Category: Spiritual Health

The truth about October 31st…

by lovesdoves, posted in Social health, Spiritual Health

Recently, our office held a planning retreat. The first half of the meeting was establishing our strengths, our passions and our values. We talked about how values can be handed down through generations, and accepted based upon their parents’ or elders’ values, and how sometimes we need to do some soul-searching to establish the values that we hold as truth. So periodically I find it necessary to analyze why I believe what I believe. I want to own the value, not just accept someone else’s, even if it is someone that is dear to me.  I think my thoughts in dark and light. I become confused and muddled when those two opposite spectrums become intermingled into the gray zone… it’s not a place that my brain appreciates. Or excels in. It’s foggy there, and sometimes dense and scary. So, I continue to process a thought until it becomes “right” or “wrong”, “dark” or “light” based on God’s word to me, and occasionally, the research that I do.

Well.  I have been doing some soul-searching… and some processing…

I love my Christian friends. I love the common bond that we have with our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ. I love knowing that we can all go to His Word, and compare thoughts and evaluations, and seek His Truth… to find out what He really would do. God has led me to become much more tolerant of other’s thoughts and beliefs and actions…. much less judgmental because I have come to realize that not everyone has been exposed to the same information, the same experiences, and the same awareness. And that includes the celebration of “All Hallows Eve”, which can be a gray zone for many Christians.

The Bible doesn’t say “Thou Shalt NOT Celebrate Halloween”, but what the Bible does say in Deuteronomy 18:10-14 is, “For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.  And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

I don’t expect most of the people that read this do any of those things listed above, but did you realize that this holiday is the Wiccans high holiday? They feel that the veil between the mortal and spiritual realm is at its thinnest on that night, and they rejoice at the deception… as followers of Christ consistently dress-up, and abide by many of the “practices” that are rooted in paganism, such as jack-o-lanterns, and trick-or-treating. Did you know that many Wiccans do actually offer sacrifices on this day… the day that they refer to as Samhain, who was the god of the dead? Did you know that it is still celebrated as an ancient pagan festival of the dead by witches all over the world?

Do you want to even come close to blurring the line of good versus evil? Or do you want God to know that you honor Him and no other, and that you are willing to take a stand against the devil and his team of demons who circle the world looking for those to deceive, destroy and devour?

My heart is firmly set against satan and all he represents, and I refuse to become a casualty of this dark day, and all that it represents. I am thankful for the full protection of my Heavenly Father, his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and I do not feel the need to test this protection by celebrating the wicked things of this world. I value God’s truth over other’s thoughts of me, I value his Ways before man’s ways, and I value the love that He freely and generously showers over me, even when I fall short.

I am aware that doing things differently, and going against the ways of the world is uncomfortable, but my objective has never been to be part of this world. My purpose is to share his love, share his hope, and share his ways. It is to stand steadfastly in the Truth,  that I may shine as a beacon of light for Him, so that when it is time, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Cricket…

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Family health, Spiritual Health

Running as fast as she could back and forth and back and forth in our living room, jumping up in my lap to settle in after a Thanksgiving feast, catching Oliver’s wing and gently tugging him toward her while he hopped along beside her, getting every squeaky toy out of her toy basket when she would come to visit me, remembering me with affectionate kisses when we would come to visit her, sitting politely while I fed her Kraft singles, prancing around all dressed up and fancy for Caitlin’s wedding day, playing ball by herself… not wanting me to stop petting her, and me not wanting to… looking into her little face with her special teeth and her adoring eyes and knowing how much she loved Caitlin, knowing that taking care of her, listening to her and always understanding her were Cricket’s primary tasks in this life. They were best friends. They meant the world to each other. And I loved knowing that.

Little Cricket died tonight. She was hit by a car, and she died. I know a part of Caitlin died with her.

Cricket offered us unconditional love and acceptance. She cherished us. As we cherished her. And we will miss her. Immensely.

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Believing very much that we will see her again someday.

I love you, Cricket. You’re a good girl.

