If your family is like my family then you too probably have the same "dreaded" tradition every Thanksgiving/Christmas when each person says a thing or two they are thankful for. I say "dreaded" because it seems like every year I say, Can we please not do the what your thankful for thing....and we do...and it seems like this is the part where everyone gets all emotional.
Paw Paw always said, "I'm thankful for my family, even though I couldn't give y'all everything I wanted to I am thankful y'all love me anyway" and he would always be holding a white tissue and remove his glasses for just a second to wipe away one alligator tear then continue by making a joke to lighten the mood and say, "Sometimes I'm thankful for my boys and their wives too." Maw Maw Jewel always said, "I just love all of y'all so much" and that was about as much as she could get out because she would be crying and then just wave her hands motioning for the next person to go ahead and give theirs. My cousins who read this - can vouch for me....these words seemed to be a part of the tradition.
In one of the past few years - uncle Terry, as sick as he was....said, "I am thankful for my girls and for my health keeping me here" now as you can imagine....that left not a dry eye in the room....a man who is barely breathing being thankful for his health.....that will make you not complain about your headache huh?! :)
So where I am going with this blog entry? My intentions were to reflect and figure out what I will say this year and how I will word it in as few as words as possible to avoid getting choked up. In the beginning I figured I would just go with the usual...thankful for my family, salvation, job, an amazing year by the Gamecocks (no so usual haha) but....my response has changed.
I just realized that this "dreaded" tradition apparently is one that I don't dread too much if I am taking the time to blog about it and even more than that can remember what people have said. So it must mean more to me than I thought!
I love looking back and remembering things....I never really did it that often before this year. Sometimes I would think about MawMaw after she passed away and stuff she said or did and just laugh because she was always being funny. Maybe because I am older now, but once paw paw passed away I started to realize the only way to keep his presence close is to think back to certain days and times and remember them.
So that is it - that is my response to what I am thankful for. I am going to be thankful for Memories.
Thankful for the ones I have made with the ones who are gone and the ones who are still here!
Also thankful for the memories I will continue to make and be certain not to let an opportunity for a memory making moment pass me by because we never know when that memory is all we will have!
xoxo,
Faith
Background
11.23.2010
11.22.2010
Let Ourselves be Blind.
I have always hated it when people would say, "It happens when you least expect it." regarding things in life, generally love. Yet with age really does come wisdom and I find myself repeating those same words to people around me and even to myself. It is different now though - they seem to be more than just words, but words with understanding behind them.
I read this today when browsing through a few quotes....it is an excerpt from "Metamorpheses: A Play" and it caught my attention. Maybe because I have been on both ends of a very similar version of this conversation many times!
A: The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.
Q: It always happens?
A: If we're lucky...and if we let ourselves be blind.
Q: Instead of watching out?
A: Always instead of watching out.
It really does seem to ring true...."It happens when you least expect it!"
xoxo,
Faith
I read this today when browsing through a few quotes....it is an excerpt from "Metamorpheses: A Play" and it caught my attention. Maybe because I have been on both ends of a very similar version of this conversation many times!
A: The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.
Q: It always happens?
A: If we're lucky...and if we let ourselves be blind.
Q: Instead of watching out?
A: Always instead of watching out.
It really does seem to ring true...."It happens when you least expect it!"
xoxo,
Faith
11.18.2010
"For it is in Giving that We Receive."
"Tony arrived at Tara Hall late one night with a DSS caseworker from Columbia, SC. He was seven years old, skinny, scrawny, hungry, and filthy dirty. The police in Columbia had found him in a car by the side of the road with his two drunken parents. They had been drunk most of Tony's life. In fact, his mother stayed drunk while pregnant with Tony and as a result, he was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How sad is what you just read?! In a minute I will give you the website so that you can find out what happens to Tony and a few other guys like him!
