Dear Paula Deen,

Cooking is something that comes from the heart and soul. It is a venue for expressing love, appreciation, and the value of friendship.... It's something you do well Paula. And what we do well can not be taken from us. 

Yes, Food Network dropped you. Kmart, Sears, JCPenny, and QVC... said goodbye.

You may have been dropped by these few, but you are still held by many. You are held by the one who called you and has used you to serve so many people. And the great thing is -you can still use all the butter you want in the next dessert you make, you can still make your favorite recipes for your friends, and you can still walk with God, living out His will for your life.

We could all learn a lesson from you Paula. We could all stand to put aside our prides and say sorry more often. Unfortunately, you had to do it on National television.

But maybe God is calling you to something new, something better, something totally different.
Maybe he will use you in ways you can't even begin to fathom. Maybe your place isn't on tv. Maybe your next big thing doesn't involve lights and a camera, but hearts and souls, and good cooking.

Suffering is a hard thing. Suffering is that place we hate when we are there, but also it's that place we are thankful for, years down the road when we realize that suffering gave us salvation. Maybe you are being saved right now.

Thank you Paula, for handling this whole situation with grace.
Our media could sure learn a lot from you.

I hope God blesses you in many ways.
See your road through, Paula-- there is bound to be a sweet new recipe waiting at the end of it.

Andrea Noles

Aren't we still little?

What were your favorite things to do as a child?

Here are a few of mine...

1. Writing
2. Crafting
3. Singing
4. Reading
5. Playing in the woods

and I'm happy to say I still continue to do 1-4. I'm not against number 5, I just don't have woods in my backyard, and if I did I'm not sure what people may think if they saw a 5'7, 30 year-old woman in a tree?

But, like I said-- I'm not against it.

Are you still doing any of your top 5?  I hope you are.

Most of us are all grown up though, right?

 Going to our grown-up jobs, paying our grown-up bills. Living our grown up lives.

But the truth is, we're really not.
We are still little kids.
Fearful of our futures
Full of insecurities.

We've exchanged our stuffed animals for cell phones, our blankets for down-comforters, and our books for Kindles.

We still play dress up and want to feel pretty and significant.
We still pretend and play our parts.
We still throw tantrums when things don't go our way.
We still need the same love and attention.

So maybe we are not so grown up after all?

But Jesus is still Jesus.
How we see Him changes, but His love for us doesn't.
Isn't it amazing to think He still loves you the same as he did when you were little.

Be "little" this weekend.
Be artistic.
Write a song.
Dance on your porch.
Paint on a canvas.
And remember you are loved.
You always have been and always will be.

And if you get a chance, will you whisper a little prayer for me?
God is moving in big ways.
I'm eager and anxious and am doing my best to follow His lead.
I am so blessed and so thankful to ALL of you who take time out of your busy lives to stop and read my blog. The more I write, the more humble I become, as I know my words are not my own.
Turning words and crafting sentences is my art right now and has brought me into a renewed relationship with the Holy Spirit. I am praying soon, I can do this full-time, if God wills it. More than ever, I need you friends. I need your prayers. So please, please, whisper a few this weekend and I'll do the same for you.

8 Things I Learned in June...

Emily Freeman, over at Chatting at the Sky is linking up today and wanting to hear about things we have learned in June. I knew I had to play because June has really been a great teacher and I like great teachers. It's been a fun month and I hate to see it go, but I have a feeling July is cookin' up something real good for us.

So June, here's to you.

My 8 Things

1. My MaMa Lee always recommended the best books to me. The last book she recommended before she passed away in November was the biography, And God Came In, by Lyle Dorsett. It was about C.S Lewis's wife, Joy Davidman Lewis.  Like Lewis, she was an atheist for much of her life.  But she said she met God in a half of a minute and knew immediately she had been defeated. She confessed that she was not, after all, the master of her fate and the captain of her soul. She proclaimed that ever since that half-minute she had been changing into a different person. She set out to remake her mind. This reminded me that everyone has hope, regardless of where you have been and what you have believed. It's a great read and will always be on my shelf, right next to Mere Christianity, by C.S Lewis.

2. Brain Games is one of the only shows that I will watch without doing anything else. I don't need to eat, to write, to have a computer anywhere near me. I can rarely sit and watch TV without piddling. I love learning about the human mind and why we do what we do. And no matter what we figure out, I'm convinced we aren't meant to understand it all.