 

 

Thriving…

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Family health, Spiritual Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A long, long time ago, when I was 12 or 13, I read a book called, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It was a book that evoked an extremely emotional response in my young life. It opened my eyes to how blessed I was to have a family, immediate and extended, and a Heavenly Father that loved me, unconditionally. I hadn’t known there was any other way and it created compassion and thankfulness and appreciation in my heart. A part of the story refers to a young sapling tree that had pushed it’s way through the cracks in the sidewalk in Francie’s neighborhood, a symbol of how, even in the most adverse circumstances, we are created to survive. Nasturtiums, this flower, are experts at that, and they always remind me of that “revelationary” time in my life when I learned that we were created to persevere, survive, and even more than that, to thrive in a beautiful, compassionate, and thankful way as voices for God and servants of His Kingdom. I spotted this flower on my way to lunch with my own precious flowers, my daughters, and felt overwhelmed by God’s loving promises to me as I revisited that time in my life.

Thankful&Grateful. Live Well.

 

 

 

Remembering Him…

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Social health, Spiritual Health

The spring equinox.

Perennials reappear. Flowers magically burst forth from their dormant state. Grass turns back into green lush lawns. Trees leaf and become playgrounds for children and animals once again. The light lasts longer in the evening sky. And the sweet floral notes that float on the spring breeze are almost musical. I am thankful for this time of beauty, awakening and hope.

As I think about the renewal of life and I contemplate that third day when Jesus Christ miraculously rose from the dead, it seems like a glorious event to celebrate. Jesus Christ rose from the dead! Jesus Christ is the Son of God! Scripture was fulfilled!

Over the next 40 days before his ascension to Heaven, Jesus appeared to many, but never did He ask that we organize a day commemorating his resurrection. In our society, we have created man-made celebrations to show how much we love Jesus and how thankful we are for Him that He was born and then died on the cross for us. Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday are some of them, but they aren’t supported in Scripture. The Bible tells me those “holy days” are traditions of men not commandments of God. I just want to to know how Jesus would have me celebrate. What would be pleasing to Him? And to God, His Father. It seems the only time that Jesus mentions memorializing His Life was during the passover meal on Nisan 14 when He was just 33 years old preparing to die so I could live. It was that evening that He gathered with his closest friends, followers, and believers, He broke bread with them, and said, “Do this in remembrance of me…” God shares the story with us in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and also John 13:15-17, so that we will know the desires of His Heart.

This is Nisan 14, 2012… and as the sun begins to set on this day, I am thinking about this King of Kings, my Lord and Savior, about the pain and suffering that He was about to endure so that I, this sinner of many sins, might have each of them forgiven and receive everlasting life. I am honoring him by following his instruction during his last supper, his last passover meal. As I prepared the unleavened bread, and uncorked the wine, I was transported to a time when Jesus sat with his apostles after having been betrayed, knowing that his time on earth would be ending soon. His heart was heavy as He walked amongst the olive grove later that evening. He told his apostles, James and John, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38, and later in that same chapter, with his face on the ground, Jesus asked his Father if it was possible to let this cup of suffering be taken away from him. But because of his sacrificial love for us, ended by saying, “I want your will to be done, not mine.” He was executed the next day.

When I think about these last moments in Jesus Christ’s perfect life, my heart breaks, it brings me to tears… of thankfulness… and humility… and love… for my Heavenly Father, Jehovah God… His Son, Jesus Christ… and the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

I am doing this in remembrance of Him.

Just a look…

by lovesdoves, posted in Social health, Spiritual Health

Terry and I were thoroughly savoring our Sunday together. We were feeling giddy after a visit from our good friends while running errands, purchasing new chaise lounges, getting them assembled, and freshening up the back deck area. After a quick trip to Steinmart, we were aware that our breakfast was spent, and decided to stop and get a bite to eat… late lunch, early dinner, one of our favorite meals. We stopped by a local restaurant at Town and Country, but we found out they are closed on Sundays, so we headed to The Greene to enjoy a well-crafted meal at a cute little bistro called Joya, only to find out that they had permanently closed two days before. Perhaps we should have headed home and heated up some leftovers, but we decided to check one more place… Brio… to see if we could sit on their patio, people watch, and enjoy a bite to eat there. Success!! We had a very short wait as they cleared a patio table for us. We got settled in with a couple of glasses of wine, and some artichoke dip. We were basking in the afternoon sun and light breeze, enjoying the giggles from a table with a little boy, and the parents appreciating his antics, there were other couples, and several other families. It was peaceful and joyful and we were feeling mightily blessed.