First let me say that this is totally legit and NOT a chain letter! :) Below is a post from a friend of mine named Chance from my high school in Conway. Let me also say that he did not ask me to post this but after reading what he said on Facebook, with his permission I felt like I needed to re-post it in hopes that it would reach even more people who get the same feeling I did when reading it and will want to help. I know that my family does something similar to this now instead of gift exchanges at our big family Christmas gathering but to me there is a different feeling I get when reading this....Maybe because Chance speaks from personal experience and that makes it more "real" -- I don't know but either way-Please read what he has to say and if you need more info you can comment or email me at ThoughtsUncorked@gmail.com and I will be sure to get it to you! Read below! ~FR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, guys I have been thinking lately, my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I have been thinking bout this for like 3 weeks and was hesitant to post this but I am going to post it an just see where it goes…
There is a Boys home in Georgetown SC, you can go to their website at http://www.tarahall.org/and check it out. I was in that home for 2 years as a boy and if not for this organization I'd probably be dead or in jail to be quite honest, that's no lie.
Anyways I'm not getting into my story but I do want to tell you about theirs, they have a lot of boys out there that have been in trouble, abused, abandoned, or whatever the case may be (when I was there I was a trouble maker lol), and they run completely off donations. They receive no money from the government.
I called the Director Jim Dumm, he was there when I was, and he gave me the ok to do this for them. He said at Christmas they get a ton of toys for the kids, however they're low on money, they do have to feed the boys and pay the bills out there.
So I was thinking hmmmmm I have like 304 people on my friends list on Facebook, If I just got half of them which would be 152 people to volunteer $3.00 that would be $456.00 we could give these guys! Every year they have a Christmas party at a place called Jamaica Joes in NMB, I would present the check there, and would post pictures later on Facebook, heck you could come out and show your support if you wanted. I'll probably take my boys maybe it will show them they need to appreciate what they got, cause if they see all the kids it will make them appreciative. My little boy has to be reminded of that every once in a while lol. They did the same Christmas party when I was a kid.
Problem is how do we get the money from 152 different people, the best solution I could come up with is, you writing out a $3.00 check to Tara Hall Home For Boys, and I could just give them all to Jim Dumm.
If anybody has any other suggestions let me know, I would like to do this every year in the future, this is my first year so it's a learning process.
Guys lets do it, man these kids do not have a nice home like you and your kids have and they certainly not with their family like you and I, what's $3.00?! You spend that on a soda and a pack of crackers! $3.00 from one person ain't much but when you got 300 people doing it, it becomes a big deal, and can make a huge impact!
If you want to get on board with me inbox me. Ill even start the donations off by laying down a $100. Lets get it guys!
-Chance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok back to me now - See why I wanted to post it? How awesome is that?! Just think - you can probably find $3.00 around your car, the bottom of your purse, under you couch cushions!
Like I said, if you want to help out--let me know and I will get your gift to him or you can send a check directly to:
Chance Cooper 3302 Wall Lane Conway SC 29527
*Remember write it out to Tara Hall Home For Boys.
Please visit the website - if you click "The Boys" you can finish reading about Tony and read the stories of a few others and where they are now!
I also learned from the site that Tara Hall operates continually at or near its capacity of 24 boys....that is 24 mouths to feed of growing young men and 24 bodies to keep warm - so please think about helping if you are able! :)
I Love this time of year!!
xoxo,
Faith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How sad is what you just read?! In a minute I will give you the website so that you can find out what happens to Tony and a few other guys like him!
First let me say that this is totally legit and NOT a chain letter! :) Below is a post from a friend of mine named Chance from my high school in Conway. Let me also say that he did not ask me to post this but after reading what he said on Facebook, with his permission I felt like I needed to re-post it in hopes that it would reach even more people who get the same feeling I did when reading it and will want to help. I know that my family does something similar to this now instead of gift exchanges at our big family Christmas gathering but to me there is a different feeling I get when reading this....Maybe because Chance speaks from personal experience and that makes it more "real" -- I don't know but either way-Please read what he has to say and if you need more info you can comment or email me at ThoughtsUncorked@gmail.com and I will be sure to get it to you! Read below! ~FR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, guys I have been thinking lately, my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I have been thinking bout this for like 3 weeks and was hesitant to post this but I am going to post it an just see where it goes…
There is a Boys home in Georgetown SC, you can go to their website at http://www.tarahall.org/and check it out. I was in that home for 2 years as a boy and if not for this organization I'd probably be dead or in jail to be quite honest, that's no lie.
