Sweet? I think NOT.

“I must really have people snowed.” 

That was my thought yesterday when I was joking with someone about being a trouble-maker.  She said to me, “There’s no way you’re a trouble-maker; you’re too sweet.” 

“I’m too sweet?” I wondered to myself.  “Since when?”

I’ve never thought of myself as sweet.  I’m friendly.  I’m mostly well-behaved.  I’m polite.  I try to be respectful and kind.  I hold doors open for people, offer to help with projects at work, and generally try to be cheerful.  I have empathy and compassion.  But, “sweet”?

I often think of 1Peter 3:3-5a: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.”  I’ve never been accused of being “gentle and quiet,” so this singular passage has been one of the proverbial thorns in my side.  It’s also how I viewed the description of “sweet.”  Uh -- NOT me. I’m big. I’m loud.  I’m talkative.  I blurt.  I often feel like a bull in a china shop – I have been known to trample, no matter how “accidentally”—people’s feelings.  Without exception, I leave gatherings and wonder “what stupid thing did I say now?”  My insecurity knows no bounds.  I’m not a meek, mouse-like creature, though – I am big, loud, and have a big personality!

This morning I was listening to Fernando Ortega sing a fairly old song that I don’t hear as often as I would like to.  “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”.  It’s a beautiful thought-put-to-music about how God loves us so deeply, he gave his only Son, and made me, “a wretch, his treasure.”  The lyrics speak of how God turned away from Jesus on the cross, and of the pain that Jesus must of felt.  But what stopped me in my tracks (figuratively speaking, since I was driving!) was this line:

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders!

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

Did you see it?  Did you see what stopped my heart?  No, not that the Man was upon the cross, bearing my sin – that’s something that I think about, and pray about, every day.  No, the next line: “Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.” 

Me? My mocking voice?  Ummm…

I have studied the cross in depth.  As an extremely empathetic person, I have spent countless hours thinking about the weight of my sin that He bore for me.  I have prayed countless prayers of gratitude, thankful that I no longer have to bear that weight.  And yes, I have even thought about how MY sin is what put him there.  I beat him.  I mocked him.  I pounded the nails in.  But it’s not something I camp on often. 

It’s easy for me to remember that He died for “us.” Collective.  Humanity.  Everyone.  But, do how often do I stop and make it personal?  Every Sunday I sing about how God loves me, how Jesus died for ME, so I suppose I think of that in a more personal way on a fairly regular basis. 

But MY mocking voice?

I want to believe that I was in his small band of supporters – that I was among those who cried at His feet, and who gently removed His broken and battered body from the cross.   I held him reverently, cleaning off the blood and wrapping Him in cloth and herbs, and giving Him a proper burial.  I was Mary, who sat outside His tomb, weeping.  I was she who discovered Him missing, whom He appeared to first.

Maybe I am.  Maybe I would have been.

But I was also the mocker.  I stood among the rest of the angry cowards, and shouted at Him.  I laughed at His followers who cried for Him.  I betrayed Him like Judas.  I denied Him like Peter.  I riled up the crowd like the Pharisees.  I pounded in the nails.  I pierced His body with the sword.  I was hate-filled, or scared, or naïve – whatever I was, I was LOST.

WAS.

But because of this greatest act of Love – because of the deep, deep love my Father in Heaven has for me – I have the most important things in this world:  Forgiveness.  Redemption.  HOPE.

How deep the Father's love for us -- how vast, beyond all measure! -- that He should give His only Son and make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss!  The Father turns His face away as wounds, which mar the chosen One, bring many sons to glory.

Behold, the Man upon a cross -- my sin upon His shoulders!  Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished.  His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished!

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom; but I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection!

Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer.  But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom!

©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music 

Words and Music by Stuart Townend

If you were to ask me, at this very moment, the reason for my faith – THIS would be my reason.  

This. 

God, the Father, gave His only pure and faultless and perfect Son so that I, a wretched mocker, can be His treasure. 

No matter how unworthy you feel – how wretched, mean, how LOST – you have Someone who loves you.  He already sacrificed for you, and gave you the most incredible gift – you just have to humble yourself and accept it.  I know how hard that is to do – I drug my feet about ever setting foot in a church in college, because I knew what a rotten person I was, and thought, “There’s NO WAY God will ever want ME.” 

