One Grand Adventure: March 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

April

April is going to be a good month. I can feel it.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Rules for Happiness #29

Beautiful men are beautiful distractions.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

To stand before a crowd
-just to die at their hands
To speak Your words out loud
-when no one understands

To show no outward fear
-when I'm quaking inside
To stand firm in the face of demons
-when I really want to cry

To be weak and humble
-so that I might inherit the earth
And be a silent testimony
-For the Son of God and earth

To show Your love
-in all that I say and do
To be stalwart an steady
-when I have everything to lose

To treat with love and kindness
-those who have hurt me the most
To be humble and silent
-when I really want to boast

TO be an outward reflection
-of everything You are inside
To be humble and meek
-and learn to hide my pride

Maybe I'm your worst servant
-but I'll do what I can with love
Because You loved me first
-And came down from above

To be at peace inside
-and be a testament to You
To be mocked at every turn
-so that I can be like you

To see eternity in an instant
-and an instant in your truth
To testify to the world
-that at last I've found love with you

Monday, March 24, 2014

Rules to Happiness #27

Happiness is finding someone who won't lie to you even when you screw up.

Blind

          Those who can only see with their eyes might be called blind.

          Those who can only hear with their ears might be called deaf.

          And those that may only touch with their skin might as well be called dead.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Rules to Happiness #26

Change is inevitable; growth is optional.

My Date

Yesterday I had a fabulous day with a young gentleman. We went to San Antonio and visited some friends and then we went to Mass. After that we went to dinner where he held the door for me and pulled out my chair. He also pointed out several of my favorite cars so that I wouldn't miss them. On the way home he let me choose the radio station and kept me entertained with lengthy banter regarding Dr. Who, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars. It was a good day.

Did I mention that it was with my nine-year-old cousin, the Captain? Details, details. My "date" with him was far more enjoyable than some dates that I have been on and a great deal more entertaining than some of my best. Did I mention that he told me that I was pretty too?

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Time

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a

I've barely had time to write lately because my life has been full of changes. Ending after ending has been bogging me down over the past month and I'm not sure I can deal with one more ending. And then after my leisurely walk with self pity I remembered that I'm not alone and I began to feel better about the world. I was reminded that even when things are rough, and believe me, they are rough right now, God is with me, and I will be okay.

Rules to Happiness #25

Never work for someone because you feel sorry for them.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Rules to Happiness #24

A friend who leads you into temptation will also leave you there.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Rules to Happiness #23

A friend who will lie to you is not a good friend. A friend who will lie for you is better.

Rules to Happiness #22

A small act of thoughtfulness can improve a stranger's day. A small act of thoughtlessness can ruin a stranger's day.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Rules to Happiness #21

Never forget that Christ thinks you are someone worth dying for.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Waiting on an Angel

I've mentioned before how I think my Guardian Angel drives a white pickup truck. Today I was reminded of this. On my usual (hour long) commute home at my temporary job, I am not always the nicest of people. Growing up in California and living in Texas has taught me all the common bad habits of drivers in both states. I can merge like a California, speed like a Texan, and forget where I'm going like only a child of my could. Today was my thoughts were... somewhere else.

They might have been on my grandparents who I imagine are having a rough day, or on the friend I was waiting to call me back. They may have been on Bennie (my car) that needs to have it's a/c replaced. They might even have been on the mystery novel that I finished this afternoon. I can say with certainty that my thoughts were NOT on the road.

Under normal circumstances this would be a post about how I nearly had an accident and God intervened, but it's not. I was merging carefully. I was driving well under the speed limit. And when I was going anywhere I left more than sufficient space between me and the car in front of me. For the most part I was in stop and go traffic while I passed through downtown Austin which is not so unusual. When traffic sped I sped, when traffic slowed I slowed; then I heard screeching.

I barely had time to look in my rear view mirror to see a white pickup slamming on its brakes and screeching, stopping far too close for comfort from my Bennie. I could see the driver's expression as he looked at me with wide eyes. I admit my eyes were wide as well as I returned my attention to the traffic that had just begun moving again in front of me. I kept a careful eye on the pickup the rest of the way home even though my thoughts were suddenly on God and getting home safely. It's funny- he stayed behind me most of the way back to Round Rock and for some strange reason this reassured me.

Hours later, I'm home safe but I'm still thinking about him. I don't know who was driving that truck and I can't be certain that anything really dangerous took place today. I don't know a lot of things, but I know that my Guardian Angel was in that truck when he helped that driver stop in time.

Rules to Happiness #20

It's easy to get caught in the comfortable and the easy and forget about adventure and following your dreams.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Rules to Happiness #19

Humility is a lesson that is so important that God likes to give you a refresher course regularly.

Rules to Happiness #18

You are never too strong, or too smart, or too important to be exempt from talking to God.

Rules to Happiness #16

Learn to appreciate whatever someone is willing to teach you- whether it be merely rocket science or as advanced as patience.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Rules to Happiness #17

Perspective is important. Unwaveringly, the road you don't choose will always go faster and be easier.

Rules to Happiness #15

Learn to distinguish between what you want and what you need. A good example of this would be the job you want is less important than the job you need.