Women of Faith--Celebrate What Matters!

I had the opportunity to attend Women of Faith in Kansas City last weekend.  It was amazing.  It reminded me an awful lot of my experiences at International Youth Convention.  That is the only other time I have ever been with thousands of people worshiping God.  And, Friday night, I thought it just might be as loud.  I had to leave the room during the music and listen in the hallway.  I decided at that moment that perhaps huge worship experiences were no longer in my future.  :(  The speakers were amazing, but the loudness of the music made it hard for me to fully worship.

Saturday was better.  I was able to stay in the room for the music.  The worship and speakers were so inspiring.  I felt so close to God and so inspired to bring what I learned home with me.  I've been to camps and conventions before and know the "high" has a tendency to ebb away and you soon lose the inspiration.  I hope that doesn't happen to me, but I'll have to be intentional to keep myself inspired and focused.  I was so inspired by Ann Voscamp and her speech about her book 1000 Gifts.  Keep watching for a book review when I finish reading it and join me in keeping track of my blessings.  I'm trying to find a way to share this information with those around me.

I also found myself inspired by the worship music and felt led to truly worship by the worship team.  I brought their CDs home with me and would love to recreate the experience for those here at home.  I'm not sure how to make that happen.  Any great ideas?  I've asked around for voice lessons here at home and we'll see.  My prayer is that either God will heal my voice or send our church a lead worshiper.  At least I can listen to music and worship privately again.  PTL!!!

The concert Saturday was AWESOME!!!  I have long enjoyed Selah and their song "You Raise Me Up" has been my theme song since the accident.  Who needs working legs when you are on His shoulders.  This concert experience was amazing.  Todd Smith's wife, Angie, was a huge part of the whole Women of Faith experience.  By the time the concert rolled around, I felt like I knew him and his family.  Besides the fact that their voices are amazing, we even got serenaded by some 80s music.  How fun is that!!!  They ended their concert with "You Raise Me Up" and had me in tears.  Hearing it LIVE is an experience I will never forget.

Azure did great at the conference.  I'm not sure he was in love with the loud music eitheron Friday night, so I'm sure he was glad that we left the room.  He did perfect and everyone loved him.  He only barked one time Friday night and I'm not sure what happened, but when I turned around a lady was standing there and said she must have scared him.  Anyway, he got a talking to and did great the rest of the time.  He did lay right at my feet in front of me for the rest of the convention.  It's interesting to see the reaction in a big city.  People know to approach slowly, speak directly to me, and ask permission before petting him.  I could tell they had been around service animals before.  :)

International Youth Convention could learn a few things from Women of Faith.   For one thing, there was no mad rush into the worship service with pushing and running.  We all had tickets and assigned seats.  Having assigned seats was wonderful and made you feel like you could leave and go to the bathroom or shop in the Sprint Center without worrying you would lose your seat.  We were able to experience worship fully.  :)

What worship convention experiences have you had?
How do you combat losing the worship "high"?
What have been your favorite concerts?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today:
18.  God is in control
19.  My children make decisions based on God's Word
20.  My entire family has Jesus in our hearts
21.  Kids excited about giving to others

A Voice in Our Future

I am so thankful to have a voice in the election process today.  Regardless of what other's think, I am still optimistic that my vote does matter.  I do believe in the importance of being a responsible voter and researching the candidates before making a final decision.  I don't believe in following friends or family members in how they vote.  I don't believe in letting others make this decision for me.  I do believe in being a responsible adult and researching the candidates for myself.  I do believe in voting based on who I best believe will follow God's plan for this nation.  I do believe that some things are more important than my selfish needs.  I do believe in voting for who I believe will follow God overall even if that means it may cause some personal difficulty for myself.  I do believe in respecting the president no matter the outcome.  Most of all I do believe that while we should respect our earthly leaders, the highest respect goes to God.  He is the One I will follow to the end, no matter what changes may happen on this earth.


How did you make the decision who to vote for?
What was your voting experience like?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new.

Thankful thoughts for the day:
9.  Friends who still think my brain has something to offer.
10. Crock pots
11. Freedom to vote my beliefs
12. Those who are willing to fight for our freedom
13.  My freedom in Christ that is unchangeable regardless of the changes in the world
14.  Finding books I want instantly on my Amazon Kindle--to buy or library loan
15.  The smell and taste of chunky applesauce with red hots in the crock pot
16.  That my dog will stay right with me leashed or not
17.  You can use Discover reward points on Amazon.

Thanksgiving Is Not Just a Holiday

I was so inspired by hearing Ann Voscamp at Women of Faith this weekend talk about the importance of thanksgiving and thanking God for all your blessings in life.  I am currently reading her book 1000 Gifts and am so inspired by it.  Stay tuned for a book review.  I am going to start something that couldn't wait another day.  I will be posting my blessings (hopefully daily).  :)  Sometimes they will be at the end of another post.  Sometimes, they will be the post of the day.  Join me on this journey.  Let's make thanksgiving a part of our daily lives.  :)

1.  The way God uses the gifts of talented musicians to speak to our hearts at just the right moment
2.  Those willing to be the hands and feet of Christ
3.  Perfect dog relief areas set up at our hotel this weekend
4.  Finding just the right Christmas concert outfits
5.  Kiddos running out to meet you when you come home from a trip
6.  Fall colors
7.  Finding the perfect jacket in just the right size
8.  The genuine laughter of a child that can't help but bring you joy as they experience joy

The Power of Introverts

I recently read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.  As I read it, I found myself celebrating that someone was recognizing the importance of introverts.  Just because I'm not loud and sharing every thought that enters my mind, doesn't mean I'm not having important thoughts.