I’ll write again about God’s love for us, and my thoughts about why Christians get such a bad rap, and what I think I need to do to help change it.

In the meantime, think about the words of Paul:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:6-10, NIV)

Hang in there, friends – YOU ARE LOVED.

[My opinion post from Facebook regarding the article "EX-DISNEY STAR RENOUNCED CHRISTIANITY AND BECAME A PAGAN – BUT THAT’S NOT THE END OF THE STORY" by Billy Hollowell, about Matt Morris/Teo Bishop, a former Disney star who left Christianity several years ago to become a Druid.  Read the article here (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/25/ex-disney-star-renounced-christianity-and-became-a-pagan-but-thats-not-the-end-of-the-story/)]

“I’m overwhelmed with thoughts of Jesus,” he wrote. “Jesus and God and Christianity and the Lord’s Prayer and compassion and forgiveness and hope and judgement and freedom from judgement and all of the things which made (and make) me feel connected to the Sacred." ~Teo Bishop

That simple description, of compassion & forgiveness & hope... & freedom from judgement -- to me, THAT is what Christ brought us. Those who focus on the judgmental side of the people who call themselves "Christians" are missing the point of what Christ taught. Unfortunately, people (Christians included!) are imperfect. We are called to love the unlovable, and to be kind and compassionate, forgiving as we have been forgiven. We can have opinions, but opinions are not necessarily "judging."

Regardless of what he does with his new-found confusion-of-faith, this is an interesting read, and should challenge many of us to do a bit of navel-gazing, as we search out the meaning of our OWN faith. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Pet. 3: 15b-16)

Once again, I find myself only posting things I've written on Facebook.  Perhaps I would be better off posting here, first, then linking to it on my FB page?  Is that too much pride and/or self-promotion? Whatever it is, this is my not-all-that-humble opinion.  On that note...

Back on the ol' soapbox...

Originally posted October 18, 2013

Hmmmm....  Just mulling over my soapbox speeches of the past.... I'm naively disappointed that some of my more liberal friends have not understood my point, that the hatred they display towards the right is highly offensive to me. 


Why are those on the right objectified as "white" and "christian," as though being either of those two things are bad? Especially when the majority of said liberal friends are one of those two things themselves? Yep -- I'm saying it here -- I am disgusted at how many of my WHITE liberal friends rip on white conservatives. WHAT is WRONG with you people?! I didn't choose my skin color, but I DID choose my religion -- as an educated adult, mind you! -- AND my politics. I don't like Obama's policies or politics, and his skin color has NEVER been an issue for me -- this is the first time I've ever even addressed it! So stop putting words into the mouths of conservatives, and SHUT UP. You think I'm being naive about race? Actually, it's quite the opposite. I've been the "victim" of prejudice, and I worked VERY hard to earn the respect of those who didn't trust me because of my skin color. I get it. I don't like it.  But YOU need to leave race out of your comments, because the only racist here is YOU.

When you post inflammatory comments, like "If you vote republican you're voting against women, clean air, babies and starving pandas," you're telling me that I'm against those things. How would you even KNOW what I'm for or against? Have you ASKED a conservative what they are for/against? Or are you just repeating the slander the media spins? Frankly, I'm sick of it. 

We all need to take a good, hard look in the mirror, and determine what it is we stand for; then, take a step back and think about how you come off to your "friends." Are you showing no respect for others by basically posting that they are idiots because they don't share your opinion? If so, you sound like a pompous windbag, and really need to put a sock in it. It would be one thing if you were posting opinions about issues facing our nation, but just spouting off about how awful an entire group of people are, and how it's so "funny that they are imploding! hahahaha!" is about as mature as a baby on a dating site. C'mon -- stop generalizing, and start showing the intelligence that I know you have. I work hard to try to understand where the "other side" is coming from, and it's time that you get down off your high horse and try to do the same. You show absolutely NO compassion or generosity or love by being flat-out MEAN. I don't have to agree with you to show you that I respect you; there are ways to disagree yet show love. 