3. The more I write, the more God speaks. Writing a book is definitely one of the hardest attempts I have made in life. It has humbled me, required more faith than ever, but more than anything it is inspiring me to live out the words God breathes through my fingers. I always want to mean what I type, and live so my life mirrors that.

4. I like to hang out with old people. And you should to. Our family visits an elderly couple in our church every Monday and I always come home a little wiser. I have learned how to make a no-fail pie crust, heard about great scriptures, and listened to stories of love and loss. When someone has walked this planet for 80+ years, we better stop and take a listen and I'm glad we take time to do just that.

5. I've learned that Jennie Allen's heart is EXPLODING with God's love. My friend Sara, at    http://chasinggirlzandchaos.blogspot.com  introduced me to her book, Anything a few weeks ago, and I am loving the words God has given her to share with the world. Here is a video that asks the question, What if we gave God everything by doing ANYTHING he calls us to do?


6. I've learned to see things differently, by looking a little longer. I've learned to hear things differently by listening a little closer. Inspiration is everywhere and often, least where we expect it. I saw a license plate on our way to the beach that said, Krupa. I thought it was a neat word, so I looked it up and this is what I found. It is a Hindu-Indian-Christian name for a female meaning grace, mercy, favor, love, passion, compassion, forgiveness, blessings, and hope. WoW! I thought my name was cool because it meant "strong." I sure hope I meet a Krupa one day.

7. I learned that I love Audrey Assad's music, especially the song, Wherever you Go. So so good.

8. (A sum of my thoughts)  I'm learning that maybe's can be a good thing and sometimes no's lead to yes's. I'm learning how to have a more eternal perspective, while keeping my feet on the ground and my head towards heaven. I'm learning that "right words" come and go but God remains. He chases us. He loves us regardless if words sound good or not.

I hope June has been a good teacher to you. Jump over to Emily's blog, to link up and share what you know.

Our stories and lives are meant to be shared, and when we share we make space for more. Here's to June and all that will come in July!

She is a traveler...

She is a traveler. She sees. She hears. She speaks. She wonders and wanders. Her luggage is light. Her flight is uncertain. She carries no map. Desire, freedom, and adventure is her runway. She looks at the world gratefully and collects perspective at every corner. 

Who is the traveler? The traveler is me. The traveler is you. 

Where will we land between here and heaven?

Think about all the places we land in a day. We step out of beds, take showers, brush teeth, eat breakfasts and walk into our own little worlds. Each of our  little worlds exist inside the circumference of God’s vast world.

Yet our creator is with us in each moment. His hand is stretched out still, guiding, leading, and showing us the way. He is preparing a place for us to land when this life is over, a place we will never understand until we arrive. Isaiah 55 confirms this when God says, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. My ways are far beyond anything you could ever imagine."

So what can we do, where can we go, and who can we reach between here and heaven. 

Make a difference. Be a small part of God's voice and may your life today, bring a bit of hope to our world. It needs you. 

Unpacking Isaiah 6

For the past month I have been "unpacking" the book of Isaiah, so to speak. Taking out every single word, spinning thoughts, and trying to turn truth from one of the most challenging books in the Bible.

But right now, I'm just stuck.

I can't break away from Isaiah 6, when the Lord appears to Isaiah, and he is cleansed and called to serve.Each reading brings a new depth of understanding, yet stirs up questions that leave me wondering more about this prophet's faith.

Mostly, I wonder how in the world Isaiah did it. How did he so quickly, eagerly, and faithfully say, "Here I am! Send me."?

My response may have gone a little something like this.

"But God, what if I get hurt."

"But God, what about my family."

"But God, what about my job, and my house, and...

Here, you give it a try and ask yourself what you would have said...

Isaiah's Commission from the Lord

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, Here I am! Send me." And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."

Whhhhewwww.
How do you dull a heart and make ears heavy, and blind eyes?

I would have argued back. And the truth is I argue back every.single.day.

I profess faith and say things like, "God is in control." and "God's got a plan for my life."  I profess those things and minutes later, I profess fear. I ask "what if?" questions all the time. I wonder if I'm really supposed to be a writer? I wonder, and question, and I just don't know how to say "yes," and mean it, and live it.

Isaiah was commissioned and he said "yes." He responded with a holy, ambitious, "yes" to the call.
His one and only question for God was, "How long?"

The only bit of information he needed before he left was how long this call would last.
That's faith.