We placed our order shortly after, received our salads, and then we waited and waited. We were chatting and the delightfulness of the day created more patience than is normal for us! And quite a bit of time went by. In the meantime, several groups had finished their meals and began leaving, and new people began filling the empty tables. Two women that had been seated inside came outside to occupy the table immediately next to ours.

And so it began.

They started the next 45 minutes bad-talking their alleged friends, analyzing the sexual relationships of their alleged friends, and the sexual activity of their alleged friends, explicitly bashing their ex-husbands, and the male population in general, complaining about their children, and the weight of their large-sized bodies, and their doctors office procedures. Their tone was angry, and unhappy, and I felt deep sadness for them. But I couldn’t stop listening. The more time that went by, the louder they became, and they actually seemed to be turning their chairs so they were even closer to us.

Typically, Brio is more than efficient with their fresh food served in a timely fashion. When a manager came by to check on us, we let her know that we’d been waiting for an unusually long amount of time. She was very upset and very sorry. Thankfully no one blamed the kitchen. They were just completely honest about the fact that the order had never been entered. We seriously weren’t upset about it. We understand things like that can happen, but Brio took care of our meal anyway, and we were appreciative of their customer service excellence. Almost immediately after that, food was delivered to our table.

And, still, the women were yammering on. And on. And on. Anything negative, unhappy, foul, sour, vulgar, rude that you can imagine was discussed. I was truly stunned that two full grown female human beings would sit in public using language reserved for no one. I would chuckle every once in awhile at the absurdity of their conversation, shaking my head in disbelief. I seriously felt like we were being punk-d. “Housewives of any county”. Where are the cameras??? It was that ridiculous!!

And then all of a sudden, the louder of the two, talking about how sweaty she had been last weekend (?)… said…

jesus f-ing christ… {without my written modification}…

my face got red, my heart thumped loudly, and my head felt light as the spirit inside me bristled…

and I simply turned to look at this person… no words… just a look…

the pattern was interrupted and she viciously turned her vile tongue toward me.

There was a series of inconsequential mumbles and comments from the two of them, defensiveness driving them, but their words couldn’t hurt me. And although there was no judgment made on our part, nothing said, they claimed quite loudly that judgment should be left to “the higher power”…

at which time, my husband quietly stated, “You mean, the one you just cursed.”

And they were stumped. Silent.

I can tolerate a lot to avoid confrontation, and I’m aware of a thing called “freedom of speech” which they were clearly exercising their rights to. We could have moved tables, we could have left, but for some reason, 2 closed restaurants and a lost dinner ticket had us right where we were suppose to be.

They can choose to talk about their friends in an ugly, hateful, profane way,

but they can not talk about my friend, my Lord, my Savior that way.

And, without a sound, I was happy to let them know it.

With one question, Terry was too.

…..

Whatever your method is, whatever God leads you to do or say… stand up for what is good, and right, and true.

And Live Well.

Bummers & Blessings

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Physical health, Spiritual Health

Home church has been one of the biggest blessings of my lifetime. The connection with the Holy Spirit so pure… and raw… learning with people that yearned to love God deeply and to follow Jesus Christ with a disciple’s heart… sharing our homes and our lives as we grew together in His Name… all strengthened our relationship with Him and with each other.

We patterned our home church after Jesus’ church… prayer, food, Biblical teaching, and fellowship. Part of our fellowship involved an honest and open discussion about the highs and lows of our week. It helped to increase our awareness of each other’s lives and to know how we could best pray for our brothers and sisters. Since our children were an integral part of our church, it increased our awareness of the challenge and the joy in their young lives too. We referred to this sharing portion as “Bummers & Blessings”.

Throughout the years, bummers and blessings included times of distress as the pendulum would swing back and forth through big things like financial hardships & relationship challenges & health issues & unsaved family members, and smaller things like a series of broken down appliances or indecision or impatience. We have seen God work in miraculous ways throughout these bummers… we’ve seen healed relationships, improved health, patience kindled, pride extinguished, and family members that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In each, God was glorified.