So, yea, I will keep posting that I think that Obamacare is a colossal failure, and that the debt ceiling should NOT be raised -- we need to live within our means as a nation, just like many of us try to do at home. I will continue to post my opinion that our POTUS is the most divisive President our nation has ever seen, and that I think our media needs to get out of the opinion business and back in to the FACT-reporting business. I also will tell you that I am tired of being told that I'm "against the poor" because I am against a thinly veiled socialist agenda -- NO, I AM NOT; I just have a different idea of how the problem could be solved without breaking the bank. I'm not against immigration -- but I am against breaking the law to get here, and against a blanket-amnesty for all. I am not ashamed of our nation's EXCEPTIONAL past -- but I am sick of hearing from our media and many liberal "leaders" how it's wrong for us to be exceptional. How ridiculous is that? Isn't it what we supposedly are pushing for in schools? An exceptional education? How about on the job -- don't you want to shine? 

There was a reason, for hundreds of years, that people have risked life and limb to immigrate to our EXCEPTIONAL country -- their desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our free market society -- yes, friends, much to your chagrin our country became great largely because of capitalism! -- our rights to keep and bear arms, to pursue education, to vote, to choose whether or not we have health insurance, and the freedom to practice religion without interference from the government -- these are all things that have made our country one of the most exceptional places in the world to live.

I think it's time we all do a little research into where our country came from, what our forefathers INTENDED, and learn from the mistakes of other countries and societies who once excelled, but now suck. Take time to educate yourself about what the "other" side REALLY believes and desires, and stop spreading the hate-filled lies your friends and the media are spinning. And if, after reading this little rant of mine, you no longer want to be friends, that's OK, too; I'm still good enough, smart enough, and, doggone it, at least SOME people still like me! 

I've cleared my conscience; it's time for a good-night's sleep. Pleasant dreams of world peace, my friends....

But Moooooooommmm! I don't WANT to be a bug zapper!

Note: I am reposting this from my Facebook page, and have made a few minor edits.  This has been on my heart since I woke up today, and I feel a strong desire to share it publicly.  I do find it rather humorous that the only time I seem to post is when something political has been going on.  I've recently been told by a liberal "friend" that "you're the only conservative with half a brain that I've ever met."  Uhhhhhhhh.... Should I feel complimented, or insulted?

Anywhooooo, thank you for your time & understanding!  

I've been thinking a lot about the diversity of my friends; I think I have Facebook to thank for that. We’re all so unique, in so many ways. Many of my FB friends are people I knew in high school, but I wasn't necessarily friends with them. As an adult, I've found that I actually LIKE people more – there isn't any of that teenage angst or hormonal craziness mucking up the waters. In high school, few people took the time to get to know the REAL ME – I couldn't look them in the eye, let alone tell them my opinion or speak to them at all. If I did get the guts to have an opinion of my own, I would have DIED if my friend disagreed with me or told me I was wrong! Same goes for college (unless I was drinking -- then I had no trouble chatting!) and early adult-hood.  I suppose I'm more comfortable now in my own skin -- after all, it's all stretched out -- than I was when I was young.

As I stated earlier, I've been thinking about the diversity of my friends:

