Finding Bread Crumbs

The last couple or so weeks of my life are difficult to find words to put description. These last years of physical, and I will fully admit...mental and emotional conflict have been antagonistic to say the least. Spiritually I've had low days and I've had high days. Yet I feel deep inside God is giving me bread crumbs to follow.....feeding me along the path. Perhaps I'm not so much Searching For Annette as I am now beginning to allow "Finding Annette"...... maybe I can rest and sip a little wine along the way also.... 'communing' with Jesus. Special ways for special needs....my own needs and not just every one else's I've enabled instead of empowered through the Holy Spirit living in me and in them also. So much, so many 'whisperings', so limited time and energies that I really need to listen how to work it all into and out of my day to day being. How to prioritize and yes, organize...I'm not too good at that ...I openly admit it... it overwhelms me sometimes the thoughts of organization, but I know the necessity of becoming better at that ~ with that. So much I want to do, to share, to offer......God give me direction in all those areas and more I'm not admitting to or realizing. Help me be ME.....a better reflection of YOU.......thanks for encouraging and keeping me sustained with bread and with wine. With you all things are becoming possible like never before......and so YOU lead me here just in this moment ~

Psalms 4

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;

the LORD will hear when I call to him.

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,

O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

self explanatory; please watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl0HLn118pM

In Memory of My Firstborn

We Knew You Briefly

We knew you briefly,

Yet we loved you deeply.

Child of our own flesh and blood,

Emotions that spill over like a flood.

You were the promise of tomorrow,

How could you leave us in so much sorrow?

Born much too soon, you were gone in a glint,

But there was a good reason that you were sent.

We experienced the miracle of life growing inside of me,

Before we had to give you painfully back to Thee.

You taught us lessons we needed to learn,

We prayed to God; the purpose, how we yearned.

You taught us life should not be taken for granted,

You helped our future seed in good soil be planted.

For without true faith in God above,

How can we feel the wondrous power of love?

It was you, Baby Angel from above,

Who started our life's quilt:

Infinitesimal stitches you delicately wove.

Now it enfolds us in warmth and we feel peace that is secure,

Just like the soft blanket that wrapped you so exquisitely beautiful, tiny and demure.

The brief time you spent with us here,

Will always perhaps bring the shed of a tear.

But you, Baby Angel in Heaven above,

Are pure and peaceful and free as a dove.

We are reminded of you in good times and bad,

But now it is time to let go of the sad.

If tears fall now, let them be of joy,

Remembrances of you, our dear firstborn, a boy.

So even though all we now have is your tiny footprint,

We have the proof for us that you indeed were meant.

Just as Jesus died on the cross with so much passion,

You too, taught us about love, sacrifice and compassion.

You came and stayed only for a while,

And since that time we have traveled many a mile.

Yet you have always been with us in our hearts,

For such a deep love never truly departs.

Thank you for teaching us to the core down inside,

That God's love really can carry us deep and wide.

For even though we knew you briefly,

Our love for Christ has grown chiefly,

From feeling your presence away and far,

As you have tiptoed from moonbeam to star.

You keep watch over us day after day,

Helping to teach us in every way,

To grow more fully in God's abounding love,

And to trust in guidance from high up above.

written by:

Annette Monts Falls

words given about midnight, May 22, 2004 while reflecting upon Taylor Monts Falls,

2 pounds and 2 ounces, 14 inches long

Thursday, May 21, 1981 in Tulsa, Oklahoma

To Hear..."WELCOME TO HOLLAND"

Welcome To Holland

“I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this…

“When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum, the Michelangelo David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.

“After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, ‘Welcome to Holland’.

“ ‘Holland?!?’ you say. ‘What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy! All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy!’

“But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

“The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.

“So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole

new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

“It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.

“But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, ‘Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.’

“The pain of that will never, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

“But if you spend your life morning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely unexpected things about Holland.”

