Lamanin

Still working on my talk for Saturday! Yikes! I wonder if other speakers have this much difficulty. Anyway, tonight I'm busy writing the session that will be about Yahweh - the Great I AM. I ran across the title of a book that captured my attention, I Am Not, But I Know I AM. When I Googled the author's name, this video came on. I think I received an email a long time ago about this, but this video made more of an impact on me. It is well worth the eight minutes it takes to watch it. It gives a fresh perspective Colossions 1:6...and in Him all things hold together.

Fear

Do any of you struggle with fear? I sure do! Have all my life. And Satan is on to me. He knows exactly where to attack me. It's happening again. One week from today I have my first official "Wow! I'm getting paid for this" speaking engagement. Don't get me wrong - I love to speak. I have done it for years and I find no greater thrill than getting up in front of people and sharing my heart. That's one of the things that drew me to teaching - that, and realizing I couldn't make a living from shopping or eating chocolate. I digress.

I haven't been sleeping well, I've been sick, I've had writer's block. And now I'm afraid. I'm afraid because I keep telling myself things like, "I don't have anything great to share with those women next week". I even asked my husband if I should just call the whole thing off. Maybe the retreat could be rescheduled for...Oh, I don't know...maybe 2017?!?!

But then I started working on my outline, looking again at Psalm 23, reminding myself that the LORD is my Shepherd. One of the first sessions I have with the women will be about the meaning of the name LORD. And as I studied the character of our Shepherd, it was as if someone applied balm to my heart...I calmed right down. He restored my fearful heart once again. And as I studied, I started humming a song that I haven't heard in forever, In the Presence of Jehovah. I looked it up on You Tube, and sure enough, it was on there. I'll post it here for ya'll to see and I trust the words and the music will be a blessing.

And one more thing...I was watching an interview of Robin Roberts last night. She is a co-host on Good Morning America. She also grew up just down the Coast from us in Mississippi and did A lot to focus on the plight of our state after Hurricane Katrina. She has written a book and now it's in paperback so she's on the interview circuit. Something she said struck a chord with me...Let your mess be the message. That, in essence, is what I hope to do next Saturday. I'll share my mess and share how God was able to turn it all into something for my good and His glory. If you have a moment, I sure would appreciate your prayers. Thanks and Hugs

No! Say It Isn't So!

Okay, so I'm having this perfect little "Pollyanna" type day, when suddenly I am slapped in the face with this dose of reality...scientists think we may soon run out of chocolate!!!! If you don't believe me, here's a brief quote from ABC News: Scientists say that now it is chocolate's sustainability that needs to be monitored. The Ghana-based Nature Conservation Research Center warns that chocolate may become as rare and expensive as caviar within 20 years.
A number of factors, including climate change, are affecting the farming and production of cacao, or the cocoa plant.
Be still my heart! I feel like I need to stop this blog writing nonsense right now and run to the corner Walgreen's so I can stockpile the Valentine Day leftovers! I mean, if this is true, just think of the ramifications. The dessert menus would totally lose their appeal. I don't know about you, but "Death by Carrot Cake" just doesn't excite me. Neither does "Hot Molten Key Lime Pie" or "Peanut Butter Covered Strawberries".

Chocolate lovers, unite! Pardon me while I grab a Snickers and ponder a solution to this horrible dilemma...

Weekend Recap

As I reported yesterday, I'm sick. Don't know what it is exactly, but I have a sore, sore throat, a cough, and am basically pretty tired. I'm thankful the headache is finally gone. Bill just left for church and I've been up since forever and have reached my fill of worship services on TV. Today will be a quiet day, and I think I'll be in bed for most of it.

