I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

This is an email my mom sent to me, and I thought it was so beautiful. I wanted to share it with you all...

"When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps witha nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i.""God, "u" and "i" dance." "God, you and I dance." As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another.... and...I HOPE YOU DANCE!!!"

-Unknown

May God dance with you this holiday season, and beyond and may you be reminded every day of His neverending love and new mercies.

God bless,
lv

books, books, books

I've been extremely stressed lately, and I've been really aching to relieve my stress with a good book. Mrs. Sylvia gave me a notecard with all of her suggestions :-p but I would love some more! I'm thinking I might do this often...not just with books, but music, things to do, favorite stores, etc... Anywho, today I'm doing books, and I would love to know what you're reading, what you like to read, what you reccommend, and all of that good stuff. Real quick, a few of my favorites:

:: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (Published as A Gathering Light in the UK)
:: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
:: The Company by Robert Littell

There are so many others I could suggest, but those are on the top of my head. I'm currently reading The Company very, very slowly. It's 900 pages, and I can only handle about 4 pages a night because it puts so much information into your head. But it's good. It certainly keeps me occupied.

But, please post your suggestions. There's hardly anything I like more than a good book on a stressful day to sit down and curl up with (with a mug of hot chocolate by my side of course :-p). Hope you are all having a good holiday season. Only 9 more days until Christmas! :stresses:

God bless,
lv

joy story

Well, Kristy told me that she had the videotape of this play we did at church 6 or 7 years ago. The Joy Story, written by Nancy (...can't remember her last name) at First Baptist, is a Christmas play about a toy store, with toys that tell the story of Jesus. It's a really sweet script; it genuinely tells the greatest story of all time. :) I was Raggedy Ann, one of the main parts...and I had lots of lines (I have no idea how I ever memorized all of those) and a big solo. I still remember all the songs from it, though. I was singing along while I was watching it. :-p

The song I had to sing was the pivotal part of the play; it's more or less the invitation for salvation - the true message of Christmas. I, of course, haven't watched this since I did it so many years ago, but watching it this morning...I got all teary eyed! I have matured so much in my spirituality since I acted in this play, and as many times as I rehearsed, performed and just randomly sang the song, I don't think I ever actually took it to heart. The lyrics are so beautiful, and true, and they just really spoke to me. I'll share a piece of the song with you - although you won't get the full effect, because seeing a little girl with a Raggedy Ann wig and a heart apron on singing this song is just precious. ^_^



In every heart
There is a longing
God calls to you
A still small voice
In every heart
There is a need to be His child
He's asking you
To make a choice

Long before this moment
God was loving you
Jesus died to show you
That His love was true
If you will receive Him
New life will begin
His heart seeks your answer
Won't you let Him in



"But I've already made so many bad choices!"

He knows everything about you
And loves you just the same
And even now He's whispering
He's whispering your name

In every heart
There is a longing
God calls to you
A still small voice
In every heart
There is a need to be His child
He's asking you
To make a choice
He gave His life
To bring His love
To every heart



The lyrics may be childish, but they're true. I encourage you all to take them to heart. :)

God bless,
lv

P.S. Those pictures that you see, I attempted to literally take them of my television, so that's why they're funny looking. hehe.

if I were

Ah, Alabama was wonderful. It was great to see Mash and her family again. We spent one day out at a farm with friends' of theirs. The family has 5 kids, a bunch of dogs, horses, cows, and four wheelers. We had a lot of fun. :)

I can't think of much to say or talk about today...but I saw this on one of my friend's blogs, so I thought I'd steal it just for fun. Feel free to fill it out and post it as a comment with your own answers! ^_^

• If I were a month, I'd be: April. The weather's usually fairly decent, then, atleast in Jacksonville, and the colors are bright and cheerful.
• If I were a day of the week, I'd be: Sunday.
• If I were a time of the day, I'd be: 1:00. More or less the middle of the day, and the time when I'm usually the most perky.
• If I were a planet, I'd be: Pluto. Smallest person, smallest planet. Works for me. :-p
• If I were a sea animal, I'd be: A seahorse. They're interesting.
• If I were a direction, I'd be: East. Then I'd never miss the sunrise.
• If I were a sin, I'd be: :eek: That's a wierd question. I wouldn't be a sin at all!
• If I were a liquid, I'd be: Sweet Tea! :blink:
• If I were a tree, I'd be: Bonsai. They're so cute!
• If I were a bird, I'd be: A parrot. They're gorgeous-and they talk a lot. :-p
• If I were a tool, I'd be: A hammer. Then I could just hit people when they were annoying me. :shrug:
• If I were a flower/plant, I'd be: A daisy. Innoncence, simpilicity, beauty...
• If I were a kind of weather, I'd be: Cool enough to wear jeans but warm enough to wear shorts.
• If I were a mythical creature, I'd be: A unicorn, I suppose.
• If I were a musical instrument, I'd be: A guitar.
• If I were an animal, I'd be: A dog. They get to lay around all day and be cuddled at night! What a life!
• If I were a color, I'd be: Red. It's so bold and vibrant!
• If I were an emotion, I'd be: Overwhelmingly happy and joyful.
• If I were a vegetable, I'd be: Green beans.
• If I were a sound, I'd be: The waves crashing...
• If I were an element, I'd be: :blink:
• If I were a car, I'd be: Mini Cooper.
• If I were a song, I'd be: Freedom.
• If I were a movie, I'd be: Ever After.
• If I were a book, I'd be: The Bible!
• If I were a place, I'd be: Geneva, Switzerland.
• If I were a material, I'd be: Cotton or cashmere.
• If I were a taste, I'd be: Sweet.
• If I were a scent, I'd be: Clinique Simply
• If I were a word, I'd be: Onomatopoeia
• If I were an object, I'd be: A camera.
• If I were a body part, I'd be: Eyes. ^_^
• If I were a facial expression, I'd be: A cheeky grin.
• If I were a subject in school, I'd be: English.
• If I were a shape, I'd be: A Circle.
• It's neverending. If I were a number, I'd be: 47. Don't ask.

Hope everyone is well and having a great beginning holiday season!

God bless,
lv

The Pitman kids, The Carnes kids, and the Sheally kids (minus Stedmond - he was out hunting).