today i'm in atlanta
attending women of faith
with my future mother in law
when i get home i will share more with you
but pardon me while i go live in this moment
and worship my Papa
:-)
happy weekend, all!
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
pondered in my heart
i actually wrote this post back in february of 2010
so it's over a year old
but it just hit me that i'd never shared this part of our story with you
so here it is :-)
And Mary kept all these things…and pondered them in her heart.
I must have read those words a million times.
And found a startling understanding of them just a couple of months ago.
We had our annual women’s retreat (which I love) in which we played icebreaker
games (which I HATE). The first “game” was to find people we didn’t know and
make an “appointment” to have a quick chat with them. Total time for the game
was about 20 minutes, and we had to find 12 people.
Torture.
As SOON as we were ‘released’ to find our people, I felt a hand on my arm. It
was a woman I knew by sight and her words to me were “I’ve known Anthony
since he was tiny; we need to talk.”
Gulp.
Anthony, you see, grew up here in Nashville, and is a ‘favored son’ of this
congregation. So I was a bit intimidated.
When it came time for me to meet with her, she told me an amazing story.
You see, about 3 years ago it came out in the small group that I was a member
of and loved deeply that two of the people in that group, both married, had been
having an affair with each other for the previous 2 years. We were devastated.
And it didn’t end there. Over the next few months we all felt under attack as
more and more things came out into the open: mostly sexual sins, and none of
them good news.
I was the only single member of that group.
I swore off relationships. I had purposefully surrounded myself with people
who were in strong marriages, who were Christ-focused…who had everything I
desired for myself.
If they could fail so miserably…who was I to think my own marriage would be any
different?
I went through a very dark period of about a year before I began to see the
results—good results—of all this darkness in our group coming to light. I
watched as couple after couple began rewriting their love story. And I stood
amazed and began realizing that God can heal even what we break badly.
A few months later, Anthony and I started dating.
Anyway, back to the story the woman told me.
She has a son that was in the youth group—he was a senior that year (2007).
I know him by sight and occasional hello as well—I work with the middle
schoolers, so I didn’t have a whole lot of interaction with him.
Here’s what she told me:
“Boyd overheard you a few years back saying that you were planning to start the
adoption process within a few years and become a single mother. Is that right?”
I affirmed that indeed that had been my plan. She went on
“He came home and told me about it, and he made a commitment that day to
begin praying for you—that you would reconsider and that you would meet the
man God wanted you to marry…and that you would be open to love.”
Tears were welling up in my eyes at this point.
“He’s never stopped praying for you. And he was so thrilled when you and
Anthony started dating. He feels like he may have had a little hand in that…”
Wow.
It took a few moments to sink in.
In one of my darkest moments, there was a teenage boy that I barely knew
Who barely knew himself what “love” meant
And he was praying that I would find it.
Definitely a treasure that I have kept, and ponder in my heart.
so it's over a year old
but it just hit me that i'd never shared this part of our story with you
so here it is :-)
And Mary kept all these things…and pondered them in her heart.
I must have read those words a million times.
And found a startling understanding of them just a couple of months ago.
We had our annual women’s retreat (which I love) in which we played icebreaker
games (which I HATE). The first “game” was to find people we didn’t know and
make an “appointment” to have a quick chat with them. Total time for the game
was about 20 minutes, and we had to find 12 people.
Torture.
As SOON as we were ‘released’ to find our people, I felt a hand on my arm. It
was a woman I knew by sight and her words to me were “I’ve known Anthony
since he was tiny; we need to talk.”
Gulp.
Anthony, you see, grew up here in Nashville, and is a ‘favored son’ of this
congregation. So I was a bit intimidated.
When it came time for me to meet with her, she told me an amazing story.
You see, about 3 years ago it came out in the small group that I was a member
of and loved deeply that two of the people in that group, both married, had been
having an affair with each other for the previous 2 years. We were devastated.
And it didn’t end there. Over the next few months we all felt under attack as
more and more things came out into the open: mostly sexual sins, and none of
them good news.
I was the only single member of that group.
I swore off relationships. I had purposefully surrounded myself with people
who were in strong marriages, who were Christ-focused…who had everything I
desired for myself.
If they could fail so miserably…who was I to think my own marriage would be any
different?
I went through a very dark period of about a year before I began to see the
results—good results—of all this darkness in our group coming to light. I
watched as couple after couple began rewriting their love story. And I stood
amazed and began realizing that God can heal even what we break badly.
