Sunshine on my shoulders...

This morning I am sitting near a window that allows the intense fall sun to penetrate my shoulder. It feels great. It feels refreshing. It makes me feel alive! It brings to mind the old John Denver song.. Sunshine On My Shoulders. Whether you like the song or not... Consider these lyrics:
"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high"

I have to stop and pause.... life is really about magical "sunshiney" moments where God gives us rays of comfort, joy, and peace.. when we least expect or deserve them. HE allows us "lovelyness" and natural highs that no drug can ever achieve. That is pretty awesome. These thoughts make me happy.. and for that and all my other blessings I am humbly grateful. Sorry I must run... the sunshine beckons me to move a little closer so that my personal moment of joy may continue. BLESSINGS TO EACH OF YOU this fine day!

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Today I spent a frazzling day in the computer lab. The students could easily complete the task I asked of them..IF THEY LISTENED to the first few moments of class. If not.... several steps in to the activity.. BAM... big fat mess. This drove me CRAZY!!! Undeniably the students would insist that they had followed the steps and that the "computer messed them up". NOT QUITE my lovelies.
Hours later.. I have to admit... WE don't often listen. Someone tells us very important information and we are too busy formulating our response or better yet.. what we think they are going to say. I need to work on this... The Tlingit Indian Tribe of Alaska says that speaking too much or too long shows disrespect for others. WOW.. something to think about it.. There in lies my challenge... speak less... listen more... and REALLY listen!! Wish me luck!!

Taking things for granted!

TODAY... my car died. That crazy kind where you drive to a store, do your business, and come out to... NOTHING!! No door lock, no radio... we are talking dead, dead, dead. Thankfully my mom and son came to my rescue, picked me up, and will take me back later with some help from people who understand engines.
THE THOUGHT STRIKES ME.. right now... I take many things for granted. cars that start, hotwater for showers, cold water for drinking, grocery stores with what I not only need but also with what I want, medical geniuses to restore me to health, a job that will offer payment to cover my desires, friends, family, love of those people, their guaranteed forgiveness of my bizarre and quirky ways, the fact that I can leave work to be done tomorrow, and that tomorrow will come! UH-OH... here's where my heart skips a beat. IF TOMORROW does not come to me... what would I have left undone? Have I cleared off my doorstoop so that CHRIST would see my WELCOME sign should he return tomorrow? I know he knows my worries and my troubles. PERHAPS the car not working is his way of shaking up my monotony and making me take notice of the many blessings he as ALREADY granted. I think I am going to get busy... I've got some praising to do and some people to thank. If you are reading this... I probably owe you a thanks.. MAY GOD BLESS YOU and may you realize that just now.. at this very moment.. I realized I should never take you for granted!! AMEN!!

Last Supper???

Today (in preparation for our class novel), I asked my students what ONE food they would be willing to eat every day to survive? They all wanted to negotiate~ explaining that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was ONE THING.. NO..I explained that is three..
Macaroni and Cheese... NO that's two.. YOU KNOW HOW THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED... they got frustrated and I got tickled. HOWEVER.. I had to ask myself the same question.. WHAT WOULD I CHOOSE?? I like a lot of things... but could I eat them every single day? I love brownie sundaes... but they make my head hurt.. too much EVERYTHING... I like pizza..... but eventually I would feel like I did when Domino's was an option on my meal card at NCSU. So I find myself perplexed. What would I eat? I am thinking the suggestion of one of my student's would be excellent... the potato! A very diverse and underrated foot item. It has gotten a bad rap for years due to its high carbohydrate content. POOR POTATO.. it actually is surprisingly filled with nutrients and a great deal of potassium. All this leads me to one point.. there is no food that would satisfy me every time and every day. The Fruits of the Spirit are enough.. and with these I will be well fed.. I don't want to be like Mick Jagger.. "can't get no satisfaction".. Lord let me be pleased with what I have; where I am; and rely on you for the meeting of my needs and desires!
Gotta' run... my potatoes are boiling!!

The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe

Today I feel like the little old woman who lived in a shoe.. you know the one... she had so many children she did not know what to do.. YEP THAT'S ME!! It is not because I actually have so many children. We have been blessed with two biologically.. and they are wonderful. HOWEVER.. It seems I have kids EVERY WHERE!! The innumerable... HEY MRS. FREEMANs that occur in a weekend are bizarre. Kids I don't even know wave and scream. DON'T GET ME WRONG... I am honored and blessed beyond measure. These young people are our future. They keep me grounded and force me to be real. There is never any pretense or opportunity to play games. I feel for them and continue to ask myself.. how would I want an adult to handle my children? and then I try to do just that. I thank God for all my kids.. my dance babies, my football boys, my cheerleaders, my dance team, my camp kids, my VBS kids, my 1.5 gazillion students from the past 16 years.. GREAT KIDS who have always left their marks on my heart. THANK YOU GOD for each of them and may they be blessed richly!!

Don't worry... be happy!

"Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead!"
- I Peter 1:6

Have you ever had one of those days where you were happy... no matter what? I had one of those today. I did not exactly do anything phenomenal or outstanding. I did not have any life changing surprises or experience exceptionally good luck. I did not create world peace or find cures to deadly diseases. BUT I WAS HAPPY. There was simple joy in the moment. Normal or nothing special was exactly what I needed.. and it was marvelous. You see.. in the absence of greatness was also the absence of misery. The lack of an extreme high also meant an absence of an extreme low.. and it was good and pure and really quite wonderful. For this day.. I am truly glad. I look forward to the continued peace God has granted me and the wonderful joy that is undeniably ahead. May I have the sense to realize it! BLESSINGS MY FRIENDS and JOY is yours for the taking!

Little Boy Laughter

Tonight my home is filled with little boy laughter. It was the same last Saturday night. These are precious sounds and make my heart skip a beat. Reality tells me to pause the sound as all to soon...these sounds will only be echoes in my vacant, lonely home. Little boy laughter usually indicates mischief and mayhem. It could indicate the beginning of a brawl or the chaos of trying to figure out those lovely yet insane creatures known as girls. Little boy laughter comes deep from within and cannot be faked or learned. It is heart felt and cannot be stifled. Little boy laughter is one of nature's gifts and a symphony to my ears. I thank God for little boys and their laughter.