Month: October 2011

I have heard it often, think before you speak. I have learned to practice this….most of the time. 

Today I saw this post and smiled. I love the invitation that is outlined in the word THINK.

I believe that if you and I were to commit this to memory and practice this, our relationships would improve.

I believe this is not only a piece to be hung on the fridge to guide the communication of children….

This is a piece to guide the communication of humans!

Practice something new this weekend ~ make sure your words are Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind!

 

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain.”

On this rainy cold day, I had to smile when I read this. I am not super fond of dancing nor of rain.

But I have a favorite picture from my Tapestry Party that reminds me that dancing invites me to lay down my fears and inhibitions and to enjoy movement and celebration…

And I have learned that life is filled with storms. Storms of all sizes and a wide variety of storm effects. I used to believe I should hide my storms and for sure the destruction caused by them. Now, at the age of 41, I have learned that it requires a lot of energy to hide storms and storm damage. I believe that to live as a woman of integrity, I am called to dance in the rain.

I wonder what storms you are facing in life and if you have attempted to dance in the rain. I have learned that there are dances of surrender, repentance, restoration and celebration. I invite you to consider coming off of the side lines where you are waiting for the storm to pass and find the freedom to dance in the rain.

So if this post invites you to be more playful and to literally dance in the rain, I celebrate with you!

And if this post invites you to enter the storms of your life and consider or begin dancing in the rain, I celebrate with you!

May we live each and every day as people of integrity who share honestly and hope boldly!

Great is the art of the beginning, but greater is the art of ending. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I am a great starter. I start things easily and with confidence. I am learning about being a good finisher. It takes a lot of focus but I realize that the quote above is so true. Ending well is an art.

I used to think that being a good starter( and not such a good finisher) was just part of my personality. I do believe it is a gift to be able to start things well and with gusto, but it is a double-edged sword and can quickly lose the beauty if  whatever is started is not finished well.

This is an area of my life where I see a need for improvement. In January of 2011 I committed to writing on my blog every day of 2011. I have been successful. I am committing to improve my art of ending and work on that until it is second nature. It feels good to think about how small areas of my life will improve.

I wonder how you do with starting and finishing….

 

 

 

 

I have been a believer for many years. I will say that prayer still is a bit of a mystery to me. I believe in the power of prayer and I am a woman who prays often throughout my day, but exactly why some prayers are answered and others are not is a mystery to me. I also am not sure if prayers are answered more if more people pray. I don’t really think so, but I do believe that the more people who pray allows for more people to be observant to God at work…

And so today I come with a very specific prayer request. Today I am very aware of a miracle and am praying for a miracle. I am asking you to join me in prayer for baby Shiloh and her parents John and Deb. Shiloh was born 11 weeks early and weighed in at 1 pound, 11 ounces. She is the size of the palm of your hand and her hands are the size of a quarter. And yet, Shiloh was born kicking and crying. Praying for God’s provision in these critical days ahead. Deb and John are dear to my heart as I went to Sunshine with them, completed their home study for the adoption of their daughter Hope from China and worked with Deb at Visiting Angels.

And here is an update from my dear friend, Shiloh’s Aunt Joni…..

Psalm 138: 13-14

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful ~ I know that full well.

I am claiming those verses for Shiloh today.  While yesterday’s events may have surprised all of us, she entered this world exactly on the day God ordained for her from the beginning.

Many of you have asked how Deb and Shiloh are doing today… Last night the nurses said that in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), it is one day at a time.  Today I realized it is actually more like one hour at a time.  The hospital staff are saying Shiloh is doing extremely well, but they are also quick to add, “For a 29 weeker”.  Things to celebrate today:  Shiloh is breathing room air with minimal assistance from a c-pap machine.  Her blood sugar is higher now after several hours in the 20/30’s.  She opens her eyes and responds to touch.   The NICU team is fantastic and they hugely welcome/ encourage family participation!  John and Deb have both been able to visit with Shiloh.

Deb has been through a huge ordeal.  She is extremely tired, but in good spirits.  Deb often fades in/out of wakefulness.  The medicines she is taking causes nausea, and adds to the fatigue.  Thankfully,  Deb’s blood pressure has decreased to a safe level.  However,  her platelets have also continued to decline.  Her last level was 50.

Thank you to all who have reached out to Deb and John with prayer support, offers to help and fb messages.  They are both feeling very loved.

Prayer requests:

1.  That Shiloh would be able to begin eating tomorrow, and that her digestive system would be mature enough to handle it.

2. That Shiloh would soon be strong enough to be held. This depends on when doctors are able to remove some of the tubes she is currently attached to.. perhaps this could happen later this week.

