Prayers for Grandma

To say the last 36 hours have been an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. I'm too emotionally drained right now to even put well thought out sentences on "paper". Please pray for my Grandma and our family as we minister to her and each other. Our needs are so wide reaching - even within my own immediate family. God knows what each one of us needs.

Cheap Healthy Good

Before running to the grocery store today, I jumped online to google recipes for one. Cooking for one can be a struggle so I thought I would look for someone with more wisdom than me. Apparently the only thing that singles can eat are English Muffin pizzas and take out. :) However, in my search, I found my favorite new blog - as if I needed a new obsession on the internet. I usually don't want to dig back through past posts but I can't get enough here.

So the blog is called Cheap Healthy Good. The writers share recipes, articles, vegan/vegetarian information, and random food/eating out information. One thing that I love about it is that the writers give the caloric and fat content as well as the pricing per serving. I got the ingredients for a recipe called Bodega Beans that costs $0.62 per serving and is really good for you. I found another one for $0.89 per serving. It is easy to navigate and you can look by labels. They have links to other good sites as well.

So, here is my very highly recommended new favorite blog: Cheap Healthy Good

Meeting Frank

At the end of last year, I had an ah-ha moment. For whatever reason, it hit me that my grandparents are 86 years old, I live 20 minutes down the road and I only saw them about once per 6 weeks. Not many grandparents make it this far and here I've been wasting time I could be having with them. So at our family Christmas exchange, I asked if I could start coming to have dinner with them once a week. It is mid-February and we are still having dinner every Wednesday.

My grandma has one of the most amazing lives I have ever heard about. She would share a little here and there so I feel like I know about her pretty well. As she has gotten older, she has grown to fear dementia since there is a history of it in her family. To keep her mind sharp, she reads a lot and shares everything about her reading and her life. I don't blame her at all but sometimes that means Grandpa does considerably more listening than visiting. I know there is still stuff to learn but of the two, I have known her story much better. Until recently....

One of my favorite things about Wednesday evenings is getting to visit with Grandpa. He just tells you exactly what he thinks whether you ask for it or not. Sometimes it can be funny, sometimes it makes you roll your eyes, and other times it can be downright shocking. However, in between opinions, he has been slowly getting to share parts of his story along the way. Nothing big and earth shattering but little details that make a person who they are. Things like when they started drinking coffee, or what life was like on a submarine, or helping a favorite aunt study for her master's degree, or how they got their nicknames. Somewhere between the unsolicited advice and listening to his wife retell a story, my grandpa sits waiting his turn - sometimes patiently and sometimes not. And when we get the chance, he tells me things about him that I did not know before. In those moments, it feels like for the first time, I am meeting Frank.

January 30, 2010

What a day! Never in a million years could I have imagined what my 30th birthday would look like. I am overwhelmed to the point of joyful, humbled, thankful tears! All day long, all I could think was, "Thank you, God!" As I drove along the highway, I couldn't shake how incredibly blessed I am.

Today wasn't just a big day for me. I got to have lunch with my incredibly amazing parents. Thirty years of their life turned over today. For 30 years, Mom and Dad have provided for me and supported me. They have taught me what it means to love in every way. They have laughed with me and cried with me. They have loved me through it all. They hope for me and with me. I have spent hours today flashing back to moments with them, both sweet and silly. Not many people today can remember 30 years with their parents together. That blessing is not lost on me. They have introduced me to the greatest Love of my life and for that I am (literally) eternally grateful. No greater gift.....

My amazing sister and her family humble me greatly. Even though it was difficult, they loaded both kids up to come eat pancakes with me. Only love.... My sister is wonderful! I do not remember life without her. She has fought with me and for me. She has been my confidant and has given me confidence. She is loving and lovable. And I couldn't imagine one step of my life without her. She has given me a brother. Gregg is such a joy. From messing with each other to sharing his wisdom when needed, he is a gift of God I could never have know to ask for. And the kids! Liz and Bladen have only been here a very short part of the past 30 years but have brought a new love and joy to life than I have ever known.

Friends both old and new have been a part of today. Laughing, catching up, and accepting me just as I am but pushing me to be better. Teaching me about the family that extends beyond blood. Each one having a different role and significance in this life.

Yet, even as overwhelming as all of these blessings are, they are just examples of the beautiful life God has given me. Yes, there have been bumps along the road but I am convinced that God has gone every step of the past 30 years with me - whether I knew it of not. That is the greatest blessing of all!

