What does THAT mean?

Usually my daughter has the "different" dreams, but I had one this morning that tops my list of odd dreams. I'm not sure what to think of it.

I was in bed, lying flat. All of the sudden I had a feeling come over me that I can't explain, it was like electricity in my body and I could see an intense bright spot very far away, I started moving closer to the bright spot and I wondered if Ray could see the look on my face. I tried to raise my hands, but they wouldn't move, I was anticipating being overtaken by the brightness... I thought that must be heaven and this is what it feels like to die and go to heaven. As quickly as the feeling came over me, it left, no bright spot anymore. I woke up. WOW! What do you think of a dream like that? Is God trying to tell me something? reassure me about what happened when my mom died? When Ray woke up I said I had to tell him about the dream I just had, he said I know, I heard you. I asked him what did I say? He said I was moaning. So, what DO you think of a dream like that? I'm sure I won't forget it ever.

Why is it?

Why is it when you commit to something it seems all hell breaks loose giving you hurdles to jump constantly?

I committed, to myself, to lose weight, knowing I need to because of my diabetes so for health reasons which are important. I had lost 12 pounds... took 3 months to do so. Now I find myself just 2 pounds away from where I started. Now, I can blame some of it on my mom's death and the stress eating I did while in Florida for weeks. But one can only blame their circumstances for so long. Sooner or later we have to "buckle up" and accept responsibility in spite of our circumstances. Why is it so difficult to establish a good habit and with the snap of a finger fall into a bad habit? In two weeks I go back to my Dr, I am dreading that. Last time I went she was singing my praises, I'd lost weight, my A1C was more than a point lower, she was proud of me. Well, I was proud of myself! I won't be hearing those praises this next visit. sigh....

For almost a year I felt a tugging at my heart to volunteer with wellspring, which is like a rehab program for victims of human trafficking. Finally, I felt like I could commit to volunteering in some capacity with these girls. As soon as I got a girl to mentor it seems like there were hurdles everywhere! one after another, some hurdles being the situation with my mom, but added to that is the house mother I have tried to deal with. It has been frustrating and I worry that my girl thinks I don't care.

I guess the trick is to keep going regardless. Without hurdles, which we have throughout our life, there would be nothing to encourage us. It's when we over come those hurdles that gives us strength. Toby Mac has a song, "Get Back Up Again", There are some important words to remind not to quit,
"We lose our way,we get back up again
It’s never too late to get back up again
And one day you are gonna’ shine again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever"
So we fall off the wagon, chase the wagon down and get back on, you may get battered and beaten a little trying to jump back ON a moving wagon, but the ride is worth it.

All of this rambling reminds me not to give up on dreams, no dream is realized by being still. I believe with all my heart one day when someone mentions Lost Stork foundation, people will know what you're talking about. What IS lost stork you ask? Google it, it's a "hurdle" that became a ministry.

Madelyn Grace

I will never forget October 23, 2010, That is the day Madelyn Grace arrived! It has been so long since I held one of my precious babies for the first time that I almost had forgotten that un-explainable joy that comes with meeting your baby. It's amazing how such a tiny thing can cause a joy that is more huge than the sky! I had the privilege of being with Meghan and Charles as Madddie made her appearance. It was very difficult to watch Meghan in such pain. I even had to leave the room a couple of times to cry. When it came time to FINALLY push, I had the video camera in one hand and my cell phone to take pictures with, in the other, I was shaking and bawling like a baby. Fortunately I didn't do too badly on the videoing. There is a time where you see Charles sideways instead of focusing on Madelyn, but I did get the important stuff. She looks so much like Meghan did at birth, dainty, with super long fingers and toes. You can see Charles in her too, a perfect combination of love. She has the hiccups alot, just like her Uncle Daniel did. I'm so thankful God allowed me to get to St Louis in time to be there.

It's funny how your whole life can change in an instant!

How diffent today can be.

It's funny how your life can dramatically change in one day! In one day you become a wife,in one day you become a mother, in one day you can become a millionaire (not likely, but it can happen if you win the lottery)Your life is dramatically changed forever in a wonderful way. In one day you can change the life of one child or person by being kind to them. You never know what small act of kindness may change someone's life, then in turn others lives. In one day your life can also become devastating. You lose a child, job, spouse through divorce or death. Your home burns down, or is robbed. You are violated.