Time after time, it happened… our bummers became blessings. Time after time, God showed us He is faithful to His Word. He is faithful to His Love for us, and He provides for us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it… right on time… in His Time. And we trust Him, as we witness throughout the Bible and within our own lives how Awesome our God really is. Week after week, we would pray… week after week, we witnessed miracles.

And then at 5:30 p.m. on March 25, 2007, the world as I knew it was transformed when Grace’s jaw shattered as she was thrown from her horse. All the pieces that were so perfectly held together… her perfect little face… the control that I held over my life… was… gone… evaporated… the foundation… crumbling… oh, God, where are you…. where are you now….

I staggered through the next 3 days… bits and pieces still so vivid… pacing as I waited, waited, waited at Children’s for the ambulance to arrive… phone calls to my parents knowing that they would be there with us… and to the Ostendorfs, knowing that they would stand guard, that they would be our prayer warriors… searching Grace’s piercing blue eyes for fear or pain as they rolled her through the hospital doors… steadying myself on the rails of the gurney as the nurse pulled back the covering over her face revealing the extent of the blood, and her exposed chin, the damage… the calmness that was all around her… thankfulness that her friend was unharmed physically… Matt, the youth pastor, arriving and praying with Grace… Terry holding the surgeon’s hands in his as he prayed over this man’s life before he began Grace’s reconstruction process… leaving her with the anesthesiologist as my father and I walked away… so many tears then… so many tears… 1 hour… 2 hours… 3 hours… 4 hours… 5 hours… 6 hours… 7 hours… then at 3:30 a.m. on March 26, a kind and gentle nurse brought us to the empty recovery room, one lone bed in the dimmed lights… to see our baby daughter… stitched back together, pieced back together, wired together… alive… more alive than she had ever been…

The next few days were filled with blessings and the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but my heart was heavy with the pain that I felt for Grace who couldn’t speak to share her story… to share her thoughts… to process this traumatic experience. When her fear began to consume her she would fold her hands in prayer… and look to us to pray aloud… and peacefulness would instantaneously replace the fear as we prayed over her watching her oxygen levels improve as every word was lifted to our Heavenly Father… her face so swollen barely recognizable… her eyes still my Gracie’s eyes… looking straight up to Heaven…

I remember screaming at God in my head… while laying next to my precious child in her hospital bed… I remember demanding to understand why… why did He let this happen to her… why would He ever give her such a love of horses, a desire to spend her life with them and then allow her very passion to cause her this much pain, this much trauma, and I demanded that He make this up to her… that He make it right… I couldn’t understand and I wanted so so much to understand… my brother called and I remember hysterically asking him the very same questions, why, why, why, why did He let this happen to this sweet and precious child, why did He create them with these desires and then allow them to be injured by the very thing that they love… WHY… my brother arrived within the hour… he knew I was struggling in one of the hugest battles of my lifetime… he knew I was struggling for control over this battle in my mind…he knew that this was not a time to turn and run away, it was a time to run straight into my Creator’s arms… it was a time to trust and be faithful to His Word, and to be strong through His Strength. And he knew he needed to help guide me back, to rest in the peace that the Holy Spirit gives to us, freely as a gift. To be there for Grace.

But I had underestimated the impact that all those weeks, and months and years that we spent together as a family with other families, worshipping and loving our Heavenly Father and learning about His Son, Jesus Christ, and our purpose on this earth, had formed and filled this young child’s mind, her very soul, with everything she needed to adapt to this dramatic event in her life. He had given her every truth that she needed to understand that she was loved, wholly and completely, by Him. And that through this accident, she would claim her voice for Him, and He would use her to spread His Love and His Word to many others. He showed her things that were reserved for the blessed few… angels, hundreds of them, that were guarding the very room that she slept in… fanning their wings, steadily, constantly, to keep the darkness, the fog, that she could see in the distance… away. She knew what it felt like to be held by Him, to receive the comfort and the peace that only He could provide. To be healed in a way that was inconceivable to the human mind, as He healed the nerve that had been severed in her fall, to the disbelief and astonishment of the doctor who said it was impossible. And He allowed her to see the accident as He saw it… something the adversary meant to harm her, God turned into something good, and right, and true. Something that He would use through Grace to glorify His Kingdom.