Between highways and side streets, pancakes and german chocolate cake, family and friends, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I couldn't ask for a better 30 years. Thank you, Father, for giving me such an abundant life!

Stolen

I have come to the conclusion that different people are more sensitive to the urgings of the Spirit at certain times more than others. There is no telling why we are more receptive in certain times or situations but there you go. For me, I have noticed that I am more open to the Spirit very first thing in the morning or when driving in my car. Yesterday was no exception.

As my alarm clock went off, my mind was immediately singing the chorus of one of my favorite songs. The song, Stolen by Dashboard Confessional, has a very simple, two line chorus:

You have stolen my heart,

You have stolen my heart.

While the song has nothing to do with God, I immediately knew that this was not just a song looping through my head. It was my soul singing a love song to God, even as I was coming from sleep to waking up. Before my hand could find the alarm clock, I knew. After nearly 30 years, I have finally allowed myself to completely lose myself to my Father. He has stolen my heart. I adore Him with all that is in me and my heart is His. He has swept me off my feet and it doesn't look like He will be putting my down anytime soon. My breath is taken away.

Yesterday was not a good day. It wasn't the worst day ever but it was difficult. However, throughout the day, my spirit would sing out:

You have stolen my heart,

You have stolen my heart.

as if to remind me that no matter the difficulties of the day, my heart is forever lost to Him. It was beautiful. But it didn't stop there.

After outreach last night, I decided to listen to this song on the way home. As I drove along I-10, I popped the cd in and as the chorus began to play for the first time, a still, small voice whispered love as I have never heard it before. It wasn't just my heart that has been stolen by Him.......

He feels the same way about me.

Why, I will never know, but it is true. He calls me the apple of His eye, His chosen one, beloved. He adores me. He has fought for me and has given me abundant life. He looks at me and His breath is taken away. He went so far as to die for me and eagerly waits until we are together. I never have been and I never will be so well loved.

It wasn't just a song stuck in my head. It wasn't just my spirit singing a love song to my God. It was more. It was a song He sang over me. We sang it to each other. We sang it all night. We sang it all day today. I have a feeling we will be singing it for a very long time...

You have stolen my heart,

You have stolen my heart.

Blah Blah Blah

I'm in a blogging slump lately. Sorry y'all! I'm either brain dead or have become the most uncreative person known to man. Have a great weekend and I'll see ya on the other side!

The Responsibility of Knowing

About a year and a half ago, my dear friends, the Sheasbys, went to Swaziland on a scouting trip in preparation for a long term mission commitment. When they returned, Esme shared with me about what they saw there in terms of children orphaned my AIDS. Her response that has stayed with me was, "After seeing and hearing all that I have seen and heard, what do I go back? There are only two options: Ignore and go on as if nothing has changed or take a stand. How is that even a choice?"

Over the weekend, Erin and I were talking about some different issues. As we talked, we noticed how people would rather say ignorant than know what is going on. As we discussed it, we came to the conclusion that once someone knows more, they have to choose to change or to purposefully continue as they always have been, ignoring realities. How is that even a choice?

Over the past 27 hours, I have seen and heard things that I was ignorant to before. Statistics, histories, and politics I have chosen to ignore came crashing in. Now I have to ask, "What do I do with this?" If I know and ignore, I allow lives to be taken and destroyed. If I choose to become aware and take an active role, things change. How is that even a choice?

I am choosing not to share what I learned during the rally and march today because here is the lessons that I have learned: If you know, you really don't have a choice. You have a responsibility to take action. Choosing to stay silent or to ignore is a form of enabling. Once you know, you are responsible. If you want to know, I would love to share. If not, I understand completely. Until then, pray. Pray hard!

What Are Your Doing MLK Day?

Please watch the two videos below (one and two minutes) and then read below.

Bound 4 Life


Bound for Life - Houston


I learned about this event about three weeks ago and have decided to participate. After seeing the miracle of infants more closely over the past few years, my heart is beyond broken over the loss of life in this country. One thing that the videos do not share is that the third floor of this clinic is dedicated solely to late term abortions. Next Sunday night, we will be joining a group in south Houston to pray and fast in intercession for stopping the abortion clinic in our city. Then on Monday, we will silently march in prayer to/around the clinic, just as the Israelites around Jericho. I am asking that you join me in prayer in preparation for this weekend and for the event itself. Please pray for success and favor with the Lord. Pray that this event is full of safety and not misconstrued to anything other than a plea for life. If you feel like this is something you would like to participate in, please let me know. You are welcome to stay with me if that is an issue. Also, feel free to join us in prayer and fasting on that day on your own. Joining together in spirit is just as effective as in person. Thank you for your prayers!