Written by Emily Pearl Kingsley

Kindle The Flame

From November, 2004: Last night as I lie awake, I asked God to let me know if I am following him the way he wants me to. I sometimes worry I overload many of you with words that intrude into your privacy and personal domain. Sometimes Satan tries to make me feel inadequate and unworthy to send these things out like I do…but then, God answers me this morning with a brief email from a stranger who let me know without doubt that she is appreciative of reminders to feel thankful and blessed because of the overwhelming stresses of her life presently. I hope somehow that my words can help her fuel her faith in Christ, and bring encouragement to persevere. We all burn down many times in our lives, and it is often just one person who can come along at the right moment to breathe warmth and energy back into what so often feels like dying embers. Given the chance, those embers will find enough spark to kindle new flames and hope in life. Many thanks to those of you who continue to encourage my light to shine….love and hugs, Annette

Kindle the Flame

When life begins, so does the flame,

The spark is lit when we are given our name.

Our light shines steady as we continue to grow,

Then bit by bit we learn to intensify the glow.

We enter adulthood and the fire burns strong,

We search for the path to where we belong.

Sometimes we lose our way and the flame may dim,

But we continue to push on and overcome the grim.

Sometimes we are content with a slow steady burn,

Sometimes there are changes for which we yearn.

There times it seems our light grows cold,

There are times we seem quite lost and old.

These are the times we need to find a friend,

Someone who knows how to find the light still within.

Someone who will not judge us nor find blame,

A special friend who knows how to rekindle the flame.

For how can a fire burn without fuel?

How can one survive all that seems cold and cruel?

It takes someone who has already conquered the game,

Someone who can breathe new life into a burned out flame.

So as we go about our day to day,

Ask God if He will point out the way,

To the one who feels their light is becoming just a tiny flicker,

Feed them with encouragement until their light grows thicker.

Then step aside and give space to the lovely renewed light,

Watch it grow strong and become again bright.

Foster the freedom to go light the way,

For it too will give another nurture one day.

We all need someone to call out our names,

Someone we can trust to rekindle our flames.

Thanks to those who have helped me with mine,

Now let us all go out and let our lights shine!

Annette Monts Falls Words given November 7, 2004

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot e hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on it’s stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

MOST PRECIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER

Something I wrote from October, 2005

Most Precious Heavenly Father,

As I ponder different events and circumstances of late,

I come to you now with requests to make.

Father, if it be Thy will,

Peace inside us all instill?

Can you help us understand regardless the cost,

We need to fervently reach out to those who are lost?

Can you give us the words best to say,

When someone we know has had a bad day?

Can you help us turn words of profanity in ways,

That instead become words of endless praise?

Can you help us turn against violent rage,

Bring freedom to those who feel locked in a cage?

Can the world as we know it, every nation,

Remember our roots are by your creation?

Can we harvest the energies of turbulent storms,

And share the seeds from which love and faith are formed?

Can we bring rest to those who are worn and weary,

Can you help us help them to see things more clearly?

The strengths of your mercy and grace are magnificent,

Help them to understand you love is all sufficient?

Help us Precious Lord to...

Bring hope to the discouraged, beaten down soul.

Bring comfort to those who are hurting, young and old.

Help us be a candle burning brightly to show others the way,

That all things become possible when they begin to pray.

Help us demonstrate that your love does not cease,

Help us share with others your abounding and everlasting peace.

Help us teach others Lord, the promise you made,

Through Jesus' death on the cross, our debts have been paid.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for listening to my requests,

With Jesus beside me I have been so blessed.

Please bless and keep my loved ones near,

Family, friends and other ones here.

AMEN

To His Glory,

Annette Monts Falls

October 12, 2005

The Cocoon First, Then The Beautiful Butterfly

The Cocoon First, Then The Beautiful Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress.It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body,which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we were allowed to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

