Where Is Your Home?

Where Is Your Home?

It seems like such a simple question. Where is your home? I was born in a pretty little town in the foothills of North Georgia. I love my hometown and don’t get to go back nearly as often as I’d like to. My immediate family lives here in FL with me now but I have Aunts, Uncles, and cousins by the dozens that live in Georgia.
Once upon a time I had my “Georgia Accent”, but years of school in Florida seemed to make me lose all of that, but give me several days with my family and I’m saying “home” in two syllables!
When I go to visit I always go to the home where my grandparents lived. There were many, many hours of stories, laughter and hugs there. I can close my eyes and I’m there again with family.
On our last visit there this summer, my mother pointed out important places of our life while living there. The place they were married, their first home, Mama’s favorite spot to skate as a child, her school, and don’t ask me of what importance this is, but she had to show me the place she use to go and wash my diapers!
Each time I visit becomes more precious than the last because many of my relatives have passed away. I usually stop at the cemetery where my grandparents, aunts, and uncles are buried. On this last visit as I stood at their graves, I remembered what my Aunt Virginia said to me once. She said, “I don’t live in a very big house, but I’m so glad this isn’t my HOME. I’m headed for my home in Heaven!”
So again, I ask the question, “Where is your home?” I love my Georgia hometown and I love my Florida beach, but I’m not HOME yet.

John 14:2-3

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

New Treatment

I’ve received many emails asking about my health. God has given me so many great family and friends. Thank you for being concerned and I’m sorry it has taken so long to respond.
Since November, my specialists have been trying a series of medications to resolve my condition. We were all praying that one of these would be the cure, but it seems I am now down to one of the lesser desired treatments to avoid surgery to remove part of the colon. I will be starting a chemo pill in the next week. I did not know you took such a thing if you didn’t have cancer, but for my type of colitis, this is one of the most powerful choices aside from surgery.
There are a few nasty side effects, but we are praying that they will be minimal. Our hope is to only be on the meds till it goes into remission. At that time I would like to try more natural ways to deal with it.
So, the next couple of months will be interesting for sure. Please also pray for my family as they are understandably a little concerned.
Any questions- just ask me. I’ve been pretty open about all of this.
My prayer is that the Lord will use me to encourage others who may have to go through this.

Jesus is no security against life's storms, but He is perfect security in them. Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day Mama

I wanted to dedicate today’s blog to my mother or as I have always called her “Mama.” I have a hard time putting into words what she means to me, but I will try. Mama did not have an easy childhood. Though she loved her family dearly, her family would be considered “dysfunctional” in today’s standards.
She accepted the Lord as her Savior when a friend invited her to church. Her friend from Rome, Georgia puts it this way, “Shirley was as pure as the driven snow.” In other words, she stayed out of trouble.
After high school she went to Tennessee Temple University where she met my daddy. I have so enjoyed reading their “love story” in letters. She had kept all of them since 1956. She and Daddy were married in 1959 and have never even considered divorce. Murder maybe, no, just kidding .
Not long after I was born, she realized that something was wrong with my eyes and a Dr. in Atlanta told my parents I had Ocular Albinism. They were frightened and sad I’m sure. They had a baby and didn’t know if it would ever be able to see well enough to get around. Their faith must have been strong and they depended on the Lord to give them strength to endure this trial.













Memories of my mother’s love and care are too many to name. Some of the most vivid though are taking time each night to tuck me into bed and say my prayers with me and getting up each morning with my brother and me to make sure we ate breakfast. She always put our needs before her free time or her career. Although she did work full time so we could go to Pensacola Christian, she never complained. She tells me stories of dropping us off at school on mornings when I didn’t want to go and got out of the car crying. She said she would then cry all the way to work because she was sad for me. She also cried all the way to work when she would have to leave us with babysitters because she wanted to stay home with us.
She was at every PTA or PTM meeting, every play, every program, and every piano recital.
When times were hard for me in school she would encourage me. From shucking corn on the back porch to our family trip to California, she taught me life lessons along the way. She invested time in my life that I could never repay.
The most important thing my mother ever did was take me to church every Sunday to worship and learn about the Lord. I don’t think I would have survived some of the things in my life if she hadn’t taught me to trust in the Lord for everything.
When I strayed away from the Lord, it was my Mama who was on her knees praying and helped bring me back to Him.
Lately I have admired her as she has become my father’s caregiver. It is a part of her life she would have never wished for, but she takes care of him with such love. Next week they will be married for 51 years! When I asked Daddy how many years this will be for them, he said 10. My Mama is going through this with a grace and dignity that inspires me.


