The Story of Charlie and Ava

Over this last weekend a friend and I took a trip to a local theme park for the day.  There was the possibility for rain, but in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record we decided to take our chances.  It was shortly after lunch when we arrived.  We loaded the tram for a ride to the front gate, and as if the heavens were waiting for a que, the torrential downpour began.  We got through the gate as fast as we could but not without being drenched.  It was so bad I had water in my eyes and my supposedly "waterproof" mascara was running down my face. 

The closest place to take up shelter just happened to be in a bakery.  It was divine intervention that led us there where we shared a giant homemade cinnamon roll!  We were not the only ones that chose the bakery for shelter.  Tables and chairs were scarce.  After asking an elderly lady, Ava, if she minded to share her table, we made some new friends.  Ava told us that she was with her husband and they had been on vacation for a month from their home in Phoenix, Arizona.  She talked about how they don't have rain there so the rain and the hills were something they were trying to get used to.  She even offered to share some of her food with us! 

After several minutes her husband, Charlie, came riding up in a motorized wheelchair wearing his recently purchased poncho.  Charlie was the talkative one and he was very eager to share his story.  Charlie asked us if we were in college because my friend was wearing a Mizzou t-shirt.  Now that was humorous considering we're not even close to college age anymore, but I guess to elderly people young people are just.... young!  That led to a discussion about our favorite collegiate football and basketball teams.  Charlie announced that he had attended Ohio State; therefore, he's a lifelong fan. 

I think Ava was talking to my friend, but Charlie sure got a hold of my ear.  He was dying to tell me about the circumstances surrounding how he met his beautiful wife Ava.  Charlie was married to his first wife for 44 years.  I do not know what happened to her, but I was led to believe she passed away.  Charlie knew God had to have someone for him, but no one had emerged just yet.  One night he knelt down at his bed to pray.  "There's no bargaining with God because He's always in control."  But he asked God to either send him someone or he was going to go buy a dog the next day.  That very night Ava emailed him.  They talked on the phone for 3 hours, and then.... they went to church together :)  They both admitted that their faith was the most important thing in their lives, and they needed someone that would share it.  Charlie was hooked!  They were married 6 months later, and they have now been together 6 years. 

Charlie also shared with me the accomplishments of his children and their wonderful marriages.  When his daughters were getting married, he told both his future son-in-laws that there were only two events that people attended in this family.  Weddings.  And funerals.  He informed them that people in his family did not get divorced and so they better make it work.  Ha ha.  I guess that's one way to get the point across. 

If Ava hadn't been ready to move, I think Charlie was prepared to start looking to find both my friend and I single Christian men.  Ava took off up the hill while Charlie tried to carefully maneuver his wheelchair and not run over anybody.  They were quite the comical pair. 

I don't believe in coincidence; I know God puts people in our paths for a reason.  The reasons are not always obvious, but maybe this time I just needed a good story that would make me smile :D  Charlie was quirky!  I admit there were times I had no idea what he was saying.  However, in that short conversation he shared with me his passion for the relationships in his life.  His children were important; his wife was important; above all, his relationship with God was important.  Not knowing whether or not I was a Christian, he began sharing with me how God worked in his life.  Once he found out I was a Christian, he was excited about the special connection we shared.  And even an elderly couple at a theme park gave us two single girls hope in finding someone to share life with because we're still..... young!

Fab Five Friday

Let me see if I can bring something together for this week....

1.  I screwed up at work Monday morning (no that's not the highlight).  It ruined my day and was a bad way to start the week.  However, out of a bad situation great people emerge.  My workers were so supportive and understanding; I felt blessed to have some great staff!  By Tuesday I felt so much better and God placed a song in my morning that was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.  He's pretty amazing like that. 

2.  I managed to get at least part of my house cleaned.  If you know me at all, you know this is a huge accomplishment! 

3.  I am attempting to make going to the gym more of a priority.  This week I decided to challenge myself a little more; with the encouragement of a great instructor, I increased some of my weights.  Woohoo!  This is a big deal because even though I've done this class for years, I have not been consistent enough to increase my weight... until now.  

4.  My cousin was able to fit me in to do my hair at the last minute Friday afternoon!  It was in desperate need of repair and there's something that just makes a girl feel better after a nice cut and color :)  It is darker, and red, just because it's that time of year!