Emerging From The Cocoon

The butterfly and the special childFeb 19, 2008 Author: Kyron Filed under: Articles, Inspiriation, Magazines, Strategies This month’s Ladies Home Journal has a small piece by Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America fame. Robin, if you were unaware has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. While obviously this is not a blog about cancer, her message in this piece I think can speak to all parents of special needs children. She tells the story of the butterfly and how she feels it’s a fantastic analogy for how adversity being a valuable teacher, and how this adversity can leave us stronger than when we started.Robin describes how the emerging butterfly beats its wings against the cocoon repeatedly to escape. She relates how if the butterfly were to be cut free of the cocoon and not win its freedom through the struggle it doesn’t gain the necessary strength to survive. I have always thought of my daughter as a butterfly as well. My original theory sprang from the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly and the entire struggle they go through to get to that point and emerge this beautiful and graceful creature. I do believe that Robin’s butterfly analogy still applies to all our children. Each one in their own way may have a struggle, a cocoon from which they will escape. Beating their wings they slowly emerge having overcome one adversity or another. No matter how many cocoons your youngster must fight their way through it will make them stronger. Let your child break through the cocoon. Be there to cheer them on, but let them be the ones to break through. To cut your butterfly loose from it’s cocoon would not allow it to win it’s freedom and would not give it the strength it needs to live it’s life. As the parent of a special child, sometimes it’s harder I think to watch the struggle. You feel like you need to help cut open the cocoon. You need to facilitate, but the breakthrough must be their own, hard won maybe, but their own. Without question we are all blessed with some amazing butterflies.

INFERTILE SOIL?

Infertile Soil? Today, May 19, 2007 is Clay's 22 birthday. Twenty-two years is quite a while to live considering how many times we were told that his survival would be short lived. Time after time, event after event, Clay would overcome what seemed to be the impossible. Even from his very first breaths outside of his fluid filled, safe environment of my womb, he had to struggle. Those very first breaths that ruptured his lung........that stole happy, excited moments from all of us. From being wheeled in my recovery bed halfway into a tiny room in Boulder, Colorado, where he struggled and staff feared his death so imminent that I was on public display, during visiting hours that overflowed with flowers, balloons, brightly wrapped presents, and excited faces that passed around me. I looked at those particular series of photographs.....seems like such a life time ago, yet memories can prevail and I can find myself right back in that very setting and the sorrows that came with it. Twenty-two years have passed..........will still survive, yet obviously it has passed with negative impact as well as the more welcomed positive outcomes. Clay possesses a jubilant spirit.......a limitless attitude.........a forever smile and bright, mischievous eyes. (Looking at him today in the bright sunshine, he now has widespread, chaotic facial hair........it is so difficult to keep him 'clean shaven' and it darkens and thickens more quickly than I would like to keep up with it.) The last few nights have once again brought 'growing pains'. Severe muscle spasms that hit spontaneously as he shifts his sleeping position. Spasms that do not want to relax as he can so quickly flex back into rigidity. Yet, more times than not, he bounces back with that winning personality and wit.........(this is often not the case with either parent!).......it is a warped wit, but keen and active I believe 24 hours a day. I often wonder what he dreams about. Several weeks ago I planted a large 'batch' of flower seeds that a dear friend had given me. I had worked the ground, pulled the weeds, turned over the mixture of soil components. I spread the seeds, watered and have waited with anticipation the little shows of green that should have arrived by this time. Day after day, I have gone out and felt disappointment that it simply looked the same as the day before.........better than it looked before I made the effort to 'clean' it up and enrich it, but not the progress I had hoped for. So I ponder, is my soil infertile or are my seeds sterile? Perhaps it is a combination of both trying to steal my joy of accomplishment. Joy of watching green shoots grow and develop into blossoms of changing colors. Joy of anticipating the butterflies and the hummingbirds that 'could' enjoy a visit and receive a sweet, and hopeful, abundant supply of tasty, plentiful nectar. So, I suppose I will start almost all over again. I will reseed and water accordingly. Perhaps the 'spring' will decide to stick around and the ground can warm without unexpected chills. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps! Truthfully, a few hours ago, I began to think that I, in a very personal manner, have experienced much infertile soil. I know that I have planted seeds for more than the twenty-two years that have had the greatest impact upon my life and my spirit. I know of some that sprouted, grew and matured to beautiful harvest..........yet, it seems like many perished and ~ or failed to thrive. To be completely honest, I want and need to harvest. I desire to feel successful at planting. I hope my seeds to be the purest quality. I want my soil to be nurturing and rewarding. I want.......I want.........I want!!! After all, how long are some of these seeds suppose to germinate?! Then this little glimmer of knowledge begins to permeate my self-loathing. "Annette, we all sometimes feel our planting is in vain. Sometimes we feel our planting is self-serving and deserved. Sometimes we all feel our storms just keep ripping away the sunshine. Remember I promised the rainbow. How could you truly experience the bliss if you had not weathered the turbulent storm?" So, in writing, I hope I have reassured my impatient soul that a harvest is waiting. I hope that reading this, your hearts might be reassured with a glint of new hope. That in sharing and living, we build one another up. That when we plant together, our harvests are more than abundant..........they are eternal. With much love, Hershey kisses, and many hugs to all of you who help me plant and give me the 'fertilizer' (and I am not merely hinting MANURE!) I need at just the right moments................... Annette ~ 5-19-2007 at 9:30 PM