I know there are many great mothers out there, but to me, my Mama is the GREATEST. I love you Mama! Happy Mother's Day

Deborah

What did you do most Friday nights as a child? I can tell you what I did without blinking. I spent it with my cousin Deborah. Our dads are brothers and our moms were best friends. We had the blessed opportunity of being raised in Christian families. Something I took for granted back then.
Almost every Friday evening our families would get together and the parents played Rook while the four of us kids played together. As the years passed, playtime faded and a wonderful “talk time” developed with my cousin Deborah.
She is two years older than me which I know isn’t much but when you’re in the eighth grade and your best friend is in tenth, then it’s a BIG difference in the mind of a middle school kid. I’m sure I drove her insane some nights. She was my hero! We sat together every time the church doors were open at same church and school and at Pensacola Christian back then, the middle school and the high school was together. I would try to get to school early just so I could hang out with HER and all her “cool” friends like Victor and Neva and the rest of you Class of ’79 bunch. Bless her heart; she was patient looking back now.
One of the saddest days I can remember was the day she went away to college. I think I was “in mourning” for weeks. lol I remember sitting in church for the last Sunday night together and thinking”It will never be the same after tonight”. I was right, things were never the same. We grew up and had to move on.
Through the years both of our lives have experienced extreme happiness, fear, sweet surprises, and heartache. The only “Constant” has been the Lord’s care and love.
We live twelve hours away from each other and never get to spend as much time as we would like to together.
At the moment she and her husband are going through the pain of his cancer and I just want to be there to help and talk to her, but the Lord put me in Florida and her in North Carolina. She knows how much I love and miss her. (Personally I think she is out of the will of God until she moves back down to Fl.)
Tomorrow is her birthday. Though I can’t be there with her, I just wanted to thank her for all she has meant to me through the years and pray that she and Steve can have a wonderful day together.
I love you Deborah!

Pensacola Christian Friends

Last night I had the opportunity to have dinner with about half a dozen of my “old” classmates from Pensacola Christian School. Most of us have known each other since kindergarten and that is a special bond that the years just can’t take away.
We all went into different areas of work. One is a nurse, one works in radiology; two are teachers, and one golf professional. We also all have VERY different personalities! (They know which ones I put the exclamation point for J ).
Time has changed us of course; we all probably have more pounds to love and less brain cells to spare. Some of us have been through sad circumstances with the death of a spouse or father or mother. For others divorce or financial strains have stretched their faith muscles to the brink. We have lost three of our classmates just in the last year.
We do not all agree on every political or moral issue. Things even got a little “heated” in some of those areas! There were moments last night that I had to bite my tongue. Some times I should have spoke up but didn’t.
As I sat looking around the table at each one of them, I remembered what we all looked like as children and wondered if the things in their lives came to pass like they thought they would or did some of our lives take turns and twists and “triple loops” that we didn’t want or didn’t plan to take. Which situations made us bitter or angry with God? Which ones could we have avoided? Which ones can we change with the Lord’s help? For me, my life did not take the perfect path. Some things I brought on myself and some things God allowed to happen to make me stronger.
One of my classmates called me a “SAINT” at one point in our conversation! This is too funny on so many levels, but I was thankful at least that she could see I was trying to live for the Lord now.
Yep, our table was a very wide variety of people, but what occurred to me was that each one of us God created. He loved each one and placed in our DNA His blueprint. He knew before time began that we would be friends.
Thank you Lord for my friends from long ago. Please keep them close to You and Your will. Through the years I ask that you work in their children and grandchildren’s lives. May they accept Your gift of salvation early in life. Amen

Surrender

I have been through a battery of test in the last couple of months for a condition that is attacking the body and will not stop. The result show that the problem is MY OWN BODY is attacking itself! My immune system has gone haywire. It thinks that part of me is a foreign object and is trying to kill it off! Don’t worry, I’m not contagious.
The thought of that is just crazy to me. Why would it want to hurt itself? It’s like banging your head over and over again against a brick wall. Wouldn’t it want to protect its own?
Have you ever made a conscience decision in life knowing it would NOT be a good one and would probably end up hurting you and those around you in the end but did it anyway? Yep, been there and done that. It’s worse than watching a train crash, because you are not only watching it, but you’re also the driving force.
The solution to my health issue is that I am on mega doses of steroids. In order to stop the body from killing off itself, the medication has to make the body drop its defense system and this will go into remission for what we pray will be a long time.
In order for this medication to work the body will have to lay down its “guns” and surrender. The bad side of this is that I have no immunity during this time.
My body has two choices to make. Ignore the meds and continue its battle or surrender and be healed. It seems like such an easy choice doesn’t it? How many of us though, after banging our head and knowing it will hurt, still go back and do it again? What THING do we do over and over and over again and feel the pain each time. It seems it would be so much smarter to just lay it down at the Savior’s feet and say “I surrender all”.

