Recently I found myself driving down a road I haven’t driven on in over 20 years. 
This road led to a place I once worked a LONG time ago. A place where I did some growing up – a little too fast in some ways and not fast enough in others.
At this point everything looked just like it did years ago, but then I looked a little closer.
The bright red sign, just rusted, faded and leaning.
I saw some changes on the island. New homes tucked in beside old home sites. New siding on old places and new docks and boathouses.
And then I saw this…
The picture doesn’t do justice to what happened to the restaurant where I once worked. The windows are all gone, the doors are missing and the roof? Gone. All that’s left is a shell of what once was. A shell that is nothing more than walls with a few broken chairs, remnants of the roof, scattered leaves, and twigs and a faded sign.
A faded sign as a reminder of what once was here. It’s as if everyone left one day and never came back. It’s as if no one cared enough and everything fell apart… the roof caved in, the windows were knocked out, the weeds came up and the sign fell down.
That could’ve been me. I could be the one without a roof or windows and with a faded, crooked sign, which is a great analogy for the current state of my hair, but I digress…
I looked around at this place where I’d spent so much time and realized, once again, the incredible grace of God. I stood in this place where rebellion once reigned in my life and I thought about where I was headed. This little side trip came as I traveled at a women’s retreat. My topic - foundation of faith.
I LOVE how God works. All those years ago, He knew this day would come. He knew that I would make my way through the mess I’d created and back to Him. He knew that this prodigal child would eventually return home.
But more than just returning to His presence and grace in my life, He now uses this prodigal to speak to others. Why? That’s not a question I can answer. I just accept and move on.
I accept that He has taken my faded sign and painted His will over it. His Fingerprints are all over my heart and my life. I feel His presence when I stand before a group and open my mouth – for to tell my story, but to share His Words. I still stand amazed at what the Lord has done and is doing in my life.
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It doesn’t seem like 17 years and I’m not ready for her to be 17. That’s just one year from 18 — and then 19.
She came into our life 17 years ago today — all fair haired and blue-eyed. We had a dark haired, dark eyed princess and she was to be the blonde baby princess. She’s blonde, but princess is not a title she has ever aspired to. She’s the baby of the family who rarely allows us to baby her.
She’s independent and strong-willed. (She must get that from her Dad…)
She has a great sense of humor and a sharp wit. She’s smart and fun to be with. She is a rebel and a peacekeeper all at the same time. She believes in pushing the envelope and challenging ideas that she doesn’t believe are right or fair.
She’s talking about college and life beyond but I’m not sure I’m ready. New situations don’t scare her, they intrigue her. She is fascinated by life beyond these days – and that’s good. But hard on her Mom. She is ready to soar, but we still have her tethered to the ground . . . for just a while longer.
I remember this
And this ….
but these days she looks more like this
17!
I cherish every moment I have with her. She is my FAVORITE blonde daughter. Happy Birthday, Paige!
I’m constantly amazed that the Lord allows me the blessing of hanging out with women and sharing my heart with them.
This past weekend I was blown away by some zebra clad chicks from Prattville. I hit the road Friday afternoon and landed down on Lake Martin with two large houses filled with women who were ready to laugh and have fun. They were also eager to dive into God’s Word and dive we did – head first into the deep end.
There are so many wonderful moments to share and so many new girlfriends to tell you about. Let me just say that Michelle and Shannon are two AMAZING girls who know how to plan a retreat! They also love to accessorize and Michelle introduced me to Charming Charlie – what’s not to love about these two!
They had these super cute t-shirts made – I LOVE what they did to my website clipart – and check out the girl in the middle. Yep, zebra.
I’
It was an incredible weekend with incredible women and it was my honor to serve the Lord alongside them
Aren’t the adorable in their hot pink!! So many precious faces. My new friends.
Sometimes you just meet women and your hearts connect. My heart connected with these women.
I plan on seeing them at Charming Charlie in the very near future. You’ll find us in the zebra section.
I DO have the BEST intentions, but the follow through is lacking.
My 52 new things in 2010 was modeled on some of my local Birmingham girls idea — I loved it and ran with it….
for about two weeks and then I dropped it like a cheating boyfriend.
I’m trying to make it back… but I’m struggling.
I did drink Starbucks in the Bahamas a few weeks ago… sweet, but not the point of the 52 NEW things.
I want to SHARE new with you. Here is my goal (and isn’t it great to have goals):
To catch up with a post filled with NEW THINGS. When will that happen? Well, let’s not get all hasty. I like to think of this as an organic process. Okay, in all honesty, I don’t think anyone is interested in my new earrings (zebra and cute), my pink carryon way atop a shelf at Factory Connection, and my new purple scarf.
I want to share something new that is different, unique, and offers something to my readers… all 6 of you.
I’m gathering up my all new stuff –okay, I have ONE thing, but I’ve put it in a …. no I haven’t. It’s in my makeup bag in the bathroom. I’m thinking about gathering up some new things.
Until then check out these chicks who are ROCKING the new things
Trina (who I think of every single time I see a peacock anything)
Brandi (who is my Charming Charlie loving pal with an incredible sense of humor)
Later …. off to find some more new things or really just play on Facebook.
drum roll please….
Winners for the tickets to A Woman Inspired - Get Revived Conference March 15-19 are ….
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
9 3 2 6 13Timestamp: 2010-02-18 15:40:45 UTC
Cathy Davis (9)
Rhonda Lindley (3)
Angie (2)
Serena Hanson (6)
Patti (13)
And if you didn’t win, there’s plenty of time to register! Just head over to A Woman Inspired and sign up today.