A few months later, Anthony and I started dating.
Anyway, back to the story the woman told me.
She has a son that was in the youth group—he was a senior that year (2007).
I know him by sight and occasional hello as well—I work with the middle
schoolers, so I didn’t have a whole lot of interaction with him.
Here’s what she told me:
“Boyd overheard you a few years back saying that you were planning to start the
adoption process within a few years and become a single mother. Is that right?”
I affirmed that indeed that had been my plan. She went on
“He came home and told me about it, and he made a commitment that day to
begin praying for you—that you would reconsider and that you would meet the
man God wanted you to marry…and that you would be open to love.”
Tears were welling up in my eyes at this point.
“He’s never stopped praying for you. And he was so thrilled when you and
Anthony started dating. He feels like he may have had a little hand in that…”
Wow.
It took a few moments to sink in.
In one of my darkest moments, there was a teenage boy that I barely knew
Who barely knew himself what “love” meant
And he was praying that I would find it.
Definitely a treasure that I have kept, and ponder in my heart.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesdays
A new host is in town for Titus 2 Tuesdays...my good bloggy friend Bethany has taken over while Shanda takes a bit of a break. So make sure to go to her blog and link up for today!
(Isn't it funny how that works, by the way? I have a few friends through these blog relationships who I feel like I would hang out with on a regular basis if we lived close enough!)
Anywho.
Today I'm going to introduce you to Emalie. Emalie and I met years ago when I was teaching. She was a good friend of my friend Martell.
Emalie came back to the classroom a couple of years later, and in God's perfect placement landed at the middle school where I was teaching. She inspired me to be more patient, more kind, and more loving in my approach to my students...not that I wasn't those things before. Emalie has a way of looking at people and situations in the best light possible. She complimented me on how patient, kind, loving and wonderful I was in the classroom...and it made me want to be MORE of those things. (if that makes sense)
She was the classroom I'd stop into on my way out of the building that last year when things were rough, if I needed to vent/cry/laugh. She always had a funny story to tell, or a listening ear.
Emalie is one of my biggest fans, which means a lot. She asked me to teach her 3 granddaughters piano lessons about 3 years ago, and that relationship has continued to this day. I get to see Emalie at least once a week these days, and though she's moved on to a different position in a different school and I am...well, doing whatever I'm doing...we still find time to connect. Often she'll meet me at the door when I come to teach with a bowl of soup or a hot cup of tea. She's had me come to her church to teach the youth group there how to make jewelry for a fundraising project. And she's still that listening ear or funny story I need.
I'll never forget the email from her telling the story of driving a couple of students home when a fire broke out in the backseat of her van (?!?!?) and they ended up stamping it out with the box of underwear she had collected for some ministry...
That's Emalie :-)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
What have you learned from another Christ following woman?
Time once again for me to try to pick just ONE influential woman in my life.
I'm reaching way back today, to Carmen.
Carmen was our neighbor from the time I entered 5th grade until I moved from my parents home to a college dorm. She was the pianist at the church we started attending when I was in 7th grade. She and her husband were good friends of my parents, and I bonded with her around the time I was 13 on. I would often ride my bike to her house and stay for *hours*. Sometimes there was a legitimate reason--I sang solos often and would rehearse at her house. Other times it was just to be around her. She was such a loving and caring presence in my life. I remember kneeling together in her living room and praying when I decided to accept Christ into my life. I remember confessing to her that I thought I really did have an eating disorder (that was round one, in high school). Her couch was my altar on many occasions, and her arms were the ones I ran to when I was upset or confused.
She was the one who encouraged me to enter Trevecca even though my parents were not sold on the plan. And about halfway through my college career, she and her husband moved to Clarksville, which is about 45 minutes north of Nashville. I was thrilled to have a piece of home in Tennessee. By that time I had already decided that Nashville would be my home after graduation, and there was something comforting about the idea of being able to drive up there whenever I wanted.
Unfortunately over the last few years we haven't been in as close of contact as we would like...thank goodness for email and facebook (she recently joined). Anthony and I did go to her and Bill's 50th wedding anniversary celebration a few months ago.
I don't think I have any pictures of the two of us together that are actually on the computer, so no pictures today. I may be able to scan one in later :0)
Time once again for me to try to pick just ONE influential woman in my life.
I'm reaching way back today, to Carmen.