Anyways I'm not getting into my story but I do want to tell you about theirs, they have a lot of boys out there that have been in trouble, abused, abandoned, or whatever the case may be (when I was there I was a trouble maker lol), and they run completely off donations. They receive no money from the government.
I called the Director Jim Dumm, he was there when I was, and he gave me the ok to do this for them. He said at Christmas they get a ton of toys for the kids, however they're low on money, they do have to feed the boys and pay the bills out there.
So I was thinking hmmmmm I have like 304 people on my friends list on Facebook, If I just got half of them which would be 152 people to volunteer $3.00 that would be $456.00 we could give these guys! Every year they have a Christmas party at a place called Jamaica Joes in NMB, I would present the check there, and would post pictures later on Facebook, heck you could come out and show your support if you wanted. I'll probably take my boys maybe it will show them they need to appreciate what they got, cause if they see all the kids it will make them appreciative. My little boy has to be reminded of that every once in a while lol. They did the same Christmas party when I was a kid.
Problem is how do we get the money from 152 different people, the best solution I could come up with is, you writing out a $3.00 check to Tara Hall Home For Boys, and I could just give them all to Jim Dumm.
If anybody has any other suggestions let me know, I would like to do this every year in the future, this is my first year so it's a learning process.
Guys lets do it, man these kids do not have a nice home like you and your kids have and they certainly not with their family like you and I, what's $3.00?! You spend that on a soda and a pack of crackers! $3.00 from one person ain't much but when you got 300 people doing it, it becomes a big deal, and can make a huge impact!
If you want to get on board with me inbox me. Ill even start the donations off by laying down a $100. Lets get it guys!
-Chance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok back to me now - See why I wanted to post it? How awesome is that?! Just think - you can probably find $3.00 around your car, the bottom of your purse, under you couch cushions!
Like I said, if you want to help out--let me know and I will get your gift to him or you can send a check directly to:
Chance Cooper 3302 Wall Lane Conway SC 29527
*Remember write it out to Tara Hall Home For Boys.
Please visit the website - if you click "The Boys" you can finish reading about Tony and read the stories of a few others and where they are now!
I also learned from the site that Tara Hall operates continually at or near its capacity of 24 boys....that is 24 mouths to feed of growing young men and 24 bodies to keep warm - so please think about helping if you are able! :)
I Love this time of year!!
xoxo,
Faith
11.17.2010
I hear you sir! :)
Since I was a little girl my Paw Paw always had this little poem/rhyme he would say every year around this time. Eventually I memorized it along with some of my other cousins and would just chime right in when he started reciting it or sometimes I would start and he would chime in. By the time I was older, we would say it regardless of what time of the year it was...it was just something to say during a Braves game when they were losing or any other time you needed a guaranteed smile. I can even remember saying it while he was in the hospital and at home with Hospice, no matter how little strength he had, he could get those words out and a smile. It was like he was proud because he was the one I learned it from and I am sure he knew it was a guaranteed smile too which is why he was certain to gain enough strength and composure to recite even days before he passed away. I will never forget the last time we said it together in person. I am not really a person who cries - I will at a movie or a TV show but in real life situations I am too busy trying to fix them to stop and cry about them but on this day I cried, like really cried. I remember saying, "Paw Paw please don't let that be the last time we say that" and hearing myself say that and in a way admitting to myself this was the last time made me burst into tears and I just laid my head in his lap and cried like baby for the first time ever in front him about him being sick.
Everytime, without fail, no matter who started it first he would smile the biggest smile and say, "You like that don't you? I can't believe you always remembered that." Sometimes he would marvel at the fact that, out of all of the things he ever taught me for that to stick out in my head means that I have a big heart because I understand everyone can't give and I still want God to bless them. I laugh through my tears while typing this because that is SO him....taking a simple nursery rhyme and over analyzing and applying it to my life. I guess I get it honest huh?!