5.  And the biggest blessing of all this week... My parents celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary!  This has to be recognized as a huge accomplishment.  They have not only taught me what sacrificial love means, they have demonstrated it my whole life with their dedication and commitment to each other.  I am very proud of them :D 

Well that wasn't as hard to put together as I thought it would be ;)
Here is the song that was my theme for the week.  I hope it blesses you too!

Lessons from Anne Shirley

Back in the day I used to be obsessed with reading.  My mother would take me to the library where I would check out as many books as I could carry only to have her take me back in a week or two because I had read them all already.  My favorites included Little House on the Prairie, anything written by Lurlene McDaniel, the Goosebumps Series, and Nancy Drew.  Oh how I wanted to be just like Nancy Drew!  Flipping through the TV guide on Sunday night I found a blast from my reading past that was made into a movie...  Anne of Green Gables.  There are so many sweet memories that rush to the forefront of my mind with this movie.  I remember that my mom shared this reading experience with me.  And I remember that she, my sister, and I loved this movie. 

As I was reminiscing on a part of my childhood innocence, I realized that Anne Shirley had some very important life lessons for all of us including:

          "True friends are always together in spirit."
          Wealth doesn't bring happiness.
          It is better to have one beau in his right mind than many in their wrong mind ;)
          Life goes on whether you succeed or fail.
          Forgive people when you have the chance.
          The truth will set you free.  (Remember the dead mouse in the pudding?!)
          Being smart is better than being good looking.
          Wealth is not measured by diamonds but by happiness and love.
          "Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it."
          Ambitions make life interesting.
          What you bring to the world is what really counts.
          It's better to try and fail than to not try at all.
          "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

It is so much fun to look back at the TV shows, books, and movies I enjoyed as a kid and realize there were life lessons to be learned.  Of course I didn't know it back then.  I do remember one particular song on Kids Inc. that struck a cord with me when I was little.  The only lines I could tell you now from the song (playing in a sing song voice in my head) is "You can't judge a book by it's cover. There's so much more to discover." 

After watching Miss Anne Shirley and all her shenanigans, the thought that tomorrow is a new day kept repeating itself in my mind.  Tomorrow doesn't have any mistakes... yet.  How refreshing is it to know that despite the many errors I have made today, I get a second chance tomorrow.  Of course I am human and I will make mistakes tomorrow, but today's mistakes are behind me. 

Throughout the Bible God gives second chances.  The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh; Jonah fled.  He jumped into a ship going the opposite direction hoping to get away from God.  The Lord sent storms that threatened to break the ship, which would have likely killed everyone.  In order to escape the wrath of God Jonah was thrown overboard.  He was then swallowed by a whale.  Jonah could have drowned after being thrown into the sea; there are many ways he could have died.  But God let him live.  After his repentance he was given a second chance to do God's will.  "Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the Lord's command." (Jonah 3:3)  The outcome of Jonah's second chance was that "the men of Nineveh believed in God." (Jonah 3:5)

In John 8, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus that had been caught committing adultery.  Knowing that the law stated that she should be stoned to death, they asked Jesus what He thought should be done.  Jesus answered that if anyone was without sin among them then they could cast the first stone.  The crowd departed as everyone had their own sin.  "He said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'  'No one, Lord,' she answered. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.'" (John 8:10-11)

And let's not forget David, a man after God's own heart.  David's family didn't think much of him as his brothers went off to war and he stayed home to tend the sheep.  Ultimately, he became the hero when Goliath, hit by a stone from David' sling shot, fell to the ground.  He was a warrior with many victories that threw Saul into a jealous rage.  David went into hiding in order to stay alive.  Then there are the sins that David is unfortunately so famous for... adultery and murder.  Now there is some great evidence that God gives second chances.  David did have to suffer the consequences of his sin, but in the end he was able to find peace and hope in his relationship with God. 

Jonah, a woman caught in adultery, and David all got second chances.  There are many many more stories where the Lord showed grace and mercy after people messed up.  I mess up every day; and I'm an expert at beating myself up for it.  At the end of the day, if I have any regrets, there's comfort in knowing that tomorrow I can start over. 

So, thank you Miss Anne Shirley for the reminder!  In the words of David:

Then I acknowledge my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. 

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"

and You took away the guilt of my sin...

You are my hiding place;

You protect me from trouble.

You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.

Psalm 32:5,7

Fab Five Friday

I have been inspired when reading other blogs to challenge myself a little bit.  On Fridays I will try to come up with five blessings or high points of my week that deserve a little spotlighting.  I may not make it every Friday, but it will be fun even if it's just once in a while.  Since I'm new to the blogging world, please bear with me as I try to find ways to make this a little more interesting and fun for those willing to read it.  More than anything I hope this little adventure will help me focus on some positives in my week even when it is difficult. 