Over the past 5 years, Grace has grown ever stronger in her faith and God has continued to use her in miraculous ways just like He promised He would, but I’ve struggled with the grief that I felt from Grace’s accident. I struggled with the anger that I felt towards God for allowing it to happen, and my spirit had become lifeless. These emotions, these thoughts were creating physical illness within me. Recently, I have begun a journey to restore my emotional well-being through a form of theophostic ministry to address the underlying causes of my body’s weaknesses. I have learned to see events the way God sees them, through His Eyes, being thankful and grateful for everything that has happened in my life. To know that because God is Who He says He is, has been and always will be, I can trust that His Love for me, His complete unconditional love for me, will always be enough. That faith in Him means that I won’t know the answers to my questions, that my “why?” is answered with His words, “because I know best.” And even when, and especially when, our world suddenly shifts direction, and we feel completely abandoned, desperate and filled with despair, He is there. Waiting for us to run to Him…

As I resolve to trust and not control, have faith without understanding, and love with acceptance as Jesus would, my spirit has grown from its place of stagnation to a place of graciousness. This growth allows God to use me in ways that He has planned for me, to fulfill the purpose for which I was created… to love Him and be loved by Him. Without the removal of anger and bitterness and grief… the adversary would perpetuate separation from my Creator, and I will not have it… he has used every method to stir up my doubt, my anger, and my sin-nature, and has succeeded for a time, but I have taken back what has been given to me and I am rejoicing in the love of my Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, the loving sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I have given the Holy Spirit free reign in my life once again. It feels good to be home.

Bummers to blessings.

Live Well.

Butterflies…

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Physical health, Social health, Spiritual Health

Has there ever been something or someplace that has captured your attention? That you would think about dreamily? Would ponder, but wonder if you’d ever take the time to actually follow through with it? Well, for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to witness the overwintering of the Monarch Butterflies in Michoacan, Mexico. Every Monarch east of the Rocky Mountains, approximately 60-90 million of them, heads south for 4 months, November through March, to vacation in the Transverse Neovolcanic Mountain chain that runs from the Eastern Sierra Madre to where it joins the Western Sierra Madre. There are 3-4 generations that separate the monarchs from their ancestors before they arrive to begin covering the Oyamel fir trees of this region. This intrigued me on so many levels and I knew I must stop pondering and wondering and start planning. So I did. I began scouring the internet for travel information, details and specifics about the region. I learned  that February was the best time to go as the butterflies begin to warm up and become very active. This research also brought me to Lisette and Pablo Span of the gorgeous Rancho San Cayetano in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, and they became extremely helpful in advising us on the other aspects of our trip, as well.

Pablo suggested that we fly into Toluca, Mexico by way of Houston, rather than Mexico City, and we were so thankful for that advice. Toluca airport has only been commercial for 3 years. 6 gates, simple security check, ease through customs equals convenient (and happy) traveling. Once we arrived, Sam, an employee of the ranch, met us at the airport and drove us safely one and half hours through the city of Toluca, and the countryside of Michoacan, through the tollbooths and the winding hillsides. Considering that Sam did not speak English, and the extent of my Spanish is “si” and  “gracias”, it was a very quiet commute to our destination. Because of this silent ride, we  were concerned that language would be more of a barrier than we had thought, but by the end of our stay, we were assured that a genuine smile, some simple hand gestures, and a little patience makes communication between cultures possible.

Once we arrived at the ranch, Doris helped us to our “casa”. To our delight, there was fresh filtered water in pitchers, and fresh flowers throughout the cottage, and stacked wood ready to become a toasty fire. I am a fussy traveler, and I can assure you, this was even better than I had anticipated. It was clean, rustic, authentic, and perfectly appropriate for our needs. I hugged Doris right then and there. We got situated and meandered across the beautifully manicured property to find a bite to eat. Lisette was joyfully managing her kitchen staff and kindly prepared a delicious sandwich lunch for us to enjoy on their garden patio where we joined a lovely couple from Australia, Tony and Elaine, and Lisette’s brand new 8 week old puppy, ShooShoo. The sun was gloriously bright and we felt warm and welcome here.

We spent the afternoon relaxing with these new friends, then we freshened up for dinner which is served at 7:30 p.m. in the dining room. We were joined with the other guests of the hotel. All here to see the butterflies. These magnificent, little, winged creatures are responsible for gathering people from all around the world to witness their genetic rituals. Their attraction is strong. And the more we spoke with the ones that were returning from the day, or from a previous trip, the more excited we became.