Carmen was our neighbor from the time I entered 5th grade until I moved from my parents home to a college dorm. She was the pianist at the church we started attending when I was in 7th grade. She and her husband were good friends of my parents, and I bonded with her around the time I was 13 on. I would often ride my bike to her house and stay for *hours*. Sometimes there was a legitimate reason--I sang solos often and would rehearse at her house. Other times it was just to be around her. She was such a loving and caring presence in my life. I remember kneeling together in her living room and praying when I decided to accept Christ into my life. I remember confessing to her that I thought I really did have an eating disorder (that was round one, in high school). Her couch was my altar on many occasions, and her arms were the ones I ran to when I was upset or confused.
She was the one who encouraged me to enter Trevecca even though my parents were not sold on the plan. And about halfway through my college career, she and her husband moved to Clarksville, which is about 45 minutes north of Nashville. I was thrilled to have a piece of home in Tennessee. By that time I had already decided that Nashville would be my home after graduation, and there was something comforting about the idea of being able to drive up there whenever I wanted.
Unfortunately over the last few years we haven't been in as close of contact as we would like...thank goodness for email and facebook (she recently joined). Anthony and I did go to her and Bill's 50th wedding anniversary celebration a few months ago.
I don't think I have any pictures of the two of us together that are actually on the computer, so no pictures today. I may be able to scan one in later :0)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I need to write about a woman who has influenced me...and there are SO many that it's hard to decide who to introduce you to next.
So I'm going to write about Martell.
Martell was one of the first people I met when I began teaching and we immediately formed a bond. You see, I (with a degree in music education) was given 2 reading courses to teach--one 7th grade and one 8th grade. Since I had NO idea what I was doing and she just happened to be right across the hall and teach 8th grade language arts...and since we both stayed after school crazy weird hours because we share a workaholic tendency...we became fast friends.
I knew part of Martell's story before I really knew Martell. She had a daughter who was just a few months older than I am. But when we were 21--3 years before Martell and I met--she died in a freak hiking accident. I learned a lot about Jennifer and her story from her amazing mother.
Part of our bond was a natural course of events--I desperately needed a mother figure, she was able to be needed as a mother (does that make sense?). During the spring of that first year of teaching I put a contract on the condo, and in doing that told her that I was going to need a new church home as my current church would be way too much of a drive once I moved back into Nashville. She invited me to come to her church...and from the first time I walked through the doors I knew that God had brought me there. Sometime during that first year of teaching in our regular nightly chats I shared some of *my* story...the good, bad and ugly. And it was because of her and 3 other amazing women at my church (and many other scattered throughout that journey as well) that I finally made the choice to become healthy. I'll write about those other 3 at some point. But Martell was instrumental in my recovery. After all, she and I shared a lunch table every day. She overheard me give speeches to the cheerleaders that I coached saying "You have to eat enough calories to make it through the games!" And she held me when I cried my eyes out because I felt so hypocritical in those moments. And through it all, she just let me...be. It was largely because of her gentle and non-judgemental approach that I was able to finally just let go.
My principal and one of Martell's best friends both pulled me aside within a year of our friendship beginning and thanked me "for giving us Martell's smile again". Little did they know that she had given me a new lease on life as well.
One of the most flattering things Martell has ever said to me was that she thinks that Jennifer and I would have been great friends if we had ever met. That we both have the same passion for seeing young girls reach their full potential.
From her...there is no greater compliment.
I could fill pages about her. She's an adventurous soul and I've learned not to open my big mouth around her unless I truly mean it--hence the whitewater rafting trip the two of us went on and I can't SWIM. I was convinced I would drown. But I loved it--and have been back at least 5 times since that first trip down the Ocoee!
This picture is from that trip. It isn't a great shot of either of us--we had spent hours on the river, were still soaked and quite tired. We stopped and took the picture because "Greasy Creek" is such a typical thing to see in Tennessee and we were both amused. But I love the picture. It's framed in my living room, and it reminds me to try new things and not be afraid of the unknown.
I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I need to write about a woman who has influenced me...and there are SO many that it's hard to decide who to introduce you to next.
So I'm going to write about Martell.
Martell was one of the first people I met when I began teaching and we immediately formed a bond. You see, I (with a degree in music education) was given 2 reading courses to teach--one 7th grade and one 8th grade. Since I had NO idea what I was doing and she just happened to be right across the hall and teach 8th grade language arts...and since we both stayed after school crazy weird hours because we share a workaholic tendency...we became fast friends.