What I have found is that I frequently don't get to share the thoughts going through my head--those around me are frequently talking and I'm not one to push my way into a conversation.  When I am in a meeting, you will find I sit quietly through most of the meeting and absorb what is going on around me.  Then, hopefully, I will have the chance to voice a well-thought out idea before the meeting ends.  Part of this is from my TBI.  It does take me longer to process information and come up with the exact words to express my thoughts. Part of it is a natural part of my personality that has always been there.  I have always sat quietly absorbing the thought processes of those around me before finalizing my thought.  I have always done my best thinking in quiet and alone and later.  Writing assignments for class were where my thought processes were demonstrated.  I did not participate in class discussion/brainstorming.  I remember being told by a professor that I needed to speak up more in class to share my thoughts with my peers, not just save them for my papers that only he saw.  That just isn't my personality.  If you want to hear my thoughts, do it privately and wait for my mouth to catch up with my brain.  Or, better yet, share your questions/ideas and give me time to think about it and get back to you.  I've discovered sleeping is the greatest thing for my brain right now.  If I am struggling with an issue or need an idea for work, I will take a nap and more often than not wake up with my questions answered.  Thank you God for giving me the answer in my sleep.  :)

Now, calling yourself introverted does not give you permission to withdraw completely in your own head and never interact with others.  It really only helps explain the way we think and process best.  We process more within ourselves than out loud with others.  That does not mean I won't be a part of a group.  What it does mean is that I probably won't voice my thoughts until after I've processed all that is going on around me.  Maybe at the end of the meeting, maybe not until the next day (after I've let God talk to me in my sleep)  It doesn't mean I won't socialize with others--it only means I am also comfortable alone and need some down time.  It does not give me an excuse to be rude, withdrawn, or anti-social.  After all, I Corinthians 13 says, "Love is patient, Love is kind.  It does not envy.  It does not boast.  It is not proud.  It is not rude. It is not self-seeking.  It is not easily angered.  It keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  Both introverts and extroverts need to keep this in mind as they interact with others.  You need to be loving whether or not you completely understand how the other thinks.

On page 5, the book tells us:
"Without introverts, the world would be devoid of

the theory of gravity
the theory of relativity
W.B. Yeats's 'The Second Coming'
Chopin's nocturnes
Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'
Peter Pan
Orwell's '1984' and 'Animal Farm'
The Cat in the Hat
Charlie Brown
'Schindler's List,' 'E.T.,' and 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Google
Harry Potter

I for one would miss those things.  Yeah, for the power of introverts.  May we never underestimate the thoughts going through their heads.

What are your thoughts about introverts vs. extroverts?
What are your own personal experiences?
How do we help our introvert children express themselves?
How do we make sure our voice gets heard?
Is there ever a time you should act extroverted?  Is it possible?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new.

Glittering Mica

"Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement.  It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen.  We have to teach ourselves how to make room for them, to love them, and to live, really live."   Anna Quindlen

Sharing My Story

One of the scariest moments in life is sharing your story of the moment that changed your world.  Will you be able to express it clearly?  Will people understand that the focus is not on where you've been but where you are now?  Will God get the glory for the miracles in your life?  Will people see what God has done and all the good things and not focus on the tragedy?  Terrifying.  Even more terrifying is a long interview that is edited into short clips.  Will they accurately portray what I am trying to say?  Well, they did.  God  does not get the glory, but He will if you talk to me personally.  :)  Did I really expect much difference from a State University?

I remember the terror of planning this interview.  I remember having to prepare myself by wearing my favorite color.  No,  the purple is not for KSU.  It is for me to give me confidence and a feeling of power.  When I got the CD of the finished product, I was pleased to find I could even review it.  I really have a hard time watching myself or listening to a recording of myself.  The voice in my head is so much different from the voice you can hear. But, since it is all subtitled, I could turn the volume down and watch the subtitles instead of my face.  That made it a bearable experience for me.  :)

They kept promising me that they would take care of anything during editing and make me look good.  I'm not sure I completely believed them, but they managed to do just  that.  If you want to hear the story of the accident, please listen to it here.  That way, when we get together, we can just talk about life and what is current for both of us.  :)
If you want to watch these, be patient, sometimes it takes a few minutes to load.

And, check out the whole site.  There is some pretty valuable information about TBI.  Maybe it will help you see me in a different light.

http://www.tbioptions.ksu.edu/Knowledge/p.aspx?tabid=34


What was your experience exploring this website?
Did you learn anything about TBI?
Do you have a story about something that changed your world?
What was your experience sharing it with others?

Silence

"We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature--trees, flowers, grass--grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence . . . We need silence to be able to touch souls."  Mother Teresa

How do we find silence in this noisy world?
How do I help my children find silence?
How do I find silence for myself when I am never alone?
Any good ideas out there?