Friends on the Journey

The Christian season of Lent is strange. It is like Alice being in Wonderland. It has great excitement and joy, but also confusion and fear. And maybe, like Alice, we tumble into it more that we intentionally take action to be in it. Everything around you will try to fight off the practice of Lent. Or it will try to subtly make it fit into the ways of the world, but with the illusion that it is truly a deep god-designed spiritual time. A lot of what the church calls spiritual is more a way to prop up and to confirm the ways of the world rather than the Kingdom of God. You cannot do Lent alone! It will take a group of you supporting, forgiving, encouraging, and confronting each other. Find a group of people who will walk with you through Lent. (Rev. David Loar)

Thank God for friends on the journey! This season of Lent I am so blessed to have two special friends on the journey with me. I give thanks everyday for the gift of Julia and Mary in my life. They are more than friends--they are my sisters in Christ. They hold me accountable, they hold me to humility, sometimes they simply hold me. I would not be on the journey I'm on, or traveled the distance I have without their abiding presence in my life, their unwavering belief in Jesus Christ and the humble example of servanthood they place before me; both shining examples of contrite hearts filled with love for God and all of his children.
Julia - You are teaching me so much! Not to be afraid. To know that God is with me always! Even in the darkest of places I am learning to fear NOthing. You help me understand my gifts and to know that they come from God and were given to me to further His kingdom. This has/is been life-transforming for me! Boo ya to the Warriors! Saddle up! Put on the armor! Kick evil's $%&&!! To know you have my back is comforting and empowering! I love you!
Mary - I know you will walk with me to Hell and back until we complete step four! I know you will walk to Hell with me period. You give me the courage to be the best I can be. You challenge me to discipleship above and beyond anything I could ever have imagined. You are my anchor when things unravel, simply by your unwavering belief in God and his son Jesus Christ. You are my prayer partner, my accountability partner and my "Martha, see you don't suffer from terminal uniqueness after all", partner. Thanks for keeping me sane, helping me not sweat the small stuff (and it's all small stuff!), and always reminding me that life is meant to be enjoyed and that loving and serving God is a joy! I love you!
Nancy...Lastly, I love you. Thanks for being the first person who helped me realize the unfathomable presence and possibility of God in my life, who loved me warts and all-just simply for me, and for showing me that even princesses are expected to "walk the talk" too. See you on the other side. Save me a seat... or maybe a cloud! :)

Tin Grin

I just went to the orthodontist the other day, and for once it wasn't to take a child. This time, it was for me. Somehow, over the course of 35 years or so, my teeth shifted. This caused a problem with my bite. I mentioned it to my dentist (who is also exactly my age) and he said, "Go over and see about a retainer." Well, I ended up with a full-blown set of braces. I may not look like the Taz, but I sure felt like him yesterday. Today is much better. Actually, my braces look just like his. Even though David and I have great dental insurance, it doesn't cover braces if you're over 20. ( I think that's called age discrimination!) Anyway, invisalin wasn't an option for me, and the cute ceramic brackets were an extra $600! Yikes! Since I only have to wear them a year, I opted to send my $600 to Heidelberg and go with the fabulous totally metal sets. So, I may be 50, but right now I have the mouth of a 12 year old. Maybe I'll be brave and post a photo soon! P.S. To all of my 20 and 30 something nieces and nephews.....wear your retainers...My ortho says the new recommendations are that you wear your retainers at night for....LIFE!