I knew part of Martell's story before I really knew Martell. She had a daughter who was just a few months older than I am. But when we were 21--3 years before Martell and I met--she died in a freak hiking accident. I learned a lot about Jennifer and her story from her amazing mother.
Part of our bond was a natural course of events--I desperately needed a mother figure, she was able to be needed as a mother (does that make sense?). During the spring of that first year of teaching I put a contract on the condo, and in doing that told her that I was going to need a new church home as my current church would be way too much of a drive once I moved back into Nashville. She invited me to come to her church...and from the first time I walked through the doors I knew that God had brought me there. Sometime during that first year of teaching in our regular nightly chats I shared some of *my* story...the good, bad and ugly. And it was because of her and 3 other amazing women at my church (and many other scattered throughout that journey as well) that I finally made the choice to become healthy. I'll write about those other 3 at some point. But Martell was instrumental in my recovery. After all, she and I shared a lunch table every day. She overheard me give speeches to the cheerleaders that I coached saying "You have to eat enough calories to make it through the games!" And she held me when I cried my eyes out because I felt so hypocritical in those moments. And through it all, she just let me...be. It was largely because of her gentle and non-judgemental approach that I was able to finally just let go.
My principal and one of Martell's best friends both pulled me aside within a year of our friendship beginning and thanked me "for giving us Martell's smile again". Little did they know that she had given me a new lease on life as well.
One of the most flattering things Martell has ever said to me was that she thinks that Jennifer and I would have been great friends if we had ever met. That we both have the same passion for seeing young girls reach their full potential.
From her...there is no greater compliment.
I could fill pages about her. She's an adventurous soul and I've learned not to open my big mouth around her unless I truly mean it--hence the whitewater rafting trip the two of us went on and I can't SWIM. I was convinced I would drown. But I loved it--and have been back at least 5 times since that first trip down the Ocoee!
This picture is from that trip. It isn't a great shot of either of us--we had spent hours on the river, were still soaked and quite tired. We stopped and took the picture because "Greasy Creek" is such a typical thing to see in Tennessee and we were both amused. But I love the picture. It's framed in my living room, and it reminds me to try new things and not be afraid of the unknown.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
I love these Tuesday posts more and more :0) Join us by clicking on the question!
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
Today I'll tell you about Sharon. Sharon is very possibly the sweetest person I have ever had the pleasure of calling my friend. We met when we sang together and eventually we were in the same small group together for a couple of years. That small group disbanded 2 years ago when we found out that her husband and another woman in our group had been having an affair. It was a HARD time for all of us in that group and obviously the families involved were devastated. Sharon and her husband had 3 small children when it was brought to the surface. They eventually left our church, which was the right move for them, but I miss them SO much even though I try to get together with them often.
It's amazing to watch Sharon and her husband write a new love story together. In the last 2 years they have had a fourth child and have recently announced that they are pregnant with their 5th (we think that the oldest child, a boy, is praying overtime for a baby brother--he currently has 3 little sisters!) For her parenting skills and her obvious love for her husband and commitment to their recovery together I admire her. For her genuine friendship, I love her. She amazingly finds time in her schedule to check in with me and continues to amaze me with her deep faith.
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
Today I'll tell you about Sharon. Sharon is very possibly the sweetest person I have ever had the pleasure of calling my friend. We met when we sang together and eventually we were in the same small group together for a couple of years. That small group disbanded 2 years ago when we found out that her husband and another woman in our group had been having an affair. It was a HARD time for all of us in that group and obviously the families involved were devastated. Sharon and her husband had 3 small children when it was brought to the surface. They eventually left our church, which was the right move for them, but I miss them SO much even though I try to get together with them often.
It's amazing to watch Sharon and her husband write a new love story together. In the last 2 years they have had a fourth child and have recently announced that they are pregnant with their 5th (we think that the oldest child, a boy, is praying overtime for a baby brother--he currently has 3 little sisters!) For her parenting skills and her obvious love for her husband and commitment to their recovery together I admire her. For her genuine friendship, I love her. She amazingly finds time in her schedule to check in with me and continues to amaze me with her deep faith.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
Today I'd like to talk about Erin.
Erin and I met when I was visiting the Catholic church that I now regularly visit. A friend of mine who played in the handbell choir invited me to go out to eat/drink with them right after mass the second time I visited, and Erin was among the people at the restaurant. I was honored to meet her--she was the cantor with the choir and I was blown away by her amazingly beautiful voice and spirit during service. I was even more impressed with her personality and charm in person.