My Papa

Yesterday in Pensacola someone quietly turned 80 years old. His name is George Watson but to his family he is our “Papa”.
Now the catch to this is that he is not my father or my father-in-law, but is my “former father-in-law” and he is also my next door neighbor. You know it’s the type of thing they like to put on Jerry Springer. I’m afraid people would be disappointed though if they want to see a fight, for I love him very much and he thinks of me as one of his own still.
I met Papa when I was 13. He owned the ‘Friendly Plumber’ here in Pensacola and on Fridays I would get the opportunity to go to their house for steak and a discussion of the week they had with business or politics. The one thing as a teen that I always remembered about him is although he DID complain about our local government, he also seemed willing to help change it and he truly cared about the people of Pensacola and for the well being for his future grandchildren.
He told me his story of coming out a rough area of Texas and although he had every opportunity to take the wrong roads in life, he had a desire to succeed and boy did he ever.
He later sold the Friendly Plumber which did very well and started a group in Pensacola called TRIM which stood for Tax Reform in Motion. He was applauded by many in Florida and other states for his role in attempting to cut wasted tax money. His grandchildren knew from toddlers that their grandfather was contributing his time to help our government.
A few years later they were able to observe how an election as they helped their Papa win a seat on the Escambia County Utility Board. He served honorable for many years.
He is now retired and though he struggles each day with lung problems he still enjoys life and spending time with each of us and the love of his life, Grams. On Saturdays, ALL of us meet at their house and have lunch. It warms my heart to hear him say the blessing. He has taught me so many things in these last thirty plus years and we are praying for many more with him.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Carolyn

It was fall of 1976 I was in the eighth grade and minding my own business in the gym for PE. (if you are legally blind like me – that also meant trying to stay alive and avoid being hit in the face by stray objects) On that particular day- I was NOT successful. I don’t remember the sport we were playing but I had been hit enough times that the teacher though it might do me some good to rest a few minutes on the side.

The girls in my PE class were always kind to me and since I didn’t talk much about my sight or lack thereof they didn’t really know how to treat me at times, but they were never mean to me. Most of them had been in school with me since kindergarten.

My life was happy and made sense - UNTIL that moment when I was helped to the sidelines and the NEW girl walked over and sat next to me. I had seen her earlier that morning on my bus. She looked over at me and so I did the decent thing and looked back at her and she screamed, “WHAT?” NO ONE had EVER screamed at ME at school before. Everyone else took care of me and the infidel had waltzed in and screamed, “WHAT!” at me for NO reason! I was offended at the least and on the verge of tears. I was wearing a mood ring which was ‘the thing’ in the mid ‘70s. My cousin Deborah had let me borrow it for the day and this NEW girl wanted to see it. I did not know her and had already decided I DID NOT much like her so why would I take my cousin’s ring off and hand it to HER?
At that moment the teacher left the gym and the mean girl was ticked off that I hadn’t handed over the ring so she punched me in the arm! I stood there in shock! I could have her suspended for that and DID want to just start bawling my eyes out but I knew she would never let me live it down so after standing there for a minute I said, “What is YOUR problem?” I had never said that to anybody before… and couldn’t believe it came out of my mouth! I was the mousy little quiet one who had never stood up to ANYBODY!
She answered, “My problem is YOU- everyone treats you like a little angel and acts like you’re going to break. She then asked, “What’s your deal anyway?” Hum, that was the first person who had ever asked me what my ‘deal’ was. I said “Do you mean my sight?”, and she looked at me as if to say, “Duh”, so I began to explain the condition to her. “You are still a regular person silly”, she said to me and then walked away. After I told her everything I was still in fear because I though she might use it against me when I least expected it! Lol
The next morning I dreaded riding the bus because I knew SHE would be there. When the bus door opened I gingerly stepped in and when the sun is out I can’t see people, just their form so you had to call out my name for me to sit with you or I just sat wherever I could make out an empty space. That morning someone said, “Come sit here.” I recognized the voice at once. It was HER but she sounded nice this time. I sat down and she said, “My name is Carolyn James” She went on to explain she had just moved here from Puerto Rico.
Thirty plus years later, I still remember that as a turning point in my life and will forever be grateful to my ‘sis’ Carolyn for showing me that I’m just like anyone else. She toughened me up a little that day and through these many years she has made me step outside my “comfort zone” when I needed it.
We have been to each others’ weddings and births of children and sadly, deaths of family members. We have helped each other through horrific circumstances that are still hard to talk about.
The Lord knew all those years ago that I needed a punch in the arm and a friend for life. I love you Carolyn!
Happy Birthday