DUH!

So today in my 2nd grade dyslexia group, we were coding and reading words using our structures and knowledge of word make up. One of the easier words we coded and read was "twin". Here is the conversation that was triggered by these four letters:

Boy: I know someone in here who has a twin.

Me: Who? You don't and Girl doesn't either.

Boy: You!

Me: I do not have a twin!

Boy: Yes you do! You showed us pictures of her with her babies!

Me: That is not my twin but she is my sister.

Girl: Yeah, Boy! She is just a sister!

Boy: I can prove it! How old is your sister?

Me: 27

Boy: How old are you?

Me: What do you think?

Boy: 30

Me: In a few weeks, you will be right.

Boy: Ha! See! Told ya!

Girl: Told us what? That you are wrong!? If they were twins they would be the same age! DUH!

Boy: You bring her up here, Ms. LaMore, and I'll prove it!

Me: Ok.......

Then, this afternoon, I was looking at Erin's post about our Christmas with them and one of her friends made a comment about her husband mistaking us. It is the day of Erin and Dana! :) I mean, we look like sisters but twins!? Maybe I'm too close to the situation.

*The last picture of the two of us I think I'm allowed to post. The latest is from the hospital when Bladen was born. :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I rang 2010 in at the Plaza Club on the 49th story of the Shell building in downtown Houston. We were dressed up for dinner, dancing, and games. We toasted in the New Year with sparkling apple cider. Overall, the most fun New Years Eve to date!

Our View of the City

The girls I went with

A few of us just before midnight

As fun as New Years Eve was, I'm looking ahead to 2010. I've been thinking upon the days to come a lot over the past three days. I have no idea what the days to come will hold. I look forward to each and every one. It feels like change is on the horizon and I'm curious to see what it is. This morning in worship, something was said that really hit close to what I've been thinking. I thought I would share them as we begin the new year: We can (and should) pray for clarity and direction as we begin again into the unknown. Yet, maybe what we should pray for more is the courage to trust God in the things He has veiled for us. As we go forward, we ought to pray for faith in what God will entrust to us and that He is with us each step of the way.

I pray that 2010 is a year of blessing for you and that you have the courage and faith to walk the path God puts before you!

They Do Say the Darnedest Things!

I've been hearing some pretty funny things from kids over the past week. Just thought I would share a few:

Yesterday we went to see our Bhutanese family. They have been here about 5 months now and this is their first winter/Christmas in America. We took them some blankets and clothes. As we left, we said, "Merry Christmas!" and the 13 year old said it back. When we asked her if she knows what Christmas is, she told us it is a festival. We told her she was right, it is a celebration. My friend asked if she knows what we are celebrating and her response was, "The National Day of Jesus!" Ahhhh - language barriers......

_________

We were discussing something in my Kinder group the other day and a boy made a very bright comment. When I asked him how he got to be so smart, he responded with, "My last name makes me smart! My dad said all of us are smart!"

_________

Again with my Kinder group, I asked a boy a question and the following conversation took place:

S: I forgot.

Me: That's alright. Even smart people forget things sometimes.

S: I know. I'm not sad. I know why I forget things.

Me: Really? Why is that?

S: Because I'm small and my thoughts are so big they fall out of my brain! My brain isn't big enough to hold it all.

Me: That's OK because when you sleep, it rests your brain so you can remember more.

S: Oh. So that is why old people are so smart. They sleep a LOT!

Movie ABCs

In honor of Christmas break and not having a car to run errands in (she's getting some love this morning), I am going to still this idea from a random blog I saw. It is a list of my favorite movies listed by title from A to Z. Now, I won't get to list all of my favorite movies because of the restrictions but these are some definite favorites! Make your own list or tell me what you think of mine. But beware - listing your own is harder than you think! Yeah for . It reminded me of many movies I would like to see but haven't! Here you go:

A - Annie (1982)

B - Becoming Jane (2007)

C - Christmas Story (1983)

D - Dead Poet's Society (1898)

E - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

F - Finding Neverland (2004)

G - Good Will Hunting (1997) - Only on TV though

H - Holiday Inn (1942)

I - It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

J - Just Friends (2005)

K - The King and I (1952)

L - Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

M - Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail (1973)

N - Newsies (1992)

O - Oklahoma (1955)

P - Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Q - *Sorry, Couldn't find one*

R - Roman Holiday (1953)

S - Singin in the Rain (1952)

T - To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

U - *Sorry, Couldn't find one*

V - *Sorry, Couldn't find one*

W - Wizard of Oz (1939)

X - *Sorry, Couldn't find one*

Y - Young Frankenstein (1974)

Z - *Sorry, Couldn't find one*

Merry Christmas, Oikos Style!