Despite not feeling well, I had a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend. On Friday, my friend and English student, Ligia, invited me to a genuine Mexican meal. She fixed Pollo con mole and it was delicious. (No, Nancy, that's NOT mole as in the rodent!) She then presented me with a gift. Ligia made me a beautiful cross-stitch of my name. She told me that someday soon she will return to Mexico, so she wanted something special that would remind me of our special times together! I cried! When she greeted me at the door, she had a sparkle in her eye when I told her she smelled good. She used to always comment on how much she liked my perfume, so I gave her some for Christmas and she was wearing it. But that perfume has a story of its own...I bought her the perfume in November...it was wrapped and ready to give to her way before Christmas. One day, however, when we were shopping, I took her to the counter for her to smell some of the other fragrances, and there was one that she absolutely LOVED. It reminded her of her grandmother, whom she dearly loves. It smelled like the orange blossoms in her grandmother's yard and the smell conjured up many good childhood memories. Well, you already know what I did next...I returned to the store and exchanged what I bought earlier for the other scent. Ok, that being explained, it brings us up to Ligia and the sparkle in her eye. With broken English she told me how much she liked the perfume I gave her, but she returned it(!!!!) and exchanged it for what I bought her. She said she wanted something that would remind her of her teacher. Isn't that just so sweet! I'm telling you, I have the greatest job in the world.

Then, I came home and baked a cake for a get-together with friends from church. I made something that I hadn't made in years...Texas sheet cake. Now that I actually live in Texas, I thought it would be a good idea to resurrect that recipe.

When we arrived and I placed the cake on the table, one guy asked, "Is that Mississippi Mud?" The two cakes do look a lot alike...I just thought it was funny that I would make Texas Sheet cake in MS. and MS Mud cake in Texas. Is there a recipe that starts with "Michigan" that I can start baking?

Later that evening my husband presented me with a beautiful bouquet of roses and the most lovely card he has ever given me. Thank you, honey! I know everyone thinks their husband is the best, but mine really is the greatest!

And speaking of Bill, he went to the dealer to have them check out his breaks and they are totally destroyed...THE WHOLE BREAK SYSTEM!!! I'm so very thankful this wasn't discovered in some catastrophic way as he was traveling to work! The mechanic said someone put in something other than break fluid. A month ago, during an oil change, he was told he needed break fluid, so he told them to go ahead. Apparently, it wasn't the right stuff and now we are faced with a HUGE bill.

That's it...time to get back in bed...HUGS!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I had BIG plans...but, unfortunately, I got sick. I'm hoping it's only a 24 hour kind of bug, but I'm still feeling pretty "pewny" (as they say in the South!). I'll write more when I feel better, but I wanted to share this beautiful email that was sent to me today. This is from Sandra, a lady I met at the airport one week ago. My ordinary heart overflows with the extraordinary ways God appears and shows His love!!!




Lin and Gary,
Last weekend I went to Chicago to visit Dan and Annie. On the return trip my flight was scheduled to have a layover in Houston. While waiting to board the plane in Chicago, I began talking to a lovely woman sitting next to me.While we waited in line to board we continued our conversation and she told me that she had lived in Biloxi before Katrina and that she and her husband were now in Houston. She explained that they had lost everything in Katrina and after a few months her husband had gone on to Houston to find work and she had remained in the Biloxi area for her daughter to finish her senior year of high school with her friends. I mentioned that I was from Vicksburg and she immediately asked did I by chance know a dentist named Gary . . . and before she could say the last name I finished with Cheslek. The connection was so very special to both of us. It was plain to both of us that the two of you have touched so any lives. Joyce said that she had been a grade school friend of yours and that all three of you went to high school together. She asked that I give you her new email address - that ya'll had lost contact after her family had moved.
Thanks to both of you for all of the love you have shared with so many.
Love in Christ,
Sandy Berry

Lin and I grew up together in Grand Rapids. She and her husband are the only people that I know that live in Vicksburg, MS. So there I was, standing in line next to a woman from MS., in an airport in Chicago! And she knows Lin and her husband! Lin and Gary moved down there to work with Dr. Boelens. Dr. Boelens worked for years in the Delta of Mississippi and served the poorest of the poor. He opened several clinics in order for these people to receive necessary medical as well as spiritual and emotional care. It's quite a moving story.