We had been chatting for a few minutes when we realized that we both lived in the same sub-section of Nashville...then in the same neighborhood...then realized that our townhomes are a building away from each other. Small world! In further conversation I found out that her husband is one of the worship ministers at the church...and this lead to some pretty serious involvement in their music and worship ministry on my part. I made sure they knew that I'm not Catholic by birth or conversion, and they were fine with it. So yes...I sing in the early mass choir on the way down the road to Woodmont most every week!
Erin has become a wonderful friend. She has taught me so much about perseverance. Shortly after I met her I found out that her mother had terminal cancer. In February of last year she passed away. Then Erin had surgery on her thyroid--which took her out of singing for about 6 months--and they found out that she too had cancer. Her brother died of cancer this past November. I have remained heartbroken for her family through all of this, and yet she remains so full of faith and optimism that she ends up encouraging me every time I speak to her.
When I lost my job, she became one of the people who created something for me to do--babysitting her dog, and reorganizing her entire filing system. I was so appreciative of this gesture from someone who I had known for just a little over a year.
Erin is a woman of strong faith who inspires me to rise above any circumstances that come my way. She is an amazing woman and I am SO proud to call her my friend.
Today I'd like to talk about Erin.
Erin and I met when I was visiting the Catholic church that I now regularly visit. A friend of mine who played in the handbell choir invited me to go out to eat/drink with them right after mass the second time I visited, and Erin was among the people at the restaurant. I was honored to meet her--she was the cantor with the choir and I was blown away by her amazingly beautiful voice and spirit during service. I was even more impressed with her personality and charm in person.
We had been chatting for a few minutes when we realized that we both lived in the same sub-section of Nashville...then in the same neighborhood...then realized that our townhomes are a building away from each other. Small world! In further conversation I found out that her husband is one of the worship ministers at the church...and this lead to some pretty serious involvement in their music and worship ministry on my part. I made sure they knew that I'm not Catholic by birth or conversion, and they were fine with it. So yes...I sing in the early mass choir on the way down the road to Woodmont most every week!
Erin has become a wonderful friend. She has taught me so much about perseverance. Shortly after I met her I found out that her mother had terminal cancer. In February of last year she passed away. Then Erin had surgery on her thyroid--which took her out of singing for about 6 months--and they found out that she too had cancer. Her brother died of cancer this past November. I have remained heartbroken for her family through all of this, and yet she remains so full of faith and optimism that she ends up encouraging me every time I speak to her.
When I lost my job, she became one of the people who created something for me to do--babysitting her dog, and reorganizing her entire filing system. I was so appreciative of this gesture from someone who I had known for just a little over a year.
Erin is a woman of strong faith who inspires me to rise above any circumstances that come my way. She is an amazing woman and I am SO proud to call her my friend.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
Happy Tuesday all!
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
This week I'll introduce you to Suzanne. Suzanne and I bonded shortly after I began attending the church I'm a member of--not only were we both middle school music teachers, but we were also both a little crazy. Ok, ok, the two go hand in hand!
Suzanne and I eventually were in the same small group (she was the one who invited me) and singing on the same Praise Team. The first Christmas I knew her she gave me a Magic 8 Ball with the explanation that while teaching middle schoolers the answers may as well come from there as anywhere :0) We laughed and were crazy together, but I knew (know) that if I ever need anything all I have to do is pick up the phone or log onto my email. Suz' would do anything she could for me, and it goes both ways.
Suzanne's husband, Richard, was the worship leader for our praise team's week and about 8 months ago he was offered a job as a music minister for a church just down the road. So, while we no longer attend church together we still see each other...although not nearly as often as either of us would like.
Last weekend Richard called me to ask if I would help them sing at a funeral. I went, and we enjoyed spending some time together (well, as much as one can enjoy a funeral...). Suz' at one point looked at me and said "Love looks good on you!"
I got the sweetest card from Suz' a few days later. Just a small excerpt from what she wrote:
Once again, if you haven't asked me a question for my 100th post, please leave a comment at this post or email me at msmsctchr@gmail.com. As of this post, we're 4 away! Oh...and there may be a little giveaway to celebrate this as well!
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
This week I'll introduce you to Suzanne. Suzanne and I bonded shortly after I began attending the church I'm a member of--not only were we both middle school music teachers, but we were also both a little crazy. Ok, ok, the two go hand in hand!
