Silver Linings

The older I get and with each passing day, I become increasingly aware of the existence of silver linings in my life.

No!  Its not what you're thinking. 

Instead, I'm referring to those thin, silvery, way-too-shiny annoyances that multiply at a too-great speed on my scalp.

Whatever happened to the days when I would spot only one random silver (let's just totally avoid the word gray - ugh!) strand amongst my dark brown hair and simply pluck that baby, leaving no evidence of its having shown up where it didn't belong?

Those days are gone.  Gone for good. 

Why?  Because they are no longer random.  Now, they have friends.  In fact, they're making an abundance of new friends rapidly ... daily.  Not that I have anything against friendship, but c'mon - this is a little over-the-top.  Who needs that many friends? 

Apparently, my head thinks it does.  Its like a party up there!  Silver "friends" showing up here, there, everywhere, and out of the blue.  Word's apparently getting around that the top of my head is where its all "happening."

What's more ... these guys don't even bother to wait for an invitation or to make reservations - for sometime in the far distant future.  Nope.  These irritating party-crashers just show up whenever they feel like it, on a whim even, then take up permanent residency ... without even asking my permission.

Pluck 'em?  No-can-do!  Tried that.  Wasn't a good plan. 

You see, since I've reached the stage of hosting multitudinous silver guests at this too-crowded party on my head, plucking now could potentially lead to LPB ... Lori-Patterned-Baldness.  I'm not that accomodating of a hostess!

Tried coloring the gray (Oops!  I mean, silver).  Turns out, not all my silver guests accept color. 

Discrimation!

On the flip side, Proverbs 16: 31 says - "The silver-haired head is a crown of glory."

A crown!

Hey!  I believe I'm wearing four of those.  Crowns, that is.  Namely:  Lindsey, Audrey, Samuel and Anderson.

Proverbs 17: 6 says - "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged."

Bring on the silver linings!

Speaking Engagement Winners

The Speaking Engagement Winners (from the Care Net Conference in Grapevine, Texas) are:

• Save A Life, dba The Women's Resource Center - Mobile, Alabama
• Human Life Services - York, Pennsylvania
• Crossroads Pregnancy Center - Milledgeville, Georgia

A Spring In My Step

Summer's end is closing in.

Hallelujah!

Those of the menopausal female persuasion can fully identify with my exuberance when it comes to heat relief.  Not much else is more of an annoyance than pesky hot flashes accompanied by a 110 degree heat index.

With open arms and perspiration-free armpits (eau de armpits), I welcome the arrival of Autumn.  At long last, I can enjoy the great outdoors again ... liberated from profuse sweating, nauseating irritability, dripping makeup, and really bad hair days.

I'll have a spring in my step again ... once Fall clocks in.

Winter?  Even better.

Where's my Snuggie?

Out On A Limb

I'm pretty stubborn.

I'm pretty certain I was born that way.

I'm equally certain stubbornness is a trait that refuses to leave its host. 

Consequently, those who love me - and those who don't - can count on my being stubborn.

At least they can say I can be counted on for something!

Going out on a limb is one of the too-many things I'm awfully stubborn about.

Just give me a limb ... any limb ... and, I'll climb out on it.

I'm even okay with being knocked off the limb.  I'll just pick myself up, shake off the dirt, find another limb, and wind up stronger in the end.

Matthew 10: 14 ... "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet ... "

Speaking Up

I've got a pretty big mouth. 

Its not entirely my own fault.  I've got a hearing disability that appears to have been passed down from my mother to her children and grandchildren.  And since I don't hear well, perhaps I talk much louder than what might be socially acceptable.  Perhaps!

But, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  At least I know no one can ever say they didn't hear what I said.  How in the world could they miss it, with a mouth such as mine?

I like to be heard.  (Don't we all?)

Of course, I particularly like it when others respond positively to the words that I try my darndest to choose very carefully.  But, even at those times when positive responses aren't immediately obvious, I'm fairly certain that my verbalizations have the potential to cause others to, at the very least, give my ideas thoughtful consideration.

From time to time though, I feel like a voice in the wilderness. 

I'm not too fond of those times when my voice is lonesome ... when my voice desperately longs for the company of other voices.  That would be music to my ears (via my hearing aids). 

Loneliness envelopes my voice on occasion, and drags it into the wilderness when I'm speaking up for the unborn.  Not always, but occasionally.

Nevertheless, I will passionately continue to open my big mouth wide in a deliberate pursuit to save the precious lives of Jesus' little ones.

Jesus loves His little children.

With purposeful determination to make my actions speak even louder than my words, and my unwavering pledge to be a voice for the unborn - a very loud voice - I'm leaving Saturday for the Care Net Conference in Grapevine, Texas, where I'll be exhibiting for four days and selling my book, "Pregnant at 16."

Thank you, Jesus, for my big mouth.

My Name is Engraved in His Hands.

WHO does this?  And, WHY?

WHO loves me enough to endure this kind of pain?  And, WHY does He love me so much?

JESUS does this.

JESUS does this as an outward expression of His enduring love for me, and to remind me that I am always in His sight and forever on His mind.

JESUS endured this kind of pain so that I wouldn't have to.

JESUS loves me so much because I am His daughter.

I am never out of His sight. 

I am never out of His mind.

(SEE ISAIAH 49:16)

Boys Will Be Boys

Samuel and Anderson ... All boys! ... All the time!

Life just wouldn't be the same without them.

Who else would hide behind the curtains to play peek-a-boo with Gramma?
Who else would slide down the slide head first to impress Gramma?
Who else would climb on top of his toys to show Gramma how brave he is?
Who else would be able to puke on Gramma without upsetting her?
Who else would flip upside-down just to make Gramma laugh?
Who else would dance to silly songs with Gramma?
Who else would listen to Gramma sing silly songs for hours on end?
Who else would snuggle with Gramma for an afternoon nap?

... No one but Gramma's boys !!