loose leaf but I'll go broke drinking it. With no tea shop in town with variety and price that would fit my budget, I returned to the tea bag world. A we

Today is the last day for one of kids. She and her mom will be moving down under to Australia. Ysabella is a first year highlander. Unlike most of my students she didn't attend HCS preschool. She came fresh from an outside school. Though she didn't have the Highlands background, she was completely prepared for kindergarten. With our academics being a year ahead than normal, there is always a bit of concern for those new kids, but that wasn't the case with her. She flourished. The first time I met Ysabella wasn't on the first day of school. It was actually during the summer at the "Free Kindergarten Day."  It was a day of fun activities and some academic work, a mini preview of kindergarten. It was a four hour day and Ysabella was one of the participating kids. She was quiet and a bit shy. Very timid. She reminded me of myself at that age. She opened up a bit but not much. By the end of the day, I knew I wanted her in my kindergarten class. I prayed that sh

After a week of Scrooge rehesrals and late nights, I am really looking forward to this Thursday break. A day of rest before the mad rush of the weekend production. It has been fun but I need to sleep at a decent hour at least one night this week. Well, I'm choosing to spend this break to with some dear friends. Gino and Laura Quinn have been our close friends for over 10 years. We met at church when we were all dating and we where just starting our adult lives. Our acquaintance grow into a beautiful friendship. We stood in each others weddings and have been part of the most important moments, especially celebrating their 3 precious children.  Theirs is a friendship that Scott & I deeply cherish.  In the past year or two they have been preparing to move to Georgia. The Lord has called them to the mission field. Now I know what you're thinking, Georgia doesn't need missionaries, its part of the bible belt! Yes, this is true. The organization, Operation Mobilisation

I have the pleasure of teaching 18 little people. Ages 5-6. Each day brings a new discovery, a new revelation, a new story (well, many stories) and a new challenge. Each one has a very distinct personality. I have active ones and calm ones. Expressive ones and quite ones. Obedient ones and those who choose to push the boundary lines quite often. Though they can be catogorized into groups, each one shines within their group. They are as unique as their fingerprint. Each one is brought into this world for a specific purpose. They bring something positive for this world. As I observe them in the classroom, I can tell who they might become as adults. The words they say and the character they show are so honest, no grain of salt needed. Each year I know that the kids in my class are there for a reason. It is a new season of teaching and learning for all parties involved. Here is where I teach lessons and learn life. Allow me to share a few stories. One of my girls, we'll call

Grace. Webster has several definitions of what it means. I found the first intriguing.                     1.unmerited divine assistance given humans for their                       regeneration or sanctification                   Unmerited divine assistance. This is so true. Grace is an undeserved gift. It is given freely and without condition. Grace is a beautiful thing. It's originator is God.  It's a virtue that comes from God. Grace only exists because of God.  First, through His grace we are saved. He sent down His only Son to die for our sins so that we could one day live with Him for eternity. He gave a precious gift to undeserving souls. His love and grace have no bounds.   Recently my spiritual family have been going through hardships. It has been a hard road for them to take. They have been stretched to their limits. Mother Theresa once said, " I know that God will not give me anything I can't handle, I just wish He didn't tr

Church of the Highlands, in San Bruno, has been presented a very special play called Scrooge, a christian take on the Christmas Carol. It has been a favorite of the church and school (where I work) and has been touching lives for the past 20 years plus. Apart from the main character, Scrooge, all the parts played on stage and behind are done by volunteers. It's a great community venture for both church & school. Many of the kids from the school audition to be part of the "Dream Scene", a special part where the kids are showcased. It is the most adorable part of the play. Some are dressed as lambs, lions, toy soldiers, gymnasts and dolls. You always hear the audience ooo & aww. It's a great Christmas tradition. For those with parts they have been practicing since Sept/Oct. It has been late nights for many weeks. This week is Dress Rehearsal where all those participating come together and spend the evenings getting ready for the performances nights on Friday

Yesterday morning Kansas City Chief, Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend, Kassandra Perkins in front of his mother, and then committed suicide in the Chiefs' parking lot in front of his head coach and general manager, leaving his 3 month daughter, Olivia, an orphan. It's an unthinkable tragedy. Jovan had no history of violence. According to news outlets, he was even part of a group called Male Athletes Against Violence, so this disturbing act of violence has come as a shock to his family and team. No one saw it coming. In the eyes of society he had it all. A lucrative contact from an NFL team. All his physical needs meet. A beautiful girlfriend and a precious child. An outsider looking in would think he had the American Dream. So what could have triggered him to do such a horrible thing? One may never know. When tragedies of this nature occur its because they feel that there's no way out. They feel like they're trapped. Death is the only means of escape. What'

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, an African-American civil rights activist refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger and was arrested for civil disobedience. Though Rosa Park did not know it at the time, but her act of defiance became a catalyst to the 381 day Montgomery Bus Boycott. She became a prominent symbol for the modern Civil Rights Movement.  She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including Edgar Nixon,  president of the local chapter of the NAACP; and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her simple yet significant stance paved the way for equality.  What Edmund Burke said is true, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (or women) do nothing." There were four passengers that were asked to move that fateful day. She was the only one that did not move. Mrs. Parks could have easily given up her seat to the white passenger and gone to the