Some are older than me. Some are younger. Some are even my age (29!). Some are “white,” and some are NOT “white” (most are a mix of some sort – do your genealogy!) Some are blonde or brunette or gingers; some WERE blonde or brunette or ginger, but are now growing platinum like I am (we should be rich, by the way!) Some dye their hair “normal” colors, and others dye theirs “weird” colors; some don’t dye theirs at all. Some have long or curly or straight or short hair; some don’t have hair at all. Some did, but lost it. Some are tall. Some are short. Some are thin. Some are fat. Some were fat but are now thin, and some were thin but are now fat (or “fluffy,” like me!). Some are male, some are female, and some haven’t made up their minds. Some are married, some are single, and some have been both at different times, many times over. Some have worked in law enforcement, and some have been in jail/prison. Some are from abroad, living in the USA; some are from the USA, living abroad. (I’m totally jealous of those of you in Italy or New Zealand, by the way!) All speak some form of English, but some speak other languages at different fluency rates. Some have jobs; some did but lost them for many different reasons. Some are stay-at- home moms; some are stay-at- home dads. Some home-school, some attend public school, some attend private school, and some attend charter schools. Some are in college, some are too young for college, and some didn't/don’t want to go to college; some have graduated, and some couldn't make their minds up about what they wanted to be when they grew up. ;) Some consider themselves successful; others are insecure. Some are wealthy, some are not, and most are wealthy in ways that the “world” doesn't understand. Some are teachers, some are students, some are public servants, some are office workers, and some are still looking. Some dress up; some dress down (I hope you all “dress” at some point before going into public!). Some are omnivores, some are herbivores. Some have real teeth, some have fake, and some have a combination of the two. Some have crooked teeth, some have straight. Some play sports. Some coach. Some drink. Some smoke. Some rat their hair. Some get ill from one cigarette. ;) Some do drugs; some are in recovery. Some have been molested, some work with those who have been molested, and some work with the molesters. Some live in small towns; some in big cities. Some of my friends have run for Congress, and some have testified before Congress; some are still trying to figure out if Congress is the same as the House of Representatives or not, and some just don’t care (but probably should). Some are liberal, some are conservative, and some just don’t know what that means (or don’t care). Some are on the right, and some are on the wrong (I mean LEFT, lol!), and some are somewhere in the middle. Some are Christians (from many different churches), some are Buddhists, some are agnostic, and some are new age. Some hike. Some bike. Some run. Some walk. Some skip. Some swim. Some dive. Some ride horses or skateboards or bikes or trikes or motorcycles or mopeds or other scooters; some sit on their couches and eat bon-bons (or carrots). Some are doctors, nurses, receptionists, bill collectors, cable/satellite-TV people, phone people, accountants, IT-gurus, yoga-gurus, MMA instructors/fighters, Pilates instructors, Zumba instructors, personal trainers, bartenders, cab drivers, worship leaders, musicians, actors, babysitters, landscapers, architects, builders, developers, Realtors, travel agents, pilots, flight attendants, dog washers, dog walkers, chefs, and more. Some are “dog” people, some are “cat” people, some are “horse” people, and some are “chicken” people; some are all, and some are NONE. Some are “black-and-white” rule followers, and some toe the line. Some are just out and out rebellious. Some are close to their families, some are not, and some don’t have families. I could go on and on and on and on…..

Here’s my point: we are ALL UNIQUE, and that is what I love about you all. I don’t care about whether or not you look like me, act like me, dress like me, or believe what I do – I only care about how you treat me, and how you treat those I love. I don't care about whether we listen to the same music or read the same books – I just hope you can respect my heart.  We all bleed (close to) the same color. We live, we die, and we all will experience loss and prosperity. My journey is not going to follow the exact same path as yours; I do not expect yours to follow mine, either. We will have differing rocks in our paths – some will be the same type, but different sizes or shapes, and we may have different ideas on how to deal with them. You move yours, and I'll go around mine; whatever works best, that’s fine with me. I may even pause and help you on your journey, just as I hope you will help me with mine. Your path may take you uphill, and mine might take me the long route; either way, it's OK, and we can meet up at the end.

I simply ask that you respect me for who I am. I hope that, whether you agree with my religious or political persuasions or not, you will see that I sincerely love people and want to help. I hope my life will be the proverbial light on a hill – not a neon “closed” sign, but a pleasant light that draws you in (and not a bug zapper, either!). It never has been, nor will it ever be, my intention to alienate people. Yes, I have my opinions, and it is my right to share them on my page, or blog; likewise, it is your right to ignore me, or block me, or “unfriend” me. I hope we can have open, civil, non-condescending dialogues, and that at the end of the day a clear conscience will be our bed-fellow. I hope you all understand that I poke fun at different things, but that it’s intended to be just that. I respect each of you, and can appreciate our differences (it's the reason you're my friend here to begin with!), even when I don't agree.

Bottom line (and then I’ll go): Our hearts all beat in rhythm, creating this beautiful symphony of humanity that I call my friends. Let’s just enjoy the music, all right?

Politics and Thankfulness....

I am reposting this from my Facebook page.  A couple of days ago, after numerous news stories and ads calling Romney/Ryan liars, idiots, woman-haters, elitists, and more, I wrote the following.  Everyday, I try to be post on Facebook something that I am thankful for.  Here is what I posted on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

Today, I am thankful that the election will be over in two weeks.

