Wednesday, April 29, 2015

There is This Family

I suppose it was, a little more than a year ago, I started noticing a dad and his son, maybe eight years old, running every morning in our neighborhood. Early morning, like 7:00.  Every morning. Not random mornings, but every morning. You could set your clock by them. I'm not going to lie. I was skeptical at first.  My immediate thought was, "that boy has been giving them trouble in school and dad is running off some energy."  Dad would run a slow methodical pace, but on occasion I would see the little boy dragging behind and dad could be seen encouraging his son to keep up. They ran in the rain and cold. Didn't matter what the weather, they ran. Spring went into Summer, Summer into Fall and Fall into the cold of Winter.   Well, it wasn't long after,  Late Winter came around and another son about six years old joined in. Hmmm.  Interesting.  Little brother must be a hand full too. Dad would run in the lead, big brother a couple of steps behind dad, and he could be seen "coaching" his little brother, "come on, you can do it."  Little brother would run and catch up, Huffing and puffing and then all three would be together giggling and running as a unit. I've been watching them, these three guys, for a good while now.  Little brother has joined the team. He can hold his own now.  No coaching needed. He is a qualified team member.  I've changed my mind about this group over the course of the year.  I watch for them. Smile as I see them coming. In the past few weeks, however, the group has changed.  Mom and another little brother has now joined in, I'm guessing baby brother is about four years old.  Here they come right now. I've been watching for them this morning as I sit and drink my coffee.  Dad in the lead, big brother, middle brother, Mom and the baby.  They are like a family of ducks. All in row.  Baby brother huffing and puffing like middle brother used to do. Mom, turning and saying "come on, you can do it."  I'm just guessing there are no cocoa puffs in that home.

As I've have been watching them a spiritual application has begun to take form. Dad in the lead, spiritually guiding his family on the race of life.  Hey kids. this race of life is tough.  You must be ready. Let's run the course with diligence, with strength, with a sound mind and body.  A child wanders, is having a tough time and Dad looks back and says "hey, you can do this, we are here for you. We will help you. Let's keep the faith."  This is what families do.  We pray for each other. We encourage each other.  I'm not talking about just our biological families either.  I'm talking about our brothers and sisters in Christ as well.  Do you see a sister hurting?  Pray for her. You don't have to know all the details! Come on...pray for her anyway.  God knows all about it. Give her a hug and tell her you love her and then really pray for her. Tell her she can do this. Encourage her to keep the faith. This is what families do!  This is how we win the race.

Come on,  you can do it!!!  God's promises are true.  Keep the faith!


Source Unknown


Until we meet again,  Fifi

Monday, April 20, 2015

"So I was born; I blinked; and it was over."

I was just skimming Facebook a few nights ago while we were watching TV and ran across an obituary that Emily Phillips, a woman that passed away from pancreatic cancer, wrote herself.  I was totally crying by the end.  I felt, after reading it, that I knew her, or I wish that I had.  I believe that she was probably the life of the party at family gatherings and that her family loved her with all their hearts.  At the end of the obit, she wrote these words, "So...I was born; I blinked, and it was over. No buildings named after me; no monuments erected in my honor. But I DID have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?"  You can read her obituary in it's entirety here.





We have the chance to make each and every day a special one. You may not have monuments erected in your honor, or buildings named after you but you do have the chance to be a blessing to someone today. Make sure your family and friends know that you love them. Make a new friend. Bring joy and happiness into someone's life. Today is the day. 

Before you blink it will be over. 

I feel very blessed to have each of you in my life. Whether it's a personal relationship, family, friend, or by way of meeting through the way of Facebook or this blog, you all are important to me in a unique way.  

With love and, 

Until we meet again,  Fifi






Sunday, April 19, 2015

"Silver Liquid Rain Drops" Update

Here we are again. Another hair update. I can tell you what I've learned so far. Every day, looking in the mirror, is an adventure. My hair is changing daily.  The silver roots are getting wider. The dark brown is fading. There is a new and brighter me emerging.  My appointments at the salon have stretched from four weeks to six weeks. We did more highlights today. Morgan is a dream. We have the most fun and I always leave feeling better than I did when I went in.  It's a blast!  So...without further adieu...



December 2014

Friday, March 8 before appointment




Friday, March 8 after appointment






Today



                                    Before                                                                     Today


Me with Morgan at  Ego Hour on Stratford Road.
Ego Hour Facebook Link

The progression is going well. Some days I wish I could speed the process up a bit.  O.k.  a lot.  I'm not known to be the most patient person in the world, but this is exciting, fun and a great adventure. 

Until we meet again,  Fifi

Update on my friend Sharon and her transition from blonde to silver.



Look at those beautiful streaks of silver. 



Sharon's hairdresser, Meegan 





Wednesday, April 8, 2015

"Thank You Lord"

A lot of days working in ministry is not easy.  Some days, it's just plain hard, but you keep at it. You get up every morning, you go into work and you take what the job or ministry throws at you.  Then in the midst of a hard day, the sun shines and your heart gets blessed.  Right there out of the blue.  You aren't expecting it. It just happens.  One of our pastors came back from visiting a member of our church in the hospital today.  This gentleman has dementia and is very sick and was very agitated. His wife began to sing to him. She sang "Thank you Lord for saving my soul." He then began to join in. "Thank you Lord for making me whole." Isn't it amazing?  The things of this world fade away, but those things that you've hidden in your heart, they remain.  As this wonderful gentleman began to sing, his agitation faded and he began to rest. "Thank you Lord for making me whole."  We who believe in the name of Jesus will one day be whole.

When your day is filled with agitation all around, when things are out of control, breathe His name. "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There's just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms may all pass away, but there's something about that name."



The Gaither Vocal with Gloria Gaither

My mom and I used to sing this song all the time and I can still hear her singing it in my mind and heart.  She would do this recitation as well.  I still sing it when things are getting me down and are just hard. 

"Jesus, Jesus. Jesus."  Call on His name. 

With love and until we meet again.  Fifi