So here goes...

1.  I have managed to stick close to my recommended calorie intake this week.  My eating habits are quite the roller coaster.  One day I will do great, and the next I will completely blow it.  This week I feel good and I feel strong.  I've also been consistent with my working out for three weeks straight!  Go me!!!

2.  I finally managed to get my office decorated at my new job.  I've been staring at white walls for almost 6 weeks!  Now if I could get a few plants in there it would feel even more like home. 

3.  It rained!  I was sitting in my office and could see the storm coming in.  There was lightening, wind, and a downpour of rain.  I could have sworn the grass in front of the building across the street even looked instantly greener.  When the storm had passed it was cool enough to open the window and let some fresh air in. 

4.  I bought a new dress at Target.  It is bright pink with a tan belt.  It looks excellent with some tan heels!  Now I desperately need somewhere to wear it.  Who's having a party soon that they need a date for?! 

5.  And finally, Thursday night some of my line dancing friends got together to create some shirts in honor of a slightly more difficult line dance we've been learning.  I'm afraid I wasn't much help in the creative process, but I had fun as an assistant!

Poor Claire's fingers were cramped from spray painting all the shirts, but she was brilliant at it :)

This particular dance has a lot of "and" counts, which is the reason for all the "&" signs. This was the finished product!

And it was a surprise to our instructor. No worries; we made sure she got a shirt too!

I love this picture of all of us!!!

Not too bad for my first week of Fab Five Friday!

If You Knew Me...

If you were close to me you would know....


My favorite color is purple.  Sometimes I go through "green" phases, but it always comes back to purple.  My school colors in college were white and purple.  That's not why I chose to go there, but it was definitely a big plus.

I get excited about college basketball.  My favorite team is the North Carolina Tarheels.  My relationship with them has grown over time.  Typically I like teams if I like their coach and they're consistent.  Other teams I enjoy watching due to good coaching and consistency are: Kentucky, Michigan St., Louisville, and Duke (as long as they aren't playing UNC!)  An item on my bucket list is to someday attend a game between UNC and Duke.

I am a Momma's girl.  It does not matter how old I am, I hate to disappoint my mom.  I become upset if anyone upsets her.  She is and always will be my best friend.  She has been the only one on this earth that understands my thoughts, emotions, and actions.  She is also a spiritual role model for me. 

I am a true animal lover.  My workers make fun of me when we go into a home because if there are any cats around that's where my attention will go.  In a family full of dog lovers, I am the only cat person.  Unfortunately I cannot afford to take in any more so when those commercials on animal abuse come on or someone posts something on Facebook, I turn away.... quickly. 

I love shoes!  I do believe that the right pair of shoes can make an outfit.  And even though I have shoes overflowing out of my closet and not enough space to store them, I still don't always have the right pair of shoes.  My absolute favorite are boots.  They are too hot to wear in summer so I get really excited for fall when I can start wearing them again.


I am obsessed with food!  The older I get the more this has become a problem.  Word has spread to those that work for me to never allow me to go more than a few hours without eating.  Apparently I become kind of grumpy. 

Sweets are a huge vice, especially chocolate and sweet tea; both are things that I've had to cut down on in order to maintain a healthy weight.

In the last year I picked up a new hobby, line dancing, and I'm obsessed with it.  I've met a lot of cool people and some of my line dancing buddies have become great friends.  I'm always afraid that I look like an uncoordinated elephant trying too hard to blend in with the zebras, but I don't plan to stop any time soon.   

I am a workaholic.  There are many reasons and excuses for this.  There have been times in my life that I have used work to avoid dealing with personal issues including depression and loneliness.  Another reason is that a strong work ethic is very important to me.  One thing I want to be known for is how much I put into my service for others.  I never want anyone to call me lazy.


No matter how old I get I will always love to color.


Social work is not just a profession for me; it is a way of life.  I believe in worth and dignity of every person and the inherit right of everyone to be treated with respect.  Everyone experiences trials and trauma sometime in life.  Everyone has a story that has formed them into the person they are today.  I try to never judge somebody until I know more about their story.  If I can be of any help, I pray that God gives me the opportunity. 

I am extremely passionate.  It amuses me when someone says I'm non-emotional because I am one of the most emotional people you will ever meet.