I thought of how quickly our lives can change, for good or bad, today when talking to a friend about my daughter Meghan and a speech I did for Toastmasters just over a year ago. My speech was on Meghan's infertility and the heartache she was enduring because of it. I also talked about the opportunity she had to make a difference in other women's lives, Meghan was leading support groups and blogging. (this is how I was introduced to blogging)

I thought about THE DAY when Meghan was "officially" considered infertile. In just one day her whole life changed, her dreams of being a mommy where abruptly taken from her... Four years later her life dramatically changed once again with a little stick she pee'd on, it said "pregnant". Now, a year after that speech, Meghan's life has dramatically changed, she's waiting for baby to arrive any day now and she's the founder of Lost Stork Foundation. Lost Stork will eventually be able to help relieve some financial burden for infertile couples. Infertility treatments are expensive and not covered by most insurances. Lost Stork wants to dramatically change infertile couples lives so they can know the joy Meghan and her husband Charles are feeling now. Maybe one day we'll read how Lost Stork dramatically changed a couple's lives when they too read "pregnant" on a stick.

Just Do It

I'm following Nike's advice and just doing it!

My strongest spiritual gifts are mercy and encouragement. Many years ago, before the Chicken Soup book rage began, I thought how I would love to write a book with short stories of encouragement. Apparently I had a great idea! The truth is I hate to write, especially long hand!!! And I don't have the prettiest handwriting either, I blame that on being left handed. But for many years now the desire in my heart remains to encourage others. While in comparison to some others' lives, mine has been pretty easy. I do completely understand what it feels like to question God and experience deep depression. Most of my heartache has been from bad decisions I've made, but not always. How wonderful it is that God can and will use our stupidity for great things! So, while I know there's no one following my blog, except my loyal daughter Meghan, I am going to just do it! I'm going to blog as close to every day as I can and start putting in hard copy all those thoughts racing around in my head and heart. Maybe one day down the road I can take the thoughts/lessons I've blogged about and arrange them into a book.

Last week I read a book called "Finding Grace" by Donna VanLiere. If you see it in the bookstore I highly recommend it! It spoke to me many times. It's all about finding God's grace in unexpected ways. I could share HOW the book spoke to me, (over and over) but I would have to share half of the book with you and I don't want to type that much! Plus, God might not show you what He showed me. One quote she used I will share, "It is invariably true, that God conceals Himself from those who tempt Him, and manifests Himself to those who seek Him." Blaise Pascal, French Scientist, Philosopher and Mathematician. This is always my answer to someone who wants to argue about God... If you TRULY seek God you WIll find Him. Even when I was angry at God, my heart wanted to understand, therefore God did speak to me in many ways. When I was a little girl my mother always told me to never question God, but it's my nature and I feel safe questioning God, it shows I know He loves me, unconditionally. There is also a difference between questioning God and condemning/cursing Him.

Now that I've hit the ripe ole age of 53, I understand the saying "older and wiser" we certainly get wiser as we get older because of all the mistakes and life experiences we have year after year. I hope somewhere down the line something I've written speaks to someone, encourages, gives strength to keep on keeping on or sometimes just entertains. If so, then I'll be grateful I "just did it".

Tuesday - Saturday

We arrived in Des Moines, Iowa around lunchtime. Our hotel is downtown and within walking distance of the Gold Wing Rally. We all agreed we would NOT get on the bike to go anywhere today or tomorrow!!!! Have you ever noticed that the more expensive a hotel is the less they give you? No free breakfast and high speed internet is $15.00 A DAY!!!!! You have to be kidding me! For what we are paying for our room you think the internet would be included!!!!! Good Grief! so... that is why there was no blogging updating for several days.

Every morning Ray and I walked to a local restaurant, Mr Fillet's for breakfast, Father and son owners and running the place, great food, great prices. It was such fun to get to visit with them each morning. We found out Thursday morning that this past January 11, Mr Fillet's burned down. Because of all the regulars there was such concern that it only took 2 months to rebuild! Amazing huh? Their regular customers pitched in and helped rebuild. That's the difference between a "mom and pop" restaurant instead of a big chain restaurant.