Why? 

***Steps up on soapbox*** Because I am sick of hearing that "my" candidate is a liar, and the opposing candidate is right. I am disgusted by the lack of tolerance from the other side -- quite frankly, the truth is in the eye of the beholder, and you're going to believe what you want to believe. I'm tired of libs mocking Fox News, but singing the praises of NBC or CNN. Hello?! What makes NBC or CNN any more "true" than Fox? Is it just because they're liberal, and conservatives only have half a brain? Give me a break! Not to mention the crazy threats being made if R&R beat B.O.&Bite-me -- how "tolerant" is that? Seriously -- can you throw a bigger temper tantrum? 

#1) I don't like B.O.'s policies. This fact does not make me a racist, any more than a pencil causes misspelled words.

#2) Just because someone opposes tax $ funding Planned Parenthood or abortions, or forcing faith-based businesses to cover birth control, does not mean they hate women. I happen to BE a woman, and I do NOT hate myself (or any other women, for that matter)! I vote with my mind, heart & conscience -- NOT my uterus!

#3) I love my friends, whether they are liberals, conservatives, atheists, straight, gay, caucasian, or any other race. I don't see "color," or "politics," or anything other than heart. If you are a horridly evil person, I probably won't have much to do with you. If you are an arrogant jerk, I'll probably avoid you. Will I "hate" you? Absolutely not. Bottom line: the way you treat me, and the people I care about, is what determines my willingness to give you my time or attention. 

I could continue, but I'm confident I have made my point. If you're not happy with my opinion, that is fine with me -- you are every bit as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine. I just ask that you be more respectful of mine, as I am of yours. I get my news from both sides, and I think you should, too. If you saw Fahrenheit 9/11, you should go see 2016, too. And, if you can't like me for who I am (shortcomings and all), you are welcome to de-friend me -- that's your prerogative. 

I'm grateful for the freedom of speech, too.... :)

***Steps off of soapbox***

I love technology... Well, not so much!

OK, so, I've thought about this for a while.  A really LONG while....

Texting sucks.  Really.  I hate it.  How ridiculous is it that we carry around cell phones, but then type messages?  Whatever happened to human interaction?

Am I the only person who is concerned about the future of communication?  Drive by the nearest middle or high school yard; how many kids are standing around with their phones glued to their hands in front of their faces?  Do they even know how to speak anymore?

When I first got my then-7th-grader a phone, I got her the most basic phone available -- you know, the "free" flip phone you get with your upgrade.  "I can add texting to your plan for only $5.00 per month, per line."  "No, thank you."  The look on the clerks face? Priceless.  

Now, more than 3 years later, I STILL deprive my kids (not just one, but TWO teenage girls) of the ability to text -- and I'm pretty darned proud of it, too.  You see, I have long believed that the art of interpersonal communication is going the way of the dinosaur -- and that THAT is NOT a good thing.  

Growing up, I didn't have my own phone in my room.  My very dysfunctional family actually ate dinner together most of the time, and spent evenings in the same room.  In school, we played on the playground during a long recess.  Games were played in person (not online), and we had to learn how to lose.  Don't get me wrong -- for some of us, these forced interactions were a "necessary evil," designed to torture the shyest kids as we struggled to survive in the concrete jungle.  Still, we learned to communicate: to read body language, facial expressions, and vocal inflections; to listen when others were speaking; to ask questions if we didn't understand what the speaker meant.  We learned common courtesy (in a day when courtesy was common) and respect -- not just for others, but for ourselves, as well.  Don't interrupt.  Eye contact is an excellent way of showing that you're listening.  Speak clearly.  Slow down.  Overall, I think we had a clearer grasp of the consequences of speaking our minds, largely because we could not hide behind the anonymity of technology.  

