Thursday, April 24, 2014

She Promised You Heaven.

They tell me you're gone, 
but everything I breathe is your life. 

A girl who's spirit can be felt in the sunshine,
Your love whispered in the summer breeze. 

You are every laugh, 
every smile, 
every ounce of joy, 
and the hope of tomorrow. 
Every time we pursue happiness, 
we chase after you. 

Until the end of here & now,
When we meet in forever,
I will look at the face I have memorized in my mind, 
and cling to your shadow, 
until I can feel your heart beating... ❤


In Memory of Rhiannon Peak
March 23,1992 --- April 24, 2012

Sunday, April 20, 2014

If There Are Words I Don't Have Them...

If there are words for Him then I don't have them. 
You see, my brain has not yet reached the point where it could 
form a thought that could adequately describe the greatness of my God, 
and my lungs have not yet developed the ability to release a breath 
with enough agility to breathe out the greatness of his love, 

and my voice, you see, 
my voice, is so inhibited, restrained by human limits 
that it's hard to even sing the praise of…  
You see if there are words for Him then I don't have them. 

My God, 
His grace is remarkable, mercies are enumerable, 
strength is impenetrable, He is honorable, accountable, favorable, 
He is unsearchable yet knowable, indefinable yet approachable, indescribable yet personal, 
He is beyond comprehension, further than imagination, constant thru generations, 
king of every nation. 

But if there are words for Him then I don't have them. 
You see, my words are few, and to try to capture the one true God, 
using my vocabulary will never do, 
but I use words as an expression, 
an expression of worship to a savior, 
a savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise, so I use words. 

My heart extols the Lord, blesses his name forever, 
He has won my heart captured my mind and has bound them both together, 
He has defeated me in my rebellion, 
conquered me in my sin, 
He has welcomed me into his presence, 
completely invited me in. 
He has made himself the object of my sight, 
flooding me with mercies in the morning, 
drowning me with grace in the night. 

But if there are words for Him 
then I don't have them. 
But what I do have is good news, 
for my God knew that manmade words would never do, 
for words are just tools that we use to point to the truth, 
so He sent His son Jesus Christ as "The Word", living proof, 

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, 
for by Him all things are created, giving nothingness formation, 
and by His words he sustains, in the power of His name, 
for He is before all things and over all things he reigns, holy is his name, 
so praise him for his life... 

The way, he persevered in strife, 
the humble son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice, 
praise him for his death... 

that He willingly stood in our place, that he lovingly endured the grave, 
that he battled our enemy and on the third day rose in victory, 

He is everything that was promised, 
praise Him as your risen king,
lift your voice and sing for one day he will return for us 
and we will finally be united with our savior for eternity, eternity. 

So it’s not just words that I proclaim, 
for my words point to "The Word" and "The Word" has a name, 
hope has a name, 
loye has a name, 
peace has a name, 
love has a name 
and that name is Jesus Christ. 

Praise his name forever!

*I didn't write this... But I love it!*

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Tick, Tock

We all have what must be used,
Saved by the same enemy,
The time on our clocks,
Ticking away our lives,
Heartbeats ❤️

My "Bucket" List

The following is a list of all the things I want to complete in my lifetime. In no particular I would like to...

Travel to Paris
Learn to play guitar
Save a life
Meet David Beckham
Toss a penny in the Trevi Fountain
Scuba diving 
Name a star
Feed a panda
Walk through a tulip field
Get a henna tattoo
Stomp grapes
Read all "the classics"
See the Wonders of the world
Play with a penguin
Hike up a mountain
Kiss the Blarney Stone
Write a song
Go to Cinderella's Castle
Visit my ancestors in Denmark
Get baptized
Go parasailing
Attend a music festival
Celebrate NYE in NYC
See a kangaroo in Australia
Fly 1st class
Take a hot air balloon ride
Go to a drive in movie
Write on Juliet's wall in Verona 
Take a picture with Audrey Hepburn & Marilyn Monroe's stars 
Learn another language
Be on the Today Show
Let go of a floating lantern
Get a belly button ring
Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary
Walk through AOII Headquarters
See the magic at Harry Potter world 
Have an author sign their book


Here's a list of the ones I've already completed...