Suzanne and I eventually were in the same small group (she was the one who invited me) and singing on the same Praise Team. The first Christmas I knew her she gave me a Magic 8 Ball with the explanation that while teaching middle schoolers the answers may as well come from there as anywhere :0) We laughed and were crazy together, but I knew (know) that if I ever need anything all I have to do is pick up the phone or log onto my email. Suz' would do anything she could for me, and it goes both ways.
Suzanne's husband, Richard, was the worship leader for our praise team's week and about 8 months ago he was offered a job as a music minister for a church just down the road. So, while we no longer attend church together we still see each other...although not nearly as often as either of us would like.
Last weekend Richard called me to ask if I would help them sing at a funeral. I went, and we enjoyed spending some time together (well, as much as one can enjoy a funeral...). Suz' at one point looked at me and said "Love looks good on you!"
I got the sweetest card from Suz' a few days later. Just a small excerpt from what she wrote:
"You really do look fabulous. I pray things are looking up for you. You seem to be happy. I forget how much I miss you until I get to be with you. Then I have this ray of sunlight of you, and I'm "in the dark" when you've gone. You are so special, and I want you to know that!"
It was the SWEETEST card ever...and it pretty much sums up how I feel about her. She is a breath of fresh air, every time I get to be with her.
I have several photos of the two of us, but this is one of my favorites. It's from 3.5 years ago when we combined her (private, upper-class white) choir and my (public, very diverse) choir for pizza and a movie while we were at a Mass Choral Festival. We were "doing what we do" and enjoying learning from each other.
I have several photos of the two of us, but this is one of my favorites. It's from 3.5 years ago when we combined her (private, upper-class white) choir and my (public, very diverse) choir for pizza and a movie while we were at a Mass Choral Festival. We were "doing what we do" and enjoying learning from each other.
Once again, if you haven't asked me a question for my 100th post, please leave a comment at this post or email me at msmsctchr@gmail.com. As of this post, we're 4 away! Oh...and there may be a little giveaway to celebrate this as well!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
Everyone seems to be getting into it early this week, so I'll follow the trend :0) See the original Titus 2 blog to participate!
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
Today I'm going to share my friend Kathryne with you.
Kathryne is one of the first people I became close to at my church. I remember a few of us sitting around talking about 2 years ago and her stating "I don't remember ever meeting Lora. I think she's just always been a part of us." And honestly--I have no recollection of meeting her either. But I know we have a strong connection, and always have.
Kathryne is a mother--her son is in college, her daughter a junior in high school. I was actually privileged enough to have her daughter in my mentoring group when she was in middle school, which was pretty cool. Kathryne is the kind of mother I want to be--nurturing, but not smothering. Her children are well loved, but they have been brought up to make decisions--and even mistakes--in a safe environment. I have remarked to several people (including the boyfriend) that when I have children I will be sitting at her feet to learn. And anyone who knows her understands why I say that :0)
Kathryne is an amazing prayer warrior, and a beautiful example to anyone who is seeking in faith. She doesn't have all the answers, and she doesn't mind telling you she doesn't. But she's the first person who will sit with you, cry with you, pray with you and just BE with you...no matter what. She's lived enough life experiences to be empathetic and kind through it all.
This is why when I asked her to drive me home after having my wisdom teeth removed a couple of years ago she refused. She insisted that I instead come stay at their house for at least 24 hours after the surgery. It's what I needed.
This is also why she was one of the first people I called when I lost my job in August.
I don't have any "good" pictures of the two of us, but here are a couple. The first is of the two of us the year we shared a cabin full of 7th grade girls for a week at youth camp (the best co-counselor I ever had...hands down). The second is from this past fall when we led worship at our church's women's retreat. (I look suspiciously big around the middle, but I assure you it was a camera not a baby or anything!) Incidentally, the 3rd woman pictured with us? Jennifer, from my very first Titus 2 blog.
Kathryne has become a true spiritual mentor to me, and I'm going to close with one of her favorite verses to share--from our favorite translation, the NLT:
Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for what He's done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)
Today I'm going to share my friend Kathryne with you.
Kathryne is one of the first people I became close to at my church. I remember a few of us sitting around talking about 2 years ago and her stating "I don't remember ever meeting Lora. I think she's just always been a part of us." And honestly--I have no recollection of meeting her either. But I know we have a strong connection, and always have.