I had the opportunity of taking a night flight out of Raleigh this last week. It is always interesting to see the city view from up above it all. As we left the runway clusters of lights from area homes began to come into view and I began to think. In each one of those homes represents lives in the process of going on with their daily routine and duties. In some cases there was joy over a new job found. In some there may be sadness due to divorce. In the family of the home I had just said goodbye to lives a Colonel and his dear wife, who also happens to be my lifelong friend and cousin, Deborah. They are struggling with the news of cancer right now. Please pray for Steve as he begins chemo treatments next Wednesday. Another sweet cousin Dana and her husband Troy live close by and are dealing with the loss of Troy’s dad last week.
As we lifted higher and higher into the sky there were so MANY dots of lights from homes that they could not be counted. It made me smile to think that God sees each one of those lights but even more importantly He sees each soul in each of those homes and He loves and cares for them all. He hears each prayer and sees each tear that falls.
Soon clouds overtook the view and though those homes could no longer be seen , the Lord never lost sight of them and He protects each one of His own under the shelter of His wings.

Hard Things

Hard Things

About ten years ago our youth group at church did a missions project in Pensacola. Our fearless leaders Dave Paxton and Jeff Fields decided on a neighborhood and I was asked to help. Our daughter Tiffany was in the 9th grade and I thought it would be a great idea to be part of what they were doing. Our neighborhood of ministry was Pensacola Village. For those of you not familiar with that area, it is a housing project that is wrought with the pain of drugs and violence. There is usually a police car on stand by 24 hours a day there. The days are much safer than the nights. It would be a Monday thru Friday five day club type atmosphere with lunch provided.
Our first day there we watched the kids come in from every direction. They loved the attention. Our youth group numbered about 50 or so, so they could have one on one time with each child. There were a group of older kids from the area who were not happy about us being there. The first day in fact, my daughter was hit in the head by a boy with a slingshot who was quite far away from her. Talk about good aim! That is not what went through my head at that moment though. My first thought was “You Nut”. Tiffany’s head began to swell and she had a large goose egg by the end of the day. I told her that we didn’t have to go back the next day. She didn’t want to give up though so we continued on.
The next day I was working with a group of second graders and of course when I’m outside even with sunglasses, it is very obvious that I have an eye problem. One of the children piped up and asked in a way that was just way too cute…”What beeeeeezz WRONG with your eyes?” I told her that I don’t see very well, so of course her next question was “Can you see me?” I told her yes and she wanted me to prove it by me telling her what she had on. After I passed her test, I told the group that we all have problems. Some we can see like my eyes moving and some are hidden on the inside. She answered “Like ME being sad all the time cuz my Mama gets hit by her boyfriend and my Daddy’s in jail” The whole group then began opening up about their sadness and after talking and praying with them, my heart was full. She became my shadow that week and even though Dave and Jeff may have thought at times we had gotten in over our head with that project, I just want to let them know that it was one of those life changing weeks. The hard things in life usually turn out to be the best learning times.

Friends in Low Places

Friends in Low Places

In the ‘90s Garth Brooks became a household name and his song ‘Friends in Low Places’ was a huge hit. Whether or not you are a country music fan; it was hard not to know part of the lyrics. It was played everywhere. I even have a very close relative whom shall remain nameless who could sing it quite well.
I have many friends in low places at the moment. Thankfully they aren’t “chasing their blues away” with whisky but none the less they are dealing with tough times. Some are fighting cancer and some are watching someone fight cancer. Some just lost loved ones, and some are saying good-bye to loved ones who don’t have much time left. Others are fight to stay afloat financially and several have had to file bankruptcy. A few couples are holding on to their marriage by their fingernails and praying for a miracle to happen in their spouse’s heart.
When I look over my prayer list of friends and family lately, it is a little overwhelming. All of these needs and all of these hurts. How important are all of these people and situations to our Heavenly Father? I read this last night and wanted to share it with you because it gave my comfort to know God loves us and cares for us more that we can imagine. He is in control of it all.