God calls us every single day. We may not have an Isaiah account in which God appears to us and we see the Lord sitting on a throne, with angels singing, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts.

But we do have alarm clocks that call us out of bed and into the world.
What if we woke up every day, and instead of hitting snooze, we said, 'Here I am, Send me!"?

I wonder how many calls I've missed because I'm too tired, to scared, too wrapped up in myself to even hear.

This week, may you see, hear, and understand God's will for your life, my friends.
May your morning call come, and your response ring truth.

He needs us out there in this dying world.
His kingdom will come. His will, will be done!

Amen.

What I've Learned This Year (Mom Reflections)

You hear a lot while you wait.
Waiting to be a mom was a scary thing.
I remember saying to myself...
"I'll feel okay when I get to the end of the first trimester."
Then I said, " I'll feel okay when I get to week "27."
"I will feel better when I am at the hospital"
"I'll be able to breathe once I am holding him in my arms and know he is healthy."
After I had him I said...
"I'll feel good when I can get him home and my mom will be alongside us, helping us."

I said all those things.
And really, the truth is...
When you're a mom you never fully feel okay, or better, or good. Mostly you do, but some days you just don't. There are days of worry and wondering and watching to see if they are still breathing while they sleep.

And you never breathe the same after you breathe life into another. You never breathe the same because you're holding on to moments, wishing for more time to take back milestones and redo them, just so you can experience, and remember, and watch life happen again.

And you forget who you were. Because who you were freefalls from the plane the minute a new life lands... and you just can't remember you. You lose your life, really. Just as Christ lost his. He layed down life so on earth we could live.

And when I pushed, and screamed and experienced a pain like I'd never known-- I layed down my life for him. And because of that my son can live and he can understand love and what it really means.

You hear about how time grows wings and a propeller and woooshhh you suddenly have a teenager. You hear about  love and how it takes off and never comes back down. You hear about God and how a child is the greatest gift he gives, beside his Grace.

I heard a lot. And all of it was true.

This year has been the most beautiful year of my life. There was good and there was bad. There were tears and confusion and a loss of self. But mostly, beautiful.

Today is Weston's first birthday. He landed last year at 5:25 p.m. I plan to celebrate his life all day. Because life is a celebration in itself. And I don't want to miss out on this day because it will never come back.

I hope we end each year saying, "Wheww, what a ride."
Because life should be a ride. It's meant to be a wild, but beautiful ride.

I've learned a lot and I've learned a little.

Mainly I've learned how to love a little more, and worry 

a little less. Give a little more and take a little less. 

But mostly, I've learned to live Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not 

on your understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge

Him and He will make your path straight."

Breathe that in today and breathe out trust as you remember His plan for you.

Enjoy your landings today friends.

And remember to bring home a few souvenirs while you're out in that 
great big world today. 

What have you learned this year?

If you have time to lengthen your landing, take a listen to Amos Lee singing,
"I've learned a lot" It's a great song!

A Place to Land: Puerto Alegria- Guest Blog by Ken Stiver

Everybody has a place to land, right? And everybody has a story to tell.
My friend, Ken Stiver, is going to share his story with you today.

I met Ken (we all called him Stiver, though) on a mission trip to Peru two years ago.
From the short time I spent with him, I knew he was a great person.
Among the boys in the camp he was a leader, a big brother, and He loved Christ with all his heart.

I have asked many friends to share their stories of places they have landed and he is the first to send his story. Thank you Ken for taking time to share your life with us. 

I hope you are touched by the impact Jesus Christ and his "American" mom, Lancy Rhyne has had on his life. Lancy is a member of our church and has traveled to Peru many times to serve at Puerto Alegria!

UNA VIDA EN ESTA VIDA (a life in this life)

     Hello! Before I tell you about how God is working in my life, let me introduce myself. My name is Ken Stiver and I was born in a town called San Antonio (Colombia) the border of Peru between Colombia. Sometimes I think that I’m more Colombian than Peruvian but I’m Peruvian, lol.

     This story begins when my parents broke up their relationship. My mom moved to Colombia and my dad stayed here in Peru. This happened when I was about 1 year old and my dad had to work so I went to live with my grandparent (my dads parent)…. My life with them wasn’t good at all. They were mean to me all the time, they were Christian though but I don’t know  what kind of Christians. I went to church when I was a boy but I never understood the love of God. The time I spent there, I got done with elementary school then I moved to Iquitos from San Antonio with my grandparents. 