The next day, we were summoned awake by the sounds of the river, and a rooster across the way. The duvet comforter that topped our king size bed created a cocoon of its own that was difficult to leave, but the sounds were gentle, and we were well-rested, so Terry lit a fire to get the cottage cozy while I prepared coffee to enjoy in the fresh white robes provided by the hotel as we leisurely began our morning preparations.

It was a lovely day. Temperature was around 65 degrees as we strolled once again to the dining room. We found all the food at Rancho San Cayetano to be impeccable, but their breakfast is absolutely irresistible! We were seated to a plate of fresh tropical fruits, sliced and ready for devouring, with baskets of locally baked breads and pastries, homemade jams and jellies, warm butter, and hot coffee, with leche. We were offered several options for breakfast entrees, all delicious!! We knew that this morning meal would easily sustain us on our adventure!

Our butterfly tour was arranged by Pablo, and Joel was our guide. And, yay, he (thankfully) spoke excellent English. He is a very kind young man, and he offered much information about the ways of the butterflies, the culture of Mexico, and his own personal history. We were headed towards a town of 300, where he and his family live. They would provide us with the horses to navigate the rugged trail up to the mountain top where the butterflies were located. After a 30 minute drive, we passed under an arch, and then as we drove by homes, and people on the street, they all waved, shouting “Hola!!” We felt welcome here too. There were 5 others in our tour group. That’s all. Just 7 of us, plus Joel! It felt like we were the first ones to ever do this. This mountain, Cerro Pelon, or “Bald Mountain”, is a newer, more private sanctuary. There are approximately 5 different sanctuaries in the area, El Rosario being the largest and most well-known. A Saturday at El Rosario would typically see 5,000 people through their gates with 50-100 vendors lining the parking areas around the base of the mountain.

We got situated on our horses, and began our ascent. The horses were strong, and happy to oblige us. They managed over the terrain as is their sure-footed nature, sometimes teasing by traveling a little too close to the trail’s edge. The mountain side was gorgeous on it’s own, knowing that the butterflies were vacationing amongst the trees, made it even more spectacular. There were colorful wildflowers, and beautiful little vignettes of wildlife. As we got closer and closer to the summit, the aroma from the Oyamel trees embraced us… uniquely sweet, and musky with just a tiny hint of pine to balance the sweetness, it is a smell that I will never forget. Joel’s sisters create baskets and trinkets from the needles, but I chose to gather some up to add to my collection of rocks and sand at home.

After an hour and fifteen minutes, the butterflies began welcoming us. We would spot one or two at a time. Floating and gliding past us. The horses were unaffected by them, but I was laughing with delight every time one came close. We spotted clusters of the butterflies hanging on the trees in the sunshine, their orange and brown colors making them appear as dry leaves. Another 15 minutes brought us to a meadow, where the mountain leveled off. The view was breath-taking. At 10,000 feet above sea level, the air was clean, and full of energizing ions of oxygen that heightened the sensation of the beauty all around us.

The horses were sweaty and ready for a break, and so were we! Our legs were wobbly, but ready for the next part of the journey. We followed Joel as he lead us up a short way by foot, and as we came to the Monarch butterfly’s perches, it was apparent that this was truly a sacred place. Everyone fell completely silent as we listened to the whisper of their wings, their millions of wings… audible like leaves, or light rain drops… and we were overwhelmed by their majestic beauty. I stared up in wonder, completely joyful, overwhelmed, and tears of happiness rolled down my cheeks…

Then, all at once, we began chattering, oohhhh-ing and ahhhh-ing, because it was amazing! And we were enthralled by the mass amount of them, by the way they would burst all at once off the trees as the sun shifted. We ventured further into their ecosystem, walking carefully to prevent injury to ones that were hovering on the ground, warming their wings. And then each of us found a spot to lay down, to raise our eyes heavenward and to completely absorb the moment. The complimentary colors of the blue sky and the orange wings intensified what we were seeing! Laying there seemed like a dream!