God’s eye is on the Sparrow.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your heavenly Parent. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 (NRSV)
Several years ago I was serving on a Navy ship. We were many miles from land in a foreign ocean far from home. One day I noticed several sailors playing "catch" with an object. When they saw me approach, they tried to hide whatever they were playing with. I asked to see whatever "it" was. It was a sparrow. That little bird had flown miles from home. It had landed on the ship in exhaustion. Cruel and thoughtless sailors tormented the poor creature. They were about to throw it into the ocean to drown.
Reluctantly, the sailors gave me the bird. I took it to the medical department where a tender hearted medic helped me find a box to lay the bird. We lined it with soft cotton, placed water and food near-by and placed the bird in a quiet place to die undisturbed. Some on the ship ridiculed our concern for the tiny creature. But the medic and I understood "in God, all are sacred." Even this little bird was cherished by a tender, loving heavenly Creator. God’s heartbeat is love for all creatures, "great and small."
The sparrow died several hours later. The tender hearted medic approached me shyly with her request. "Could we have a memorial for the bird? Just the two of us? It’s so sad that the bird died." Quietly we went to the back of the ship. I read a burial at sea memorial service from a prayer book. We committed the remains of the little bird to the sea. Several sailors again mocked our compassion. But the medic and I understood God cared and grieved with us in the loss of life. Even little birds are significant to a loving God.
God knew when that little bird was exhausted and unable to return to the safety of its nest. God knew when it was tormented by the sailors. God provided kindness, refuge and a quiet place for the little one to breathe its last breath. God saw, cared and provided for the little bird. One little bird was significant to the Tender One.
We have Jesus’ word for that. Jesus also said, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your dear heavenly Parent feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Mt. 6: 26-27)
Dear reader, we are precious to God. God will take care of us. God’s eye is on the sparrow. God’s eye is on you with tenderness. God’s heartbeat is love. You are cherished, valued, loved beyond understanding just as you are.

I was given the wonderful pleasure of reconnecting with one of my favorite teachers whom I hadn't seen in close to thirty years, Miss Kathy Kemp. (She said we get to call her Kathy now but we still found it hard to do :) ) She taught my classmates and me in second and seventh grade at Pensacola Christian. She made at indelible mark for good in my life. It was 1976 and I had American History with her. She made the 200 year anniversary of our country come alive to impressionable 7th graders. She had the choice of enduring the hour with us or putting her heart and soul into teaching in a way we will never forget. Thank you Miss Kemp.
We all enjoyed our time with her and catching up on all that she has experienced since leaving Pensacola. One fact that you may find interesting...There is this boy band.... The Jonas Brothers.... you know the group that is now almost bigger than the Beatles? She is their tutor. She has taught them for six years. I'm sure they are enjoying her as much as I did!

When Trials Come

It has been a very trying week for our family. Monday night I came close to losing someone dear to me. After calling the ambulance I asked the Lord to save her life. It is a feeling of terror which is hard to explain. As my daughter and I left to meet her at the ER, I prayed for peace for my friend and her husband and for my family.
My mind whirled with questions mixed with many what ifs.... At the end of each question and concern I came back to the same answer...
God was in control. No matter what the outcome. God created my friend and He loves my friend more than I ever could. He knows the number of hairs on her head and He knows the number of days she will live on this earth. Though I couldn't remember the reference, the Lord put this verse in my heart and mind that night.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

My friend is recovery and though I don't want to give out her name, we do covet your prayers as she starts a rehab program.

My Unfriendly Neighbor

I walked outside one day and looked over at my next door neighbor. They appeared to be doing yard work and moving at a snails' pace. I wanted to be the first to say Hi to them because most of the time people see me before I'm able to see them and I know I come across as unfriendly. I was so excited to be able to see them first and threw up my hand and said "Good morning". They did not respond right away and sometimes I speak too softly so again in a much louder voice I said "GOOD MORNING". Still no answer, now I was a little ticked about their rudeness. My daughter who was about 11 or 12 at the time, came out to see who I was talking to. I explained and said I would try once more to get their attention. She simply grinned and as she walked away from me she said "Mama, it's their garbage can".
Through the years I have learned to laugh at myself. Having a sense of humor is vital. It is also important to realize that things are not always as they appear. What I saw as a person was in fact a garbage can. We have our own preconceived ideas of whom a person is before we get to know them. We judge too quickly or just write them off. Mine was a garbage can that I thought was real but often "real" people are cast off as garbage and ignored. God taught me a great lesson that day. I also learned to get a little closer to the object I was speaking to to make sure it could speak back!