3. For wisdom for Shiloh’s Care Team.

4. For Deb as she recovers from the delivery and HELLP syndrome.  Pray especially for an increase in platelet levels and that no additional complications would start.

5.  For John as he balances hospital, home and work.

On behalf of Deb and John,

Auntie Joni

 

 

‎”When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ~Henri Nouwen

I am deep on thoughts tonight and short on words. It doesn’t happen to me often, but life feels full of mystery. I am thankful that my life is very steady right now, but I am sad for the many families in our community who have experienced unimaginable loss. I was sharing tonight with my aunt that there is deep sadness in loss of young father’s when illness or disease takes life from them. I find it very hard to comprehend the loss when a young father heads out of the door, saying good-bye to his wife and kids and never returns. The confusion in the young minds and hearts of the children must be overwhelming….

And so tonight, I think of the four families in our community who have experienced sudden loss recently. These deaths have left 8 children without fathers. My thoughts and prayers are with the many who loved the young men (30’s to young 40’s). I am sure the families that surround the grieving will be many….may comfort and love abound for years to come!

 

 

‎”Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

I spent a lot of time trying to find myself. I can vividly remember the thoughts that I was missing the piece I needed to feel whole and content. I thought I might find it in a self-help book or personality quiz. I tried to find it by hanging out with people who seemed to have found the missing piece and prayed and searched and struggled and agonized and wondered if I would ever feel content with who I was…

I now have a favorite saying for others who are trying to find themselves….I will often say, “of this I am sure. Everything you need to live a full life is within you! ”

When I switched from trying to find myself to creating myself, the journey to my heart began.

When I realized that I wasn’t missing anything, but had to journey within myself to discover or create the life for which I longed, my focus changed.

When I was courageous enough to stop searching and start living, I found that life was an invitation to me each day to create the imprint I desired to leave for the day! I know that when I was trying to find myself, I was often very self focused. I lived more alone than in community. When I began to live in community, and allowed others to love me and offer love, forgiveness, grace and compassion to others, I worried less about the missing pieces within me and had more meaning in creating each day….

And so tonight, this quote reminded me of my journey. I am glad that I am no longer searching. Creating and discovering is a delightful journey. Yes, it still holds pain and disappointment, sorrow and grief and pain and rejection but it is nice to know that everything I need to be the person I long to be, is right within my heart.

So, how about you? How are you doing at creating the life you long for?

 

 

i was in the delivery room to witness the birth of my niece Karolyn Anne.

I remember holding her very soon after her birth and asking God to give this little girl a big heart and a full life….He answered my prayers for sure!

Karolyn Anne is a creative, musical, articulate teenager who loves God, her family and her friends with everything in her. She can be found leading Worship at Church, singing at voice lessons, singing in the car, singing at the house, singing in the bathroom. The only time Karolyn doesn’t sing is in her sleep….(although I would bet she does sing in her dreams!)

She is smart, loves to read, and is a good thinker and problem solver. Karolyn at five years of age told her Mom she did not care for the Saxophone since it had the texture of Jazz. Karolyn thinks about deep things and  comes to amazing conclusions.

I am hoping that being a teenager doesn’t change Karolyn’s desire to come and hang out at my house. She is a delightful house guest who isn’t particular about what we do when we are together, as long as we are enjoying the time we have together. Karolyn’s description of herself  on Facebook includes the following: I love to read and I love to sing. I am funky and outgoing and love to wear really bright clothing. I go to Muskegon Christian School and my faith means a lot to me. My Family and God are all I will ever need to get through life.

Karolyn Anne, you are beautiful in so many ways.  I love how you have grown up in the first 13 years of your life. I am so eager to see what life will hold in the next 13 years. Keep focused on being the best YOU you can be. Be healthy and well, be happy and generous, be kind and forgiving and full of grace.  And don’t forget to live life to the fullest.  Happy Happy Birthday Karolyn Anne….may this year be marked by lots of laughter, continued growth and an even greater awareness of God and his plan for your life!  All my love, Aunt Trish

 

 

Tonight I went to visit some of my friends who were finishing up leading at the Journey conference this week. I was a bit unsure of going because they had been together all week leading small groups. I entered with an uncertainty, wondering if the few hours of driving would offer me time with my friends that would be worthwhile. 

As we began to gather I found a comfy chair and settled in. Soon there was Bob from Regina, Saskatchewan, Betty Lee from Texas, Wendy from California and Pat from Oregon. Sheila was there from Indiana and Jim and Pat from Florida. Bernie from Missouri, John and Mary Jane were there from South Haven, Valerie from Georgia and Russell from Texas. Chris and Janet and Paul and Maureen were there from Grand Rapids and Mark and Tracy and Curt and Amy from Kalamazoo and Plainwell. That isn’t even everyone, but I think you can see that the room was full with friends who gather once or twice a year…it is diverse and it is delightful!

