Bobble Heads

"Bobble Heads" The voices in the crowd don't always have to be heard. Some of these voiceless mouths speak without saying a word. They silently sit waiting for a moment to strike. Decorating their faces in ways to be liked. One face, two face, this face, that Multiple masks all coordinated for the act Presentation is everything. It's vital you see. Performances so great they fooled you, but not me. I watched them. I waited. I wanted to know How long you'd take to realize it was all for show.

Faith in the Midst of a Dead Situation

While reading my bible, this was revealed to me.  Why haven't you exercised your faith? Why have you allowed the state of your situation to dictate what you believe?   In 2 Kings 4, there is a story of a Shunammite woman. She shows kindness to the prophet Elisha. He subsequently entreats the Lord on her behalf and she and her husband are blessed with a son. Some time later, the son falls ill and dies in the woman's arms. She springs into action seeking help from the man of God WITHOUT so much as telling her husband of her son's death. She acted in faith and did not activate her doubts by speaking life to the dead situation. She could have told her husband "our child is dead". She could have sent for the wailers, gathered her family and friends, and immersed herself in the business of mourning. Her actions shed light on a few things.  1. She remembered the first word. She did not let what happened replace what God told her. 2. She gave no place to the negative. The bible does not record that she shed one tear. Everything that she did was about restoring that which she had lost. 3. She walked by faith. Her faith in God said this is not a dead situation though it may look that way. 4. She held her tongue. Her child died, but she believed the word of the Lord so much that she did not speak death into the atmosphere. The bible says that both death and life are in the power of the tongue. 5. She moved. She didn't keep watch over the dead. The bible also says that faith without works is dead. What lesson would there be if she had remained where she was?   I've read this story many times before, but today it was personal. Today it was a mirror for me. The Shunammite woman had a dead child, but so many of us have dead dreams, relationships, finances, jobs, faith. It's time that we stop mourning the loss and start activating our faith. Remember the first word. Steer clear of wallowing in your feelings. Close your eyes to what it looks like and see what God said it would be. Stop running your mouth about what went wrong, looks wrong, is wrong, etc. Every negative word you speak, builds the fire. And finally, relocate be that physically or figuratively. Nothing will be gained by keeping house with the dead.

I Remember

I woke up yesterday and went through some of my old Facebook posts. I'm not certain what prompted me to do this, but it did make for interesting reading. One post in particular was all about a fight I had with someone that I was so in love with. The post itself was a little heart breaking. The tears and the complete sense of loss that I felt were all staring at me, being given new life as I read the words. I was amazed at how raw my words were. I was even more amazed by the feeling that I had as I read it. I was reading about the pain. Yet, what I remembered was all the love. (If you're reading this and I didn't text you about it, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!) My exes tend to be a little vain:) Choosing to start off with that was as deliberate as it is random. My words always have purpose. They always work to get me somewhere. I am keenly aware that they also hide me. I write to purge what I'm feeling. I write to make sense of what I'm feeling. I write often to stop feeling. I want that to be what happens to me now. I want to stop feeling or at least I want to stop being aware of what I'm feeling. (SIGH).... For starters, I didn't start writing this because I remembered an old relationship. I started writing this because I can't focus on my homework, going to the gym didn't help, I'm all out of Blue Bell, and I just didn't want to try to talk about it. I can't imagine what I would say. Would it matter if I started at the beginning? (Wherever that is.) Would anyone know how to separate what's really hurting me from the things I randomly say? Probably not.... So I found myself sitting and writing. I can tell you the feeling hasn't stopped. Adayinthelife

Did I say "never look back"?