     Here in Iquitos my grandparents met a person that worked in the Scripture Union. And that’s how I went to Puerto Alegria (Scripture Union’s Orphanage). I really felt so bad when I came to this place (Puerto Alegria). My dad never did anything, but allow my grandparents to send me here, even when I know that he has the enough money to support me, this meant how mean my family is. But I never showed to others how I was really feeling in that time, I was always thinking I will grow up… and when they need my help, it will be so late for them…

PUERTO ALEGRIA

     When I came to this orphanage I saw a lot of boys like me so I felt comfortable in that house and also I forgot to my family, well my family made me forget them. I had been there more than 5 years and they never appear never…visited me. You would think that was hard to me but it wasn’t. For me I was alright, I felt peace. My life at Puerto Alegria was really different than what I had… 

     Every morning for the start of the day they joined us in the dining room for their DEVOCIONAL (I don’t know if you guys has a word for this but its when you are all together and read your bible and sing and pray). I even didn’t know whata devocional mean but then I understood and that is how my life went at Puerto Alegria.

     One upon a time, in our devocional our director was speaking about the love of God, and how much He loved us and I said into my mind, “if He loves me so much why he let that my parent broke up their relationship­­­­^­­?” And others questions.

THE AMERICANS

     I had seen Americans before but I never had a friend, and I never know that in this orphanage Americans would come. So every time when they come, everybody there was happy saying”the Americans are coming.”… and one of my friends said me, “they are good, nice persons.” I remember that I said “mmm ok.” And one time I saw an American a nd every time when she came here, she brought candies, cookies for him, and I would say that I would like to have a person like that American…

     I remember that one day I really felt alone when I looked around me and no one was my family, It was hard and the next day in our devotional while I was looking at the others praying I say “if you, God are real, I need someone to share things.” I knew God loves me, but I needed someone to trust, tell me things, I know that I can tell my things to God but I needed a person…  the  things spent… one day I met a person from the United States ( I had forgetten what I had asked to God) and that woman was the person what I was asking for when I challenged GOD in a prayer.  Then I said. “wow God is real.” That’s some of the things that I have seen the hands of God, since that time I start to believe that God is real, and then when they spoke to me about what Jesus did for me in that cross broke my heart. I accepted him as my savior. 

     My life wasn’t the same, and when I think about my family I don’t feel hate, I was saying, if they don’t visit me, I don’t care. My mom (the American) will come. I feel really lucky. I’m not crying saying, “why this could happen?” I’m praying and saying “thank you God for letting this happen, because if I were still living with my parenst I can’t image what will be going on in my life at this moment.” Maybe I might not be a Christian or I wouldn’t be speaking English like now. Life hurt me a lot, but I know  God was there in every silent place that I was. He helped me to hold on to everything. He has given to me a wonderful mom and great dad. I’m happy about what God did in my life and what he is doing and what he will do. I only need to trust him… he has blessed me in everything at high school with good grades, he is my strength.

     Right now I’m at the university studying tourism administration,. I’m living in the city, not in the orphanage, now is my time to show and teach to the rest that God is real and he loves us so much, I’m a volunteer in the youth ministry of my church. We give food to street boys and tell them that they aren’t alone, I’m here to help them and let them know that God has big plans for them. And tell them what God did for me.  -ken

I love Jesus but I HATE lawnmowers...

Did I mention in the title that I HATE lawnmowers?
I guess I shouldn't hate the lawmower itself, I just hate the act of lawnmowing.

Ohmyword...

Tonight we were in a bit of a pickle.
Mr. Husband had to be at church for a meeting and our grass looked 8 kinds of bad. It needed cut.

Well let me give you a little background story.
Before saying, "I do," we both agreed on certain roles/responsibilities we would each have. Although I am a believer that men and women should know how to do as much as they can independently-- there are just some things that are done better by the other spouse.

I let him know UPFRONT that I hated mowing the grass and that I would prefer to take care of the flowers and my herb garden.
I don't mind the work or the sweat, I just don't believe in perfect lines and I certainly don't believe in pushing a heavy object sideways, up a hill.

Sometimes though, ya just gotta step up. And tonight I stepped up alright.
I tried to stay positive and I told myself I could do it.
Umm. no, I couldn't-- the more I tried, the more I failed. And the more I failed the more angry I got and the curvier the lines got.
Tufts of grass sprung up in places I had missed. This was just not a good scene.
I imagined the neighbors laughing from their windows as I had to pop wheelies because the mower kept getting stuck in random holes in the ground.

