Thursday, April 28, 2011

Kissing the Shoreline

Kissing the Shoreline

There'll be days like this, my momma said.
When you open your hands to catch
and wind up with only blisters and bruises;
When you step out of the phone booth and try to fly
and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape;
When your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment.
And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you.
Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way
the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline,
no matter how many times it's swept away.

Written by Sarah Kay

Friday, April 22, 2011

Damaris' Fine Arts Gala

Damaris participated in her school's Fine Arts Gala on Thursday night. The night started with her choir singing Aretha Franklin's Respect.


Then Damaris sang a solo of Superchick's We Live.


Super proud of my singing girl! ❤

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Fibromyalgia Rights

A friend sent me this list of Fibromyalgia rights. I am so grateful that Russ and Damaris are so understanding and do not look at these items as rights, but as me being a part of the family. However, I know there are others with fibromyalgia who struggle to be loved and understood by their families so I wanted to share this in the hopes that it will benefit others.

Fibromyalgia Rights
People in this house with Fibromyalgia shall have the following rights:
The right not to be patronized.
The right not to be dismissed as a nut job.
The right to refrain on occasion from family and social activities without guilt.
The right to have assistance for domestic chores in the home.
The right to stay in bed for a day without guilt.
The right to take our prescribed medication without somebody thinking or saying "you are addicted".
The right to vent once in a while without accusation.
The right to be happy without having this being misinterpreted as "you're feeling better"
The right to change our minds, without guilt, about going somewhere or doing something because we aren't as capable as we first thought.
The right to be unique and distinct, even in comparison to other people with this condition.
Most of all: The right to be believed when we say how we really feel.

(Of course these are not rights, but they are requests) ~ Author Unknown

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Damaris Reading Matthew 21:1-11 at Ecclesia Houston

Damaris was asked to read Matthew 21:1-11 at Ecclesia Houston 1pm Palm Sunday service today. Sorry the video and sound are not such great quality. I was sitting to far back and was videoing with my phone. Here is the text of the Scripture she read. it is from The Voice translation.

Jesus, the disciples, and the great crowds were heading toward Jerusalem when they came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus stopped and beckoned to two of the disciples.

Jesus: Go to the village over there. There you'll find a donkey tied to a post and a foal beside it. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone tries to stop you, then tell him, "The Master needs theses," and he will send the donkey and foal immediately.

He sent the disciples on ahead so His entry into Jerusalem could fulfill what the prophet Zechariah had long since foretold:
Tell this to Zion's daughter,
"Look--your King is
approaching,
seated humbly on a donkey,
a young foal, a beast of burden."

So the disciples went off and followed Jesus' instructions. They brought the donkey and foal to Jesus, they spread their cloaks on the animals, and Jesus sat down on them. The great crowd followed suit, laying their cloaks on the road. Others cut leafy branches from the trees and scattered those before Jesus. And the crowds went before Jesus, walked alongside Him, and processed behind--all singing.

Crowd: Hosanna, praises to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Eternal One! Hosanna in the highest!

And that is how Jesus entered Jerusalem: on a lowly donkey, with crowds surrounding Him singing praises. The people of Jerusalem, to say the least, noticed this strange parade. They wondered who this could be, this humble bearded man on a donkey who incited such songs.

Crowd: This is Jesus, the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.



Sunday, April 3, 2011

A Lenten Prayer

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with your presence
so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work.
Amen.

by William Arthur Ward