Well, I think what I should have said was never look back unless it helps you to appreciate what's in front of you. I had the privilege of wandering down memory lane yesterday. I drove through streets that have long been in need of upkeep. My trip was reminiscent of a Sunday afternoon stroll through the park. Memories wafted through my head like careless butterflies. I remembered what was once long forgotten. Each new picture thrilled me. The orange polo shirt that brought out the deep chocolate of my skin. The purple jump suit that was really neither purple or a jump suit. The grey & black striped skirt paired with my favorite pumps... All of these images drifting through my mind creating a picture. Before I knew it though the images were shifting. I saw a lavender shirt paired with faded jeans, a grey striped dress purchased on a whim, and a stark white towel that had somehow been transformed into a dress. My memories both the old and the not so old were transforming and teaching me. I was uncertain what would happen if I allowed myself to remember. But the part of me that longs to not forget is the same part that has simply moved on. I don't have to wonder how I look in red short shorts, cowgirl tees, or cream Kors sweaters.... Adayinthelife:)

Never Look Back

The theme of this summer can be summed up in three words. Never look back. I've been trying for weeks to get this done, but writing this has been a bit of a strain for me. The past few days have just been one blob of time sandwiched together. But here I am and here we go. So much can be said about my going "home". Home is a word that is used to describe the place of your familiar. It is the place where you grow and love. It is the place where you live. It is for me an evolving concept. Last year, I went "home" to Bradenton. This year, I went to Bradenton to visit. I didn't feel like I was returning home. I felt like I was stopping over in this place where my heart used to be. I was reinvigorated in Bradenton. I was loved on by my family and friends. It was for once a totally satisfying experience. But, it was no longer home. I stepped outside of my norms and realized familiar was no longer my comfort zone. I went through each day sharing time with people who helped shape where I was then. They also helped me to be ok with where I am now. I'm in a new place physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I must admit that it isn't anything like what I imagined. I've navigated through being frustrated, disappointed, and alone. That's way more than I expected for week one. Even now, as I'm finally writing this, I am trying to see past the moment. I'm trying to see past drawing parallels between my old and my new home. The comparisons are both few and endless. The thing that has me right now is the sound of my dad's voice. I am a little girl again. I hear him telling me first one thing and then the next. I believe him because he is my dad. He is my #1 and I love him. The thing is he's lying. He's telling me words that sound good but will go unfufilled. Each time he does it, I hope more....but I never had a chance to cry any less. I want to silence the memory that has invaded my mind and invaded this post. I want to write about how this summer I came into my own. I want to write about how this summer I cleaned house and turned away from what was holding me back. Each time I try to refocus, I hear the same thing. Only this time I'm not looking back.

The Truth is I'm...

The truth is I'm a heterosexual. I am and always have been. I haven't previously felt the need to openly say this, but recent events have made me feel compelled to tell the world. I am a heterosexual. I know that my declaring this may cause a scandal. I know that my personal life will now be looked at with far more scrutiny. I could not sit by a moment longer and say nothing. I could not keep quiet while fellow heterosexuals are being bullied and persecuted because of the way God made them. I had to stand up and speak for those who are afraid or ashamed. I had to give voice to the voiceless. I am a heterosexual and I hope that you are all accepting of that.

Adayinthelife :-)

Five

The jukebox in my head is playing 50 Cent. "Hate it or love it the underdog's on top...." It's also playing Eminem "I am whatever you say I am. If I wasn't then why would I say I am?" A cloudy Sunday afternoon with a head full of slightly old rap music. It's what happens to me sometimes. I reexamine a decision and my mind creates a play list.... a mini soundtrack. Right now I'm hating the decision and the soundtrack. The songs are defiant, but my action was cowardly. I placed myself in an impossible position and made a life altering decision out of fear. Many think it was fear of failure, when truly what was haunting me was the fear of success. What would have happened if I walked boldly, held my head high, and declared with God I can do this? What would have happened had I allowed God to see me through to His end? These questions are rattling around up there right along with Eminem and 50.... I am left with the reality that there is no going back. There is no taking back what I said or what I did. There is a little reflection. A bit more growth and the hope that I can at least better shape tomorrows play list.