This morning as I first stepped outside to take Miss Costa out this rhyme came to mind and for a few seconds every thought in my head that pertained to my "to do list" for today just stopped and all I could hear along with my voice was his, for just a few splendid seconds I got see him smile and hear him say, "You like that don't you? I can't believe you always remembered that." when we were finished.
He has been gone for seven months and sometimes it feels like forever ago and sometimes it feels like yesterday but no matter what the calendar says or how my heart feels I will take times like this morning anytime I can get them!
Christmas Is Comin'
Christmas is comin', the turkey is gettin' fat!
Please put a nickel in the old man's hat!
If ya ain't got a nickel, a 'penny will do!
If ya ain't got a penny, well then God bless you!
xoxo,
Faith
Everytime, without fail, no matter who started it first he would smile the biggest smile and say, "You like that don't you? I can't believe you always remembered that." Sometimes he would marvel at the fact that, out of all of the things he ever taught me for that to stick out in my head means that I have a big heart because I understand everyone can't give and I still want God to bless them. I laugh through my tears while typing this because that is SO him....taking a simple nursery rhyme and over analyzing and applying it to my life. I guess I get it honest huh?!
This morning as I first stepped outside to take Miss Costa out this rhyme came to mind and for a few seconds every thought in my head that pertained to my "to do list" for today just stopped and all I could hear along with my voice was his, for just a few splendid seconds I got see him smile and hear him say, "You like that don't you? I can't believe you always remembered that." when we were finished.
He has been gone for seven months and sometimes it feels like forever ago and sometimes it feels like yesterday but no matter what the calendar says or how my heart feels I will take times like this morning anytime I can get them!
Christmas Is Comin'
Christmas is comin', the turkey is gettin' fat!
Please put a nickel in the old man's hat!
If ya ain't got a nickel, a 'penny will do!
If ya ain't got a penny, well then God bless you!
 |
| I am still squeezing Paw-Paw--Love you!! |
xoxo,
Faith
11.15.2010
What else?!
What else would I possibly want to talk about today?! Check out this AMAZING video - it says it ALL!!
Gooooooooo Cocks!
Gooooooooo Cocks!
11.12.2010
A Mess or A Lesson?!
I have been incognito this week! I have been a little under the weather but quite honestly I just haven't really been very inspired too much this week. Just one of those weeks where I have been so busy I haven't had time to really think about stuff or so I thought!
Fortunately, all of this changed Wednesday night! :) As I mentioned, I have not felt well this week and that in turn has caused me not to sleep very much. So instead of even trying to lay there for hours and hours, tossing and turning I decided to clean my room. Not just "pick up" my room but really clean it. I am pretty organized when it comes to planning out my day, getting things done, or trying to just plan stuff in general. I try to make sure that toilets, sink, showers....things like that are clean but when it comes to organization in my car or bedroom you would think that a tornado ripped through! I did recently clean out my car and have done well at keeping it that way, but my bedroom floor has not been visible in a few weeks!
I am not about to even try and justify this messy room seeing as how part of cleaning up involved unpacking from Kaci's wedding which was October 9th BUT I must say that my bedroom does seem to be the congregation area when the girls are over getting ready and quite a few things I picked up amongst the disaster was not mine! ;)
Anyway, now that I am done confessing I am a slob and giving excuses on to the real reason I am telling you this! As I was cleaning (which started about 9:30pm) I was sitting there on my bedroom floor picking up clothes, deciding if they were clean or dirty, deciding which laundry pile to place them in, deciding if they should go in the pile to hang or the pile to fold, deciding if I were ever going to wear them again or should give them away and deciding if they were mine or one the girls ;) ....Told you I am organized! So in the midst of all of this decision making and about two hours later, of course Miss Costa needs to go outside to potty, I was on a roll and did not want to stop but I figured I better or I would have her mess to clean up too! So I stand up, stretch and look around....wow. wow. wow. It was then I realized it was a good thing I could not sleep because not only was my floor not visible neither was my bed now and I was going to be up for quite a while!