I am afraid of the dark.  I hate not knowing what's around me and shadows will throw my wild imagination into stories about serial killers or demons.  I always have lights on in my house.


I am an extrovert.  I recharge by being around my friends and family.  I need to spend a lot of quality time with people, which means I have a lot of friends.  However, I still trust very few people with my emotions and insecurities.  There are only a handful of people I consider best friends. 

I am a worrier.  My mother understood my propensity to overanalyze and dwell on things at a very young age.  Therefore, she assigned Proverbs 3:5-6 to me as my life verses.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge him, and He will direct your path."  I have a very wise mother.


Sometimes I get strong urges to bake!  And the batter is more fun to eat than the finished treat. 


I enjoy lifting weights and despise running.  I know I need the cardio as well, but running has always been a problem for me due to a mild hip displacia I had growing up.  Weight lifting helps me to strengthen the muscles and bones around my hips and back so they don't give me as much problems.


I cherish the joy and innocence that children bring to life.  Teenagers were my focus for the longest time and babies made me nervous.  As I've gotten older that has faded.  I'm still passionate about teenagers, but let me hold that baby!  My favorite age group has always been about 9-14.  They have no filter at that age.  Adults are still cool enough to talk to and they aren't above playing.


I do not like nuts of any kind.  Peanuts, walnuts, almonds...  As an adult I have come to tolerate them sometimes in my food, but as a child I was convinced that there were bones in my brownies, cookies, or candy.  Yuck!


Above all I am a child of God.  I know and understand that my purpose on earth is to serve God and bring glory to Him.  I am not an eloquent speaker.  I do not have my Bible memorized.  I struggle with my prayer life.  I am imperfect, but God is attracted to me because of my brokenness.  He loves me despite my faults.  And even though I don't meet the world's definition of what is beautiful, I will always be beautiful to Him. 

Brain Dead

I've had three weeks full of drama and crisis at work.  My brain is ready for a break.  By the time Friday arrived, I had turned into a zombie.  When I was with my friends I may have been present physically but I was not present mentally.  I could not attend to a conversation.  I could not make simple decisions about what I wanted to eat or drink.  And early this morning my mind decided to play some tricks on me. 

At 4 a.m. something suddenly woke me from a deep sleep.  As if it wasn't bad enough that I was dreaming about work, my thoughts became slightly irrational at this awful hour.  It had actually been storming, complete with thunder, lightening, and RAIN!  I got up to investigate what could have possibly woke me up.  I went to the front door and looked through the peep hole.  There was someone standing there!  Who would be standing at my door at 4 a.m.?!  And you better believe I'm NOT opening the door.  I went back to my room to get my phone (just in case).  I started sneaking around to a window where I could look out and they wouldn't see me.  I was careful not to turn on any lights so that they wouldn't know I was awake and aware they were there!  I looked out the window.... nothing!  Where did they go?!  Maybe the figure I saw through the peep hole was a ghost!  I went back to the peep hole and.... there it was....  Let's try a different window!  Nothing.  Then I realized: the street light, the rain, the reflection.  What I was seeing as a possible head and face was the reflection of a wet pavement under the street light.  Nothing to worry about, right?

So I went back to bed.  Still slightly anxious I began wondering again what had woke me up.  Could there be someone in my house?  When I first moved out of my parents house and into my first apartment I was always paranoid.  Every night I performed a routine of checking every room, every door, and every window, to make sure I was alone and I was safe.  There were times that I would get up at night just to check again.  Now that I've lived alone for several years I've become accustomed to it, but nights like this.... I got up, again trying not to turn on lights, and checked every room to make sure it was empty.  And they were empty.  So the mystery of why I was suddenly awake was not solved. 

Eventually I did go back to sleep but my brain was not done playing tricks on me.  I got up this morning, just like every Sunday morning, and began getting ready for church.  The church service I attend is at 11 a.m. and I had an hour to get ready.  I was eating some breakfast, catching up on some Olympics, and checking facebook, when I realized the clock on my computer said 11:03?!  What?!  How on earth did I just loose a complete hour?  Obviously the clock in my head was not in sync with the actual time.  Even though I had looked at the clock multiple times before that, it did not register. 

Maybe it's due to one of the worst droughts on record.   Maybe it's the persistent heat.   But something is impacting the sanity of people, and it's starting to take it's toll on me.  I am not functioning at full capacity!  This might be a frightening day for me to step foot outside the house.  But I will try to push through it and hope that this work week is just slightly more calm.