That was my early Valentine's Day gift from God!

Blog Borrowing

I saw this on another blog and thought it was so cute. As a teacher and as a parent, I can relate to how easily communication can become misunderstood!

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smith

Home, Sweet Home

I agree with with my ruby-slippered friend Dorothy - there's no place like home! I made blunder after blunder the whole weekend. Today when I checked in, once again I was asked for my ID and once again I could not find it! Not for the life of me! Finally I checked some obscure place in my purse, and there it was. Why it was there, I haven't a clue. I'm just thankful I found it and could head home. But not before going through security. I kept beeping. Took off my belt - I beeped. Took off my watch - I beeped. Took off my ear rings - I beeped. Finally, they pulled me off to the side and I had a friendly "scan" with a wand. URG! The whole time this little girl gawked at me with open mouth as if she was seeing her very first evil type person! I felt so humiliated! It turned out to be my underwire! My husband's comment when I told him? "Well, at least no you know what not to wear next time you travel!" Yeah, right! Like that's ever going to happen!! And the grand finale? I stood at the conveyor belt for 20 minutes and never saw my luggage, only to realize I was standing in the area for Jet Blue - I flew Southwest! Oh man, am I getting too old to travel?

One little story to tell you. I stayed in this great little hotel that I've never heard of - City Quarters. It's really a private hotel for business execs, but I got it through Priceline. It was an old building from the 1920's and had some beautiful architectural features. The little guy at the front desk took a liking to me and gave me a free upgrade, so I had a really nice little suite. It was within walking distance of all the fun things, and Chicago had unseasonably mild weather over the weekend, so I did a lot of walking. Yesterday I was having breakfast in a little cafe, and did some intent people-watching. I just LOVE to do that! Anyway, I saw a lady with a group of about 8 high school girls. Before they ate, I noticed that she said quite a lengthy prayer. It warmed my heart! Before I left, I walked over to their table and told them how they had been a blessing to me as I observed their time of prayer. They were in town from Iowa and were visiting Moody Bible College. They had just come back from hearing Franklin Graham speak. Ok, time to put away my stuff and get ready for the week ahead.

What Am I Doing Here?

Some people have wondered why I keep returning to Chicago. I must admit, as difficult as it was for me to get here on Thursday, I started asking myself that same question!

The reason I return to Trinity is because I am on the Alumni Board of Directors. We have meetings twice a year. Our main focus is to maintain alumni relationships. Yesterday we had a meeting-filled day as we planned for the college's 50th anniversary celebration, reviewed applications for the Alumni Scholarships, thought of ways promote alumni activities, etc.

As I rode to the college on Friday morning, I caught myself staring at the snow piled up on the side of the road. My mind went back to 1970. I distinctly remember calling my Mom as I experienced my first winter away from home. I remember how I bemoaned the fact that everything in Chicago seemed "so dirty". Mom, even the snow here is dirty! Not much has changed in that regard. But despite dirty snow, I just can't seem to get enough of this city.

As I left the college, my mind was so tired but my heart was filled with thankfulness. Trinity will always have a special place in my heart. The campus was bustling on Friday with high school seniors and their parents. How I wished I could have spent time with each of them and shared with them what a truly special place this is.

Trinity taught me so much. This was where I learned about God's sovereignty. I was reminded in my classes that if there was one tiny speck in an atom that God did not control, then He would cease to be God...that's how sovereign God is! I was taught to sift through the complexities of life and always to use God's word as my plumb line. It was here that a young 17 year old girl learned the difference between being "re-formed" and being "reformed". It was here that I was encouraged to read Calvin and Kuyper and remember to look at the world through the lens of scripture.

One day, back in Mississippi, I returned to our lot. I've shared here before that whenever I returned, I would find new things. It was obvious that strangers were coming into our neighborhood and pillaging through the rubble in hopes of finding some unnoticed treasure. On this particular day I noticed a water-stained spiral notebook next to what remained of our mailbox. It was my Philosophy 101 notebook from my freshman year at Trinity. It wasn't in such great shape, but I could still make out those familiar words from Dr. Seerveld: What is your World and Life view?

