I am a Photographer in my Parallel Life

P52 Week 7: True LoveWeek 7: February 12 – February 18 

True Love: I'm so thankful for my husband of almost 35 years.  I decided to do this project I found on Pinterest as a way to show him how I really feel. It turned out great and he now keeps it on his dresser.  I even flip through the 'book' every now and then and leave it open to particular trait that I'm focusing on that day.  Something really special happened just this afternoon in that regard; my husband told me that he noticed I had been turning the pages and leaving it open to a different page every day--and that he kind of liked that.  It was a blessing for me to be able to tell him again how much he was my TRUE LOVE and how I wanted to focus each day on a different aspect of why I thank God for bringing him into my life.

www.my3boybarians.com

New Year Resolution(s), but doesn't the calendar say February 17th ?

It's not that I didn't have anything that needed changing, but I sensed that, in the past, I failed at resolutions because I undertook whatever it was I resolved to do, in my own power. And, quite frankly, I've come to realize that I am not as strong as I thought I was. [John 15:5 I can do nothing apart from the Vine, or the Vine dresser]

I failed last year to finish reading through the Bible in a year, but rather than beat myself up, I chose to believe Isaiah 55:11
"...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."  


As 2011 came to a close and I began to think about what needed changing within my heart for 2012, I purposed in my heart to rely on the Lord and trust Him more and to learn all that He had for me. Psalm 51:10 gripped my heart and became my prayer for this year:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

In a way, being "late" at posting my New Years Resolutions, may be a good thing. It's already 2/17/2012 and the prayer of Psalm 51:10 is still as strong as it was on Dec.31.  

http://thegospelcoalition.org/conferences/2012-womens

Grandaddy Ward's Ties

Grandaddy Ward was such a special man. There are memories of he and Grandmother that will stay with me forever. I remember someone saying at his funeral that 'Brother Albert never really cared what religious denomination you were. He'd just find a way to getting around to "Boy, do you know Jesus!" '  What a blessing it'd be to have someone be able to say that about my life.

When it was time to clean out Grandmother and Granddaddy's homestead I somehow ended up with a sizeable box of neck ties; his lifetime collection. We all know that people from their generation never threw away anything!

A long, long, time ago, I saw an HGTV show where they used ties in a low-cost room makeover. When I inherited the ties, I looked for more information on how to do this, nothing. I could not find anything from their site that showed me what to do. But, not to despair! Pinterest to the rescue :-)

I did a little research an found where www.apartmenttherapy.com used the same idea of taking an old chair and recovering the seat with old ties.  I couldn't have been more excited about getting started and actually finishing a Pinterest project as opposed to having fun pinning it.  In hopes that one day, I'd find a tutorial for using these old ties, I had long ago purchased the neatest old chair (very sturdy, but boring) at a local thrift store for only about $7.50!    

BEFORE ... remove the seat from the frame... play around with the ties to find the colors you want

DURING: I kept weaving and laying the chair seat on the arrangement to find the right size before
stapling the ties into place.

AFTER: I did spray paint the frame to give it a modern pop of color, and then reattached the seat cover.

 

I can't tell you how many positive comments I received from family and friends visiting. This chair is such a conversation piece and it's so extra nice to have the memories of Granddaddy literally among us in such a lovely way.

www.pinterestchallenge.com

Butterfly or Phoenix ?

This morning presented an much needed blessing in my life. I had the opportunity to gather with a few ladies from my church for a time of breakfast, fellowship, and planning. I came away renewed and actually "spent" as I have purposed in my heart to be honest and open and REAL with those whom I find myself in community.

We're about to begin a book study, Because He Loves Me, by Elyse Fitzpatrick, on Wednesday evenings and it promises to be an amazing time of growth and change, IF we are honest with the Lord and open to share with each other as we rely on His sovereignty of placing us all together for His purposes. I've been learning so much lately about how, as Christians, it is quite Biblical to believe that God-honoring change and growth as The Body of Christ is to be done in community.

I hope to post more of what we're learning together as the study begins this Wednesday, February 1st, at Rockdale Community Church.

Another thing I've been pondering since I left, being the Literature/English-major/Word-Nut that I am, is how the decorations at our breakfast coordinated with the cover of Elyse's book. Butterflies are what she chose to be a theme, or symbol, for the hope and the kind of change that she writes about in the book.

The decorations were lovely, and I have nothing whatsoever against butterflies, but I've got to say that with all the mistakes that I've made, and with all the messes that I've created and survived over the years, sometimes I picture myself more of a Phoenix rising from the ashes and ruins to new life.

Spiritually, a butterfly is a perfect picture of how, before He called me to salvation, I was asleep and in my own little world, nice and cozy (or so I thought), but dead nonetheless. He called me to Himself though and began a transformation that I'm promised won't be complete until His return. Amen.

On the other hand though, when I rely on my own wisdom and follow my own heart, when bends all too easily towards self-reliance and selfishness, I cause many, many ugly messes and leave untold damage in my wake. It's times like this where I'm feeling the phoenix vibe. Praise God though, because yes, I made the ash heap all on my own, but God in His infinitely love for me and goodness beyond measure causes me to rise out of the mess and be refined by His Word to walk in a life meant for His glory.

I'm so thankful today for many things. I thank God for my husband of almost 35 years; he's an awesome example of true love. I'm thankful for a daughter who is an excellent mother and is working so hard to rebuild her own life. I'm grateful for a son and daughter-in-law who love each other and are brave enough to be point-blank honest with me--you've done me more good than you'll ever know. I'm blessed too to have a baby daughter who is still enjoying wedded bless to the Godly man of her dreams.

I'm blown away though by how much God puts up with me, but more importantly that He promises to never give up on me no matter how selfish, or mean, or ignorant, or well-intentioned I've been. I praise Him for his chastisement and discipline because it shows me that I belong to Him (and that an attitude and action adjustment are desperately in order.)

As you ponder which best symbolizes your life/faith, a butterfly or a phoenix, I leave you with these words:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. [Isaiah 40:31]

Be blessed today...choose JOY!

Who Am I?

I hesitated for the longest time in making a go of this blog because I questioned "Who am I that I think my words so profound to effect change." No more procrastinating--I've lived 52+ years and developed a lifetime of skills and experience. I pray that I can be an encouragement and a help, even if for just a little bit.

I'm developing a format & I thank-you for sticking around.