Liz's Letters

Returning tonight from a weekend away with a friend who I love to hang out with, who I love to talk to, and who is one of the genuine pearls in my life. We have seen each other through some of the very best times in our lives, and some of the very worst. She lives in San Antonio and I, in Dallas, so we try (and so far successfully) to see each other at least twice a year. One of our favorite trips is to Salado, TX, which is where we spent this weekend. I love to make this trip in the spring because the Blue Bonnets are blooming in full force. I have a difficult time keeping my eyes on the road because the bright blue mounds against the fresh green spring grass excite my eyes so much. This year, I stopped to take pictures, excited to play with them and post a few on my blog. When I got home, I found that somehow I had reformatted my memory card and lost them all. What a disappointment! I also lost the ones of my friend, Susan, and I too. That made me even more sad. But what ...

Friday Fill-In's this week were provided by Janet. Here is what she wrote: "This week, I took the first sentence in 6 of my favorite books...you fill them in...with the right words or even better, ones of your own. And...here we go!" 1. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." I had to fill that one in that way, because it is right! 2. " It is cold and wet outside but that ain't no matter." 3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, the water began to rise higher and higher ." 4. " The free spirited child broke free from the hold of the Spanish galleon." 5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it was the hand of her beloved . " 6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, weak ones who don't pay attention ." 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to attending the wedding of a friend, tomorrow my plans include meeting one of my oldest and dearest friends for a weekend s...

How G reat is your G oodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19 Today I am Grateful for this verse. He has stored up His Goodness for me. My refuge is totally in Him. His Goodness is revealed in the way He cares for me. The word He teaches to me. The sleep He brings to me. The ones He sends to me to surround me... in love, in prayer, in hope, in understanding, and in encouragement. His Goodness is revealed in the beauty of the earth, the comfort of my home, my health, my joy, and even my sadness. His Goodness is Great! For more ABC's of the word visit Grey Like Snuffie

Living life in spite of the unexpected! We still had a good week. :)

Sometimes, things just don't happen like we expect. Occasionally, the unexpected is a nice surprise, but sometimes the unexpected can turn an event, circumstance, or even a life, upside down. Last week, my daughter and I went to spend Spring Break with family. Our flight was lovely, the weather perfect, and we were looking forward to a stress free week. The first thing we did was eat lunch at one of our favorite Thai restaurants. As usual, we looked forward to our fortune cookies. We took turns reading and laughing...and then my daughter opened hers - "Be prepared for a change in plans." Uh-oh. We didn't like this one but we decided our week would be stress free and fun in spite of what a cookie said. Continuing on through out the day, all was well until that night. I sat outside on the porch of a friend I have known for 35 years and received news that changed something I have believed for 30 years. The words were horrible and made me so ill that I got sick within min...

1. Why do we have to exercise to be really healthy ? It's just not fun! 2 . Some healthy choices are now habits, exercise in not one of them. 3. I have more than I could ever ask for. God has been so good to me. 4. I had never heard the phrase "Progress not perfection " and it helps me know I don't have to accomplish everything immediately . 5. I have had to refrain from asking that my husband load the dishwasher the way I always do. 6. How was I to know that if you didn't tell me? 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to celebrating my 27th wedding anniversary with my husband , tomorrow my plans include a trip to Six Flags over Texas with a favorite friend and our kids and Sunday, I want to attend worship services and hang out at home ! For more Friday Fill-Ins click here

The retreat that I just returned from was full of fun, insight, prayer, and empowerment. Sixteen of us went through the Spiritual Gifts Inventory, Network. My mind is challenged, my heart is full, and I am excited to have been given insight as to how God has gifted me to participate in the church. (Wisdom, Shepherding, Discernment) Confirmation came as to gifts that I was already aware of, and some new ones have grown closer to the top. I am excited and ready to use what He has given me. Time with my "home girls" was sweet. Having my dear friend, Ashley, join us was such a blessing! Tomorrow, my daughter and I take our annual trip to Tulsa. I will catch up with my BFF, Kyle...the maid of honor in my wedding. I lost touch with her for about 16 years, but we have reunited and I am so excited to spend tomorrow with her! On Tuesday, my mom, daughter and myself will travel to Missouri to visit my uncle and aunt. This trip is such a special time for me and my daughter fo...