I can't begin to tell you how many parents I have met who complain that their kids spend all of their time texting, playing computer or video games, or are on social networking sites from the moment they get home until they go to bed at night.  We've all heard the tales of the $700.00+ phone bill because someone went crazy texting.  I suspect that most of us know kids who have every "latest gadget" that comes out -- Kindles, Nooks, Game Cubes, XBoxes, GameBoys, Wiis, Playstations, Galaxys, Droids, iPads, iPods, iPhones.... iTired just thinking about it!  How many of those kids know how to draw a picture of a horse?  How to double-dutch jumprope? Play hopscotch? Fly a kite?  How many of them know what their siblings' favorite color/animal is? Dream of being a Firefighter?  How many parents have met their kids' friends & their friends' families? 

I admit, I'm being generally pessimistic. I get super frustrated when my kids tell me that they don't have the phone numbers of their friends, because none of their friends talk on their phones -- kids don't even want my kids' phone numbers, because "You don't have texting? Never mind."  No joke.

I'm tired of hearing, "Mom, all the other kids have an iPhone/Galaxy/Droid; why can't I have one, too?  Well, can I at least have unlimited texting, and get rid of my flip phone?"  They know we aren't rolling in dough, but it can be exhausting when they ask every day.

I also get annoyed when a parent I know complains to me that they're tired of their kids being on their phone all the time, texting, but refuse to cancel the texting plan.  "Oh, I could never do that; my child would kill me!"  Really?  Who's the parent, and who's the child?  Oh, and last I heard, murder is illegal.  That's fine -- don't cancel it; but please, tell your child not to persecute mine for not being "with it."  Teach yours phone etiquette, then tell them to give mine a call....

I'm trying to teach my kids life lessons.  "Yea, right.  Like what?"

~ You can't always get what you want.
~ Competing with the Joneses is not all it's cracked up to be.
~ People are more important than "things."
~ The "latest and greatest" will be replaced with another "latest and greatest" very soon, if you wait a bit.
~ "No" is a fact of life.
~ Mother/Father knows best.
~ Don't judge others (I'm trying not to judge the texters!)  :)
~ Family is important, so don't hide from us!

And, most importantly....

~ I love you, even if you aren't as "cool" as the other kids....

Grateful?

Grrrrrrrrr...........

That's all I've got today.  Really.  Unless you want me to complain.... Seriously -- I could go on for a few hours about all the things I'm frustrated with, angry about, and annoyed with.

But I won't.  I'll spare you.

Why?

Well, what good would it do?  Sure, it feels great to vent... sometimes.... Other times, it leaves me feeling just as upset as I was before I vented.  Hmmmmm.... I guess it wouldn't solve my problems, now, would it?

The alternative?

Think about the things I'm grateful for.  Like, what?

     Like, I'm grateful to have a job.  Many people don't -- I'm grateful that I do.
     I'm grateful for my family.  I have a husband who is my best friend, and three fantastic children.
     I'm grateful for my home.  I have a bed to lie down on, a pillow for my head, clothes on my back, food in my pantry, a stove to cook it on, a fridge to keep leftovers in, a car to drive to run my errands and go to/from work, and pets who enjoy my company.
     I'm grateful for the beauty around me, and the eyes & heart that God gave me to appreciate it all.  I can gaze on Colorado National Monument, the Bookcliffs, and the Grand Mesa, wherever I drive in this valley!
     I'm grateful for the heron that frequents the drainage ditch behind my house.
     I'm grateful that there are four beautiful horses living behind me.
     I'm grateful for the bald eagles that sometimes fly overhead when I'm driving to work.
     I'm grateful for the opportunity to raise a few chicks (of the poultry persuasion!), and look forward to the fresh eggs we hope to have.
     I'm grateful for my glasses, that help me see a bit better.  I'm grateful that I have my sight at all -- some people are blind.  I won't take my sight for granted.
     I'm grateful that I have arms and legs and hands and feet and elbows and shoulders and a neck that work.
     I'm grateful that I have the ability to type this -- to think, to see, to will my fingers to move, and to put my thoughts into readable sentences.
     I'm grateful for the beautiful, sunny, mild weather we're having.
     I'm grateful for the ticking of the clock in my office -- that I can hear it at all, and that I'm alive to watch time tick by.
     I'm grateful for the memories I carry with me every day -- some good, some bad, but it means that I have truly lived.

Most of all, I am thankful for a merciful God, a loving Savior and a faithful Spirit.

Life is good....