Hanging Around in My Garden ~

My last tulip, birthed May 19, 1985....photo taken January 23...Physical Therapist, Sharon Adams......gee he is thinking what great fortune.....not every guy can hang around with such a beautiful woman!

Tending to Fragile Flowers

Tending tulips........in connection to Welcome to Holland for those of us who have made the unplanned, sudden trip but landed safely despite confused hearts.....I think of the different colors, different shapes, different classifications as the different 'challenges' each tulip presents and triumphs over. The different classifications of special needs families.....we all grow in God's garden. Some require more attention and care than others, some are more sensitive to our environments and the unpredicted, often stormy weather; but we are all equal and blooming in a spectacular garden, equal in His eyes. Thank you Lord for changing my destinations... detours from what I had planned all three birthing experiences...I've been a grumbling traveler, a tired passenger; I'm understanding more fully how much color it has painted into my life. My canvas is growing and the work of Thy hands is spectacular! Masterpieces in the making all by God's merciful plan and purpose. AMEN!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

from the 12th chapter of Romans

TRANSFORMED

I have always loved butterflies. Their beauty and their grace of flight from one flower or object to another. I love to put bananas out in spring/summer for them to feed just outside my big window with the bird feeder and bath........only squirrels like to eat my bananas, and plunder my seed. I know they are God's creation also; an older friend, now deceased, used to call them rats with fancy tails.....sometimes I feel compassion for them but honestly a lot of the time I feel frustration that they take everything I put out for the wonder of the birds and the butterflies that grace my little spot created for much of my meditation and conversation with the Lord. Absorbing the beauty and the activity of the birds feeding, drinking and splashing FEED and FILL my creativity and enfolds my soul with words that sometimes I can be motivated to write and share with others of similar hearts. I spend much time conversing with God as I watch the beauty outside my window.......you can learn a lot about commonalities among the birds.....they share the bounty and the water with little conflict between them. For the most part there is no discrimination between them...........red, yellow, blue, black and white.......they all get along......such a lesson to us about commonalities versus differences. I love to hear their chatter, their 'twittering' and their songs to our Lord in Thanksgiving. I love butterflies because they have survived the struggle and confines of their cocoons prior to stretching their wings and taking flight........such beauty, I strive to be like a beautiful butterfly, stretching my wings, finding new ways to take flight, gracefully landing here and there, bringing cheer and hope to those places I light upon and take back off again. Thank you God for butterflies, for songbirds, and beauty all around us. I praise Him for sharing with us so abundantly and I hope I bring him praise in return.

THERE WILL BE A DAY

THERE WILL BE A DAY

I try to hold on to this wold with everything I have, but I feel the weight of what it brings and the hurt that tries to grab. The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth, that we will enter in His rest with wonders anew.

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings, that there will be a place with no more suffering.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more. We'll see Jesus face to face. But until that day we'll hold onto You always.

I know the journey seem so long. You feel you're walking on your own. But there has never been a step where you've walked out all alone. Troubled soul, don't lose your heart 'cause joy and peace He brings, and the beauty that's in store outweighs the hurt of life's sting.

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced. To touch the scars that rescused me from a life of shame and misery. This is why this is why I sing.