Continuing my thoughts on God's wonderful grace, and my gratitude for the sweet life he has given me, I will wrap up my thoughts this morning. My wonderful children are on my gratitude list. What great kids I have! They are loving, productive, intelligent, and motivated. Best of all, they all love God! Many years ago, when they were small, I wondered what it would be like to see them at the stage they are now in. I wondered if it would be as fun to have adult children as it was to have young children. Oh, yes. My kids are great fun. They are good conversationalists and interesting people. They have interests that they are passionate about. And it is just so cool to watch them live their lives.Grace and gratitude certainly includes the wonderful blessing of my kids. There is so much more...... The fact that my husband and I both of well paying, secure jobs, that we even mostly enjoy. We enjoy the relationships with our extended family, living near enough most of them to love o...

1. When I look to the left, I see a wonderful collage of my children . 2. The back porch is the room that has the best view in my home. 3. Let it work itself out by itself . I don't have to control every little thing! 4. I recently had my bathroom painted and done dirt cheap! It pays to have good friends! 5. Caring for the poor and elderly is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share . 6. If you have any spare time feel free to stop by for a visit. I love having friends pop over! 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a retreat with my "Home Girls", tomorrow my plans include still retreating and Sunday, I want to spend some time with my family and pack for our Spring Break trip ! For more Friday Fill-In's click here!

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let E verything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150 For More ABC's of the Word, visit Grey Like Snuffie

WOW! My prayers have been fervent when dealing with pettiness and lack of forgiveness toward others, and from others. The class I am taking on Saturdays is dealing heavily with resentments right now, and even in my counseling sessions, this has been the topic of discussion. This past week, I was asked to make a list of everyone I was angry with or ever had been angry with, the situation that created the anger, and how it affected me. It was tough. (not to worry, there is another step to this exercise that promotes healing) This morning, I read this devotional. And it causes my heart and mind to know that God would have me take the behavior exampled below into any given situation with any of the folks on that list I made. There is no room in the lives of a Christian to hold petty grievances, over differences of opinions or hurt feelings. We are called to be BIG Bigness by Charles R. Swindoll Philippians 2:3-7 It was a cold, blustery January night in 1973. Senator John Stennis , the ...

IT IS OFFICIAL! Today, my husband is no longer a student! He has been going to school on and off our entire 27 years of marriage. And he is finished! His Master's Degree is now complete! OH MY! Now what? I am so, so excited to have my husband back! I love you, Fred and I am so proud of you!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you just want to give up? There is so much to do that you find yourself not doing anything at all? Or discouragement and / or past failures have you paralyzed? I certainly have. Whether my house is so dirty that I don't know where to start cleaning, a project is so big and the due date so close that I simply despair over how impossible it seems, or even relationships have failed and I start to think that they are not worth it after all. Chapter 10 of Self Talk Soul Talk encourages me to press on! Jennifer Rothschild, the author lays out a step by step plan. 1. Turn your feelings into action. I can hear the Nike slogan, "Just do it." Another famous phrase, "One day at a time." Years ago, I made the decision to take the next step. Sometimes, when I can't see the end, or don't know where I am going, I stand there...doing nothing. I learned that if I just take THE NEXT STEP, it will lead to the next one. ...

Words cannot even describe how blessed I am by the sweet man in this picture! (photo taken with our lovely great niece ) I met him when I was 18 years old and I fell quickly in love with him. Our 27 th wedding anniversary is next Friday and even though the road has been rocky at times, I would marry him all over again if I had to choose again. He and I are the epitome of "opposites attract". We could not be any more different. This has challenged us in our marriage, sometimes shaking the very core of who we thought we were. However, God, in His perfect mercy and plan, has used our differences to teach us about unconditional love and commitment . This gentle soul that I married puts up with my wild ways, speaking the truth when I need to hear it, and loving me through some of the most challenging situations that I could have possibly brought to this marriage. The past few years, but even more so the past few months, I have grown increasingly amazed at the blessing God gave...

There are just certain days that life is so difficult that all I can do is concentrate on what I have to be grateful for. For many years, I found myself here more than not. Some days, I thought, "I am alive." and that was good enough. Recently, though, I have had the opposite problem. Life is so sweet that all I can do is think about how blessed I am, how much God must really love me to give me so much. And even though things are not perfect, there is so much good in my life, that is far outweighs the attitude of my grumpy co-worker, the emotions of having a 15 year old daughter, the fact that I miss my son who lives half a country away, and that I can't seem to get motivated to loose this extra weight that I am carrying around. All these things, although serious disturbances, are mere bumps in the road of a blessed journey. All of my life, I have wished and prayed for real friends, one's who I can count on in good times and bad times. I have loved with all of my hear...