Miss Costa did her little dance outside, we came back in and I got back to work. Finally at 2:30am I could see my floor and almost all of my bed! I put the last few things away and looked around and what I saw this time was much better than what I saw a few hours ago!
Well any normal person would be pleased and go to bed, especially since I have to be up for work in about four hours but instead I opened up one of my drawers that I had been stuffing things in all night, and then another drawer, and then another until they were all opened and emptied...on my bedroom floor! So here I find myself again, in the same place, in the middle of a mess and knowing I cannot stop or it will stay this way. So after almost another two hours of decision making I can finally see my floor again, I can close my drawers without having stuff hanging out and even better I can open them without having to stick my hand in the drawer and having to flatten stuff down and pulling really hard to open it - they are all nice and neat now! Yay! Yes, it may have taken me a very long time and I definitely lost way to much sleep but it is just sleep, I can catch up on that! My bedroom being organized feels way better than any sleep could have!
Finally in bed, hoping to pass out fast but instead I lay there and my wheels start turning and I start thinking about how my messy room related to our messes in life sometimes. I made myself stop thinking so I could sleep and decided I would think about it later, so I am doing that now! Isn't it crazy how sometimes the most unrelated things can seem to be not so unrelated when we really think about it? I love it when this happens - these are the moments of inspiration I mentioned earlier!
Thinking back on cleaning my bedroom made me think about life and how we get lazy and life gets messy. We have our friends who sometimes add to the mess and we can try to point blame all we want but at the end of the day, the majority of the mess is ours and we are to blame! Once we get to the point of realizing we have to do something about the mess in our life, we have have to remember that the cleaning up part is not going to be easy or fast. It will take lots of decisions, perseverance and time. Now that we understand that we can start cleaning up the mess we have made and we have also remember that in cleaning one mess we do not see instant results but sometimes make an even bigger mess or what seems like a bigger mess but is really just the beginning of the cleaning process, even though it may not feel like it or we cannot see it we are making progress....we are moving so we have to be. If we get overwhelmed and just stay still or put it off for a better day like I thought about doing in my bedroom we will not get anywhere and just be surrounded by a bigger mess so we have to keep going until we can see the floor!
We finally get to the point in life where everything is better, our mess seems to be gone and then it happens....another mess comes along. Maybe it is because we "stuffed some things in drawers" instead of REALLY cleaning them up or one we thought would not be that big of deal to let go a little longer, either way we must understand that cleaning up messes is a continuous part of our lives! Since that sounds like pretty depressing news I will try to cheer you up.
Yes, life is a mess that we will spend forever cleaning only to find another mess but guess what?! When I was cleaning my room, I found clothes that I thought I would never see again, found some that I tried that I could fit into which was an awesome surprise and some that I had forgotten I had but was so happy to see them and remember them! This is the same with life....in these messes we have to remember to realize in every step along the way what we found and learned or relearned about our self that we may have forgotten...not just at the end when it is clean--don't just be happy then, but be happy and thankful for the journey and growth you are experiencing- you will feel much better along the way if you let these problems lead you to realizations that help you instead of hurt you!
xoxo,
Faith
Fortunately, all of this changed Wednesday night! :) As I mentioned, I have not felt well this week and that in turn has caused me not to sleep very much. So instead of even trying to lay there for hours and hours, tossing and turning I decided to clean my room. Not just "pick up" my room but really clean it. I am pretty organized when it comes to planning out my day, getting things done, or trying to just plan stuff in general. I try to make sure that toilets, sink, showers....things like that are clean but when it comes to organization in my car or bedroom you would think that a tornado ripped through! I did recently clean out my car and have done well at keeping it that way, but my bedroom floor has not been visible in a few weeks!