After about 20 minutes I see "old faithful" coming around the corner and he pulls up in the driveway smiling. He says thank you and tells me the grass looks great.
It didn't.
Not compared to his perfection.

So why I am telling you this?
I am telling you this because sometimes we have to do things we HATE!

I was never allowed to use that word growing up. If I did my mother would say, "Hate is such a strong word, Andrea."
Well, now I'm all grown up and just feel like saying, I will always hate mowing grass.
But I will always love Jesus.
And when you love Jesus, sometimes ya just gotta step up.
He did, didn't he?

The past sure can be a bittersweet mystery...

I've been thinking a lot lately about the past.

So many of our thoughts jump back into what was, instead of what is.
We run situations and experiences back through our brain, reprocessing life again and again, hoping to seek understanding.

In most instances, this gets us nowhere.
However, there are times this heals us, restores hope, and even brings to life memories we filed away.

I like to spend time memory matching. I call it memory matching because I attach new and old memories together. Like this evening while walking, I memory matched the smell of the honeysuckle to the same smell the woods behind my childhood home in West Virginia had. Oh, sweet memories.

If I drink milk, I think of my dad. He and I always drank milk and had barbeque chips on Sunday night.
If I drink tea, I think of my mom. She and I have anthropologie mugs that we keep at my house and when she is over, we indulge.
If I see flowers, I think of my grandma. Her garden was filled with so many beautiful flowers.

What memory matches did you make today? Were they sweet, like honeysuckle?

It's not the remembering that hurts us. We are prone to remember.
It's in the dwelling, the staying put, the captivity. That's what hurts.

The unchangeable will always be there. The broken, bruised, torn, and messed up hang out and when you invite them into your thought life, they take up residence, lock the door, and throw out the key.

After a while, those sweet honeysuckle thoughts happen less and less and the past is nothing but a bitter memory.

What we need to remember most, is that yes, the past will always be there.
Let the bad things, change you, move you, and strengthen you.

May your past remain a bittersweet memory, my friends.
You are loved for who you are right now.

Two years later and I still haven't unpacked...

Two years ago I knew a little bit about life. I knew about building a new home, teaching kids how to read, and I knew a little bit about the country of Peru. I knew we would be visiting a village in the jungles of South America. I knew the boys at this village were abandoned by their families, left on the streets to fend for themselves. And I knew God was calling me there, whispering again and again-- "This is your time." 

Two years later. I still haven't unpacked all of my bag.

It's kinda weird. 

I just didn't.

And now I know why...

A few days ago I got my bag down from the shelf and unzipped it. 

I smiled.

Love, Hope, and Peace were still inside, right where I left them.

And next to all those three things were...

my Nike shoes, my orange pillow, and my citrus body lotion.

Each of those items carry memory and purpose.

The shoes walked into another country to serve.
The pillow gave my head a place to lay each night.

and that lotion kept me refreshed and served as a reminder of that time and place.

Peru grew me, shook me up, and changed me in ways I still don't understand.
I'll never unpack that bag because I never want to forget what happened two years ago.

What place changed you?
How did you leave different?

If you have a story, I'd love to hear it.


Have a great week everyone!

Speak Life... Why tonight was a favorite

I'm nominating tonight's event, Pool Noodle Wreath's as my favorite.

Part of it was because we gave those noodles the best makeover of their lives.

But really, the best part of tonight was the people.

The people who took time from their busy lives, who came and sat and crafted and shared and spoke life into my studio. That's my favorite.

Life is spoken into the walls every time we gather there. Inside those walls...People learn. People inspire. People celebrate their creativity.

These were some of the words I heard this evening...

"I can just relax here."
"I'm a quiet crafter."
"I love how you made that flower."
"Show me how you did that."
"I'll see you next time."

and more than words tonight, I heard the sweetest sound of all...

laughter.

We laughed so hard about so many things that would have gone unspoken had we not gathered together.

Stories were passed, songs were sung (that's right, Wildflower) and creativity reigned as Queen this evening.

Life was spoken.

How did you speak life into someone else's today?
Maybe thru a card, a word, a hug?

People need people more than ever.
People need to know they are loved.
People need to know they have a friend who will come running.
People need encouragement spoken into their souls.