I truly could have stayed at the top of that mountain until sundown. But Joel had a picnic lunch and cool bottles of water, packed by Lisette, to share with us. Simplistic perfection as we sat in a circle enjoying delicious food, surrounded by the peacefulness and serenity of this place. I prayed with praise and thankfulness to my Heavenly Father for creating the beauty and majesty of this butterfly world, for creating this heaven on earth to showcase His Love for us, to share with us as we wait to join Him…

And then our horses navigated their way back home. With us changed forever having seen this glorious sight.

The next day, we had planned to explore another sanctuary, but decided against it. Our experience couldn’t have been more perfect, and nothing could’ve compared to what we had seen, and the way we had seen it. We wanted to remember it that way. So we spent the day, completely relaxed and pampered by the members of the ranch. We lounged by their beautiful pool, savored their impeccable Mexican dishes, explored some other natural areas around their property, and reconnected with ourselves and each other.

For anyone who has ever had the desire to witness this spectacular event, I encourage you to go! And go soon! It was hard for me to believe that 10 years ago, there were even MORE butterflies. My eyes could barely focus on all the ones that were fluttering, swooping and gliding around us on this perfect day! But their environment is changing on a yearly basis, and the people of Mexico are starting to see a decline in the number of butterflies that are able to make this journey.

To witness the extreme beauty and pure joy of these creatures brought together by God, collected together by the millions was captivating. I had no way of knowing before we arrived that their magnificence would be such a poignant reminder of the Goodness and Grace of God Himself. To experience this place…  and to realize that this is not the end of our journey… that God has something even more for us…more dazzlingly brilliant than our minds could possibly imagine… brings peace and hope to my heart and soul.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” ….. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Just like the butterfly.

Live well.

…..

To view the photos from this trip, click here: The Butterflies

The video highlight movie from our trip can be viewed here: BUTTERFLIES

And if you would like any additional information about traveling to Mexico to see these beautiful creatures, please comment below or through vimeo with an email address. I am happy to share!

Love… Dad

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Family health, Spiritual Health

I walked back inside our home with tear-stained cheeks, and wondered if the crew foreman from Siebenthaler’s had ever had to deal with a weeping woman as he did his job… as he and his team simply, yet meticulously, planted a white oak tree.

They were done and ready to move their equipment to a new delivery site… he had watched me walk around the tree several times, taking photos as I moved slowly around it’s trunk, then he got back out and walked over to me… he said… “I’ve never seen one so perfect from all sides… from ever angle it’s beautiful”. I looked up at this burly man, after watching him remove the remains of a bradford pear that had grown there for 20 years and move the dirt with grace and precision to establish a home for this new tree that would grow to be 75 feet someday, and his soft words registered with me… and I explained to him why my husband had gone out to their nursery to chose this specimen, a straight tree with an exemplary shape… why it was so special to me that they had taken the time to make it so perfectly right for us… why it wasn’t just a tree, but a symbol of the love that a father has for his son… a symbol… that he had written about ten years before for his eldest son’s surprise 40th birthday party.

A couple of months ago, after Jim had died, I found this note that he had scribed to Terry. This treasured poem was healing, filled with sentiments of adoration, and it provided a plan of action. To replace a tree that we had lost with a white oak tree in remembrance of Jim’s life and his love for nature, trees, and conservation… something relevant to his life… something that was of importance to him… something that we will see each time we leave our home and as we return… and we will think of him… and I know that he is pleased…

“Happy birthday, son – they tell me you’ll be forty,

I guess I knew that anyway – or at least, I “orty”.

I’ve been your dad for all those years and you have made me proud,

A statement I’ve made many times out loud.

Proud not just of your profession or your fatherhood,

which would be enough for some,

But proud to have retained your love – and of the man that you’ve become.

Forty years is nothing, if you’re a white oak tree –

It means that you’ve grown straight and tall – and reached maturity.

In the forest of life with other trees, your rightful place you take,

The secret to remaining strong is to bend, and never break.

This lesson you have seemed to learn, and the pleasure that it brings,

I hope that you will stand so long, they’ll have to count your rings.

This secret celebration has us all about to burst – I must admit it

But your birthday’s not ’til the twenty-first

And that’s when you’re “gonna” get it!

