An Oscar life on Brown Carpet

Hello, Ladies.

I am feeling better so watch out.  Nah, just kidding no soap boxes today.  Well, just a little one.  I am watching TV and the morning show is recapping the Oscars.  Girlfriends, the dresses are gorgeous.  The glamour is pouring out all over the red carpet.  They are smiling and enjoying all the lime light.  They are perfect in body...perfect hair, perfect makeup, and perfect "honey" hanging on their shoulders.  It is so not fair,  I am sitting in my sweats, pink sweat shirt, and bright red slippers.  I have my trusty headband holding my wild morning hair in place.  I didn't wash my face last night and my eyelashes are bent and smashed to my eyelids.  I am sitting next to my perfect husband. He is wearing designer Lee jeans, Hanes t shirt, and a lovely grey hoodie.  We are a perfect pair.  Our carpet is brown but hey the sunlight looks good on us.  Of course Hollywood idols aren't perfect, but I must say they sure look good.  As these stars were prancing down the red carpet, Anna was in church for 1 hour and 45 minutes listening to incredible preaching about God's sovereignty, free will/predestination, and our freedom in Christ.  It was so mesmerizing and I was so full of His presence that I felt like our purple carpet in church was glowing.  It was a hard lesson and it was very matter of fact, but it was truth and it was healing and I was in love with Jesus all over again.  Who needs designer clothes when God dresses you with His presence.  Powerful, girlfriends.

Well, my friends, I am heading back to Jamaica this summer.  I am so excited this time.  No fears!  Well, now I am praying NO HURRICANES.  Anyways, I am going back the place that put my life into perspective.  The perspective that I need to be content and appreciative of what God has given me.  It may not be glamour and glitz but it is shelter, it is family, and it is having breath.  The Jamaican people I met while on mission last summer have a simple life.  Their shelters are minimal.  They don't have much in terms of materialism.  But, girlfriends, they can smile and they know how to live "Don't Worry.  Be Happy."  It really isn't about the emotion of happiness.  It is about accepting the fact that you don't need to worry about tomorrow.  They enjoy today.  Now that is Biblical.  

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So it's back to Jamaica for me.  Last year though I participated in the many opportunities to minister and serve, I came back with many life lessons.  It was a trip for "me".  This year I will still learn and receive, however, I have an opportunity to do/assist with a women's Bible study. This is so exciting for me.  Sharing God's word with women in Jamaica.  Encouraging them to be their best for a God who loves them so much.  Helping them learn to serve with a sense of purpose as they raise their families and work in their community is such an awesome honor.  So pray for me ladies to be able to raise my airfare and that my health holds up.

Speaking of prayer, I have to share a real blessing I received yesterday morning.  I had one of my "senior" lady friends tell me she reads this blog.  She told me she enjoys it and has read my archives.  She told me it was a blessing to hear me report on Esther.  She is unable to participate in our study.  I told her thank you for reading and reiterated that I pour out my life on this blog...the good and the bad.  This is the blessing, my friends, she responded by saying with tears in her eyes,  I just look at it as opportunities to pray for you.  I hugged this woman.  I was so blessed.  I call this lady my friend but we don't socialize but know each other through church, yet this woman is praying for me...for me.  Wow!  Girlfriends, go hug your senior friends and tell them thank you....these women are praying for us.  I know they are.  These women are a wonderful resource for us as mentors.  They have lived our lives in some kind of fashion.  If they are Godly women, they can enhance our lives.  They know how to pray.  We can learn from them.  Thank you my friend if you are reading this today.  Thank you for your prayers and thank you for our mending of hearts.  

Well, it's back to college for me...Lol!  I am going to college with Cory this morning and then he is taking me to the eye doctor.  I am laughing inside because I feel old.  Do you remember having to take your parents or grandparents to the eye doctor?  I won't be able to see after the appointment.  I go to an eye specialist once a year for tests re: my auto immune disease.  He usually blinds me to see into my eyes.  So my dear son is driving his feeble mom to the eye doctor.  It won't be cheap.  He is still on the hunt for American Eagle jeans cheap and it will cost me lunch out.  I might have to drag him into another thrift store.  After all it has been a week since his last humiliation.  He actually likes it.  He has found a hot dog toaster, and a fancy cone vacuum on some of our thrift shop adventures.  He would die if he knew I told you this.  Afterall this is my designer dressed son.  He is a good shopper to his defense.  He buys on sale and clearance racks.  He is so much better with money that his parents.  Gotta love that boy.  

So as to be fair, I have another son who deserves an accolade.  He has found a girlie friend.  She is beautiful and he is such a well behaved boy when with her.  We have had to drive him around since he lost his car for 2 weeks.  It is more torture for us but necessary.  He seems to be acting a little more responsible.  He thinks we are horrible to take away his freedom, but he is being patient.  I hate it that he equates no wheels with no  freedom, but "oh so sad...too bad."  I love that kid but I am glad he was my second child.  If he would of been my first, there would be no Cory.  Tim was a happy, smiling baby but he demanded way more attention and work.  Things haven't changed much.  I love Tim's humor and wit, but his lack of respect is wearing thin. PRAY for me my friends, or I will be blogging from the fifth floor in a padded room or behind bars....kidding...kinda....please pray!!!!

So there you have it...my life.  No big lessons for you.  You are all saying "I hate it for you Anna, but glad it's your life."  Well, girlfriends, I am glad its my life too.  God will make a way for my survival.  He is good.  I won't question my awesome creator.  I choose to remember the following scripture.  Maybe you could use it today too. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 (New International Version)

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.