Kiss a stranger (Sorry mom!)
Take ballroom dancing lessons
Publish my writing professionally
Shop the Mall of America
Go on a missions trip
See a broadway musical
Be in 2 places at one time
Finish a color run 
Read the bible cover to cover in a year
Gamble in Vegas
Breakfast at Tiffany's 
Sing for hundreds of people
Run a 5k
RAKs on my birthday
Graduate from high school & college

Monday, March 3, 2014

22 Acts of Kindness 💜

In honor of my birthday, l decided to do one act of kindness for every year I've been alive. Throughout the week I worked to spread positivity & smiles throughout our community & campus... But I couldn't have completed them alone. So thank you to all my friends and family who helped & supported this campaign & who inspire me to be a better person everyday.

My hope, is that you'll be encouraged to pay it forward, living by example, writing Ephesians 4:32 on your heart: 
"Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." 

Here's a list of the acts we did -- ideas for you to continue! :) 

1. Sent thank you notes to soldiers who have served our nation overseas. 
2. Purchased $1 lotto cards, attached them to a good luck note & then tucked them into the car handles of random cars in a parking lot. 
3. Left a gift card for the person behind me in the drive thru to pay for their meal. 
4. Surprised other people with birthday presents who had birthdays on the same day. 
5. Purchased new pajamas & slippers for a resident at a nursing home, who's family doesn't visit. 
6. Stuck $1 bills into books at our local Christian bookstore. 
7 & 8. Donated to a sorority sister's bake sale raiding money for her trip to Haiti --Then delivered the cookies to the workers at the homeless shelter. 
9. Left a candy surprise for the next person at the tanning salon. 
10. Wrote inspirational quotes on sticky notes & placed them around the community & campus. 
11. Taped a bag of unpopped popcorn on the Red box machine to complete a movie night. 
12. Donated clothing to Goodwill. 
13. Filled vending machines with quarters for the next person to use. 
14. Wrote thank you notes and bought flowers for the ladies who work in our cafeteria. 
15. Recycled plastic bottles from our residence hall. 
16. Sent a note of encouragement to a friend who lives far away. 
17.  Donated money to a fraternity fundraiser for ALS research in honor of a family friend who passed away due to that disease. 
18. Wrote a thank you & left candy for the custodian of our building. 
19. Purchased raffle tickets for friends, supporting arthritis research. 
20. Called the Homeless shelter to see what items they were in need of-- went to shop & purchase those things & delivered them to the shelter. 
21. Showed true forgiveness to someone who had hurt me in the past. 
22. Purchased donuts, wrote thank you notes and delivered them to our police station. 

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." 

Friday, February 14, 2014

Fall Away

All we knew was falling. 
Descending,
Blissfully. 
Side by side,
floating away.

Needing a catch..

You got caught. 
Tangled up,
In her arms. 

so I kept floating...
Down, down. 

I didn't crash,
Or hit bottom,
Simply came to a stop.
Dramatics never were me.

Taking everything,
But planting a seed...
Doubt.
Tiny, it grows. 

And I did too, 
Blossoming,
Hopeful. 
Beautiful. 
Now I sit at the top of my tree,
Looking out & around,
Loving every season.
Yet afraid of one,

The fall. 

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Whittles & Wittiness

 

Wrapped in wrinkles,

A calloused hand,

Rough and cracked,

Works to expose beauty,

Carving out the pieces,

With his mastery,

Raw; like the man at work.

 

Age painted on his face,

Line by line,

But beat for beat,

The heart of a boy.

 

A dimpled smile formed through the repetition of a silly punch line.

Gray hair, sweeping just above the furrows of his brow.

Deep, unending eyes. Filled to the brim with love and compassion.

Looking up, transfixed on the One who formed each flaw.

Jolly, rosy cheeks flushed from a hearty laugh.

 

The finished character reflects the old carpenter better than any mirror.

 

Mr. Fix-it shakily stands and brushes the dust from his blue jeans & suspenders.

A style branded with humility.

His sole accessory, imprinting a 60 year tale upon his crooked finger.

 

A hallow knock sounds, as his cane counts the stairs ascending before him.

 

Pausing briefly he looks back at his handiwork.

A  collection on a shelf,

More than figurines,

But memories,

Life’s true keepsakes.