I am thankful the God directed my life's path to Trinity. I am thankful for my professors who tirelessly worked to glorify God in every single class. I am thankful that my Mom and Dad made it possible for me to attend...even though I knew they would have liked it better if I was closer to home!

Chicago! Chicago!

Chicago! Chicago! It's my kind of town! (Who sang that song?) Anyway, as you can guess, I'm back in the windy city. Today was a meeting of the alumni board. I flew in yesterday, and had such a horrible time getting to the airport, I almost was ready to just turn around and return home. I could still kick myself for the absent-minded mistake I made. All I can tell you is that my husband deserves some kind of "best saint" award for what I put him through.

First of all, we woke up around 5 am and left the house a little before 6 in order to make it to the airport. When we were almost there, I took out my ticket to double check on when my return flight arrived in Houston so that I could remind Bill of when he needed to pick me up. Bill glanced at the paper I was holding and said, "Your flight is with Southwest????"

It was one of those "Oh, no, all the blood is draining out of my body" type experiences, as I immediately realized we were headed for the WRONG airport! Houston has two airports and they are on extreme opposite sides of the city. I fly Continental so often, that my mind went into auto-pilot mode as we headed north to Bush Intercontinental. Needless to say, we should have been heading south towards Hobby Airport. All we could do was turn around. But before we did, Bill said, "This tollway makes a circle around Houston. I think if we just stay on this road it will be quicker in the long run. If we turn around now, we're going to be heading into rush hour traffic." So we stayed the course, until we saw a huge green sign that stated "TOLLWAY ENDS IN 600 FEET".

OH, GREAT!!! We now had no choice but to turn around and plunge into bumper-to-bumper traffic. To make matters worse, I called Southwest to ask them what to do. When I called, I got an recorded message telling me the number had changed and to call the new number. When I called the new number, I once again was greeted with a voice message - only this one informed me that the number I had dialed was no longer in service!

My flight was leaving at 7:40, and my sweet husband miraculously delivered me to the curb at 7:30. I flew to the desk where I was told the gate was closed. Thankfully, I was able to go standby on the next flight. All I needed was my ID. I reached for my driver's license AND IT WASN'T THERE!!! I panicked. My mind went into rewind, sorting through what I did and where I had gone in an effort to remember what I did with my ID. The bank! I went to the bank the day before, they asked for ID when I cashed my check. It must be hiding in a white bank envelope. I madly raked through me my purse (aka "The Black Hole") and eureka! I found it!

I arrived to my seat, breathless, almost in "heart attack" mode, and plunked down. And I slept the whole way here. And that's my "Getting to Chicago" story.

And Here's One More...

Whew! I've had a few dads upset with me concerning the Anita Renfroe videos! Well, not REALLY upset, but miffed enough to scour the internet for this response. I cried laughing! So, without further ado, here's a video for all you "guys" out there! What would we do withoutcha?

Passing of Time

Click on the video listed below. It's amazing how they captured the passing of one year in 40 seconds!


Viral All-Stars on Yahoo! Video

My New Hero

I want to share a person with you that I have never met. I first ran across her blog while looking for information on RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome. While living in Minnesota, she did extensive work for Mayo Clinic in the area of RLS. Anyway, Wendi is a graduate of Fort Lauderdale Christian School, was an outstanding basketball player, and now resides near Pensacola, Florida - Eglin AFB, to be exact. She has the heart of a writer and her blog is so well written. I have followed her blog for two years - Yikes! Does that make me a blog stalker? - and I have followed her struggle with infertility. On Saturday, her miracle baby was born! Her husband wrote the story, and I'm looking forward to reading Wendi's version. Today I'll share her blog with you in case you are in need of a little inspiration. Wendi's blog always inspires me, and now, after all she has been through, she is my new hero! http://flakymn.blogspot.com/