Be that person people need.
And remember, if you need a friend
You know where to come.

A Place to Land~

Night everyone.

If walls could talk...A Mother's Day Card for my mom.

You know the saying, "If your walls could talk, what would they say?"

Well, this year, my walls have a lot to say.

They have a lot to say about my mom.

I shall deem this piece "Chalk-Talk."

My walls say that you are lovely, and beautiful, and the perfect cup of tea.

They shout that you are strong, and courageous, and as solid as rock.

They whisper things like a faithful follower, a memory maker, and a story teller.

They remind everyone in the room of your bold, adventurous spirit.

They tell of your secrets of skydiving and frog-gigging.

My walls ask for colored chalk, because all the moments you live are bright and beautiful, and lovely.

My walls talk about the emptiness that found you, the love that saved you, and the happily-ever-after you are now living.

My walls could go on and on, leaving no space for a break, because there is so much to say, when someone is so good.

My walls say thank-you from a daughter who admires you and tries her hardest to be a mom like you were.

My walls say...

Happy Mother's Day.

Today is the only May 9, 2013 and you'll never get it back...

A few days ago I was releasing a few worries to my husband. He's quite the listener. He paused for a bit, and sincerely said... "Andrea, you will never get this Tuesday back."

What a crazy-true thought.

So here I write, two days later, carrying with me the moments of yesterday and the day before.
It's funny how so much can happen in 48 hours that change you.

We step into each untold moment,  every unsung second and are required to live it.

The beautiful/scary thing is that free will lets us sing out our moments.

We choose.

I pray today I chose grace and love and courage.

Sing your song.
Write your story
Paint your heart
and share His glory.

You will never get today back.
Make it the best May 9 ever.

when someone calls you friend...

"See you later, friend."
That's what she said to me as I walked out the door.
She called me friend.


This morning, I spent a little time at SPLAT! (an amazing coffee shop in Mount Holly)
And a little FYI-- their Ethiopian coffee is the best cup of perfect!

I walked up to the counter and she said, "Let's Talk."
We discussed my business, A Place to Land. We talked about teaching and her experience teaching in China. We talked about God's bestowing of gifts and creativity. We just talked.

Coffee shops just have a way of bringing out the souls of people. They bring out the real, the raw, and the relaxed. 

The incredible thing about this morning though, is that she and I have only spoke three times.
Yet, as I left, she called me friend.

I have another friend who is there for me every.single.day.
He says, "Good morning, friend."
"Good afternoon, friend."
And he even says,
"Good evening, friend."

My Father, who abides in Heaven, whose name is hallowed and his kingdom is to come...
wants to be my friend.

My Father, who sees my ugliness, loves me anyway, and dispenses grace daily...
wants to be my friend.

What a peace that brings.

My Father, our maker, has blessed my life with so many friends.
Many I wish I could see/talk to more often.
What a gift.
What a blessing, to have a friend.

Below is a quick video of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by Alan Jackson. As you listen
think about a friend you love, a friend you haven't spoken to in awhile, or even a friend who hurt you...
Call them.
Write them a note.
Say a prayer for them.
And thank God for them.



I love you friend.
Good night.

For when you need to know God is there...

When hands of ninety one years clench a hand five times smaller, not even a year old...

you know.

And when those hands give a gift built from legos and that gift is an airplane for your son...

you know.

When a man has a hard time remembering the here and now, but can remember every moment from World War II and wants to tell you about it.

And when you step into a room and see airplanes hanging from the ceiling, medals from war and you see this picture. This picture was my go-ahead from God. The picture that told me to keep writing.

you know.

When an outstretched arm cradles the back of your child's head and you know that same arm guided the path of a World War II airplane. When what he fought for was this very moment...
you know.

When you see the face of the man, sixty years ago and courage stands behind the eyes and freedom rings through pins on a uniform...

you know.

When your heart has carried around hopes of becoming a writer and you toil over perfect words and brilliant ideas, and you research and document and wonder if it even matters.

All this happens in a moments notice and you just know God is right there.

There are days that pass by and I don't feel a thing and don't know much at all. Days when my faith flounders, hope hides in the corner, and worry wavers above me.

But today, I knew.
I knew God purposefully planned for an afternoon with a friend.

I want you to know something.
I want you know God is there, holding on to your hand, clenching your head in his palm, working all things in your life for good.

Be still tonight my friends.
Just be still
and know.