Kathryne is a mother--her son is in college, her daughter a junior in high school. I was actually privileged enough to have her daughter in my mentoring group when she was in middle school, which was pretty cool. Kathryne is the kind of mother I want to be--nurturing, but not smothering. Her children are well loved, but they have been brought up to make decisions--and even mistakes--in a safe environment. I have remarked to several people (including the boyfriend) that when I have children I will be sitting at her feet to learn. And anyone who knows her understands why I say that :0)
Kathryne is an amazing prayer warrior, and a beautiful example to anyone who is seeking in faith. She doesn't have all the answers, and she doesn't mind telling you she doesn't. But she's the first person who will sit with you, cry with you, pray with you and just BE with you...no matter what. She's lived enough life experiences to be empathetic and kind through it all.
This is why when I asked her to drive me home after having my wisdom teeth removed a couple of years ago she refused. She insisted that I instead come stay at their house for at least 24 hours after the surgery. It's what I needed.
This is also why she was one of the first people I called when I lost my job in August.
I don't have any "good" pictures of the two of us, but here are a couple. The first is of the two of us the year we shared a cabin full of 7th grade girls for a week at youth camp (the best co-counselor I ever had...hands down). The second is from this past fall when we led worship at our church's women's retreat. (I look suspiciously big around the middle, but I assure you it was a camera not a baby or anything!) Incidentally, the 3rd woman pictured with us? Jennifer, from my very first Titus 2 blog.
Kathryne has become a true spiritual mentor to me, and I'm going to close with one of her favorite verses to share--from our favorite translation, the NLT:
Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for what He's done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
- Phillipians 4:6-7
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
Oops. I'm late...but I've committed to actually doing this weekly, so in this case it's going to have to be better late than never :0)
So here's the usual question: What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever).
Go here to participate!
This week I'm choosing to honor my friend Angie. Angie and I met when we got to middle school, and I'll never forget that one of the first things she ever told me was that I shared a birthday with Reba McEntire. She was much more excited about this little fact than I was, but still it paved the way to a tentative and then genuine friendship.
By the time we were in high school we were "thick as thieves" as my parents would say. We wrote stories to pass the time away in classes such as chemistry, watched Veggie Tales during our peer facilitating class (hey, we were learning valuable lessons in order to help those kids we were working with...right?), and crossed the bridge together to go to the parking lot each day when the bell rang.
Angie and I had a lot of fun together, but our lunchtimes were probably my favorite part of the day. It was then we would discuss our very limited understanding of faith and how it affected our daily walk. We were so young and naive, and our journeys were just beginning, but we "got" that it was about God...in some form or fashion. I was fortunate to have a high school friend with which to discuss the things that are underneath all that surface stuff most of us are focused on in high school.
After I graduated and moved to TN for college we kind of fell out of touch for awhile. Neither meant for it to happen, but we both got busy... During this time we each journeyed deeper into faith and understanding what that really meant. It's amazing what life experiences will do to you, ya know?
A couple/three years ago we reconnected...amazingly enough through myspace and facebook first. Since then she's come to stay with me for a few days in Nashville, and I get together with her every time I make it to my hometown in Indiana. We send messages, texts, and occasionally a phone call (although neither of us is in love with the phone). It's kind of funny how we have parallel lives in so many ways--for example, right now we've been dating wonderful men for about the same amount of time (they're a little ahead of us) and we've had SO much to talk about regarding that. It has been SUCH a blessing to me to pick up where we left off and to be able to still talk about what's real with my dear friend.
Angie (left) and me
She's an amazing woman with a beautiful heart and who never fails to make me smile. We still don't talk as often as either of us would like, but we connect often (oooh, way to work in the word of the month, Lora!). I've learned from her how to laugh at myself and not take myself seriously, how to have REAL conversations, and how to maintain relationships across the miles.
So I am thankful for the chance to be real, to talk about faith, and to have a friend to journey with me. I'm thankful to have Angie in my life.
So here's the usual question: What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever).
Go here to participate!
This week I'm choosing to honor my friend Angie. Angie and I met when we got to middle school, and I'll never forget that one of the first things she ever told me was that I shared a birthday with Reba McEntire. She was much more excited about this little fact than I was, but still it paved the way to a tentative and then genuine friendship.
By the time we were in high school we were "thick as thieves" as my parents would say. We wrote stories to pass the time away in classes such as chemistry, watched Veggie Tales during our peer facilitating class (hey, we were learning valuable lessons in order to help those kids we were working with...right?), and crossed the bridge together to go to the parking lot each day when the bell rang.