Thursday we rode to Pella, Iowa, yep, that's where they make the windows. It's a lovely dutch town with the largest working Windmill in the U.S. The windmill was built in Holland and shipped to Pella in sections. We took a tour! Pretty darn cool! We had lunch at the Windmill Cafe of course, great food. And then we went to the Bakery.... yummy!!!!!!!

I test drove a Can Am it's an odd looking cycle with two wheels in the front and one in the back. Like a reverse trike. It was fun to drive. We spent lots of time roaming through the vendors, and did our fair share in supporting several vendors! We've eaten way too much and I am scared to get on the scale when I get home. It was hard work getting 11 pounds off I just hope I don't gain most of them back. :(

We met several folks from New Zealand! That's one of the places Ray and I would love to go and tour. The group told us if we ever make it over there to let them know beforehand and they would tour with us. They also told us to buy a Gold Wing, ship it over there, use it for the touring then sell it. So, we are seriously looking into doing just that. It would save us the daily rental of a Gold Wing and selling it would recoup the cost of shipping it over. So, actually an affordable trip. We're shooting for 2012.

Unfortunately I didn't take daily notes so I can't remember everything I want to, it's very late and I'm exhausted. We are in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Tomorrow we'll be in Minnesota. I'm as caught up as I'm going to be for now.

Monday

Kickstands up at 7:30am! We headed to Mansfield, Missouri to see Laura Ingalls Wilder's home. This side trip was for Sue and myself. Laura was a remarkable woman, one I would have loved to met in person. I felt very much like I did when we visited Helen Keller's home, (another woman I really admire) very impressed. Both of these women changed history! I realize not in the same way, but regardless, they were strong women who didn't let circumstances discourage them.

We arrived in Chillacothe, MO late afternoon. Another long day! We had beautiful weather!!! Again, we walked to dinner. Tomorrow we will be in Des Moines, Iowa where we'll stay for 5 days for the Gold Wing Rally.

When you are traveling and stop at a gas station, or restaurant you politely say hello to someone you pass. Or maybe while you are pumping gas you may chat with the person at the pump next to you. But, when you are on a motorcycle (and even more so pulling a trailer) people feel compelled to talk to you. They want to know where you are from, where are you going. They want to know what you do when it rains, or when it's cold or very hot. They want to know what it's like to travel on a bike. It seems riding a motorcycle is the greatest conversation starter! And you know me... I HAVE to chat and answer all the questions asked. I would have never dreamed a motorcycle was such a magnet. I feel a speech for Toastmasters coming on!

Sunday

We left Hot Springs, AK and took Hwy 7 through the mountains in Arkansas. It's a beautiful ride, especially on a motorcycle. The weather was great! It was much cooler than yesterday. We had lunch at The Cliff House which is in Arkansas' "Grand Canyon". We had an incredible view, lunch was yummy!

We arrived in Branson, MO late Sunday afternoon. We were all glad to get off the bikes for a while. We decided to eat somewhere within walking distance and see a show that was also within walking distance. We learned that Sundays have slim pickings for shows. We decided on the Jim Stafford Show, you probably know him from his one hit, Spiders and Snakes. I think I was 14 or 15 when that song was popular. The show was cute, predictable but entertaining. As we were heading to the show a storm was quickly rolling in! We literally got in the door at the show and the sky opened up! By the time the show was over, it had quit raining.

It was a long day! Bed will feel soooooo good!

Saturday,

Today we left New Albany, Mississippi at 7:30am heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We only made one stop today. It was to see a Merci Car. For those of you that don't know John Stevens, he's a train fanatic! The Merci cars are trains cars that were given to the U.S. as a thank you gift from France after world war II. Out of 49 given to us, (one for each state, including Hawaii, but not Alaska) there are 43 left. John's quest is to visit each of them. So, in Helena, Arkansas we visited one of the Merci cars. Ray and I don't mind because we love trains too, not like John though. :) I might add that it was NOT in the best neighborhood!!!!! After leaving the Merci Car we got back on the road and saw what we saw before the Merci Car.... corn fields, soy bean fields, rice fields.... oh yeah... cotton fields! F O R E V E R ! ! ! ! ! ! A N D E V E R! ! ! ! ! and ever! Six hours worth of fields. one more thing... it was HOT!

After getting to our Hotel in Hot Springs we showered and walked across the street for dinner. There was no getting back on the bike to drive to eat. I will attempt to add pics from yesterday and today. If you see pics, I was successful, if you don't I wasn't. Pretty simple huh?