On Saturday night, my class had its annual Christmas party. To explain the title of this post, Oikos is the name of my class. There are about 9 classes in the singles program so we name them to keep everyone straight. :) Oikos is a Greek word that means house or family. About half of us were able to come. I figured that since most of you have never met my friends, I would take this time to introduce you to a few of them. Lots of pictures!

Merry Christmas from Oikos!

If you see tacky sweaters, you will have guessed the theme. I didn't have one so my boss let me borrow his jacket. I got into the top two but didn't win. I was sure I would! For the top two, we had to model. Now you can see why I am a teacher!

Me and Sarah, the winner. She turned a Snuggie into a Christmas Tree.

This is the back of my jacket.

After awards were given we sang Christmas songs for a bit and then had a Dirty Santa (Yankee Swap) gift exchange.

You know you are in a single's class when a girl opens a jar of honey with a note attached that says, "If you are single, I'll be your Christmas honey!"

At first I got candles....

but ended up with a pink pony - she likes to give kisses. :)

Now for a few of my friends:

Sharon and Lisa

Sarah, Rachel, Christa, and Jennifer

me and Stan (just a friend)

Amy and Jason (yes, they do match!)

One Year Later....

All day long I have been scratching my head and wondering about the date. December 11th - why is it significant. Just a few minutes ago, it hit me. A year ago tonight, Erin and I sat in the Berry Center at Converge. Beth taught a lesson on anticipating God. At the end of the evening, Beth prayed that God would be building hopeful anticipation within us for what He was going to do in the next year. She also asked that a year from that night, we would see what He had been preparing for us this entire time. God answers prayers!

It is a year later and though the areas I thought would be different are still the same, He has done a mighty work in this life! One of the main points of the evening was "God will bless you with what you want or He will bless you with more than what you did not know to want." That was what this year was about for me. He did not give me what I wanted (yet) but he gave in abundance of what I could never have imagined. At the time, I was anticipating not being single anymore but (thankfully), God had/has something bigger at play. I'm not 100% sure what yet but some major steps were taken this year. He has been faithful in His promise to direct my steps. He has pushed me out of my comfort zone on many occasions but the result has been blessing on top of blessing. As hard as they have been at times, He has been faithful to direct my steps.

He took me from being a hermit to planting me in a new faith family. I have been blessed beyond measure to be a part of Oikos (my bible class) and the body it is a part of. Just yesterday, I was doing some counting and I have been showered with about 60 new brothers and sisters to come along side in the past 12 months with about 15 of those being good friends. He has taught me how to love others in ways that I have never imagined. People and/or traits that I had little tolerance for now have a special place in my heart. He has taught me how to pray scripture like I never have before. He has taught me the full meaning of James 1:19, "....Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry...." He is changing my world view and the desires of my heart. He is being faithful in the refining fires of his convictions. In many ways, I am not the same person I was a year ago. I feel like God has brought me back to life over the course of the past 12 months. It reminds me of The Wizard of Oz. Life was various shades of gray and then *BAM* color was given!

I'm excited about what the next year holds. I have no idea what I will type on December 11, 2010 but I know that I can look forward to it starting today. I know God is preparing something fresh and new for the days to come!

You Might Need a Tissue - I Did...

While every job has its perks and challenges, I have been hitting challenges left and right recently. I love teaching for three reasons: challenging kids, seeing lights come on, and forming bonds with students. This year, I feel like I am getting NONE of that. It has reached the point that when thinking on to next year, I am already considering a change. The most challenging part is that I feel like I never see the lights come on. Or even worse, I'll think the lights are coming on and then they bomb a major test. It is heartbreaking to feel useless but ever more so to watch these kids lose confidence with each grade returned to them.