Hebrews 13:2-3
Don't forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don't forget about those in jail. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, for you know what they are going through.

The Toy

I just placed in the garbage can a toy that my son has held onto for many years. It was a simple toy and beat up by time and wear but it held great significance to him. A friend whom he lost years past played with this toy with David. It took time for David to release this item but he no longer needs it to remember his friend. There are some things we need to hold on to in life and some things that we need to say goodbye to and move on. Not that we forget those memories but sometimes they bind us to the past.

Questions

OK more answers to questions coming to my email.
Why don't I wear glasses if I'm blind as a bat? I did wear them for several years as a child but Drs. finally realized that glasses did no good with the condition I have. I've been to many Drs. some came from other countries even, and my parents spent most of their savings probably, to find out there is nothing that can be done.
What was life like at a child? Well, thanks to very wise parents, my life was pretty normal. My parents actually put me in Pensacola Christian which was the toughest school in Pensacola, and I'm sure they spent many nights praying that I would make it there. I've never been able to see the chalkboard or for you young ones, the white board. God always provided dear friends to help me. In kindergarten, He brought a lifelong friend. Her name was Angela. She would tell me what the assignments were for the day , get me to my bus and help me around the halls until I had them memorized. Angela went on to achieve her PhD and we are still dear friends today although we live on opposite sides of the U.S.

Here is a link for those that wanted the Ocular Albinism link from the NOAH organization. http://www.albinism.org/publications/ocular.html
For those parents who have written and feel overwhelmed with your child's condition, I just want to say that there are many success stories from those of us who have OC. My parents learned early on to take each day as it comes and let your children try new things within reason. More on that later.
Pastor Traylor said in his sermon Sunday that the statement "God will never give you more than we can handle" is NOT a true statement. God sometimes DOES give us more than WE can handle, but when we rely on Him, He gives us the strength to handle it.

A friend came by to visit with us yesterday and we had a wonderful time catching up on life and such. After she left, I was closing the front door and there in the hall I saw a spider web! For those of you that know my OCD tendencies, you know I was embarrassed to find it and hoped she didn't see it but knew she probably did. It was past lunch time and I didn't want to bother with it then so I warmed up my "yummy" Lean Cuisine and started several other projects. Later I walked in the hall and saw it hadn't moved. The web was indeed still there, but STILL chose to find other things to do. I even mentioned it to my family, but still, it sat there. I then in my mind thought " Well they see it now, why can't THEY get it?".
So many times in my Christian walk, a flaw or sin comes into my life and I choose to ignore it or think it's not very big or blame other people. It's a little like looking in a mirror and seeing chocolate on the side of you mouth and doing nothing about it. Some sins can be seen and others are hidden, but we still know they are there. They tend to grow like the spider web also.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-24
Did I get the spider web? Did I MENTION I was OCD. Yes, of course I removed it! It did eat at me until I did though.

I keep getting emails asking why I named my site "Life is Bright". Let me answer everyone at one time. I have a condition known as Ocular Albinism. I have had it since birth. It's a defect with the iris in the eye. There is no control in how much light is allowed to enter the eye. It would be like you having a spotlight shining in your eyes anytime you were awake. Hence, "Life is Bright". One of the downfalls of this is that everyone who walks toward me is a dark shadow. The light overpowers the person. I am also legally blind so yep you guessed it Blind and Blond makes for TONS of jokes from all of my FRIENDS.
In my early years I did not cope well with my condition. I prayed each day as a child and teen that God would help Drs. find a cure for this. When the teen years came, all of my friends were peeling into the school parking lot in their Mustangs and I had to come back my Jr. year to tell them the Drs. said I would probably never drive. I grew to resent my condition even though God blessed me with tons of great and understanding friends, I still felt like a freak.
Through the years the Lord has taught me many valuable lessons about being DIFFERENT. Though they have never found a cure and though I probably will never drive, I now understand that He created me for His purpose. He had crafted me and I have peace in that. Do I get frustrated? You bet, but doesn't everyone get frustrated with one thing or the other about themselves? When those times come I count my blessings and walk on.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11