I am not about to even try and justify this messy room seeing as how part of cleaning up involved unpacking from Kaci's wedding which was October 9th BUT I must say that my bedroom does seem to be the congregation area when the girls are over getting ready and quite a few things I picked up amongst the disaster was not mine! ;)
Anyway, now that I am done confessing I am a slob and giving excuses on to the real reason I am telling you this! As I was cleaning (which started about 9:30pm) I was sitting there on my bedroom floor picking up clothes, deciding if they were clean or dirty, deciding which laundry pile to place them in, deciding if they should go in the pile to hang or the pile to fold, deciding if I were ever going to wear them again or should give them away and deciding if they were mine or one the girls ;) ....Told you I am organized! So in the midst of all of this decision making and about two hours later, of course Miss Costa needs to go outside to potty, I was on a roll and did not want to stop but I figured I better or I would have her mess to clean up too! So I stand up, stretch and look around....wow. wow. wow. It was then I realized it was a good thing I could not sleep because not only was my floor not visible neither was my bed now and I was going to be up for quite a while!
Miss Costa did her little dance outside, we came back in and I got back to work. Finally at 2:30am I could see my floor and almost all of my bed! I put the last few things away and looked around and what I saw this time was much better than what I saw a few hours ago!
Well any normal person would be pleased and go to bed, especially since I have to be up for work in about four hours but instead I opened up one of my drawers that I had been stuffing things in all night, and then another drawer, and then another until they were all opened and emptied...on my bedroom floor! So here I find myself again, in the same place, in the middle of a mess and knowing I cannot stop or it will stay this way. So after almost another two hours of decision making I can finally see my floor again, I can close my drawers without having stuff hanging out and even better I can open them without having to stick my hand in the drawer and having to flatten stuff down and pulling really hard to open it - they are all nice and neat now! Yay! Yes, it may have taken me a very long time and I definitely lost way to much sleep but it is just sleep, I can catch up on that! My bedroom being organized feels way better than any sleep could have!
Finally in bed, hoping to pass out fast but instead I lay there and my wheels start turning and I start thinking about how my messy room related to our messes in life sometimes. I made myself stop thinking so I could sleep and decided I would think about it later, so I am doing that now! Isn't it crazy how sometimes the most unrelated things can seem to be not so unrelated when we really think about it? I love it when this happens - these are the moments of inspiration I mentioned earlier!
Thinking back on cleaning my bedroom made me think about life and how we get lazy and life gets messy. We have our friends who sometimes add to the mess and we can try to point blame all we want but at the end of the day, the majority of the mess is ours and we are to blame! Once we get to the point of realizing we have to do something about the mess in our life, we have have to remember that the cleaning up part is not going to be easy or fast. It will take lots of decisions, perseverance and time. Now that we understand that we can start cleaning up the mess we have made and we have also remember that in cleaning one mess we do not see instant results but sometimes make an even bigger mess or what seems like a bigger mess but is really just the beginning of the cleaning process, even though it may not feel like it or we cannot see it we are making progress....we are moving so we have to be. If we get overwhelmed and just stay still or put it off for a better day like I thought about doing in my bedroom we will not get anywhere and just be surrounded by a bigger mess so we have to keep going until we can see the floor!
We finally get to the point in life where everything is better, our mess seems to be gone and then it happens....another mess comes along. Maybe it is because we "stuffed some things in drawers" instead of REALLY cleaning them up or one we thought would not be that big of deal to let go a little longer, either way we must understand that cleaning up messes is a continuous part of our lives! Since that sounds like pretty depressing news I will try to cheer you up.
Yes, life is a mess that we will spend forever cleaning only to find another mess but guess what?! When I was cleaning my room, I found clothes that I thought I would never see again, found some that I tried that I could fit into which was an awesome surprise and some that I had forgotten I had but was so happy to see them and remember them! This is the same with life....in these messes we have to remember to realize in every step along the way what we found and learned or relearned about our self that we may have forgotten...not just at the end when it is clean--don't just be happy then, but be happy and thankful for the journey and growth you are experiencing- you will feel much better along the way if you let these problems lead you to realizations that help you instead of hurt you!
xoxo,
Faith
11.05.2010
"My only worry in the world....is the tide gonna reach my chair..."
I am having one of those days today, the kind where I feel overwhelmed and like nothing in the world could help me make sense out of anything in life more than the ocean. I know it sounds crazy and talking to a friend seems like it would be much more beneficial but talking to the ocean is like talking to God except for you can see Him....you talk, He listens, then He talks. If we can stop questioning what he says while he is talking we can hear Him and suddenly everything just seems to make sense...even if it doesn't right at that very moment, you know that at some point down the road it will.