Love… Dad”

This year’s feast…

by lovesdoves, posted in Family health, Physical health, Social health, Spiritual Health

I get to prepare the Thanksgiving feast! It’s a huge, gigantic blessing to me… to combine foods and herbs and spices together and cook or bake or roast them for just the right amount of time perfuming the air with anticipation of something delicious… it’s a part of who I am! I love it when guests enter our home and say, “OOOOoooooo, something smells gooooood!”, knowing that it will be just a matter of hours until we are seated altogether, serving and giving thanks to God for every provision.

I have found over the years that the traditional meal is the one that my guests enjoy most. I used to scour cookbooks for a month beforehand searching for unique and unusual recipes for preparing the turkey and all those luscious side dishes. I remember one thanksgiving at our little house on Wright Avenue, everyone was coming over including my grandparents from Boston and I was honored to be hosting the grand event! I found all kinds of new and innovative things to serve, and I busied myself getting everything just right because I wanted it to be so special for them.

I don’t remember the menu, but I do remember my grandfather telling me I was a fussy cook. It wasn’t an insult, because he savored what I was serving, and he loved me with his whole heart.

It was a reminder.

Of what’s important.

It’s ALL about the people we love and the time that we get to be together. Over the years I have come to realize that the traditional menu and those flavors were enjoyed most because they were familiar, they were Thanksgivings gone-by and the memories that came with the meal were as important as the meal itself. So I have embraced those Thanksgiving traditions. Now I only change the appetizers that are served as warm-ups to the real meal! So this year’s menu at the McCoskey home will include:

APPETIZERS

Brown-sugared Bacon-wrapped Smokies

David’s Skyline Chili Dip with tortilla chips

Cheese Wafers with Jalapeño Pepper Jelly

Old-fashioned Shrimp Dip with crackers

Sausage Cheddar Nibbles

Mushroom Pate Purses

Gingered Almonds

DINNER

30 lb. Roast Turkey & Gravy

Traditional Bread Stuffing

Sweet Potato Casserole

Spinach Souffle

Whipped Golden Potatoes

Laureen’s Green Bean Casserole

Janet’s Pomegranate Salad

Fresh-from-the-cob Creamed Corn

Assorted Cranberry Jellies

Home-made Dinner Rolls

Butter

DESSERTS

Mom’s Assorted Pies

Lily’s Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle

Acorn Cookies

It will be a feast, for sure. And there will be laughter and joyfulness as we reunite with our families. This year marks the first year that we will be including our very own grand baby and I know that over the coming years the events of our lives and our children’s lives may be cause for changes in the traditions. So I will stay flexible in the future and welcome this moment now… this year’s feast… this year’s togetherness… this year of thanksgiving in 2011…

Live Well.

Longer pants

by lovesdoves, posted in Emotional Health, Family health, Physical health, Social health, Spiritual Health, Uncategorized

I am not a scale person, and I am not particularly fond of tape measures.

But this is what I know, my pants are getting longer!

Which means they are looser!

Which means that fat is melting away!

I just slipped into my size 2 jeans. They are the only pair that I allowed myself to keep during a closet purge awhile back. Because I was hopeful.

And today I am having a little celebratory dancing-with-myself party!! In this sassy little pair of jeans!

Here is the best part of all… because of the Yoli Better Body system and a tiny bit of willpower, it only took me 7 days to lose 14 pounds! In just one week, jeans that didn’t fit last Sunday… fit me perfectly today!

The only reason I am sharing this is because I know there are people that are struggling with their weight right now, which leads to struggling with their health and well-being in every aspect of their lives… physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, sexually.

Let me be transparent… when I am carrying extra weight, physically, my body is sicker than it should be, working harder than it could be… mentally, I feel depressed because I am not taking control over something that I can be in control over… I find it more difficult to be social, because I feel self-conscious… spiritually, I know that if I’m abusing food, or being gluttonous, then I am against God’s will for my life… sexually, well, when I am not feeling particularly sexy, I just want to hide in the dark, or perhaps get a mysterious “headache”. “Not tonight” isn’t fair to my husband or to me… sex is an important element of our marriage, and a good sex life helps deal with the every day stressors of life and it keeps me connected to my husband… it’s one of God’s gifts to every one of us in a marital relationship!

So if you could be better, would you choose to be better?

When you are ready to begin living well, we are here. And we can help.

Living Well Spine Center… 937-878-1071