Jeremy Camp ~ Revelations 21:4 ~ Speaking Louder Than Before

Igniting the Flame

The last several days have had tremendous impact upon my life...my spirit...my purpose. I am being fueled by so many sources and I feel His presence leading me in ways I prayed would become more obvious to me. Discernment is a treasure. Ask and you shall receive.......so many "God Incidences".....how my heart sings! This old oil lantern is being dusted off, polished, and refueled. The flame is on the verge of the spark that pulls all of it together and the LIGHT that shines and who will notice and grow with the flame......it is nearly a year (Feb.8, 2008) that God gave me words for The Old Oil Lantern and sharing my stories. I pray that I bring Him all the glory from the center of HIS flame and that doors to miracles are being opened to His knock and His light!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

THERE WILL BE A DAY....JEREMY CAMP

Jeremy Camp - There Will Be A Day - Video Devotional 10:41am Source: www.youtube.com

Music that fills my soul

I sit at this screen with some incredible music filling me with awe. I am listening to Jeremy Camp's CD SPEAKING LOUDER THAN BEFORE. He wrote all the songs I am listening to and he sings with so much conviction. If my eyes will cooperate I'll share some of the lyrics, but all of the songs merit consideration by those of us who love Contemporary Christian music. I just got this CD this afternoon after hearing There Will Be A Day played on our local station. http://www.wmhk.com/ Little did I realize, the lyrics of all these are amazing.......the only downside is the tiny fonts that are used with all the information about the CD! Perhaps that was a good thing about those old, considerable larger LP albums some of us fondly recall.

SPEAKING LOUDER THAN BEFORE

Hear now this declaration from out across the nations / we need to wake up and understand / many hurting hearts are crying, but our voices seem to be dying / can you see the battle raging on? / we are the light to reach this world / we are the salt preserving these souls / let's show them all the love that we've received / we are, we are in desperation / we need to reach this generation / we are speaking louder than before / we have a hope that's been forgotten / we have a love that has been brought and we are speaking louder than before / take every chance that you can, move together, taking a stand / never losing heart, we'll speak as one / we need to be the image of Christ, to show love and serve at all times / we can make a difference in this land / everything's surreal, but this urgency I feel / we should be reaching out to all these desperate pleas / the need is real, can't you feel this call to revolution? / my beating heart is breaking for them / that's why I'm speaking up, that's why I'm speaking now

Jeremy based these lyrics on Mark 16:15 & Matthew 5:13-16

And so I close this posting giving God thanks for artists like Jeremy Camp. I pray it is okay that I posted these lyrics written by Jeremy Camp........they need to be shared. Reading the words and listening at the same time, is indeed music that fills my soul. I'll be sharing the other words by Jeremy inside this CD insert that impact and speak to me in praise and Thanksgiving.

http://www.jeremycamp.com/

THE ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

copied & pasted from a lovely email: The One Flaw In Women By the time the Lord made woman,He was into his sixth day of working overtime.An angel appeared and said,"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,have a lap that can hold four children at one time,have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart-and she will do everything with only two hands."The angel was astounded at the requirements."Only two hands!? No way!And that's just on the standard model?That's too much work for one day.Wait until tomorrow to finish.""But I won't, " the Lord protested."I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.She already heals herself when she is sick and can work 18 hour days."The angel moved closer and touched the woman."But you have made her so soft, Lord.""She is soft," the Lord agreed,"but I have also made her tough.You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.""Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.The Lord replied,"Not only will she be able to think,she will be able to reason and negotiate."The angel then noticed something,and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek."Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.""That's not a leak,"the Lord corrected,"that's a tear!""What's the tear for?" the angel asked.The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,her loneliness, her grief and her pride."The angel was impressed."You are a genius, Lord.You thought of everything!Woman is truly amazing."And she is!Women have strengths that amaze men.They bear hardships and they carry burdens,but they hold happiness,love and joy.They smile when they want to scream.They sing when they want to cry.They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.They fight for what they believe in.They stand up to injustice.They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.They go without so their family can have.They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.They love unconditionally.They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.Their hearts break when a friend dies.They grieve at the loss of a family member,yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.They bring joy, hope and love.They have compassion and ideals.They give moral support to their family and friends.Women have vital things to say and everything to give HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN,IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Comfort for Confused Creativity

I sit and try to figure out facebook and blogging and how to tie it all together somehow, efficiently, easily. I feel helpless many times in my attempts. Yet, I realize they are not all futile. Sometimes I get it right.....a lot of times I get it wrong. I need to log off for the night but before I actually do that, I am reminded that God did not have confused creativity. It was not ~ is not possible for God to be confused. What a comfort!