I do really like my 5th grade group. They are so sweet and really funny. It is a group of 5 girls and one lone boy. He is such a good sport about it! We tell him all of the time, "J, you are the man!" He thinks this is funny because he is really THE one and only man. We let him get away with more than he should but my group of girls love him (as do I). They took part in the annual Gingerbread House building today and were so excited about it. Late in the morning, I walked into the 5th grade math class to check on a few of them and they are taking their six weeks assessment. My stomach turned into knots and dropped at the same time. The last time one of these test were given, my kids scores ranged from a 20 to a 60. Watching them get those scores back is something I will never forget no matter how hard I try. Devastating. I noticed that my kid who earned a 20 was already finished and reading a book. Bad news! I went to the teacher and asked if I could see his test. My eyes bugged. He earned a 65! That was a 45 point jump! I thought I was about to die! I asked if I could take him and she said yes. We went outside and I showed him the grade. He shoulders drooped a little before I told him what a big deal it was for him to increase that much AND he got the hardest question on the test correct! He started grinning and actually straightened up. I asked if he wanted to look at his test and he said yes. As we went question by question, we noticed something. He answered three questions correctly but transferred to his answer document incorrectly. It started to dawn on him that he did not have a 65 but a higher score. He asked the value of each question and I told him 5 points. I watched as he counted that he had an extra 15 points for his grade. Then, tears started falling as I watched him count three times what his new grade would be. You see, he had never earned an 80 on a math test before. He couldn't believe it and had to check it three times. He needed me to to double and triple reassure him that he had in fact not only passed a math test for the first time in years but he had earned a B. He stopped again and figured out that this test was 60 points higher than his last one, checking with me again to make sure he was correct. When I told him he was, we hugged, he beamed, and I cried as I told him over and over that I have never been more proud of any student in my life. We sat and laughed for a few minutes before he suddenly stopped. This teacher is known as the hardest on the campus and not to be persuaded. He told me that he was concerned because his teacher only grades the answer document, not the test. I told him that we could talk to the teacher on two conditions: 1) He had to do the talking and 2) She may not change the grade. We talked about what he could say. We talked about that if she did not change his grade, he would know in his heart and head that he earned an 80 and nothing could take that away from him. I would not be any less proud of him. So we walked into the room, he talked to the teacher, and after a stern talking to, she gave him the 15 points! He not only officially earned his 80 but he was brave enough to make sure it happened. I gave him a hug and had to leave before I cried again.

Later that afternoon, I saw him leaving early for an appointment. He looked at me and smiled a smile that lit up his entire face. We had a conversation that went something like this:

Me: You're leaving early?
J: Yep!
Me: You've had a really good day! Dad came to build a gingerbread house with you, you earned an amazing grade on your math test, and you get to leave early.
J: Ms. LaMore, you know what?
Me: What?
J: I'm the man!
Me: Yes, J. For many reasons, you are the man!

My Week With the Johnsons

On Monday, Bladen Joel joined our family. Erin, Gregg, and Liz have welcomed him joyfully and are growing love in their home. I was incredibly blessed to be able to be with them this week to help everyone get their feet on the ground. After a couple of days, Erin asked me if staying with them was making me want to have children more or scaring me off. The question still makes me smile. I told her that it makes me look forward to that time to come. I'm not longing for it more or dreading it. I know it is in God's hands. This week was just a sweet taste of things to come. Even though getting up at all hours had its challenges, rocking a sweet baby and praying at 3:00 a.m. was some of the most precious time I have had in a long time. Bladen is a sweet boy already adding joy to our lives. His expressive faces and soft noises warm the heart and balance out the times he is less than happy. He has pretty much stolen this girl's heart! Watching Liz be curious at this person who never left was something else. She was gentle with him and patient for her turn with her parents. She is going to be a great sister! She still has a tug on my heart with that smile, her dancing, and all of her different laughs. She had Erin and I laughing until we couldn't catch our breath this afternoon. Erin was able to start the process of learning how to ensure both of her children are loved, cared for, and getting their share of her. She is an AMAZING mom! She managed to work in one-on-one time with both of the kids each day without neglecting either one. Even recovering from giving birth and adjusting to being a family of four instead of three, she was an incredible hostess. If every home had a mother like her, our world would be a much better place! Gregg is such a great partner for her. They balance each other very well. I love spending time with them because they still enjoy each other - joking, playing, praying, and working together through rest and sleep deprivation. It is obvious that they know how to laugh when they need to most. Gregg is a great dad - playing with the kids, taking care of tasks around the house, and making sure Erin is getting what she needs. The Johnson family is blessed to have him as their head.

Overall, it was a sweet week. It was hard to leave them but I have no doubt that I'll be back very soon (well - when needed or to get a sister/aunt fix). Much, much love to my Johnson family!

