Monday, April 27, 2015

Amazing Brother

So I have this amazing brother. He is not perfect, just to be clear, being human and all. But he is loyal, honest, compassionate, dependable, funny, adventurous, a giant kid and all around the best brother ever. He just had a birthday, a big one!! Not the one that makes you legal to vote, drink or run for president. Not the one where you get black candles, lots of jokes or waterproof unders. No this was much bigger, SS kind.





He is going to have the option to work or not, put up with buerocracy or not, play golf or not. Great times ahead as he now can clutter his calendar with things he WANTS to do as opposed to being told to do. Awesome. I actually already have a list of things I want to do but am so young I am no where near being able to do them. This will be his starter list. After all, he will have loads of time to do all kinds of things when he decides it is the 'last' day. Sweet!

He can enjoy babies ( his and theirs) and hunt down family history, take four million more pictures we will never be able to organize, visit family (me, me, me) and travel around the globe. Maybe volunteer, so many great things to help with. Perhaps take up hiking, well after he has his hips and knees done. And painting, a peaceful thing he can do along with Bob Ross as he speaks so softly that your brook and trees are happy or have become Chinese New .year symbols if you drift off mid-episode. That's alright, you can watch them over and over.



I can't wait to see what he does on his next great adventure but I hope it is a blast and brings him joy. I had a great family growing up and I am so grateful we remain close today. Happy Birthday Big Brother!! Love you always.






Thursday, April 23, 2015

Helping Build Community

Every year Special Olympics works diligently to raise awareness of the great benefits to including and supporting those with special needs. We look at diffabilities rather than disabilities. And Unified Sports has further advanced the message that we are all in this together. We are community. This year   Make your gifts count! Buy Play Unified clothes, sporting gear and more. You will be getting a great item AND supporting Special Olympics!! Thank you so much for making a difference!!

Click here to see all the great stuff!!  Play Unified





Monday, April 20, 2015

It's time to consider - Do you have Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease

This is a fantastic new resource with video, symptom checklist assessment  and the Do's and Don'ts for wellness! Check it out, share it forward, and take control of your health!!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

You may not realize but it ALL matters

Every day I hear folks talk about the lack of fruit they see from their lives. They don't think what they say or do matters. But the truth is it ALL matters. You are the seed and the water or you are the weeds. The work and words you pour out each moment have a lasting effect. They will nourish life or choke it out. This is a beautiful example of human kindness, and the impact from someone years earlier still influencing a lovely young woman. Thanks to my friend Claire who has always found a garden of love to share. Enjoy!

Claire's One Last Post While She's Still a Kid

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Forgiveness ....... Conversation of the week!



Relationship issues all week for my team and some of my friends. All kinds of nastiness, mean words, cruel and lasting insults damaging the heart of some of my strongest folks. While forgiveness is a hot topic, it is clear that there is some gray (grey) area. In order to exercise true forgiveness you have to define what it is and what it is not! Ego and emotion aside here is my take on the subject.


It is a decision, of will or mind, not emotion. It is an intentional choice to obey God. It is separate from the individual who has committed the offense. Whether they repent, want to reconcile or not, it is ours to give. It requires us to move on. With or without the relationship. We have to choose peace and purpose rather than contention that can lead us to sin or be a stumbling block for them.

To forgive is to forget! Uh, no! In order to learn from the past, the experiences of any kind need to remain in the mental 'file'. We may need to let go of the emotions, hurt or disappointment, but we would be remiss to try to wipe clean the memories of the past. It is imperative to take captive every thought in order to prevent reopening those feelings or wounds that would lead us to anger or hate. Should we face the source of our pain or suffering, we need to be in control of the memories that could fan the flames! It requires us to be purposeful in our actions and words.

Forgiveness won't stop the memory of pain! God has promised that He sees and that He will wipe away each tear. But it should mean that we are free of the bitterness or anger that leads to hate. Forgiving is not releasing the offender from the consequences of their actions. It is not excusing or dismissing behavior. People make choices and must be responsible for the fall out. Much like traffic violations, one must be accountable to accept they chose to run the red light, so to speak. As humans, we will make mistakes. But in order to grow we have to step up, own our mistakes, seek reconciliation and change! We should forget what is behind and strive toward what is ahead. Philippians 3.13

Forgiveness is not laughing it off. Minimizing hurt or denying it lives does not erase it. We can't ignore the feelings, as it would be a lie to say they 're not there which runs us into all kinds of trouble. Forgiveness involves not holding a sin (grudge) against a person any longer. But that said, it is different from trust. It is wise to take precautions, and sometimes the dynamics of a relationship will have to change. “The prudent see danger and take refuge, / but the simple keep going and pay the penalty” Proverbs 22.3 In other words, you won't keep walking into the situation expecting different results unless there is evidence God has changed hearts.

Forgiveness means being on guard so that we don't  allow be a root of bitterness to come springing up in our hearts. We must be 'shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves'. So we may forgive but we must be cautious in future encounters should they occur. Only God changes hearts. Until an offender has a true, supernatural change of heart it is only wise to limit the level of trust one places in that person or relationship. Being cautious doesn’t mean we haven’t forgiven. It simply means we are not God and we cannot see that person’s heart. It may be that separation with forgiveness is the answer.

This is difficult for many who feel we all need to be holding hands and singing world peace songs from the 70's. It is definitely a two way issue and requires a two way response, God in the center. If both are not seeking and serving Christ, it is unlikely true reconciliation can happen. Peace may come with time, distance and prayer. Waiting on God is the only sustainable solution. And that's ok because God is able. 


MAD Unified Life

MAD UNIFIED - MAD Unified Instructors: Patrick Burns, Michael Wakeford What is MAD Unified? MAD Unified Dance Crew met January 10th, 2020...