Liz's Letters

One day last week, I read a meditation reading that has stuck with me for 5 days now. (Isn't that what we hope will happen when we read these things?) The specific question that was asked in this particular reading, and the thought that has haunted me ever since is, "What would happen if we stopped blaming anyone for anything?" Placing blame is not foreign to me. Thinking long and hard about my own responsibility with blame, I realized that I didn't have to learn this well practiced human trait. And as I struggled with feeling like a "bad" person, I was able to stop my thoughts long enough to place the blame where it really belonged...Adam and Eve, in the book of Genesis! Ha! Of course, I can blame them...they started this whole thing anyway! But seriously, how quickly and how naturally our human nature wants to point the finger when things don't go well, or when we make a wrong decision, or we .... sin. So, I gave myself a little exercise. I decided I w...

Week 19 And what a full week it was. Toward the end of the week, I couldn't pick just one photo. Sunday...(today), I didn't even take one! Here is how the week shaped up. Monday, September 21 The first day of Homecoming week for Rebecca - her sophomore year! Homecoming week in Texas is a great big deal! (as you will see) This is how Rebecca started her week... calling in sick. Luckily, it was just a little cold, but this is a photo of how I left her on Monday a.m. Tuesday, September 22 Here are a couple of my very best friends! We get together once a month or so to catch up. Tuesday night was the night. We talked for over 3 hours! Wednesday, September 22 The sky looked really cool when I was driving to work. Thursday, September 23 Homecoming parade Picture above is part of the football team. Below, Rebecca and Akeitha, marching. They have been friends since 6th grade! Friday, September 25 Rebecca wears her homecoming mum to school today. These are the big Texas tradition! Her ...

I received the below in an email this week. You know, one of those forwarded stories that you receive and are suppose to pass along. I don't think there was any bad consequence to not forwarding it on (this time), but I did anyway, because it represents one of my favorite philosophies about life. Forgiveness. It took me a long time to totally understand true forgiveness. It wasn't until I was in need of real forgiveness that I learned how to give it as well. It is a little too late for some of the relationships that I lost along the way, but the lesson has been learned and I don't think I will ever look at relationships with the same pair of eyes. I have found that all things can be forgiven. And often times, God is most glorified when reconciliation can take place and the wound is deeper and more difficult to forgive. And this takes serious humility, which sadly, most people (myself included) do not possess. But, God has taken me on a journey of learning this. If God ca...

Love doesn’t make the world go around. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. ~Franklin Jones Read this quote on a fellow blogger's site today. Something to ponder. Love is motivating me and giving me much direction today...consciously. I guess the world would go around without love since hate creates movement also. But, yes, love does make the ride worthwhile. Love is all around me and it does make going to sleep tonight worthwhile and waking tomorrow (God willing) worthwhile. Love. I am grateful for love, the love I receive and the love I am able to give. God is love. I am grateful for my wonderful family...no matter where they live. I am grateful for a free lunch at work today - one of the benefits of working for a doctor's office! Got to love those drug reps! Taco Salad was tasty, thank you! I am grateful that I enjoy my job...even my new job, and look forward to going back tomorrow. I am grateful for Flexible Benefits Accounts. I will make a deposit tomorrow that...

This week has been a weekend of interesting highs and lows. As I look back over the pictures that I took, I don't think I captured the "mood" very well, but it still is a visual representation of my week. Here we go... Monday, September 14 Sunday night, I returned from a spiritual retreat extremely tired, but on a mountain top, of sorts. I had only enough time to eat and go to bed before I turned around and went to work on Monday morning. By the time I returned home Monday night, I could not wait to sit down and relax. My husband was working out of town this week and my daughter and I took it easy on Monday night. I fixed a quick dinner, picked up the book I am reading, lit some candles, put on some soft music and relaxed! This is the scene. Tuesday, September 15 I had to go to the grocery store after work. Still in a positive frame of mind, I purchased some flowers to enjoy during the week. These Peruvian lilies are always inexpensive, colorful, and last well over...