Tune in tomorrow for the continuing adventures of Ray & Lynn and John & Sue.

Post note: I did try to upload pics, but to no avail. Not sue why, I will try again tomorrow, after all, it will be a new hotel.

Day one VACATION!

Day 1: June 25, 2010

We left Newnan at 6:30, a little early to meet Sue and John, but we were up. We stopped at chick-fil-a in Carrollton and had breakfast and drank coffee while reading the Newnan Times Herald to wait for Sue and John.

After topping off the tanks with gas we headed out on our big adventure! We rode Hwy 27 for a while then took back roads to Gadsden, Al. We took a slight detour to Noccalula Falls (last time we went there it was just a trickle) there wasn’t a lot of water over the falls, but it was more than last time.

We made a stop in Cullen, Alabama at a Hardy’s for lunch, there we met Martha Keller. She was a lonely older woman who noticed our motorcycles and started asking questions about them. For the next hour she sat with Sue and me asking questions and telling us all about all of her cousins. She kept pulling at the front of her blouse, which was sitting high on her neck. I realized the reason why…. It was on backwards. She would ask us a question, and then have a cousin who either lived there, or worked at that type of job…. For instance, when Ray told her he retired from AT&T she had a cousin who did some consultant work for AT&T. She had a cousin who used to fly (John explained he was a pilot for Delta) When we told her where we lived John showed her on the map, she asked if it was near Douglasville, we explained yes, it was. She wanted to know if we knew one of her cousins. She tossed out so many names I can’t begin to remember any of them. But each cousin had a name, and she went on to explain where that cousin came from i.e., her mom’s grandmother, mother, dad… her dad’s mom, you get the point. She would also explain if they were dead or not and sometimes how old they were, if she could remember. She asked if we knew one of her cousins and after looking at Sue and I mentioned that they were probably older than us since they were her age. It was obvious she was lonely. As we suited up to leave she stood at the window waving until we left. We also talked to a man who’s last name is Kent, so his friends all call him Clark. He has an older Goldwing so Ray and John chatted with him while Sue and I chatted with Martha.

This made me think… how many times, every day, do we have opportunities to make someone’s day. Clearly, Martha’s day was brighter because we took the time to chat with her. It made me think about how giving someone one rose can bring a smile to their face. Or leaving a $3.00 tip at Papa John’s Pizza can “Make someone’s day”! It’s so easy, why don’t we take that extra 5 minutes, or $3.00? It’s more than the money, or the time… what all of these things say is, you matter, you have value. I hope I never know how many opportunities God has presented to me, for me to make some tiny difference in someone’s life, and I refused! How ashamed I would be. I think about all the times in my life someone has done some “Random Act of Kindness” for me. I clearly remember how important it made me feel, how valuable I must be for God to impress on someone to do something kind for me. Strangers have done thoughtful, kind things for me and those close to me have. Family members and friends.


After that interesting lunch, we left in the rain, not too bad and it was hot so the rain was rather welcomed. The temperature dropped 10 degrees or more because of the rain.

After driving for a while we passed the Natural Bridge, it’s the longest Natural Bridge east of the Mississippi River. We turned around and visited. There was an older couple there, whom we chatted with for several minutes. We wondered if this was setting a precedence for the rest of our trip? It’s a very good way to spend a vacation I’d say. Stopping to visit with people, especially those who are elderly.

We decided to take the long road to our hotel in New Albany, Mississippi. We rode the Nanchez Trace for a while, stopping once to eat some snacks and drink some water.

After checking into our hotel, we showered then walked next door to Sizzler’s for dinner. In no time at all Ray is sound asleep and I’m wide awake since I had tea for dinner. Probably not the smartest thing for me to do.

A very good day I would say. But of course we are on vacation. 

Well well well.... it seems ONE person checks my blog! My faithful daughter Meghan. As we travel over the next couple of weeks I will be posting at least semi-regularly. You can keep up with our daily adventures. I'm thankful to have someone watching the house and Zoie for us.

It's been a while since I've blogged, but I need to warm up since a long trip is around the corner. The only way to get familiar with blogging is to just do it right? Wonder if this will ever become what Meghan's blog has become.

I have plenty to say, just don't know how many folks want to hear or read what I have to say. First a new name for the blog.