A Thorn Among Roses

i'm not sure if it's the long winter or that there's just 6 of us in this house, but it's a flipping mess...always! i get frustrated when i look around...bc as soon as i clean up, there's another mess.  i mean, i have some really awesome "helpers"...but as you can see, there's some ba-junk-da-junk that could use a cleaning up. i'm having a hard time this morning being really upset about it...because i'm rejoicing in finding my "fountains" or strength in what matters.   passion 2011 rocked my world...like i mean, rocked my world...and the CD just released {with me singing off key in the crowd} and i'm praising God along with Chris Tomlin and 3000 other peeps to "all my fountains"...and i'm feeling the joy, man. and then i turn around and i see the world i live in.  i mean, that's hard for me in the midst of this... and this... but in the end, what matters?  i'm really trying hard to keep that focus...m...

where have i been?  well, you asked. it's been one of those "seasons" in life here lately.  i'm bogged down with so many "to do's" and kiddos and softball and photography and working out and friends getting sick and life's struggles...you must know what i'm talking about.  surely i'm not the only one. i look back at the end of the day and i see a flurry of activity...i see my kids fed, my smiling husband, my messy house, the unwashed laundry and the dishes stacked to the ceiling in the sink and i think, "what did i accomplish?".  i mean, i did something today, right?! i have this thing that constantly gets in the way...it's called ME.  and sometimes i even refer to it as MY LIFE.  it plain gets in the way of what's real.  what's important.  what's good. i get overwhelmed with the always low balance of the checking account.  i get ticked off that my friend out of nowhere has a 8 1/2 hour surgery for cancer and she ...

on a walk thru the park i noticed this one charred log...it caught my eye because everything else around it was alive... isn't that how life is? or seems like it is some days? we are walking thru the fires of life and everyone else keeps right on going. that log reminds me that in the midst of my life, i need to take time to share love with others who are going thru fires...share a smile, get them some coffee, share some supportive words or comments, drop them a note...but be more than just the forest around them... be part of the rebuilding, the regrowing from the fires in life that they are experiencing. head over to for tuesday {honoring tuesday whitt} and see some families that could use your support...they are in the midst of the fire, or are coming thru the fire right now...and your words may be the perfect ones for them.