It is amazing how something so large, loud, powerful....can be so calming, not cost a penny and not be judgmental.
I love nothing better in this world than to just sit on the sand, stare into the ocean and pray and think and listen....just ponder all of the millions of questions I have in my head - most of the time I seem to get answers for a lot of them and the ones I don't get answers to, I realize really are not as important as I thought they were on the drive over.
There are song lyrics, "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean"...those words are so true we should never feel we are bigger or more powerful than the ocean but isn't it awesome how just by sitting near the ocean for a few you seem to be reminded that you can do great things....just when you are feeling overwhelmed, worthless, not good enough, you should give up, like there is no point in trying.....the clapping of the waves make you feel like their cheering is for you and remind you that there is hope and you do have what it takes....you are reminded of your worth.
The salty air, bundled up in a blanket, choosing the perfect spot of my choice, with a chair sculpted by God....just for me out of sand, the sound of waves rolling and crashing in...that is where I want to be right now...something about the ocean and all that surrounds it - makes you think about only the things you enjoy thinking about!
"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
~e.e. cummings
It is amazing how something so large, loud, powerful....can be so calming, not cost a penny and not be judgmental.
I love nothing better in this world than to just sit on the sand, stare into the ocean and pray and think and listen....just ponder all of the millions of questions I have in my head - most of the time I seem to get answers for a lot of them and the ones I don't get answers to, I realize really are not as important as I thought they were on the drive over.
There are song lyrics, "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean"...those words are so true we should never feel we are bigger or more powerful than the ocean but isn't it awesome how just by sitting near the ocean for a few you seem to be reminded that you can do great things....just when you are feeling overwhelmed, worthless, not good enough, you should give up, like there is no point in trying.....the clapping of the waves make you feel like their cheering is for you and remind you that there is hope and you do have what it takes....you are reminded of your worth.
The salty air, bundled up in a blanket, choosing the perfect spot of my choice, with a chair sculpted by God....just for me out of sand, the sound of waves rolling and crashing in...that is where I want to be right now...something about the ocean and all that surrounds it - makes you think about only the things you enjoy thinking about!
"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
~e.e. cummings
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| This is a pic I took this summer - one of my favorites! |
xoxo,
Faith
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
This is a cute article and a video of Cocky - you dont really have to read the article - just watch the video and look for the poor child wearing orange to get the point! :) Click Here!
Hoping for a WIN tomorrow!!!
U! S! C! Gooooooooooo Cocks!!
xoxo,
Faith
Hoping for a WIN tomorrow!!!
U! S! C! Gooooooooooo Cocks!!
xoxo,
Faith
11.04.2010
Undefeated
As much as I enjoy reading, I have somehow never ran across this poem-someone told me about it last night so I read it and thought about it a few times today. To better understand its meaning I researched other peoples thoughts and that led me to come up with a few of my own to-whether I am right or wrong it has a great meaning to me, but you don't have to agree, we can each have our own interpretation!
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
~William Ernest Henley
In the first stanza he seems to be experiencing some kind of despair, or a dark moment in life and he prays. However, (this is my favorite part) he doesnt pray for Strength to continue but rather gives thanks for the Strength he has had in the past.This reminds me of the song lyrics "Praise Him in the storm".
The second stanza it appears he has overcome his despair and he is able to admit that he did have a tough time in life, yet he was able to bravely overcome it!
The third stanza makes me think he is referring to death "Beyond this place of wrath and tears" his "suffering" has come to an end for good. Even though he overcame suffering in stanza two, we all know that life is full of ups and downs but death is the end of the roller coaster ride. He is not being morbid but showing that he is brave enough to continue in life, good or bad, because he knows that it does come to an end one day, and he is not afraid.