You see, what I realize, within moments of being together, is that the room was filled with friends who I love deeply and who deeply love me. We may only see each other once or twice a year, but there is something that unites us…..

We all share a passion and commitment to Open Hearts Ministry which has trained small group leaders in 50 states and 30 countries….

We all share a passion and commitment to hear and respond to the stories that come as a result of living….stories of betrayal, stories of pain, stories of abuse, stories of relationships, stories of disappointment, stories of hope and stories of redemption. (and in that commitment, we have all shared and responded to one another’s stories)

I was quickly reminded by the hugs and hello’s, by the delight in my tattoo and the love and laughter that was being shared all around the room.  There was a very alive energy that filled the room and in that,  two hours on the road was very worthwhile. It was a very sweet evening filled with very sweet moments!

“Two may talk together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet; and two others at first speech are old friends.”
– Mary Catherwood

You might see this picture and think this post is going to be about my beloved Chocolate lab Duchess.

This post is really going to be about my Uncle Bob who is unique, wonderful and very dear to my heart!

Uncle Bob has always been the fun uncle. My mom’s family is a crew of 12 children and the result of that was a large gathering of cousins at family gatherings. Uncle Bob led wild and crazy games. We would have a farting contest and he taught us the words to nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I’ll eat some worms….

We laughed and found Uncle Bob to be delightful. As much as I remember the crazy games and funny tactics, I remember clearly the feeling that Uncle Bob enjoyed our presence and was happy to see us!

We all have grown up and Uncle Bob still smiles big and welcomes us with a gentle hello and a kind hug. My nieces and nephews and my cousins kids, all know Uncle Bob enjoys children. He has a big train set and always a joke or funny thing to share. Aunt Anita and Uncle Bob were never blessed with children of their own, but they sure have embraced each of us over the years. Recently at Uncle Bob’s 75th birthday party, a large Yesterdog birthday party was enjoyed by almost all of my aunt, uncles, cousins and their families. It was a wonderful tribute to a very special Uncle.

And so last night I stopped over at their house and enjoyed a lovely happy hour. As we chatted and caught up on life’s happenings, Uncle Bob presented me with a wood carving of my beloved dog Duchess. Uncle Bob took up wood carving as a retirement hobby and his handiwork is amazing. Their home is filled with delightful creations of his hands. The creativity, detail and finishing touches honestly make each piece unique and a true piece of art.

And so, as a gift for my recent Tapestry Party, Aunt Anita and Uncle Bob have given me a true gift and treasure. It is true that I look at it and smile because it so closely resembles my lovable pup, but then my mind quickly see’s Uncle Bob in his wood carving garb and I know this piece of work comes with much love.

Thank you Uncle Bob and Aunt Anita…..I am thankful!

 

 

I know not every one is blessed with a big brother, but I am double blessed with two of them.

I wrote a tribute to my brother Nick on his birthday (August 23) and so today, I want a tribute my oldest brother Len.

Len has always been a leader and protector. I think of him as someone who loves adventure. He is a risk taker and very loyal. He is passionate about many good things.

Len has lived life fully. He left home to join the Navy and graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy. I remember when he would call home and I realized boot camp was in some sense fighting for your life. He not only survived, he excelled and my respect for him grew….

And then he would spend months on end on a Nuclear submarine. I had the opportunity to tour a sub and I realized how smart Len is. I met his fellow sailors who had great respect for him and his leadership and my respect for him grew….

And then Len pursued his wife Marcia. I watched the struggle of developing a healthy relationship while down under for six months at a time. I watched Len remain committed to the dreams of his heart and my respect and love for him grew…

And there is nothing like watching your siblings become parents. I don’t think that will ever get old in my heart. Len and Marcia welcomed and loved Olivia and Noah and life was sweet. And then they decided to follow the conviction of their heart and they adopted Sonta and Jean Marc from Haiti. And I saw my brother fight for his children in an amazing way. And my respect and love for him grew….

And over the years, Len has shared his joy, his struggles, his laughter, his great cooking, his knowledge and his heart. This past month at my Tapestry Party he offered a toast. It was delightful to hear his words of love and respect and he led my friends and family in raising their glasses to a “to Trish!”

Today, in celebration of your birthday and even more in celebration of the amazing guy you are….

In your role as brother, son, husband, father and friend, I celebrate you and call out…..TO LEN!

You have my love and respect big brother. I love you!