Abba's Girl

Yesterday I talked to Suzanne, a woman who has been a part of my life for decades. She was my dance teacher and influenced me on many levels during my pre-teen years on into adulthood. I am so thankful we are friends. I love her so much. The Lord convicted me during our conversation about a family member of mine. I don't like her, don't dislike her, I feel absolutely nothing for her. I gave her a "special" name and cannot begin to count the tacky remarks I've made about her over the years. So as a Christian, how have I excused my behavior regarding my family member? How have I excused telling other family members I don't want an update about her life? How have I excused making people laugh until they cry with the one line remarks I make about her? How have I excused not seeing her when she is in town? I haven't excused it, I've totally ignored my ungodly attitude toward her. Apathy not love describes my feelings (or lack thereof) towards her. After...

This has been an odd year for me beginning with the loss of a grandchild whose birth we anticipated with great joy. One day I'll get to meet this precious baby. I was ill in Feb & March with walking pneumonia and totally blessed by a visit from Aunt Ginny and Cam. (Love them so much.) I was ill from the end of May almost to Labor Day with a respiratory virus and wondered a couple times if I would ever feel 100% again. I lost 3 people who were a big part of my life. I am standing in faith and prayer with 2 life long friends as they battle cancer. As mentioned in an earlier blog - I feel as though I am standing on the Texas coastline watching giant waves crash over my family and friends. Though there has been sadness there has been much joy. There have been many tears but there has also been much laughter. I look forward to the rest of the year as well as 2014 knowing there will be love, peace, joy, and hope. (I can't believe 2014 marks the 35th year since graduating fro...

I became friends with the dancer who was my classroom assistant when I was a young ballet dancer. By the time I was 12 in 1973, our dance teacher left her in charge of my jazz class while she took a 15 minute break. Kathleen was known to give us very hard combinations. Looking back on this, it may have been an attempt to quiet a chatty class of 12 year old students. I was fortunate enough to be in the advanced ballet class for a couple years while Kathleen was still at our studio. Over the years our friendship grew. I taught for her at her studio for years. We've attended numerous Bible Studies together. We've endured many hard situations together and celebrated many joyous seasons together. She was given a hard diagnosis last week concerning cancer. I told her I am there with her. My faith is not shaken, neither is hers. People sometimes ask why God does this to people. I do not believe sickness, disease, and evil come from God, they are a part of living in a fallen worl...