Angie and I had a lot of fun together, but our lunchtimes were probably my favorite part of the day. It was then we would discuss our very limited understanding of faith and how it affected our daily walk. We were so young and naive, and our journeys were just beginning, but we "got" that it was about God...in some form or fashion. I was fortunate to have a high school friend with which to discuss the things that are underneath all that surface stuff most of us are focused on in high school.
After I graduated and moved to TN for college we kind of fell out of touch for awhile. Neither meant for it to happen, but we both got busy... During this time we each journeyed deeper into faith and understanding what that really meant. It's amazing what life experiences will do to you, ya know?
A couple/three years ago we reconnected...amazingly enough through myspace and facebook first. Since then she's come to stay with me for a few days in Nashville, and I get together with her every time I make it to my hometown in Indiana. We send messages, texts, and occasionally a phone call (although neither of us is in love with the phone). It's kind of funny how we have parallel lives in so many ways--for example, right now we've been dating wonderful men for about the same amount of time (they're a little ahead of us) and we've had SO much to talk about regarding that. It has been SUCH a blessing to me to pick up where we left off and to be able to still talk about what's real with my dear friend.
Angie (left) and meSo I am thankful for the chance to be real, to talk about faith, and to have a friend to journey with me. I'm thankful to have Angie in my life.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Titus 2 Tuesday
I found a fabulous blog today. Apparently this has been going on for awhile, but I'm just discovering it. A Titus 2 Tuesday simply means that we're honoring the women of influence in our lives. You can read more about it here at the blog I found this morning. Read all the way down--there's a beautiful piece of Beth Moore writing in it, and she's one of my favorites. :0)
I'm stumped on this one though. Not because I don't have anyone to write about...but because there are so many. So I'm symbolically pulling a name out of a hat here :0)
A woman who has influenced me this week is my friend Jennifer.
Jen and I both sing on the praise team at church and have discovered over the past months that we have many other things in common. Strangely enough we've become closer because of facebook, even though we live in the same city and attend the same house of worship. Our paths cross more often now than they did when we first became friends, and I'm happy to have her in my life.
Jennifer influences and inspires me because she's real. She's hilarious, loving, and a God-seeker. She has a way of talking about her husband and three daughters that lets you know how much she adores them...and when you see them together there is no doubt that the feelings are mutual. She has loyal friendships with wonderful people and would do anything for them. She is part of a close-knit cooking club, Bible study, and small group Jen also obsesses over tv shows (Lost and Flight of the Conchords come to mind) and gets a little stressed when everyone in the house gets sick. She has a sarcastic and witty sense of humor. And there are times when she needs to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.
Why does she influence me? Because in knowing her I've learned to not be afraid to be real. To show ALL sides of me to those who are in my life. If they love me, they'll love me through all my stuff, not because I wear a mask easily.
Why does she inspire me? Because I'm aware of some of her struggles and I know that she is overcoming. I have faith that I can do the same. Because she is a true worshipper--when I see her at church I know that she is truly standing at the throne. And because she truly treats those around her with respect and dignity.
I'm thankful to know her, and I'm thankful to call her my friend.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
I'm stumped on this one though. Not because I don't have anyone to write about...but because there are so many. So I'm symbolically pulling a name out of a hat here :0)
A woman who has influenced me this week is my friend Jennifer.
Jen and I both sing on the praise team at church and have discovered over the past months that we have many other things in common. Strangely enough we've become closer because of facebook, even though we live in the same city and attend the same house of worship. Our paths cross more often now than they did when we first became friends, and I'm happy to have her in my life.
Jennifer influences and inspires me because she's real. She's hilarious, loving, and a God-seeker. She has a way of talking about her husband and three daughters that lets you know how much she adores them...and when you see them together there is no doubt that the feelings are mutual. She has loyal friendships with wonderful people and would do anything for them. She is part of a close-knit cooking club, Bible study, and small group Jen also obsesses over tv shows (Lost and Flight of the Conchords come to mind) and gets a little stressed when everyone in the house gets sick. She has a sarcastic and witty sense of humor. And there are times when she needs to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.
Why does she influence me? Because in knowing her I've learned to not be afraid to be real. To show ALL sides of me to those who are in my life. If they love me, they'll love me through all my stuff, not because I wear a mask easily.
Why does she inspire me? Because I'm aware of some of her struggles and I know that she is overcoming. I have faith that I can do the same. Because she is a true worshipper--when I see her at church I know that she is truly standing at the throne. And because she truly treats those around her with respect and dignity.
I'm thankful to know her, and I'm thankful to call her my friend.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
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