I have a fever! Spring fever. My husband mowed our lawn this week and that was all it took. The low growl of the mower, the dusty, gassy vapors as the machine leveled the grass and weeds to one, uniform length. The fragrance of the dirt, the fresh cut grass and the knowledge that the deep green of St. Augustine is just around the corner. Yesterday morning, I walked onto my porch with coffee in hand, giving thought to the entire Saturday that still lay before me. Then my eyes rolled to the most beautiful sight I have seen all winter! THIS! Bradford Pear in full bloom. My heart sings. I take in deep breaths, allowing the fragrance of spring to infiltrate my entire being. I walked around my yard and saw the sign that I needed! The Peony plants have started to peek out of the dirty, unattended soil. I knew immediately what I must do. Go to the nursery! Not the baby nursery...the plant and landscape nursery! I had already made tentative plans with my friend, Kim. I called her within an...

1. Scholar-shipping someone for a ladies retreat was my last random act of kindness. 2. Another place, another time I might have done a few things differently . 3. I trust God to work on me in matters of the heart. 4. Coffee, tea or wine, a great glass of Merlot ? 5. Some people that I love have decided to walk separate paths. It makes me sad, but I walk on without them. 6. Our crazy world reminds me that there is a better place waiting for me. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with my family and then over to a friend, Charrie's, house for fellowhip and fun , tomorrow my plans include my weekly Step Study class, shopping for flowers with my good friend, Kim, and then putting them in the pots and or ground! Saturday evening we will attend worship services and Sunday, I want to rest, read, and renew my soul ! For More Friday Fill-Ins click below:

So, I was trying to think of what to post about my visit with Lelia and Kelley last Friday. It has been difficult to pick and choose what I wanted to include in my story of meeting both of these ladies who I felt like I know, but I don't really know. My husband likened it to a blind date, like from an internet dating service. :) He makes me laugh! On Friday, I had to work a bit longer than I wanted to, but I did make it to downtown Dallas around 3:30 and found both Lelia and Kelley kicked back in the West End district, at a local Mexican restaurant. We made the normal and expected "Just seeing you for the first time" conversations when Lelia started closing her eyes. Uh-oh. I have seen that look before...head ache coming on. She took Advil. Lots. We decided to get out and do a bit of shopping, maybe some fresh air. It did help. Yes, we looked at Western Wear, and yes, Kelley was frightened by a rattling noise in an envelope. (rattlesnake eggs, of course) We dreamed a...

It is Tuesday, no it is Wednesday. Self Talk Soul Talk Chapter title this week is Chill Out: Be at Rest, O My Soul. The past 10 months, I have been making conscious decisions to "rest". While I lived in Virginia, I was always on the go...working, raising three kids, involved in entirely too many areas of ministry that seemed to be (in my mind) necessary for being part of a church plant. My evenings at home with my family were rare. And then I moved to Texas. Everything stopped. My mom was involved in a tragic accident and I spent about two months 5 hours away from my family while I helped her convalesce. During those months, I discovered how tired I really was. For a good long time, I was in and out of meltdown mode. Crying. Sleeping. Crying. Praying. Crying. When I finally began to cling to God and what he was saying, I knew it was really time for me to reevaluate how He wanted me to spend my time. So, I chose to rest. I have a few people who are holding me accountable to ...

I selected a new verse to memorize today. I didn't have to think about it, or pray about it. It was one of those verses God gave me. Yep, He just handed it to me today and said, "Here, this is yours." Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 EVIL? Hmmm. I have thought about this since this morning when God so gently suggested that I memorize it. Thoughts of how I have lived my life so far - careful or careless? Sadly, not as careful as I would have liked. For every step I have made, there was an opportunity for something good or something bad to happen. The apostle Paul says in this verse, "Be VERY careful...." It sounds like a warning to me, screaming like a big flashing yellow light, "CAUTION!" How many times have I just taken the next step without thinking of how it would affect me, or others, or especially "What is God's desir...