Daddio and Liz

Daddio was a big hit this Thanksgiving with Miss Liz! Between reading books, taking pictures, and his clean shoes, his granddaughter was quite smitten! I do love my dad and my niece!

Thanksgiving Lesson

The past two years, the two days before Thanksgiving break have been two of my favorite days to be a teacher. We would do rotations and in each group, we would have an activity to learn more about the lives of the Pilgrims and our Thanksgiving traditions/symbols. The kids LOVE it and we just have a great time. Since I am not in the classroom anymore, it was quite different today. I bounced around from grade to grade helping in their own celebrations. In addition to that, I spent part of the morning (yesterday and today) with one of my pull out kiddos. He is Jehovah's Witness and cannot participate in any holiday activities. Yesterday we "ran errands" around the school and played word games. It was really fun to be with this little guy. He talks a lot so I have to really be on him to be quiet in class. However, the past two days, he has been able to talk his heart out! Such a sweet boy!

*Sidenote: When I asked him to describe a clown yesterday, he responded with, "Cheeky!"

Today my team had a pot luck lunch. I was making fruit salsa with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips. Since it was fruit and I wanted it to be fresh, I decided that my time with the student today would be making the salsa. I bought a cheap chopper and let him go to town. All of that six year old boy energy chopped fruit faster than I have ever seen! While we chopped and mixed, we talked. About half way through, I asked him if he ever helps his mom in the kitchen. He told me that they just moved to a new hotel room and this one doesn't have a kitchen. As a matter of fact, he has never really been in a kitchen before.

This was a huge ah-ha moment for me. Instead of feeling sorry for him because he couldn't make a turkey, my heart broke for him. Here he was, a first grader, and his first experience making any kind of food was in a portable classroom with his reading intervention teacher. He loved every moment of it and was beyond enthusiastic! However, he has never licked a beater after his mom makes a cake. He has never helped ice cookies or helped stir the macaroni and cheese. He has never helped make a salad.

Instead of crying (like I wanted to), I told him what a good job he was doing. I said that he should be a chef. We talked about what a chef is and what kind of food he would make. I tasted the simple salsa and ooo-ed and awwwww-ed at what a fantastic job he did. He smiled this big crooked smile and asked if he could help me cook again sometime. I told him that in about three weeks I would need some more help (Christmas/winter parties). He just said, "aw-wight!" So in three weeks we will cook again and we will talk about being a chef. He will be the most amazing cook in the first grade and I'll do whatever I can in those few hours to plant seeds that can break the cycle his family is in.

Who knows - maybe the very next Emeril is sitting in my room instead of celebrating a holiday.

Lessons from the Corner

Each day on my way home, I get stopped at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy 6. Most days there is a man on the corner with a cardboard sign. There are a few regulars that I have come to recognize and have spoken to a few times. Nice men is need of a little help. There is even one guy that I look for because the next time I see him, I'm thinking of taking him to the new coffee shop on the corner. Most days, their signs talk about being in need of money, out of work, and/or being a Veteran. Most people get on their phones and avoid eye contact at all cost. My heart breaks for these men. They are treated like they have the plague.

Today, I sat at the light and looked over to see a new face. I've never seen him before but there he was - missing his front few teeth and leading the cutest dog ever. He had the most contagious smile I have seen all day long. He looked drivers in the eye, smiled at them, and waved enthusiastically. He made the corner of my mouth turn up a bit. I glanced at his sign and all it said was "Cheeseburger, please!" followed by a smiley face. It was too much. I burst out smiling and laughing. He saw me, smiled, waved, and gave me a thumbs up. I have never been so sad to not have cash on me. He made my day!

As I drove past, two thoughts entered my mind: 1) I hope he is there tomorrow and 2) what a brat I am! Here was a man with very little, obviously full of joy and seeking his daily bread. One smile, one meal, full of joy. There I was, sitting in my car on my way home to prepared dinner feeling a little down after spending a rough-ish day at my very secure job. There he was, with no income just hoping for the generosity of others, smiling like it was Christmas Day. It was obvious who has their perspective correct.

Today, I wish I was more like the man on the corner.

Praise!!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for your prayers for my coworker! Today, an emergency C-Section was performed and this world welcomed little Dalton. He is 3 pounds exactly and is 20 inches long. There is concern about his lungs but he is in NICU for a little while. Mom is doing very well. She feels great and is beyond in love with her son. As soon as a picture is available, I'll share with you the results of your prayers.

"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom!" - Psalm 145:3