"She's a mess!" One friend answered for me when another friend asked me how I was doing. Gotta love friends that know and love you and are willing to tell the truth for you, just in case you were not going to tell it yourself. The second friend gave me a big, heart-felt, love filled hug. And the "answering" friend gave me a wink. I was with people who know me well tonight...the ones who hold me accountable, the ones who I admit even the deepest secrets because I know it will bring healing. This party was planned weeks ago, in honor of one of us having a 65th birthday. (yes, one of my best friends is 65!) But before it was planned, God knew where I would be when I walked into this party. And He also knew where I would be when I walked out. Lifted up. Loved. Cared for. And not only because I was honest with how I am, but because we are all honest with each other. And even though we are very different, we help each other along the way. When one is wea...

Is this where I will be taking my next vacation? It could be. (if you don't recognize the city, it is Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon) Tonight, I am grateful for the previous post ...grateful for the times that God lets me in on things. Because tonight, I am wondering what in the world is going on. Just when I think things are going one way.... something changes. Yesterday, I thought my son and his girlfriend were moving to Texas this month. Today, he told me they are thinking of moving to Vietnam. (for a year) It's not a done deal...but... (he's been offered a job) you just never know. Hanging on for dear life, In other words, trusting....

It is a wonderful thing when things add up to being just like they should be. Sometimes, it is fun to see what the purpose might be as to why I met a particular person, or why I was part of a certain situation. Even when the edges are still a little fuzzy, the parts that are focused are crisp and clear. Conversations happen, ones that were totally unexpected, and all of a sudden, I can hear. A friend being lost for a long time comes back into my life and it is as if it were meant to be that way. The world is small. God is big. I have a place and it is perfect. and sometimes, I get to find out why. Marveled,

Some weeks, things are just good. This was one of those weeks. It went by too fast, glad I capture some of it in pictures. here we go...... Sunday, September 6 Rebecca's boyfriend got a new car this week. I took a picture of it...with them as they were getting ready to leave and go somewhere. (can't remember now, but this little red beauty is part of my regular life, might as well take a photo!) Monday, September 7 Labor Day We had a great day, lounging by the pool, grilling, etc. When it was all said and done, my daughter and I managed to steal away for a bit and catch a chick flick! Tuesday, September 8 We have all done a little fall house cleaning. I made a trip to the local donation center with a trunk full of goodies. Wednesday, September 9 Rebecca and I went to the hair salon and on the way home, I filled up my gas tank. I used the discount that I get from my grocery store discount card. I paid 98 cents for gas!!! Can you believe that?! $11.02 to fill up the tank of my Ho...

Last night, my 15 year old daughter and I went to the hair salon, so when thinking about the poem I would write based on one word, I chose the one word "Hair". So, here is my poem, based on one word, Hair, written in 60 seconds. For more see Seedlings in Stone Hair Let's cut Let's color White or yellow? Purple? Flying, falling Washing, drying Up or down? Short or long? It's only hair Havin' fun!

Retreat Websters definition: -an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable -a place of privacy or safety -refuge a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director Coming up? My annual trip to Heart to Heart...in the heart of the Ozark's, to allow some serious time for work on my heart! Privacy Refuge prayer meditation safety withdrawal I love this time, grateful for another opportunity to attend. Grateful to spend this time with my mom. Grateful that my great friend will be going with me, for her first time at this retreat. (we have to fly and then drive...quite a distance from where we live) Grateful to see all my friends that I have made the past few years. Grateful for the recovery that God started at this retreat and grateful for the continued work that I have been able to do. I can't wait to see what my "word" is. (every year, we are assigned a word...and usual...

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3 Some days, I just want to feel sorry for myself. You know, get all caught up in everything that isn't really going my way, host a pity party and make myself the guest of honor, whine, cry, and wonder why trials have to come my way. Humanly speaking, I don't like trials, and I really don't like suffering. Alone, I react negatively to difficulties. But then I read something, or hear something, or God might just plop His word in front of me - like the one's above - to remind me - that life is not just about me. One of the ways that I can test my own faith, is to pay attention to how I respond to things that I find challenging; trials, or suffering. If I remain in the state of mind of ...

This photograph was taken at the first football game of the season. Don't they look like they are having a wonderful time?!! Love,