The fourth stanza really throws me for a loop but it seems to be a follow up from the third stanza explaining that once death comes, you have the "strait gates" of Heaven to enter through but he accepts whatever judgement he has to face. The author is an atheist so the last two lines basically say he is in charge of his own fate and his own destiny which is so confusing to me based on some of the other points he made.
Even though I am definitely not sure if any of my interpretation of this is correct - the point that it made to me is that through the good and the bad remain strong and continue fighting - don't give up...don't only remember to pray for strength going forward but to remember to be thankful for what you have already conquered! Remember to hold on to your dignity in any situation that life places before you and keep on moving!
xoxo,
Faith
11.03.2010
Embrace Them All
We have all probably heard this poem a few times, I may have even posted it before-it is definitely one of my favorites! LatelyI have found myself applying it more and more. Sometimes in my own life and sometimes when talking to my friends. This author is unknown but I would love to know who they are so I could shake their hand - these words make SO much sense when you sit back and think about different people/relationships in your own life! This is definitely one for the "Save Forever" file! :)
Reason,Season,Lifetime
People come into your life for
a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime.
When you know which one it is,
you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then,without any wrongdoing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered
and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real.
But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,
things you must build upon in order
to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person and put what you have learned to use
in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
~Unknown
Know do you uunderstand why I love these words so much--they are so easy to apply!!
Reasons - You have to love these people - they really do seem to come at just the right time....to help us get over a break-up, distract us during a death, help us get through a class or certain task at work, moving to a new place and so on...I find that we often seem to get Reason and Lifetime mixed up and then when "Mr or Mrs Reason" is gone we are left feeling empty and lonely...but don't be! Think back...this person came in your life at the "perfect time" got you through something that could have been way harder had they not been around and are now gone...if they were truly a Lifetime, first of all they wouldn't be gone right now and second of all they wouldn't need a reason.
Seasons - I love Season friends....these people are always your friends. The kind you see out and about, give a big hug and spend a minute reminiscing about the time you toilet papered someones house or went skydiving. You just are may not be as close as you were for a short period of time, but still friends. This is the relationship that seems to always come along after the "Reason" is gone and helps us remember how to laugh, gets us back to ourselves so we can move on from that reason relationship!
Lifetimes - Aside from family, you will figure out who your lifetimes are...these are the people who make you the angriest when "Reason" is gone because they remind you that he/she was just that...a reason - Lifetime is the person who tells you the truth no matter how painful and they know that they have to be honest with you because not only would you do the same for them but also because you are the person they will be growing with, stumbling with, laughing with, fighting with and loving for a lifetime!
xoxo,
Faith
Reason,Season,Lifetime
People come into your life for
a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime.
When you know which one it is,
you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then,without any wrongdoing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered
and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real.
But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,
things you must build upon in order
to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person and put what you have learned to use
in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
~Unknown
Know do you uunderstand why I love these words so much--they are so easy to apply!!
Reasons - You have to love these people - they really do seem to come at just the right time....to help us get over a break-up, distract us during a death, help us get through a class or certain task at work, moving to a new place and so on...I find that we often seem to get Reason and Lifetime mixed up and then when "Mr or Mrs Reason" is gone we are left feeling empty and lonely...but don't be! Think back...this person came in your life at the "perfect time" got you through something that could have been way harder had they not been around and are now gone...if they were truly a Lifetime, first of all they wouldn't be gone right now and second of all they wouldn't need a reason.
Seasons - I love Season friends....these people are always your friends. The kind you see out and about, give a big hug and spend a minute reminiscing about the time you toilet papered someones house or went skydiving. You just are may not be as close as you were for a short period of time, but still friends. This is the relationship that seems to always come along after the "Reason" is gone and helps us remember how to laugh, gets us back to ourselves so we can move on from that reason relationship!
Lifetimes - Aside from family, you will figure out who your lifetimes are...these are the people who make you the angriest when "Reason" is gone because they remind you that he/she was just that...a reason - Lifetime is the person who tells you the truth no matter how painful and they know that they have to be honest with you because not only would you do the same for them but also because you are the person they will be growing with, stumbling with, laughing with, fighting with and loving for a lifetime!
xoxo,
Faith
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