Fading Flowers

Can I be honest with you?

You may be young and your skin beautiful and dewy, your hair thick and glossy and your body toned and healthy but you are aging. 

It may not feel like it but it is true.

We live in bodies that are growing and changing but aging from the minute we are born.

I really don’t mean for this to be discouraging but it is a reality we all must face.

Please join me over here to finish reading.

Doubly His

I remember the first day that my mom gave me a “clothing allowance”. I had received an allowance growing up but this was different. I received $60.00 each month with which to buy clothes, shoes, school supplies, gifts, as well as the occasional lunch at school. The idea was to teach me to budget and plan my finances to meet present requirements and anticipate future needs.

One of my first clothes shopping trips by myself, I had such a difficult time spending my money. I was a bit afraid to buy the “wrong” thing. Eventually after wasting about three hours debating with myself,  I bit the bullet, made a decision, and left the mall with three new shirts with which to start my grade nine year. I remember these shirts like it was yesterday. That moment was significant in my purchasing history.

They were special. I paid for them and they were mine.

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Don't Dehydrate

As the younger brother to two older sisters, it is typical to be surrounded by and participate in the “girl”side of childhood. Dolls, dress up and princess movies are par for the course. In our house the girls were quite taken with Polly Pocket and the first movie was on regular rotation through the DVD player. Little brother was captivated by the movie, also.

Polly and her friends are on the cutting edge of fashion and quite aware of the latest beauty tips which are shared liberally throughout the show.

During a last minute flight to a private island, Polly, hostess extraordinaire, provided her guests with a satchel filled with “everything a girl needs for the lengthy overseas plane ride: flavored lip gloss, ionized face mister, bottled water and moisturizer. Everyone who’s anyone knows the #1 rule of flying…”

My boy would join enthusiastically in chorus with Polly’s friends “Don’t dehydrate!”

To continue reading, please join me at UYM.

Your Walk Talks

Jon Glock, currently Vice President for Advancement at Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa, then a Youth Ministries Worker in Murfreesboro, Tennessee came to our youth retreat as the guest speaker. His passion for youth and his captivating preaching style had our attention from the get-go. He spoke with a bit of a southern drawl and one of his phrases has stuck with me over the last 17 or so years. 

Your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.” (try saying that 10x fast!)

It can be a tongue twister for sure but don’t let the truth of it get twisted in your mind. I am sure you have heard another version of this truth. “Your actions speak louder than your words.” 

What you do matters.

To keep reading, join me over here.

A Bugs Life

Remember that moment in Pixar’s, A Bug’s Life, when Heimlich transforms into the beautiful butterfly, but he doesn’t?

I admit that in that moment I felt let down. 

The overweight, unrefined caterpillar was supposed to emerge from the cocoon as a majestic, distinguished, exquisite creature. Instead he was the same old, same old with some minuscule winglets popped out for good measure. He enthusiastically embraced his new life as a butterfly but there really wasn’t much of a change to celebrate.

You can continue reading here.

HIS

I am a photographer and scrap booker. 
A writer. 
A baker.  

But I am not a crafty person. 

At all. 

I try. And fail. 

I want to be crafty but rarely do my attempts turn out pretty or even useful. My sister is a creator. She has done it all in the crafting department, it seems, and everything she puts her hands to is beautiful work. Ceramics, toile painting, upholstery, stained glass, pottery. She finds beautiful craft ideas and just does them. 

I am envious of people who can create naturally because I just can’t.

Please join me at Uniquely Yours Ministries to continue reading.

New Journey

SO, I have been feeling for quite some time, that I am not quite fulfilling my commitment as a blogger.

I have so many things to share.

photos......thoughts......encouragements.....speaking notes.....my thankfulness list....

and yet, I am not that great at the discipline side of blogging.

The just doing it.

I prayed about this and made lists and then a lovely young woman asked me to pray about joining her new ministry as a regular blogger.

To be honest, I didn't have to pray long to be able to confidently answer YES! This is the discipline I need - the accountability to write regularly.

I am excited to join the Uniquely Yours Ministry team for a season of sharing my heart.

I hope you will join me in this journey.