Solace for Many; and oh, so true:

A Child Loaned

'I'll lend you for a little time

A child of Mine,' He said,

'For you to love the while he lives,

And mourn for when he's dead.

It may be six or seven years

Or twenty-two or three,

But will you, till I call him back,

Take care of him for Me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you,

And should his stay be brief,

You'll have his lovely memories

As solace for your grief.''

I cannot promise he will stay,

Since all from earth return.

But there are lessons taught down there

I want this child to learn.

I've looked this wide world over

In my search for teachers true.

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,

I have selected you.

Now will you give him all your love,

Not think the labor vain,

Nor hate Me when I come to call

And take him back again?'

I fancied that I heard them say,

'Dear Lord, Thy will be done,

For all the joy Thy child shall bring,

The risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness,

We'll love him while we may,

And for the happiness we've known,

Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him,

Much sooner than we planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,

And try to understand.'

~ Edgar Guest ~

Families fighting for Caregivers

a group I'm trying to get growing called Familes Fighting for Caregivers. I started this blog from the beginning to advocate and share about my life as a mother to a severely physically challenged, totally dependent now almost 24 year old. Several of my blog posts relate somehow to life in the midst of very special individuals who are such a part of ourselves, our lives, our spirituality. Anyone interested, please share the info for how to connect with our group on Facebook. Families Fighting for Caregivers Global Basic Info Type: Common Interest - Families Description: support network for individuals and families who care for special needs family members at home NEEDING ADVOCATES TO CHANGE REGULATIONS/HOURS FOR HOME CARE PROVIDERS AND RESPITE REGULATIONS!!! These families need time to function outside of constant care demands with little to no flexibility given by agencies, that claim to be community based programs........it is time for change that works for us and for our 'challenged' love ones, and does not dictate how or when we can use hours of assistance and who that assistant is for a particular family.....we need CHOICE and Greater FLEXIBILITY and freedom to enjoy some life outside of overwhelming constant, exhaustive demands of extremely dependent individuals because alternatives are poor at best for young adult, especially physically challenged, children of families often caught being caregivers to elderly parents at the same time, severely sandwiched between continuing and often constant basis supervision. WE are the ones giving care to everyone but our marriages and ourselves. Contact Info Annette Monts Falls Email: Annette4clay@aol.com Location: Chapin, SC

Fairy Godmothers

It has been a very long time since I've even attempted a blog post here.....I read things I wrote this time last year and in many ways, it is difficult to fully comprehend the passage of time. I've discovered old friends and I network new friends on Facebook, so this blog has gathered dust. I've written about my dreams to be a "Cinderella"; afterall, the Disney quiz on Facebook says that is 'my' character and I've been waiting on my Fairy Godmother in some abstract way to connect with me. Some will recall my Cinderella and Fairy Godmother pix in my photo albums, ha, ha! Through the Beth Moore blog, I read an entry for someone who 'whispered' to me in a rather fairy like manner......more appropriately a God-Motherly or should I say, a God-siesta-ly fashion. I checked out her blog and there are so many things I find so like me and I've never met her in any way than reading her comment on the LPM site late this afternoon. That is where the Breath of Heaven clip came from, my favorite song and mentioned in my Waiting and Wanting post. I am always amazed at how God pours Grace down upon us and sometimes we are so filled that we begin to spill over even after feeling empty for a while. I am amazed at how the Holy Spirit can time things; moments that easily spill tears from my eyes and cause them to stream down my cheeks I suppose similar to how this incredible technology 'streams' one thing to another thing, one individual to another in the blink of an eye. And so, as I wipe my eyes, Thank you to those fairies out there who twinkle in the image of God's eye.